Tarantula

A few weeks ago, I was in the basement doing laundry. There were these old play coats of the girls' laying on the floor by the wall....I picked them up and tossed them into the laundry room floor and I see this HUGE spider crawl out. I was paralyzed with fear...covered in chills. Let me say, I am not one of those people that freaks out over microscopic bugs that screams and hollers...I used to have to kill spiders for my sister when we lived at home. Having said that, I stand there looking at this massive spider and then decide I need to do something, but I didn't want to get close. I grab a hard plastic hose to Todd's shop vac and begin banging it on the floor at the spot where the spider had been. Of course, he got away. When Todd got home a while later, I tell him about the spider and ask him to go look for it. I know he thought I was crazy...he looks all over with a flashlight...he sees this small tiny little spider back in a corner (our laundry room isn't finished-concrete floors, no ceiling) he says, "Is that it?" I just look at him...I said, "Do you really think I would be going crazy over a little spider like that!!!!??" Well, we never found it.
So the other night Mon or Tuesday, I was doing laundry (the story of my life) and I walk into the laundry room and there he was!!! Todd was upstairs and I just heard the vacuum come on. I screamed for him, but he couldn't hear me. I knew it was all up to me, but once again, I couldn't move! I was so afraid to get close. I figured I better do something before he got away again. I pick up this old dress shoe that's too little for the girls and throw it. Of course, I miss. I thought he would run, but he didn't. (See how tough this spider is) Then, he did move. I decided I had to step on him before he got away again. I go to stomp on him and I had on these old junky tennis shoes, my foot slid and I fell down. I could see the spider still on the floor ALIVE!! I start screaming and stomping like crazy...he wasn't getting on me!! The kids come running to see what is wrong with me...I tell them it's that big spider. Stu says, "Get Daddy". Then we see that I killed it!!!! I run up to tell Todd about it...of course he's laughing and has to come see it. I think he was even a little afraid of it...no actually he picked it up and starts examining it to see what kind it was. I don't care what kind it is...as long as it's DEAD!!! It is hilarious thinking about it now...I almost died of a heart attack then!!! I do not like any spiders, but I can't deal with big ones! YUCK! I hate any kinds of bugs in my house. At least Todd got to see the spider...my proof that I'm not crazy...and I'm not just a weenie afraid of a Daddy long legs! :-)