I dislike bugs. I don't want them in my house, flying around my head, crawling on my legs, or sneaking up on me when my back is turned. They do that you know.

Spiders are the absolute worst. I scream like a little girl and usually stand frozen for a good 2 minutes before I figure out how to get back past the spider to a shoe. Not using a tissue. There isn't enough between me and the creepy crawlie. Plus I don't like to feel or hear them crunch or squish.

Now that you know that you might be surprised to hear that I have become obsessed with a show called Billy the Exterminator on A&E. This guy looks total heavy metal
80s scary covered in black leather with studs. And he is hilarious! I've seen him rid places of ants, wasps, bats, spiders, snakes, foxes, armadillo, racoons, nutria, beavers, crocodiles, and roaches. It never gets old. There is always campy humor along with great information about pests, how to keep them out, how to get rid of them, and why you should get them out as soon as you notice a problem.

Some of these homes are so far gone I would have tented the whole thing and given up.

And he's relatable. I actually heard him scream like a little girl when he was bitten on the head by a spider. Made me feel loads better.

Read Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine!

The story's heroine is Caitlin, an 11 yr. old girl living with Asperger's. Everything is good until "The Day Our Life Fell Apart." Caitlin must find a way "To Deal With It" and in the process help her Father and the community in which she lives "To Deal With It" too. It's a story of family and friendship and the meaning of empathy. I hope you find Caitlin to be as delightful and insightful as I did.

The book is classified juvenille at the library but don't let that stop you. After all it is a National Book Award Finalist!

Let me encourage you to have extra toothbrushes on hand.

The other morning I reached into my cabinet to get my toothbrush, bumped my elbow and dropped said toothbrush which landed in the toilet. Yeah, not using that puppy again. Luckily, and this is rare, I had a new one in the closet. See new tube of toothpaste means new brush for me and it was about that time. Whew. Opened up the new brush and as I was reaching for the toothpaste I dropped the second brush which bounced off the cat's back before landing on the floor. Holy cow! Now what? 2 brushes in one morning! This was not shaping up to be a very good day. Well it just so happens that I was at the dentist recently and the hygienist slipped a pink brush into my bag which had lain there forgotten ever since. YIPPEE!!!!

I was saved. Teeth were clean. And I will ALWAYS have spare toothbrushes around. (My Mother is smiling right now)

I just finished this fascinating book called Room by Emma Donoghue.

The story is told by Jack, a very bright five yr. old who knows nothing of Outside. There is Ma who has tried to shield Jack from all the ugliness in their lives. She's done so well that Jack is happily unaware of their predicament. The third main character is Room an 11 sq. ft. space that is all at once small and confining and big and wonderous. To Jack it is the world but to Ma it is a prison. Others come and go from their world but always, even in freedom, there is Room.