Well there's nothing like an early morning encounter with a large bug to get one out of bed and jumping around.
And screaming.
Mother and Michael sleep so soundly they didn't hear me scream.
So at 6:30 this morning I was awake and fixing to get up and I feel something on my left shoulder. I brush at it, half asleep, then I feel something on my head.
Then I awaken fully and realize it's a bug.
I jump out of bed and turn on the light. I see nothing. I pick up the pillow. A palmetto bug [large roach] skitters across the bed.
That's when the screaming happened.
I looked around for my volume of Shakespeare [complete works] because NOTHING kills a giant roach like Shakespeare. The book weighs 5 lbs., at least.
Couldn't find it. Grabbed a trade paperback by Jodi Picoult. Slapped it down on the bed, where buggy was hiding under the covers. Didn't phase him. He skittered out and jumped on the floor and made for the corner where I couldn't reach him.
By that point I was shaking. My heart was racing.
I forced myself to go in the bathroom and drink some water. I spot my flyswatter in the bathroom. I briefly consider trying to get buggy out of the corner, but there is a large, heavy chest there and I don't think stressing out my heart any further is a good idea.
I forced myself to get dressed and walk Lola. The heat and humidity here make walking a dog even mid-day quite uncomfortable. So I'm trying to complete her walk by 7:30 a.m. Then I have to get Mother up and dressed and make her breakfast. I also am trying to water my vegetable gardens in there somewhere.
So I sit in my bedroom and work all day now, and I will be hyper-vigilant all morning, paranoid that buggy will try to jump on me or run across my feet or -- God forbid -- be spotted flying around. Yes, they fly.
I called our pest control guy and his wife assured me he would be here around lunchtime, his last call of the day before they go on vacation. I nearly cried, I was so relieved. He sprayed not long ago but the heat and lack of rain drives them indoors.
I do not fear many things, including roaches. I just DON'T LIKE THEM!!!!