Question:
Picture this Larry. 20 years ago at Christmas I am driving along on a beautiful summers day, in shorts, with my wife and kids headed to MILs place
We have those summery Christmas days out here in California, too. That’s a great story to keep kids from smoking. "See what happens to you when you do?" Congrats on not getting stung by something that large. I’d have settled for the burns, too, Smoky. Next time it happens, you might have SWMBO take the wheel while you take care of the bug, wot? P.S: Have you quit smoking yet? * Michelangelo would have made ** Website and Graphic Design * better time with a roller. ** http://www.diversify.com
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He saw me with the rifle and looked puzzled. I quickly yelled that I was going to kill some wasps. He hollered back that I must be one hell of a shot.
Wonderful story – thanks. — Owen Lowe and his Fly-by-Night Copper Company Offering a shim for the Porter-Cable 557 type 2 fence design. <http://www.flybynightcoppercompany.com <http://www.easystreet.com/~onlnlowe/index.html
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I look down and my blood turns to ice – I see a 2.5" hornet between my (naked) thighs, thrusting its stinger around trying to sting whatever hit it. My wife tells me I tried to flick it away with my left hand, which unfortunately was holding a lit cigarette. I knocked part of the red-hot ember off the cigarette and onto my shorts, another part somehow managed to get lodged between two of my fingers in the webbing, causing excruciating pain.
Beautiful, just beautiful. Thanks for the morning chuckle. — Owen Lowe and his Fly-by-Night Copper Company Offering a shim for the Porter-Cable 557 type 2 fence design. <http://www.flybynightcoppercompany.com <http://www.easystreet.com/~onlnlowe/index.html
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Joey Lowe writes: (snip) "What?" As she ran out the room shrieking at the top of her voice, she = turned and shouted to me "Post Traumatic Syndrome". No respect I tell = you. lol Another piece of unasked for advice: when, eventually, something similar happens to your wife, right up through PTS, do NOT laugh. It is appropriate for women to laugh at men in such situations, but if the reverse occurs, you are going to lose sleep wondering how she’s going to get even. Note I said ‘how,’ not ‘if.’ Charlie Self http://hometown.aol.com/charliediy/myhomepage/resume.html
Charlie, Is this a case of DAMHIKT? Nahmie
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In article LOL – I hereby disavow any actual or implied kinship with posting waspfighter…
You’re the -smarter- cousin, eh? I got a pair of yellowjackets to do their thing to me when I was about 10. I found a china teapot in the trashcan and put it in my shirt pocket. A couple minutes later, it bit me. 3 times on the arm and 4 on the ribs. Since we didn’t know what would happen to me with all my allergies, the doctors had me strip down to my skivvies and jump into an entire bathtub full of ice after shooting me up with enough adrenalin to keep them from shooting horsed. Fortunately, I was not allergic and the ice bath didn’t quite kill me. Since then, those high-powered squirt cans specifically made for the wasp and YJs have been my friend. They shoot 20′ and you’re out of harm’s way before they start flying. Tell that to the cousin you’re in denial of, Owen. <gd&r * Michelangelo would have made ** Website and Graphic Design * better time with a roller. ** http://www.diversify.com
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Joey Lowe writes: My wife was = sitting nearby and fell over laughing when she saw my antics and heard = my explanation. Of course, when she realized that I was not in the mood = for laughter, she looked me plainly in the eye and said to me, "Do you = know what they call what you just experienced?" Of course, I said, = "What?" As she ran out the room shrieking at the top of her voice, she = turned and shouted to me "Post Traumatic Syndrome". No respect I tell = you. lol
Another piece of unasked for advice: when, eventually, something similar happens to your wife, right up through PTS, do NOT laugh. It is appropriate for women to laugh at men in such situations, but if the reverse occurs, you are going to lose sleep wondering how she’s going to get even. Note I said ‘how,’ not ‘if.’ Charlie Self http://hometown.aol.com/charliediy/myhomepage/resume.html
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Picture this Larry. 