Last week Randstein at http://hyperionsturm.wordpress.com. nominated me for the esteemed Blog Tour Award. Randstein is the most creative writer, he draws a picture in my mind with his words. I consider him a friend and mentor. No one can pull me into the story like he does. Even more if story line is wrapped with sex. He writes often about Mythology which I can not comprehend in a good way. He writes about life, love, loss, history and his life experiences. When he goes into Mythology or the universe, I have to ask what he means. I thank him for always taking the time to explain.You have to check out http://hyperionsturm.wordpress.com. Hyperion Strum is your new addiction. I hate to cheat on rules but Lyme Disease is holding me to the ground. My post is a reblog, it’s a story that’s funny after the fact.
The Rules:
Compose a one-time post on a specific Monday (date given from your nomination — Looking for the Light scheduled for release before April 27, 2015.
Give your nominees the rules and a specific Monday to post by – dear nominees, please post your story on Monday May 11, 2015 if you can or let your readers know when you can post so they will look for it.
Pass the blog tour to four other bloggers.
Answer four questions about your creative process which lets other bloggers and visitors know what inspires you to do what you do.
The Questions:
What are you working on at the moment?
How does your work differ from others in your genre?
Why do you write or create what you do?
How does your writing/creative process work?
The Nominees:
Better Not Broken http://betternotbroken.com
Alygeorges http://alygeorges.wordpress.com
DD Dangerous http://dddangerous.com
From the Darkness into the Sunshine http://fromthedarkintothesunshine42.wordpress.com
The Asp Wrangler For A Day
Summer and searing heat are just ahead, it’s time to introduce you to the Texas Asp.
One morning while pruning roses I noticed these furry cream-colored caterpillars. I grabbed my camera and started clicking. Something about them was familiar, I just could not put my finger on it. I had taken photos of critters all week so my husband was not surprised I discovered something new. Curiosity got the best of me, I had to see what kind of caterpillar they were. I had thoughts of beautiful butterflies flying around my yard. To my surprise and horror they were Asp! If you are not from the south you can not fully appreciate the terror that was growing within. It is close to impossible to kill them. When you get stung by an Asp it’s like having acid poured on you. Their hairs can get imbedded in the skin and every time you touch the area it’s like a new dose of acid. When I was a kid one fell from the porch ceiling at my grandparents house. It fell down the back of my shirt. I was screaming and crying so hard it was difficult to stop to tell granny something was on my back. They leave a mark that looks like a branding iron. My back looked like red tire tracks. With this memory I had to go out the next morning a find them not only for me but our pets. Like a scene from Mission Impossible, I found three. I had read how hard they are to kill so I carefully put them in a sealed plastic bag and let them bake in the Texas heat. This method worked beautifully. I knew there were at least two others and did find one the next day. I look everyday and can’t prune my favorite rose without thinking one is still on the loose. I was The Asp Wrangler.
If stung, take clear tape and carefully put over area.
Pull slowly the opposite direction of hair.
It will pull the hairs out. Make sure all are gone or you’ll get a reminder every time touched.
XO Warrior
FUN REBLOG FROM 2009
Looking for the Light 
Hey M, First let me start off by apologizing for apparently missing the deadline. I’m soooo… sorry. Can’t believe it myself. But I won’t be so hard on myself. However, since I believe in the old adage, ‘better late than never,’ I’ll get right to it.
Thank you so much for the nomination.:-) ❤ It's an incredible challenge and I'm already itching to get started…
Your description of your encounter with an asp makes my skin crawl; the way you describe the pain makes it feel all too real… I've never run into one but a few hairy caterpillars I've seen before come to mind and I kinda get the impression.
The photos are amazing and I must admit, after reading the story I had to scroll back up to get another view of the asp. It is unimaginable that such a pretty thing would unleash such hell on someone… Great post! 🙂
Someday, hopefully in the very near future, we'll be celebrating your triumph over Lyme's…so keep pushing until the battle's won.
Hugs. ❤
Lyme the in advanced stage is nasty, you get much worse before getting better. I walk with a cane, I changed doctors, the new doctor is a leading Lyme doctor. The news was a total downer. I have 50-60 percent cognitive ability, my eyes are getting worse, still waiting to hear for referral doctor. The eye doctor made a referral, their are several issues with them, my eyesight is so bad. The eye doctor thinks the problem is my optic nerve and my brain.
One thing I know for sure, losing is not an option. I’m to stubborn to let it get me down. I just take lots of naps.
Thanks you for the prayers, God has my hand, with his help, how can you loose. 🙂
You can cheat on the award, may have to for time constraints. Post the Award on your site, skip any rules. If you want to write something great, you don’t have to. I’m backed on many awards. I love them but can eat up time.
🙂
M
You have a very kind heart, you know that? 🙂 I’m smiling and shedding tears at the same time. I don’t know…guess it’s from imagining what you’re going though right now and the fact that you’re letting me off the hook so easily… encouraging me to ‘cheat’ and all… lol… 🙂
I really appreciate the support you’re giving me. If you didn’t tell me to focus on my studies first, I’d be feeling really bad for every day that goes by that I don’t get to blog. Sometimes balancing things feels really difficult.
Life feels much better when one knows there’s someone out there who cares… I will always be thankful for the day I knew you. I cherish your friendship. Thanks M. ❤
I don't know what the future holds, but I know you will be ok cuz God's in control. 🙂
I am blessed to have you as a friend. You always offer words of God and I really need that. God has the wheel and my path goes up and down. He prepares us for the next challenge. I’ve had my share of downs and I learned form each challenge. I turn my problems to God, it’s my turn or not. I’m not afraid to die. I know where I’m going. To cheer my gramps up I would call heaven the big party in the sky. He liked the thought of seeing my granny again. I know their souls are together.
Thank you for your kind words and I feel the same.
🙂
M
I didn’t participate in the tour, just accepted award. 🙂
Congratulations M. You deserve every beautiful award that comes your way. 🙂
🙂
Thank you M for the nice comments. Very much appreciated. I’ll have to remember to go easy on mythology names and events. I hope I never run across a Texas Asp but now that I know what they look like I can keep a safe distance. 🙂
If you cross paths with an Asp you will never forget it.
There is a science fiction horror movie waiting to be hatched from this. I think I would be ready to grab a Phaser set on Obliterate.
Great shots – heroic photography. 🙂
D
There may be a story in for someone to write, not me. It would be hilarious. I like old low budget ones, Swamp Thing is my favorite. Haven’t watched it in years. I’ll see if the interest is real or from the drug I took. I’m glad you enjoyed the photos, I’ve upgraded 3-4 times since. I have to have a small travel one and a kick ass almost pro camera for serious work. Those photos were from a little one I couldn’t stand it was to small. I’ve been planning to do a large gallery of a ladybug birthing to the larvae stage. It blew my mind. Probably the most beautiful thing witnesses in the bug world. I’m just babbling because my mind is in Mongolia. You’ll have a comment after my feet touch the ground. You are brilliant my friend!
🙂
M
Well thank you so much for the nomination! This is a bold and exciting challenge, I am grateful to be a part of it. I had no idea that the Texas Asp existed! I wish you the best with your gardening, and I hope you find relief to your pain, as difficult as that may be, may you find days of rest.
🙂
Amazing shots.