Stranger Things

We binge-watched Stranger Things this weekend. Ohmigosh, SO good! The 80's nostalgia is a nice bonus. Definitely catch this 8-episode first season!

NM State 10

Texas A&M 52

The game was an expected blow out, but we watched the whole thing anyway. Love that Kirk set a new record for punt return scores, with two in the game, for a total of four during his college career so far. It was nice to see the backup and newer guys in there, playing well. We've recruited a lot of amazing talent to continue the path for the years to come! We are back up to #7! Whoop!

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Sunday Stealing: Halloween Meme

1. What is the worst treat to get when trick-or-treating? 

candy corn- ack

 
2. What character from any horror film would you most like to play?

bad-ass Ripley in Alien

 
3. Would you rather be a zombie, alien, or psycho? (why)

zombie, because you don't have to jump out and scare anyone, you just mull around groaning while people run screaming

4. How many Halloween, Friday the 13th, or Nightmare on Elm Street movies combined do you have on dvd? 

zero

5. What is the scariest movie you have ever seen? 

The Exorcist and The Grudge

6. Lamest costume you have worn on Halloween? 

The "ceiling fan" costume two years ago at work. People were guessing what I was all day long. They loved it, once they "got it." I would just rather go with a standard, non-pun costume.

7. Favorite Halloween treat? 

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

8. Friendly-faced jack o’lantern or scary one?

scary

 
9. Have you ever had nightmares about a scary movie character chasing you? 

no

10. Best thing about Halloween? 

costumes

11. Strangest Halloween custom you’ve heard of? 

Hiding knives in Germany, so wandering spirits don't get injured. 

12. Person in your family who most likes Halloween (not counting yourself)? 

None of us are excessively into Halloween as adults, but we all loved it when we were little!

13. Are you superstitious? If so, name at least one superstition of yours. 

I'm not superstitious in general, but if I start doing something during a football game that seems to coincide with my team taking a turn for the worse, I will stop doing that thing. 

14. What's your best Halloween memory?

Teri and I taking Niki and Lauren trick-or-treating when they were 2. Lauren was Tigger and Niki was Piglet. We had to explain to the girls several times that they needed to say "Trick or Treat," because they would just stand there when the doors opened, holding their baskets out, waiting for candy. LOL. So cute!

 
15. At what age were you allowed to go trick-or-treating by yourself?

I'm pretty sure I trick-or-treated with my friends and no parents in third grade. We were 7-8 years old.

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Lunch with the Work Homies

Had a fun lunch with two of my programmer buddies today. When conversation turned to a certain office "problem child," as it always seems to at some point, I realized something. You know the irrational, self-doubting thoughts even the most qualified and esteemed people have now and then, in positions of responsibility and power, where you are pretty sure the world is about to figure out that you are a complete fraud? Well, this person is an actual fraud, who continues to display incompetence at just about every aspect of the job.

I wondered... does the problem child have those "they're going to figure it out" thoughts EVERY DAY? How incredibly stressful that must be.

Most likely though, this person just thinks everyone else is stupid.

Anyhoo, they asked if I would please come back to the office, which was very sweet. I would love to work with them again every day. Perhaps it shall be so, someday, when we're working together at the Fair and Unbiased News Network!


Friday Food Survey

1. How do you feel about golden Oreos?

They are an abomination.

2. What is your favorite dessert topping?

Chocolate sauce

3. What is your favorite flavor/brand of bubble gum?

Super Bubble original flavor

4. Favorite cheese?

lately- Cotija

5. Favorite Lunch Meat?

salami

6. Favorite ice cream flavor?

mint chocolate chip

7. Best looking food?

roasted salmon

8. Best food to put cheese on?

flour tortilla

9. Best sexual food?

grapes

10. Best tasting drink in the summer?

sweet tea

11. Best tasting drink in winter?

mocha latte

12. Best food for a night out with friends?

Mexican

13. Best foods to eat with a roll?

turkey with gravy, pasta with marinara sauce

14. Messiest food, in your opinion?

barbecued pork ribs- yummy!