20 years ago at Christmas I am driving along on a beautiful summers day, in shorts, with my wife and kids headed to MILs place in Melbourne. I am cruising at 60 mph in a car built to do 140 (1974 Ford XB 351 V8 for the Oz guys) and really enjoying the ride. I crack the window maybe 1 or two inches to let some air in and smoke out (yes it will kill you – read on) and then I light up. Anyway, about a minute later there is a bang on the drivers side of the car and a pain in my chest; I think a bit and realise that something has hit the mirror and deflected into the car, hitting me in the chest. I look down and my blood turns to ice – I see a 2.5" hornet between my (naked) thighs, thrusting its stinger around trying to sting whatever hit it. My wife tells me I tried to flick it away with my left hand, which unfortunately was holding a lit cigarette. I knocked part of the red-hot ember off the cigarette and onto my shorts, another part somehow managed to get lodged between two of my fingers in the webbing, causing excruciating pain. As you have probably guessed, all h*ll broke loose. I ripped off the seat belt and leaped up on the seat, trying to stomp on the hornet, which was beginning to come back alive in a big way. It started doing little loops in the seat, about 10-15" high. Every time I tried to stomp it, it jumped up. So here I was out of the seat with my a*se on the headrest headed down the freeway with the car on cruise control doing sixty, kids screaming, Karen hollering and other cars honking and swerving. I quickly decided that the hornet was less of a threat and should be sat-on until I could pull the car off the freeway. The hornet didn’t sting me and seemed to settle down for a minute. I think it knew that I had sat on the burning cigarette end that had fallen off my shorts when I jumped up. Anyway, as I am pulling off the freeway I am looking at the placid hornet but feeling a helluva pain in the a*se. So much so that I have to raise up in the seat and rub my butt along the seat back to try and dislodge whatever it was. Soon as I got off the freeway I slammed on the brakes and bailed. We tried to find that hornet but we never could, believe me, I looked everywhere for that little b*st*rd. I turn up at the MILs place with a hole burnt in the front of my shorts, a burn in my sheepskin seat cover, burnt fingers and a burned a*se. Anyhow, I’m glad that I got to tell you this first because when SWMBO tells the story she makes it sound a lot worse than it was, she’d have you believe I was the one who did all the yelling while they were laughing – as if! cheers, Greg
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Picture this Larry. 20 years ago at Christmas I am driving along on a beautiful summers day, in shorts, with my wife and kids headed to MILs place in Melbourne.(Snippage of hilarious story)
Greg, coffee. LOML is scared to death of Bumblebees, and we were riding on the expressway in my pickup on a nice summer day with windows down when a big fat bumble got in and lit on the lens of her sunglasses. The next thing I knew she was almost standing up doing this "war dance" on the floor of the truck, totally destroying her sunglasses which she had thrown on the floor to get the bee away from her. Got the truck stopped, she bailed out, and later had a good laugh. You know, we never did find that bumblebee, not even a smear where she might have stomped it to death. Nahmie
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About twenty years back, while I was still in Tennessee (a transplanted Yankee from NYC), I had to cut down an old tree because it was starting to rot out. Unbeknownst to me there was a wasp nest in the tree. Since I was cutting it down, I decided I could use it for firewood, too. As I was cutting a piece with a chainsaw, the tree had already fallen, I noticed an itching on my arm. I looked and it was covered in wasps. Scared the bejezus out of me. I threw the saw, ran like hell (I never knew I could clear the creek in a single leap before) with the buggers stinging me the whole way. By the time I got to the house some were under my shirt, so I was stripping as I was running. Old Mr. Carson, about 80, was across the road watching, somewhat amused by the scene. A few minutes later I emerged, stung all to hell and I asked Mr. C what I should do, being a dumb NYer. He told me of an old remedy, and after helping me with the stingers handed me a big plug of tobacco. We started chewing and spitting into an old flowerpot full of dirt, making tobacco spit mud. After we had enough he helped me apply it, and believe it or not it helped almost instantly. I wanted revenge, and prepared a Molotov cocktail. I went around back, lit it, threw it, and it landed softly intact next to the tree, wick still burning. I was pissed. I went back to the house got my rifle intending to shoot the bottle. (I lacked the guts or stupidity to go pick up the still burning bottle to re-throw it.) By this point Mr. C was back in his front yard watching. He saw me with the rifle and looked puzzled. I quickly yelled that I was going to kill some wasps. He hollered back that I must be one hell of a shot. I got up on a rise where I could see the still burning Molotov cocktail, but from where Mr. C was, he could not see it.. I took careful aim, hit the bottle, and it blew into a giant fireball. Proud that I had exacted my revenge I was returning to the house, when old Mr. Carson stood with a look of amazement on his face by the side of the road. He smiled and simply said, "I gotta get me some o’ those high power Yankee bullets you use." I never did tell him about the Molotov cocktail. Glen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I had a similar experience a few years back, only black wasps <Major snip
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in Melbourne. I am cruising at 60 mph in a car built to do 140 (1974 Ford XB 351 V8 for the Oz guys)
Urh-urh-URRH!!!! 
