First fire ant attack, the TJD, newly pressure-washed driveway

I almost made it through my task before the ants attacked. I was pretty cocky, kneeling down and weeding around our trout pond. I knew that if I ran into ants, they might even go up my pants and that is always terrible. However I felt the first piercing bite on my forearm and jumped up, threw my gloves off, noticed they were covered in ants, and said some kid-safe expletives. It hurts really bad. Immediately it's like being poisoned, the area becomes red like a rash, with a white bubble in the middle where the ant dug in.

I was more mad that I couldn't finish - I had cleared the brush from 3/4 of that pond after ripping out the old chain link border and all the posts, and the horrible netting that I've hated since day 1. I wrapped that fruit tree netting (not even fish netting) into a big ball and carried it up the hill. I knew from last year's doctor visits - wash the bite area right away.

I scrubbed with Dove soap and a brush, and then sat down with some Doritos to feel sorry for myself for not finishing. It was only 2:30.

Then my arm started throbbing, hand and all. My goodness will my body ever learn to adapt to this poison?

I realized I needed medicine so I put on some German wound gel and that helped immediately. The pain faded all away, whew. My arm is swollen and the skin looks like a blister but no pain!

I have no idea if they are fire ants but I must assume so from the pain. I think you will thank me that I did not take photos of my arm today.

When my man came home, I showed him my work proudly and he helped me carry up the first of the segments of chain link fence that need to be cleaned up and then recycled.

He also gave me an early birthday gift - new floor mats for the Prius.


I had asked for the driver's side mat because it was getting thrashed but all the others looked great. Well he got me a set of 4 and they are so pretty! I may be the only person who can get this excited about car mats. I'm afraid I'll have to take off my shoes to drive (jk).

Normally I'm against firm names on cars but I think on the floor mat is acceptable. I'm not doing their marketing for them by having it on the floor of the car. Except that people might read this blog and buy a car from them when they're in Wuppertal, *lol*.

***

The Prius was in the shop again for some little thing and they washed it again! That's twice now that they've washed our car for a service appointment. Nice.

Wanna see the service loaner car we had one night?


I had to laugh because I couldn't figure out where they put the motor in this car.


Certainly not in the front, the car ends too abruptly.


But not in the back either! Hm.

I think it's some sort of Japanese Smart Car. Of course we had to call it the TJD - Tiny Japanese Deathtrap.

Usually we say TGD - Tiny German Deathtrap. This TGD thing started when a friend of mine wanted to buy a Porche and I said "NOOOOooooo.... TGD!" (Thankfully he got that 6 series I love instead.)

***

I spent 12 hours this week (over 3 days) pressure washing the driveway again. Why can't we just have an asphalt driveway!? I'm starting to think, after seeing huge parking lots with brick instead of asphalt - it must be an environmental thing. They allow drainage and don't create runoff problems? I don't know but I'm really sick of cleaning every individual brick! They are mossy, and moss grows in the spaces, as well as grass and every other weed.

My wrists hurt after holding that nozzle 3 days.

I hate a brick driveway. A brick driveway is like a white horse. Or a black car. They look great for about 5 minutes. Then, most of the time, they look terrible.

***

Spring is so easy on the eyes. I tried to show how wonderful it is when the oak trees across the street finally start to get leaves. It all happened this week.