For years I've tried to peacefully and harmoniously co-exist with the ants that unfailingly appear inside our home every summer. Perhaps because my nature-lover friend Chiqui used to feed the ants in school, I have more sympathy for these nuisance creatures than I probably should. I'll also admit I greatly admire these hardworking soldiers: they work all day and all night, every day, and they carry loads heavier than their own weight.
So I don't kill them unless they get to our food or when they start checking out the kitchen. Otherwise, if they're simply grocery shopping in the bathrooms or bedrooms I ignore them -- especially because there's nothing remotely edible to be found in these private spaces and I assume they'll give up soon enough. When they do go too far or stay longer than I can handle, I kill them with a forceful spray of surface cleaner (it's the multitasker in me: when I wipe up all evidence of the battle scene, I end up with a bright, sparkling floor or counter as well).
But now I'm convinced my patience and tolerance has only served to embolden them: they are everywhere, like they own the place or something, and they're simply not going away. And I'm finally fed up.
Not only have I had my ass bitten in the loo a couple of times already, but before I went to sleep at 5:00 am today (yes, you read that correctly) I first had to lay waste to entire armies that were crazily swarming inside the trash bin. What was in there? Well, let's just say it's THAT time of the month for me (sorry if you got a gross visual just now, but how else was I supposed to put it?). These ants are cannibals, I'm convinced -- they're like the African siafu, who have been known to kill and devour chickens, cows, and even babies left alone. They're after my blood -- literally!
So now it's war. I'm headed for the hardware store to buy poison traps and I'll plant them in every corner of the house. It will be ant annihilation peeples; these suckers must DIE! It's either their ass or mine -- and I don't like having mine bitten (unless I ask a particular someone to do it, of course). Sorry Chiqui -- I'm with you in the green movement and all, but if I leave them alone I'm only going to be seeing red from now on.
GIGIIIIIIIIIII! Yaikkkksss! Sorry but you just made me vomit there.
It feels like I'm calling RENTOKIL company for "THAT" month thing of yours.
Anyways, when I see these little armies parading near my coffee cup while on a Mac, it is a reminder that I should stop drinking. DIABETES attack, my friend!
Posted by: K | August 05, 2007 at 04:31 AM
I'm still for a peaceful solution. Put away your sprays and poison traps. Best solution is to just make sure there IS no food around for them to check out. Wipe kitchen surfaces well. Sometimes (and you'll really think I'm way out there) so they don't bother me, I put out a few grains of food away from the sink or whatever so they hang out somewhere else. But in the end, no food around is the best solution. The ants are only doing their jobs but if the seekers don't find any food, they'll look elsewhere. Poor things.
Oh, your problem is garbage...um, use some natural repellant around the garbage so there's no way to get there?
Posted by: chiqui | August 05, 2007 at 09:06 PM
btw, thinking of all ants as Siafu is like Bush thinking all moslems are terrorists. (ha ha ..is that comparison too extreme?)
Posted by: chiqui | August 05, 2007 at 09:09 PM
I doubt the absence of food would help much, as they also come into the house in search of water.
Posted by: Anna | August 05, 2007 at 10:08 PM
K - Sorry!!! :) I know, I know...I imagined your face getting the visual and I cringed with shame. I'll make it up to you!
Chiqs - I am really, really good with making sure there's no food around (you can ask my husband to describe my face when I see him eating chips or popcorn on the sofa in the living room). I used to just leave them be while they were foraging around in the bathroom -- but now that they're invading the -- uh -- more private spaces and crawling all over me, they've gone too far!
PS: I might give them a reprieve because you're making me feel guilty again...
Anna - Yes...which explains the invasion of my bathrooms unfortunately. For some reason they prefer them over the kitchen (which I'm not complaining about because I'd have a panic attack if I caught them swarming about in the pantry).
Posted by: Gigi | August 05, 2007 at 11:58 PM
Hi Gigi, I just tagged you I hope you don't mind and I do really hope you'll join us;)
Posted by: cheh | August 07, 2007 at 02:30 AM
Honestly, I'm always mesmerized by ants whenever I meditate in the bathroom. I leave them be for the most part, but I agree, there are LIMITS! :D
Posted by: Shari | August 07, 2007 at 06:02 PM
The cheapest way to get rid of ants? Put salts around your trash bin...they will never visit again. Cost effective, no chemicals, no smell..very effective and efficient. Try mo.
Sam
Flip Brown Guy
http://www.flipbrownguy.com
Posted by: Sam | August 08, 2007 at 08:27 PM
cheh - Naku, I need to find a recent photo of myself first (here we go again!). But don't think I won't keep trying. :)
Posted by: Gigi | August 12, 2007 at 10:59 PM
Shari - I was sitting on the couch today and all of a sudden I felt a bite on my thigh and there it was again -- an ant. I jumped off and started looking for a trail of them but found none. They're starting to make me feel paranoid, like they're just out to piss me off or something...
Sam - Really? Ants are deterred by salt? I-try ko nga and I'll keep you updated. Thanks!
Posted by: Gigi | August 12, 2007 at 11:02 PM