I look down and my blood turns to ice – I see a 2.5" hornet between my (naked) thighs, thrusting its stinger around trying to sting whatever hit it.
Know exactly how you felt. Those things DO get agro and they are *incredibly* strong! Once I saw one kill a huntsman spider on the greenhouse. It grabbed the dead spider and dragged it across the backyard, up the fence, over it and into the neighbour’s, across it and finally down the hole near the far fence! I followed it all along, out of sheer curiosity. That’s about the same as any of us dragging a small car in our mouths for 2 miles, up and down a skyscraper! hornet was less of a threat and should be sat-on until I could pull the car off the freeway.
That is courage. Tip my hat to you, sir! I’d have blown out the window and bugger the consequences. Many years ago a huntsman found its way into the dash of my Golf (Rabbit for the Yanks) and jumped on me. I jumped off the car in the middle of the highway. The car crashed with the spider inside. I was alone, thank God! I turn up at the MILs place with a hole burnt in the front of my shorts, a burn in my sheepskin seat cover, burnt fingers and a burned a*se.
I’ll bet you drew a few flying comments! ;-D Anyhow, I’m glad that I got to tell you this first because when SWMBO tells the story she makes it sound a lot worse than it was, she’d have you believe I was the one who did all the yelling while they were laughing – as if!
Thaks for a great story. You owe me another screen wipe, you know that don’t you? ROFL! Cheers Nuno Souto
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Now what good is family (implied or actual) if they are going to disavow you in your time of need! (grin, wince) — Joey Lowe "Working towards perfection has to be a part of anything one does. You’ve got to put yourself into it." … Sam Maloof rec.woodworking FAQs: http://www.robson.org/woodfaq – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In article LOL – I hereby disavow any actual or implied kinship with posting waspfighter… — Owen Lowe and his Fly-by-Night Copper Company Offering a shim for the Porter-Cable 557 type 2 fence design. <http://www.flybynightcoppercompany.com <http://www.easystreet.com/~onlnlowe/index.html
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I had a similar experience a few years back, only black wasps and they were in a shed I needed to get in to! After getting stung twice, I put on a full face cycle helmet, heavy jacket, gloves, and a scarf wrapped around my neck to seal the bottom of the helmet! The nest was in the shed just over the door, so when you walked in they would get you.Dressed as I was they would swarm around me and were unable to do any damage. I bombed the nest with two cans of bug spray, from just a couple of feet away! Needles to say I won that battle! Greg
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Poor little critter. All they were doing was eating the aphids from your garden and you go an kill em… My favorite way it to drag out my old pellet gun, sit back a respectable distance and pick them off the nest. Lot’s of fun and improves your marksmanship.
