A Bug’s Life – Doing Pest Control On My Own

A few weeks ago I was finding crickets inside my house somewhat regularly. Not more than one or two every few days, but in my life, that’s already more than I prefer. Something about them grosses me out like not many other bugs can do.

Also, around this time of year there is an increase in the number of wasps flying around, and some even getting inside my house, too. Do they have a secret plan with the crickets to take over my house or what?

Photo by samer daboul on Pexels.com

My house has a crawl space where I know camel crickets like to hide out. It’s cool and dark down there, kind of like a cave and they love that. I grabbed a flashlight to find out more and once I stuck my head through the crawl space entry, it was quite the sight. Hundreds of those little boogers! It’s the stuff of nightmares, I tell ya!

I decided it was time to call the local pest control specialists so I started looking into an appointment for the upcoming week. I was this close to getting back with Cook’s Pest Control and then I thought, “Can I do this myself? Like, really take control?” I remember what they do when they come by and while I know anything I do won’t be as thorough as the pros, but I’m going to try this!

I went to Lowe’s to pick up a seed spreader and insect killer granules. The plan: spread the insect control around my the entire outside of my house; front, back, and sides. I thought this would help curb some insects, and hopefully the crickets, from gravitating towards my house.

What I thought was really funny is that a few days after I bought all the equipment and stuff, including a handheld seed spreader ($19 at Lowe’s), I went to an estate sale and they had 3 fancy seed spreaders. Of course that’s my luck that I had just bought a smaller one for more money at Lowe’s! The good news is that I hadn’t used the small one yet, so I returned it and bought the better one from the estate sale, for half as much as the new one cost from Lowe’s. Total score!

It’s been a couple weeks since I distributed the insect killer, and so far, it’s mostly working. All the camel crickets are gone from the crawl space. Now my focus will shift to the wasps. I think they are in the chimney, so for a few nights I used the fireplace for 2 reasons: it’s cozy to have a fire, and I want to smoke ’em out. Updates forthcoming.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Have you done your own pest control? What have you learned along the way?

Thanks for stopping by!

-Out of the Wilderness

What’s that song in the Dell computer commercial?

I was watching the Bachelorette weightlifting (like real men do) and a commercial came on advertising a Dell laptop computer. Take a look at the ad here.

The product is the Dell XPS 13 shown in up-close detail with the soundtrack provided by a band called Danger Twins. The song is called “Thing of Beauty.” Here is the full track:

The song was released in 2019 on their “Say Ooh” EP, also debuting in 2019. The band also has a song used for a Nintendo Switch ad:

For more info on popular commercials, check out my commercials page. Thanks for stopping by!

-Out of the Wilderness

Publix Thanksgiving Ad with Original Music “I Remember This”

Publix recently came out with a great ad featuring families spending time together and now they’re back with a heartwarming holiday ad, this time for Thanksgiving 2020 2021. They call it, “This Thanksgiving, let’s celebrate every table.” Take a look…

A little research revealed that it was filmed in the Atlanta area, using a few different locations as the backdrop for families and friends gathering at the dinner table, break room, food line, or campsite. The ad was created by 22Squared with offices in Atlanta, GA (and Tampa, FL). It runs for 60 seconds and is backed by a song written specifically for this commercial. The song is called “I Remember This,” an original track by singer/songwriter Ari Hest and Duotone Audio Group.

Lyrics to the song in the ad are a great sentiment for Thanksgiving in a crazy year like 2020.

“I remember this. How could I forget? And after all this time, all we’ve been through, we’d come back to this. It feels like new. Feels like new. Feels like new.”

What do you think of the ad? Does it match up with the quality commercials Publix is known for?

-Out of the Wilderness

“My Deliverer” – The Prince of Egypt

I noticed The Prince of Egypt on Hulu the other day and it reminded me of a song I really liked from the soundtrack (which has a ton of big name artists from the 90s – Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Boyz II Men, Amy Grant, and more). But it was none of those that stuck with me. It was a song by my favorite band from the 90s, DCTalk.

I didn’t know back then that the song was originally done by Rich Mullins. I always think of Rich Mullins in acoustic/ demo versions of songs because it seems like most of what I’ve heard of his music was recorded on a tape. I LOVE THAT. So here is Rich’s demo version of “My Deliverer.”

I was so glad to be reminded of this song. It’s a great one from a great songwriter and covered by a great band. Listen to both and let me know in the comments which you like better.

Thanks for stopping by!

-Out of the Wilderness

The song in the Amazon Prime ad – Chuck Berry “It Wasn’t Me”

Amazon has an ad out featuring the music of Chuck Berry. The song is called “It Wasn’t Me” and it’s from 1965. Check out out:

I’m not quite sure if this 2-hour delivery is what they’ve been doing with Whole Foods for years, but since they call it “new” there must be something different about it. Maybe they deliver from other grocery stores? Who knows! But it’s a cool commercial using “bullet time” to pan around a table full of food and fun. There are multiple ways to accomplish this effect but however the production company did it, they did it well! Compliments to the editor, as I have a feeling he or she was heavily involved in the success of the effect 🙂

The song relates to the ad because evidently someone stole the dessert and the young girl at the end (under the table eating the dessert!!) is probably going to say, “But it wasn’t me!”

The ad was produced by Initiative Media Agency based in New York City.

Thanks for stopping by!

-Out of the Wilderness