Damsel in distress...

After I went and grabbed the mail this morning, I came walking down the hallway and stopped mid-stride when I noticed the most grotesque insect ever...a FLYING GRASSHOPPER! It was smack-dab in the middle of the walkway...so I felt compromised. If I walked to the right, it would startle it causing it to fly... If walked to the left, it would probably have the same effect. Well, you can bet-your-bottom-dollar...I turned right around and allowed my fabulous black heels to deliver me through the lobby area to the secured Engineering entryway where I knocked ... hoping my co-worker would let me in!

I marched myself straight into my favorite co-workers area (There are benefits to working with 98% all males!) and I announced..."What I am about to tell you cannot be used against me in a court of law?" (slight pause) "I need your help!" I am sure by this time my co-worker is thinking...A. Who is Angie trying to knock off (as in swim with the fish); B. What has frightened our fabulous Engineering secretary?

I went on, "I'm sad to say this outloud, but flying grasshoppers really creep me out. When I was a kid, one flew up my jumper on the way in to church...and I didn't notice it until the service had started." (We attended the small Quaker church up the road from our house...and clearly Quakers are not prone to loudness during their services so I had to sit there quietly while this wretched creature vexed my poor soul! In the end, I believe said grasshopper lost his/her life!)

Trying to explain my irrational fear, "I know they don't bite. I know that they are nice." Co-worker inserted, "I kind of like them." My rebuttal, "FOR REAL??????" Our friendship is being re-evaluated as we speak. :)

I, then, proceeded to make my co-worker promise to never-ever use this against me. ....never ever scare me with grasshoppers. And in all seriousness, I said, "If you do scare me with them, this will end our friendship. AND BELIEVE ME -- FUN ANGIE IS NOT KIDDING!"

I'm not a big prankster. I don't do CRUEL things to people...so I expect the same courtesy.

He promised. And then as we were leaving his office, I saw two other co-workers standing near the door where the evil one was lurking...so I briskly walked down and asked if they would be so kind as to remove the wretched beast. They did.

@ Quitting Time...

Apparently the freed vermin thought it funny to notify some family members, because there were atleast 4 grasshoppers that crossed my path on my way out to Rosie. And one even had the nerve to hang-on-for-dear-life to Rosie's passenger-side mirror. No worries -- about 3 miles west of the District, it fell off the mirror to what I can only hope was a quick death!

Grasshoppers and Fun Angie are not friends.