Organizing My Life Away...

Looking for a better way...

I love that Eddie Rabbit song "Drivin' My Life Away". One of these days I'm going to download it so I can listen whenever I want! I also love "I Love A Rainy Night".

My organizer came on Wednesday. Not sure what exactly was the straw that broke this camel's back or maybe it was more a convergence of "signs" that it was time to call for help again. Either way, Wednesday morning from 9-1 was it. We tackled the girls' room first. Dug all the way into the deepest darkest corners, drug everything out, purged, cleaned, and organized it all. It looks AWESOME! Initially I didn't want to use her services on the kids' toys because I figured that was something easy that I could do myself. But circumstances aligned and I decided that we might as well go ahead and start there. And now I am so glad that we did. The girls' room is a closed, defined space (unlike the entryway which we did last time) with finite influences on its cleanliness. Being able to get it all done in one fell swoop, start to finish, was great. Now I find myself wandering in there a few times each day, taking in the new serenity of it, and pretending that the rest of my house is clean. C Lee and I spent 4 hours on the girls' room. I am going on 4 days of working in Ryan's room and am not done yet. So definitely much harder on my own. Life and its demands have a way of poking in. The time is not specifically reserved (nor paid for!) and so, while I have been working hard, I have not been working nonstop until the job is done.

I look forward to the day that I can get more spaces in the house done. At this time, I can't afford to bring C Lee back more than once every couple of months. But that's okay. Doing some of it myself is good for me too. A good way to apply what I am learning. Put into practice all those things I know in my head but never get around to actually doing.

The biggest reward has been the kids. They all love the clean room. Bella said that she liked the labels best. Ryan said that it was just so nice and relaxing to be in the clean room. And all of the kids have been playing in there. There is a large floor space to play in now that the beds have been bunked (the process that started it all, one of the contributing "signs" I suppose from a couple weeks ago) and the room has been re-habbed. There are two windows so there is plenty of daylight. It's just a nice play to be. And 4 days later, it is still just as clean as it was when C Lee left. Hopefully we can continue to maintain it.

I have been enjoying having a home for the toys that I find around the house. Now when I find a pirate's treasure coin lost in a corner, I know where to put it. Or when I pull a piece of plastic cake out from under the couch, I know where the food basket is and I know that it only has plastic food inside - nothing else that shouldn't be. I have organized the kids' toys so many times before but it never lasts. Partly because they don't follow the plan and partly because I don't enforce it. It seems different this time. Maybe because they are older. In part because a better, more thorough job was done with the plan. In any case, I love it and hope this time it will be different.

So wish me luck in staying strong and dedicated to the cause of a clean house!

Talking To the Dog...

The following conversation takes place between 9:24 a.m. and 9:26 a.m. on Sunday, March 22, 2009... (insert ominous tick, tock, tick, tock sound from "24" here...)

Darby: (looks at me)

Me: I still think I should retaliate somehow. He took all my purses out of his closet. He probably stole my stash money too. Maybe I'll just take all his sweaters out of my closet. That'll show him. I'll need something more though... maybe threaten to put poison in his food. Just like those old ladies of Arsenic and Old Lace. Hmm... I wonder what I'll look like as an old lady. (as I look in the mirror thoughtfully after putting in my contacts)

Darby: (looks at me)

Me: Maybe I should go for a run this morning. That would make up for all the cookies I ate yesterday that I shouldn't have. Or I could just walk you. Run then walk? I have class tomorrow anyway. I'll skip it and just walk you. What should I do Darby?

Darby: (looks at me)

Me: You don't care what I do as long as I take you for a walk, huh.

Darby: (lies down) SIGH.

Me: Oh is living here so hard? Seems to me you've got a pretty cushy life. You lick the carpet all day long and I didn't even kick you out after you peed on carpet a million times. I'd say you've got it good dog.

Darby: (looks at me)

Me: What?

Darby: (looks at me)

Me: I wonder how long it will take Ron to get home from dropping off the kids. Maybe I should take a shower now. I can run tomorrow in class. Besides, if I run today then I'll never get anything done. I have to make dinner now so it can cook later while we're at baseball. I have to continue the never-ending task of working on my taxes. Mom wants me to go look at a place with her this afternoon and that always takes forever. And the kids need new soccer shoes. But first Bella has to try hers on to see if they still fit.

