Thursday, August 20, 2009

ODE To Scorpion

Nobody told me that when we decided to build a home in St. George, Utah right up next to the stunning red cliffs, with the blue, blue sky overhead.....

...with all the privacy of the desert Reserve for our backyard....

...that if we put in a pool, it would become the water source for every desert critter for miles around. OK, I can handle an occasional Gila Monster, or wolf, and packs of chipmunks traipsing through the yard. I'm perfectly happy to let them stay outside, because after all, we are in their territory. But I draw the line when they come into my house.
When the temperatures go over triple digits they think they ought to become part of the family.

I woke up the other morning and before my feet hit the floor, I noticed this.
Mr. Cactus had to rescue me BIG TIME.
I mentioned he'd better be considering relocation. I don't think scorpions live in Alaska do they?
Mr. Cactus tried to calm me down.
"Think of the gift that could come from this situation," he said, "I think scorpions eat THE RATS don't they?"
Ha, ha, ha, Mr. Cactus. Try again.

My pest control guy is now on speed dial, and he's been absolutely wonderful to come out and spray repeatedly, inside and out. He shakes his head and says, "Never seen anything like this. Even your neighbors don't have this problem. But, we'll take care of it!"
Sounded good, until last night I walked into Paul's bedroom and saw this right under his drum set.
As teenage boys go, he didn't care. He thinks my hyperventilation is out of proportion. He even quoted back to me something I've said to HIM a million times: "Now Mom, remember, how you feel is 90% attitude, and 10% circumstance."

ODE TO SCORPION
I do not like them, Sam I am.
I do not like them scor-pi-an.
I do not like them on my floor.
I just can't take it anymore.
I do not like them in Paul's room.
I think I'm going nuts quite soon.
I do not like them in my house.
I think I'd rather have a stinky mouse.

And I won't even talk about the 4 field mice that have been recently caught in my laundry room, in the hallway, in the garage.....

28 comments:

dotti white said...

Oh, Nedra...I feel for you! I would have difficulty with that! Hopefully, they can find a new home! I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers! Stay calm..if you can!!!

Carin said...

Nedra I am sorry, that is one thing about living in dixie you get the creepy crawlys for sure. Of course we had a rattle snake in the hill just up the street so I am not sure which I dislike more LOL!

Lurline said...

Mmmmm, doesn't sound good! Maybe they'll go soon and never come back! When we lived in Mount Isa, we had snakes,and cockroaches as big as bats, in Gove we had buffalo walk through our gardens - it will all settle down soon - maybe after summer!
Hugs - Lurline♥

Mel said...

Bleah! I think I would rather rodents too!

CJ said...

Ohhhhhhhhhh and ewwwwwwwww, not good. I have mice in the ceiling/floor space between the up and downstairs. Driving me nuts but I don't SEE them.

Material Mary said...

I'm with you. Those critters creep me out. My brother lives in St. George and we are going down for Thanksgiving. I'll ask him if he has experienced any problems.
Mary

Dolores said...

Oh thank you for posting this. I am so glad I live where I do. All I have is a squirrel problem that eat my tomatoes and we get the occasional raccoon - but outside only. I don't do triple digits either - I would melt for sure.

Shari said...

I don't know whether to laugh or feel sorry for you - love the poem. To quote Mark Twain (?) "Walk softly and carry a big stick". Very LOL.

Better make a quilt for your pest control guy... he's going to become a great family friend...

Abby and Stephanie said...

It could be worse--think snake! When I lived in Hawaii you wanted a gecko living indoors because they eat the cockroaches everyone had! I became good friends with my exterminator!

Unknown said...

My parents live in AZ for 4 months of the year and their home is sprayed regularly for scorpions. They always say to us "check your shoes before putting your feet in". Scary thought. I hope the spraying takes care of that!

Carol said...

OMG I would have been on top of the dresser screaming and hyperventilating. Hopefully they relocate!

Thimbleanna said...

