Gordon was stung by a scorpion last night in our kitchen. His toe started swelling, so I dragged him to ER. The stings of Texas scorpions are not deadly in general, since our guys are not that venomous. You have to go to Arizona to get into serious danger. But he has never been stung before, and I wasn’t sure that if he had an allergic reaction, he would tell me about it. His default response to bleeding and other injuries is, “I’m fine.” Luckily there were three of me, as kids immediately backed me up with “Dad, go to ER with Mom right now!”
I drive him to ER in the dark. We get there and he forgot his wallet, because according to him we were all screaming at him that he was going to die. So I had Kid 1 bring his wallet while I filled out the forms and showed them the pictures of the scorpion’s corpse just in case, and they took his vitals.
Good news: he is not allergic to scorpions.
The ER person asked him if he was stung once or multiple times. Gordon said that he was stung once. The ER person asked if he thought the scorpion could sting more than once and Gordon said, “Probably. It didn’t die like a bee.”
To which, I said, “No, it didn’t die from stinging you. It died from a shoe I hit it with.”
That was apparently funny.
On the way back we got stuck waiting for the train. And waiting. And waiting. And I did that back up the vehicle, turn around and go the other way thing, which I normally do not do, because 15 minutes was enough waiting. All in all, it was a fun night, followed by close examination of the floor for additional scorpions. Another one was found and disposed off.
All is well that ends well. It seems that the test of patience is still ongoing. To give you an example, in February we ordered a new tub for master bathroom because the other one was not only broken but also badly wired. The tub has been unusable since we moved in, so after three years, I finally decided to get a nice one, the kind of tub that makes tiny bubbles and heats your water. It took a very long time to get the tub. It had to be installed, and plumbed in, and tile was placed around it. Long story short, after months of waiting, yesterday I finally got into it. It’s awesome. It has an actual shower head, so you can rinse your hair. I threw a bath bomb into it. I put hair mask on my hair.
One small problem: none of the electric functions work. They forgot to plug it and I can’t reach the cord, because they built tile around it. ::laughs:: We will see what happens today. The upgrade to scorpions was a bit upsetting, so I am hoping for something less venomous, if at all possible.
I am tired and I have the novella to edit, so, I am going to excuse myself from blogging on interesting topics today.
Please talk amongst yourselves. 🙂
Show, am I one of the firsts?????
Wow*
You’re first! ☺️
I hope it will get better ????
I don’t have a bathtub in my appartement, so each time I come home to my parents house, I buy bath bombs and spend at least 1 hour watching films while resting in the perfumed bath ???? I totally get the need for a nice bathtub.
I told myself that I would never go to Australia because of all poisonous and venomous things out there, but Texas seems dangerous as well????
Have you checked to see if anyone accidentally pushed the Drama Button? Because that may be your issue right there.
(And now this is going to drive me crazy. Where is the Drama Button from? A webcomic, maybe? A movie?)
It appears to be a website/app with dramatic orchestral music whenever you press a button https://www.dramabutton.com/ or a gimmicky ad for the arrival of the TNT network in Belgium https://youtu.be/9OIJRMqYAA0 ????
The video is awesome ! Thank you for sharing it !
That’s true, I’ve seen that as well. But there was a webcomic where all this stuff was happening and they found out after a while that someone had pushed the drama button. Shortpacked, maybe? Anyway, not important, just one of those things that’s going to bug me until I remember, lol.
Found it! It’s a drama tag, not a button. (Whatever. I’m amazed my perimenopausal brain even remembered that much.)
https://www.shortpacked.com/comic/tab
Given the week you all have had, I’m now picturing this kind of scenario. Hopefully sanity will be restored soon.
hehehehe
That made me laugh so hard!
That video was awesome!
We found a baby scorpion once in our apt when we lived in AZ. *shudder*
Well all this talk of scorpions has made me *rethink* Texas and Arizona as warm weather retirements. I think I do better with large crocs, pythons and flying palmetto bugs… Sigh. And I was so looking forward to DRY warm weather ….
Lol! Loved this!
OMG, The Emperor’s New Groove is my favorite Disney movie. I can quote it in its entirety. Perhaps I like it because it is not a very Disney movie. It reminds me of Looney Tunes. I wish they did more movies like that.
Anyway, scorpions. The only effective thing against them is a shoe. We used to live in El Paso, and there were scorpions everywhere. Luckily, no one got stung. But you couldn’t go barefoot in the house. You can also use the vacuum to dispose of them, but I am afraid that the nasty buggers will probably survive that.
They were “blond” scorpions, not black. I hated them then and I hate them now.
Emperor’s New Groove is an absolute GEM.
There is actually a reason it is so far from Disney’s usual fare! They will likely never make a movie like that again. https://www.vulture.com/article/an-oral-history-of-disney-the-emperors-new-groove.html
Thank you for the link, Meg- so interesting!
Swords are also effective if they happen to be on your popcorn ceiling.
Scorpions normally seek indoors when it gets a wet as it has been. I hate them ever since I had one fall off the ceiling in front of me. It’s a tough balancing act to treat for them and have pets. I wish you all the best and am glad Gordon’s reaction was mild.
May the edits be mild and enjoyable. Sending positive thoughts your way.
