The skunks had a skunk convention in the back last week. From the smell of things they told ghost stories nightly which occasionally frightened a small skunk which then did what skunks do when frightened. On Friday night they apparently had a contest to determine who was the biggest stinker. I woke at about 2:30 am with a splitting headache and feeling like I couldn't breathe, and didn't really want to. The husband slept through it and, naturally, the It-Cat wasn't bothered- his sniffer stopped working a number of years ago. I thought I might have to throw out the bedding and rip up the carpet but in the morning the smell had dissipated. I hope they hold their gathering someplace else next year.