Darby: (looks at me)

Me: SIGH.

Felisa's Mom

1. What is something mom always says to you?
I love you

2. What makes mom happy?
(gives me a hug) when I love her

3. What makes mom sad?
when I stay away from her

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
when she tickles me

5. What was your mom like as a child?
I don't know

6. How old is your mom?
95

7. How tall is your mom?
(stretches her arms to measure me) I can't reach the bottom.

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
work on scrapbooks and her computer

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
she works and works and works

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
if she was a superstar

11. What is your mom really good at?
typing

12. What is your mom not very good at?
opening things when they are hard to open

13. What does your mom do for her job?
to sell things

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
luna bars

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
when she stays at home

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
a mom - tom and jerry's mom - she's really mad mad mad

17. What do you and your mom do together?
I help her on the computer

18. How are you and your mom the same?
We have the same hair

19. How are you and your mom different?
you're older than me

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
I stay next to her.

21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
going shopping

Bella's Mom

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Be good.

2. What makes mom happy?
When we're good.

3. What makes mom sad?
When we're bad.

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
by saying something funny.

5. What was your mom like as a child?
you had hair ribbons to match your clothes. grandma told me

6. How old is your mom?
36

7. How tall is your mom?
tall

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
scrapbook

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
work

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Because you are a movie star

11. What is your mom really good at?
printing out pictures

12. What is your mom not very good at?
building

13. What does your mom do for her job?
scrapbook

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
don't know

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
when you're scrapbook is on tv

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
turkey trot racer

17. What do you and your mom do together?
talk

18. How are you and your mom the same?
we are both pretty

19. How are you and your mom different?'
we have different bangs

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
because she's always kissing me

21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
family houses

Ryan's Mom

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Don't play rough downstairs.

2. What makes mom happy?
Good jokes and people doing what she says.

3. What makes mom sad?
no comment

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
by telling jokes or puns

5. What was your mom like as a child?
curious and well-behaved

6. How old is your mom?
36

7. How tall is your mom?
um... 5'11"

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
relax

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
the laundry

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
a talent agent came to our house (though I reportedly have no specific talent)

11. What is your mom really good at?
making things - doesn't really matter what - anything

12. What is your mom not very good at?
destroying things (Apparently some people are really good at that!)

13. What does your mom do for her job?

make scrapbooks for other people and sell scrapbook things

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
donuts

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
when she does something heroic (when asked what was the last heroic thing I did - umm, well if you ever do something heroic then I will be proud of you)

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
elmer fudd (because I don't like Daffy, according to him)

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Cub Scouts

18. How are you and your mom the same?
we both like to read and we both read fast

19. How are you and your mom different?
she does not go to school and I do

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
she always says so

21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Colorado

I Believe

I believe

...in quiet.
And in the therapeutic effect a quiet, empty house has on me. I need bits of solitude to continue to function well.

...in the power of nature.

...in organization.
I want to be organized. I just struggle with getting there and on those rare occasions that I actually get there, I have trouble staying there. Just ask all the unused organizational tools found in the nooks and crannies of my house.

...in being prepared.
At least in theory! This is related to my organizational struggles. To be prepared requires advance planning and advance preparation. My procrastination doesn't help any. I know what to do. I just hardly ever actually do it. What is the solution? Is there a solution?

...in balance.

Now back to my office... I'm supposed to be doing my taxes today. Instead I am chipping away at the mess that is my procrastinated, unmotivated, unorganized house.

Cause and Effect

Cause: The kids are hungry.

Effect: They make their own breakfast. Which they frequently do, especially Ryan. I went downstairs this morning to see if anyone needed breakfast. Ryan had eaten his already. Raisin Bran with chocolate soymilk. Eeeewwww! I told him not to use chocolate milk on his cereal anymore. Bella had decided to make her own breakfast as well. It was her first time using the toaster oven. She had lined the tray with a paper towel so the bread wouldn't fall through the grate. Thankfully I found it before it warmed all the way up and started a fire. She now knows not to put any paper products into the toaster! Felisa was innocent throughout. This time, anyway.

