To read the tribute to SFC Marcus Muralles, please click here
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
It's just a little bug...
Growing up, we had a problem with ants at our house. They were the little sugar ants- never hurt anyone, just not the most sanitary of God's creation. So, Dad would set out little pieces of cardboard on the countertops with this gooey stufff (Terro, if you're interested) and the ants would go away. And, I remember that I was always told to stay away from the red ants, because they would bite.
Fast forward to 7 years ago. We move to Central Texas. There were these funny little mounds in the backyard, and, when you poke them with a stick, hundreds of little ants swarm out of them. Those were fire ants- evil little buggers. Or so I was told.
Over the last few years, we've had quite a few ant mounds that we have had to dump insecticide onto and around. We'd had to take T2 to the doctor because of a soft-tissue infection from one of their bites, and he is also sensitive (but not allergic) to the bite. Hubby has had bites up his arm because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I've had a bite or two, but nothing too terrible.
Then the little monsters went one step too far. They got into the house. Not just into the house, but into our bathroom. And not just into the bathroom, but INTO MY BATHTUB. I'm taking a shower, minding my own business, when there is this pain in my foot, like someone stuck me with a white hot needle. I look down, and there's an ant, latched onto my foot.
That's it. I've had enough. I informed Hubby that SOMETHING had to be done. And he did something. We had been told that the only way to get rid of fire ants in the yard is to make your yard more toxic than your neighbors. So, our yard is now a toxic waste dump. And that's a good thing. I just feel sorry for all the people who live around us.
Fast forward to 7 years ago. We move to Central Texas. There were these funny little mounds in the backyard, and, when you poke them with a stick, hundreds of little ants swarm out of them. Those were fire ants- evil little buggers. Or so I was told.
Over the last few years, we've had quite a few ant mounds that we have had to dump insecticide onto and around. We'd had to take T2 to the doctor because of a soft-tissue infection from one of their bites, and he is also sensitive (but not allergic) to the bite. Hubby has had bites up his arm because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I've had a bite or two, but nothing too terrible.
Then the little monsters went one step too far. They got into the house. Not just into the house, but into our bathroom. And not just into the bathroom, but INTO MY BATHTUB. I'm taking a shower, minding my own business, when there is this pain in my foot, like someone stuck me with a white hot needle. I look down, and there's an ant, latched onto my foot.
That's it. I've had enough. I informed Hubby that SOMETHING had to be done. And he did something. We had been told that the only way to get rid of fire ants in the yard is to make your yard more toxic than your neighbors. So, our yard is now a toxic waste dump. And that's a good thing. I just feel sorry for all the people who live around us.
