COUS
Trouble is afoot in Tuvalu, my friends.
It is the time of year when we, citizens of this island, must deal with the hazards of changing weather. We endure cold mornings and warm evenings, bring sweaters to our offices and then sweat, and confront all manner of insects who seek shelter in our little hut.
Spiders and beetles invade our windowsills, the occasional ant appears near the back door and crickets swarm our outer walls.
Yes, crickets.
Big crickets.
I'm not talking about those heartwarming crickets beloved by many cultures. I'm talking about leggy, jumping, sticky, prickly crickets. Crickets who enjoy jumping up into one's pant legs. Crickets who fear nothing. Crickets who live and jump and even mock us as we attempt to slow their infiltration.
Crickets Of Unusual Size.
Named for the Rodents Of Unusual Size from The Princess Bride,
(and, yes, this is the best clip I could find re the ROUS)
COUSes have out-lived all manner of assaults.
We have sprayed Lysol.
We have shot Windex.
We have carefully laid strips of gaffers tape (sticky side up) around the perimeter of our home.
And YET...COUSes have been found in our showers, in our washing machine (closed!) and, last night, in Middle's bedroom.
It's true.
This morning, Middle was especially tired on the train.
Coincidentally, I had been woken in the middle of the night by a thumping noise. At the time, I imagined one of the boys had gotten up for a drink or gone to the loo, but, it turns out, Middle was doing battle.
Apparently, he glanced at his bedside table and saw a COUS staring at him.
Being somewhat squeamish, Middle donned his gloves -
grabbed a pvc pole from his home-made dolly track -
and went to war.
He's not sure if he actually killed the beast but he felt secure in the fact that he stunned it well enough to go to bed.
In any case, I hope you'll wish us well.
We might actually have to buy some pesticide.
Here's another great scene from The Princess Bride
and here's a terrific thing to put on your name tag the next time you are forced to wear one.
Have a great weekend.
It is the time of year when we, citizens of this island, must deal with the hazards of changing weather. We endure cold mornings and warm evenings, bring sweaters to our offices and then sweat, and confront all manner of insects who seek shelter in our little hut.
Spiders and beetles invade our windowsills, the occasional ant appears near the back door and crickets swarm our outer walls.
Yes, crickets.
Big crickets.
I'm not talking about those heartwarming crickets beloved by many cultures. I'm talking about leggy, jumping, sticky, prickly crickets. Crickets who enjoy jumping up into one's pant legs. Crickets who fear nothing. Crickets who live and jump and even mock us as we attempt to slow their infiltration.
Crickets Of Unusual Size.
Named for the Rodents Of Unusual Size from The Princess Bride,
(and, yes, this is the best clip I could find re the ROUS)
COUSes have out-lived all manner of assaults.
We have sprayed Lysol.
We have shot Windex.
We have carefully laid strips of gaffers tape (sticky side up) around the perimeter of our home.
And YET...COUSes have been found in our showers, in our washing machine (closed!) and, last night, in Middle's bedroom.
It's true.
This morning, Middle was especially tired on the train.
Coincidentally, I had been woken in the middle of the night by a thumping noise. At the time, I imagined one of the boys had gotten up for a drink or gone to the loo, but, it turns out, Middle was doing battle.
Apparently, he glanced at his bedside table and saw a COUS staring at him.
Being somewhat squeamish, Middle donned his gloves -
grabbed a pvc pole from his home-made dolly track -
and went to war.
He's not sure if he actually killed the beast but he felt secure in the fact that he stunned it well enough to go to bed.
In any case, I hope you'll wish us well.
We might actually have to buy some pesticide.
Here's another great scene from The Princess Bride
and here's a terrific thing to put on your name tag the next time you are forced to wear one.
Have a great weekend.
Comments
My college dorm had three floors. I was on the third floor. The first floor was halfway underground. To exit the building by the back way (toward campus), you had to go out the first floor doors and walk up some stairs to ground level.
In that stairwell? Every September? Crickets, both dead and alive, FOUR INCHES DEEP.
I still have a twitch.
And I can still smell them.
Hey! Pleasant dreams!
There was a "Spider Incident" at my daughter's house this week. The spider was the size of a Sorority Girl's fist. They called the house of some brave college boys. The boys arrived in tool belts containing cans of Raid, hammers and chemistry goggles. The pictures were priceless!
"FREQUENTLY HAVE" is what I ment to say.
Sorry 'bout that.
..... Valley or ...... Grove.
Because of COUS!
Paola
I LOVE that nametag!
I am so doing that the next time I have to wear one.
Better COUS than palmetto bugs, which is what I live with :P