Horror Movies

 I love this time of year.  I always want to watch old horror movies.  Ones that use practical effects and do not have a load of money.  Texas Chainsaw feels like a documentary.  The horror is more psychological.  There is very little gore.  Your mind has to fill in the blanks.  As a child, I would watch these movies.  They would always give me nightmares.  Now, as an adult, I do not have them.  At least not from movies.  If you see a movie like the original Maniac and The Thing, you can see the mastery of prosthetic special effects.   I can not believe that The Thing was not a huge hit.  It did have to compete against ET, but that was a family film.  If I were an adult at that time, I would have picked The Thing over E.T.  We also had some of the best Werewolf movies.  An American Werewolf in London and The Howling beat anything that has been made since.  I prefer a good old transformation over a person jumping in the air and digitally becoming a wolf.    As for Vampires, the 80's had Near Dark, Salem's Lot and The Lost Boys.  Now we get crappy digital effects to show a vampire transformation.  If you need a good horror movie tonight, watch something from the 70's/80's.  You might even see an actor who was starring in their first few movies, like Johnny Depp (Nightmare on Elm Street) and Kevin Bacon (Friday the 13th).  

Cruising Information

 I enjoy watching videos on YouTube.  Primarily, I enjoy movie criticism and the background stories behind the making of movies.  I discovered there are channels dedicated to cruising.  I find them both entertaining and informative.  La Lido Loca (https://www.youtube.com/@LaLidoLoca) provides news and entertainment.  As I have kids, I wanted to experience what a Disney cruise would be like.  Theme Park Express (https://www.youtube.com/@ThemeParkExpress) focuses on attractions from Disney and Universal.  From them, I have seen a Disney cruise and do not think I will miss anything by not going on one.  Additionally, some of their offerings would not appeal to my kids.  They have since branched out to other cruise lines.  I find it very entertaining!  Check them out!  

The Big Freeze

 In Florida, the weather tends to remain warm throughout the year.  We do get the occasional cold front.  Usually, it hits around January.  Today, we woke up to temperatures in the 40s.  Most people will be getting bundled up today.  I love this weather.  Enjoy it while you can.  It may also reduce the number of mosquito bites during trick-or-treating.  

Mousetrap

 I'm sitting here, and I hear scurrying in the ceiling tiles.  I pull out the ladder and push aside a tile.  Rat poop rolled down on me.  I go upstairs to grab a mousetrap.  I put peanut butter on it.  Then, I have to set it.  I get really paranoid about these traps.  Every time I set one, it snaps.  I finally feel it is set.  I shakily grab the trap and bring it to the ceiling tile.  As soon as I drop it, it goes off.  The more I try, the more it goes off.  I feel like that comedy movie mousetrap.  I bet the rats are laughing in the dark.  I find some sticky paper to put the set trap on.  This time, I set it down, and it doesn't go off.  Wish me luck!  

Silence is Golden

 I checked for rats again.  I saw one scurry away, but not towards the house.  My daughter says the traps are untouched.  My guess is that I have killed the two that got into the house.  Now comes the fun part.  I will have to look into the ceiling to see where they got in.  I also need to make sure there are no orphans.  Once done, we can seal off any holes we find.  Maybe next year, I will get a more powerful and accurate air gun.  I have to be careful.  I do not need my children playing with guns.  

Travelling to a Cruise Port

 We live in Florida, but not near the ports.  It takes time and money to go there.  Ports keep increasing their rates.  They are topping $30 a day.  I found that near Port Canaveral, there is a company that offers reduced parking fees and provides shuttle service to the port.  I did not find that for Miami.    Another alternative is parking at a hotel that allows you to leave your car while you're on a cruise.  For a family our size, it would not work.  Most will offer a shuttle for 2 people.  You have to pay for extra.  They also do not offer a shuttle back. You have to find a way via taxi or Uber.   A coworker told me she rents a vehicle and returns the vehicle near the port.  The company shuttles her there.  She has a pickup and rents another vehicle to go home.  The big question is: does it save money?  You have to factor in gas, wear and tear on the vehicle, and parking fees.   I know in the future, we have at least one rental in our future.  We have a 15-day repositioning cruise.  For those unfamiliar with cruise terminology, a repositioning cruise begins at one port and concludes at a new home port.  We will start in Florida and end in Virginia.  These cruises tend to be more affordable, but with certain caveats.    One day, we hope to do a back-to-back.  That is where you book 2 cruises that run consecutively.  At the end of the first cruise, you have to get off the boat, and then they recheck you on.  Usually, you can leave your luggage.  

Cruise

 We are going on a cruise in the near future.  Our daughters love them.  We appreciate how they care for our special needs children.  I don't know where we will end up.  One stop was Jamaica.  I'm guessing that will change.  Once you buy a ticket on a cruise, they can change the itinerary as needed.  With a hurricane going through, I doubt they will be ready to host any cruises.  It also appears that the Bahamas will be affected.   Hopefully, the Atlantic will slow down, but we still have until the end of November.  

Coyotes!

