Life in Oklahoma

Things have been interesting here. Where should I start? How about we talk about the Brown Recluse Spiders? Julie you will love this story, props to you for telling me to shake my shoes out! When we first got here the word on the street was to watch out for the Brown Recluses because they are everywhere and they will hide in your clothes and bite you. I took the info in, but kinda brushed it off because we had them in Virginia (or so I was told) and I'd never had a run in with them. I go about my business at home as usual, cleaning, folding laundry, putting shoes on like a normal person, etc.

On Wednesday Matt had his medical briefing. During the Community Health portion they decide to scare the crap out of all the guys by showing them pictures of the spiders and bite wounds. They are very gross!





Needless to say it worked to scare Matt. I again was still a little skeptical, but decided to take a little more precaution since Matt and the guys were pretty freaked out. The next morning I went about my business as normal, but decided I should shake my shoes out before putting them on. Well sure enough there was a giant spider in them!!!!!! Ew! I was so freaked out! I was livid! How am I supposed to live a normal life if I have to shake out my sheets before I get in bed every night? If I have to check under all the pillows before I sit on my own couch? How will I do laundry? Ugh! Gross! I can deal with a spider crawling across the floor, but hiding in my clothes? Ahhhhhhhhh!!!
Needless to say I am a believer now. There are tons of icky spiders here. I immediately had someone come over and spray the house so I could at least function again.
I started asking people everywhere I go if they've ever been bitten. EVERYONE has a story. The lady at the barber shop, "Oh yea I have a giant scar on my leg where I got bit. I was in my bed!" The exterminator, "Yea I've been bitten 3 times!" An instructor pilot I met, "Yup I got bit on my leg!" Everyone has a story, I just hope I make it out of here without a bite story.


I mean look at this map of Brown Recluse habitat. It's all Oklahoma! Help! Matt and I couldn't sleep that night after the spider attack. Our minds were just playing with us all night, every little brush of the covers, every movement you think it's a spider and end up slapping and scratching all over. I'm getting the creeps just talking about it now! I gotta go shake out my clothes!