miguel camacho!
New member
for those who speak with me on at least a somewhat regular basis, they know my life has really gone downhill in the past month or two, and on top of that, things have been pretty rough on me for the past year or two. i hate to make this a pity thread, but it's really not like that, as you'll read. but i (or moreso my animals, really) suffered a significant die-off last year. on top of that i worked for some unappreciative and overly-demanding people for almost a year now, basically ive been running a pet store in my area with no help or appreciation of the owners as of lately. on top of that, i feel i was waaaaaay underpaid. i basically took the position in may of last year after i had spent about 7 or 8 months unemployed, and i was desperate for SOMETHING, seeing as all the "real" jobs i had applied for were not interested in hiring me. at first it was ok, but i knew i had to learn a lot. but after about 6 or 7 months, i could pretty much run the store completely on my own, and i had worked up great rapport with many of our customers (especially the fellow herp people, one whom some of you may recognize, since he has mentioned several of you by name). but the bosses simply demanded more and more, while they continued to stress to me they would offer more, but as of now i am still below the poverty level, and opening a brand new store i ended up working about 80 hours a week for them. it's taken a huge toll on me: physically, socially, mentally, in every aspect of my life. i have reached the point where i dont have enough time or energy to devote to my collection anymore. there was a point where i was reaching 80 animals, all of which i cared for by myself, and breeding was booming. but shortly after that was when everything went downhill (and of course, that coincided with my employment with the pet store). basically, ive bent over backwards for my bosses, and ive gotten little in return, and before recently, i rarely got even a thank you from the main boss who is basically the enforcer. for all i devoted, i thought i deserved more, but it never came. but what it really came down to was i worked my ass off at a mediocre job that would really put forth nothing on my resume. my bachelor's in zoology i got from nc state in 2005 was getting stale, and i started to get the feeling i was never going to get into the field.
aside from this, there was the recent fire at my apartment, late last year my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and i just couldnt figure out where my life was going. i was slowly but surely becoming a trainwreck.
fortunately, there have been a few of you in the community that have always been there to support me, and for the fellow uroplatus enthusiasts in general, you've all pretty much always been there for me. while i feel that there are a good number of people out there now who look to me as a go-to guy when it comes to leaftails, i consider myself relatively modest as i know it has only been a few years since i started to take my hobby seriously. ive tried to do all i can for people, and thus i feel a great respect towards you all, and from you all.
i would particularly like to give my greatest thanks to nathan for this site and his kind and uplifting words in the past. it's been getting harder and harder to get in touch with you as of late, and i know you've got a million things going on, and on top of that you're attempting to keep a life of your own. i havent been able to say it with words out of my mouth yet, but really, thanks a million. you've created an amazing community that is unrivaled in its integrity elsewhere on the web. ive been around since nearly the beginning of your brainchild, and it's been great to watch it grow. i wish you nothing less than the best of luck and prosperity.
next, i would like to give my thanks to jason perillo. while i've never been able to travel out to meet you and shake your hand, you know someday ill manage. i dont remember exactly how we first got in touch, but i remember standing around late at night talking on the phone with you about all things uroplatus. you've been a mind-opener, a partner, an influence, and most of all a friend. we've both been through many of the ups and downs of the hobby, and we've pretty much talked about it all. i hope everything works out for you, because i know what your passion is, and given time i know you will make it happen. you always have.
and of course andrew gilpin, while it was relatively recent we actually got to hear one another's voice, we've been talking a loooooong time now. you're pretty much the only other one i've really had in-depth conversation with about our leaftails, and you've been another great mentor and influence on my passion for the hobby. years ago, i simply knew you as flamedcrestie on KS, but now i have both a name and a face to match to that. as always, i apologize for not always being there to chat things up with you, but i know you understand my job has kept me worn and busy. i know you, too, have the passion to make things happen, as i have seen your work in the hobby prosper many times over a relatively short while. you've got a great wife who is 100% behind you and equally engrossed in the hobby. do everyone a favor and keep up the great work.
there are, of course, many others who i cannot mention who have been in great correspondence with myself. one last person i would like to thank is neil meister for being a person who established himself in the uroplatus hobby and gave people some understanding and something to strive for. as surprising as it may be to some, i have had minimal correspondence with him, although i remember when i first got into leaftails, i basically wished i was him. his success with the genus, and his willingness to assist seemingly random people like myself makes me glad that there are those types of people in the hobby. but as i already mentioned, there are simply too many people i have talked with about geckos over the past couple of years for me to recall.
so where am i going with this?
