The Bed Bug tales of Woe

     After years of traveling and staying in motels it finally happened.   Twice in two nights.   We got bit by bedbugs.   YIKES!

    I consider myself a seasoned and careful traveler.     I go on the bed bug registry and check out the state I am traveling to.  I write down every hotel and motel listed so we don't go there.    When we check into our room I strip the bed and check the mattress,  I check behind the bedboards, I open drawers and lift the mattress.   I only take in the clothes I will use that night and never put anything on the floor.   I am careful..........  but...........  it didn't matter.

   The motel passed with flying colors.  The room was clean.   I went to sleep feeling confident I was going to sleep well.   And I did.  We both did.   Until we woke up.   I found a spot of blood on the sheet.  Just one little spot.  

            I leaped out of bed and checked myself while Rick checked himself.   We saw nothing.  Hummmm,   maybe it was a old scab from Rick's bushwacking the back lot.  Checked the bed again,  Nothing.  So checked out and kept traveling.  

     New motel the next night.    Same check.   Room clean and a very nice motel.   We settled in and spent 2 nights.   And once again found spots of blood of our sheets.  What is the world was going on?   Checked out and 2 hours later I noticed the first 3 bites on my upper arm.   By the end of the day I would end up with around 30 showing up and Rick had 6 on his ankles.  And itch.  I can not even begin to tell you how badly these things itched.  It was unrelenting and intense.   Like a mosquito bite magnified 100 X's.

    When a bed bug bites it injects an analgesic that numbs the area.    You don't feel it at first.  Sometimes the delay is up to a day.   And the really horrible thing.   When it wears off and starts to itch it can last for weeks.  In fact yesterday was a month.   They still itch.

     Mine got extremely inflamed.   I did my best to not scratch but in my sleep I probably was scratching.   Every day the bites looked worse.   On my neck,  my ear,  my forehead,  both arms and one leg.   I looked like I had chicken pox.   And I started to feel actually sick after a week.  I had to cover my arms it was so unsightly.   And my doctor gave me steroids since I was reacting to them so bad.   We tried every cream and lotion on the market without any luck in controlling the itch.

    I was sure we had been bit by bedbugs.   Rick wasn't sure since he wasn't bit as bad but there was no way my luggage or clothes were going in the house.    We stripped down outside and emptied out suitcases on the driveway.   Every stitch of clothing went into a hot laundry and I dried them all on hot twice.  I ruined 2 blouses but I don't even care.   Our luggage is still outside in garbage bags.   We will hang them in the garage all winter to freeze any little hitchhikers that may be there.  I didn't see any but no way will I take any chances.

    It has been a month now.  I am starting to breath easier.   It seems we were lucky and didn't bring back any unwanted quests.   I saw my skin doc yesterday and he gave me some new cream to try.   I am getting scars from some of the bites and I don't think I will ever be able to relax in a motel again.   We may go back to tent camping.  

    I contacted the 2 motels I think were responsible.   The 2nd motel has been great.   They offered to cut our bill but more important to me they are spraying the room.  I would hate for anyone else to go through what we have gone through.   And I don't blame the motel.   Bed bugs are epidemic these days.   All it takes is the quest before you to bring them in on their luggage.   They are very hard to kill,  multiply extremely fast and hide very well.  It don't matter how clean the motel is.  They may spray monthly.  In every motel we stayed the mattresses looked pristine.   Unless they come out with a spray that works I predict eventually every motel,  hotel, apartment building,  you name it could become infected from what I have learned this past month.

    So.... gone are the days I will buy used furniture,  gone the days I think that I buy anything used that could hide them.   We are looking into campers or tenting when we travel, if we travel.  Sadly as I love to travel and love the continence of a motel.  Fresh shower in the morning,  coffee,  internet access.

    So this is it,  my bed bug experience.  It has been terrible but we were lucky.  We did not bring them home.  And we are extremely happy about that.  So when you travel check out the registry.  But that may not help.  And here are some tips.

 1.  Only bring in the clothes you plan to wear and hang them up.   

 2.    Don't put anything on the floor.   Suitcases should go on the suitcase rack or what we did after getting bit, in the tub.

 3.    Check the mattress,  the entire mattress.  One side of the bed may be clean and the other may be loaded.   I made this mistake.   I only checked one corner.

 4.    Check around the vicinity of the bed.   Bed bugs will stay close to their meals.  Check the bed boards,  the headboard.   Check the floor directly under bed by the edges of the walls.

    And then sleep tight,   don't let the bed bugs bite.

Never Forget

 
      With tears in my eyes I remember the people that were murdered on 9-11,  their families and the people responsible.   The terrorist's world is indeed a terrible place to have put this much hate in it.   My prayers go out to the families robbed of the loved ones this last years.