15. Easiest food to prepare?

cereal

16. Cheapest food you ever ate?

Many times, I would open and drain a can of tuna, squirt mustard into it, and eat it for lunch or dinner in college. It was like 40 cents.

17. Most expensive food you ever ate?

Probably a tie between swordfish at Eddie V's and ribeye at Austin Land and Cattle, both $35-ish for just the entree.

18. Stinkiest food you ever ate?

I'm pretty sure Dad never convinced me to try the Limburger cheese he ate all the time when I was a kid. I think the stinkiest was the onion sandwiches he made for himself and me back then. Two pieces of bread covered in mayonnaise, with thick slices of yellow onion in between. Lots of salt and pepper and Mom giving us the stink-eye (no pun intended) in the background, because she said it was horrible and had no nutritional value whatsoever.

19. Favorite dipping sauce?

Chuy's jalapeño ranch. YES.

20. Best pizza topping?

salami

21. Favorite potato chip flavor?

sour cream and onion

22. Most toxic substance you ever ate?

I've never eaten anything toxic.

23. Most calories you ate in one meal?

Probably at a Thanksgiving meal at my grandparents' place years ago. I may have had 2500 calories in a sitting, with all the standard dishes.

24. Favorite soda?

Coke Zero

25. Favorite flavor of juice?

My very favorite is grape, but I can't get past the calorie count, so I usually drink my second favorite- orange.

26. Favorite Vegetable?

snow peas

27. Favorite fruit?

watermelon

28. Worst canned food?

peas *shudder*

29. Best side dish?

onion straws- where can I get onion straws in this town?

30. Worst fast food restaurant?

Taco Bueno

31. Best restaurant?

Austin Land and Cattle

32. Best smelling food?

chocolate chip cookies

33. Favorite appetizer?

well-cooked and adequately seasoned fried calamari

34. Favorite cookie flavor?

chocolate chip

35. Favorite cake flavor?

chocolate

36. Favorite pie flavor?

cherry

37. Chocolate or rainbow sprinkles?

Chocolate. Rainbow sprinkles are incredibly gross.

38. Ketchup or Mustard?

mustard

39. Best food to have on a date?

some sort of boneless chicken, so you can use a fork effectively and not attach yourself to any unflattering scents, like fish or garlic

40. Most share-able food?

queso

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Dolores's Kitchen

Oh. Mah. Gawd. Dolores Catania's kitchen reno before and after looks almost exactly like ours, right down to the gray island! Cool!

Dolores's
Mine

She has great taste. I just adore her and Siggy on RHONJ. Those two are like a couple of regular girls floating around in the sea of drama. They have the same shocked reactions to everything that we're having at home. I hope they stay around.

Lauren declared the Cheeseburger Spaghetti Pie I made last night for the first time to be "a recipe made up by high college students with a bunch of burger ingredients in the fridge." Neither she nor Jeff liked the ketchup that's in it. It tasted good to me, but I agree the sweetness is unexpected, since a more spicy or neutral tomato sauce is typically on pasta. I thought it would be a good alternative to pizza night, but it'll be a no-go!


Saturday 9: Tubular Bells (1973)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) According to Reader's Digest, The Exorcist is the scariest movie of all time. Have you seen it, and if so, did it scare you?

Yes and yes! It gets my vote for scariest. The Grudge is pretty damn scary as well.

2) The Exorcist has been made into a TV series on Fox, premiering last month. Have you become a fan of any of the season's new shows?

This is Us - the best new drama on TV. From the very first ad, it reminded me of Thirtysomething in a very good way, and I was thrilled to find out later that Ken Olin- Michael on Thirtysomething - is the executive producer. The characters are great. Perfect amount of humor thrown in. Bravo! Also, American Housewife cracks me up. 

3) "Tubular Bells" is a popular ringtone for both Android and iPhone. What's your ringtone?

Night Owl

4) As Halloween approaches, do you watch more scary shows and movies?

