hardware store contamination and thirsty critters

Yesterday at 3:30 am I learned that if you altered one of your air cleaners to take a more efficient filter, but you had to put some recently acquired poplar wood in there as a spacer, the poplar could make you really sick. It wasn't sticking out into the air stream or anything, but it was in a low pressure part of the machine, so now it's all covered with aluminum tape. Less pollen is getting in, too, so it's all worth it. Also, there's pollen around here in September.

In other news, tarantulas can drink out of your swimming pool. Ground squirrels that look exactly like chipmunks but with fewer stripes can drink out of your swimming pool. We are astounded that the really, really sick lady's husband doesn't spend all his time fishing critters out of the swimming pool.