Cool Iowa weather

  Morning everyone.   It is cool in Iowa today, in the 40's reminding of the season to come.   My favorite, Fall and then the long cold winter.   Burrrr.  It has gone by way to fast.  And I am not ready.

   I am settled down from my trip.    One thing I brought back from my trip I didn't intend to was dozens of bug bites.   We did a lot of hiking.   I was worried I was bitten by bedbugs as we stayed in motels the entire time.   Anyway,  the bites festers and itches like crazy getting worse and worse everyday.  I finally went to the doc.   Good news is he doesn't think they were from bedbugs,  pray he's right and bad news is I am reacting poorly to them so he put me on some steroids for a week.  I have to admit they all ready look better today.  The bad thing is steroids make me gain weight so I won't be happy to weight in on today.  But I lost 3 pounds on vacation.  Hows that for being good.

   I worked 2 days and now am off for my long stretch all ready.   It will be a busy week as I have a class to take and I want to do my fall cleaning to get the house all tucked in for long winter days.  The pool needs to be emptied and all the curtains and windows cleaned.  And I want to ride my bike every day as those days also will be coming to an end.   Yesterday it was so windy riding was impossible.  I hope it's better today.

   Oh, another good thing about the steroids.  I bet it makes my knee feel better.  I am still hobbling around with my sore ole knees.  Made hiking in the mountain a challenge, heck walking anywhere a challenge.   Hopefully it will be feeling better by next week.  The joys of aging.   I have a birthday coming up shortly to remind me once again I am getting older.  But thats OK.  Aging is better then the alternative.

    Zoey is doing well,  slowing way down but still looks great for her age.  Chester is under the weather this morning.  I hope he didn't catch a cold from his bath.  He is such a cute little critter.

     And I guess that is all the news.  I am taking a on-line lecture about the constitution, it has been very interesting and the speaker is great.    We were going to go live but when they said they would be streaming it on line we both opted to watch in in the comfort of our warm home, LOL.  It is a great learning class.

      Well,   time to make my breakfast smoothie.   I take one cup of Blue Diamond Almond milk,  mix in a small handful of blueberries I have frozen,  3 or 4 strawberries I have frozen,  1 banana and a half of a peach.  Blend till smooth and yummy.  All my daily fruits and a filling breakfast.  I will be bummed when the fresh fruit gets harder to find as the frozen fruit has added sugar most times.  It is way sweet enough without adding sugar.   I am down 39 pounds since I joined My Fitness Pal and with the 8 pounds before that 47.   I have had to replace my clothes twice so far.   That's OK though.

Home from Vacation

  We had a lovely vacation in Colorado.    Every day I thank God for the wonderment of living in such a beautiful world and allowing me to see it.   This Iowa girl thinks the mountains are amazing.

      Even though going through the Rockie Mountain national park I was clutching the seat with my stomach in my throat at the dizzying heights it was beautiful.   The smells of the mountains,  the beautiful thin air.   We would go hiking and both of us would be puffing like steam engines in a short time.   Not used to being that high up.   But every hike was worth it and we both said there were for sure uglier places to die.

  

They have a beetle up there that is killing off a huge amount of trees.   You see dead brown trees by the thousands.  It is so sad and they don't know how to control it.  Leaving all those dead trees the fire danger is very high.  But even with the dead and dying trees it was so lovely.   I was up on some passes that were over 12,000 ft.   On top of world looking down on creation.   Above the tree line with some snow.  Amazing

.

Then we went to see the Great Sand Dunes.   The closer you got the larger they became.   What a strange thing this huge sand dune at the base of a mountain.   I wish we had been there in June when they get their snow runoff and the entire area becomes a big sand lot to play in with shallow water.   Neither of us climbed the dunes as I know I wouldn't have made it with my knees and breathing still not great in the altitude.   Rick's knee was bothering him also from all the hiking the day before so we just walked a short ways and enjoyed the view.  You can see people at the very top of the highest dune in the shot if you click on it to make it larger.

    I would have liked to stay there a couple of days and get photos at different times of the day.  The dunes are always changing and just so impressive.  They are 700 ft tall I believe they said.  You can see people at the top.   The sand gets to 140 degrees so you have to haul plenty of water.

      I also got to go through Eisenhower tunnel which is the longest in the country I believe.   It did creep you out being under a mountain for so long but it was neat.

    And I finally got to go to Mesa Verde,  something I have wanted to do forever.   I really wish I had made it before I got bad knees but I will take what I get and be happy for the chance to see them.    We got caught in a terrible storm up on top of that mountain with lightening striking close on both sides of the van adding to our excitement at being there.   Nothing like traveling on hairpin turns on a steep mountain in blinding rain to make you grateful to be alive.

