A Place To Think
May 31, 2008 | Filed under: Stuff
This is where I went to write yesterday, and it turned out to be a great spot. No one saying “mom, have you seen my uniform?” or “whose turn is it to empty the dishwasher cuz it isn’t mine!” or “honey, where’s my wallet?”
No one. Just me.
And the bees. And holy smokes are they out in droves this year. I don’t have a phobia of them like I do of spiders but they are not on my Christmas list either.
Anyway, this has me wondering. What’s your fear? Fears? I’ll be drawing names from the commentors for your choice of a book from my backlist . . .
Posted by Jill @ 1:00 am | Make a Comment
kim h says:
clowns scare me and big insects. heights too.
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 1:02 amBiddy says:
Heights completely freak me out. We found this out when I was 8 and we went up the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral in London. But I don’t have issues when skiing… well who would?
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 1:34 amLaurie G says:
Snakes -Can not stand them!
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 2:51 amSharks- I don’t like to swim in the ocean.
Rats -Yucky
Cockroaches – Yucky
Caves -I’m claustrophobic! I HATE dark, tight spaces.
Drowning-I hate things covering my face.
Nicole Reising says:
I have to ‘think’ about it for a while but I guess I really don’t like small tight places. I couldn’t ever be a cave crawler/explorer. Yep, that would definitely freeze me up.
Cole
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 3:24 amKaren K says:
Have a terrible fear of heights . When we travel I take a pill ..
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 3:47 amDebbie says:
I saw a movie as a kid (on a school field trip!) about bugs taking over the world and have been afraid of bugs ever since.
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 4:22 amKaren B says:
Not so much of heights but of falling!
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 4:23 amAngie says:
My fears: spiders, heights, scary movies, mice, clowns, 5th graders…hee hee.
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 4:37 amKris says:
my biggest is definitely SPIDERS and tornadoes!! but I also am not fond of rats, some heights and drowning.
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 5:05 amMental P Mama says:
What a beautiful spot! I used to be afraid of spontaneous combustion. But I got over it.
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 5:15 amJess in MA says:
My basement. I realize that makes me a fourth grader but you have not seen my multi-roomed, dark, barely lit, creeeeptastic basement. It’s awful!
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 5:39 amDru says:
water and believe it or not firemen.
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 5:52 amMelissa's Cozy Teacup says:
Spiders. Always and forever, spiders. Orcas-killer whales. They are so sinister looking and they are brutally clever. They have been called the wolves of the ocean.
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 6:51 amAnna Adams says:
Ah, the selection!
Clowns, heights, small spaces, snakes, dead frogs in the pool, germs…
But what a beautiful spot you have! (I enjoy your blog, and I’d trade our sudden veer into summer for your lingering coolness and amazing storms!) Ooops. Did I mention I’m afraid of being out in lightning?
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 7:02 amLiza says:
Snakes, clowns, spiders, bees(only because of allergies), scary movies, and caves. I’m sure there are other things, but I these are the big ones.
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 7:17 amTreasia Stepp says:
Snakes and a horrible fear of heights.
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 7:22 amCarol says:
I HATE snakes! I know they must have been put on this earth for some good reason but I haven’t found the answer, yet. And to be honest with you, I’m not going to be doing a lot of research on that subject! :shocked: :shocked: :shocked:
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 8:09 amAsthmagirl says:
That is a beautiful spot.
Moths. Just moths.
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 8:29 amKirsten says:
Heights, though it might be considered more fear of suspension/falling? I can ride roller coasters and stand on certain levels of a building, but suspended bridges and edges where there aren’t railings petrify me.
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 8:29 amJackieToo says:
You mean everything that’s not included with my anxiety disorder?!?
Hmmm…normal stuff would be
The DARK! I can’t breathe in complete darkness. There are lots of candles and flashlights around my house.
Flying things that get stuck in my hair. ‘Nuff said.
Public speaking. I would much rather sing in front of a crowd (and have) than to give a speech.
Deep bodies of water. If I can’t stand up in it, I don’t get in it.
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 8:49 amTeresa W. says:
I can’t stand snakes, whenever I see one I run the other way!
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 9:22 amLexi Connor says:
Dogs. I’m petrified of dogs. I’ve told my students that if a psycho came into the classroom with a gun, I’d protect them as best I could. If a madman came after any of them on the playground, I’d chase him away. But if a dog gets loose on campus, I’m the first one running into the classroom and they’re on their own. I actually had to have 2 students escort me to my car one day because a “friendly enough” dog was roaming free. The boys looked all macho and then one turns to me and says, “You really are afraid, aren’t you?”
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 9:48 amSami says:
Snails and slugs, I have a complete and irrational fear of the things. I will use another door if they happen to be on my front porch, where the seem to love being.
And ladders, not heights, I love flying, but combine height with the easy chance of falling and not dying but say breaking a leg or busting my head on the cabinet and I won’t do it.