*****

Cause: Ron is home, full of energy.

Effect: Our basement is being rearranged. LARGE piles of junk are being created at an alarming rate. Dusting and vaccuuming is being done which is good. Junk will eventually be cleared out, I hope. Ron will feel much better very soon. I, on the other hand, will take probably a month to recover and get everything cleared out, sorted, and put away. It is something that really needs to be done from time to time - I was surprised by how much trash and how many toys we found under the desk for example - when we stay in our house for several years. No moving means no big moving purges. We're about to bust at the seams here! Ron is braver than I - he just jumps in whole-heartedly. I'm more hesitant. I know it needs to be done and I want it to be done but I know it is going to make a BIG mess so I hesitate. I don't have time for big messes!

*****

Cause: There's a big mess in my basement!

Effect: My taxes will not be getting done today. And probably not this week. My deadline is Mar. 1 so it'll have to be done soon though. Wish me luck!

*****

Ah-choo! (It's a bit dusty in here today!)

Quote

I will conquer my procrastination problem...just you wait!

-unknown

Missing me?

So it has been brought to my attention by more than one person on more than one occasion that my blog has been neglected of late.

It's true.

I also neglected to put Felisa's birthday on the family calendar that I sent as Christmas gifts. Oops! Guess I was too busy making sure I got everyone else on who wanted to be added. I did have a birthday picture of her adorning the January page. So I at least gave a hint about her birthday. Better luck next year Felisa!

Things have been busy as usual. January was pretty much devoted to family time. After the cleaning frenzy to prepare for Ron's return, the two of us went to Camp Lejeune for a week. Then two days spent packing for our family trip to Disneyworld. In case anyone is wondering, a 10 day roadtrip to Disney requires just as much stuff as a month-long road trip across America. I didn't realize that but it turns out to pretty much be true.

The trip to Florida was fun. All until the last day when the starter on the van quit working. The guys over at the Disney Car Care Center took care of us. We spent the day buying DVC membership and shopping at Downtown Disney. We hit the road at about 5:30 p.m., just in time for rush hour traffic through Orlando. We had to cancel our stop in Rock Hill to see Lana. There was also a snow/ice storm headed for Virginia so we decided to just drive through the night. We arrived home just as the first snowflakes began to fall. Ron and Ryan slept all morning and then I had a nice afternoon nap. The girls apparently slept fine in the car because they just played all day. Wednesday was a snow day from school then Thursday was a 2-hour delay. Which brings us all the way to Jan. 29. See - told you there wasn't much going on in January but family time!

February has been busy so far as well. I spent 6 out of 10 days subbing at Parkwood. Felisa's class was my favorite. The one day I spent with the 2 1/2 year olds was good birth control. I have obviously forgotten how crazy-making a 2-year-old can be! The day spent with the young 4's was okay except for the three boys who just couldn't stop wrestling. Oh and the two pee-pee accidents. I enjoy the work but it takes a lot of energy and being in a different class each time is hard because you have to learn a new routine each day.

So now you all can stop complaining. There is clearly nothing interesting going on around here. And what little is happening has drained all my blogging energy!

One Word

I don't usually do these but this one intrigued me and captured me in the moment. One word answers.

1. Where is your cell phone? purse
2. Your significant other? alongside
3. Your hair? ponytail
4. Your mother? asleep
5. Your father? far
6. Your favorite? quiet
7. Your dream last night? Darby
8. Your favorite drink? sweet
9. Your dream/goal? motivation
10. What room you are in? bedroom
11. Your hobby? Scrapbooking
12. Your fear? 911
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? west
14. Where were you last night? home
15. Something that you aren't? organized
16. Muffins? yes
17. Wish list item? alone
18. Where you grew up? military
19. Last thing you did? tikis
20. What are you wearing? brown
21. Your TV? Lost
22. Your pets? clean
23. Friends? awesome
24. Your life? good
25. Your mood? tired
26. Missing some one? No
27. Car? iced
28. Something you're not wearing? Socks
29. Your favorite store? ACMoore
30. Your favorite color? purple
33. When is the last time you laughed? Tonight
34. Last time you cried? recently
35. One place that I go to over and over? school
36. My favorite place to eat? steak

On Saluting...

