John called and will be home in an hour with Sparky and Rufus!! Apparently, if you insist upon getting bitten by a poisonous snake, make it a rattlesnake rather than any of the others as rattler's venom affects the blood rather than the central nervous system. Still bad, but potentially not as bad. Also, get bit by a baby snake, which has less venom or a snake that recently bit something else (mouse, squirrel, etc) and expended its venom on it so that your bite is essentially a "dry bite."

Best of all, don't get bitten.

Thanks for all the emails of well wishes and prayers. They are very much appreciated.