Headed out to the shop this morning to finish some cabinets I started two days ago. There I stood in front of the double doors preparing to unlock the same, when I glanced into the glass of another door that was leaned against the side of the shop and saw a reflection of a wasp nest about the size of my head hanging about 6 inches over my head and two feet to the rear. The nest was alive with the sound of wasps and as I turned to lay my eyes on it, the wasps gave me their undivided attention. Four stings and a twisted ankle later, I found myself sitting at my desk planning my revenge. I told the wife and kids to stay inside while I dealt with the menace. So I grabbed the can of bug spray and headed back out to the nest. I got to within three feet, reached up and sprayed. The spray completely doused the nest, but none of the wasps succumbed. Instead they decided to swarm me. So off I go running back into the house, this time with three additional stingers lodged in the back of my head. I looked at the can and the spray I used was for spiders, not wasps. I grabbed the right can and headed back out there because it was personal now. My eleven year old son described the scene as follows. He said I looked like a warrior, standing there as all the wasps buzzed around me and I shot them from the sky with my Raid. He said at one point, I was actually spraying them with one hand and swatting others to the ground with my other hand and stomping them into oblivion. Anyway, my mission was accomplished. All wasps were either killed or missing in action. I claimed the hive as a souvenir. Unfortunately, the wasp stings have caused my head and hands to swell somewhat, so the cabinets will have to wait until another day. — Joey Lowe "Working towards perfection has to be a part of anything one does. You’ve got to put yourself into it." … Sam Maloof rec.woodworking FAQs: http://www.robson.org/woodfaq
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If you have kids coming up on a science project, you can wait till dark, put a plastic bag over the nest, cut it loose, and put it in the freezer. The kids can do cross-sections, showing the wasps in situ… djb —
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The art of negotation as practiced around the world is usually won by those with the biggist hammer. When it comes to wasps, yellow jackets, etc, me thinks the two fisted approach is best, say a bug bomb in each hand. On second thought, that equipment in some one elses hands while I watch from a safe distance with a cold beer, sounds even better <B/G. — Lew S/A: Challenge (Under Construction in the Southland) Visit: <http://home.earthlink.net/~lewhodgett for pictures There are no problems, only varying degrees of challenging opportunity
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You have fought the fight of the yellow banded foe and you have emerged triumphant. The beer in the fridge is yours, as is the soft end of the couch, and the TV remote. Use them all in good health, and live to fight another day….. Joey 1 Wasp 0 Rob — visit my web site: http://www.robswoodworking.com
Headed out to the shop this morning to finish some cabinets I started two days ago. There I stood in front of the double doors preparing to unlock the same, when I glanced into the glass of another door that was leaned against the side of the shop and saw a reflection of a wasp nest about the size of my head hanging about 6 inches over my head and two feet to the rear. The nest was alive with the sound of wasps and as I turned to lay my eyes on it, the wasps gave me their undivided attention. Four stings and a twisted ankle later, I found myself sitting at my desk planning my revenge. I told the wife and kids to stay inside while I dealt with the menace. So I grabbed the can of bug spray and headed back out to the nest. I got to within three feet, reached up and sprayed. The spray completely doused the nest, but none of the wasps succumbed. Instead they decided to swarm me. So off I go running back into the house, this time with three additional stingers lodged in the back of my head. I looked at the can and the spray I used was for spiders, not wasps. I grabbed the right can and headed back out there because it was personal now. My eleven year old son described the scene as follows. He said I looked like a warrior, standing there as all the wasps buzzed around me and I shot them from the sky with my Raid. He said at one point, I was actually spraying them with one hand and swatting others to the ground with my other hand and stomping them into oblivion. Anyway, my mission was accomplished. All wasps were either killed or missing in action. I claimed the hive as a souvenir. Unfortunately, the wasp stings have caused my head and hands to swell somewhat, so the cabinets will have to wait until another day. — Joey Lowe "Working towards perfection has to be a part of anything one does. You’ve got to put yourself into it." … Sam Maloof rec.woodworking FAQs: http://www.robson.org/woodfaq
Response:
In article
LOL – I hereby disavow any actual or implied kinship with posting waspfighter… — Owen Lowe and his Fly-by-Night Copper Company Offering a shim for the Porter-Cable 557 type 2 fence design. <http://www.flybynightcoppercompany.com <http://www.easystreet.com/~onlnlowe/index.html
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A valiant struggle… But next time, wait till dark. They’ll all be in the next asleep. —