Not really.

5) Do you have any recurring nightmares?

I have a recurring one where I am driving and the road starts doing strange things, like going into the ocean, or straight up into the sky, or down in a steep spiral.

6) Have you carved a jack o' lantern this year?

Nope. We don't usually carve one. We did when Lauren was little.

7) Do you like the taste of pumpkin seeds?

Yes! Roasted and salted.

8) What will the trick or treaters who knock on your door get?

They'll get nothing if they knock on the door, because we'll be handing out Kit Kats with Scott-n-Julie's cul-de-sac.

9) A Halloween "let's pretend:" Back in the 1950s, a home in your neighborhood was the site of a gruesome murder/suicide. Relatives retained ownership of the house but declined to live there. During the ensuing decades, a legend grew: The tragic couple haunts the halls. Generations of schoolchildren insist they heard strange sounds and saw curtains often move mysteriously. Now the house is about to be demolished. A local charity is raising money by sponsoring a Halloween sleepover. Would you be willing to stay in this haunted house over night?

Hell to the no.

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Sunday Stealing on Monday

A&M 14
'Bama 33

Gah. We were winning in the third quarter against what is probably the best college football team in all of history. One ill-timed roughing the passer penalty led to a Tide touchdown, followed by huge emotional deflation, then 13 more points for 'Bama by the end of the game. I am so proud that we are incredibly improved from the past couple of years against them, and very disappointed that we couldn't keep up the fight.

Congrats to the crazy-amazing Crimson Tide. We'll see you next year!

Sunday Stealing: Wish List Meme

1.) What are 3 things on your Wish list and why? 

* shoes, because they're always on my list

* casual cool weather tops, because this will be the first fall/winter that I haven't been in an office every day

* a yellow candle for the mantel, because it will coordinate with the kitchen better than the blue one there now

 
2.) Do you miss your childhood? 

Not really. It was fantastic, but it's good to be a grown-up, too.

3.) What do you do on your spare time on the weekends? 

We usually try to do a day trip or interesting activity. If we stay at home, we'll watch a movie.

4.) What do you appreciate most in your life?

having a safe, pleasant place to live and great family and friends

 
5.) Would you rather be rich or healthy?

healthy

 
6.) If you could go back in time would you and why? 

I wouldn't go back permanently, but it would be great to go back to certain places and times just to visit.

7.) Favorite game as a child? 

Trouble, with the Pop-O-Matic! Sometimes you just pop it a million times for no reason.

8.) What is your dream career?

songwriter

 
9.) What do you do in your free time? 

Lately, I play Simcity Buildit. It's an addiction, really. Any time things get slow, I start checking on my city.

10.) Favorite clothing stores? 

Macy's, Steinmart

11.) What TV shows can't you live without?

The Blacklist, Real Housewives of NYC/New Jersey/Beverly Hills/OC/Dallas 

 
12.) 3 things you need in your life are: 

music, humor, football

13.) What can't you sleep without? 

a good pillow

14.) Who do you have a celebrity crush on? 

Bradley Cooper

15.) What is your Favorite Season and why? 

Spring- coming out of winter with warmer weather and flowers and stuff

16.) What is your Favorite Wild Animal? 

chimpanzee

17.) Name 3 of your Favorite Childhood shows:

CHiPs, Happy Days, Three's Company

 
18.) If you could live as a character in a movie, who would it be? 

the supercool Lara Croft

19.) Favorite vegetables? 

snow peas, jicama, cucumber

20.) Favorite Fruit?

watermelon

 
21.) If you had a dragon what would you name it?

Sparky

 
22.) What do you put on hotdogs? 

mustard and ketchup

23.) Do you play online games? 

Simcity Buildit

24.) Whats your favorite way to get inspired?

a great view

 
25.) Do you have a middle name?

Yes

26.) Favorite kid's name?

Lauren and Ethan

 
27.) Do you speak any other languages? 

No

28.) Do you use Twitter? 

No

29.) Do you go onto YouTube? 