I came home last night and found a Asian Honey Bee hive in our roof. No one stung yet but my wife is freaking out over them. Today we get an estimate for having them removed. I sympathize.
Asian honey bees are closely related to European honey bees. A bee keeper might come vacuum them out for free. You just need to get the queen or get a queen, and the bees will follow the queen. Then you vacuum up the rest. Shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg, unless actually getting to them is difficult… I’ve seen some huge hives in walls recovered this way. Bee keepers love to get “free bees” LOL. Also, be thankful they aren’t AFRICAN honey bees who are much much more aggressive.
Oh no!! Glad he did not have an allergic reaction.
I hate scorpions I haven’t been stung yet knock on wood but I have woke up with one near my face on my husband’s pillow while he was at work so needless to say I did not sleep the rest of the night and had the lights on! They always say we’re there is one there is another so glad you found the other.
My German Shepard was bit by a rattle snake on Saturday so guess what I searched for this weekend. Thankfully he is doing good and didn’t have to stay with the vet.
Hope your bathtub can get plugged in without having to do much damage to the tile. My husband says I don’t need one with jets because then I would never get out of it ????♀️????
So happy to hear your pup is ok!
My Shepard had a tussle with a copperhead recently (he’s fine and still curious). We sympathize and send belly rubs!
Visiting grandma as a kid almost always involved scorpions. We would unfold the sofa bed with a can of Raid in hand, use something to knock the critter to the floor and spray, spray, spray. If it survived that, then it got smooshed and thrown away. Clean sheets and then bed. I look back on a lot of the things we kids did and wonder at our survival????.
It is my understanding that scorpions glow under black light, making it easier to find them. But there are few scorpions in New Jersey, so take it for what it’s worth. I’m glad all are well.
It has to be a specific wavelength. Sometimes you learn the weirdest things from Amazon reviews 🙂
My first experience in Texas was a flat tire late at night, backing a car off of our dolly along I-10 and disconnecting it from the moving truck in some fiercely prickly grass.
Was not grass. Just grass among giant fire ant hills and as it turns out, I’m allergic. Commence a month of misery ????
I’ve since returned to Texas and greatly enjoyed it but I’m ok up here. Pennsylvania does not have these atrocities, thank goodness.
I’m glad Gordon is ok????
Men. Mine wanted to put duct tape on a wound that ended up needing a dozen stitches. And why does it always happen at 9 p.m.?
Glad Gordon is OK.
Super excited for the novella and Ruby Fever. We appreciate what you do SOOOOO much.
Or a fever, which started during REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS WHEN A DOCTOR VISIT COULD BE MADE, then turns into a raging fever at 11p.m., necessitating an ER visit and five times the cost. ARGH.
I’ve actually stitched up hubby a time or two, for cuts on his fingers. But when he got a cut down to the bone in the middle of his forehead, I sternly said no.
Most ERs use a medical version of superglue now for cuts. No sewing needed. ????
I am on a road trip with my folks. Scorpions in the house doesn’t sound quite as bad as bugs all over the hotel room. Needless to say we were there less then 10 minutes and we got a full refund.
Are you kidding? Your slice of life blog is always interesting. I will admit I would have take an anti histamine and waited to see what happened. But I don’t know y’alls allergy history either, so that’s just me, heh. Glad Gordon is fine!
Oooo, the novella is getting closer and closer! (Rubs hands while cackling maniacally). Happy editing, hope it’s not too laborious!
I love The Emporer’s New Groove! I can recite large chunks of it, but only in German as we lived in Berlin for 10 years when the kids were little. I think its even better in German.
Glad that Gordon’s ok. I’m reading Magic Rises. When I read Gordon’s response to his toe swelling, I heard Curran’s voice. 🙂
Someone from the tub company should have checked twice to make sure everything was plugged in before the tile was done. Have fun with getting that done so you can enjoy the full benefits of the tub.
Heh, and I can definitely imagine Kate saying “no, it didn’t die from stinging you, it died from the shoe I hit it with”. Except Kate would have used a sword.
So true! XP
But she would’ve totally used a shoe if her sword wasn’t handy. Or if she didn’t want to damage the floor.
The kids bellowed like Hugh and Erra. ????????????????????
Years ago my neighbor came running out of her house crying there was a bug in her house. She was speaking in German. I didn’t understand her well and called my teenaged son who is bilingual. He was barefooted, she pointed at the bug on her kitchen floor, he stomped on the bug. My neighbor gasped and mouth hung open as my son picked up a squashed scorpion.
Apparently my children and I are not highly allergic to bees, scorpions and black widows. Probably we get it from the same gene pool as Gordon, Low Land Scots.
So there are poisons and traps for ants, mice, etc. Is there something comparable for scorpions? I ask because I’ll probably be moving to Austin area within the next year and inquiring minds really really want to know.
And was the scorpion the size of the one in the picture? I’m surprise your menagerie didn’t go after them.
There are companies in the Austin area, as well as in the counties south, Hays, Comal etc, that will spray for scorpions. They are a thing here.
Glad you’re okay, guy, and stay out of Arizona.
I don’t know if anyone else mentioned it in the comments because I don’t have time to read them all right now. But you can use a black light on scorpions to find them. The scorpions glow. Best done in the dark ????????
Scary situation, I’m glad Gordon is okay!!
+1!
