You know about my mother's phobia of all things reptilian, here's mine: spheksophobia. I'll give you a moment to look that up...[Jeopardy theme song plays]...okay, done?So the landscaper comes over Friday night and as we go down the front steps I notice something suspicious looking on the soffit - right by the front door.
"What is that?!", knowing full well what it was.
He replies, "You don't want to know. But maybe it's empty."
Now that's a bit like telling a woman in labor her contraction is almost over - she knows better.
Of course it was the beginning of a hornet's nest. I berate myself for not listening to my little inner voice and calling the bug man sooner. Ugh. And I have to go back in the house right past it! Double holy mother of pearl ugh.
Saturday, after fortifying myself with a german chocolate cupcake from A Southern Season (delicious by the way), I buy a can of 25% more, newer spray from Harris Teeter (because you cannot have enough of this) and head across the street to ask my neighbor if she's willing to do the deed since the bug man can't come until...MONDAY!!! It could be the size of a football field by then!!
Thank god she was willing to come over and save me. One hornet dies at the scene, another one flies off, which creeps me out. But I put it out of my mind and head off to Duke Chapel with friends for the "Sparks of Divinity" concert by the Women's Voices Choir. Beautiful setting and a great concert.
Back at home, I'm puttering around in my jammies, when I spy something on the living room floor. I move in to investigate.
HOLY CRAP.
It's.
A.
HORNET!
In my house.
(I actually have goosebumps remembering). HOW DID IT GET IN HERE?! HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN IN HERE?! Okay, don't panic - wait, TOO LATE!!
The cats are nonchalant, so maybe it's dead. Oscar helps me by swiping it with his paw as he walks past. Thanks Oscar! It rears up in this crazy ninja hornet move. NOOOOOO!!!
omgomgomgomgomgomgomgbucketneedabucket.
Find a bucket, gather some reserve of courage and throw the bucket over the hornet. Finn comes over to investigate...NO FINN DON'T TOUCH IT!! Don't move the bucket. (I'm hissing now. Can hornets hear?) Good kitty. Where's that piece of cardboard? Summon even more courage and slide cardboard under bucket. Part of one of its legs is poking out, which really interested Finn. Noooo...(dissolve into sobbing).
Now carry it outside, put it on the deck and run back inside. Obsess for several hours over how it got in (did it come in on ME?!), how long it's been in here, and if there are more. Freak out when two of the cats become very interested in the bottom of the floor lamp, but it was only a spider. I can deal with spiders.
I had the heebie-jeebies for hours. A piece of my hair fell out of the headband when I was washing my face and I screamed and jumped about a foot off the ground. I hate this part of spring in North Carolina.
And hell yes, the bucket is still on the deck.
I hate wasps, hornets, bumble bees and yellow jackets. My older brother used to hit them just enough to stun them put them on a stick and chase me with them. I would run screaming to my mom. I think that is how I developed a hate/fear relationship with all thinks with stingers. I wonder if he is still under the bucket??:-) Have I ever told you about "occasional visitors"? That is what the exterminator called them,,,,I hate them more then bees.
ReplyDeleteOh Kathiey, aren't siblings wonderful?! Yikes! What are "occasional visitors"???
ReplyDeleteI don't mind bees. Yellow jackets are numero uno in the badness dept. in my book, followed very closely by hornets and wasps. I really don't go outside until it cools off, I weed in the rain (my neighbors must think I'm crazy!) and pay someone to mow the lawn.
Haha Manxsters! Yes, the bucket is still upside down on the deck, cardboard still in place.
...Meaning the hornet is still on the deck? Oh dear.
ReplyDeleteNot anymore. It was just a shell of its former self. Still creepy to me though!!
ReplyDelete