Yep

30.) Do you play Angry Birds?

I have

  
31.) Do you like Angry Birds?

It's alright.

 
32.) Do you like Hello Kitty? 

Sure

33.) Have you ever cried because you were so happy?

Plenty of times

34.) Who would you like to see in concert? 

JT

35.) Can you swim well? 

I never excelled in swimming. I swim well enough not to drown though. 

36.) Ever won a contest? 

several mostly academic contests, from creative writing to science fairs to choir

37.) Ever won a giveaway? 

I won the door prize (free groceries) as part of a test audience years ago, where we watched two new TV pilots and gave our feedback. I also won tickets to Huey Lewis and the News at a radio event in college.

38.) Do you get a full 8 hours of sleep every night? 

Ahaha no. I get about 6, maybe 7 on a good night.

39.) What tea do you like? 

Tazo Iced True Black or Gold Peak Sweet

40.) What coffee do you like?

Dunkin Donuts decaf

 
41.) Do you shop at Walmart? 

Sometimes

42.) Do you shop at Target?

Often

43.) What do you order at Second Cup? 

I don't know what that is.

45.) Do you like homemade meals?

Yes

 
46.) Do you like homemade baked goods? 

Of course

47.) Do you shop online?

Yep

 
48.) Name 3 online stores you would like to shop at:

Amazon

Pottery Barn

Macy's

49.) What holiday don't you like?

I like them all

 
50.) What do you eat more of when you're sick?

soup

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Because We All Need a Little FUN

I have grown quite weary of the media and other Clinton supporters shoving Hillary down our throats. I avoid anything resembling news lately, and if anyone mentions a political word, I do my best to smile and nod and move on.

Where does one go for "fair and unbiased" news, anyway? Our choices are 672 liberal media outlets who actually think Clinton can do no wrong and one FOX News who actually thinks Trump can do no wrong. Someone said the other day that the days of "fair and unbiased" news are in the past, and that we should embrace and appreciate journalists making their opinions known. Ummmm.... no thanks. With the media spinning everything, there is no truth in reporting. It's simply manipulation.

Sooo... my newest get-rich business idea with Crystal is Fair and Unbiased News- the FUN network! Check with your local cable provider.

Recent social media and blog posts, calling people who don't support Hillary "morons" and "idiots," truly shocked me last week. They also claimed votes "don't count" unless they are for Clinton or Trump, and if you don't vote for her, well... then you've obviously lost all your dang marbles.

Is this really where we've landed this election year? Perhaps you should focus on the candidates and not trashing your own friends.

Clinton will certainly win, but she'll have to be voted in by her supporters, along with the "lesser of two evils" folks who happen to land on her side. As for me, I'm writing someone in. (Yes, a valid candidate, not Mickey Mouse... although he would be a better choice than some others.)

If that means to you that I'm a moron and that my vote is wasted, so be it. :)

I wonder, are there any opposing viewpoints at newspapers or on television? Closeted conservatives at CNN, with secret handshakes? A few liberals at ol' FOX news giving each other a knowing glance when they pass in the halls? Surely there are. Yeesh, can you imagine going to a place like that every day for work right now? They've got to be even more excited than the rest of us that the election is almost over.

To end on a happy note this Friday evening, here's a little Michigan J. Frog. Remember him?!



...that lovin' raaaaaaaaag!

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Campaign Slogan 2016

Jeff and I were at Mandola's last week. I grabbed a drink and went to the back room. Jeff came in a few minutes later.

"There's someone here you know! He'll be here in a minute to say hi."

Well, that could be anyone from the exterminator, to a childhood friend, to George Clooney, or anyone in-between.

(Clooney might come to my table to say hi, at my husband's request. Okay, when I actually see it written out, probably not.)

I asked for further clarification, but the hubby wouldn't give me any more info.

Dah dah daaaaaaah... It was the IT director from work. That would have been my last guess. Ha! Very nice of him to come over and chat!