   A funny thing.  We were hiking up on top and came across some fresh scat.   I knew they had bear up there and didn't know what it could be.   It looked like horse poo.   We hadn't seen any horses and it was off the pass so I was worried there was a bear around.  Such tourists, LOL.   We got in the van and drove around the corner and there it was........... the wild beasts that had worried us.

Who  would have thought they would have wild horses way up there.  I am so glad I didn't ask the ranger about the poo I saw,  Duh.

   We also stopped at all the expensive ski resorts.   Not my cup of tea at all.   Very very crowded and expensive.   I got a meal for 22 dollars there I could have gotten for 10 here,  and better also.  I was sad to see souvenirs for the most part are all as cheap looking no matter where you go and all the same ole same ole.  I did pick up some new Keene's at a outlet store though for a great price.    But the crowds bothered me.  I guess I am small town.  Waiting half way around the block to get into a restaurant to eat when you are tired and hungry is a drag.

   We did find this great Texas BBQ place that had a man singing that sounded just like Willie Nelson.   So we had great smoked meat and a great time sitting outdoors listening to the songs of Willie.   Like is good.   And we found great beer our entire trip.

 Colorado has breweries all over in every town.  Huge ones and small ones.   We made sure to hit a good one when we settled in for the day and took a brewery tour to boot.  It was a lovely trip.

    This morning it was with some nervousness I stepped on the scale to see what the damage would be.   Wow,  down 2 more pounds.   Yippy.   I tried so hard to be good with cheerios for breakfast and fresh fruit in the car to munch on.  But hours of traveling,  not to mention brew pubs and good dinners I was sure I put on some weight.   Nope.  What a relief.

       So it is back to work tonight.   I will be tired but happy to be back to earning some money.  It was a great trip.

Loving the Rockies

   We are having a great time.   I am even better on the Mountains, not as freaking as last time.  And the moose and the views made it all worth it.  I have a ton of shots so far.   We are going to the Great Sand Dunes National monument today.

Hi

         It's a misty morning so far.   The sun is suppose to come out later and heat up everything so I have a feeling the humidity is going to be bad.    So we are going riding early.   I am ready and waiting for the others to get here.   I love riding in the morning when it is like this.

       Unfortunately riding my bike has been bothering my wrist.   I am wrapping it with a ace wrap and wearing my brace for support.  I think it will just take time.   I do a lot of riding with one hand.   Where we are going riding today was hit by a bad storm 2 weeks ago.   There are trees down all over.  What a mess and what a challenge riding but they are getting it cleaned up pretty good.  I am sure glad I wasn't out there riding when the storm hit as it came up pretty sudden.

      Next week hubby and me are going for a week long road trip.   My son is going to stay here and mind the ole dog and guinea.    We are not sure where we are going but we are taking our bikes.   Probably Colorado or New Mexico.  It should be fun.   I am a little nervous about eating as we will be eating out and that makes it harder,  but not impossible to make good choices.   I don't want to gain any weight back I have been working so hard to remove.

     I went shopping yesterday as I needed new clothes in the worse way.   I could no longer keep my pants up even with elastic waists.   I was so pleased to find out I can shop in the regular sections for everything now.   Really broadens the choices and selections.   And I look pretty good for a old broad if I say so myself.

      I started back to work this week.  It went well but both my wrists were sore from all the typing by the morning.   I just can't type as much these days as you can tell by the sporadic posts.   I will ache for hours after typing much so just don't put myself through it as much.  But I do pop in and read your posts and will do that after I do this.   I miss our close group. 

       Well,  finally the rest of the riders are here.   I will try and post some photos of the damage out there.  Take care all.

If you don't quit, you can't fail

Don't Quit

When you eaten too much and you can't write it down,
and you feel like the biggest failure in town.
When you want to give up just because you gave in,
and forget about being healthy and thin.
So What!  You went over your points a bit,
it's your next move that counts...So don't you quit!
It's a moment of truth, it's an attitude change.
It's learning the skills to get back in your range.
It's telling yourself, "You've done great up till now.
 You can take on this challenge and beat it somehow."
It's part of your journey toward reaching your goal.
You're still gonna make it, just stay in control.
To stumble and fall is not a disgrace,
if you summon the will to get back in the race.
But, often the struggler's, when loosing their grip,
just throw in the towel and continue to slip.
 And learn too late when the damage is done,
that the race wasn't over...they still could have won.
Lifestyle change can be awkward and slow,
but facing each challenge will help you grow.
Success is failure turned inside out,
the silver tint in a cloud of doubt.
When you're pushing to the brink, just refuse to submit,
If you bit it, you write it....But don't you quit!
~author unknown~