The Willies

I was out and about dumping the trash this morning when I came across something that not only made me jump but shudder as well.

I had tossed the trash into the dumpster and was making my way back to the trailer through the pine trees when I noticed something on the ground directly in my path. From a distance it looked brown and hairy and I jerked my knee up and sidestepped over whatever it was in a choppy sort of motion so as not to step on it. I walked a few more feet before curiousity got the best of me and I had to know what it was. I retraced my steps and peered down at the brown thing. My fears were confirmed. I was staring at the biggest and hairiest brown spider I've seen in Texas yet. Aughhhh!

I leaned down for a closer look and the spider didn't move. His hairy, long legs were outstretched and I didn't know if it was alive or playing dead so as to catch an unsuspecting grasshopper. I fearfully swallowed and grabbed for a stick nearby. The first one I picked up was only about 6 inches long and that was not enough for me. Heaven only knew if that spider was a jumping spider and I didn't want it jumping on me! I traded in the runt of a stick for a longer one and mentally prepared myself for what I was about to do. (AKA-plan my escape route in case he came running after me.)

I got as close as I dared and gently touched the spiders leg. No movement. I poked his abdomen with the tip of the stick and still nothing. While I moved the stick around the spider trying to get a reaction I was a nervous wreck on the inside. My heart was ready to seize up with fear, waiting for the spider to jump to life and scare me silly.

After moving him around with the stick and leaning in as close as I dared I came to the conclusion that he was very much alive. My heart jumped to a fast paced rythem as I threw down the stick and got my feet in motion for home. I shuddered as I thought about that spider and how he was probably laughing at how scared I was......gives me the willies!

As I made my way down the road towards the trailer I was so preoccupied with freaked out frantic thoughts of that spider that when I noticed a shadow on the ground coming towards me I nearly jumped out of my skin. I jerked my whole body from left to right in one swift motion and wound up clear on the other side of the road.

Never has a butterfly scared me so much. HA!

Hopefully the people nearby didn't see my display of jerky body movements. They no doubt were unable to see the insects I was dealing with that would stir such a reaction in somebody and probably thought I was going into convulsions or on my way to a seizure.

Heaven help the spider that finds its way into my trailer.

Flight of the Butterfly

I was out in the backyard with the dogs this afternoon when I noticed something shiny over in the grass. Upon closer examination I realized it was a torn up baggie of some sorts. Not wanting the dogs to consume what they had clearly already shredded I picked up the pieces. As I was down on the ground level I couldn't help but notice the mountain of dog poop nearby that one of the dogs had so nicely disposed of. I wasn't quite in the mood to pick up their poops right then so I gathered what was in my hand and went to throw it away.

The weather had been so pleasant today that I decided to walk around the yard with the dogs a bit before heading in for good. I meandered around the grass enjoying the sunshine warming my skin and the breeze blowing through my curls when I saw a butterfly out of the corner of my eye. I slowed my movement so as not to startle it and admired his orange colored wings fluttering in the breeze. Apparently the breeze was a mite too much for him at the moment and the butterfly stopped for a break. He landed on the mountain of poop!

I gasped in shock as I watched in horror as the orange butterfly sat directly on top of the poop pile and opened and closed his wings. Never in all my life have I seen a butterfly land on dog poop. Butterflies belong on trees, flowers and bushes.......not dog poop!

I could hardly believe what my eyes were seeing and leaned in for a closer look. That's when the butterfly launched itself off of the mountainous pile of dog poop and landed on my shirt. Pahhhh! Yuck.

What's this world coming to? LOL!

My New Whistle

I have been suffering from a terrible cold over the past week and let me assure you it has been no kind of fun. The Kleenex have been flying to the left and right and my nose could give Rudolph some serious competition.

My husband has put up with me rather well through all of the nose blowing, coughing, clearing of the throat, and pill popping at night. I'll admit, I sound more like a foghorn at times rather than a gentle rustling breeze when I blow my nose and although he has made a few comments about my nose while I've been sick there are times I just can't help but laugh at his antics.

Last night he gave me one more reason to laugh. We were lying in bed and I decided I had better blow my nose one more time before turning out the lights. I did so and as I leaned back into my pillows, taking comfort in the fact that it was finally time to let my body rest, I let out a contented sigh. However, that was not all that came out. Due to the stuffy nose I've been battling in order to at least breathe comfortably I forced the air from my lungs to plunder through my nose and out came a slight whistle of air. I figured I was the only one who had heard my nose whistle but it wasn't to be.

My husband rolled over from his side of the bed where he had been petting the dogs and with an ornery grin on his face said, "You're going to have the dogs going crazy if you keep that whistle up. They're gonna think you have a dog whistle."

Oh I was rolling in laughter! What tune shall I whistle out tonight........? LOL!