Speaking of work (rare segue!), I had lunch with Mel and Crystal on Friday. The two new CDMs have been there two months, and Mel said one met with HR last week with a complaint about the manager. No surprise there. HR is going to coach the employee on how to work with this particular manager. We just keep saying, the first step to fixing a problem is admitting there's a problem. Shaking. My. Head.

And finally... #LastTextYouSentIsYourPresidentialCampaign:

"Bwahaha! Who knew?"

*snort*

See, Laura sent me a link to an article about tampons causing cancer, and this was my response. It's been a running joke for many years, since this conversation happened--

Laura: I don't use tampons, because they cause cancer.
Me: No they don't. I have used them my entire life and...
Laura: And you've had cancer. TWICE.

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Just Cancel It

Now trending:

LOLOL. And three cheers for that idea! I keep hoping a candidate with an iota of integrity on one side or the other will step up and say, "I got this," but I think we've run out of time.

Well, file this under "That Just Happened." I was sitting outside Friday afternoon, when I heard a horrific crash. Turns out a teenager (later charged with DUI) drove his car into a strip center business! Luckily, no one was hurt. Scary!

Friday 5 for October 14: Be of Good Cheer

1. What’s something non-political you’re rooting for nowadays?

Aggie Football! 'Tis the season!

2. What were the circumstances–and who was the recipient–the last time you were part of a standing ovation?

Last Friday night, at the end of the Priscilla, Queen of the Desert performance at Zach.

3. What’s a cheer you remember from high school or college?

Our favorite was: Ooh! Ahh! CC! Say it, say it, say it... Ohh! Ahh! CC!... 

(Clear Creek High)

4. What inanimate object in your residence deserves applause for its outstanding role in your life this past week?

My new utility room valance, a long time coming! It finishes the room.

5. When was the last time a group of people clapped for you?

After my presentation at our Berlin investigators' meeting last year.

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Hey Siri

Maroon 5's new song "Don't Wanna Know" was on the radio on my way home from the airport today. (Scott-n-Kirsten are on their way to Australia! I'm totally jealous!) I asked my personal assistant, Siri (...who happens to be Australian, ha!), "Hey Siri- Does Maroon 5 have a new album?"

He said, "Yes."

Smartassery. Alrighty then.

"What is Maroon 5's new album called?"

"Sugar: Deluxe Single."

"That was last year and 'Sugar' isn't an album."

"I'm sorry. I didn't understand that."

When Siri and I aren't on the same page, he should just say, "I'm sorry I didn't understand that, but I'd be happy to collect some George Clooney photos from the internet for your perusal, straightaway."

Then I don't have to contemplate trading him in for the British fellow.

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I Took a Pill to Show a Veechee I Was Cool?

But first... This is something called Oculus Touch. Evidently, it is a controller for the Oculus Rift VR system. I'm wondering exactly what kind of game this is for. Just... hmm.

Okay. So, Mike Posner's "I Took a Pill in Ibiza," was on the radio this morning and stuck in my head, so I was singing it. Lauren asked why I was singing that song, and I told her how much I like the lyrics (and that it also happened to be the last song on the radio, so you know that one sticks for hours). We talked about a few of the lyrics and she said she always thought the song was about doing drugs, so she didn't like it much, but now that she realized it's just the opposite, she likes it more now.

Here's a great article about the song, written by Mike himself, where he talks about the song's lyrics frequently being misunderstood on the first listen, in that very way. He wanted this to be a lyrics- driven song. "When Tony Maserati mixed my album I had him turn all of the lead vocals two to three decibels louder than he normally would. I wanted the lyrics on TOP of the music. I wanted to see if I could make people hear the lyrics on the first listen instead of the second or third."

I took a pill in Ibiza
To show Avicii I was cool...

Avicii is a Swedish DJ. Ahhh! I have always wondered who the heck he was trying to impress. A Fiji? A Veechee? What's a veechee anyway? Was it Spanish- a Vichi? Oy.

...I get along with old timers
'Cause my name's a reminder of a pop song people forgot...