+1
Hillarious. Oh, the joys of adulting!
When we relocated to Pennsylvania (in the boonies) we renovated all the bathrooms, plus a whole bunch of things, cause that’s how you usually do things in HK. I bought a spanking new bath tub to put into our master bath, cause the room is 200 sq ft, it needs it. It has been sitting there unused for 5 years, and recently been promoted (or demoted) to being the laundry basket.
One of the things I learned while living in the Texas Hill Country was to NOT kill the wolf spiders. They prey on scorpions. Consequently, wolf spiders are one of the small number of spiders I can quickly identify. ????
OMG! I loathe wolf spiders! The first year in our house, April 1, my sister called to tell me that my father had fallen and broken his wrist. I was on the phone, and as I walked to get laundry done, I saw this massive black spider thing on the floor, right in the middle of room! That thing was so big that you couldn’t cover it with a half dollar coin, and that was the body, not including the legs! I said to my sister that my husband thought it was funny to put a big plastic spider down for April fool’s day. I went to pick it up and the thing jumped at me! They are still around, but I drowned that thing in Raid as soon as I climbed down from the end table I jumped to stand on when it came at me. No scorpions in Ohio, I think, so I just kill them every time I see another nest pop out the dozens of them. The last one I saw was on the door of the building I had to enter, so I grabbed piece of really long grass and tried to knock it down because as long at they’re outside, I leave them alive. The thing grabbed the end of the grass and argued with it! They are very aggressive and used to being able to kill anything to eat it. Never would be about the day I’d let them live to kill anything else I had in the house!
I don’t like spiders. Any kind of spiders. I get that they serve a very useful purpose, but I hate their faces. This hatred and irrational fear comes from the fact that when I was a teenager, I went out to the garage to get something for my dad and saw a spider with a really weird bumpy formation on its back just sitting in the middle of the garage right in front of the toolbox. I was pretty sure it was a wolf spider (we get them a lot where I live) and I knew if I tried to go around it, it might chase me (because that has happened to me before and also contributes to the irrational fear and hatred). I was barefoot, because of course I was, and I didn’t have anything to try and prod it to make it go away, so I threw a rock that just happened to be on the floor near me at it. Cue the explosion of many, many baby spiders all scattering from their mom’s back. Cue the shriek to rival a B-list horror movie actress and the uncontrollable sobbing as I sprayed tire cleaner (the only thing I could see within reach that I thought could kill them) all over the floor to try and kill those tiny, horrible monsters. My dad is still aggravated that his garage floor is now stained from the tire cleaner and now I know if I see that weird bumpy formation on the back of the spider, it’s because they’re carrying their brood and to stay FAR FAR away.
I killed a huge wolf spider in my kitchen a couple years ago. Was just sitting on my counter staring at me. Ugh. Well, the next couple weeks, I started finding a lot more camel crickets, so I apparently got rid of their main predator. Sigh.
BTW, I’m originally from NY and moved to NC. If you’ve never heard of a camel cricket, look it up. When I first saw one, my immediate reaction was WTF is THAT??!! Harmless but super freaky.
There was a scorpion on our dish sponge once and my mom didn’t notice it so when she picked it up it stung her. It scared us too because we had never run across one before that. She just ran and put orajel on her palm because she was desperate. I’m glad Gordon didn’t have a allergic reaction.
I know this is not the answer you want, but evidently skunks eat scorpions.
… or so I was told when I lived in New Mexico.
I think between Oreo Squirrels and Wolf spiders (who also apparently hunt scorps), I’d take the spiders ????
Skunks eat all sorts of vermin! We don’t have scorpions where I live, so I’m not sure about them, but I could believe it.
Yikes! That sounds like a stressful evening.
Maybe the tub people have a gadget they can use to reach in and plug in the tub even if a hand can’t fit? I wish you luck!
F**K scorpions! I would burn the house down with those beasties in it and hide in a tub while they burn!
Scorpions, I hates them. One of the downsides of living in South Central Texas. You can spot them with a UV light. They glow in the dark, the little nasties
Because scorpions are such boring topics? I am very glad everyone is ok. That’s the most important thing.
Egadz…. I draw the line at scorpions….. and I empathize about the bath…. our tub leaks at one of the jets, haven’t been able to use it for years. I don’t ever want another tub with jets, just a soaker (if even that, I’m a shower person)…. tired of cleaning the gunk out of the tubes every time, tired of the leaks, my inner germaphobe shudders at the bacteria/mold factory aspect of the tubes….just no.
The only time I tried out a whirlpool tub, I had gotten in without starting it up. When I did turn it on, I ended up covered in someone else’s body hair. Gack! Never again!
Scorpians GAH!!!
Tub, I want mine gone with one of those step in showers.. too $$ though and maybe not practical? Good luck with your tub.
Portable bath tubs are a thing. Look them up. I did and was floored…I’m a shower girl, but every so often a tub would be nice I think. That’s when I found out about portable bath tubs (hip baths sort of)… and oh, the other thing? A portable tankless water heater for camping running off a propane tank! Egads. What a concept, a hot shower in the wild? And with a portable bathtub, even a hot soak?! Camping just went Glamping LOL
Your quote about killing the insect with a shoe: That was hysterical ????.
Glad that Gordon is OK.
Yeah: Novella- id did see that.????
