Showing posts with label Pests. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pests. Show all posts

Monday, May 12, 2008

Test Print - Bug Fest 2

Last week it was this, (BTW, one flew down VB's blouse last night) and now it's THIS! (See below.) Flying black ants, and they are ginormous! Not quite swarming, but sort of, and frightening enough to give even the most seasoned bug / mouse killer, the creeps. VB wonders if they bite. They look vicious.

All these damn bugs remind VB of The Naked Jungle, starring Charlton Heston, which she saw a long, long time ago. A good review can be found here: Heston vs. the Marabunta. And yeah, he's gonna kill those mothers with that fucking rifle! (But, no, not really; but yeah, but noo; but the NRA would probably be more than happy to help out with that endeavor.)

If going to bed, whacking flying ginormous black ants isn't enough, when VB wakes up the next morning, she finds this (below):

Yes, that's three sheets of printer paper on the floor. VB now knows that the electricity went off three times while she was sleeping. VB's printer has the habit of spitting out test prints every time it reboots (it drives puppy, Lotus, nuts.) The electricity went off four times in one day, over the weekend (that we know of.)

Now, if someone could just tell VB why the hell there's no cold water in her shower, just scalding hot, she'd be a little bit happier. With the temps running around 97-98 degrees, it would be nice to have some cold (even lukewarm) water. Or do we have to pay extra for cold water now? - Like the rising prices of everything else isn't enough!

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Bug Fest!

She's dealin' with it!

A weekend preoccupation has turned into a full scale assault.


The exterminating "engineer" has visited. Room off limits for three hours, and more due to noxious fumes. Third invasion in a year. "Engineer" thinks he finally found the nest. Let's hope so!

VB doesn't even know what the hell these are, but they appear to be flying red ants.




Monday, February 18, 2008

The Amazing Egyptian Mousetrap!

Last week VB's house had a surprise visitor. While VB was in the bedroom she saw a mouse sitting on the floor across the room. The little rat decided to dart behind furniture, and managed to avoid capture amid the chaotic chase that followed. The Boss Man decided to go back into the TV room. The last straw came when the brazen visitor decided to run around, and in front of, the bedroom TV, while VB was trying to settle down and take her mind of the creature - by watching TV! A total VB psycho freak-out ensued! Subsequently VB, and The Boss Man, ended up sleeping in the TV room, for two nights.

In the meantime they were able to purchase Egyptian mouse traps. Now these traps are not at all like the ones we normally use in the States. The Boss Man claimed the traps were an amazing example of much soldering and craftsmanship, while VB complained that the mouse could escape. A debate ensued as VB has caught over 40 mice in her lifetime, using a variety of methods. For once, VB was pretty sure of what she was talking about, while The Boss Man scoffed.

VB can't understand why though, in Cairo, they would make humane mousetraps that let mice escape, but use poison on cats, and shoot dogs on the streets. On the other hand, she also thought these traps were more for rats. The salesmen recommend using poison - that's a gruesome and ugly death. Plus, we have a puppy and don't want her getting into it. Besides, once poisoned, the mouse will go hide somewhere to die and then stink up the whole place! VB prefers a quick and sudden solution to the problem, not available at any of the shops visited, short of whacking the damn thing with an axe! (VB couldn't even smack it with a broom.)

VB now discusses how to catch a mouse with the amazing Egyptian mousetrap. Oh, and you might be asking what happened to all those cats? They're just like the police - never around when you really need them!


The Amazing Mousetrap:




After several escapes we decided that duct tape was the solution. “All of life’s problems can be solved with two things—duct tape and WD40. If it moves and it shouldn’t, you need duct tape. And if it doesn’t move and it should, you need WD40.”—Unknown




A look inside the baited prison walls.




The bait:




Having just escaped with a few licks of peanutty goodness, he decides to make sure it's "all clear," before venturing out for more. This was right after he tripped the trap and we observed him hightailing it out of there. Everything not in aluminum wrapped and sealed airtight bags, was put into plastic bins (mice love dog treats too.)




Yesss! Go for it you little rat - go man, go!




After catching said suspect, take trap outside, and let mouse go. It might exhibit post traumatic stress syndrome at first, but will scamper off as soon as a threat (like VB's puppy) appears.






Little mouse ran off the porch and into the bushes. The cats will catch up to him eventually. The traps are set and ready for any further incursions! American mouse traps now on the "need to buy" list for the next trip back to the States.