OMFG, today was the craziest day ever. Lately, meaning for the last few months, Martin has been scratching and biting around his tail like crazy. Seriously, we’re talking compulsively biting and scratching. We’ve never had an issue with fleas, but I took a real close look anyway as soon as he started scratching there. Didn’t see a damn thing, so I figured it was some kind of allergy. I switched his food, and his coat got better, but he was still super itchy. So then I determined that maybe the issue wasn’t a food allergy but rather, an environmental allergy. I didn’t know, but what else could I change about my environment? Nothing, so I just left the issue status quo.

Then, I started getting bug bites all over my body. I blamed the skeeters, because Bubbey always leaves the doors wide open to cool down the house. I’d wake up in the middle of the night, jarred from my slumber by this annoying buzzing. I would jump up in bed, turn on the light, and start hunting. Even though I would often find and kill the critter, the damage was already done. Those fuckers ALWAYS got me.

Last month, the situation worsened: Martin started scratching even more, and the fur on his rump started balding, and the skin was dry and scaly. I too was getting bites all over my legs– on my feet and between the toes even. I just assumed that my feet had found their way out of the blankets while I slept or something. Since I still couldn’t SEE the fleas, I figured mosquitoes or spiders were the culprits.

Well this morning, I awoke to clusters of bites on my thigh and in the back of my waist. And I was itchy as hell!!! WTF? I started thinking that maybe I was getting shingles again, triggered by all the job hunting stress. So I made an appointment to see the doctor, and I decided to take Martin to see the vet. What do you fucking know??? Fleas. According to the vet, fleas are the worst they’ve been in well over a decade. Something about the drought and crazy heat. I dunno, but shit. Now I feel so damn dirty!! And on top of that, Martin has flea allergy dermatitis, meaning all the irritation is an allergic reaction to the bug bites. Ugh!!

So I did a shit ton of laundry today (screw the drought, this is an emergency), and then I even got the carpets steam cleaned for the first time ever… since our carpets were installed in 2010. I know. But my parents just never got their carpets and rugs professionally cleaned. They used their own Bissell. Meanwhile, I put Frontline flea treatment on Martin, and I vacuumed the shit out of the house. One other lesson I learned? You know how I used to be totally OCD about vacuuming every damn day? Well, the therapist had convinced me that it was overkill (and irritating to John), so I cut it back to a few times a week. Well turns out, vacuuming actually picks up all the fleas and their eggs… so shit, I should have never let up on that habit.

The good news is, there is relief for Martin. He’s gonna start taking oral meds that will lessen his allergic reaction. Meanwhile, where’s the human equivalent for me, because I am fucking scratching this shit up raw. Soooooo itchy. To kill the irritation, I like to take hot, short showers. Well, the doctor told me today that heat makes the area even itchier. Huh?? Why is this shit messing with me?

I changed all the bedding, and I’m going to shower again tonight before bed. Shit, I sure hope I won’t have to resort to spraying myself with OFF at bedtime.