and a centipede in a pear tree.

while we were hoping for a visit from santa claus and his prancing reindeer this week, instead i had an encounter earlier today with a less welcome guest -- a house centipede.

if you've never come across one of these buggers before, this is what they look like. according to my vast internet research - and you know i've done vast internet research; the first time i spied something that sinister-looking in my personal space i freaked out and immediately scoured the web for answers/support/weaponry - they are insectivores, meaning they are useful bugs as they eat other insects. which is probably true, as we've been living in our apartment for over a year and with the exception of three random centipede sightings see little to no ants or spiders or worse, which is great and all, but still - they are completely the stuff of nightmares.

especially that i found this guy on my windowsill about six inches from my pillow. my pillow! where i lay my innocent head to dream. i feel immensely violated. thank goodness we're spending the next few days holiday-ing it up at our parents' house, or else i'd be sleeping in a ski mask tonight.

******

and so since this will be our last post before the holiday, we'd like to wish all our readers who are celebrating a most merry christmas, and leave you with something a little more jolly and lovable than a hundred-legged insect:




**you may note that the reporter states that 'a few select visitors are allowed to toboggan with the animals' -- my new life goal is to be one of those select few.