Psychopaths, Spiders, and Hotrods

A reader called Hotrod responded to my “Internet Dating” story with some astute points that have made me reconsider my narrow viewpoint, so I encourage you to read his comment.

I would agree, psychopaths are everywhere, and there is no requirement for honesty, whether you meet someone in person or online. And I should know. I had a financially disingenuous guy in my life for a year. His deceitful behavior cause creditors to call my number and send collections notices to my mailbox continuously—after four years of my boot in his arse. It’s extremely disheartening to know that I could make such a poor choice, like if I shopped at Wal-mart.

Hotrod asked, “How is it that your hot tub has so many strangers happening by for you to meet?”

Thank you for asking. Here’s a story of only one stranger in my tub that I can recall. One eve I jumped into the hot tub for a little plumping. I slid into the lounge, closed my eyes, and meditated for a while, when I sensed something behind me. Slowly I turned around, and there, inspecting the color of my roots, was a sweet little gray jumping spider with furry legs.

I said hello with my eyes, six fewer than my new acquaintance’s, and he greeted me. Rather than acting frightened, he moved closer to the end of my big nose, which was still quite a distance from my eyes. His forward nature intrigued me, so I pulled my finger out of the water and moved it toward him. This made him jump back a few spider lengths.

He sensed I wasn’t a predator and was as curious as he, so we performed the meeting dance. Finally he indicated he had dinner to catch, made a right turn, and cascaded down the tub’s wall.

I was so fascinated by my little visitor that I went upstairs and learned about jumping spiders. Though their field of vision is narrow, it is incredibly sharp.

A characteristic I find most interesting is that they have an internal hydraulic system. They alter the pressure of their blood, which extends their limbs, and it enables them to jump 20 to 80 times their body length. Wherever the spider goes, it tethers a silk filament to whatever it is standing on, so if it falls, it can climb back up. [Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumping_spider] Cool!

And these little creatures are stalkers. They use the features God gave them to hunt, see, pounce, and bite. So next time I meet my acquaintance, I may give him a wider berth, in case our meeting dance is really a meating dance.

Here’s another informational site: http://www.everythingabout.net/articles/biology/animals/arthropods/arachnids/spiders/jumping_spider/

Now I ask, with an epithet like Hotrod, would you find cool chicks at the racetrack? With a name like Eartha, I look up to the sky.

copyright © 2009 by Auntie Eartha. All rights reserved.

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Hot Tub Healer

Hot tub healer is not a misspell. It’s not saying to a cute young fella, “Hey, let’s tub,” and he heels. No, I mean hot tubs can heal and help a person lose weight.

A few years ago I discovered that when I was hungry and chose to tub rather than eat, I lost my hunger.

My daughter and I have noticed that when we have a scratch, scrape, or bite, soon after sitting in the tub, it goes away. Sooner than if we hadn’t tubbed.

And the healing is not just physical, it’s emotional. My friends and I have learned that with a bottle of wine and a late-night tub, all the stuff from the past that needs to come out, does. And the unspoken rule is, nothing leaves the hot tub. What you say in there stays in there. It’s what friendship is based on: trust.

For years I’ve said, I wish everyone had a hot tub, ’cause the world would be a more peaceful place. And you don’t have to buy a new one. Knowing they are mechanical devices, even you could fix one if it breaks down. I have several times (I’m a handywoman). Go ahead, take a tub, and feel peace warm your soul.
(Puzzle piece number 24 of 38.)

copyright © 2008 by Auntie Eartha. All rights reserved.

If you like it, link it!
http://auntieeartha.blogspot.com/2008/11/hot-tub-healer.html