interesting and disgusting challenges

[Marlene A. Sassaman]

My last blog contained pix of Flat Opti Saing Stanley and the rest of my crew, DanDee Bear and Sammy my dog. I e-mailed many friends and all of them replied that they were unable to open the pictures. I don't know why; I just opened the blog and all the pix were there.

Back at home I heard the little mouse sounding foot prints or gnawing near my front door the other night. Then, last night I heard the same sound outside my bedroom in the same area as previously heard. Now, tonight as I sit on my couch researching boats for sale, I clearly heard the rustling of a mouse or maybe a giant rat in my hall closet -- same area as the other two gnawing nights. EEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK, No Danny to nag about getting rid of the critter.

The two girlfriends I called offered ridiculously practical suggestions. Neither offered to come to my rescue. Indeed they had better things to do like get a good night's sleep or go to a housewarming party. Truly, it took a lot of gumption and self talk to get myself to Lowe's where I purchased a set of 'guaranteed to kills mouse traps' that would trap the critter so I wouldn't have to see the squished varmit. My whole body tensed as I slammed doors, and turned on every light in the house. Finally I took a very deep breath, opened the closet door and set the two traps, stuffed with peanut butter, on the floor of the closet.

Now, I sit again at my computer watching the dog stare at the closet, then glance around the room. Slowly she sniffs the area as I wonder if it is the smell of peanut butter or the sense of a dirty four legged black yukky, thing. Within a few seconds, the dog leaves the room leaving me to squint and wreath at the thought of mice in my house.

Yuk; what a challenge. Earlier this evening I was amazed and confused by a sudden obsession over a possible romantic encounter. After all it hasn't even been two months since Danny left this world. So, these thoughts didn't seem normal or right. One thing is for sure, though, it was a lot more fun than the queasy prospect of a mouse, dead or alive in my clothes closet a few feet away.

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