Spiders. Or at least one rather large, fast-moving, and intent on web-building spider that successfully terrorized Kristen and I out of the lab this afternoon. Yes, that’s the other problem: at 4:30 in the afternoon in the summer, Kristen and I are the only ones around, and neither of us are quite brave enough to deal with little Boris. To be fair, Kristen did almost manage to get him onto a board, which she claims she would then have left in the hallway for a less arachnophobic individual to deal with. Sadly, Boris was too smart for the board trick and instead escaped into a box under the table. I, meanwhile, was doing a trendy new dance in the hallway to the tune of “oh gross oh gross oh gross” – the hot dance number involves much jumping up and down and shuddering in repugnance. As such, we have both sworn off touching, moving, and certainly cleaning any of the boxes under the tables until someone brave enough to squish and/or extract spiders and other creepy crawlies is in the room.
If anyone is interested, we’re going to attempt to reclaim our territory tomorrow at 1:30, so as to continue the work we are getting paid to do. If anyone wants to show up as spider protection, I at least would be grateful (I don’t want to drag Kristen into my pathetic woe). Alternately, if someone would like to lie and tell us that they were in the lab tonight and saw poor Boris, and “rescued” him to outside West Hall, I will enthusiastically believe the falsehood in favor of my mind’s well-being. Hint, hint!
Oh, and this might put a damper on the camping plans proposed in the last post’s comments…
Lawn Chair Anthropology 
for the record, i was here at 8 am and terrified for the first 45 minutes…but i think boris is in hiding for right now…i hope boris doesn’t have friends that like to hang out in here…it’s good for him to have friends, but not good if they all live in here. i might have to transport all the skulls elsewhere if that is the case. gag.
I am appalled that two American humans putting up with such sass from an animal. We study anthropology because humans are, in fact, unique a special organism. And I don’t think that we got to where we did by being terrified of spiders. Especially one that probably isn’t that big, menacing or impervious to squishing. If ‘Boris’ isn’t dead and/or out of the lab tomorrow, I will come in and eat him. Not as a display of my superlative ruggedness–that needs no more proof–but to make a statement to all animals about what humans stand for. I’m afraid this offer comes off the table at midnight tonight. BORIS. BEETS. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA.
Corrigendum: I forgot to proof-read my comment. The first sentence should read, “I am appalled that two American humans put up with such sass from an animal.” “We study anthropology…” should continue as, “in fact, a unique and special organism.”