It's good to know from my visiting several music message boards that I'm not the only one who spent time thinking about the name Mike Posner and what old pop song from the 60's or 70's includes the words "Mike" or "Posner" or something that sounds like them. It turns out, he's referring to his own song from 2010, "Cooler Than Me." He's not talking older people's music here. Well, at least a lot of us worked out our brains trying to figure out that tidbit! Ha!

Here is the original tune, which is not the one that was on the charts this summer...



I like that, too, for times when I feel like crying in my beer.

The popular radio version is actually a remix...



...You don't wanna be stuck up on that stage singing
All I know are sad songs, sad songs...

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Locker Room Conversations

I'm just not that upset about the Trump/BBush conversation. (Good work with the timing of the release of this ancient information, Dems! We're barely thinking about the Goldman Sachs speeches.) It is definitely jarring language, especially for a presidential candidate. Many women don't like to think guys ever talk like this, but the fact is- many of them do. Shame on any men out there who are calling these two out, if they have ever talked about trying to get a woman into bed, said a woman has "great legs" or is "hot as shit," or who have used the P word when discussing women with their male friends. Golly, that never happens, right? Give me a break.

And for all that is holy, it doesn't mean these men support rape, as has been declared in many rantings on the left. That's a very desperate stretch. This is not "rape-y" or "predatory" speech. Men have ogled and tried to get in the sack with women since the beginning of time, and most of them have at some point had crass, frat-boy conversations with their male brethren. It doesn't make them bad people. If you think it does, you may have to include many of your friends, brothers, sons and fathers in that group.

If Trump and/or Clinton were to withdraw from the race, as one can only hope, who would take their places? Would the VP nominees come in? Would the second place folks step up? Bernie vs. Cruz anyone? (I'd take Uncle Bernie at this point!)

Sunday Stealing: The Musical Perceptions Meme

1. Where did you grow up?
Houston

2. Where do you live now?
Austin

3. What do you think about religion?
Spirituality and religious beliefs are important. I tend to avoid churches, because so many are ruined by the human beings that run them. I also believe that religion is never an excuse for hate or violence.

4. When did you start using online social media?
I started using LiveJournal in April 2003.

5. What did you study to be?
a radiation protection engineer

6. How are you at this point of your career?
I'm a contract senior clinical data manager. Different path, but a good one!

7. Do you use your real name on a blog?
Yes, but not my full name.

8. Do people you work with read your blog?
A couple.

9. Are you on the job market?
No.

10. If you could go back in time to meet someone famous but now deceased, who would it be?

Prince

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Saturday

J.B. Smoove was on Harry (that's Harry Connick, Jr.'s new talk show) yesterday while I was starting one of our football snacks ( jalapeño and bacon deviled eggs- you know you want it). J.B. said his wife calls him her "husbo," because he is her husband and her boyfriend. They keep things fresh by going on dates, etc.

Similarly, I could call Jeff my "boyband!"

*crickets*

Last night, my boyband and I saw Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at Zach. It was superfun! The singing and story are great. Costumes FANTASTIC. The choreography was lacking though. In many places, it was incredibly elementary, as if to accommodate the entire cast recovering from hip surgeries.

It's Tennessee Game Day! It will be a tough game between evenly matched teams, so we're sending all our positive vibes to Kyle Field. BTHO Tennessee!!


Saturday 9: My Life Would Suck Without You (2009)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This video begins with Ms. Clarkson on a swing. When you were young, did you prefer the swings or the slide?

Swinging is the best! You can go low and lazy, or really energetic and high. You can twist it around and around and then spin it. You can sit or stand on the seat. Slides are a one-trick pony, and frequently hot as all get out, burning your legs all the way down.

2) The first words are, "Guess this means you're sorry." Who is the last person to apologize to you?

Laura apologized that I had to take her to school the other morning when her car was at the shop, even though she didn't need to apologize at all. She even bought lunch, so I was thanking her!

3) One of Kelly's earliest show business jobs was as an extra on Sabrina, The Teenage Witch. Do you believe in witches and warlocks?

