Seconded. Even if we (Deena and I) weren't there. Java, you did an amazing job on relatively short notice and everyone looked to be having a hell of a lot of fun in the pictures.

With all due respect to Java's city selection, I am not going near Texas anywhere near summer. I've been, thanks, and never again, not between March and October. One tornado, one tarantula emerging from under a friend's patio table (and that was just outside Austin), one fire ant outbreak, one being stuck indoors for three days because of a bee swarm (near El Paso, IIRC).

The wiring is not an adequate tradeoff. Maybe for a late autumn thing, but May-June, when there's weather, and insect life? Pass-a-dena.

One of the things that amazed me about living in Arizona (whitefont for the arachnabug squeamish) was that tarantulas migrate. I found that out after one day noticing about 10 of them wandering across my yard in the same direction. They never bothered me as much as other bugs (centipedes, ewww!) do.

Sorry, Susan.

One of the things that amazed me about living in Arizona was that tarantulas migrate. I found that out after one day noticing about 10 of them wandering across my yard in the same direction.

Never living in the Southwest. Never. Ever. I'm all but screaming and pulling my feet off the floor just imagining it.

Spiders don't bother me, not so much. As long as they're not, you know, on me. But bees? Or any sort of stinging insect? Can you say anaphylaxis, baby?

I do OK with garden-variety spiders as long as they're not on me, but tarantulas....no. Too big. It ain't right.

I'm allergic to insect venom: 30 seconds, coma, death supervening if something doesn't happen to prevent it. They found this out after I was bitten by a black widow.

I don't like spiders. I'll rescue small ones and shake them out of doors, but they don't get to hang out in my house. And tarantulas? Spiders with fur coats? Someone's shitting me, right?

We used to get Tarantulas where I grew up in San Diego. We would also get scorpions. I had a few friends with pet tarantulas. As long as you aren't allergic if they do bite it's like a bee sting for most folks.

As long as you aren't allergic if they do bite it's like a bee sting for most folks.

Yep. That would let me out anyway - as Bev says, anaphylaxis, baybee, and zero fun - but frankly, giant arachnids in fur coats are the stuff of nightmares for me anyway.

That's it. Next F2F, we're having showings of Arachnophobia and Eight Legged Freaks.