I’m bad to myself. During Round Top Antique week, I rent the same very nice B&B every time. Hanging over my bed is a light globe with a dead scorpion inside. Has been there two years now. Keeps me on my toes watching out for them while in Texas. You could not pay me to tent camp there.
Wait, is it scorpion themed decoration or did they just not realise it’s there to remove it?
You’re awesome it always amazes me how you can make your cotidian life sounds so interesting. I mean I’m sorry for Gordon sure he had a hard time and I’m happy he is ok. But that Kind of things happen in Real life. You are great!
Wait! What does “cotidian” mean? I have access to a multi-lingual dictionary and the defination is not available. This is going to drive me nuts if someone doesn’t explain. Please help?
It means day-to-day or ordinary. It’s spelled quotidian in English but in Romance languages (Latin, Old French, Romanian) it’s cotidian ☺️
Thank you so much for that! I find it makes me quite twitchy when I’m unable to find the answers to things like this.
Oh lord… Someone need to Smack Murphy for you guys and repeal his law.
I am glad your hunny is ok. My hunny is like yours. He had stomach issues for YEARS and just blamed it on the medication he took and his gallbladder surgery.
After a year of me saying there must be something else wrong and a new Dr, we found out he is allergic to wheat/eggs/walnuts/pecans/apples. He is fine now…when he avoids that stuff, anyway. I still give him an “I told you so” look when he talks about it, lmao
Glad Gordon is okay. I got stung by a scorpion at around 2 am in the morning. On a weekend. Of course. In a second floor apartment. First one stung me while I was sitting on my couch reading. Then I found a second one near my bed a little later. All I remember is that it was a lot worse than a bee sting and that I didn’t get much sleep that night (fear, not pain). 😉 I ran after them with a can bug spray, stomped on them and then saved them in a jar (who knows why? Make sure they’re really dead? Evidence?). I was by myself at the time and not in the calmest frame of mind. I learned later that they often go around in pairs and tend to show up when there’s been construction going on nearby disturbing their nests. I’d be thrilled not to experience that again…
Glad you’re ok, that must have been so scary on your own!
I’m in England and I had no idea about all these ???? facts: that they’re usually in pairs, fluorescent and get eaten by spiders. Keep it coming BDH, it’s fascinating!
Thanks! Me too. Always learn interesting things from the BDH.
Thank goodness that there were three voices of reason around to insist on the hospital trip. I’m glad that Gordon’s fine and not allergic to scorpions. Phew!
Glad that Gordon is okay. That sort of stoicism is evidently prized in male company. My husband was a former army medic, so he always dealt properly with wounds, but illness – no.
He went to work every day, never took off for just feeling bad, but come the weekend – Hoo doggy!
He felt awful. Let him sleep.
Could I go get him some decongestants? And an aspirin?
What about a new box of tissues?
Couldn’t the kids be quieter?
And when he gave me whatever he had, he had to go to work!
I grew up with scorpions (deep south Texas), and was stung a couple of times as I remember. I went barefoot every chance I got so that might have been part of it.
I have not seen one here in Houston, but I would not rule out their presence in the local ecosystem.
I have more trouble dealing with centipedes and the like, but that’s me. Possibly I don’t handle extra appendages well…
Yikes!
…and ugh, bugs.
Glad all is well.
Curious about the bathtub though (I need a new one and this one sounds very nice!)
Oh my! It seems like excitement never ends at the house of Andrews! Glad Gordon is ok.
My condolences. I hope your tub is fixed soon.
Don’t know what to say about the scorpions, except it was funny.
The scorpions in Arizona aren’t that bad either. They just hurt a lot, unless you’re allergic but I’m sure that goes for any venom related allergy. As I’m sure you’ve already discovered, they are territorial, so if you’ve had them once, chances are they’ll show up again at some point. Luckily, they’re stupid and it takes awhile for a new batch to figure out that the previous batch has been disposed of and move in.
I’m so glad Gordon’s encounter with the monster turned out um…ok?
Hoping the tub is fixed soon. You deserve it.
I’m glad none of your pets were stung because getting the patient history would be really tough.
I was really excited to move into our new home with a jacuzzi tub. It’s HUGE! Then the home inspector found it didn’t work. ????Owner said it had never worked! WTF!???? Turned out it was wired incorrectly and was a 5 minute fix by the electrician. ????My next disappointment was finding the water heater wasn’t large enough to fill it. When I need tub time, I have to plan out 2+ hours to run out the hot water, wait for the tank to reheat, run it out, repeat as necessary. I also bought some stock tank water heaters to help keep the water in the tub warm thru this mess. My partner thinks I’m ridiculous, but I NEED my tub.
Almost seems to call for a point of service hot water heater installed at the tub.
Portable tankless water heaters for RVs and camping are a thing. All you need is water source and a gas propane tank, LOL. Temporary measure I’m sure for you. But Irishmadchen is right you might think about hooking just that tub up to a gas tankless water heating gadget…
I am all in for a nice bathtub with jets and heat and depth. What I really truly want is one that takes care of hair automatically as well. I have women hair loss due to the genetics my parents bestowed on me. Not their fault, but I am just saying my brother has the most beautiful dense hair of head imaginable. And clogged drains, despite using tub shroom AND outer cover are becoming a monthly nightmare. I have way tooany searches for female bald styles on my phone of late.