Nope.

4) Mentioning witches and seeing Kelly with a lollipop reminds Sam ... She needs to pick up a 1 lb. bag of Dum Dums for Trick or Treaters. Have you done anything in preparation for Halloween? 

I'm going Kit Kat this year, I think. I have not done a thing in preparation yet.

5) Ms. Clarkson's advice to aspiring young singers is not to listen to advice. "Everyone gives you their 2¢ worth, but you have to follow your gut." Are you good at soliciting and following advice? Or do you tend to follow your gut?

I go with my gut, after carefully considering any trusted advice I've received.

6) The year this song was popular, 2009, saw two major newspapers go out of business. Both the Seattle Post Intelligencer and Rocky Mountain News published their last editions. Do you still read a paper copy of your local newspaper?

We haven't gotten a paper since the Statesman kept throwing papers in our driveway after we requested a hold for vacation over a decade ago. Grr! We do receive and read the Community Impact paper though. Very informative.

7) In 2009, Mark Zuckerberg confirmed that Facebook tried to buy Twitter, but was rebuffed. Which social media site do you spend the most time on?

And now Twitter is looking for buyers. Hmm. I spend the most time on Facebook.

8) In 2009, the Balmain Collection included a pair of jeans that retailed for $2,165. What's the most you would pay for denim pants?

$95

9) Random question: You buy a charity raffle ticket and tuck it into a friend's birthday card. Before you can give the card to her, the numbers are drawn and you realize the ticket is worth $500. Do you keep the ticket or give it to your friend, as planned?

Well, I should give it to her, but if I'm being honest and I haven't yet sealed the envelope (which I guess I didn't do, since I checked the number to see that it won) AND I didn't write a birthday message that mentioned the raffle ticket (which I would have), I would probably keep it and give her something else. Just saying.

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Scorpion Mom

I bought my first Christmas present this week! Am I winning? Anyone else have a Christmas gift ready to wrap? Hmm?

The following story is both gross and depressing. I think you all are the only ones who haven't heard it yet, so I don't want to leave you out! Apologies to my friends who have heard it and are most assuredly rolling their eyes that I'm still thinking about it.

There was a mama scorpion entering my garage last week. She had 7-8 babies on her back. They were tiny white circles, each one with two teensy pincers and a scorpion tail sticking out of it. Are they larvae? I don't even know. Let me Google now, since I've been talking about looking it up for several days.

So. Google (well, actually Arizona State University) says "When they are born, baby scorpions have a very soft outside shell, or exoskeleton. They crawl up onto their mother's back and ride there for 10 to 20 days until their exoskeleton gets stiff and hard. Then they crawl off and begin life on their own."

These babies had a very white, squishy center. They looked a bit like this, except even smaller, and goopier in their abdominal area:

(And whatever you do, don't Google Image Search "scorpion with babies on back," because that stuff will haunt your nightmares.)

Anyhoo... I was going to let her go on her merry way, other than I definitely didn't want them living in my garage, especially in my gardening gloves or some other awesome spot. I decided to hit her with the bug spray. We always use Raid Wasp Spray, but I didn't have any handy. I grabbed roach spray and let her have it.

She walked along normally for a few seconds. Just as I was cursing the roach spray for being the lamest killer of scorpions ever, she started running around, throwing her babies off her back! I was sure she was doing this because she was trying to save them (even though they probably died on contact), and instantly I felt awful! This poor mama scorpion was trying to let her babies have a chance to survive and all I could do was watch and consider what else I could have done to save them.

This is the point in the story where Jeff said, "Are you sure she wasn't just writhing around from the bug spray, randomly tossing the babies off?"

YES. Let's go with that.

But no, I'm pretty sure it was maternal instinct. It kinda rips your heart out, right?

I did notice that the ASU article also mentions that "sometimes when the mother scorpion cannot find enough insects, bugs, or grub worms to eat, she will eat her own babies."

So, there's that. I feel a little better.

Thanks ASU! 

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