Wednesday, September 3, 2008

This Way and That Way

Happy Birthday Rebecca Ramsey, and thanks for throwing a blog party! I had something else planned to post today, but I changed my mind at the last minute. I wonder why I do that?

I decided my Wonder of The World would be: How can something that appears to be SO disorganized be so HIGHLY efficient? No, it’s not me. I’m talking about these guys:


Guess what season it is? No, not Fall. Not School. Not Football.

It’s ANT Season! I hate ants.

So, guess what I found in my pantry this morning? Not a football.

It begins one day with a moving dot on the counter. I think, destroy it or he’ll tell his friends.

But it’s just the one, I argue with myself and leave it alone.

He tells his friends. There’s a smattering of them scouting around the sink. I wipe them up.

The kids protest. "But they’re so cute!"

Ants are not cute.

I hold them at bay for weeks, but they ooze inside in greater numbers. I might be an impeccable housekeeper. I’m not, but it wouldn’t matter if I were. They find the speck of grease that leapt out of the skillet, the fudgesicle drips, the dead spider under the couch. They march right in the door to get it.

Our longest line spanned from the front door up around the ceiling and down along baseboards to reach a muffin crumb under the breakfast nook. The thickest line was four inches wide. It skirted the door and infiltrated the pantry, laying waste to a long lost bag of Xtra Cheddar Goldfish.

I marvel at those organized yet frenzied units. From where I stand, the ants on the floor look like a busy interstate of bumper cars. Tiny, drunken bumper car drivers on a mission.

In children’s books, ants are cute. Merry, lip-smacking, bib-wearing, marching ants. They’re so round and smiling. Did I mention that ants are NOT cute?

The little devils do love a party, though, and so do I. So I’m marching back to Becky’s for some cake.

15 comments:

Robyn said...

Argh! I live in South Africa where the bugs can be as big as bunnies and yet nothing irritates me more than ants! But I suppose they are pretty wondrous too. Great post!

Rebecca Ramsey said...

Adrienne, I'm with you. They are amazing, as well as maddening! Great post!

We've battled ants some ourselves this summer, including a war outside with the fire variety! Ouch--their bites sure hurt!

But as crazy as they make me, I do have to stand in wonder when they march together in a line. I wonder, and then I squish them.
Sorry ants!

Thank you for joining in on the party fun! Your post made my day even more wonder-full!
Becky

Felicity said...

I agree. How can something that even God uses as a good example (see Proverbs) be such a pill! I have them, too.

I like the way I put up all these fancy ant houses that are supposed to kill them and they just crawl all over them and smile at me!

LW said...

Ants… are a wonder..

I battle them every year..

Many years ago, when my kids were young we had this line of ants that were coming into
our family room … they found a tiny little space between the tile and the wood molding.
No matter what we did, in the morning they were there working away..
One day my daughter who was four at the time watched them for a very long time, she got up,
got the scotch tape put a piece over the tiny hole they used to get in and that was the end of them..


Louise

Rena Jones said...

Ours are pretty big in Montana too.

Great picture, btw!

Rosemary said...

I know what you mean. I have been battling those guys too!!
They just keep on marching!!
Thanks for visiting my blog!!
Rosemary

Barb said...

Great post. This is my first visit.

I am not a fan of ants either. They are cute in kid's books though.

Life on the Edge said...

Thanks for your comment on my post! Lol, I think YOU need a spa weekend too!

Kady (of the poop post)

Adrienne said...

Thanks, everyone, for visiting my blog. Glad to hear I'm not alone in my battle with the creepy-crawlies, though I hope you've had more success than I have!

I enjoyed discovering everyone's blogs!

Anonymous said...

I use this stuff - it works & it's safe!
http://www.planetnatural.com/site/ant-roach-killer.html

julia from verla's

Adrienne said...

Thanks, Julia. I'm gonna check it out!

Anonymous said...

Ants are amazing, but I appreciate them best OUTSIDE, just like you:) Nice to meet you, I like your blog!

Adrienne said...

Green Girl, thanks for visiting! I'll be stopping by your blog again, definitely :)

the Amateur Book Blogger said...

Ant-astic, fun post - and so true!
I enjoyed discovering everyone's blogs through Rebecca Ramsey's party!Great you could stop by - do you use JacketFlap? I'd love to see some of your work.

Adrienne said...

Amateur Book Blogger, I'd love to learn more about JacketFlap. Thanks for visiting!