Blog 61: Story time!

Beware of What’s Lurking in the Shallow Waters

Many years ago my family took a trip to San Diego, California. It was during summer vacation, in the month of June. Our first day there we went to the beach and there was an odd chill in the air. Since it wasn’t very warm when my stepsister and I waded out into the Pacific Ocean we didn’t let the water go any higher than mid-thigh. While wading around in the shallow water we were trying our best to avoid the multitude of seaweed floating in the water. Little did I know I should’ve been trying to avoid a greater evil, jellyfish! All of a sudden, my calf began to burn and I thought it was a cut from the saw-like edges of the seaweed. I ran quickly onto the beach to inspect my leg and saw what looked like rug burn, but was really a jellyfish sting. My leg burned for hours; stupid jellyfish!

Attacked by a Killer Parrot

About a decade ago, my mother and I took our cat to the vet’s office for some routine shots. While we were waiting to be taken back to the exam room, we were being entertained by a lively parrot. The parrot was kept in a cage in the waiting room. The receptionist saw how amused we were by the parrot, and told us that we could get him out of his cage if we wanted. She came around from her desk and showed me how to put my arm out for him to walk up to my shoulder. Once he was up there, I looked over at my mom and said, “Hey mom look, I’m a pirate.” Next thing I knew, I was being attacked! The parrot had sunk its beak into my neck muscle and his talons into my shoulder. The receptionist threw a towel over him and removed him. Who would’ve thought that a trip to the animal doctor for my cat’s shots would lead to a trip to the doctor for my tetanus shot?

Ants in My Pants Really Made Me Dance

One day I was out in the yard, thinking about what a beautiful day it was. I decided to go inside and get my camera to take a few pictures. I looked up at the sky and saw how puffy the clouds were. I proceeded to lie down in the grass, stare up at the sky, and take a few snap shots. Out of nowhere I felt a sting on my lower back. I jumped up and brushed an ant off my back. Thank God that was over, right? Wrong. I then felt stinging sensations on my butt and legs. I ran in the house, threw my pants to the ground, and found multiple ants crawling all over me! I slapped at them trying to kill them all and then saw that they had crawled out of my pants and were all over the hardwood floor. I stomped on them until they were all dead. Next, I threw my pants in the bathtub and filled it with water, to hopefully drown any that had survived. After I had massacred the ants, I collapsed on the floor while my ant bites swelled to perfection. I guess they showed me for lying in the grass and watching the clouds go by!