I’ve been surrounded by Marines this week. Well, not entirely. But certainly more than usual. Marines are very proper. They always render an appropriate greeting accompanied by a crisp salute. Textbook perfection. Every single one of them. When we drove in this morning, the gate guard’s salute prompted me to say, “That’s why I couldn’t hack it in the Navy. The saluting.”

Really? I resigned from the Navy because I didn’t like to salute? Not exactly. The saluting represents all the military customs and courtesies that I struggled with. I was always stressed out. Always on the alert when out and about such as walking from my car in the parking lot into a building, looking for someone I needed to salute or making sure I returned any salutes given to me. Requesting permission to come aboard or go ashore. Addressing everyone properly. Sir, ma’am, chief… To sit down to a meal in the wardroom, I was required to know who was the most senior person present at that moment and then ask permission to join the mess before sitting down. Same thing when it was time to leave the table.

No don’t get me wrong. I believe in these traditions, in the necessity of maintaining respect up and down the ranks. But I was always sure that I was going to screw it up, get in trouble. I like rules. I like it when people follow the rules. But I don’t like getting in trouble. Which was bound to happen anytime if I did it wrong. I don’t like living in constant fear of getting it wrong. Is it a lack of self-esteem in my abilities? Perhaps. Something else? Could be. I have noticed a similar sensation when serving the Eucharist during Mass. It’s important to be reverent and respectful. But to a lot of other people it is VERY IMPORTANT to do it JUST RIGHT. Or so I think. I guess I could be wrong. But in any case, that’s the way it seems to me. And so when I am serving, I am in constant fear that I’m going to screw up and get in trouble.

Yesterday Ron and I went to see the USS North Carolina battleship in Wilmington. It was a great tour. There was hardly anyone else there so for the most part, we had the place to ourselves. We did not have the kids with us either so we were able to take our time, walking around, and seeing it all. I definitely got my workout going up and down all those ladders. And miracle of miracles, I only banged my knee on the ladder once! That was one of many memories of my time onboard ship that I was able to relive yesterday. There were lots of things I didn’t like about the Navy and about being aboard ship. But there were also lots of things I did like. I liked the teamwork, camaraderie, and family. I loved being a Division Officer and taking care of my guys.

So being on the ship, which smelled just like a ship and seeing things again like the ladders, the hatches, the mess decks, the berthing, the engine room… it was nice. I took lots of pictures of things that reminded me of “back then” since I doubt I took many pictures of it at the time. At the time it probably didn’t seem so significant. Now that time has passed, these things help bring back memories and all the little details that were part of my daily life for 3 years.

Maybe when we get home from all our travels, I’ll dig out the old pictures I’ve got from those days and get them scanned in. I’ve already been scanning in some pictures from the high school years. That’s a whole ‘nother trip down memory lane…

Hindsight

Hindsight is a funny thing, no? I just re-read my last post written on Christmas Eve. And I laughed. Because about 10 minutes later, Felisa was sick. Vomited ALL OVER MY BED. So I spent the rest of the night, not sleeping, but rather taking care of the sickie and cleaning up a few messes. She was better by the day after Christmas and I'm still enjoying the break from school as I anticipated. 99% of my Christmas cards have been mailed - just a couple need to have addresses fixed. And I found the calendar I bought for Mom. You'll never guess where it was... wrapped and under the tree waiting for her!

It's 5 days and a wake-up left until Ron returns. Not sure how much will get done, but I'm giving it my best shot.

And I'm starting the year off right, laughing. More of a chuckle really but if I lose my sense of humor, all is lost.

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

Merry Christmas!

Well, here it is... only 28 minutes until Christmas...

I did (almost) everything that I wanted to do. I have a few more gifts to pack up for the neighbors. And I did not get all my Christmas cards out yet. After running out of stamps, that project got put on the back burner. So my apologies to the half of the people on my list whose cards will be late! Also, I cannot for the life of me find the calendar that we bought for my Mom just last Sunday. Drat!