Also, on a similar vein, while I’m happy the world has bagless vacuums now, I want bags back. Just one single resusable one will do. The insides of my vacuum is forever dirty and forever on display and it is driving me bananas.
This wasn’t a very pleasant conversation from me. Wishing the rest of BDH and House Andrews luck with their life’s medium sucks. (None of these are little sucks)
If you get fabric softener dryer sheet and put a piece in the bagless vacuum’s dust bin, it will cut the static electricity that makes the dust stick to the sides of it. What I hate is that the stupid bins fill up too fast when I’m trying to clean the floors and don’t want to stop because one room is done.
I feel you! And thank you for the dryer sheet tip, I am going to get on that today! Dust here I come….
I moved my family from Indiana to the New Mexico desert 9 years ago. In our first few months here we got to experience the joys of scorpions. None of us stepped on one but we had a few close calls. We bought a grabber stick with disposable glue board that attached so we never had to get too close. Even so I always make my husband get them. At least tarantulas have never come into the house although I have seen a few on the more remote walking trails.
OMG. O..M…G…..
I love reading your blogs, and normally never comment. But are scorpions really that bad in Texas??? We are having a house built in Waxahachie – my husband is retiring from LE, Texas has always been our dream! But SCORPIONS you say? I knew there were some, but in reading the comments, they really seem to be like ants in NJ. And, we have 5 dogs and a very crazy cat. How do you handle it with pets? Yooowzers.
it really depends, I live in the country in an old rock house north of Austin, surrounded by fields and trees, and it is scorpion central in the summer, especially when it rains or gets super hot and they come inside to get cool/dry. They’ve fallen from the ceiling or or next to me, crawled over my feet, and I always check my clothes and shoes before I put them on 😛 but if you live in a city with very little green space around your home you might not see them. they’re like bees, the sting is just painful unless you happen to be allergic.
It’s not crazy just depends on where you live I’m not sure about the Waxahachie area as I’m in the Midland/Odessa area (desert) but we see about 2 a year in the house. I find more in my pool than the house.
Don’t be surprised to find your dog’s or cats trying to play with them if you have one/two in the house as they normally not always but normally find them first.
Just make sure to look on the ceiling and under the cover and pillows before you go to bed at night in the summer.
????
Hey Nicole,
This is the first scorpion sting House Andrews have experienced and they’ve lived in that house for a decade. It’s also on 2 acres of Texas wilderness in the middle of town ????.
Wish you the best of luck with the new house and no stinging surprises!
Lol thank you!
It doesn’t matter where you move; there’s always something annoying or hazardous in the area. You just figure out how to deal with it. That said, I’ll never move to CA, because wildfires and earthquakes are scarier to me than arthropods. Hurricanes and tornadoes are about my limit.
Take these things as a sign that your luck will turn, and for the better, soon. SO GLAD Gordon is okay. I would imagine it certainly didn’t feel great to be stung. Way to go with the shoe!
For those living in rural areas, game birds, chickens or guinea fowl will take care of scorpions, ticks, snakes and those nasty little beetles that look like lady bugs but aren’t.
Good lord -‘ there are nasty beetles that look like ladybugs?
Suddenly my day feels better. No scary stinging things here in Olympia WA. I do need a bathroom remodel, though…
Glad Gordon was okay. So we have a real-life Kate with Ilona – killing the scorpion after Gordon was attacked. 😀
I saw a YouTube about a chicken (I guess it’s must have been a pet) in a home pecking away/chasing a cockcroach in the living room while a big cat sat lazily watching the fun.
I wonder if chooks (Aussie
for chicken) can be ‘trained to attack scorpions and other nasties??!
Glad Gordon’s not allergic to scorpions.
You don’t have to train them. Chickens consider little skittery things delicacies. But it’s tough to house train them, and they’ll eat things in the garden that you would rather they not, like all the stuff you planned to eat yourself.
Scorpions?!?!? Aaahhh (runs screaming) – I know homes are not hermetically sealed, but how do they get in? Thank god (or goddess, of your choice) that we don’t seem to have them in the Pacific NW. I see occasional ants or other bugs and arachnids … usually because I notice the cats following them around the house.
Thank you (and both kids) for insisting on ER visit, and thank you Gordon for agreeing like a gentleman to go quietly.
Bathtubs — love them! I don’t have a jetted tub, primarily because they say it is not good to use bubble bath with jetted tubs and I adore bubbles … PS, favorite bath bubbles are l’Eau d’Issey shower gel, close second Jo Malone English Pear and Freesia.
Dpeedy Recovery for Gordon.
I am happy to hear that all is well. Gordon 1, Scorpions 0.
I would say Shoe 1, Scorpions 0
?
Call the railroad and complain. Texas law allows a non-moving train to block traffic for 5 minutes. If it was moving, they still have to clear the road within 10 minutes unless its an emergency.
We had quite an struggle with ticks a few years ago. (Our house is in a woods, very little lawn. All our animals took flea and tick treatments) I would get one or two just walking to the car. I have MS so having another potential tick related issue is not a good idea. Hubby had someone spray. Well, that killed everything but the black widows. Hubby sprayed one direct and he said he swore it just waved a pair of legs at him. He then found out the spray we used could poison wildlife, so that was right out.
