Wednesday, March 28, 2012

i vant to dreenk your blood

Wagner is blaring on the stereo.  And here I sit in the midst of war-planning.

The Sudentland and Poland are safe.  But Aedes aegypti and her ilk had best pack up their carbon dioxide-detectors.  Because I am irritated.

Rather, my skin is irritated.  My lower legs are as red and bumpy as a teenager's left cheek.  All from mosquito bites.

I am accustomed to battling them during the day when I sit on my patio and write.  The usual attackers are the species that carries Yellow and Dengue Fever, and wanders around at all hours of the day.  That is why I have my arsenal of Off and Raid at hand.  Both cans are well-used.

But I expect my house to be a vector-free zone.  The windows and doors are screened.  With the exception of the occasional hitchhiker, I seldom find mosquitoes in the house.

That changed on Friday night.  I found at least a dozen in the living room while I was wasting time watching a few episodes of Downton Abbey.  (I really do not understand the attraction.  It is little more than a telenovela with less yelling, mugging, and skin -- but a lot more tweed.)

Saturday night was the same.  And Sunday.  And Monday.  By last night, I found them in the living room, the kitchen, the bathroom, and, of course, my bedroom.  Repeated applications of Raid seemed only to encourage them.

This afternoon I went into the guest bedroom to retrieve the Wagner.  And discovered why my casa has become an aedic aviary.  The sliding screen on the window was open.

I have no idea why.  Maybe Dora was cleaning and forgot to close it.  Or I may have opened it to chat with the writer and his wife who were staying upstairs this week.
Whatever the reason, I hope the female vampire tide is at an end.  I wandered through the house spraying Raid in the dark recesses where some mosquitoes like to hide. 

And if vampires are going to start showing up in the middle of the night at my house, why can't they look a bit more like Salma Hayek? 

Come to think of i
t, why don't the women in Downton Abbey look more like Salma Hayek?

But that may just be another reason why I live in Mexico rather than in an English country house.

27 comments:

Babsofsanmiguel said...

Go to Soriana or Mega and buy the plug-in Raid mosquito repellers.  You will NOT have mosquitoes in your house........Period.  I only replace mine twice a year. 
And don't all of us women wish we looked like Salma Hayek.......but I must tell you when she was here making the movies, on the street, she didn't look like that photo..........thankfully.

Penny said...

Take some anti-histermines to help with the itching and apply an after bite cream. Ask Christine to get it fumigated and that should stop the blighters eating you alive.

John Calypso said...

We are NOT fans of chemicals - but have a high regard for mosquito netting ;-)

Steve Cotton said...

I have two of them. I replace the inserts weekly. But they do not seem to have much effect on our local mosquitoes. But my can of Raid always works -- as long as I get a direct hit.

Steve Cotton said...

 I have a great local anti-itch ointment.  It works great.

Steve Cotton said...

 The problem this week was while I was sitting in my living room.  Does netting work there?  The last time I used it, I felt almost claustrophobic.

Tancho said...

 Thanks for the after picture of Salma, the wonders of modern medicine.
If seems from your writings over the years that there are more items on the negative side than positive side of living in your paradise. One would wonder why anyone would submit themselves to heat, humidity, hurricanes,tourists, mosquitoes and crocodiles. It would be one thing if your abode was on the ocean, with sand at its back steps with the hammock hanging in a constant breeze, shooing away the bugs. But living a few blocks away, with tons of neighbors, music and horns blaring, for a month or so of idealistic pleasure while the country has so much more to offer is a cause for worry, especially if we hear that you are being subjected to those deadly mosquitoes!
Stay well my friend buy yourself some Oxo, a pesticide products for Mexico's bugs......

Theresa Diaz de Gray said...

Have you seen the milk commercial with Salma Hayek? Husband found it on you tube. In my mind's eye I look just like her LOL...just shorter, heavier and older.

