Living With Ants

I moved into my apartment back in July expecting your average, not quite rundown one-bedroom suite. On the surface, that's exactly what I got. I noticed an ant here and there crawling around, but nothing too major. I cleaned the place top to bottom and started working a lot.

As the weeks wore on and I started being at home a bit more I noticed them more and more. What you should understand is that these are not big black ants but rather tiny red ants that are pretty much harmless. I knew that this was maybe more than a small problem when I happened to miss cleaning up a small leaf of lettuce on the kitchen counter. I came home from work and it was COVERED in ants. I killed them all and disposed of them, hoping I wouldn't run into that problem again! Unfortunately it only got worse. 

I started noticing them crawling on the walls and in the sink in the bathroom. I saw them crawling across my computer screen and without feeling any remorse I would squish each one with my finger, having a strange sense of satisfaction after each time. They thankfully weren't anywhere in my bedroom, and seemed to leave alone any other food that I happened to have out while making supper. 

I finally got frustrated when I went to do the dishes one day and hadn't turned the tap on for a few days. Ants started spilling out around the water tap! The kept coming and coming, and I kept killing and killing, until finally I could actually start the dishes. Ants are the worst when I go to take out the garbage, especially if there is lettuce in there! I gladly carry them out to the disposal bin and give myself a victory point.

What I have noticed recently is that they like my water glass. I have to check and double check that there are no ants in there when I go to drink. They bunch up in a clump right in the middle of the glass. Did they not see  their friends die that way too? I supposed they went to help out. 

I have learned to live with these little creatures. I almost think they are cute and comforting. The ants are always there for a laugh, or for a task to take care of.  I know not where they come from, but I believe they are here to stay.  Since they have not harmed me, I can live with squishing them one by one til I actually convince myself that they will eventually one day disappear.

Typical Saskatchewan Winter Adventure

I was happily walking along with my sister and nephew after we had just watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, happy the Saskatchewan Roughriders were on their way to the Grey Cup and thinking, well nothing can spoil this mood.

I had parked my car in an angled spot on the side street and it had been warming up for a good ten minutes in the -24C weather. I swept if off and silently cursed myself for forgetting my mitts, but oh well, I would be warm soon enough. I got inside and my hands were shaking so bad I could hardly put the key in the ignition. I plugged in my ipod and cranked up Augustana's "Sweet and Low" and put the car in reverse. I carefully checked behind me, and knowing that spots are often icy, I slowly attempted to ease out. My tires started spinning. Lovely. I chuckled and rocked the car a little to help it out, but the tires continued to spin and spin. I gained a couple inches and had the car rocking pretty hard back and forth but could get no further.

I got a little panicky and almost forgot to check if cars were coming, and had to slam on the brakes when I did see one. I was probably not out all that far, but it was getting a little ridiculous. I did what most people would do in this situation: I called my sister, hoping that she had not yet left the parking lot across the street, and praying that she would come push me out. Luckily no, she had not left yet and was actually laughing at me from afar. She could see my car sending up exhaust like crazy and she and my nephew were having a hard time containing themselves. I laughed on the phone along with her and almost had tears rolling down my cheeks by the hilarity of it all. That went on for almost 5 minutes as I tried to get out, to no avail.

I happened to look to my left and there was suddenly a guy standing there dressed head to toe in winter gear. I jumped a little and hurriedly hit end on my phone and dropped it in the process. This guy was about my age and looked non threatening, so I opened the door as George's "Lie To Me" started up loudly on my speakers. I quickly turned it down and he told me he wanted to push me out. I happily obliged, and after a few minutes of pushing and rocking I was out and yelled a thank you so much at him. I felt my heart swell with a little pride, that yes, people are still willing to help people out in those situations.

I started to head home and could picture in my head my sister and nephew laughing in their car with tears rolling down their cheeks. I started laughing myself and turning my ipod back up, I hear Christina Aguilera's "Not Myself Tonight". I sang along with it between chuckles all the way. When I pulled into my parking spot at the apartment, I sent my sister a message which informed her: okay THAT was HILARIOUS! She responded: Oh yeah, we are still laughing at you!

As I said earlier: nothing could spoil the good mood.