That's so Cricket!

There is a cricket who has stubbornly decided to stay in my place. I've seen him hopping around almost every night when I come home from work (oh yeah - I forgot to tell you all that I completed my training , and now I'm a probationary employee on the night shift). I tried to escort him off the premises repeatedly, but he's always found a way back in, so I said "what the heck" and let him stay. Now he chirps contentedly downstairs morning, noon and night, trying to attract a mate. I don't think he's having much luck, though, seeing that he has been chirping up a storm for the past few weeks. No problem, bro - just kick back here with me for the winter, and you can try to meet some little philly next spring. In other bug news: the other morning I woke up and opened the door to find a huge (HUGE) preying mantis parked on my stoop like some sort of green, barbed guard dog. I took a bunch of pics (which don't do it justice)which I'll post - as soon as I down-load them onto the lap top. The new job has rapidly descended into just the job, and I fear that it will soon be just that job. It is never boring, though, as I have to deal with interesting people from around the globe with the most bizarre questions and situations. It isn't difficult, but it is complicated - I have to develop a routine that helps me keep all the pieces in place. In time I'll be able to do everything without really thinking about it.