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Rob Stokes responds: You have fought the fight of the yellow banded foe and you have emerged triumphant. The beer in the fridge is yours, as is the soft end of the couch, and the TV remote. Use them all in good health, and live to fight another day….. Joey 1 Wasp 0
Uh, Rob, didn’t he say he collected at least 7 stingers first? Back when I painted houses for a couple summers to get through college, I learned, damned quickly, to do 2 things: hit the little bastards at dusk; hit them with a spray can that gave a minimum 20′ twixt me and the little bastards. A third thing I learned later: always have 2 spray cans in case one is a semi-dud. Those little notes haven’t kept me from getting stung over the years, but considering my years in yellowjacket heaven–also known as the South–I’ve come out pretty well. Charlie Self http://hometown.aol.com/charliediy/myhomepage/resume.html
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My eight year old grandson and I are in awe. mahalo, jo4hn and bryan (heal well) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Headed out to the shop this morning to finish some cabinets I started two days ago. There I stood in front of the double doors preparing to unlock the same, when I glanced into the glass of another door that was leaned against the side of the shop and saw a reflection of a wasp nest about the size of my head hanging about 6 inches over my head and two feet to the rear. The nest was alive with the sound of wasps and as I turned to lay my eyes on it, the wasps gave me their undivided attention. Four stings and a twisted ankle later, I found myself sitting at my desk planning my revenge. I told the wife and kids to stay inside while I dealt with the menace. So I grabbed the can of bug spray and headed back out to the nest. I got to within three feet, reached up and sprayed. The spray completely doused the nest, but none of the wasps succumbed. Instead they decided to swarm me. So off I go running back into the house, this time with three additional stingers lodged in the back of my head. I looked at the can and the spray I used was for spiders, not wasps. I grabbed the right can and headed back out there because it was personal now. My eleven year old son described the scene as follows. He said I looked like a warrior, standing there as all the wasps buzzed around me and I shot them from the sky with my Raid. He said at one point, I was actually spraying them with one hand and swatting others to the ground with my other hand and stomping them into oblivion. Anyway, my mission was accomplished. All wasps were either killed or missing in action. I claimed the hive as a souvenir. Unfortunately, the wasp stings have caused my head and hands to swell somewhat, so the cabinets will have to wait until another day. — Joey Lowe "Working towards perfection has to be a part of anything one does. You’ve got to put yourself into it." … Sam Maloof rec.woodworking FAQs: http://www.robson.org/woodfaq
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Back when I painted houses for a couple summers to get through college, I learned, damned quickly, to do 2 things: hit the little bastards at dusk; hit them with a spray can that gave a minimum 20′ twixt me and the little
bastards. I concur. Night time is the "right time" to zap them. Also, the specialized wasp sprays are great. What I find so funny is the fact that all of the cans prominently display how far away you can be and still get the job done ("Sprays up to 25 feet!!!!").Although not overtly mentioned, the clear implication is that you’re going to "spray-n-sprint". – Joe
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Like I’ve said before, the right "tool" for the job. I’ve had problems with yellow jacket nests in my yard but I have a great bee guy that dispatches them for a reasonable cost and no risk to my own self. Tom in Oregon – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Headed out to the shop this morning to finish some cabinets I started two days ago. There I stood in front of the double doors preparing to unlock the same, when I glanced into the glass of another door that was leaned against the side of the shop and saw a reflection of a wasp nest about the size of my head hanging about 6 inches over my head and two feet to the rear. The nest was alive with the sound of wasps and as I turned to lay my eyes on it, the wasps gave me their undivided attention. Four stings and a twisted ankle later, I found myself sitting at my desk planning my revenge. I told the wife and kids to stay inside while I dealt with the menace. So I grabbed the can of bug spray and headed back out to the nest. I got to within three feet, reached up and sprayed. The spray completely doused the nest, but none of the wasps succumbed. Instead they decided to swarm me. So off I go running back into the house, this time with three additional stingers lodged in the back of my head. I looked at the can and the spray I used was for spiders, not wasps. I grabbed the right can and headed back out there because it was personal now. My eleven year old son described the scene as follows. He said I looked like a warrior, standing there as all the wasps buzzed around me and I shot them from the sky with my Raid. He said at one point, I was actually spraying them with one hand and swatting others to the ground with my other hand and stomping them into oblivion. Anyway, my mission was accomplished. All wasps were either killed or missing in action. I claimed the hive as a souvenir. Unfortunately, the wasp stings have caused my head and hands to swell somewhat, so the cabinets will have to wait until another day. — Joey Lowe "Working towards perfection has to be a part of anything one does. You’ve got to put yourself into it." … Sam Maloof rec.woodworking FAQs: http://www.robson.org/woodfaq
