Snakes, Why Did It Have to Be Snakes

Doug and I met Phil last night at Hiatus and then came back to our house to hang out on the back patio.  It had rained while we were gone, so once we arrived home, I went to the garage to get dry chairs.  Doug was in the kitchen making a drink while Phil went outside to check the patio.  I was walking with the chair in my arms by the pineapple table when all of a sudden, I saw something move. I put the chair down and yelled at Phil to stop.   At first, I thought that he was playing a trick on me but quickly realized that he wasn't as he was about to step on a snake. 

I was in shock.  Thankfully, my scream alerted Doug and Phil to the danger.  I suggested the snake pole and gloves, but unfortunately neither were helpful.  The snake was too thin for the pole to work and none of us wanted to try and grab it even with gloves.  The guys tried to chase it out with a broom, but unfortunately the snake got behind the China cabinet.  I started panicking that it would get into my bedroom and ran to get a blanket to block the base of the door.  Fortunately, they were able to move the cabinet out enough to get the snake out of the corner and push him with a broom out the sliding glass door.  The snake laid on the patio recuperating for quite some time before slithering off.  None of us went back outside last night and today I went to Lowe's first thing in the morning to purchase Snake-Away and a door protector to block the base of my bedroom door just in case any other reptiles stop by for another scary visit.