Broke Back

Ever since I was a little kid I've picked up change lying on the ground. I suppose I've just got a knack for finding change. Little did I know that one day the act of picking up change could be hazardous to my health.

We spent the weekend at Disneyland and I'll admit I found my fair share of change over our 3 day stay there. However, on the first day at Disneyland we left the park late in the afternoon so we could check into our hotel. My feet were tired from walking all day but I gathered up my belongings from the car and prepared to trudge up to the 3rd floor where our room was located. I was loaded down with a duffle bag, my purse and a 24 pack of water as I made my way across the hotel parking lot. I was shuffling across the lot when I saw a dime lying on the ground directly in front of me. In the back of my mind I knew I should have kept my momentum up and continued on my trek towards the elevator but my mind was determined to pick it up despite my heavy load. I bent down to pick it up thinking it would be an easy snag but my legs had something different to say. Little did I know that one move was going to bring me to my knees!

After walking around Disneyland all day my legs were in much need of a rest and I hardly had the strength to push myself back up on my feet............especially with the shifting weight of my load I was carrying. They crumbled underneath me, so there I sat crouched in the middle of the parking lot, dime in hand. I tried to pull myself together and muster up enough strength to stand up. You should have seen my legs wobble. It felt like all the muscles in my legs and back were trembling. LOL!

I was laughing hysterically at the thought of what I must have looked like. I couldn't suppress the giggles and laughed myself the rest of the way across the parking lot, up the elevator, down the hall and into our room. I can only imagine what I must have looked like.

Talk about broke back. HA!

Icee Malfunction

I have been deprived of a good Icee for a few months now so you can imagine how excited I was to see that old familiar ICEE sign at the local Target.

I threw caution to the wind and jumped in line to buy what held the object of my affection......at the moment. My first clue that I should have stayed away was the $1.25 price smacked onto the shot glass sized cup. I could have been patient and waited for my sister to take me to a QT gas station for a larger cup at a smaller price but the rotating red liquid behind the machine had me captivated. I ordered two and as my brother and I walked up to the ICEE machine I could almost taste the cherry sweetness. I don't even remember who went first but whatever landed in my cup caused a near explosion.

I carefully matched the domed lid up to the spout and pulled the lever for the cherry. Out it came in all its frozen glory and after topping it off I scooted off to the side. All of a sudden melted ICEE came spewing out of the top of my lid and poured down my hand. ICEE began bubbling up and like an avalanche it came rolling down the lid onto the counter and all over me. The only thing running through my brain was, "What in the world? How do I get it to stop?!"

I don't know what kind of gaseous bubbles of ICEE were in the bottom of my cup but they came spewing out like a volcano. What a mess! I can only imagine what the people around me were thinking as they watched me from the nearby line. I felt like saying, "It wasn't me, it was the ICEE!"

Not only did I get an explosive ICEE experience but I also had red hands the rest of the evening. That's some strong Red 40 dye. LOL!

Talk About Bold

One of my dogs has found a new love in barking at squirrels. They run high above on the power lines and cling to the trees. When Abbie sees a squirrel it's as though she gets a one track mind and can't help but focus on anything but the squirrel. As I was getting ready this morning it didn't take long before I heard a ruckus of barking coming from the backyard.

I stormed out the door and over to the corner of the yard where Abbie was barking and found the culprit about 10 feet up on the power line. I don't mind if Abbie watches the squirrels but the barking I try to curb. I took hold of her collar and made her sit. While I was reprimanding Abbie for her "bad behavior" the squirrel was watching everything with a close eye and do you know what he did? He laughed at us! I tell you it sounded like he was outright laughing at us. Talk about ornery!

I stood there in mild shock with my mouth dropped wide open and one hand resting on Abbie's head as I stared in disbelief. That squirrel was chattering away like nobody's business. I couldn't believe that the squirrel had the nerve to be so bold.

I'm starting to believe that the squirrels get some kind of sick enjoyment out of tormenting the dogs down below. LOL!

Moonlight Madness

My husband and I were in the basement last night and as I was lying on the couch I happened to glance up towards the window. Through the curtain I was able to make out the moon and couldn't get over how bright it was. I marveled about how bright it was shining and I insisted my husband pause what he was doing and come take a look. It was amazingly white and it was lighting up the whole window!

After he looked at the window he gave me a sheepish smile and said three simple words, "That's the streetlight." I didn't think for a moment that it could have possibly been the streetlight. All I could focus my thoughts on were the moon. I decided I needed a closer look and shot up off the couch. I went directly to the window and pulled back the curtain. Much to my dismay I saw a white streetlight blazing in the dark night for all to see.

I guess I forgot that my husband has lived in this house for over 24 years and probably knows more about it than I do. Just a minor detail. LOL!

That's one large step for mankind...................and one small step backwards for me.