And we have today's TMI winnah, rite thar. (Reaching for the mental bleach.)
I dropped my car keys . . .
- Thread starter Faulkner
- Start date
And we have today's TMI winnah, rite thar. (Reaching for the mental bleach.)
meaneyedcatz
Member
When my wife was young her family lived in Texas for a bit. My MIL hated the things. My wife's sister got up in the middle of the night and stepped on one in the house. My wife said her sister screamed like there was no tomorrow!! Everyone got up to see what was going on and my MIL grabbed a broom and started beating that poor spider like it owed her money. When the battle was over it looked like it was snowing spider fuzz.
Have carried a handcuff key for 35+ years. Also have a set of thumb cuffs in the glovebox. You just never know.
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
Last time I dropped my car keys was into a storm sewer grate. Took me an hour to find a wire coat hanger and fish the keyring out.
Tarantulas? Past few weeks we have seen a million or so migrating around the prairies here in southern Colorado. The really scary ones are the size of dinner plates. Mostly of interest for elementary school children to take for "show and tell" days, otherwise we tend to ignore them as part of the scenery.
Tarantulas? Past few weeks we have seen a million or so migrating around the prairies here in southern Colorado. The really scary ones are the size of dinner plates. Mostly of interest for elementary school children to take for "show and tell" days, otherwise we tend to ignore them as part of the scenery.
Snapping Twig
Member
Car ... keys ...? What are those?
That's a beauty, Faulkner. You might like this (gift) NYT article from a couple of years ago.
(Others may want to make a quick exit from the room.)
Trilobites
Why So Blue, Tarantula? A Mystery Gets a New Clue
The large arachnids have long been thought to be colorblind, but new evidence suggests they can perceive each others' brilliant coloring.
Speaking of bites, according to Wikipedia:
(Others may want to make a quick exit from the room.)
Trilobites
Why So Blue, Tarantula? A Mystery Gets a New Clue
The large arachnids have long been thought to be colorblind, but new evidence suggests they can perceive each others' brilliant coloring.
Speaking of bites, according to Wikipedia:
In the Italian province of Taranto, Apulia, the bite of a locally common type of wolf spider, named "tarantula" after the region, was popularly believed to be highly venomous and to lead to a hysterical condition known as tarantism. This became known as the "tarantella".
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And a LOT less than Harry Belafonte
DWalt
Member
For those few who have no idea who Harry Belafonte is.And a LOT less than Harry Belafonte
[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YO7M0Hx_1D8[/ame]
Here in the Sierras the Trantulas usually come ot this time of year but do to warm weather here they are late. I;='ve seen many crossing the road s=to stopped & let them go.
I see he's still alive at 95! And Tony Bennett is 96.....
LVSteve
Member
I believe that is a reference to the highly venomous Brazilian Wandering Spider. It was widely believed that these critters hitch rides in the banana shipments and bite people handling the shipments. Apparently, the issue is rather exaggerated, but if I was moving a crate of bananas and a large black spider came hauling out of the fruit, it would get my attention.
BTW, it's worth repeating my mother's spider ID and action chart.
Attachments
Edit: this was supposed to quote DWALT's story about garden spiders.
We have those in East Texas. They might be harmless and non-aggressive, but if you run into their web in the dark, they can give you a bite that will leave an angry raised red area about the size of a hen's egg.
Sent from my SM-G781U1 using Tapatalk
We have those in East Texas. They might be harmless and non-aggressive, but if you run into their web in the dark, they can give you a bite that will leave an angry raised red area about the size of a hen's egg.
Sent from my SM-G781U1 using Tapatalk
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I still have my call box key.
The spiders were moving a few days ago here, including a twin to the OP. It was a warm, beautiful day, but they must have felt the gianormous wind and cold weather that came the day after.
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As kids, we have handled lots of spiders as well as the above "Mr. Furry".
The only one my parents told us to stay away from was the Black Widow, spider.
Later, when working in construction, we learned to stay far away from the
very dangerous Brown Recluse. Their bite will kill live cells and leave
a large wound, behind.
Think of it as a 2" rattle snake !!
The only one my parents told us to stay away from was the Black Widow, spider.
Later, when working in construction, we learned to stay far away from the
very dangerous Brown Recluse. Their bite will kill live cells and leave
a large wound, behind.
Think of it as a 2" rattle snake !!
OMG I HATE spiders. UGH!!!
mdf9183
US Veteran
I retired in 1997 also and I still have my handcuff key and call box key.
Me too, hanging in the garage next to my dog tags.
I have handcuffs on the mantel next to a slapper but I have no idea where a key is.
PS: The spider would have died.
PS: The spider would have died.
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OP
Faulkner
Member
I started in law enforcement in 1995 and I guess call boxes were pretty much gone by then. I've never even seen one except on old TV reruns.
I wonder if spiders could get in them.
Many years ago my mother asked me what I wanted for my 21st birthday, I told her a tarantula. She wasn't fazed and told me no problem, go buy one and I'll pay for it. I named her Mrs. Peabody and she was a member of the family for 20 years. If you stuck your hand down into her cage she would crawl up your arm onto your shoulder.
When I got married Mrs. Peabody was part of the deal. My wife wouldn't actually touch her but didn't have any issues when I took her out of her cage. When my son's got older they would take her out of her cage and let her walk up their arms with no issues. She would molt at least once a year and the boys would take the molt to school to show it off. She never once bit any of us, she was missed and when she passed away.
When I got married Mrs. Peabody was part of the deal. My wife wouldn't actually touch her but didn't have any issues when I took her out of her cage. When my son's got older they would take her out of her cage and let her walk up their arms with no issues. She would molt at least once a year and the boys would take the molt to school to show it off. She never once bit any of us, she was missed and when she passed away.
I told my daughter in law that spiders are good. They crawl on your face at night and eat the face mites off. She didn't sleep without the light on for a long time. Also, about two days later she called me up and screamed "Face mites???!!! What the heck are they?" Now, if you know her, she didn't use heck and didn't use the place down under. She started washing with wiping down her face with alcohol wipes.
Personally, I have no problem with spiders & snakes. They eat bugs & little furry animals.
Now, one of my ex-wives woke up with a mouse chewing on her hair, probably to make a nice blanket for Mr. Mouse. That was an interesting night, to say the least. She grabbed my unloaded shotgun and went on the hunt. I went back to sleep, laughing in my head. She went & got a cat inside of 3 days to keep in the basement. It caught a boatload of them.
Personally, I have no problem with spiders & snakes. They eat bugs & little furry animals.
Now, one of my ex-wives woke up with a mouse chewing on her hair, probably to make a nice blanket for Mr. Mouse. That was an interesting night, to say the least. She grabbed my unloaded shotgun and went on the hunt. I went back to sleep, laughing in my head. She went & got a cat inside of 3 days to keep in the basement. It caught a boatload of them.
DWalt
Member
My wife's S-I-L from Georgia brought her young daughter to visit us in Texas about 35 years ago. She was fascinated with our back yard tarantulas and played with them. She took one back to Georgia with her in a glass jar. No idea whatever happened to the spider, I never asked.
I wonder how well (or if) a pet tarantula could co-exist with our cats and dogs?
I wonder how well (or if) a pet tarantula could co-exist with our cats and dogs?
OP
Faulkner
Member
When Daisy was a puppy she would bark and slap her paw at them, but as she has gotten older she seldom gives them more than a cursory sniff and moves on.
