Preparing for Displacement

[abbzug]

Ugh. We got a $600 utility bill two days ago (last month's was $500, and our lowest has never been under $200, even in summer [and we have no a/c]). My mother had to sleep on the couch last night because something - murine no doubt - was skittering about in the walls all night in the girls' playroom. And we're still finding stinkbugs in the house.

Comments

[eve_prime]

I sure hope Radford has some bug-free houses or bug-free zones, and that you can get the sellers to be honest about them.

[abbzug]

We just yesterday signed a lease on a townhouse that we looked at last week; we brought Z with us, because she's not fully understanding how this process is going to work. The new place is a lot smaller, but will no doubt be cheaper all around. It gives us a good excuse to downsize, which we want and need to do. And I'm sure we'll get used to the smaller space, and having to live next to other people (for the first time in over 10 years...). We just have to be really careful to go through everything in the attic before moving it, so as not to bring any of those damn stinkbugs along with us!

[eve_prime]

That sounds like a lot of work! Do you know, I didn't know the word "murine" 'til I looked it up today, on rereading your post. I was thinking maybe it was some kind of Appalachian insect. But you are a mouse expert!

[abbzug]

Speaking of mice: Creative Nonfiction put out a call for animal essays (due 4/1) so I'm reworking the mouse piece. Unfortunately, it's nearly 4000 words too long, so I have my work cut out for me. But fortunately, I sent it to a writer friend who got it down to about 5000 and now I have something solid to work with in revision; much of the research had to go, but I already knew that. I don't think they'll even consider it - CNF and I have very different artistic visions - but I am at least keeping on with that piece.