YIKES!!! I'd be having Mayflower on speed dial LOL! My beloved auntie lives out in the boonies in St. George...I'll have to ask her if she sees scorpions in her house. I knew there was a reason I only visit her when she's at her farther-north-house!

Jane's Fabrics and Quilts said...

Ok, eewww, I agree!! We live in the woods and also have a lot of wildlife, yes that is fine, but not bugs!! We can get carpenter ants, they are so strong, you can put a book on them, step on the book (yes I have done that) and they will carry the book away. good luck, kiddo!

Doreen K. said...

Oh Nedra, that is awful. I think I would have to sleep with my shoes on, in case I had to get up in the middle of the night. I wonder where they are getting in to the house.

Jana said...

Yuck. I'm afraid I would be packing and moving if I had those critters in my home! Do you have a snake problem too? Oh ugh.

Your welcome to move to Wyoming....I've only found large critters here, like deer and antelope munching on the lawn.

Freda's Hive said...

oh Nedra! I can totally relate. It is like feeling you've been invaded and that you have no control over your own home. I know that hyperventilation feeling. I have a thing about mice. I am like a mad woman if there is a mouse in the house. And we had a slew of them when our neighbors built their home and disturbed a huge nest. Anyway that is another story, maybe I told you about it. But scorpions! Aye carumba. Scary. I hope you get to where they are coming in and figure it all out. How disturbing.

Elizabeth said...

Not fun! I was talking to my friend who lives in Phoenix the other day and she said they got them in the house all the time too. Yuck!

Amy Dayton said...

Well- if you are considering living in AZ someday...sorry to tell you we have a LOT of scorpions here too. Also we have killed about 10 black widows and 1 brown recluse at our new home (all outside or in the garage thankfully.) I don't think scorpions eat rats, but they do eat crickets! personally I'd rather have the crickets around. Scorpions glow under black light, so if Paul has one of those, you can do inspections before you go to bed. Oh, and my neighbor woke up with a scorpion on her hand the other day, so be grateful yours was found on the floor!!

Patsy said...

I lived on the mountain in El Paso, TX (desert) with no houses behind us either. We had the exterminator every month and sometimes in between. Can't tell you how many times they surprised us, and the sting is something else. Keep Benedryl on hand. Be sure to shake out your shoes before inserting feet! Sorry you have to deal with this. Brings back memories of my 17 years dealng with them

Sharleen said...

Nothing like getting your heart going first thing in the morning to see that! I wouldn't deal with it very well either. Hopefully the pest control people can get things under control!

Eileen said...

This is very disturbing. And I thought centipedes and spiders were bad.

Live Well With Judi said...

This is terrible! I remember making the bed at your house and there he was right next to my foot! I think I hit the ceiling when I jumped! I read Amy's comments and I'm hyperventilating for both of you!! And she's got babies!! Hugs

Kim Walus said...

Oh my!!! I don't like creepy crawly things and the scorpion definitely fits in that description.

Aubrey said...

This might be my favorite blog post of yours ever. Who knew you were a poet? (I didn't rhyme that one on purpose) ;) The Lord has spared me the AZ bark scorpion so far. I think he knows if AZ is the right place for me to be my life must be scorpion free. You poor thing!

Dawn said...

We have a ton of scorpions here too but I don't think I have ever had one in my house. In the garage, but not in the house. I'm with you...I don't mind the critters outside, but not in my house!! Eeek!

Aleena said...

I feel your pain! Scorpions make me shiver!

So I LOVE your covered buttons and I WANT some!! When I order them do I have to order the tools too, or when I order 100 1 1/2" buttons does it come with everything I need to start my own addiction??

I love your blog and I love all of the fun things you get to do. some day...

Judi said...

I was ready to pack up and leave here as soon as I saw my first cockroach, but I have gotten used to the little buggers! Luckily the pest guy does a great job. I am sure I would be out of here if I saw a scorpion, good luck on that one! Wouldn't mind having the pool though.

Nicole said...

My dad actually got stung by a scorpion in Vegas last weekend. Creepy! He was asleep.