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It’s September. That’s the beginning of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, which is one of the pieces my choir will be doing this season. It translates to: Celebrate, rejoice, arise, praise these days!

MAKE ME. Just kidding. Although I basically spent yesterday curled up in a ball, and today looks like it might be shaping up the same way. I barely recognize myself these days.

The rest of the Oratorio:

Glorify what has been done by the highest, abandon fear (if only, God knows how long I’ve been working on that one) banish lament (working on it!) raise your voices in celebration and gladness. Serve the highest with glorious choruses, let us honor the name of the lord.

Here’s what I take away from that: Abandon fear, banish lament, abandon fear, banish lament, abandon fear, banish lament, abandon fear, banish lament, abandon fear, banish lament.

Admirable goals, I think. Easier said than done, I can’t resist pointing out, but quit lamenting already (talking to myself).

Howard offered to take me on a drive, so me, Howard and Ruby drove out to Huntington, LI. I wanted to see the swampy, stream-y, pond-y area I lived across the street from when I was little.

First we went here. This was where I lived from 9 to 16-years old. This house was okay. There are woods in the back which I liked.

Another shot to the left.

But the house below is the one I loved. I couldn’t get a good shot because of the way the road turns, and it’s blocked (nicely) by a lot of trees. This house has woods in the back too, and it was across the street from …

… this.

Howard and Ruby walking across very narrow planks.

Howard and Ruby shaking the whatchamacallit because it made me nervous. Real mature Howard and Ruby.

Howard and Ruby on a path. I didn’t take pictures of my favorite parts, weirdly. I loved and still love the streams the best.

I forgot me. Ruby in a tree and me! I was too chicken to climb up on the branch.

My friend Joe sent me this, after I told him my spider and roach stories. Joe, for the love of God, MOVE. Seriously, I would never get another good night’s rest if a spider like that showed up in my apartment. I’d be like my cats, who once saw a mouse run under the stove years ago and have been checking under the stove ever since, hoping for its return. Every night I’d wait in fear of the return of the spider.

[Video removed because the link no longer works.]

How can you not love Matt Harding?? I ask you. My favorites are the walruses (is that what they are?) on the Shetland Islands, and whenever people dance with him, like the kids in Rwanda and San Francisco. Scariest one: Norway. Be careful, Matt!

[Video removed because the link no longer works.]

The other night, a daddy long legs woke me up as he crawled over me. I jumped up, but I didn’t have the heart to kill him. I just watched him as he walked away. I hate hate hate spiders, even ones as benign as daddy long legs.

But I think I hate flying roaches more. I was going to put up a picture of one but I hate them so much I couldn’t even deal with a picture of one on my blog. People who have never seen them flying don’t believe they exist, but I found the description below. Note the part that says they look identical to other cockroaches. That is the most diabolical thing about them. They look like regular, big old waterbug type cockroaches, but when you get up to get rid of them they fly off the wall and RIGHT INTO YOUR FACE.

“Asian cockroaches are almost identical to German cockroaches in appearance. (Except, as I said, if you walk toward them they FLY INTO YOUR FACE.)

Asian Roach Behavior
“At dusk, the Asian roach becomes very active and adults are attracted to light reflected off light-colored walls, doorways and windows. This roach is capable of sustained fly for a distance of 150 feet. They then actively try to enter the home where they rest on lighted walls. When light are turned off (as residents of the home leave a room,) the cockroaches will follow to the next lighted room. Thus, many residents believe that these roaches are attacking them — but they are not.”

Right. So, I’m trying to decide, which are worse? Spiders or flying roaches?