Monday (came too soon!)

tacran

I forgot to ask:  Sharon, did you have to take that overnight shift this weekend?  If so, I hope you didn't feel too sleep deprived!

Thankfully, no.  I managed to find a caregiver to take it. Thank goodness.  It got down to the wire though!  I did have a number of call outs though over the weekend, so that got fun (managed to find folks for it, but made for a busy, non-restful weekend).  I happily gave my boss the pager today!

 ok monster mosquitoes does not sound fun!  I'm a walking buffet for mosquitoes so hopefully those gigantic things never make their way up north.

the_gopher

'm a walking buffet for mosquitoes so hopefully those gigantic things never make their way up north.

Nope, no idea what bit me - was working in the yard a ton yesterday so probably got bit then. I kind of noticed it yesterday but woke up this morning and it was insane! Getting worse and larger today despite using an anti-itch spray (cortisone type) Starting to look like I am growing a new elbow

I'm dragging today but decided to come in the office for a couple of hours to stay ahead of the workload. It's kind of a nice distraction from all things moving-related.

I know I'm probably tired and cranky but both of DH's sisters set me off yesterday. His older sister is really nice but is used to being in charge. I usually don't care but last night she kept wanting me to move the small table closer to the larger table, so she could hear better. The 3 of us at the small table were comfy and not wanting to move, so after she asked for the 3rd time, I sternly said "we're not moving the table!!". Her husband just looked at me and smiled - lol. Then DH's younger sister was in major know-it-all mode regarding dogs. "you shouldn't give him water in a plastic bowl or he could get yeast in his mouth and throat" "you should get a Doberman puppy so it won't be so hard when you lose Shane" (that or something similar was repeated 7 or 8 times through the night). "Maybe the heart medicine is making him so excited and barky" (no, he just loves people and barking). "you could train him not to bark using treats" (I try that with minimal success) "you need to use really yummy treats"....*sigh* In the end, I was actually glad that when I went inside to clean up, no one offered to help :).

Oh man, Cathy --- you've got my sympathy.  Coming off several days of hosting both DH's sisters (each with their own "unique" personality quirks), I understand when you just can't bite your tongue any longer.   

My resistance dropped only a couple times.  One time was when my MIL and DH's oldest sister were going on and on about why we don't have the chimes turned on the grandfather clock that my MIL gave us when she downsized to her retirement complex.  They've both mentioned it on numerous visits, and I gave the same answer:  "I'm a very light sleeper and hearing it go off every 15 minutes right outside our bedroom door keeps me up at night." 

They kept repeating how it's such a beautiful sound, how they adore hearing clocks chiming, it's so relaxing, helps put them to sleep, they're so lovely, blah blah blah.  Finally I said (a bit testily), "Well ladies, everyone is different, and I prefer silence when I'm sleeping."  I felt like saying, "I'd get rid of the whole clock if I thought it wouldn't give one of you heart failure.  It's not my style and doesn't match our decor anyway!"  For the record, it's not a gorgeous antique like you'd see on Antiques Roadshow or something.  It's a standard issue style, probably from the 80's, and purchased at a chain furniture store -- no special character or history or anything.  I know I sound ungrateful, but geesh, it's my house and I'll set things up the way I want to!

Cathy, we love our battery operated hand held bug zapper.  Does yours look like a tennis racket?  Those SIL's would have had me biting my tongue completely off.  I'm lucky that of my two SIL's the one I get along with best lives in Texas and the other lives in VT.  I'm really glad the one in VT doesn't choose to grace us with her presence very often.  lol   She knows everything about everything and doesn't mind telling you where you've gone wrong with everything.  I just smile and nod and in my head I'm picturing her in embarrassing situations that involve her complete humiliation.

Speaking of insects.  My sis in Phoenix sent us some sticky trap things for the scorpions.  We caught two over the weekend.  :)  We set them outside right off the back porch with the stuck on scorpions.  DH forgot about them and they trapped hundreds of flies.  It was amazing and gross. I don't know if the dead scorpions attracted them or if these sticky things have some sort of attractant.  I may put them all over my exposed skin for mosquito control.

