“Lookin’ good, baby,” said the hunk, but not to me.

I hadn’t visited Las Vegas since the 80s. Back then, Duran Duran was hungry like the wolf and this pool-side stud guzzled his bottles as fast as I could hand them to him.

A lot changes in 18 years.

“Baby, c’mere and meet my aunt. She changed my diapers.”

Meet my nephew, the Wolf. And that was supposed to be my line, but somehow it didn’t sound as funny as it did when I said it. (Read the rest of “Stray Cat Struts His Stuff”)

Based on my personal experience in the last few months, I have to say, “yes and no.” (Nothing like a definitive answer, is there?)

Certainly they seemed to have absolutely no effect whatsoever on whiteflies, aphids or Argentine Ants. However, I observed sow bugs and earwigs leaving the plots treated with worm castings. (Read the rest of “Will Worm Castings Keep Garden Pests Out of Your Yard?”)

It had been over six years since our last visit to Disneyland, and the kids and I could hardly wait.

Unfortunately, we had to wait with Grumpy.

“Aaaargh!” Lines! Nothing but… LINES!” blasted Hubby. “We’ve died,” he informed us. “And this is Hell.” (Read the rest of “Stuck in the Happiest Place on Earth”)

The Worm Man

Not long after my fire ant column, “Go Away! Ant That Means YOU” made it into the San Diego Union-Tribune I received a phone call from a reader, a Mr. George Hahn.

After our initial confusion (I thought he was an editor; he thought I was a reporter) Hahn explained that he owns California Vermiculture, the company that produces Wormgold earthworm castings.

My disappointment at not being hired as a columnist was great, but I got over it. Besides, Hahn’s subject matter was pretty entertaining.

For those of you who don’t know, worm castings are a polite way of saying worm POOP. And Hahn was on the phone to tell me he has the organic solution to California’s recent fire ant invasion: worm poop. (Read the rest of “Is There Really an Organic Way to Repel Fire Ants and Other Insect Pests From Our Yards?”)