mosquitoes

Summer Cooking

Posted on by Josef Havelka

It’s so hot these days that it is difficult to want to cook dinner. Making the kitchen extra hot using the stove or oven is unbearable. Even getting out at the grill is tough. The heat and humidity makes for a challenging cookout.

The other day, my son was grilling over the open flames. Even I didn’t want to hang out by the fire as it was a sweaty evening already. But he did pretty well at his first attempt at open flame cooking. I stayed in the kitchen to make some guacamole stuffed potato skins as a side dish. Those were equally as tasty!

But we needed to eat quickly while it was still hot out. It has become apparent that once it begins to cool off outside- the ‘Skeeters come out. Nothing like getting eaten alive while eating.

Sitting outside is generally pretty nice. We eat on the back deck at least 9 months out of the year. Getting through these excessive hot spells and mosquitoes is the only complaint I have about summer. That, and I hate Sweating.

Bugs Be Gone

Posted on by Josef Havelka

This summer is one of the worst for mosquitoes. Every year I complain about them.

I use bug repellent and sprays every night. Because we like to sit outside for dinner, we also use area spray to try and prevent the bugs from bothering us. I don’t overly like the sprays as it affects my asthma. I really don’t have a choice though or I’ll be super itchy.

We have a bug zapper outside the door as well. The occasional ZOT or BZZT sound makes me giggle each time. Does hearing the little bit of death make me a psycho?

We also have a bug catcher in our kitchen. Trying to keep those annoying fruit flies at bay. As well as any other mosquitos that may arrive inside our home.

How do you deal with the bugs this time of year?

Bite Me

Posted on by Josef Havelka

The other day I complained about mosquitoes and how we try to keep them away in my post Bug Off. But of course, we are bound to get bitten.

Two nights ago, those blood suckers got me all over my back. They either sucked through my shirt or somehow flew up it. Either way, my back was tremendously itchy. I went inside to get ready for bed and wanted some relief. We don’t have any calamine lotion or anti-itch creams, so I pulled out an old “Home Remedy” hack. And it worked almost instantly.

Listerine!

Original Listerine to be precise. I found the small spray bottle we had used a few years ago for lice. Ya, lice. Those horrible bugs that infest children’s hair. Anyway, we had the Listerine in a spray bottle (btw: that hack worked-no more lice) so I spritzed my bug bites. As I said, instant relief. This was a “Life hack” I had Read about years ago and tried it finally.

I recommend the original Listerine. There is no sugar or sweet smells added. I also love having original around, compared to the others, for soothing a sore throat. I also used it to keep my tongue clean after getting it pierced two decades ago.

That’s really it. Just apply the Listerine to the affected bug bite areas and everything will be better. Some people also claim it to be a good bug repellent, but I have yet to try that. All I can say is hooray for life hacks!

Bug Off!

Posted on by Josef Havelka

The heat is on- On the street.

Summer has hit us early it seems. With this sudden influx of heat comes MOSQUITOES! Everyone is getting eaten alive! Time to bring out the bug spray with a lovely scent that reminds me of toxic chemicals.

We also have a couple of more tools in our arsenal to keep us safe.

The bug zapper.

This is more for larger bugs. Not sure how effective this is. I just enjoy hearing a BZZZZTTTT when an insect dies as we sit outside for dinner. Because of this I had to buy another toy:

A bug zapper fly swatter.

This is hours of fun. Swishing around in the backyard like a tennis racket. Catching swarms of bugs in the electrical mesh. Pop! Fzzzt! And small lightning bolts as the bugs die. My children have fought over who gets to use it the most. (I’m secretly waiting for one of them to touch the metal part with their finger.)

All of these are an excellent way to deal with the bug situation. I still smack and kill the blood suckers when I notice them. But these bugs sometimes outsmart me. Take a few minutes ago for example: Tonight I smacked at my crotchular area to shoo away a mosquito. Turns out hitting oneself in the testicles adds more pain than the lingering itch of a bug bite.

I won’t be making that mistake again any time soon. From now on I’m going to drown myself in Off! No more self-dick-punches for this guy. I learned the hard way.