 As if my issues could not get worse, it seems Mother Nature is attacking us with all she can.  We have chickens that tend to wander out of the yard.  We hope to put them in a chicken run.  The summer was too hot and humid.  Now it is cooling down.  We have a new predator.  They are not exactly new to our area, but I had not heard of any doing anything.  Our neighbor saw a coyote enter their yard and run away with a chicken.  She does not have chickens.  Neither does he.  It was one of ours.  It looks like we need to start planning that chicken run.  

Rats 0, Human 2

 On Sunday, I thought I knew where the rats were coming into the house.  There is a pipe protruding from the side of the house.  I could have put hardware cloth on it, but I was concerned that it would trap them in the house.  I came up with an idea of how to trap them.  I attached an elbow pipe and added a pipe going straight down into a bucket of water.  If they go through it, they will end up dropping into the water and drowning.  I'm not sure if they will fall for it, but we'll see.  

That night, I heard scratching and squeaking in the ceiling.  I know we have a problem.  If they multiply, they could do some real damage.  My daughter has set traps, but they laugh at her and take the bait without setting them off, or they set them off, but do not get trapped.  I go out to feed the dog.  It was dark, so I turned on the light.  All of a sudden, two rats run up the brick wall and disappear.  I thought they went up to the deck, but they were not there.  My next guess is that they are getting into a hole-in-the-wall. 

Monday, I wake up.  I had been thinking of things to do.  I did order poison, but I am very leery about using it.  I do not want the dog or any other animals eating the poisoned rat.  I have already found a dead owl.  There were no signs of a fight.  I guess they ate poisoned prey.  I know that rats have a highly sensitive sense of smell.  I brought out some bleach and sprayed the wall.  I saw a rat scurry.  I sprayed under the rabbit cages and wood planks.  Then, I went inside and retrieved the BB gun. 

Next thing I know, a rat walks up the wall.  I'm not sure if the bleach disoriented it, but it did seem a little sluggish.   I'm at a distance.  I take aim and shoot.  The rat flies backward onto the ground.  His legs were twitching.  I knew I had hit a sensitive spot.  I shot it again to put it out of its misery.  The other rat walked up the wall onto a window screen.  I took aim.  I had to make sure not to hit the window.  I shot.  He fell back but ran up the screen again.  I shot him.  He went down with a twicthy leg.  I finished him off.  I took the tray he landed on and threw it away.  

Turning around, I see the outside cat playing with the other rat.  

"Now you are going after them!" I exclaimed.  "You need to do your job and go after these rats.  Then, you might not have to beg me for food every day!"  Yes, I do feed the cat.  He could be getting some extra protein.  

Last night, I went out to scope for rats.  I did scare one off, but could not shoot him.  I notice the cat playing with something.  It was the body of a smaller rat/mouse.  At least he got the message.  

DRats!

 So, my daughter texts me.  There are rats in the ceiling.  She has dogs, and I asked if they barked.  No!  I walk by her room, and they go crazy.  If there is scratching or moving around, you'd think they'd bark their heads off.  I do not make much noise walking on carpet.  They lifted the tiles to see if they could see anything. Nothing.  We put traps up there.  I am hoping there are no rats.  Seems like it is turning into that movie Of Unknown Origin, with Peter Weller.   

The Long Walk

 I took my daughters to see The Long Walk.  I read this stroy when I was a teen.  It did not disappoint.  The guys who Star in this movie did a really good job.  It is not the feel good movie of the year.  It does make you feel for everyone who dies.  If you get emotional, it will cause tears.  

Killer Rats

 So things went downhill during the summer.  We incubated a number of chickens.  They stayed under a brooder until they were able to go outside.  First day, I found a dead check.  No signs of injury.  The next day, another dead chick.  This time, there was blood.  The next day, another dead chick.  This one had a bigger hole with blood.  I decided to move the chicks.  Then 2 more were killed, and one was injured.  I had to put that one down.  I hated to do it.  I moved the rest inside till they were old enough.  I checked around the rabbit cages.  I found some rats.  I even shot one in the face with a BB gun.  He got away.  Luckily, we still have 6 chickens to add to the flock.  I wish I could use poison, but I also found a dead owl over the summer.  I think it caught a poisoned prey.  There were no signs of injury.  I have not used poison, so I do not want to use it if it will harm other animals.  

Rat Update

 Still trying to catch rats.  They are definitely smart.  They can get around traps.  They are also fast.  Evidently, they can not swim very well.  I was checking on a bucket of water.  In the bucket floated the body of a rat.  We try not to use buckets.  Baby chicks have that same problem.   

Rain and More Chicks

 Summer is here!  Every day we are getting rain.  Even when it looks like no rain, there is rain a minute later.  My guess is we are making up for the loss of rain in April.  That is creating a new problem.  I'm worried that some of the chicks will get washed away.  The brooding chickens have not stopped.  Yesterday, I found a chick lying in the run that a broody chicken is in.  I thought it was dead.  I opened the door to the run.  The chick jumped up.  I noticed another chick.  I hope they survive.  I have seen a bunch of dead chicks.  I am letting nature take the wheel.  Getting back to the rain, it is helping the garden that I am trying to grow.  I am really putting in the effort.  I tell you, starting from a seed is a real pain in the behind.  I would say I have had a 50% success rate.  