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In the future forget the bug spray! Use your shop vac instead ! I have done this numerous times and I have had no stings. One time I duct taped the hose to my grapefruit puller to get near the roof. What is nice about the vac is that you can get them before they land on you. When it is all over, you will have all these wasp bodies laying in your vac! Jack
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I’m so glad that I was able to amuse everyone with my mishap. (grin) To add insult to my injury, a little while ago I was sitting inside and all of a sudden I swore I heard a buzz and felt something fly by my ear (which by the way received a fair share of the stingers). My wife was sitting nearby and fell over laughing when she saw my antics and heard my explanation. Of course, when she realized that I was not in the mood for laughter, she looked me plainly in the eye and said to me, "Do you know what they call what you just experienced?" Of course, I said, "What?" As she ran out the room shrieking at the top of her voice, she turned and shouted to me "Post Traumatic Syndrome". No respect I tell you. lol — Joey Lowe "Working towards perfection has to be a part of anything one does. You’ve got to put yourself into it." … Sam Maloof rec.woodworking FAQs: http://www.robson.org/woodfaq
Headed out to the shop this morning to finish some cabinets I started two days ago. There I stood in front of the double doors preparing to unlock the same, when I glanced into the glass of another door that was leaned against the side of the shop and saw a reflection of a wasp nest about the size of my head hanging about 6 inches over my head and two feet to the rear. The nest was alive with the sound of wasps and as I turned to lay my eyes on it, the wasps gave me their undivided attention. Four stings and a twisted ankle later, I found myself sitting at my desk planning my revenge. I told the wife and kids to stay inside while I dealt with the menace. So I grabbed the can of bug spray and headed back out to the nest. I got to within three feet, reached up and sprayed. The spray completely doused the nest, but none of the wasps succumbed. Instead they decided to swarm me. So off I go running back into the house, this time with three additional stingers lodged in the back of my head. I looked at the can and the spray I used was for spiders, not wasps. I grabbed the right can and headed back out there because it was personal now. My eleven year old son described the scene as follows. He said I looked like a warrior, standing there as all the wasps buzzed around me and I shot them from the sky with my Raid. He said at one point, I was actually spraying them with one hand and swatting others to the ground with my other hand and stomping them into oblivion. Anyway, my mission was accomplished. All wasps were either killed or missing in action. I claimed the hive as a souvenir. Unfortunately, the wasp stings have caused my head and hands to swell somewhat, so the cabinets will have to wait until another day. — Joey Lowe "Working towards perfection has to be a part of anything one does. You’ve got to put yourself into it." … Sam Maloof rec.woodworking FAQs: http://www.robson.org/woodfaq
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Headed out to the shop this morning to finish some cabinets I started two days ago. There I stood in front of the double doors preparing to unlock the same, when I glanced into the glass of another door that was leaned against the side of the shop and saw a reflection of a wasp nest about the size of my head hanging about 6 inches over my head and two feet to the rear. The nest was alive with the sound of wasps and as I turned to lay my eyes on it, the wasps gave me their undivided attention. Four stings and a twisted ankle later, I found myself sitting at my desk planning my revenge. I told the wife and kids to stay inside while I dealt with the menace. So I grabbed the can of bug spray and headed back out to the nest. I got to within three feet, reached up and sprayed. The spray completely doused the nest, but none of the wasps succumbed. Instead they decided to swarm me. So off I go running back into the house, this time with three additional stingers lodged in the back of my head. I looked at the can and the spray I used was for spiders, not wasps. I grabbed the right can and headed back out there because it was personal now. My eleven year old son described the scene as follows. He said I looked like a warrior, standing there as all the wasps buzzed around me and I shot them from the sky with my Raid. He said at one point, I was actually spraying them with one hand and swatting others to the ground with my other hand and stomping them into oblivion. Anyway, my mission was accomplished. All wasps were either killed or missing in action. I claimed the hive as a souvenir. Unfortunately, the wasp stings have caused my head and hands to swell somewhat, so the cabinets will have to wait until another day. — Joey Lowe "Working towards perfection has to be a part of anything one does. You’ve got to put yourself into it." … Sam Maloof rec.woodworking FAQs: http://www.robson.org/woodfaq
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