Ticked off!!

[Maria Crifasi]

Hi L'ers,

Here on Catoctin Mountain we still have a few stubborn patches of snow but
it is a tropical 42°.  Tropical enough to have  found the first deer tick of
the season trotting across Daisy's blaze. I did mention, didn't I, that I
HATE ticks.  I have the depressing feeling that this will be a bad tick
season.

In my war against ticks, I use Frontline and Longline.  Frontline is known
to most of you. Longline, however, may not be.  It consists of packing up
both Berners and driving to Pat Long's house armed with many bottles of wine
(this is the required form of payment).  Even if you have gone over your
dogs with surgical precision, this woman will find a tick. With deep focus
she will slowly pass her nimble fingers over your dog, inch by agonizing
inch. Then, suddenly, she will triumphantly pluck off a tick, hold her arm
high and stereophonically crack the tick between her finger nails, her face
a mask of devilish contempt. Fortunately she is kindhearted and shares the
wine.

So, with no further ado, I am packing up my car and heading for Pat's house
tomorrow.  Trust me.

Maria Crifasi
home of Daisy and The Budman
Catoctin Mountains, Maryland