Arachnophobia

I’m losing the spider war.  I’m fine with a little spider here or there.  They don’t even really make me squeamish if I know where they are.  But huge mammoth spiders are invading our basement apartment, munching on me in the night.  It’s really getting out of control.  I’m losing sleep and feeling desperate.  At first I hauled out the vacuum and vacuumed them up.  These guys are too big to squish with toilet paper, or even a paper towel.  I can’t stand it when you can feel the squirm and crunch under your fingers.  Now, because of global warming or whatever, they seem to be having a population-control problem and I am finding them with such frequency that getting out the vacuum each time is no longer a practical option.  I’ve resorted to the fly-swatter method.  I made a concoction of vegetable oil, dish soap, vanilla and water (I got the recipe online) and sprayed it all over our bedroom…an environmentally friendly, poison-free method of encouraging the spiders to find lunch elsewhere.  It seemed to be working for a couple of days but yesterday I found a horker and tried to kill it but MISSED.  It got away.  That’s the worst.  Then you KNOW there’s a big, mad one somewhere close by.  Today there was one on the bedroom floor.  (A big one, I mean.  The little ones don’t even merit a mention anymore.)  I always find it hard to get cozy in bed just after I’ve found a spider the size of my head just inches from my pillow.  Well, off to beddie-by.  Sleep tight.



7 Responses to “Arachnophobia”

  1. Lis Says:

    September 11th, 2007 at 10:39 pm
    Visit Lis

    By the way, my grandma is a saint. She catches and releases spiders. Even the big ones. ESPECIALLY the big ones. She says the big ones have little personalities. Nothing like grandma having the guts to carefully capture her spiders and return them to nature to make you feel guilty about your killing spree…

  2. Jennifer Says:

    September 14th, 2007 at 6:07 am
    Visit Jennifer

    Lizzy -
    Send me your address. I’ll send you a non-poison solution for catching spiders. It’s a little rectangular “house” with some kind of attractant w/sticky paper on the floor. The creatures climb in and stay there. I found it at Hardware Sales. I’m not as “pure” as Evie, but I also don’t poison the little (big!!!) buggers.
    Sorry to here your dealing with them. You can take heart that once you get freezing weather, you won’t get any new ones – but the heat in the walls, foundation, etc. will keep the existing ones alive and well.
    How many traps do you want?
    ;~)

  3. jenna Says:

    September 16th, 2007 at 5:16 am
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    dude, lis, i’m feeling them crawling on me as i type. i soooort of know what you mean–we have the little buggers every-freakin-where. but we’re only talking raisin up to half-dollar size. nothing like what you apparently are dealing with. eeeeeeeewww. with the weather getting cooler they are coming in for warmth and shelter. nasty give-me-the-shivers. i pretend to like them so Abby won’t be scared of them. but its hard to not panic.

    p.s. nice website!!! great to see all the adventure pics. i miss you.

  4. Jimmy Says:

    September 23rd, 2007 at 7:18 pm
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    Hey you two! I think the solution I learned from Darrell was to use a vacuum cleaner to suck them up. Dunno if they can crawl back out or not! =)

  5. Dana Says:

    September 26th, 2007 at 7:34 pm
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    Hey guys,
    I really dont care for spiders either. :(
    I know Tyler will like this idea.
    Gas + Match = BBQ Pork, wait strike that, Spider.
    Hey, just a thought. :)

  6. mom Says:

    October 9th, 2007 at 8:05 am
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    Elisabeth Charlotte- remember Charlotte as in Charlotte’s web. Put a sign, or signs, around your room/house that say, “No Spiders Allowed”. Spiders can read.

  7. auntie brenda Says:

    October 27th, 2007 at 9:40 am
    Visit auntie brenda

    Lis,
    Do i have to send you the “Be nice to spider’s” book? You didn’t think I read your blog apparently…well I sometimes do! Another thing I can suggest is to locate some Harvest spiders. They are the king of all spiders and they will eat all other spiders that enter your house. They look alot like the daddy long legs (a spider everyone likes) but are thinner. If you get some of those (I’m not sure if they can be mailed there but if they can I have some to spare) and put several in closets and the bathroom, etc. they will take over and cure your problem. I’ve done this in 3 places I’ve lived now and it works! Good luck and quit murdering the poor creatures….Lis, you know better! Auntie Brenda


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