I think I've seen the light

[catspaw]

This tarantula wrangling thing has certainly had some knock-on effects.

Last night, when home alone, there was a huge spider on the stairs. Huge. Really. Big even by non-fear-fuelled standards of bigness (ie biggest damn house spider I've seen over here in a long, long time - every bit as big as one that menaced feather_autant on our autumn trip to WA last year). #1 daughter was whining about having to pass it. Normally, I'd get a hold of The Man to deal with it on all our behalfs but, like I say, I was Home Alone.

So I grabbed a newspaper, big brave me, and went to deal with it. For lo, I have Wrangled a Tarantula and Survived - so how bad can a big, huge, everyday, common or garden house spider be? And yes, 'deal with it' means 'flatten the little bugger'.

Never again, I don't think.

I whacked at it and missed, and it bounced around some: by crikey, it could move! And then it ran head first into a corner of one of the steps. And stopped there. And I swear, it was just like it had its wee head buried in its arms and was thinking to iteself, 'I can't see it! I can't see that big scary thing with the flappy white and black thing that keeps swiping at me! I can't see it any more! So it must have gone away!'

It was probably still thinking that when I swiped it and flattened it.

But do you know what? I actually felt guilty. I'm still feeling guilty. I think I'll still be feeling guilty tomorrow. And I don't think I'll go that again. :-(

Comments

[nicci-mac.livejournal.com]

That was the first step on the arachnaphobia road to recovery. If you can keel eet, it has no power over you.

Second step is the whole glass-postcard-throw-it-out-the-window thing which comes with less guilt, but way more adrenalin.

[catspaw-sgjd.livejournal.com]

Adrenalin, you say? I was shaking like a leaf by the time I'd done the evil deed and was disposing of the poor, sad corpse.

Honestly babes, I never, ever, ever thought I'd feel sorry for one of the little sods, but this time, I did. I think I'll need to invest in one of those things that perclexed is talking about below, and start evicting rather than flattening.

[perclexed.livejournal.com]

Now you know why I cry every time I have to smoosh one. I wish I could get close enough to scoop and toss outside, but I just can't. I think there's some sort of rod with a thing on the end that sucks them up in a way that you can trap it and maybe get someone who is less afraid to release it outside, but I can't remember what it's called. My sister recalls something in a Sky Mall catalog once. I should search around and see if I can't find one.

{{{snugs you}}} I feel your pain with that, I really really do.

[catspaw-sgjd.livejournal.com]

::snuggles down::

I know exactly the sort of thing you're talking about and I know where to get one over here too. I really think I'll have to do that in future.

And after nearly 50 years of arachnophobia, I can't believe I just typed that

[wadjet-theperv.livejournal.com]

That's actually pretty amazing. It's a huge step forward in your arachnophobia because you're finally seeing it as a living thing and not just a beastie about to get you.

*hugsyouhard*

Good on you!

You can get bug catchers pretty easily on the net I think and even in some hardware stores. You'll find one :o)

[catspaw-sgjd.livejournal.com]

::hugs you back::

*I* certainly never thought I'd see the day.

[sharp2799.livejournal.com]

WIth spiders (considered good luck in my family, go figure), I'm half and half. IF I think I can get the front door open, scoop it on a BIG piece of paper and keep moving it to keep the spider on it while I run for the door, I will. Otherwise--

*flattens it*

[catspaw-sgjd.livejournal.com]

Hmm yes, the pragmatic approach ;-)

It's a bit daft to be worried about them over here ::laughs ruefully at self:: seeing as only one of ours can give you anything like a bite, and it lives in the garden!

It's a huge relief not to be nearly so bothered about them any more :-)

[riverfox.livejournal.com]

Awwwwwww. {{{{{{{{ hugs you }}}}}}}} That sucks, mostly for the spider. *g* I kill the itty bitty damn things that can hide in my hair. The big 'uns get scooped up in a cup and tossed back outside. Silly-assed damned things.