In about a year, we were right back where we started again.
We both hit the internet and discovered that, for our area, the best option other than moving was to get chickens. I’m allergic to everything, but birds are the worst. I decided to take one for the team and said yes to chickens. (We only have 3) They are not pets–we don’t touch them unless its for routine health checks. They are free range inside a portable electric fence. Hubby built them a chicken run that’s bear proof. (We don’t have bears in Indiana.)
I was shocked at how efficient chickens are at getting rid of insects. We’ve had them two years now and I haven’t had a tick since. We also don’t get as many mice, or super large spiders. The fresh eggs are also a plus.
It was during this experiment that we found out that wrens eat paper wasp larva. we added another bird feeder to encourage them, too.
I’m glad Gordon didn’t have a bad reaction. I carry an epipen for bee stings, and those suck.
May the Drama llamas find a different pasture.
When I saw the title, I was worried about exactly what happened. Just the sting though, not the rest! I’m glad he wasn’t having an allergic reaction and will be OK. As for the tub, I hope they can get it fixed without too much destruction! A good soaking bath cures a lot of ills!
The joy of scorpions :-(, I am allergic so I can feel your fear for Gordon since you didn’t know. Glad he is OK.
I lived in the south of France and we used lavender plants on window-sills to avoid them entering houses when windows were opened. They do not like that plant.
We used to have a garden-sized jacuzzi tub in the master bathroom. But, there were multiple incidents where I settled into a nice bubbly bath, relaxed, and then…little tickling sensation. Open eyes to find a spider walking on me. Yep, those water vents were apparently a favorite home.
One attempt to drive them out ended up with me flooding the bathroom and bedroom, after leaving the water running (with bleach in it) when I got an emergency phone call-out (I was on call engineer). Long story.
Anyway, hope you get the wiring issue fixed. Enjoy your tub. But stay vigilant…
Giagantic bugs, venomous snakes, creepy lizards, and spiders the sizes of cars is why I stay north of the mason dixon line.
I have to admit. I am laughing my head off. My sisters partner is the same way. He had a bad reaction to a horsefly bite on his hand at the weekend and refused to do anything about it. My sis made him see a Dr yesterday who immediately put him on antibiotics and told him in no uncertain terms, if it wasn’t better today he was going straight to hospital for IV antibiotics. So I’m reading all that and picturing my sister and her partner and their voices. Because it is EXACTLY what he would do. He’s ex military too, maybe a theme?!
Just a warning in case Gordon gets stung again (I hope not!): an allergic reaction may not occur the first time you are exposed to an allergen. So the first time you are stung by a scorpion, you may have only pain and redness from the sting. If you are stung again, you may have hives or trouble breathing. This is caused by the response of the immune system. This is why the first time you get the Covid vaccine you don’t get sick, but the second time you do. Your system is now primed for a response. So don’t assume that Gordon does not have an allergy; he may develop one. I’m not trying to scare you; just making sure you know the facts.
This is unlikely, but just in case… Jetted tubs seem to require being wired to a GFI outlet that hasn’t anything else on it, or at least that was what I was told when I bought a brand new house in 2004. Is it possible the installers rewired the nearest non-GFI outlet, tested it, and left it tripped?
Source: 1st night in new house after a long 4 days of painting, moving, and cleaning the old apartment, all while promising myself that bath. Fill, add neat oils and salts, light candles, ease in, push button and… nothing. I checked breakers, GFIs, everything. Turned out there was an outlet in my closet (huh?), it was GFI, and the inspector left it tripped. 17 years later, the exhausted disappointment is still vivid in my memories.
I hope whatever it is is fixed with a minimum of fuss and bother!
I’m sorry to hear about the sting, bites and stings are never fun, regardless of the cause.
Unsolicited trivia: if you have access to a UV light, scorpions will fluoresce under it, and it can help you find if you have any others. Especially at night, if you cut the lights both inside and outside so you can get an understanding of how bad of a problem it may really be.
Glad Gordon is okay. Sorry about that tub though.
I’m so sorry, those bites are painful. I live in Arizona and yes been stung about 5 times. I’ve learned they don’t like lavender so I use the essential oil mixed with water in a spray bottle around my house due to the fact most pesticides are dangerous for my fur babies. I how he is feeling better.
As someone who is currently making a bathroom where there wasn’t one before you have my utmost sympathy. On the plus side I can now tile a bathroom.
You mean he didn’t wrap it in a paper towel and ducktape…
My daughter wants to move to Australia and I keep pointing out everything in Australia tries to kill you. I told her to stay in TN where it’s safer. I apparently need to add Texas to the list lol.
Only if you live in the bush – plus really good gun laws, so no people shooting at you. That’s a big plus.
There are times I’m grateful I live in Vermont. This is one of those times. Scorpions would freeze their nasty butts off here. Poor Gordon. Luckily for him he’s married to a warrior woman with the Shoe of Doom! You deserve all the fizzy baths ever.
I feel your pain on the tub. I’ve been without a bathroom for three weeks now (I have a half bath with a toilet, or I’d have moved by now). I’ve resorted to using the camper showers at the county park. And then, because that place is filled with about 10k mosquitoes, I go home and wash my hair in the sink. $159 for a night at a hotel and a hot tub is looking better and better.