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 10:01 amjeanne says:
SPIDERS come first
I’m also afraid of some kind of driving. Don’t like to merge so I stay away from big highways, won’t go anywhere I don’t know how to exactly get there. I have no sense of direction either. It really keeps me from doing stuff 
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 10:18 amAmy M says:
Snakes! I hate snakes and always have. I also have this reoccuring dream/fear of something happening, whether it be a fire, car wreck over a bridge, etc that I’m trying to rescue all four of my kids at the same time. They are too young to help get away from danger, and I have this fear of trying to save them all at the same time. Crazy, I know, but I can’t help it. That is always my nightmare.
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 10:34 amFannie says:
I. Do. Not. Like. Snakes…. I love being around the water BUT not in it. :thumbsdown: I never learned to swin because of this phobia. I’n not afraid of heights but I get dizzy if I go up 2 steps on a ladder. I don’t like a lot of creepy-crawlers
but am not afraid of them. The scenery around your home is so beautiful. Have a great week-end and hugs to all. :wave:
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 11:48 amEmma Stuck says:
What a beautiful place to go to write. What’s your fear? Wasp only because of allergies to them.
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 12:00 pmBrandy says:
Hmmm, Palmetto bugs and wasps freak me out. But, then again, so do snakes. And deep, deep water. *G* Gee, just call me the wimpy gal. *G*
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 12:08 pmHave a great weekend, your view while writing was gorgeous!
Cathy M says:
Heights and spiders top my list. Love the picture, Jill.
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 12:51 pmCindy says:
Snakes and spiders. *shudder* I HATE those things!! :yuck:
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 1:24 pmKimberly H says:
I hate snakes. and spiders. and those creepy crawly things that have the huge antennas and tons of legs *shiver*
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 1:57 pmI am also afraid of heights/falling. I can only do heights if there is a wall keeping me from falling or something chaining me down, so if I fall I don’t fall very far. lol Funny thing about this fear is that it does not effect me when I go skydiving- I love it!
I have such a weird combo of fears… lol
Susan says:
I’m afraid of people wearing masks, which means Halloween is my least favorite holiday!
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 2:05 pmJen(aside) says:
I’m terrified of bees.
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 2:11 pmJane says:
I’m afraid of heights. I also hate speaking in public.
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 2:44 pmCryna says:
My biggest fear is spiders, followed by heights.
Loved where you went to write, it looks so peaceful and serene. Have a great weekend.
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 3:01 pmWalt says:
Escalators and ladders, for falling backwards.
Oh. And any movie with Tom Cruise in it.
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 3:09 pmAshley says:
cockroaches.. eww! Hubby has to get those for me.
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 3:17 pmLorrie says:
I am afraid that I will die and leave my two children before they are old enough to really handle it.
I don’t like spiders, clowns and snakes…but all that kid of pales in the face of kicking the bucket.
Erm, sorry to bring the comments down.
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 3:39 pmSuzy says:
There’s not enough room to list ALL my fears. But the majors include:
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 3:46 pm1) Mice (eeeeeek!)
2) Big insects
3) Clowns
4) Skeezy older guys with too much body hair who seem to follow me
5) The GOP
Mary says:
I HATE snakes! Dead or alive, they are #1 on my list of fears.
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 4:53 pmThe Mystery Maiden says:
Beautiful! Fears? Poor grammar and poverty.
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 11:44 pmLeigh
The Mystery Maiden
Shot In The Dark Mysteries.com
annbb says:
rats scare the crap out of me. :yuck:
Posted on June 1st, 2008 at 9:49 amAshley says:
I have lots of fears…snakes, spiders, heights, mice, frogs, scary movies, and the dark, I’m a big baby pretty much!!! lol
Posted on June 1st, 2008 at 10:07 amLove the picture, wish I had spot like that in my backyard!
Marty says:
Spiders and daddy-long-legs (which I’ve been told are not in the same family as spiders, but come on, equally gross and disgusting).
Falling, or doing something equally dorky in public. I once walked around for half an hour at a cocktail party only to find out I had a blueberry skin stuck to one of my teeth, and NO one told me–had to find out when I went to the ladies room.
Posted on June 1st, 2008 at 11:42 amKate says:
Lets see, this post will probably make me sound like a sissy but oh well, I do not like snakes, spiders, cockroaches, rats, and tick.
Posted on June 1st, 2008 at 12:28 pmStaceyB says:
This may sound a little odd, but I’m afraid to lose everything I own. I’m pretty good with everything else, but this is my main fear.
Posted on June 1st, 2008 at 12:38 pmStacy S says:
Beautiful picture! I hate snakes. Don’t even like to see them at the zoo.
Posted on June 1st, 2008 at 1:54 pmTina L says:
Well, I have to say mice and snakes.
That is a beautiful picture. How could you write there? I’d be too busy admiring the surroundings.
Posted on June 1st, 2008 at 2:51 pmDee Thompson says:
I do not fear anything as much as backstabbers at work. There are several of them in my workplace, and I am quite paranoid – they’ve tried to get me fired, in the past, by telling my supervisor a lot of negative things. Hard to believe I work in employment law, huh?!!
