Ewwwwwwwwwwww

[catalyst2]

Just got up from the laptop to make a drink and put my slippers on. As I put the left one on, there was a moment of brief resistance under my heel and then a sticky wet squelch underfoot as I crushed something. I rip my slipper off and threw it as far away from me as I could (fortunately everyone else has gone to bed so no-one saw my pathetic display). My heel was sticky with yellowy-green gunk. When I eventually peeked in the slipper, there was the biggest spider I have *ever* seen. It's body was at least six inches across and its legs were probably about 2 feet, maybe even three feet across! Just frigging enormous! Almost as big as a small dog! I had to scoop all the gunk out of the slipper and wash my heel whilst gagging all the way!

It is just possible that in all my hysteria, the spider was just *slightly* smaller than three feet across. Still .... ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

Comments

[brownishcoat.livejournal.com]

Holy crap! I'd have nightmares and crawly skin for a month.

Electricspacegirl was pimping your LJ the other day, and as I remembered you from Whedonesque, I friended you. Hope that's OK.

Cheers!

[catalyst2.livejournal.com]

Yes, I have been thoroughly pimped this week .... uh, so, how about that weather then?

Proud to be added and I will reciprocate!

[electrcspacegrl.livejournal.com]

You know, I could have kept you all to myself. Maybe I should've. ;)

[catalyst2.livejournal.com]

You'll make me *blush* all over again!

[electrcspacegrl.livejournal.com]

I'll stop if you want me to.

[catalyst2.livejournal.com]

Stop what?

*walks off, whistling a jaunty tune*

[electrcspacegrl.livejournal.com]

Wow, 2 spider stories on my f-list on the same day. What are the odds?

[catalyst2.livejournal.com]

Yeah but hers was all positive and nice - mine was full of crushing and splurtage!

Just mentioning it brings all that "ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww" back again!

[electrcspacegrl.livejournal.com]

That reminds me of my giant cockroach story.

[catalyst2.livejournal.com]

"Well, at least it didn't set a fire in my hair while I was sleeping."

Holy crap - they can do that?

I know, I know but still, creeeeeeeeeepy!

[brownishcoat.livejournal.com]

The ones in Bug can. That movie freaked me out, too.

We have those roaches here; Southeast Texas. I've been attacked in the shower twice in the last three months. I heard noises in there this morning, but when I got the flyswatter and opened the door, nothing there. Was I ever relieved!

My ex got stung by a scorpion in West Texas. It crawled on him while he was sleeping and apparently he swatted at it involuntarily.

[catalyst2.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, bug stories - the one you will usually hear from Australia is about redback spiders (http://www.csiro.au/csiro/content/standard/ps1rv.html). They are quite common around us (seen on a daily basis) but some common sense usually prevents most bites:
- Don't stuck your hand into dark cavities without checking what's in there first
- Teach children what redbacks look like, that they need to move away from them and tell an adult
- (my personal favourite) If you are going to kill them, kill them really thoroughly

This occasionally sees me prowling around the house with steelcap boots on, a spare shoe in one hand and a can of bug spray in the other! They don't get away from me often!