[Reb Raider]

Dang, I thought everything in Texas was bigger, but this camel spider showing up anywhere near me would freak me out! Those are almost as big as our roaches. Ha!

Allegra, MEG33 and I are up north of your regular hometown. I read where you are and send Texas size best wishes--please be careful!!! Do they have Dr.Pepper? I couldn't go without my morning D.P. :) Good luck to you and hope you never meet up with a camel spider unless a really good looking guy is there to squish it or whatever you do with something that big. Ha! I look forward to hearing some good stories from you in the future!! RebRaider

[Allegra]

Do they have Dr.Pepper?

Oh, heck yeah. They've got it at the PX. There are too many of us Texans over here - they've got to stock the DP.

And if one of those camel spiders gets any ideas about hosing one of my DPs, he's gonna be one cold, stiff camel spider with eight creepy-crawly legs sticking straight up in the air.

(Thanks for the good wishes, y'all!)

[Long Cut]

You want a BIG, HONKIN' spider, go to Central and South America.

I was in Panama once on deployment (98-99)at the former Howard Air Force Base. Went running on a paved trail they had that went through some jungle.

One of their famous "Pie-Plate spiders" (sorry...don't know the real name) was in my way. I had to JUMP OVER it, and I'm 6'3" tall. It was at least the size of a dinner plate across the legs, which were as thick as drinking straws or pencils. The body was as big asa glass. Other than the size, it looked like a light-colored Tarantula...furry bugger, kind of red and grey in color.

I swear, you could have saddled the thing and rode it.