|
|
Post by coachdoug on Mar 6, 2010 12:12:39 GMT -6
Last weekend my family and I moved from Southern California to Tucson, AZ, and I've been unpacking and getting set up most of this past week. I just got my computer and Internet set up and running a couple days ago, so I was away from this board for a while, but I'm back now. Anyway, a few days ago, I scouted out the practice facility where one of the local teams (for whom I may coach - I'm talking with a couple organizations, but this one is closest to where I'm staying right now, so it's probably where I'll coach this season). I'm walking around the park, checking things out when I see a sign that says (no joke):
"WARNING: Please check your surroundings for venomous critters."
That is not something I've ever had to worry about at practice before. LOL. What have I gotten myself into???
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2010 12:16:44 GMT -6
OH yes...good ole AZ...my buddy still likes to extend a warm thank you to all the Arizonians for failing to warn us Northerners about the "Tarantula Hawk Wasp". He said it hurt so bad he was expecting to look down and see his fingers lying on the ground. Thanks guys....=  |
|
|
|
Post by coachdoug on Mar 6, 2010 12:39:26 GMT -6
The Tarantula Hawk Wasp??? That's a venomous critter that I've never heard of ... that's just great. I thought I had my hands full worrying about rattle snakes, diamondback snakes, scorpions, brown recluse spiders, probably another 20 varieties of poisonous spiders, and lord knows what else. Now I have to be aware of something called a Tarantula Hawk Wasp??? Sheesh ... what possesed me to move here?  |
|
|
|
Post by phantom on Mar 6, 2010 12:46:46 GMT -6
The Tarantula Hawk Wasp??? That's a venomous critter that I've never heard of ... that's just great. I thought I had my hands full worrying about rattle snakes, diamondback snakes, scorpions, brown recluse spiders, probably another 20 varieties of poisonous spiders, and lord knows what else. Now I have to be aware of something called a Tarantula Hawk Wasp??? Sheesh ... what possesed me to move here? On the plus side, they do eat the tarantulas. |
|
|
|
Post by coachmsl on Mar 6, 2010 13:12:56 GMT -6
SWEET!! After watching the movie, sounds like the grub wasp births out of the spider something like that creature in ALIEN.
|
|
|
|
Post by jhanawa on Mar 6, 2010 14:22:36 GMT -6
Doug,
Welcome to Arizona, home of 13 different kinds of rattlesnakes, gila monsters, coral snakes, black widows, brown recluses, scorpions, bees, hornets, wasps and 115 degree summers.....LOL
|
|
|
|
Post by coachdoug on Mar 6, 2010 14:39:29 GMT -6
Are gila monsters dangerous? I thought "monster" was just a name and that they were harmless ... or is that one more thing I need to worry about now??
I'm not so concerned about the 110-115 degree summers - it's the 35-40 degree winters that have me bummed out. After 20 years of mild (50-70 degrees) winters, I'm not looking forward to being cold again at all. There is a reason I left the northeast - I loved So Cal winters and I'm dreading next winter. At least I have about 9 months until I really have to worry about that.
|
|
|
|
Post by coachmsl on Mar 6, 2010 15:05:06 GMT -6
35 - 40 degree winter? sounds like a heat wave here in the midwest.
|
|
|
|
Post by coachdoug on Mar 6, 2010 16:07:42 GMT -6
35 - 40 degree winter? sounds like a heat wave here in the midwest. Again, there is a reason I don't live in the midwest, either. After 20 years, I've become quite acustomed to anything below 50 degrees being a major aberration. I loved So Cal weather and I'm sad to leave it behind. |
|
|
|
Post by coachayinde on Mar 6, 2010 17:10:50 GMT -6
COACH D atleast you will save money, afford more land and get away from the plastic personalities of Hollywood. LOL Good luck out there
|
|
|
|
Post by jhanawa on Mar 6, 2010 18:19:05 GMT -6
Gila Monsters are rare and slow, but they do have the same neuro-toxin as the Mohave Rattler, the venom of these two is very similar to a cobra. Mohave's are mean suckers compared to the other rattlers here....are you packed and heading back to CA yet....LOL
Really, running into anything dangerous within the city would be extremely rare unless your near a desert area. However, if your going to go hiking or walking in or near desert areas, be careful where you step. If by chance you happen to come across something, just leave them alone they will slither off and leave you alone.
