Catch and release

Those who've been keeping up with my blog know that I have a thing about mosquitoes. Yelch!! Well, a couple of hours ago, as I was putting away some laundry, I noticed a huge-a$$ mosquito fluttering about in my room: its wingspan was a good 2 inches! But then I lost it when I ran out to get my spider cup! (Yes, I have a transparent cup that I use to catch spiders!)

Well, I was getting ready for bed just now, and caught sight of it at the bottom of my door, camouflaged against the dark paint! I opted for the larger pitcher in the laundry room, though. (I'm ultra-squeamish.) Luckily, it's one of those big and dumb mosquitoes that are really slow. It didn't even notice as I placed the pitcher over it, until I slid a manila envelope over the opening. I let it go out the front door.

I am sleeping easy tonight. G'night! :)

以前看我blog的朋友們知道我對蚊子的恐懼。 噁。 當然是因為每次都會被釘得好慘！ 前兩個鐘頭在收拾乾淨的衣服時，在我方間看見一隻特大的蚊子：翼展有兩英吋吧！但當我跑去書房拿我的"蟲杯"，回到臥房就找不到牠了。 (是的，我有個透明塑膠杯子專門用來專蜘蛛和蟲類的！)

剛剛要換衣服準備睡覺的時候，剛好又看到牠，停在門的下方，隱蔽在暗色的油漆。 不過我去拿了洗衣房的大水壺。 (我對蟲類的很敏感！) 幸好牠是那種大笨蚊子，飛得很慢的那種。 我把牠蓋住，牠都沒反應。 我用牛皮紙信封把水壺口蓋著，把牠帶到前門外面把牠放走。

今晚可以安心入眠。 晚安！ :)

I'm awake.

07:23.

I've barely slept an hour the entire night so far.

Why?

Because of ONE mosquito.

I am so tired....

Out for a bite

May 1st is Labour Day in Taiwan. But more importantly, it's a stat holiday in Taiwan.

I've been a little down lately, and cooped up at work, so my coworker and I went out to a coffee shop about half an hour out from Hsinchu. The owner used to be the manager at our company coffee shop, but he'd opened his own coffee shop 2 years ago, a quaint shop on a little lake.

When we got there, the owner told us that the tung flowers (油桐花) were in season and recommended that my coworker and I go take a walk into a wooded area, where the flowers covered the grassy area. But it was a little disappointing because the flowers had already wilted and had been trampled by previous visitors to the area.

But worst of all were the blackflies or black mosquitoes or black whatever insects that attacked us on our leisurely stroll. The tiny insects swarmed my calves (I was wearing a dress) and pricked and pricked and pricked and pricked and pricked! Needless to say the walk was cut short and we dodged back to the safety of the road and back to the coffee shop where we immediately applied whatever balm was available.

I've been going crazy from the itch of the bites. I counted 51 bites on my right leg, and 49 on my left. Tiny bites that dot my calves like islands in the South Pacific. I've already used one third of a new tube of mosquito bite cream. Hopefully they'll fade soon, and even more hopefully they'll fade without leaving scar. <=\

In Season

Much to my dismay, I spotted a cockroach lurking outside the main door of my building.

Looks like it's cockroach season again. : (