Mosquiteo netiquette

Oct. 27, Saturday

On Professor Mike’s cell phone last night he learned that Sandy is increasing in strength and headed for Wash. DC and points north. Despite the loss of roofs, homes, and crops, we actually got the weaker end of it. Yesterday was gorgeous, breezy, in the 80s and dry for the first time in weeks.

Re mosquito netiquette, I actually have been sleeping this week without the net because to date, I have seen exactly 4 mosquitoes, 2 of them today after the rains. I use bug spray and have the windows closed at night mostly because it gets chilly and the cover that might have added warmth is actually under me for cushioning against the springs. Prior to abandoning the net, I went through the ritual of spreading it around the bed. This is not as easy as it sounds. because unless you have a four-poster bed, the nets hang from a circular hoop on the ceiling more or less over the bed.

the senator's guest room
note mosquito nets over each bed

My first night here, at the senator’s house, the net was centered somewhere over my solar plexus, so I woke up several times with it sagging in my face, something that could be lethal for a mouth breather. "Foreign volunteer suffocates; mosquitoes blamed." The trick, of course, is to keep it tucked in all around, especially under the mattress at the head of the bed.

Mike and Janine's room, the net slightly better over a 4-poster bed

We all celebrated Friday-end-of-so-called-work-week last night with a delicious Haitian beer and playing Rummy 500 on the veranda. Such a pleasant group, and a fun evening.