No, I have not licked one of the large Colorado River Toads that hang out under the porch light. There are several of them, the largest being about the size of a softball or a bit larger, like an over-sized grapefruit. Their skin exudes a hallucinogenic toxin that when ingested is said to produce an effect similar to that of the more common psychotropic drugs. Well, we do live in an area notorious for meth labs and the like so I wouldn't put it by one or more of my neighbors. In fact, truth be told, I just got done calling one of my own kids trailer trash. As in "You know we can't afford that...we're trailer trash and don't you forget it!" So, you might be tempted to say "If the shoe fits" ...and in all honesty, save for the outrageous appetites these critters have and the things I've seen them eat, I might be tempted myself. I'm always looking for ways to keep the creative juices flowing but have stopped short of licking frogs or ingesting (knowingly) dangerous mind-altering chemicals. It is trippy enough just to watch one of these big fat toads mow down a tarantula or palo verde beetle in one, lip lickin' chomp. I've seen it on more than one occasion and it creeps me out every time. This here is another ode to the summer monsoons which have been over active this year...makes for great skies and lots of green and lots and lots of bugs and... toads that leave stools as big as your thumb filled with all kinds of iridescent beetle parts.
