"Sleep Tight...."

I don't have bedbugs...I went to Princeton!

--Jack Donaghy, 30 Rock

I never would have thought such a thing could happen to us, living in a 1st world country in the 21st century, but darned if I wasn't wrong. Seems New York has more in common with a 3rd world country than I'd like to admit, because our apartment has bedbugs!

We have not been able to figure out where they came from. Now that we know more about them, we know that we've had them since last fall, but there aren't any obvious trips abroad or shady visitors to blame. And, frankly, it wouldn't really do us that much good to know anyway.

The process for getting rid of these things is NOT fun. Not one bit. Basically you have to put everything you own in clear plastic bags for 3 weeks. Why clear? So that if there are any bugs in there, you'll see them come out looking for food and that'll be the signal to put pesticide in that bag. Once everything is in bags, pest control comes by and sprays your beds, dressers, bookshelves, closets, walls–everywhere. Apparently these little bloodsuckers can hide almost anywhere, in electronics, books, box springs, cracks in the wall molding... so you really have to be thorough to make sure they all get exterminated.

Here's what one of the little miscreants looks like. They are typically quite tiny–just a couple millimeters long, although we did find a big one that was maybe 7 mm long.

The apartment is in an upheaval. This is the kitchen, living room, and my bedroom, respectively.

The exterminators will be making their final visit this Wednesday. It can't come soon enough! I hope that will be the end of this little adventure in pest control.