Thanks, Worms & A Challenge

Well, I made it through the 12-hour shift, but as I told my husband, I'm not going to be making that a habit. It was a loooong day and by the time I was done I was really done! 

Today I don't start work until noon, but as usual, I find myself awake very early so I've got time to blog a little before getting on with the day. I thought I'd give my list of things I'm thankful for a day late and try the questions from a meme I ran across.

First, the thanks.

This week I am thankful...

* to wake up this morning to temperatures 20 degrees cooler than yesterday. I like nice weather as much as anyone, but 88 degrees in October is a bit much. Our high today is supposed to be 63. Upper 60's are predicted for the weekend and much of next week. Yes! 

* that I decided to leave the pepper plants in the garden when I ripped everything else out. The last couple of weeks have seen them go absolutely nuts and they are LOADED with peppers....so I may have to make that chili this weekend that everyone was discussing in this week's Wednesday Medley.

* work has been very satisfying this week and my boss has been tolerable. (On an interesting note...I sometimes worry that maybe I'm just overly sensitive when it comes to my boss's criticism but a co-worker made a comment this week that she has noticed that our boss seems to come down on me ridiculously hard. Nice to know it isn't my imagination.) 

* this weekend is my weekend off!

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Now on to the meme questions.

1. Do you have a favorite insect (of the bug variety, of course)?  Not really. If I have to choose a bug, I guess maybe ladybugs.

2. Which insect could you happily do without seeing for a good long time? I honestly don't know if they count as "bugs" but I am so over the Catalpa Worms that have invaded my Catalpa trees this year. I've learned they are common in the South (and considered desirable as fishing bait), but apparently our warmer temperatures have allowed them to move north. Not only are they doing a number on my trees since the leaves are the only thing they eat, but our deck (which is completely shaded by a Catalpa tree) is covered...COVERED...with caterpillar poop. It's disgusting! There isn't much you can do, apparently. I told Tim the trees are going to have to go. I can't deal with this ever summer. Yuck.

This is what I'm dealing with! They are about 3 inches long.

They eat my tree and then poop on everything.

And sometimes you find this...which is about the best I can

hope for. Some type of wasp, that is harmless to humans,

lays it's eggs inside the worms and the larvae eat off the worm.

The little white things are actually something like a cocoon.

They're the last stage before the baby wasps emerge.

I usually find the worm lying dead on the deck at this point.

3. Which insect do you think is of the most benefit to us?  Bees and we'd better start taking care of them better or we're going to find ourselves in big trouble.

4. Have you had to deal with an insect invasion yet this season (or this past summer for our friends in the other hemisphere)?  Whoops...already covered that!

5. Would you eat insects? Not even for a lot of money?  Not for a lot of money and not even if you drowned them in chocolate.

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I'm a little late to this party, too, but I'm also joining in with Kwizgiver for her October Challenge. I'm just going to start today, though, and not go back 3 days.

October Challenge, Day 4

Concerts or gigs I've watched:

•  Toby Keith
•  Pure Prairie League
•  Ted Nugent
•  Adam Ant
•  Donnie Iris
•  Frank Sinatra
•  Lynyrd Skynyrd
•  Travis Tritt
•  Tracy Lawrence
•  Randy Travis
•  Trace Adkins
•  and many others I can't think of this morning!

Now I'm off to get dressed and get some housework done before I have to head to work. Have a blessed day!