After work on Friday, as I was reaching with the keys to unlock the door, I happened to look up to the right (and to my horror- please note that I am deathly afraid of flying creatures with stingers) and see a freshly made wasp’s nest with the largest, ugliest and meanest wasp I’ve ever seen standing guard. As a reflex, I jumped back and ran all the way down the stairs. I looked around to see if anyone was watching and tried to re-gather myself because I was quite flustered. I stood at the bottom of the stairs trying to come up with a game plan to get in the door. I looked around for something to throw at it, but couldn’t find anything that I was confident could finish the job. I gave myself a pep talk (I told myself that it was just a silly little wasp and that it was probably more afraid of me than I was of it) and then resolutely walked back up the stairs. I put on my jacket with my keys in one hand and a book in the other for self defense. I got to the top of the stairs and was just watching him busily building his nest so I slowly reached for the door….and he stopped what he was doing and completely turned and just glared at me with his black, beady eyes. My heart was racing and I couldn’t do it! I chickened out and ended up back at the bottom of the stairs angry at myself that I was too afraid. This sequence of events happened multiple times until I managed to get the keys in the door. However, that was far as I was able to go. Believe me I kept trying and trying and I just couldn’t do it. Finally, I called Darren (I know I’m so pathetic) but he was in a meeting so he told me to call Derek. I was too embarassed to call Derek so I decided I need to overcome my fear. So I resorted back to plan A- finding something to throw at it. I looked all over again and then realized I had some leftover carrots from lunch (7 to be exact). So from the bottom of the stairs I started chucking the carrots at him one by one (each time looking around to see if anyone was watching). After my last carrot I had nothing to show for my efforts except riddled carrots all in front of our door and a silly girl that couldn’t get in her apartment. I admitted defeated and sat on our car and waited 40 minutes (on top of the 20 minutes I had already wasted trying to get past the demon, guardian wasp) until my hero (Darren) came home from work. It took him about 2 minutes to get a game plan and defeat the dragon- I mean wasp. He nonchalantly walked up the stairs, took off his shoe, and smashed the wasp’s nest. To my defense, Darren will attest to the wasp being the largest, ugliest and meanest wasp he has ever seen and that he actually did give an intimidating glare.
Fayetteville, Arkansas March 12, 2008
So everyone has been asking us, “What were you guys doing in Arkansas?”.
We were visiting Jared (Darren’s brother), Rachel, Judah (our new nephew) and Murphy (their dog) . Barry (Darren’s other brother) and Alyssa flew out from Chicago to join us. Family Reunion!
Look at that perfect little face- isn’t he just so lovable?! (This is one of the rare moments that Judah wasn’t being held by one of his uncles or aunties:)
Doesn’t Darren look like a content uncle?
This weekend went by so fast, but we managed to pack a lot of fun and memories into our short time together. It was fun to step into Jared and Rachel’s world and see where they live and work. There’s nothing like good quality time with family!
Some highlights:
- Meeting and holding Judah
- Being with family that we don’t see often enough
- Playing Trivial Pursuit
- Watching Animals are beautiful people
- Going to the park
- Eating (Marketplace, Penguin Ed’s, and all the meals at Jared and Rachel’s)
It’s a guaranteed good time when you get those Meisel boys (and their women) together. Let me tell you, Jared+Barry+Darren=uncontrollable laughter. We can’t wait to do it again. Let’s make it happen this summer!
(Is it “me like cookies” or “me want cookies” or “cookies, cookies, cookies?)