well, back to the job thing. as i mentioned, ive been struggling to find something real, even if it's just to get my foot in the door. well, it finally happened. a very good friend of mine who helped foster my love of field research on all types of herps that i met in college called me the other day as he was herping with the state herpetologist in SC. ends up they got to talking about the need for someone to fill a seasonal position working for the DNR on gopher tortoise tracking, as well as some side-work on diamondbacks. my friend mentioned me and the fact that i have so desperately been trying to find a job in the field, the fact that i have been assisting him with his research on snake activity in SC for a few years now, and the fact i have become so involved with herps. he gave me a call late that night first of all to tell me that even though the weather was beautiful, he wasnt finding too many snakes, but then also mentioned that someone would be calling me about a field research position. the next morning, sure enough, the call came. i didnt realize it would happen so quickly. i dont know if they're so eager to get the position filled, or if they're just eager to have me on board (although ill keep on telling myself it's the latter). anyway, while it is only a seasonal job, i feel that the doors that will open as a result will be well worth it, and i will finally be putting my degree to use (and having fun while im at it!). they'd like to have me on sooner, but i have a contract stating 30-day notice is required for me to quit my job (i know, it's basically a bunch of bull, but i was so desperate when i got the job that i'd do anything just to get some money again). so the same day i talked to the guy about the position, i put in my notice. it's been a lil over a week now, but im anxious as can be about the new job. i should be starting somewhere near the end of this month, or early next month. we've still got to work out all the details.
but still, why do i really bother telling everyone this? well, while this job has been the one thing that made all the bad stuff go away, there is one element left with it that is bittersweet. i will be provided my housing by the state, and if i remember correctly, it will be "little more than a cardboard box in india." so essentially, i will not be able to bring my collection with me, and i have no one around to foster it for me. so essentially, my days in the hobby are over...for now. keep in mind, it's a seasonal job, so once late september/early october rolls around, the herps stop moving and theres nothing really to do with this job anymore. the guy i will be working for tells me he will be doing what he can to help me find the next place to go, but really nothing is guaranteed. hopefully, dedication to hard work will help open more doors, but at least my foot is in. i cannot tell for certain whether or not i will be keeping geckos again in the near future. in the distant future, it is likely.
yea, it sucks that all i have worked for in the past few years will basically (at least temporarily) be making its way into other people's hands. for the vast majority, my animals will be going out on loan. i am still deciding which animals i intend to loan and which i intend to sell, but i have little time left to really decide. i still have great passion for the hobby, and it's been a difficult decision to make, but in order to succeed in the job world, i have come to the realization that i may have to make certain sacrifices to make things happen.
so i just wanted to let those of you who are interested know without simply disappearing from the community. at this point, i dont even know if i will have internet access from the housing i will get. only once i can talk the details out with my new boss will i know for certain.
so finally, i would like to take the chance to say thanks to everyone. i know many of you have read my caresheet i wrote in great detail and look forward to future improvements upon it, but for now any improvements are indefinitely on hold. as i mentioned before i have learned untold loads of information by conversation with the various users amongst the online herp communities. that is why i felt the need to give something in return. i have had people from around the world thank me for it, and in turn i want to say that it is a token of my thanks to the community. there was so little information out there, and still is, and i hope more people take the opportunity to specialize and give something back to the community. ill admit, tough times relatively recently have made me bitter in certain aspects, but 99% of the time i'd say ive been able to keep my "netiquette" in check.
if i had to make one comment on the community, id say i wish there were more cooperation and less competition...but thenagain, for a lot of us, this is america and being bigger and better than the other guys is what drives many to do what they do. for the suppliers, just as any other item with a monetary value, it is market-driven. ive complained about greedy suppliers and overpriced animals for quite some time now, but i hope the good guys out there prevail. have faith in one another.
i do not intend for this to be a selfish way of aiming attention towards myself, nor do i intend it to be a final goodbye. i just didnt want to leave people high and dry wondering what happened. and even i dont know, i might still be around a good bit, just without my animals for the next several months. theres still no telling exactly how things will pan out, but i wish everyone the best.
take care, everyone.
mike
aside from this, there was the recent fire at my apartment, late last year my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and i just couldnt figure out where my life was going. i was slowly but surely becoming a trainwreck.
fortunately, there have been a few of you in the community that have always been there to support me, and for the fellow uroplatus enthusiasts in general, you've all pretty much always been there for me. while i feel that there are a good number of people out there now who look to me as a go-to guy when it comes to leaftails, i consider myself relatively modest as i know it has only been a few years since i started to take my hobby seriously. ive tried to do all i can for people, and thus i feel a great respect towards you all, and from you all.
i would particularly like to give my greatest thanks to nathan for this site and his kind and uplifting words in the past. it's been getting harder and harder to get in touch with you as of late, and i know you've got a million things going on, and on top of that you're attempting to keep a life of your own. i havent been able to say it with words out of my mouth yet, but really, thanks a million. you've created an amazing community that is unrivaled in its integrity elsewhere on the web. ive been around since nearly the beginning of your brainchild, and it's been great to watch it grow. i wish you nothing less than the best of luck and prosperity.
next, i would like to give my thanks to jason perillo. while i've never been able to travel out to meet you and shake your hand, you know someday ill manage. i dont remember exactly how we first got in touch, but i remember standing around late at night talking on the phone with you about all things uroplatus. you've been a mind-opener, a partner, an influence, and most of all a friend. we've both been through many of the ups and downs of the hobby, and we've pretty much talked about it all. i hope everything works out for you, because i know what your passion is, and given time i know you will make it happen. you always have.