BTW, I have no idea who David Cook is, but if you’d be willing to go through labor yet again he must be a hottie…
Posted on June 1st, 2008 at 4:00 pmLynn says:
Jill, I just wanted you to know that I got Superb and Sexy yesterday. I’d called B&N Friday night to see if they had it, and they did, so I went to get it. Only I never made it into the store. The first time I looked at the clock display, it was 8:38. The second time, as I was still circling the parking lot for a spot, it was 9:02. One time, I even noticed this BMW parked sideways, taking up two spots! The nice thing about that was seeing mall security pull up to it and stop. So, yeah, I gave up on a parking spot and came back home empty handed. I was not happy, so I went back Saturday morning, when the place wasn’t so packed, and got the book. Yay!
As for fears:
Posted on June 1st, 2008 at 4:21 pmsnakes, drowning, heights, elevators (being stuck in one), flying, dying.
Christie says:
Ants. Ants are sneaky and devious and evil. I’m also allergic to fire ants, which sucked while we lived in Florida (bit two different times and the swelling is awful).
I’m also afraid of lightning. (Two lightning strikes to two different houses I was in during the same summer.) Remember, thunder means you lived.
Posted on June 1st, 2008 at 5:18 pmPat L. says:
No Contest – Snakes – Hands down!
Posted on June 1st, 2008 at 5:52 pmJL says:
Oh, generally, my answer is house fires. I can handle almost anything else you throw at me (although I will make my hubby pick up the dead mouse that one of the cats killed, or kill bugs), but I’m such a sentimental freak that the thought of losing all my Extremely Important Things is downright terrifying.
However, waking up tomorrow is, at the moment, infinitely more terrifying. Hubby and I are currently watching our three nieces–almost 3 and 18-mo-old twins–for about the next eight weeks. My brother and sister-in-law are having some trouble, and their marriage seems to be circling the drain (not really a surprise there), and so he opted to move back home. The girls are staying with us while he wraps things up in GA and moves back up here. Our only other kids are the four-footed kind, so this is a HUGE adjustment for everyone. (Yes, we are nuts. We just weren’t aware of HOW nuts we apparently are.) It’s been barely two days, and I’m already on the verge of resigning my title of Auntie….
So at the moment, I’m deathly afraid of morning coming and starting this insanity all over again. But that could just be the exhaustion and the PMS talking.
Posted on June 1st, 2008 at 6:13 pmKatherine says:
Eels, they’re just so wiggley and creepy… and the whole wet thing where they could be anywhere and you couldn’t see them coming. Plus electricution can’t be fun…
Posted on June 1st, 2008 at 9:14 pmAmelia says:
Snakes for sure
Posted on June 1st, 2008 at 10:28 pmFlying Cockroaches
Insects
Heights
Colie says:
Germs! *GASP* Just typing it makes me have to Purell. I am a lunatic germ-a-phobe.
Now must go finish working on the plastic bubble for my kid to roll to school in
Also, I am not a big fan of stinky people.
Posted on June 2nd, 2008 at 6:14 amapril says:
Bugs. I was held hostage in my car because of a spider a few weeks ago. It’s pretty much anything that crawls. I used to just not like them, but the dislike has grown into total freak out. Maybe not quite to phobia but close (or I’m in denial).
Posted on June 2nd, 2008 at 7:43 amAngie-la says:
I HATE stinging insects more than anything.
Posted on June 2nd, 2008 at 8:19 amWasps, bees, jellowjackets, horseflies…if it stings I want no part of it.
And heights terrify me.
jo says:
I do not like heights but my biggest is SPIDERS. I had one FALL on me the other day and i thinks the neighbors heard me scream. My husband this this is funny.
Posted on June 2nd, 2008 at 10:06 amcheryl c. says:
Fears? Snakes, sharks, flying(even though I do fly), and driving on the freeway!
Posted on June 2nd, 2008 at 12:52 pmKarin says:
Very nice spot, Jill. I keep wanting to escape to somewhere like that but usually just end up in my room with a book. *sigh*
As for fears, well, spiders are pretty much it. I’ve only recently learned to control my reaction to them when I see them. I used to scream and now I just sorta hold my breath until I can sneak away to get someone else to deal with them.
Posted on June 2nd, 2008 at 3:20 pmJoyce says:
Spiders are at the top of my list. When my boys were little I didn’t want them to develope the same intense dislike that I have so I would casually get rid of them, thus when they grew older and taller I was able to get them to take care of the spiders.
Posted on June 2nd, 2008 at 4:32 pmDarlene says:
Any bug that crunches when I step on them. Yuk!
The bee keepers in our area have lost 70% of their hives. The bees did not come back…. tell them to come home, please!
Posted on June 2nd, 2008 at 6:49 pmNatasha says:
I’m afraid a bug will crawl in my ear while I sleep…where I sleep is quite clean…it doesn’t matter where I am though…I still worry about it :no:
Posted on June 4th, 2008 at 2:38 pmCasee says:
Mine is spiders.
And let me tell you, it doesn’t make me feel at all pathetic when I’m screaming like the girl I am and my seven year old son is killing the spider in question.
Not at all.
Posted on June 5th, 2008 at 7:25 amkim h says:
any winners
Posted on June 7th, 2008 at 9:00 pm