June /4/06–Can anyone tell me the importance of a palmetto bug / cockroach?  What the hell do they do for the environment.  I've had issues with these these things since I moved down here, more so in the past month, and it's really starting to piss me off how they invade my house, freak me out, and then I have to spray Raid all over the place.  I swear I'm going to die of cancer from all the pesticides I've used lately.  This is including the regular visits from my 'bug' guy.  What the hell… what is their purpose in life?  Do they even have one?  Do I just attract them or something?  ARG!!!! BTW… I found one hanging from my happy room ceiling this evening and was so pissed that I raided him, then got some paper towels, picked it up, and squashed the stupid thing with  my hands.  

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7/3/06 OK, this is actually kind of funny… especially to those who know me well.

I've been displaced for a week because of my critters at home, and have been living at grand ole' mom's house.  It's better than the alternative, and they only live 3 miles away, so it's not as bad as it could be.  I'm hoping that come Wednesday or Thursday, I"ll be able to go back home for good, but we'll see how the situation is.

This morning, I was galently walking down the stairs when all of a sudden i notice a large black thing running across the floor.  AND IT WAS???  A palmetto bug.  I didn't know where the spray was so I ended up killing it with OFF.  It works, but you have to chase it for a while.  (I wish I was being video taped because it was probably funny to watch.)

Many people say that I emit pharemones, (sp?) that attract these creatures to me, and I'm starting to get the impression that they are stalking me.  Now, I've had guys stalk me, but bugs??? come on… 

I've been doing research into natural ways to get rid of these things, and they don't like catnip.  This is good.  I am going to start putting catnip in my pockets and make little sachels of them… I wonder if I could make a clothing line?  It might go over fairly well down here.  Any thoughts?

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7/9/06

 finally moved back home today after about 2 weeks of not being there because of my critter situation.  Everything seems to be going okay.  I know I'm going to have a hard time sleeping for a while, but I'll get through it.  I guess that this is just one of the learning experiences of living in Floriday.  I had almost gotten to the point of selling my house but realized that I can't run away from this problem.  It could happen anywhere, and I'm sure that it has happened to a number of people.  If I moved, there is the possiblity that it could happen again, so what's the point of going through all of that hassle?  I wish I knew how to live with nature, but I just don't want most of 'nature' to live in my house.  I learned that katnip fends off c-roaches and other insects as well, so I bought a ton of it and made a bunch of sachels to distribute in my house.  My cat is in heaven.  I think i need to grow a green thumb and plant the stuff outside… then I should be completely repellent….

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9/26/2006, there is a woman who owns this nice little townhouse in a nice little area with a great park just across the street. 

She moved in, by herself, around October of last year… and her life hasn't been the same since.  Excited at the thought of living in a comfortable state, everything new, with the chance to venture out and see different things every day.  She found a job instantly, made acquaintances…etc. 

But ever since she's been here, there has been little relief from frustration and stress.  Having all of her family around was great, even though at times it wasn't; but now it's taking a toll.  She was not informed of Florida bugs, and to this day, and I mean, this very minute, she has been dealing with them in her house… Between the first day she moved in up to today, there has been only 2 weeks of absolute bug freeness.  She has had difficulty with the working environment, and even though there is an opportunity that may be promising, she always has to go home… to frustration; insomnia; stress.  Insomnia… to the point of going up to 5 days straight without sleep.  None of her life was like this up until she made the move.  She's tired and drained…

On the flip side, there are good things… She has been able to meet some really nice people, one special person, do things that are really 'fun,' and fall in love with tennis. 

But she always has to go home.  She's alone and scared almost all of the time at her own house.  It's overbearing at times and she doesn't know what to do… she still doesn't know what to do. 

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