and of course andrew gilpin, while it was relatively recent we actually got to hear one another's voice, we've been talking a loooooong time now. you're pretty much the only other one i've really had in-depth conversation with about our leaftails, and you've been another great mentor and influence on my passion for the hobby. years ago, i simply knew you as flamedcrestie on KS, but now i have both a name and a face to match to that. as always, i apologize for not always being there to chat things up with you, but i know you understand my job has kept me worn and busy. i know you, too, have the passion to make things happen, as i have seen your work in the hobby prosper many times over a relatively short while. you've got a great wife who is 100% behind you and equally engrossed in the hobby. do everyone a favor and keep up the great work.
there are, of course, many others who i cannot mention who have been in great correspondence with myself. one last person i would like to thank is neil meister for being a person who established himself in the uroplatus hobby and gave people some understanding and something to strive for. as surprising as it may be to some, i have had minimal correspondence with him, although i remember when i first got into leaftails, i basically wished i was him. his success with the genus, and his willingness to assist seemingly random people like myself makes me glad that there are those types of people in the hobby. but as i already mentioned, there are simply too many people i have talked with about geckos over the past couple of years for me to recall.
so where am i going with this?
well, back to the job thing. as i mentioned, ive been struggling to find something real, even if it's just to get my foot in the door. well, it finally happened. a very good friend of mine who helped foster my love of field research on all types of herps that i met in college called me the other day as he was herping with the state herpetologist in SC. ends up they got to talking about the need for someone to fill a seasonal position working for the DNR on gopher tortoise tracking, as well as some side-work on diamondbacks. my friend mentioned me and the fact that i have so desperately been trying to find a job in the field, the fact that i have been assisting him with his research on snake activity in SC for a few years now, and the fact i have become so involved with herps. he gave me a call late that night first of all to tell me that even though the weather was beautiful, he wasnt finding too many snakes, but then also mentioned that someone would be calling me about a field research position. the next morning, sure enough, the call came. i didnt realize it would happen so quickly. i dont know if they're so eager to get the position filled, or if they're just eager to have me on board (although ill keep on telling myself it's the latter). anyway, while it is only a seasonal job, i feel that the doors that will open as a result will be well worth it, and i will finally be putting my degree to use (and having fun while im at it!). they'd like to have me on sooner, but i have a contract stating 30-day notice is required for me to quit my job (i know, it's basically a bunch of bull, but i was so desperate when i got the job that i'd do anything just to get some money again). so the same day i talked to the guy about the position, i put in my notice. it's been a lil over a week now, but im anxious as can be about the new job. i should be starting somewhere near the end of this month, or early next month. we've still got to work out all the details.
but still, why do i really bother telling everyone this? well, while this job has been the one thing that made all the bad stuff go away, there is one element left with it that is bittersweet. i will be provided my housing by the state, and if i remember correctly, it will be "little more than a cardboard box in india." so essentially, i will not be able to bring my collection with me, and i have no one around to foster it for me. so essentially, my days in the hobby are over...for now. keep in mind, it's a seasonal job, so once late september/early october rolls around, the herps stop moving and theres nothing really to do with this job anymore. the guy i will be working for tells me he will be doing what he can to help me find the next place to go, but really nothing is guaranteed. hopefully, dedication to hard work will help open more doors, but at least my foot is in. i cannot tell for certain whether or not i will be keeping geckos again in the near future. in the distant future, it is likely.
yea, it sucks that all i have worked for in the past few years will basically (at least temporarily) be making its way into other people's hands. for the vast majority, my animals will be going out on loan. i am still deciding which animals i intend to loan and which i intend to sell, but i have little time left to really decide. i still have great passion for the hobby, and it's been a difficult decision to make, but in order to succeed in the job world, i have come to the realization that i may have to make certain sacrifices to make things happen.
so i just wanted to let those of you who are interested know without simply disappearing from the community. at this point, i dont even know if i will have internet access from the housing i will get. only once i can talk the details out with my new boss will i know for certain.
so finally, i would like to take the chance to say thanks to everyone. i know many of you have read my caresheet i wrote in great detail and look forward to future improvements upon it, but for now any improvements are indefinitely on hold. as i mentioned before i have learned untold loads of information by conversation with the various users amongst the online herp communities. that is why i felt the need to give something in return. i have had people from around the world thank me for it, and in turn i want to say that it is a token of my thanks to the community. there was so little information out there, and still is, and i hope more people take the opportunity to specialize and give something back to the community. ill admit, tough times relatively recently have made me bitter in certain aspects, but 99% of the time i'd say ive been able to keep my "netiquette" in check.
if i had to make one comment on the community, id say i wish there were more cooperation and less competition...but thenagain, for a lot of us, this is america and being bigger and better than the other guys is what drives many to do what they do. for the suppliers, just as any other item with a monetary value, it is market-driven. ive complained about greedy suppliers and overpriced animals for quite some time now, but i hope the good guys out there prevail. have faith in one another.
i do not intend for this to be a selfish way of aiming attention towards myself, nor do i intend it to be a final goodbye. i just didnt want to leave people high and dry wondering what happened. and even i dont know, i might still be around a good bit, just without my animals for the next several months. theres still no telling exactly how things will pan out, but i wish everyone the best.
take care, everyone.
mike
