Posted on 10/20/2020 9:33:20 PM PDT by BenLurkin
What a sweet floof! I just realized I didn’t comment on yesterday’s kitteh, which was actually an orange blast if I recall!
I can’t believe I slept in three hours!! But I turned the alarm off before I went to sleep, so...
I haven’t done that in two years, but I guess I needed it.
It was very warm in here when I came home last night, so I shut the space heater off. I wish I hadn’t. The Galileo says it’s 74° in here. *shudder*
Good morning, all. Happy Wednesday!
Today’s special animal friend is the Giant Weta, eleven species in the genus Deinacrida, of New Zealand, possibly the world’s largest insects. (Note: there are long-vowel markers over the e and a in “weta.” Maybe you say it wee-tay?) Their name means “terrible grasshopper,” and that’s what they look like. An adult is about 4 inches long, plus legs and antennae, and weighs between one and two ounces. They look like those big plastic bugs you can get at the Dollar Tree, and then your kids leave them around the house to terrify you when you lift the sofa cushions to look for the TV remote, and then you have nightmares about all the six-legged companions who shared your college apartment.
Giant weta are found mainly on offshore islands of New Zealand. The largest species is the Little Barrier Island giant weta, also known as the wetapunga, which can weigh up to 2.5 ounces. Some species of giant weta are arboreal, while others live in the high mountains of the South Island and can survive being frozen solid. They feed on seeds, nuts, and tiny invertebrates, filling the ecological niche of rodents in an environment where the only native mammals were a few bat species.
Giant weta populations have been in decline since the arrival of humans around the 13th century. Humans quickly began modifying the environment by cutting trees and burning brush, which affected the giant weta’s habitat and food supplies. More importantly, they introduced other mammals to the environment, especially rodents. Giant weta have a very strong odor, which probably repelled a predator (other insects?) in their native habitat but attracts introduced mammals from a great distance.
Unlike many other insects of the grasshopper/cricket/locust sort, giant weta cannot fly or even hop. Predators include rats, mice, cats, weasels, and (I suspect) humans with their Big Shoes on. There is an organized conservation effort in New Zealand, including the building of predator-proof enclosures and efforts to keep some offshore islands free of introduced mammals. They are also bred in captivity. These efforts make the survival of most species of giant weta pretty likely.
In the Maori language, “weta” (with those long-vowel markers!) means “the god of ugly things.” The sources do not indicate that weta were a food product, perhaps because of the strong smell.
Happy Wednesday.
I forgot how to spell. In the first two words, I had to make four corrections.
Rule Dyslexia!
Happy Odin’s Day!
Now that I’m finished with the Animal Friend, I’m going to dress in many layers and go to Walmart. Then I’ll take Frank to the doctor. Then, maybe, I’ll get to take a nap.
When you need to sleep, you need to sleep. Jake woke me up a couple of times last night, and then my alarm went off.
I dress in layers, too, but since I spent so much time at home, the layers are thin, but needed.
I want to go to Walmart, or someplace, shopping, but.
What a short morning. It seems I just had my “Midnight Snack with my first dose of pills, and now it’s time for breakfast and my second dose of pills. Then it will be time for Second Breakfast a half a dose of pain killer, followed by Linner and the third dose, then the bedtime snack and the last dose, and there went my day! Wow! Time flies when you’re having fun!
I dunno about that Giant WeeTay. We’ve seen grasshoppers here (northern Utah) that were at least that long, but unlike the GW, they don’t have a horrible odor. They’re just scary and feel weird when they land on you with their clingy insect feet. Cthulhu has nothing on them, for terror!
I don’t like bugs, myself, but I like to vary the animal report. Maybe I’ll do an octopus tomorrow. Some of them are extremely venomous!
Back from Walmart, where Vlad and I remembered we wanted a new folding table. He’s going to set it up in his room for now and get a folding chair out of the garage. We used to have a lot of folding chairs, but it looks as if only one has survived the weight and deportment of the brothers.
Octopi are extremely interesting! Especially the “Coconut” variety. “Tiny Home” takes on a whole new meaning!
And LOOK! Sunshine is coming in my living room window! Gloriosky!
I used to have several folding chars and a card table, that I had won at Bingo when I was 15. I packed it around with me all those years, until Igor got hold of it. Then I had the folding chairs, and then nothing. But I need folding chairs, ow that I’m moving to where my family of five is currently living. The sixth may come to visit, so I need two folding chairs, which I plan to search thrift stores for, since we discussed this is our last phone call. ;o]
Ah, the thrift store. One of the problems with my entire life is that the Salvation Army store closed. The property owner is rehabbing the building, but I don’t think The Salvation Army plans to come back.
Oh, noes.... Not the closing of the SAT store!! That’s a punishment worse than death! I am so sorry!
Are there any other thrift stores around?
In Cabot, happy to say, there is an abundance of thrift stores, so when you come to visit, we can check them all out and we can send your haul to your place of abode before you even fly out of Little Rock!
Lule Dysrexia indeed.
And now I know why the group that did all that wonderful special effects work on “The Lord of The Rings” is called the Weta Workshop.
That was an association that didn’t get made by me until just now. Thanks. LOL! Now, Imma have to watch the movies again, just to look for the logo.
Not sure whether to thank you or not for that. ;o]]
When I wrote "Rule Dyslexia," there was some music associated with it in my head. ;o])
Good point. The articles said the Giant Weta are something of a local symbol in New Zealand, though not to the extent of the kiwi bird.
Goodwill Stores are open. I just haven’t looked lately. The Salvation Army was so convenient, on the way back from the library or the doctor.
Speaking of the doctor, Frank is fine. He got some shots, and she told him to get more exercise and eat less pasta! He is quite stout. We walked to the park this afternoon. My ankle hurts now, but it was worth it.
What a beautiful kitteh!
Good morning.
I’ve been up but have also been wandering in my head. I’ll get over it. It’s just a temporary thing, that.
It would be nice to go back to bed, and I probably should have, but I felt the need to get up.
I slept so long on my left side that my left leg is stiff and painful this morning.
The visit to the pain clinic yesterday was fruitful. I’ve been having less and less result with the current dosage of morphine, which is quite common when on has been on it long-term. I’ve been on it over six years, now, so it may be time for a temporary change, up to four months, then back to the morphine.
The problem is, not all of the drugs are compatible. She gave me a list of five to research and only one might be viable. Even that one has its risks. Most are risky for the elderly, some disturb organ functioning, and some are just addictive.
But we’ll try something else before we decide to up the dosage on the morphine.
Unnngh. Getting older is not for the weak, as OldTax-lady says.
Good morning. It is cold here, but the sun is out, so maybe it will be warm later. Today’s big excitement is taking James to the DMV to get an ID card.
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