Overall though, things have gone smoothly this December. I'm ready now to enjoy Christmas Day and then Winter Break.

Hope I can get the rest of everything done in the next 12 DAYS before Ron comes home...

Merry Christmas everyone!

Quote

Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.

-James Buckham

Hungover? Or just getting old?

Last night was the Cowboy Christmas Dinner Show. Ryan wanted a cowboy birthday and Lynne mentioned this great show she had seen with her family. After a little investigation and conversation, Ryan and I decided that we should do this activity as a family plus one special friend in lieu of a party at the house.

The show is about 70 miles away. Google Maps listed drive time as 1 hour 20 minutes (and in parentheses, up to 1 hour 50 minutes with traffic). I thought that was nice to see how Google took into account the fact that we live in a major metropolitan area. So, the gates open at 5:45 and there are activities up until dinner time at 7. The kids got out of school at 3:15. After gathering everyone in the lobby and dropping off the extras in our carpool, we got home around 3:30. Mom went back to her place to get a warmer coat and we had to wait for Melissa to get home from her babysitting job. Once everyone arrived and we loaded the car and got on the road, it was 3:58.

Now let's add a little more background info for our drive... It is Friday before Christmas. It is raining. And it's still a major metropolitan area. Google... I would've loved to have been there in only 1 hour 50 minutes. Unfortunately it was more like 2 1/2 hours. We pulled in to the parking lot of the show at 6:30. We saw the horses in passing as we rushed to the wagon ride. It was the last ride of the evening and they held it for us as they saw us coming. Two more families got on behind us and off we went. After the ride, the other activites had already shut down and they were asking people to be seated for dinner. So bathroom breaks for everyone and then the dinner and show began.

My first impression - I've seen real cowboys. And these guys ain't it! But we are living in a big city. On the East coast. And this is just a theater, not a ranch. The tricks they were doing were pretty impressive so I got over that hangup pretty quick.

The kids enjoyed the show. The adults enjoyed the show. And we left the parking lot at 10:00 p.m. Stopped for a bathroom break before we got back on the highway. And google, you were right. When there's no traffic, it is a 1 hour 20 minute drive! One small wrong turn (the highway split and I went left instead of right) only set us back a couple minutes. I delivered Owen home at 1130. All tired out and ready for his drive to Florida today!

So anyway, we didn't get settled in to bed until about midnight. And of course I didn't go to sleep right away. Had to do important things like check my email and waste time online. Which means I was up until about 1. I woke up at 7:40 this morning and panicked that we would be late for school, why hadn't I set my alarm?!? but then realized that it was Saturday. I was still tired but had to get up anyway to let Darby out. And ever since then I have been feeling completely hungover. Headache. Dizzy. Tired. There was no alcohol involved in our cowboy adventure though so I'm thinking that it must mean I'm just getting old. How depressing.

Making progress, one breath at a time

Well, as Ryan pointed out this morning (almost as soon as he woke up), only 8 days until Christmas. I think the kids see this countdown in a different way than I do. They are so excited and can't wait and the time just creeps by so slowly. I, on the other hand, am trying not to worry because oh my gosh there's only 8 days left to get everything done!!!

I still haven't found the notebook but I've made new lists and hopefully not left anyone off! I was at the post office with everyone else in the world this morning and all packages containing gifts for kids have been mailed. All you adults on the list - your packages might be late. I hope you understand. I also ended up ordering my stamps online after all. Too bad I didn't just do that to start with on Sunday when I ran out of stamps. They might have been here already. Instead, it will take 5-7 business days. So Christmas cards... are going to be late. Oh well. Too bad, so sad. Better luck next year!

Over all, I feel pretty in control of the situation. Which means on Tuesday afternoon I'll suddenly remember something huge that I forgot. And then I'll panic! But until then, we're all good.

Felisa is not sleepy tonight. Private Practice is on and someone on the show couldn't breathe. Which prompted Felisa to tell me that:
Breathing you really need to do.

