Showing posts with label creepy creatures. Show all posts
Showing posts with label creepy creatures. Show all posts

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Family survives water nixie attack


My family is under attack by water nixies. Last week they backed up one of our toilets then clogged a sink and a tub. They giggled and gurgled while we tried to clean up the mess. Then, as if to make sure we knew we were in their power, they broke a faucet, sprang leaks in two shower fixtures and under the kitchen sink.

It doesn’t stop there. I think they’re trying to take over. They busted two of our pasture spigots so that water shot all over the place, creating a swamp suitable for boggarts. If that isn’t evidence of an invasion, I’m not sure what is.

But we’re not giving in. By Saturday the plumbers fixed everything. After paying the bill, I accused them of being in cahoots with the nixies, but the plumbers denied it. They seemed to think I’m crazy, like water demons don’t really exist.

But they weren’t around to see the second assault (we suspect ice fairy involvement). Monday, our well pipes burst, resulting in a spectacular fountain that would make any water demon proud. The ice fairies celebrated by sliding down frozen blades of grass and skating on frozen puddles.

Again, we fought back. We sealed the breached pipe, but those mischievous sprites rallied. Wednesday they mounted a new campaign at our apartments, popping pipes apart, flooding the laundry room and the dwelling next door (the tenant just moved in Saturday. Sigh.).

It took until 1 am to force those little imps back where they came from. I went home, exhausted, but triumphant. But the war’s not over. This morning I found a wet patch seeping across my kitchen ceiling. Clearly, my enemy’s tiring, but hasn’t given up yet.

How am I coping? I think you can guess. If those water nixies and ice fairies don’t back down, I’m writing them out of my story. Ha!

Do you ever feel like imps and fairies are sneaking around, wreaking havoc in your life?


Friday, October 11, 2013

Life Lessons from the Sea #20: Five Creepy Creatures to invite to your Undersea Halloween Party for a ghoulishly good time!





Lionfish


     1.  Lionfish—don’t be fooled by this delicate-looking beauty. Beneath its gauzy fins and mesmerizing stripes are stiff spines that pack a venomous punch.











Rock Fish photo by kthypryn, flickr creative commons

Spiny Sea Urchins
    2.   Rockfish—this baby is as ugly as Frankenstein. But don’t let your guests step on it, or their feet will swell up and ache, maybe for the rest of their lives. And while feverish dancing might be a plus at the party, rockfish induced fevers are not!









   
 
      3. Spiny sea urchins—scatter these everywhere for a spiderlike look. Just be careful not to touch them; their razor-sharp venom-packed spines can pierce even the toughest costume.








lanternfish-photo-NOAA public domain image










     
     4. Lanternfish—if you invite the small ones (1-inch long), be sure to invite plenty. They'll flit around like tiny dancing lights! The big 12-inch ones also give off a lightstick-like glow. They’re great for setting an eerie atmosphere for your friends.




vampire-squid-illustration-se41 Wikipedia Commons public domain image
       
         5. Vampire squid—this creature looks like it swam right out of a nightmare. But it’s not too big, only six inches long, so it ought to make good friends with all the bats you’ve invited. It can easily hide then flash when it wants to be seen or to warn away annoying guests. But beware, it also emits a bioluminescent mucous cloud when agitated.



Which of these spooky creatures would you want at your party and why? Happy Haunting!