Save the Drama for Your Momma
There's been a lot of drama around me the last week or so. There was the drama (the good kind) of meeting the fabulous bloggers at Rhinebeck. But there's been some drama (the bad kind) in the lives of those around me. It's been an eventful week. I feel like there's something weird going on in the atmosphere...
So this morning when I woke up and looked around and saw that my black thumb of death has claimed another plant's life, I was not surprised. When I got to work I instant messaged Chris.
Me: Did you notice that my black thumb of death claimed another life?
Chris: No.
Chris: Did you notice that the spider's dead?
Okay let me clarify for those that don't know. I have a pet tarantula. It's kind of a dumb pet really. I mean it's cool and has the "ick" factor and is kind of nice and nerdy to have. But all in all the only interaction I have with it is going to Petsmart once every 2 weeks to buy crickets to feed her. I didn't really think that she made that much of an impact on me. But I was freaked out by the news of her apparent death. I mean I teared up a little. I shouted to my coworkers around me "Holy crap my spider DIED!!"
I had to get more information out of Chris. His story was that this morning she was lying on her back in her cage, which she never does. So he thought she was dead. He blew on her to check (this is the closest we come to touching her) and she moved...a tiny bit. But ultimately looked like she was on the brink of death. She was Macauley Kulkin versus a bee hive in my girl, you know?
This was upsetting, so I did what anyone would naturally do.
I googled "Tarantula lying on back."
I found out. Lo and behold.
She might not be dead.
I found out that when spiders die they curl up their legs underneath them, they don't roll on their back; legs up a la Wile E. Kyote. According to the great knowledge base of the internet she was molting. In other words, she had outgrown her current skin and was getting ready to shed it and reveal a new one.
So I read up and realized that there were crickets in her cage (last night's dinner) and that they could hurt her in her fragile state of molting. So I ran home.
That's right. I took off. Left work. Tarantula emergency people, I have to go. The whole way home in my head I sang "I need a hero...Holdin' out for a hero til the end of the night..."
I found her on her back just like Chris said:
Long story short (too late), I got the crickets out using a patented paper cup/piece of paper method and misted her substrate with water like the internet said to and went back to work feeling triumphant.
When I got home tonight I looked in her cage and it looked like there were TWO SPIDERS. That's what her shed skin looked like. Here it is:
Doesn't it look just like her?
This is gross but I'm saving it for Chris' boss's kid who would think this was the coolest thing EVER.
Crisis averted.
Posted by jen at October 19, 2005 09:25 PM
Comments
OH MY GOD. That thing scares me to the very depth of my being.
I am sorry things seem to be wacky... I hope it gets better soon... and at least the spider is okay!
*shudder*
(Yes, I know spiders are good creatures and I want to like them but they scare me.)
Posted by: frecklegirl at October 19, 2005 10:38 PM
That's such an awesome story! Thank goodness for the internet huh!!
Posted by: kat at October 20, 2005 12:20 AM
Whoa! Great story! I would definitely keep that to show people. That's pretty cool. So if you don't touch it, how do you handle her? More of the paper cup action?
Posted by: Angela at October 20, 2005 02:03 AM
I'm so glad you were able to rescue your spider! Whew! And that molting really does look like a second spider! Freaky!
Posted by: Rossana at October 20, 2005 07:43 AM
Minor spider phobia here...but I applaud your actions in leaving work to save your spider friend! I certainly would have done the same thing for one of my animals! xo MJ
Posted by: MJ at October 20, 2005 08:34 AM
Way to go! The spider (gross) is lucky to have such a dedicated owner!
Posted by: Derek at October 20, 2005 08:59 AM
What a great rescue story. I have to admit though I thought the spider skin was a dead spider. It does look exactly like the real thing.
Posted by: Kate at October 20, 2005 09:03 AM
Whata great ending to that story! You're such a dedicated mommy :) Glad that Peter is ok - I'll never forget when you brough it into NGS that one day - freaky but very cool :)
Oh, and sad news here - Jen - the beta fish that you got me when I left NGS finally passed on - lasted over 2 years - that's a record for Beta fish isn't it? He will be remembered fondly :)
Posted by: MF at October 20, 2005 09:57 AM
Oh, and I love the titles of your posts. I chuckled right away when I read that.
Posted by: Derek at October 20, 2005 03:20 PM
Yeah. I just got one of those "ick" chills...Thanks for that. However, I was chuckling at the thought of you driving home to the "I Need a Hero" song. Too funny. You should have been on a motorcycle for that.
Posted by: kiddo78 at October 20, 2005 07:48 PM
Oh. My. God.
That is the coolest thing EVER. I have been inspired to get a tarantula.
Oh my god.
Seriously.
Posted by: Rachel at October 21, 2005 08:55 AM
Wow! I didn't even know that tarantulas molted. Thanks for that - although I am totally grossed out now too!
Posted by: dana at October 21, 2005 11:18 AM
OMG. Thank goodness for internets!! Imagine if you had buried her or something! I loves me some bugs (except the wool-eatin' kind) and now I, too, really really want a tarantula.
Lara said she would feed my cat (if I got one) when I went on long business trips. Think she would be equally willing to play with and feed a ginormous spidey?
Posted by: chelsea at October 21, 2005 02:03 PM
um, like, I would totally feed the Tarantula for Chelsea as long as I didn't actually have to TOUCH the crickets. ew.
the spider skin? way cool.
Glad you saved your spidey :)
Posted by: Lara at October 21, 2005 11:57 PM
OK, the tarantula cannot come to MN with you.
I just watched Arachniphobia yesterday... or I fell to sleep while watching it.
And tarantulas always make me think of the Hawaii episode/s of The Brady Bunch.
Glad s/he is still alive. I know how attached you can get to a pet.
Posted by: hot babe at October 24, 2005 06:04 PM
How did I miss this post?!?!? You are totally a HERO. And yes, I am a *tiny* bit scared of the spider, but she clearly is in the right hands.
P.S. I totally wouldn't have Googled. You are so smart.
Posted by: Carrie at October 25, 2005 08:45 AM
I really love you...This is my best big lug post for this year you know...well besides the wedding stuff of course...tarantula lying on back...don't you just love google?I have googled little red dot rash on hand before and got a explanation for Michael's funky virus he had last year
Posted by: stacy at October 25, 2005 11:44 PM
oh,sorry to hear about all the ick drama...we experienced that with people in our life for a while and are finally getting back on the happy go lucky track again..hope you and your peeps do to
can you tell by my humor this is a late night post?I get goofy
Posted by: sta say at October 25, 2005 11:47 PM
