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July 30, 2007
Monday Reminders
In case I forgot to mention: Paul Rudd is dreamy:
If I haven't told you before, I've declared war on varmints. Say hello to my little friend Victor:
There was another incursion into 'The Pond' out front this weekend with some kind of critter frolicking to and from each body of water, again overturning the lily pads. So I'm introducing them to my little friend Victor. IT IS ON, MOTHAFOKKAS!!! BRING IT!!! I wasn't surprised to see that the active ingredients in mammal repellant are indeed urea (pee) and garlic oil. So my peeing to mark territory theory was not a crackpot idea - just a cheaper option. I'll have to start making more garlic pesto dinners from here on out...
Shown above is 'The Pond' out in front. The plants you see are hardy water hyacinths and robust irises. You can't see any zen lily pads because they've been destroyed by the varmints. I think I'm just going to have to give up on the lily pads. They've been overturned 5 times too many and now have no leaves. The remaining shoots struggle to survive. Fucking varmints!
Shown above is 'The Tub'. Note the muddy lip of the tub showing that some critter was going in and out of it at his/her liesure.
I wondered why this was bothering me so much over the weekend. While I would one day like to see a lily flower, I'm resigned to the fact that it's just another thing that you can't do in the city. I eventually realized that what bugs me the most about it the most is that I don't know who or what is doing it. As a former park ranger and current naturalist by hobby with a background in biology and wildlife study, I should know this sort of thing. That's why it bugs me so much. I am mostly offended by the mystery of it all.
I had a nice weekend. I geeked out on City of Heroes with upstairs Sean an awful lot, who hosted a lovely brunch on Saturday. I went to Nellie's for the first time on Saturday, and while the bartenders need to speed it up a bit, I liked the space, especially the 3rd floor deck. And there were many, many people there I've never seen before in DC. I knew it was going to fill a much-needed niche for a particular segment of the gays in DC - clearly the "kickin' back with a brew and my masc/musc/mil buds" now have a place to go. The other Sean returned from Fire Island and reports having had a good time, but I've never seen a Skwurl so tired...
Two new hottie dogwalkers identified and named this weekend: 'Silverback' kind of looks like a compact, muscular Anderson Cooper. He walks a multi-colored blue tick hound. He has nice shoulders and spiffy clothes. Then there's Air Force Jack Russell Terrier Guy, who's kinda lean and buzzcut. That brings the hottie street count census of hottie dogwalkers in Shaw to at least 8, and that's not counting shirtless runners-by. Have I reminded you that Shaw is where it's at?
Have I also mentioned that the Green Line Sux Donkey Dix? It's apparently toxic donkey dix too. Oh, that's fine, just allow your contractors to apply bird poison during business hours. I suppose it would knock off some tourist's toddler. And don't mind the dead bird carcasses. We'll just think it's West Nile and be fine with it.
Posted by jimbo at July 30, 2007 10:50 AM
Comments
I think that if you had Paul Rudd in your life; you'd no longer be worried about those lillies! I had a similar problem a few years ago. It turned out to be a raccoon. I wanted to know what the deal was, and ended up catching it on a cam.
Posted by: diamondfistwerny (Steve) at July 30, 2007 12:02 PM
Could the lily violators be rats? I don't know much about their habits and whether they like to bathe.
Posted by: homer at July 30, 2007 12:04 PM
It's funny you mention Paul Rudd. Check out www.freshair.com. The public radio interview show will feature him tomorrow, 2 p.m. on WAMU, 88.5 FM.
Posted by: Andrew at July 30, 2007 3:03 PM
Good luck battling the critters. Every fall it seems like mice from three counties around my house decide that we need company in our house, and they start invading. Many pay the ultimate penalty. Mwuahhahahahaaa!
Posted by: Sean at July 30, 2007 4:03 PM
Plant some cilantro. The raccoons in my garden will not touch anything that has cilantro growing nearby, same with the deer. In fact, coriander oil is a natural pesticide.
And...it grows quickly, reseeds itself and is tasty in salads and salsa.
Posted by: rodger at July 30, 2007 6:43 PM
I don't know, man. I'm looking at the pond and thinking "Asian tiger".
Posted by: davidmc at July 30, 2007 9:43 PM
I hope you nail that varmint.
Posted by: Brechi at July 30, 2007 10:28 PM
Jimbo
I have been using a great little creation to thrwart the greedy squirrels from pilfering my bird feeder. The repellant is basically a cayenne pepper mix that you mix into the seed (use gloves - this stuff is hot). The capsacin in the pepper does not affect birds but all mammals are highly sensitive to it. The squirrel came for one visit and has not been seen again - which is amaizing for such a pesky species. If you have little mammals running about, this is a nice non-toxic option (I don't think it will bother the fish). I can send you some or you can look for it - it is called "Squirrel Away". You might think about sprinkling some about your leaves and seeing if it has any effect.
Posted by: Martini at July 30, 2007 10:42 PM
I just hope for your sake it ain't Paul Rudd who's doing it! I don't want you to disappointed!
Posted by: Lee at July 31, 2007 2:11 AM
Silverback sounds like a guy I should meet. Or ogle.
Posted by: Patrick at July 31, 2007 12:28 PM
Paul Rudd is one of my 2 or 3 actor crushes. So cute!!!!
Posted by: bryce at July 31, 2007 2:33 PM
Paul Rudd was just on Fresh Air if you want to listen:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12373448
Posted by: Markie at August 1, 2007 7:36 AM
You'll have to see The Ten. Your boyfriend Paul Rudd is in it.
Posted by: Kris at August 4, 2007 3:18 PM