No Buzz

LIAM LISTENING FOR BUZZ

There is no buzz. There used to be. When I was a kid living in our 3rd floor apartment in Pomonok Houses in Queens, NY there was a buzz. It came on summer nights. It was the sound of mosquitoes buzzing around my head. We did not have screens on the windows. They would find me and circle for a feast. I pulled the covers over my head to hide from the buzzing bugs.

PULL UP THE COVERS

We did not have air conditioning; it got very hot quickly. Usually the mosquitoes got what they wanted, leaving gorged with my blood.


Now we have screens and air conditioning. We live in a house with a yard. I had always dreamed of a yard.  Of sitting outside with my dog. I have that yard and I have a dog, Liam.

LIAM OUTSIDE NEXT TO ME

The mosquitoes are also outside. Screened out. They are not like the ones in our growing-up apartment. These make no buzz. They bite so quickly and so often that one trip outside and I have multiple bites. These bites are not like the childhood bites. I don't know that I have been bitten until suddenly an unbearable itchy sensation compels me to scratch until the welts appear. These bites remain sensitive and keep their shape and itch producing sensation for days. These are not the mosquitoes of the 1950's and 1960's. Who are these new creatures? They also can make one sick because some have West Nile virus. People now die from infected mosquitoes. see link
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/story/2012-08-28/west-nile-virus-cases-increase/57402754/1

Battle Plan

1-Cover up- long sleeves, socks, gloves, hat.

2-Insect repellent-parts like face, hands, ears should be sprayed with repellent. I even spray my hair.

3-Citronella bracelets-wear them around wrists, ankles

CHECKING THE BIRD BATH

4-Standing water - empty bird baths, flower containers, tops of garbage cans

Results

1-Covering up- proves too hot. July is the hottest month in history. 

2-Insect repellent- takes off my nail polish. If Liam licks me, he may be poisoned. The universal remedy "Skin So Soft" from Avon. gives me hives or a rash or something in between. Takes 3 weeks to go away.

WE HAVE TO STAY INSIDE

3-Citronella bracelets- works on the wrist and ankle - all else is unprotected and fair game.

4-Standing water- maybe would be better to leave it to attract the bugs as a trap? 

A SITTING LIAM

I take a chance on Tuesday.  I sit down with a latte. There is a slight breeze.  Liam sits and rolls. I take pix.

A RARE ROLL THIS SUMMER

GO AWAY MOSQUITOES

A brief sit. We hear the gardeners approaching, Tuesday is their day and we have to retreat. No bites though. First time in two months


Is it the wind, the latte or the gardeners that stop the bites?  Or all three.  Maybe those Pomonok mosquitoes from childhood.
We tend to be nostalgic about the "olden days" never thought it would include the "olden mosquitoes"

THEY CANNOT GET ME HERE

Woof, Woof