JackieG

My sis in Phoenix sent us some sticky trap things for the scorpions.  We caught two over the weekend.  :)  We set them outside right off the back porch with the stuck on scorpions.  DH forgot about them and they trapped hundreds of flies.  It was amazing and gross. I don't know if the dead scorpions attracted them or if these sticky things have some sort of attractant.  I may put them all over my exposed skin for mosquito control.

I've read that catnip repels mosquitos. Probably wouldn't attract the flies that way. Not sure if it works. I'm really not sure how to get the catnip to stay on to repel said mosquitos.

JackieG

  I may put them all over my exposed skin for mosquito control.

I saw those tennis racket style zappers at Walmart the other day and wondered if they worked.  We don't have much of a mosquito problem in this area, but I suppose people who go camping and whatnot probably would use them.  Is it the same concept (and fun zapping sound) of those things that used to hang all over the mini-golf course in my hometown?  It would be fun to use one on those huge mosquitoes Callie mentioned!

Jackie - yes, The Executioner looks just like a tennis racket. Is it wrong to say I'm anxious to try it out? ;) We don't generally have much trouble with bugs of any kind but now that we're living next to a reservoir, I figured that might change. I was worried that the bbq would turn into a fly-fest but I didn't see a one - yay!!

The mention of fly paper brought back a funny memory. When my dad was starting to get senile, he read an article in the local paper about an infestation of white flies. He lived in the agriculture capital of Calif., so I'm sure they were referring to the crops. Nevertheless, he read too much into it and when we all showed up for a visit, there was fly paper hanging all over his house. It was attached to door frames, cupboards, lightbulbs, etc. The strips were all as clean as a whistle but he was sure we just couldn't see the little white flies attached to them. lol!

cakana

I haven't used it yet but I will if I need to.

Good gracious I will not be putting out catnip to repel mosquitoes- then I'd have the problem of Bugsy and wandering cats!

Cathy, I am sorry about the in-laws. Mine are horrific. Well then again my family other than my mom are challenging (<=understatement). I usually retire to clean and have never heard, "oh let me help" Although after what they were saying I am sure your preferred it that way.

Scorpions just sounds wrong, dead or alive

The tennis racket bug zapper is fun to use.  DH killed one of those big red wasps that got in the house the other day.  Took more than one zap to get that sucker.  DH usually calls dibs on getting to use it.  He used to play a lot of tennis so he believes he's got the touch. lol

These sticky strips are much stronger than fly strips, I think.  They're supposed to be for mice.  You don't want to step on one barefooted. I haven't seen these exact type for sale locally but I can order them off the net. 

I'm feeling sorry for you guys dealing with humidity.  I honestly don't know how you breathe in it.

Cathy, your SIL sounds like a piece of work.  Telling someone how to raise their dog is IMO like telling someone how to raise their kids. Also, from the other day when you were saying your colanders were at the other house ... you can drain pasta with a tennis racquet.  Maybe not orzo because it's so small, but it works fine for other pastas.

Tracy, I'm going to have to look for that birthday card.  It sounds like one that would be at World Market. I actually enjoy nature, up to a point.  I just don't want it squishing into my shoes, dripping on my head or buzzing around biting me.

Joyce

fuzzy_dogs_mom

you can drain pasta with a tennis racquet.  Maybe not orzo because it's so small, but it works fine for other pastas.

Joyce, I'm sure you've seen greeting cards by the woman who did the one I described.  I got it at a local grocery store that has a huge card section, but I've seen them in other places.  The artist is Leslie Moak Murray, and her cards and illustrations are hilarious.  I looked on Amazon and found cocktail napkins with the same image from that card.  If the link doesn't work, just google "Images by Leslie Moak Murray" and you'll see some.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C7HLT5O/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_3?pf_rd_p=1535523722&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=1886807515&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0G1TMB43E8J939A512WM