Jiminy - they ain't

Every summer they come. Swarms ( and yes people I mean swarms) of black noisy crickets descend upon Abilene.

Now, I know that some of you out there are going to be quick to point out that I am Abilene bashing again. I assure you I am not. But if you feel like its too much... don't read the rest of the post.

I haven't lived everywhere in the world. But I have lived in few different places, a majority of them have been warm climates. The warmer the climate the more critters you will encounter.

I lived in Texas once before. It was then that I learned exactly how big "Texas size bugs " really are...by the way... they're friggen HUGE!

So I thought that I was adequately prepared for Abilene. Until our first summer here in 2005, and my first experience with the cricket invasion.

I don't know where they come from or why they think Abilene (either wet or dry) is the best place for them. But all of a sudden one day they appear. Hopping through your living room, chirping in your bath drain and huddling in the corners of your garage. Its not just homes either. Got to any store and look in the entrance way (walmart petsmart stienmart) and you will see them... hoards of them half alive, half squished...ugh!

Now I normally I am a live and let live kind of a gal. But as of the summer in 2005 there are three insects that I refuse to live with. Fire ants, wasps and CRICKETS. You don't realize how loud those suckers are until one is chirping away in your closet at 3am. I have almost perfected the art of narrowing in on a crickets location in the house. Standing perfectly still, my ears straining to discern from which corner the chip is originating. I come armed with my spray gun of death. No hour is too late, no cricket is too small.

And then, like a bad dream they will disappear...poof! Until next summer...