Rats!

 Recently, I went outside to move some boxes that was on our deck.  We can not burn anything right now due to the draught we are in.  When I did, I heard a scratching noise.  I move some boxes and all of a sudden 3 rats jump out and go over the side.  Later, for some reason, I went in one of the sheds that chickens stay in.  I kicked a plastic box.  All of a sudden, rats were running everywhere.  The next night, I grabbed a BB gun and tried to shoot some.  I found it is hard to accomplish this in the dark.  I did have a phone in one hand, but could not aim and shoot with one hand.  I did get a lucky shot, but I think it only grazed or scared it.  It still ran off.  I did manage to catch one in a live trap, but that was luck.  I have to wait a day or so for rat poison.  If they stay, they will multiply.  I can't have them getting into the food or even going after the chickens.  

More Chicks

 Every day I go out, I have to watch where I walk.  New chicks are roaming the grounds.  Of course, the mothers are usually with them.  As they grow older, they get more adventurous.  One chick was in a run with other chickens and ducks.  Mother was in another run.  I chased her back to her mother.  You never know when they will attack.  Guinea fowl have been chasing them.  I know that chickens will kill a baby Guinea.  I just hope that they make it to adulthood.  The more live chickens, the more eggs we will get.   

Chicks

With egg prices skyrocketing, I am actually running low.  I go out to check for eggs everyday.  When I look at the nests, I find a chicken.  If I try to take the eggs underneath, I get pecked.  It seems that the hens are brooding.  That is when they decide to be mothers.  They will sit on a nest of eggs for 20-30 days.  They stay on the nests without leaving.  I throw food out for them.  If they need water, they need to go to the water.  Eventually, we get chicks.  Even if we have a number of chicks, I do not really count them until they reach a certain size.  When they first hatch, it seems chickens can sense issues with the chicks.  Whether it is a health issues or some other issue, they will kill the chick.  Then, you have to worry about predators.  The mothers will defend the chicks, but I have found dead hens and missing chicks.  Now we are nearing an extra 30 to 40 chickens, if they survive.  That will lead to more egg layers, I hope.  I can't tell if they are all hens or some are roosters.  I really don't need more roosters.  One goes a long way.  

Havoc

 Havoc is finally coming out!  I have been waiting for this to be released for years.  It's from the director of The Raid and Raid 2.  If you have not seen these movies, watch them.  Especially if you like martial arts movies.  This director knows how to film action on a budget.  Havoc has Tom Hardy, Forest Whitaker,  and others.  It does look like it has a lot of action.  It will be coming to Netflix on April 25!  

Epic Universe

This year, Orlando is getting a new theme park from Universal Studios.  It is called Epic Universe.  It is made up of five portals that lead to lands.  If you go on YouTube, you can see visits by influencers.  Don't be fooled by them.  They were invited and did not pay for the visit.  All that amazement might not be as real as it looks.  Sometimes it looks weird for an adult to cry looking at a person dressed as a character.  I can understand kids, but adults?  Remember, it is a teen/young adult in a foam costume.  Some could even have issues.  I keep my eye on them with my children.  Getting to the visits.  It looks like they have found a lot of ways to make money.  They have also created long ques for waiting in line.  The rides look okay for children.  Some look like other rides Universal already have, they just change the characters.  Be warned if you come this summer.  It will sell out.  Not only that, but it is hot and humid in Florida in the summer.  I can imagine wait times starting at an hour and going up from there.  That would be a waste of money to spend 4 to 5 hours waiting in line for rides.  You might be tempted to go to Disney.  They are really expensive and have the same problems with wait times.  Unless you are rich.  All the parks have made it simple for those with money.  They even go out of their way to screw the disabled to cater to the rich.  If you are looking for something fun to do in the summer, go to a regional park.  They have more rides and shorter wait times.  

Storm Day

 I was in a meeting all day.  At the beginning, my boss said there was a tornado warning in the area.  Little did I know how close it was.  Later in the day, I was checking news headlines.  Sure enough, a tornado touched down a couple of miles from the office.  It tore up a couple of houses.  Trees were down.  As far as I know, no one was hurt!  

Comic Book Movies

 So comic book movies seem to be fading.  I can't say there is much coming out that I want to see.  Not only that, Disney has ruined Star Wars for me.  I stopped watching the shows.  For me the dialogue in these movies are going down hill.  Not only that, but they try to fit in too much, especially comic book movies.  The upcoming Superman looks like another bad example of how not to do a movie.  Too many heroes and no real villain.  Or, they put in a CG created mess as a villain.  I hope they would get better writers and directors.  One issue that is glaring in the last couple of movies is that it seems to take 10 to 20 writers to write the film.  Maybe the Endgame was the end of good comic book movies.