Well, I'm happy to say that I've finished the last of the post-flea bomb clean-up. This was certainly an exhausting week; but, on the upside, my possessions probably can no longer kill me.

I'm watching the tsunami on NYT's site right now: [link] (scroll down to the CBS affiliate).

It's WILD to watch the brown water recede in waikiki.

ETA and then to watch it come back in within a few minutes. WHOA. Wild.

I'm dogsitting for my FWB, which is basically just taking him for his walk tonight and tomorrow morning and putting food in his bowl.

I feel odd having a key to his place, and I'm unsure why. Something ingrained about the importance of keys.

Whenever someone hands me the keys and care of their children/home/animals, I always feel all warm and fuzzy, like a little kid "helping" to make cookies.

Look ma! I'm competent! People trust me to not light their houses on fire, steal their shit, or kill their families!

megan, wait, what? How did you get infested?

How did you get infested?

This is an excellent question. My neighbors on both sides have cats, so maybe it was that?

At least the first time back in Maryland, it was because I moved into an infested place. The fact that it happened again just made me want to cry, which is why I haven't mentioned it.

megan, damn that sucks! About 20 years ago I had a bunch of cats and a flea problem and it was awful (they would get into my black socks that I wore as a waitress and I would be scratching my ankles for my entire shift!).

I poison my dogs on a monthly basis with either Advantage or Frontline so that I never have a flea problem again. Totes worth it. I am sorry your place got infested.

Yeah, there is something wrong about never owning pets and getting fleas twice. I'm hoping it was minor and that this is the end of it.

On the upside, my apartment is super clean now. Luckily, my couch is entirely washable since it is actually slip covers and not upholstered.

Did you find flea eggs too (looks like black dirt)?

I thought the eggs looked white?

ETA: But that's what I'm worried about since I don't have a vaccum. I've done the best I could. The landlord set off the bomb, but exterminators or the like were supposed to get in touch with me and they haven't yet. I know there's nothing there now since I have no new bites, whether that will hold is the question.

You're right. The black "dirt" like stuff is the dried blood left behind from a flea's feeding on the host.

ETA: Some flea bombs will also kill eggs and larvae; those are the only bombs worth using.