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Not the heat. While icky and uncomfortable, the heat can be dealt with.
No, the reason late summer is bad is because late summer is when all the spiders have grown up and are seeking mates. The Husband apparently has started seeing (and throwing out) more spiders recently.
Last night, I got up in the middle of the night to go use the bathroom. Flush, wash hands, happen to glance over my shoulder as I reach to turn off the light. There on the wall next to the toilet was a HUGE spider. I run into the bedroom, gibber at The Husband, and he goes to trap it and fling it outside. He tells me that it was indeed a big spider, but not as big as one he threw out the other day.
It took a very long time for the gooseflesh to go away and for me to fall back to sleep. No surprise, I had nightmares about the eight-legged things.
I know spiders are good, helpful creatures. I know they get rid of bad bugs. I know they aren't really lurking in corners, waiting to jump out at me. None of this makes a damn bit of difference to my automatic, instinctive reaction of screaming and running away. Miss Alexia suggested getting me a cuddly plush toy spider to help me overcome my phobia; I explained to her that not only would that not help, but possibly freak me out even more.
I keep hoping that the spiders will just understand that they shouldn't ever show themselves to me, but they don't seem to be getting the message.
No, the reason late summer is bad is because late summer is when all the spiders have grown up and are seeking mates. The Husband apparently has started seeing (and throwing out) more spiders recently.
Last night, I got up in the middle of the night to go use the bathroom. Flush, wash hands, happen to glance over my shoulder as I reach to turn off the light. There on the wall next to the toilet was a HUGE spider. I run into the bedroom, gibber at The Husband, and he goes to trap it and fling it outside. He tells me that it was indeed a big spider, but not as big as one he threw out the other day.
It took a very long time for the gooseflesh to go away and for me to fall back to sleep. No surprise, I had nightmares about the eight-legged things.
I know spiders are good, helpful creatures. I know they get rid of bad bugs. I know they aren't really lurking in corners, waiting to jump out at me. None of this makes a damn bit of difference to my automatic, instinctive reaction of screaming and running away. Miss Alexia suggested getting me a cuddly plush toy spider to help me overcome my phobia; I explained to her that not only would that not help, but possibly freak me out even more.
I keep hoping that the spiders will just understand that they shouldn't ever show themselves to me, but they don't seem to be getting the message.
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From:
at least it's not Australia
I spoke to a sp---r once. Told him to turn
around and go back. And he did. No, most of
them do not listen. But that one did.
I read an article on the things once, which
referred to a deeply programmed organic aversion
to "that starburst shape." Ugh.
Would mantids help?
From:
Re: at least it's not Australia
And I know spiders aren't insects (eeek!), so that helps me.
From:
hee hee
Is there something you're not telling us?
Arachne?
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Mmmm...ummm...
From:
no subject
What a very bad man.
It took a very long time for the gooseflesh to go away and for me to fall back to sleep. No surprise, I had nightmares about the eight-legged things.
You read of my mortal combat with the giant roach the other day, yes?
Not a spider, but produced a very similar reaction in me. I hate roaches almost as much as I hate sp---rs
From:
Re: at least it's not Australia
I don't think my problem is "that starburst shape". My biggest problem is the way the dratted things move. Various SF movies have had non-sp---r-looking alien critters that move that way, and I get twitchy and squirmy watching them.
From: (Anonymous)
no subject
Hush, you. Oh, and... Look out behind you!
Peev
From:
no subject
From:
I find humor...
Arachne, indeed.
(And, for those who were wondering, it's "air-re(g)n-YAY" (the (g) is a semi-pronounced "ng" instead of a straight "n")
And the "r" should be tapped/flipped, but not completely rolled. Depending on where you're from - Quebec, Paris, or anywhere else French is spoken. I can't swear for my accent, since my last lesson was - lord - 20 years ago...
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no subject
I usually try to have them caught and released. Not this time. I think I hate walking into a web in the dark more than an actual confrontation with the spinner. Nhgahh.
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no subject
From:
I don't trust anything with 8 legs
Spiders have too many legs. That's my problem w/them. Cockroaches & other bugs don't bother me as much -- they have 2 less legs. 8 legs is bad! Like you said, it's related to the way they move. Things with 8 legs move wrong. Plush spiders, toy spiders, doesn't matter. Too many legs! A friend once gave me a gummy tarantula, & I automatically threw it across the room. It was reflex action. I can't wear goth stuff w/spiders on it either. Spider *webs* are ok. But not the spiders themselves.
From:
Re: I don't trust anything with 8 legs
Every now and then, one of the fashion magazines I read decides to be even more arty than usual, and spice up their photo layouts with something exotic. Personally, I don't see how having a tarantual crawling over a Chanel bag makes it more interesting, but I had the exact same reaction: watch the magazine sail across the room!
I can't wear goth stuff w/spiders on it either. Spider *webs* are ok. But not the spiders themselves.
I have a giant sparkly rhinestone spider pin, that stays on a top hat. That's about it. I looked briefly at the sparkly spider hairsticks that were at Hot Topic last fall, then shuddered and put them down. Like you said, spider webs are fine on things, just not the things that live in them.
From:
Re: I don't trust anything with 8 legs