good deed and preying mantis

I had a message on my answering machine from my ex-roommates grandmother yesterday when I got home from work. Rather than call her back the nan0-second I walked in the door, I spent some quality time in the bathroom with my new comics. By the time I was done - and yes, I did wash my hands - her currently out of town daughter had called as well. Same topic - could you take grandma to bingo tonight?

Well, as it turns out, I could. So, I called her back and made arrangments. I picked her up from her house and dropped her off at the bingo location with a hearty "good luck". The plan was that she would get a ride home from one of her friends - but she asked if I would be home that evening in case that fell through.

Now where, in all of this, is my ex-roommate? Apparently working, as was "that woman" as the grandmother refered to his girlfriend.

As predicted - she called again later that evening and would be needing a ride. So, I put my shoes back on and hopped in the car. Halfway to the bingo palace - terror struck.

Something huge flew past the front and side of my car before slamming into the open window frame on the driver's side of the car. It was a preying mantis and it was huge. Huge, I tell you!

The impact broke at least a couple of legs and the force of wind kept him from getting back underway. So, he was essentially stuck on the ledge of my window.

Now, I like bugs - because in most cases I can do my thing and they do their thing and we're all cool and stuff. Here, I was trying to do my thing and this particular bug was clearly up in my business.

I finally escorted him out of the car with a bit of scrap paper when I reached a red stoplight - no, I didn't touch it directly. We'd both been through enough. And it was huge.

I rolled up my window a bit once he was gone and then completed my appointment with the lucky bingo lady - who had picked up 50 bucks and a stuffed dog.

Good deed complete.

Well, that's it for now - time to get back to work...

Did I mention it was a huge bug? Huge!