Don't worry, its a "dry heat" anyway...much better than a Iowa summer for sure.....
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2010 20:59:51 GMT -6
Doug, Welcome to Arizona, home of 13 different kinds of rattlesnakes, gila monsters, coral snakes, black widows, brown recluses, scorpions, bees, hornets, wasps and 115 degree summers.....LOL And Tarantula Hawks (aka Pepsis Wasp)...the #2 Most Painful sting in the world ( second only to the South American Bullet Ant) according to the Schmidt Sting Pain index Sting brought my buddy a 6'2 255 Lb man alomst to his knees htp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schmidt_Sting_Pain_Index |
|
|
|
Post by mahonz on Mar 7, 2010 9:46:27 GMT -6
I lived in Phoenix for 10 years...that dry heat statement cracks me up, I tell people to turn their oven on to 115 and stick their head in and see how long they last.
Still there are many things I miss about the desert. I worked in Tucson for a year and lived right along the desert...rats the size of cats is about the only problem we had….or maybe they were Giant Killer Shrews?
Coach Mike
|
|
|
|
Post by blb on Mar 7, 2010 10:18:59 GMT -6
Here in Michigan, the weatherman said it was going to be "an absolutely gorgeous (Sun)day...48 and sunny!"
I'll take a little snow and cold over earthquakes, hurricanes, wild fires, mud slides, floods, "venomous critters," 115 degree "dry heat," etc.
|
|
|
|
Post by jhanawa on Mar 7, 2010 12:25:55 GMT -6
Did I mention that Flagstaff is leading the nation in snowfall this year....LOL, we have it all....
|
|
|
|
Post by utchuckd on Mar 8, 2010 12:51:16 GMT -6
...rats the size of cats is about the only problem we had… Were they Rodents of Unusual Size?  |
|
|
|
Post by eickst on Mar 8, 2010 14:41:23 GMT -6
Damn Doug why'd you go and move!? And to Arizona of all places!
|
|
|
|
Post by coachdoug on Mar 8, 2010 14:54:45 GMT -6
{censored} Doug why'd you go and move!? And to Arizona of all places! That's what I keep asking myself ... LOL. Seriously, my wife's whole family lives here in Tucson, and we want our 2 (almost 3) year-old daughter to grow up around her relatives, so (at my wife's insistence, LOL) here we are. There are some definite benefits - a deep supply of willing and FREE babysitters, much lower cost of living, lower taxes, etc. etc. I will miss So Cal weather, but I'm not really too worried about the venomous critters (I just thought the sign was funny), and all will be good once we're settled (I hope). |
|
|
|
Post by eickst on Mar 8, 2010 19:01:14 GMT -6
Well congrats! We're on the ABC (anywhere but california) bandwagon right now as well, but we're probably headed to North Carolina, Wake Forest area. I can buy half a mansion there for what in Orange County gets you a 1 bedroom condo.
|
|
|
|
Post by cyflcoach on Mar 9, 2010 0:09:32 GMT -6
I really got a good laugh when I first saw the title of this thread Doug! Being from South Texas, we also have our fair share of varmints and critters ourselves, but I've got to say that we are not quite sharp enough down here to have thought of putting up warning signs about them!
Best of luck to you and your family on your move and new home!
Dave Hartman
CYFL Coach
|
|
|
|
Post by coachmsl on Aug 10, 2010 5:24:26 GMT -6
Ohh the irony!!!
Good luck Doug! You're the man.
matt
|
|
