I’m trying to get the utilities turned on in what is soon to be our new home. The trouble is that some major league storms blew through up there yesterday, and the utilities are still recovering. They were sufficiently swamped that all I could get yesterday were recordings saying “we are only taking emergency calls. To report a power outage, use the automated system. To report a gas leak, call the fire department or police. Here’s a list of towns we know still doesn’t have power; it you’re on it, please don’t call.” I figured that starting new service wasn’t an emergency, and went quietly away. It all worked out; as of today I was able to reach everyone I needed to and get everything turned on…even the phone, which took some serious detective work in terms of figuring out which company did land-service up there.
And on the list of farewells my current house could give me, I’d say insect invasion was at the bottom. But that’s what has been chosen, and I am here to tell you that the place you don’t want to see ants is inside your (theoretically) sealed honey jar. Ick! So now I’m off to acquire ant bait and then resume packing. And if anyone is on speaking terms with Rube Goldberg, please tell him he can stop practicing his talents for creating complication on me!