I love the costumes in Downton Abbey. I would watch it just for that reason. Same thing with Boardwalk Empire. However, I enjoy the show too. It's a character flaw but as flaws go, it could be worse. However, I got hooked on Ringer, Husband thinks it's so bad that he washes the dishes when I watch it. I don't even have the excuse that I'm just watching because of the costumes.

regards,
Theresa

Steve Cotton said...

Even though Melaque has its negative sides (like every place in the world), I rather like it.  And, of course, the wildlife is top on the list -- especially the crocodiles.  Getting away to the country would not be my ideal, though.  If anything, I feel the pull of the big city and its cultural offerings.  But more on that later.  As for the mosquitoes, I have found them everywhere in Mexico.  Even in San Miguel.

Steve Cotton said...

 One of the fortunate things of not having television for 20 years is that I miss most of the references to television shows.  I think I looked at Downton Abbey because of a reference in Laurie's blog.  I am just baffled by it.

Barbara said...

Steve can you get fabric softener sheets (like Bounce) there? I'm from the south where mosquitoes are horrid. Tuck a sheet in your shirt pocket, another in your sandal strap or belt/waistband when you're sitting outside (or in, as in this case) and they keep them at bay. Mosquitoes for some reason hate them. We can sit outside all summer long this way and not be bothered.

Barbara

Laurie Matherne said...

Downton Abbey? I love it! It's more than a telenovela. It's great. But alas, if you want a dishy woman, watch a real telenovela. 

Felipe Zapata said...

If we're talking about the same contraption, I believe the inserts only last about 8-12 hours, not a week.

norm said...

I have a machine that kills bugs to an extant that it is best used only at times when the bees are still in their hives. It is hand held and runs on propane, has about a quart size container that holds the killer juice. It fogs everything in its path,  acres at a time. My bats are back so my fogger is collecting dust in the garage,  a back up plan should the bats move on.   

John Calypso said...

 Does netting work there?

Yes - we have built a netted room within the room where we lounge around, use the computer and watch movies.  It works - and we still have a wonderful view of the ocean from there.

Andean said...

I think the problem was the open window. In my neighboring Villa I have never experienced them to be inside the house. And there's
the occasional swarm that flies through in the evening, now I know not to sit outside during those hours. In the afternoon around the pool several people read and swim for hours we have not had a many or any. During my late night swim only the crocodiles are wading around in their own pool.
Selma is one of the most beautiful woman, this picture does make her look vampy though, dreaming is good.

Steve Cotton said...

I get plenty of mosquitoes during the day. In the garden. But the window was definitely the problem inside. Nothing last night.

Steve Cotton said...

I like that option. But the garden has far too many butterflies for general warfare down here. A local fogger truck serves the same purpose, but I have not seen (or heard) it in months.

Steve Cotton said...

I will check on the Bounce. I have no need for it here otherwise. No dryer. I suspect the scent in the Bounce must mask the carbon dioxide we produce. Of course, I could simply be better at slathering myself in Off.

Steve Cotton said...

 Of course, I have essentially done the same with the screen door and screened windows.  My biggest problem, now that I resolved the open window issue, is outside. 

Steve Cotton said...

 I have never cared for the dress-up soap operas.  I took a look at an old PBS series (Edward and Mrs. Simpson) I had watched in the 70s.  Perhaps my tastes have changed.  It was just not very enjoyable.  And I am not certain why.  I enjoy fiction -- especially what we can learn about the human condition. 

Steve Cotton said...

 That may be the problem.  Of course, with the window screen now shut, my problems have been greatly reduced.  I carry that contraption with me now when I travel.  Endorsed by both you and Babs. 

Irene said...

Now I feel all itchy.  Thank you.  And, if there is going to be vampire in my house, I would prefer it look like Antonio Banderas.

Andean said...

Yep,...

Steve Cotton said...

 Always here to serve.

jennifer rose said...

Get the Raid plug-ins with the little bottle of liquid which screws into the burner -- not the tablet. Read the instructions, and use them religiously. 

Steve Cotton said...

 Religiously?  Like twice a year?