I’m hoping the plumbing and tub- shelf- thing that the tub sits in (I know there’s a name for it) will be done this weekend. It was supposed to be a simple remodel, thought we’d have it done in no time. When we pulled up the tile and concrete (no, not mortar. Concrete, about 2.5 inches of it) we found out it was the only thing holding the floor together. The wood (sub floor) was so rotten it was coming apart in layers like paper. It couldn’t be walked on. It’s a miracle the floor didn’t collapse. I know the house was built over a hundred years ago, but what in the world were they thinking? I could go on, but now we have new joists, that actually sit on the bearing wall, and a new subfloor that probably won’t let us fall through to our deaths (or broken legs at least). And eventually I’ll have a 6 ft 32 inch deep soaker tub, and a place to store my toiletries and towels. If I ever move I’m building a new house. I love old houses, but now I know why there are building codes.
Geez! Glad Gordon is okay.
Sorry to hear about the tub – and the wait and work while it is fixed.
It will be that much better when all is working. God Bless!
Some years ago, a city near where I lived was invaded by a horde of Scorpions. The bright Mayor decided to distribute chickens to each family (apparently It is the scorpion natural enemy). But, most part of the people were so poor that they ate the chickens! Luckly, a few weeks later, the scorpions left the same way they arrived….but Mr Mayor was very upset ..seems that he can keep a chicken grudge….
Glad Gordon is ok…and Ilona’s shoes are more effective than chickens…
Sorry that Gordon was stung by that nasty little scorpion! I have never been stung, but a friend, who lives in Central Oregon, has been and she said that it hurts like hell.
Hope bath time goes better tonight and that you get to enjoy all of the perks in your new tub.
Love the video!
I was looking through the comments and realized that in the middle of writing one is a bad time to get distracted.
My apologies. I didn’t mean that what happened with the scorpion was funny – I meant that what you said about it was.
I swear some years it doesn’t pay to get out of bed. Heck even some decades. We are fighting a failed septic system and at this point scorpions don’t look so bad. Lets hope we all survive with our minds and bodies intact.
The poison that scorpions have is very similar to Bee or Wasp poison, its chemical composition is Acid and can be cancelled by a strong Base. Keep a bottle of Ammonia in your cabinet and just poor some over the bite and all pain will go away almost instantly. I was a Medic in the Army stationed in VietNam and the ammonia solution worked on the Scorpions found there, so I pretty sure that it will work on Texas scorpions.
So glad Gordon is ok and you killed the other scorpion b4 it stung someone!
I’m in TX too, but its too humid for them in Houston. Just poisonous snake here!
Hang in there and I hope you finally get your bathtub working!
What would happen if there was one day that all was calm, no drama, the kids were at peace and so were the fur babies?
Glad he went to the ER. Not to make this about me, but to support you forcing home to go, here’s my story.
I have an “accelerated” reaction to Texas Fire Ants. I didn’t know this until I got bit. My husband, also a former military-paper towel-duct tape will fix it kind of guy, forced me to go to the ER. By the time we got there my wrist was so swollen there was no definition between my hand and arm.
Happy editing! We look forward to reading the results.
I am glad Gordon is okay. Happy that the shoe was effective ????. I do not like creepy crawlers, so I would have been freaking out. Hopefully the tub will be an easy fix.
Loved the Emperor’s New Groove link
Scorpions really freak me out. It’s like God said, Okay imma take the freakiest bits from a wasp and a spider, and I’m going to put those on a lobster with a semi-prehensile butt. Good luck.
Glad Gordon is not allergic.
One of my archeologist friends tells me that in Egypt the black scorpions are alomst ignored because it is the smaller green ones that can be lethal. They are an apparent peril on excavation sites, particularly in the Valley of the Kings
Just a note: Sometimes scorpions are imported along with a load of masonry. So if you receive a load of rocks, slate, bricks, tiles, etc., be aware.
When I was tiny my folks moved us to Gabs, NV… or near it in the desert somewhere. The story goes that I had my shoes on all day (I must have been two?) and at the end of the day mom took off my shoes and a scorpion crawled out. I was not stung.
We also had a dog that was part coyote and he would circle us yhe entire time whenever we went out to play. Good dog.
You all are having some interesting times with contractors and repair people lately. *side-eye*
Also, at least it wasn’t the scorpion from that old b&w horror flick.
Growing up in Canada I’d play with the harmless daddy long legs, so when I moved to Australia years later I had to learn some respect for their not-so-friendly spiders, especially after I was bitten by a tiny scorpion in Tasmania. It felt like how I imagine a cigarette burn would feel.
I did have a favourite – the huntsman! The biggest one I saw, on a visit to friends on a bush property, was about four inches across. Lots in the cities too: in Melbourne I had a little huntsman living in a corner of my car. Never could get rid of it, but we didn’t bother each other.
I quickly learned that the best way to garden there was pants, long sleeved shirts & gloves. Shoes & socks, no sandals. No point in tempting the ants! And pick up rocks, bricks etc facing away from yourself, so any critters underneath run away, not towards!
Yet another reason I will never, ever, ever move to Texas. No offense guys, and I’m really glad that Gordon is okay, and that you are so deadly with a shoe.
I’m wondering if this bathtub was purchased while “reseaching” ideas for Julie’s bathtub in Blood Heir. I remember reading that paragraph slowly thinking, momma needs one of those. ????
