Now last night, we had quite a self-induced extravaganza. A handful of us girls were hanging out in one of the huts, when something large scurried by. Assuming it was a cockroach, we all got a little grossed out and started searching for ways to kill it. However, after it ran into the bathroom, we got a good look at the thing and realized it was a ridiculously GIGANTIC cricket! (About 3 inches long and 1 inch tall- thing cricket on steroids) Logically, we started screaming and jumping up onto the beds to escape the vicious beast. You probably heard us scream back in the states…
But see, the night before my hut (myself and 3 other girls) dealt with a bat flying around and squeaking all night long. We weren’t too happy about that. One girl, who has now earned the nickname “Brave Amanda” helped everyone relax about the bat and ran into the bathroom (out of the safety of her mosquito net fortress) to get another roommate earplugs so she could sleep. So because of her heroic performance the previous night, we instinctively started screaming for her to come next door to save us from the deadly cricket. So she shows up with a sneaker and her game face… however that game face quickly disappeared after she caught a glimpse of this thing. But her name is Brave Amanda for a reason… and that girl did exactly what we called her over to do! After a few stomp attempts and a little hopping around (from both Amanda and the cricket), the beast was finally squished in the floor.
Luckily, I caught some of this adventure on video. I’m pretty sure we will die laughing every time we watch this thing. Remind me to show it to you when I get home. You are sure to get a laugh!
11 comments:
Hi Katie,
We had millions of camel crickets that invaded our basement a few years ago. The exterminator wanted to know where they came from, as he said they were not indigenous of our area.
These crickets are so creepy. They have humped backs like camels. They are UGLY. They do not churp.
I used to go into the basement with my vaccuum in hand and I would try to vaccuum them up. The sight was very silly I am sure.
Once the exterminator spent a few hours in my basement, they disappeared. I never knew that crickets could breed so quickly.
I was shocked about a year after this when I saw a dead camel cricket in Aunt Mary Kay's pool. She was unfazed, but I wondered if somehow Grandma brought one home to our house rapped in a towel or something. I cannot think of how else we brought them in. The exterminator said they had to "catch a ride" somehow. (Maybe you should keep all the little critters in Africa when you come home.)
I always thought crickets were cute and I would never kill them. HOWEVER, I now know that you kill them as quickly as you can. Because one can become 101 within a week and 101 can become 1001 a week later. AAaaaah...just thinking about it makes me creeped out.
If I were you....I would kill every bug I see.
Keep writing. I love reading your posts. Living through your experience is the closest I am ever going to get to Africa. You are basically living this experience for the entire family.
No pressure now.....
Oh...just incase you do not know who MSmom is...it is Aunt Gina.
Hi Kathryn, sounds like you could have used Davey (the seeing eye puppy right after Walter) When I worked at Trax Motor Sports there used to be lots of bugs in the building, Davey used to pick them up in his mouth (without killing them) walk across the room, spit them out and then go back and sit down and wait for the bug to come back to him. It was very funny. Travis is moved into Vermont for now. Did you ever think about becoming a writer? You really have a knack for it. Keep all of this it could be a book or even magazine articles someday!! Love you, Aunt Doreen
cockroaches you were okay with, but crickets gross you out?
Perhaps you could bring one of the crickets home as a pet. Can you put a leash on it? Can you teach the bat to eat the crickets? I think Brave Amanda has a bright future as an Exterminator
Sup Kat,
Well to start off I Love You!!! Your stories are soo gross. Ugh I would die. Uncle Jim is right about the teach the bat to eat the bug thing.
by the way this is Becky. Just in case you arent smart enough to figure it out. Haha
Aaaah I can't wait to see the video. I will probably laugh my head off. Love you!
Luv,
Becca
Bring some of those crickets home for Uncle Ben's turtle. I'm too lazy to drive and get fresh worms every day and I think she's getting sick of the processed turtle food. Love, your aunt with more than one heart! (Uncle Jim is just jealous because his heart looks like the Grinch's before it grew.) P.S. Wonder if Grandma smuggled a male and female cricket home and bred them in Aunt Gina's basement?
Kate- I hope you are wearing your big girl panties!. I love reading about your adventures. I am glad you are safe and well-fed! They tell me that chocolate covered crickets are very tasty. Miss you!
You may be grossed out by the crickets now but they are trainable pets.
Now that explains what happened to my pet cricket Bob. I had save him from a crawlspace under this house I inspected for some old fart. I worked with him for 6 weeks teaching him how to dive and swim. Now years later I find that Uncle Ben kidnapped him to feed to his turtle. At least he made his escape and lived a little while in the basement.
Post a Comment