h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Would you like lessons dear?

Terri.

I posted on your journal yesterday Snaily, but it doesn't seem to have appeared.

zdt*snarling menacingly at Live Journal people*

Aaaargh, that could be misinterpreted; *not* at you or other users, just at the site, which seems to dislike me for some reason.

zdt

Sorry LJ is so unjustifiably mean to you, Terri! Feel free to post on this thread instead, if you prefer.

A new entry: http://snailrind.livejournal.com/67248.html (medium length; one large pic of my spider, who died yesterday, and a link to a Youtube music vid).

Hey!

Thanks, Vix.

Ohhh RIP

The last thing we need at this time of year is poorly animals. What sort of was he/she? I'm really clueless as to the lifespan of arachnids; does it depend on size?

I had a lovely crab-type one living on the Jasmine, which is outside most of the year, but gets hauled in for Winter, obviously no fun for poor; but s/he re-emerged in the living room; but disappeared again after a couple of weeks; do they hibernate? Have i upset his/her biological cycle?

zdt

Finally managed to post direct on your LJ!

zdt

I know house spiders hibernate, but no idea about crab spiders. As they live in flowers, I guess they must do... But disturbing an arthropod's hibernation seems much less harmful than disturbing a mammal's.

Charlotte was a Chilean rose tarantula. They live up to 17 years, so I guess she had a good innings. Lifespan varies between species, but doesn't seem to be related to size. Interestingly, though, the males live only a couple of years.

LJ stopped being nice to me again; maybe it's when i have MSN on at the same time?

Anyway, here's what i posted:

<<<*Sorry, this is maybe gruesome*

Box needs to be porous because during the process of natural (air dried) mummification, the bodily fluids need to escape, so you get left with a perfect "shell", rather than a soggy heap.

It is the right time of year to do this, if it's frosty, but not wet. Inca mummies are perfectly preserved thousands of years later.

Terri (zdt)>>>

Jolly good, let's confer via email as to the resulting "In memoriam" OK?

zdt

I've put her in the fridge, in a cricket box.

(Not THAT sort of cricket box!)

As if....

I reckon that will work, just keep checking to see moisture getting in or out; probably around 2 weeks will be fine for preservation stuff. If it's cold & frosty otside, the windowsill works best, more air & less reminders. (But obviously tied down, no way get blown away!)

zdt

Ah, it has thawed outside. Mostly rain now. How is your Xmas going?

Mine has mainly gone, thank goodness; got a surprise visit last night from an ol (er, well younger) sort of fiend, we did stuff (probably very badly, doubt we will get signed up to Major record label & die of coke OD, but it was fun.)

I've made it plain i don't wish for more than fiendship; i am still too "skinless sausage" to contemplate such stuff.

Yoda, thank the powers that be, seems better, she's eating, peeing & playing...i'm still on 24 hour guard though, you know what that's like!

And you??

zdt

I am less of a skinless sausage lately, and am trying to organise a date to see the New Year in. As for Christmas, I invited Philosopher Friend round for a few days; he's leaving tomorrow.

I didn't know Yoda was ill! Glad that she is feeling better, though.

Hey, did anyone else feel that earthquake? Strongest one I've known here in Wales--it went on for about ten seconds, vibrating my bed.