Monday, June 23, 2008

Falling Street Lamps and Geckos

I had the weirdest day last Tuesday. Odd things happened. Neil forgot his work ID, which is highly unusual, so I brought it to him. After leaving his office, I drove through Crystal City, down Jefferson Davis Highway, for you locals. Right after the intersection of Jeff Davis and 20th St., in front of the Radisson, and RIGHT in front of my car, a street lamp fell over and crashed onto the road! It was one of the craziest things I've ever seen, right up there with the UFO. And it wasn't like there was a car or two in front of me; it fell RIGHT in front of MY car! It was just like "TIMBER!" and fell. After it fell, it was laying perpendicular to the road, completely blocking traffic, and it's a very busy street. Luckily, the Radisson has a circular drive that created a detour. I pulled in there and called 911. The Radisson porters put some cones in front of the street lamp. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to wait for the police, but I doubted they needed to talk to me at the scene.
I stayed until a firetruck came. A utility guy was there, too, and I heard him tell the firemen this is the second street lamp on Jeff Davis to have fallen in the past month! Dangerous! They just rust out at the bottom and fall. I figured it was time for me to continue to my next errand, which was to purchase a gecko.

PetSmart didn't have any, so I went to PetCo. They had one "House Gecko" left. Perfect. And he only cost $5.99. We don't want a pet -- this gecko has a job: This is so, so nasty, but we've seen a few roaches in the apartment. It's weird -- we didn't have any during the winter, and it's just been in the past few weeks, since it's gotten warm, that they've infiltrated our fortress.

In Hawaii, we had geckos roaming in the house that ate the bugs. So that's what this little guy's job is. His tail is growing back and is just a nub, so I call him Nubbins.
If you didn't know, now you know: Geckos are chameleon; they can change color with their mood or environment.

I brought Nubbins home and released him beside the AeroGarden. Hopefully he noticed the little dish of water I set out for him and he'll be able to find it again. He was behind the dresser for a couple days, but now I don't know where he went. Yesterday he came out from behind a picture when he saw his new gecko friend I got at another PetCo a few days later! His friend is a little bit bigger and has a long tail and no name. He is hiding behind a mirror on the wall, but he ventures out in the evening across the wall near the ceiling and even across the ceiling. They're both pretty much nocturnal. I just hope they're doing their job at night.

9 comments:

M. said...

that is SUCH a good idea! I need one. Two though? you will soon have many...
ps. glad the post didnt land ON your car. how scary!

Stephanie said...

do you listen to this american life ever? there is a pretty awesome act where a girl has a story about a deformed cabbage patch doll named nubbins. anyway- i think it is awesome that you chose to fight your roach problem with a gecko instead of roach traps/spray...etc. it shows the true hawaiian in you :)

Liz said...

um . . . super nervous about d.c. infrastructure now. but love nubbins. he/she will totally do you proud. and hey, the more geckos the better, i say.

leslie said...

i love your geckos!!! i should totally do the same thing in my house... i wonder if my roommate would go for it

modestmuse said...

Hi, ladies.
Mel, I never thought about them multiplying and replenishing my apt. I'll give you one if that happens.
I don't want to think about what would've happened if I'd not been paying attention to the road (txting, changing the radio, etc.!).
Stephanie, I'd never heard of This Amer. Life till you blogged about it once, but I've never heard/seen(?) it. Yes, I'm keeping da kine alive :)
Liz, Leslie, on one hand I hope there is enough for Nubbins & Co. to eat, but on the other I hope not ... They are getting bold and scurrying around by the ceiling a lot now. Leslie, just go for it, see if your roommate notices.

the mom said...

Let's see....Pet w/short tail & Pet w/ long tail....Gee what could you possibly name them? I have a cat that could make a couple of suggestions, dear. :>)

modestmuse said...

Short!! And Long. I had a dream the other night and Toe and Long were in it. What does that mean??

the mom said...

It might mean you need to get another pet with big toes or a pedicure. Me - I'd go go the pampering of the pedicure. But then that's just the way I am. Let's do that together sometime.

modestmuse said...

Name the day, I'm there :)