Domestic Geek

Current mood: confused
This has been one weird weather month! First it is cold (expected—it is January, after all).Then we get record-breaking temps around 70ish. Then it is cold again. Yesterday it rains. Today I got to drive to work in wet, heavy, spring-like, typical March snow. It took forever to push that stuff off my car this morning. WTF?

If you're having a superbowl party and need a tasty treat to serve, try these cupcakes (via Dave Barry).

I forgot to mention that I got my car fixed (partially) today. At least, the starter is attached to the engine block. It still has the fuel problem (it was acting up for the mechanic), but he can't isolate the problem. Could be a multitude of things. His advice: It's got 300,000 miles on it—get a new car! LOL You know it's time when your mechanic tells you something like that. Since he doesn't have any free ones to give away, that will just have to wait, though. *sigh*

Current mood: frustrated
My poor dad has been dealing with some kind of bug infestation in his apartment. It is the same bugs that bit me back in October. I never actually saw the bugs then, but from the bites dad had, I deduced that maybe they were fleas and dad tried to take care of the problem himself (even though I told him to tell the apartment manager then). He assured me the problem was better, but I saw the other day that his arms were looking bad again and he showed me the stains they've left on his mattress. While doing some more Internet research (on fleas), I came across a picture of those stains, not from fleas, but from bed bugs. I didn't know bed bugs were a problem in this country anymore. Apparently bed bug infestations are on the rise (between international travel, soldiers returning from Iraq and Mexican immigration). Also the types of insectides used now for things like ants and roaches aren't effective for bed bug control. When I read how hard they can be to eliminate, I urged Dad to tell the apartment managers.

So, dad's apartment was sprayed yesterday. You should've seen the bugs come running. Ewwww. After we came back from lunch, Dad and I vacuumed up the dead bodies and some egg caches I found. We vacuumed again today and ordered some vinyl mattress covers to keep the few remaining survivors contained. The exterminator is coming back in 3-4 weeks for a follow-up application. I hope this takes care of this. I hate seeing my father being eaten alive.

Current mood: sad
Former “Tonight Show” host Johnny Carson died on Sunday (Jan. 23). He was 79 and had suffered from emphysema. I remember when I was little that I thought my dad and Johnny Carson were brothers. They looked alot alike and my dad is funny, too. My favorite segments were when he was “Carnac the Magnificent” and any of the ones where there were animals. I never watched the show much after he left. I prefer Letterman to Leno.