The battle continues

It is still so hot here.  It was 35°C/95°F again yesterday.  I'm so tired of the heat and the sweating and the exhaustion from it.  I'm also sick and tired of the mosquitos that have come along with the heat.  They seem so bad here compared to anywhere else I have lived before.  And the mosquito season seems to be lasting for so long. 

For months, we've been in a loosing battle.  We've sprayed ourselves silly.  We've affixed stickers to our clothing and worn bracelets laced with chemicals.  We have avoided certain areas of the park and not gone outside at dusk.  Yet, we're still eaten constantly. 

I've had enough.  My son has had enough.  My husband, who suffers along with us, but not to the same extent, has gotten tired of our complaining.  Luckily, my husband decided to take action. 

First he bought a mosquito catching pig for our living room.  Periodically we will get a mosquito in the house that goes to town on us until we are able to end it's life.  It is a cute little fan with a long body and little ears.  There is a blue LED that simulates UV in the center of the fan that supposedly attracts the mosquitos into the fan.

Then he took us to a special clothing store - Insect Shield.  Everything in the store has special repellent technology used by the US military.  Considering some of the environments they deal with, I was interested to learn more.  The clothing and other products all contain active ingredients that are man made versions of a natural insect repellent.  The technology lasts through 70 launderings for all the clothing and 25 launderings for the "other products."  The products proclaim to keep the insects (not just mosquitos, but also spiders, ants, and so forth) off the wearer.

I was sold!  Sign me up.  Get me some of that!

Although the shop was really small, there was a lot of products in there.  A couple versions of jackets were just the tip of the iceberg.  There were pants, socks, hats, scarves, and more.  There were also items for pets, like bandanas and coats.  I was intrigued by the blankets that would be great for days at the park.

I'm guessing that there are similar stores in the US.  But it's something that we've needed here so badly.  I'm so glad my husband found this place. 

We purchased jackets and a mesh blanket to use at the park.  We also bought socks and a pair of shorts for my son. 

I have noticed a significant difference in the number of bites when we wear the jackets.  They really work!