Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,
I walked out of the office and down the hall toward my bedroom, and it was there on the floor. Alive. Extra large. Not moving.
I stomped the hell out of it and somehow didn't kill it. It ran into my bedroom and underneath the dressing table.
Disappeared.
I Usain Bolted to grab the buy spray in the hope that I could flush it out. Squirt . . . squirt . . . squirt . . . under and behind the dressing table. Behind the wardrobe.
It didn't come out. I got a flashlight and lowered myself to my knees to look under the furniture.
Nothing but dust bunnies and dog hair.
Penelope came in to take a look. She's still looking. She must remember the time she killed a palmetto bug in the office.
Has Penelope become a great black-and-white palmetto hunter? I hope so.
May God be with you on your quest, Penelope.
I'll let you know if we find . . . it, or another of its ilk.
Infinities of love,
Janie Junebug
My motto as an editor: Authors are the authority on their work. I'm a full-service editor. For a reasonable fee, I'm your writing coach from the first suggested revision to the correction of the final typo.
What is a palmetto?
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't sound like something I would like
A very large, flying cockroach. Around here we call them palmetto bugs. My nephew who is from Arizona calls them sewer roaches. Technically, they are American cockroaches.
DeleteLovely to see a post from you. Much less lovely to read about the palmetto. I hope Penelope triumphs.
ReplyDeleteShe hasn't yet, but I know my little huntress won't give up.
DeleteI find them in the house once in a while, usually on their back wiggling their legs and I cover them with a coffee can and then pile books on top of it until hubby gets home, lol. I get freaked out when I see them on the walls or ceiling. I hate bugs so much!! I hope Penelope finds it.
ReplyDeleteIf I can't stomp on them (I always have shoes or hard-soled slippers on my feet), the best way to get them is to suck them up in the vacuum cleaner. It has a bag that's thrown away when it's full of dust, dog hair, and dead bugs. If Willy Dunne Wooters is here, I scream, and he says, Jeeeeeezusss, Janie!
DeleteReally? Do you really wear shoes in the house? Because I thought I was the only one. lol
DeleteI don't wear shoes in the house very often, but I always wear some kind of slipper that allows me to stomp.
DeleteAWK!!! Sure sign of spring?
ReplyDeleteI guess so, but it's still so chilly at night that at least they aren't running around on the deck when I go out with the pups.
DeleteOut comes the Raid. I hope it's not a cockroach.
ReplyDeleteOh, it's a cockroach all right--one that's very large and can fly. The bug spray doesn't kill them but it can help flush them out. They're very good at disappearing.
DeleteI despise bugs, and those are top of the list!
ReplyDeleteRodents and snakes also make me feel sick.
DeleteI would move.
ReplyDeleteThen perhaps burn the place down.
If I don't get caught, then I can collect the insurance money and move away.
DeleteSpring has sprung!
ReplyDeleteGrrrrrrgh.
DeleteI would not mind them if they stayed outside where they belong. We are surrounded by pines and they seem to love the pine straw so why do they feel the need to occasionally come into my house. There is no pine straw in here!
ReplyDeleteWhen it's hot, they're all over my deck at night. I have a deal with the lizards that if they stay outside, then I won't kill them. Dealing with palmetto bugs is impossible. They don't listen to anything because they know they have the upper tentacle.
DeleteThis is one of the lesser effects of global warming that I'm not looking forward to -- big bugs coming to Canada! lol
ReplyDeleteBut I won't be lol'ing when they get here . . . and I guess by that point I'll have worse things to worry about, like drowning . . . oh god how did I manage to turn this into a depressing comment . . .
Good to see a post from you, Janie, and I hope you find THAT bug so you'll know it's not still in your house.
Usually when they're in the house at night, if I can't kill them, I find them in the morning, nearly dead. Not this one. At least he wasn't in my bed last night.
DeleteOh, gross! That's the trouble with spring. All the nasty bugs come back. Here's hoping you or Penelope find and destroy that ugly critter.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to see you back on the blog, Janie. You've been missed!
Thank you, Debbie. I'm still dealing with exhaustion so I don't accomplish much.
DeleteSorry you're still dealing with that! :( Thyroid pills not helping? Maybe it's something else, like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? Here's hoping you feel better soon!
DeleteMy thyroid is at the normal level now, but it turns out I also have a sleep disorder.
DeletePenelope, hurrah! Destroy the evil bug.
ReplyDeleteShe tries. Franklin ignores them. I guess he knows Penelope will do the work.
DeleteYuck, yuck, yuck !
ReplyDeleteIt is scorpion and newly hatched rattlesnakes season. Mom is hungry but the babies are crazy and snap at anything. It is spring Yea me !
cheers, parsnip
Lions and tigers and rattlesnakes, oh my!
DeleteACK! I hope Penelope finds it. I'd sleep with one eye open!
ReplyDeleteI was nervous last night when I went to bed. He hasn't turned up. I'm glad Penelope sleeps with me.
DeleteOh! I remember the palmetto bug in Florida! That thing is huge! I would have Usain Bolted out of there! You are so funny.
ReplyDeleteThey are dissssssgussssssting.
DeletePenelope's thoughts exactly. She's quite focused.
ReplyDeleteUgh. Cockroaches are the worst, although it sounds so much nicer to say palmetto bug. Either way, though, YUCK. I saw a documentary on roaches once and it talked about how the hairs on their bodies are so sensitive that they feel the vibrations from our walking in a room long before we usually see them. Not that this helps you in any possible way . . . um, sorry.
ReplyDeleteOh Penelope!!! I hope you are victorious against the Palmetto and are showered with treats!
ReplyDeleteOMG, I hate cockroaches! I hope Penelope took care of it!
ReplyDelete