why we need to move
aside from the myriad of odd quirks and idiosyncracies and downright fire hazards found within our current place of residence, the wild critters of the night outside are yet another reason why i can’t wait to move. here’s the story:
so last night, after we put the kids to bed, i was laying on the couch and began to smell a hint of skunk spray seeping into our place. this happens so often that i hardly noticed it at first. but it slowly began to grow stronger making me think the skunk must have sprayed somewhere close to our place.
meanwhile, phil was busy loading up our double stroller with trash bags and announced he was going to to make a garbage run. the garbage bins are a loooong walk away from our place, hence the need for the double stroller. phil opened the door and headed out. as soon as the door opened, the skunk smell instantly grew stronger inside.
a moment later, phil came back inside explaining that he needed a flashlight. out he went again. resulting in more skunk stink.
another moment later, phil popped back in and grabbed the camera. i was busy trying not to pass out from the skunk smell and didn’t ask what he was up to.
i then saw the camera flash go off a few times outside our patio door. i guessed that phil must have come upon the raccoon that frequently hangs out by our next door neighbor’s place. they tend to leave out cat food for the many stray cats in the area and apparently the raccoons think it’s for them once the sun goes down.
phil came back inside and handed me the camera. this is what i saw:
yup, two raccoons on the right and a SKUNK on the left. not twenty feet away from our front door! and directly in the path phil needed to go in order to drop off the trash. he said apparently they found some food there that they weren’t willing to budge from no matter how close phil got to them. furthermore, it seems that the skunk tried to chase off the raccoons by spraying them, but they (like us) have become accustomed to the smell and weren’t phased by it. so the skunk must have decided that if he couldn’t beat ’em, he’d join ’em.
phil asked me if i thought he should spray them with the water hose. i was trying not to pass out from the ever stronger skunk stink since the door was still open. plus i was envisioning the brave little critters running in to our place and then what would we do?!
phil went back out and i heard him stomping around and then heard him turn the hose on.
a few minutes later, he came back in again and i asked what happened when he sprayed them. with a resigned sigh, he said, “they don’t care. they back off a little but came right back after i turned off the hose.”
he went out once more with the camera. note the now wet sidewalk and the little creatures who would not be driven away.
half an hour later, phil finally came back in. i asked if he was able to throw out the trash. he said he did but had to go the other way around. that way is full of stairs and i wondered how he managed it with a double stroller full of trash bags. but by now, i officially had a headache from the skunk smell and we both felt defeated. cannot WAIT to move. still another five months away, but i’m already counting down the days…
ps- feel free to laugh at this account, we did after it was all said and done! 
13 Comments
kimchispice
oh my goodness… skunk!! I’ll be scared to go out at night.
mrsstellalee
ewww…critters….glad to hear that you will have a new and hopefully critter-free home to move into. will you be staying in the area?
jjohnson32
Ha, ha, its pretty funny from this end. :o)
ChristineSong
UG!
brofermin
what a nice adventure for the weary doctor… 🙂 Glad you didn’t pass out from the smell. It reminds me of the good ol days in New Hampshire. So where are you moving?
Kavedissian
it looks like something you would find at the zoo. poor michelle!!! get some air freshener, quick
Starbukk35
did you know the great horned owl is one of the few animals that aren’t deterred by the skunk’s stench?? (apparently racoons are another) they’re one of the few natural predators to the skunk. too bad there aren’t any great horned owls in your neighborhood. wait….isn’t there one sitting right on your banister outside?!?! well, i guess THAT’s why the owner must have put it there, HA! you know what i would try?!? record the call of a great horned owl, and next time there’s a skunk….play it back to scare away the skunk. AND attach the fake great horned owl to a fishing pole, and make it “fly” around the skunk. hahaha! but what to do about the racoons….hmmm…. maybe you should ask your neighbor not to leave cat food outside. it’s not healthy (and rather dangerous) for those wild animals to be so unfearful of humans. okay, i’m done with my comment.
greantea71
yes, i think i WILL have a laugh.
LOL! it’s just funnier because I just saw enchanted. now all you gotta do is teach them how to wash dishes and load the laundry and you’re set for life.
joesee22
LOL…who would thought wild critters in metro LA area. The best part is that they won the battle=)
mrs_shinfucius
that’s crazy!
hahnmee
leave it to Esther to write such a detailed comment! : ) move to santa clarita…
ohmobile
yuk!
joannaaaakim
yikes! i’m so sorry michelle! that’s awful & scary that they weren’t even afraid to run away!!