From the The Universal Household Assistant or What Every One Should Know (1884):

Cockroaches — ways to destroy. — 1. The disagreeable odor which the cockroach emits, and which soon permeates all places that it inhabits, proceeds from a dark colored fluid which it discharges from the mouth. The cockroach loves warmth and moisture, hence its populousness in kitchens where fire and water are almost ever present. It is a night prowler, and swarms out from its secret lairs on the departure of daylight.    For the destruction of the cockroach we recommend a mixture containing a tablespoonful of red lead, the same amount of indian meal, with molasses enough to make a thick batter. Set this on a plate at night in places frequented by the insects and all that eat of it will be poisoned. Another preparation is composed of one teaspoonful of powdered arsenic, with a tablespoonful of mashed potato. Crumble this every night at bed-time where the insects will find it, and it is said to be an effectual poison. Great care should be exercised in the use of such dangerous agents. An innocent method of destroying cockroaches is to place a bowl or basin containing a little molasses on the floor at night. A bit of wood, resting one end on the floor and the other on the edge of the vessel, serves as a bridge to conduct the insects to the sweet deposit. Once in the trap its slippery sides prevent retreat, and thus cockroaches may be caught by the thousands.    2. The following i said to be effectual: these vermin are easily destroyed, simply by cutting up green cucumbers at night, and placing them about where roaches commit depredations. What is cut from the cucumbers in preparing them for the table answers the purpose as well, and three applications will destroy all the roaches in the house. Remove the peelings in the morning and renew them at night.    3. Common red wafers, to be found at any stationers, will answer the purpose. The cockroaches eat them and die. Also, sprinkle powdered borax plentifully around where "they most do congregate," and renew it occasionally; in a short time not a roach will be seen. This is a safe and most effectual exterminator.    4. Borax is a very good cockroach exterminator. Take some pieces of board, spread them over with molasses, only sufficient to make the borax when sprinkled upon it stick, and place the boards in their haunts. Gum camphor is a speedy remedy to clear the house of cockroaches.

The roaches are back. They have allied with the moths. The ants cannot be trusted. Exotherm scum must be exterminated! Exterminate! EXTERMINATE!

I've spent a good deal of time today cleaning my room and there is still a lot more to do. Last night, I found several roaches under one of my two dressers. I had a roommate when I lived on Dane Street who's room was infested with roaches. She was a junky, I don't have an excuse.

This prompted my cleaning today. I've done a lot today and completely cleaned out some problem areas in my room that haven't been really cleaned out in years. But I've still got quite a bit to do in the room.

It's disgusting and I hate living like this. Thing need to change.

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I'm at purpleglitter's apartment right now to watch Doctor Who on her cable. After Doctor Who, I'm heading back to do more cleaning and set new traps.

Two roaches were found in the upstairs bathroom. I set up traps and a spring cleaning is definitely in order. I wonder if the tradition of spring cleaning originated in response to the returning of the bugs.

zarthon took purpleglitter and I to the Franklin Park Zoo on Sunday for purpleglitter's "second birthday". I saw ostriches poop and perform their impressive mating dance. Those things are big, but they looked friendly. purpleglitter wouldn't let me step over the little fence to get to the big fence which one of the ostriches was trying to stick it's head through. I think it wanted to be pet, but purpleglitter was probably right and that would have been a bad idea.

I also saw a baby gorilla, a lion, some tamarins and lemurs, lounging kangaroos, black swans, Brazilian giant cockroaches, fruit bats climbing around, zebras, peacocks, a capybara, and many many other interesting animals. I wish purpleglitter had brought her camera, we could have had many awsome pictures to post. Alas, a lack, and I can only post my words.

I'm extremely worried that we all may be kicked out of the house_of_clocks. Even if we do keep it, I've already given up on heating it this winter. Due to other's lack of funds, the household is currently behind on rent by a staggering amount. I anticipate some money coming in soon and maybe more coming in from two of the roommates. But, the one that owes by far the most may never pay it. I didn't know how bad the situation was until recently, because the person who owes the most is also the person in charge of handling the rent. The problem is the landlord doesn't want multiple checks every month, so we all have to hand over the money to one person who then writes a large check to him. I can't be that person, because having a large amount of money appearing in my account every month could screw up my SSDI and MassHealth. Kicking the person who owes the most out right now doesn't' seem like a viable option, because we'd still be far in debt to the landlord without them. The best hope is the continued generosity of our landlord, who hasn't kicked us out yet.

Finding a roommate right now would prove very difficult. A portion of the bathroom ceiling collapsed yesterday, the fridge is pretty ragged, we have a minor (at this point) roach infestation and we're in debt to the landlord. I doubt anyone would want to move in under those circumstances.

We need to have a house meeting, but I don't know how to arrange it within the confines of household politics. I'm pretty sure that two of the roommates are unaware of the direness of the situation and need to be informed forthwith.

purpleglitter thinks I should jump ship before we lose the place and has been trying to find other places with affordable rents that I could live. Even if I can come up with the first and last for another place, I'll feel bad about screwing over the landlord and the other roommates, but it may be the best option, because none of the friends and family I've talked about the situation to have said they would take in mazzycat. I will not give her up.

I feel guilty whining about my problems which are very minor compared all that is going on right now. I'm safe, I know I will have a place to stay, and my city is still here. But it is my journal and I needed to get it out.

Just place 5 bait traps in various locations around the house_of_clocks. In the rooms directly adjoining my room (vertically or horizontally) and in the kitchen. None have been spotted outside my room and hopefully the traps will prevent them from migrating elsewhere as my room is quickly becoming inhospitable.

Got under both dressers done along with the around the kitty litter, again with merryperseis's help. Only saw one small roach in doing that. Also deployed 4 bait traps, two under the bed and one under each dresser. I've got left to do under the computer table, under the large desk, under the small desk, and under the small cubby unit. That should be the worst of it. Then I'm going to clean all the surfaces and sweep and mop the floor. Probably won't finish tonight, but I'm already making a lot of headway.

Got the under the bed swept, thanks to the help of merryperseis. Only saw one baby roach and one spider under the bed. I was expecting a nest. Nonetheless, the under the bed was completely in need of cleaning. That's a big step. Need to take this slow so it doesn't become overwhelming. I'm going to put down a couple traps before I scoot the bed back.