Thank you for waiting at the crossing then backing up and finding another crossing. I retired from railroad service and have seen several crossing incidents where people tried to go around the railroad gates and did not make it. Fun fact, the railroad owns the right of way at crossings and if the train did everything correctly you or your estate can be sued for trespassing and damage to rail property.
This type of thing makes me really glad I live in boring old England (though there have been a few colonies of tiny yellow tailed scorpions about for over a century).
Yes it would be nice to see a wider variety of wildlife but I’ve always preferred it to stay outside where it belongs – I have enough trouble catching false widows (bit my arm, the cheeky madam) and daddy long legs (my worst nightmare, bouncing around with wings and spindly legs, ugh) if we had more poisonous varieties I’d need a much bigger glass and way longer arms!
It’s weird because outside I will happily hold beetles, bees, frogs, pretty much anything (still not spiders but I will peer closely, there are some beauties) but once they’re trying to come into my home uninvited *shudders*
It’s just not on. At least if you visit me make sure you know how to leave by yourself.
I don’t understand why they left you without nearby access to the electrical plug when you would be dealing with an appliance that involves both electricity and water. A situation could arise in which you might need to immediately shut down the system. Preferrably, without having to hike to the basement for the breaker box.
Hate-hate-hate scorpions!
If we ever bite the bullet and leave our TX home forever, it will be because of scorpions. We wear shoes in the house, and we moved the bed out from under the ceiling fan because–wait for it–a scorpion dropped onto my husband in bed almost three decades ago and so even though hot flashes increase ambient temperature by 10 degrees at night if the master bedroom door is shut, I am not sleeping under the ceiling fan. Rest is not restful when in the middle of the night one’s beloved jumps from the bed and yells, “Something stung me!” That was his first scorpion encounter.
Btw, I was five feet from the bed, screaming equally loudly, “Scorpion! Scorpion! Scorpion!” The bugger was under the sheet, apparently settling in for a long winter’s nap.
My Dad was on his way being shipped to the Far East when Japan surrendered in ’45. They were diverted to Palestine, then a Mandate of the UK. According to him, every morning they would all check aka empty their boots because scorpions liked the dark and damp aspect. He explained that the procedure then was to pour a ring of flammable liquide around the scorpion, light it and that would cause the scorpion to sting itself to death. That said, he never explained whether the fire thing was from personal experience or an untested urban legend.
The picture for this post – I just noticed the fly sitting up on the leaf, carefully out of reach of the scorpions, but also apparently watching them. Made me snicker.
I am so sorry about the scorpions. Sadly, they are pretty much everywhere.
I live in South Carolina, and we have to check the edge of doorways in sheds because scorpions the size of cockroaches like to hang out there. Sometimes, they come in the house via the plumbing as well.
I thought I had lost my mind the first time I saw one. I mean… SC?! … I expect them in hot desert or rocky climates but not the humid southeast USA.
I’m suddenly really okay with the bitterly cold climate I live in for half of the year. The worst thing I have had to battle in my kitchen is the desire to eat an entire bowl of mousse. (Which I lost.) Congratulations on having a nice bath, let’s just be grateful for small pleasures–even if they are not electrified.
+1000 Three cheers for Canadian winter 🙂
Love, love, LOVE, The Emperor’s New Groove!
Hate scorpions near where I live.
A pox on inefficient bath tub installers!
I am now wondering if the transformed cow would like living in Unicorn Lane …
We had scorpions BAD in New Mexico. I was terrified of them, and had two kids under age three in the house. I found out after we moved that Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth works wonders against them, and pests in general. Non-toxic to humans and animals,but must be applied in a manner that people and pets will not inhale the dust on application. I wish I would have known about it, something you may wish to look into. Best wishes to you all!
Hehehe LoL smile sorry I know that it was stressful. But I laughed.
Thank you, Ilona Andrews, for the post.
Thank goodness it was not serious. I have bad reaction to ER visits now as my Dad took my BIL after he got bit on foot by an unknown spider. Dad passed out in waiting room and ended up hospitalized with bone cancer. BIL was fine as it was non poisonous spider.
Better safe than sorry and dead. You never know. Just ask the knucklehead pup that lives with me and loves to catch flying entities.
TIL that there are tubs that heat their own water. I have a new life goal.
I have heard that the Diatomaceous earth works well for scorpions. Looked it up and learned that Diatomaceous earth powder dehydrates and kills scorpions and other insects by infiltrating their exoskeleton or through ingestion, a process that can take several days. Diatomaceous earth is safe for humans and pets.
We have lived in Arizona for 40 years and keep our house pretty bug free by having the exterminator come in once a month. We learned from him that the scorpions were breeding in all the junk in a neighbor’s yard. They would wander over to our place when the weather got too hot. We never got stung thank goodness.
Spiders are one reason I will not own patio furniture that has cushions. We found several black widows in our patio chairs. Now we have patio furniture that can be hosed off and will dry in a few minutes.
My first scorpion sting was in OK, between my toes, also in the house. Did not seek medical attention and woke in the middle of the night with that side of my body paralyzed and my mouth feeling like it was full of cotton. I could not call for help. Eventually fell asleep and woke feeling fine, but it was one of the scariest experiences of my life.