We�re in a cleaning frenzy, here in the Harriet household. My mom and dad are coming tomorrow for a 5-day visit. The last time they came, we had a flood, an infestation and a broken glass that nearly resulted in a trip to the emergency room (and probably should have), all on the night before their arrival. I�m hoping for a calmer evening this time around.

We don�t have houseguests very often, so we always seem to forget about exactly what is involved in preparing. For instance, we probably should have realized that it would take some time to vacuum up the motherlode of dead bugs littering every corner of every room in the wake (no pun intended) of last week�s visit from the exterminator.

My previous experience with exterminators was only with the monthly visits scheduled by my landlords of assorted city apartments. This was quite different. Equipment was hauled in, furniture was moved, time was spent. And the result seems to be that the animals come out of hiding before succumbing to death. Which means we know exactly how many bugs were hiding out. Yuck. I really shouldn�t be so horrified. It�s not like they�re cockroaches. They�re just hapless insects looking for a warm place to stay during the cold weather. But the carnage is a bit gruesome, nonetheless.

AJ has been completely nonplussed by the bug invasion. He has merely been steering his cars around them, pretending they are not there, although I have occasionally caught him singing a little song to himself, the lyrics of which sound suspiciously like �Dead bug! Dead bug! Just a dead bug on the rug!� I think I�m glad no one got him a drum set or guitar for Christmas.

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