Then she started talking about the fire and air experiment that they did in school. She talked and talked while I tried to type fast enough to get it all down. Here's my best effort:
The fire uses the air. put container on a candle. and a cup or a dish it traps the air and that's how much air the fire is getting. it goes off when all the air is gone. it borrows it and when we put the dish earlier again he lighted again and then put the dish fast and then it gives it back a little tiny dish and you can't see anything and you put a little dot. just put one. don't put dish there very long or it will get more air than us and it will get so much air. so small dish goes out faster and big dish goes slower.

So... don't forget to breathe everyone!

some tigers they live in teh jungle. there is air. they get some leaves. some tigers do this.

Lost

You know you're reading Sheila's blog when... she's complaining about something she lost!

That's right, folks. I've lost something again. This time it's my Christmas notebook. You know, the one where I keep all my gift lists, hot chocolate mix recipes, Christmas Season To Do List, etc. The game plan. It's gone. Again.

Again, you say? Why yes, I did lose it last year too! I remember finding it at the very end of the season, buried at the bottom of the gift jars supply box. So I'm thinking that I would have put it away in a very safe place so that I wouldn't lose it again. (I looked in the gift jars supply box, in case you're wondering. It's not there.)

Or not. Because I CAN'T FIND IT!!!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!

(pulling hair out, kicking and screaming in a tantrum on the floor)

Okay then. I guess Christmas really is cancelled. Ron gave me permission to just skip it (except for the tree and the kids' gifts of course!) this year and blame it all on him being gone. I just didn't think he would go so far as to hide my notebook so that I would be forced to go along with his plan.

(Okay, I know he didn't hide it. But it's easier to blame someone else for my problems than it is to accept responsibility for my endless disorganization and laziness and procrastination.)

A Poem

The Thanksgiving Feast

by Ryan

At the beginning of the Thanksgiving feast,

We were called in from our race.

Then we went in and

We all said "Grace."

At the middle of the Thanksgiving feast,

My cousins pulled the wishbone.

Aunt Carol got all angry and said,

"Don't make me use this tone."

At the end of the Thanksgiving feast,

We watched all our friends leave

And our Uncle George,

He finally heaved!

Oh so hilarious!!! I found this in the school papers he brought home and thought it was too funny not to share! Bella drew some really cute Dress-Up Turkeys last week too. Those will definitely make it into the scrapbook.

In other funny news...
Last week as Ryan was getting into the shower he told me, "Parents are like lice." Really?!? Why is that? "Because they don't like dirty hair."

Okay then. Good answer. Even if you did just call me a louse!

War is Ugly

The latest count: 4 dead, one MIA, and one prisoner released.

After one disappeared, I found this morning when I went to check - no trap. Which means that it got away again? But no, as I'm looking around under the sink, I hear a rustling in the back corner. Uh oh. Sounds like a live one. I pull everything out very carefully. I don't want the mouse to escape still stuck in the trap. It's bad enough that he is hurt. I fish him out with a ruler and a dustpan. Darby was nice enough to come in from the backyard, leaving the door ajar, just then so that I could escape hands-free. I took the poor guy out to the back near the shed. Once I put him down, he tried to run away but couldn't because he was still in the trap. I was able to release him without him biting me. He seemed fine except for a broken front paw. Once free he scampered off into the leaves.

I really hate this part of the mice wars. I don't like killing them but it is the best compromise I can come up with for the situation. I want my traps to kill immediately every time. I don't enjoy killing them but even worse is not killing them. Finding a wounded prisoner is not fun. Leaves a pit in my stomach.

Yes, it's true. War is ugly.

They're Baaaack!

Tis the season... The weather is getting colder and winter is just around the corner. Time for all good animals to take shelter. Apparently my latest visitors did not get the memo from last season's crew... don't live under Sheila's sink. She will kill you!!!

I found the evidence of the mice's return a week or so ago. My vaccuum cleaner was broken at the time so I just ignored it. (I like to ignore problems and hope they go away on their own!) I fixed the vaccuum a couple days ago so today when I took out the trash I decided it was as good a time as any to set up the mousetrap once more. Took only a couple hours to catch my first one.

It's sad really - they're kind of cute. And though I talk tough sometimes (my nickname was once Killer), I don't enjoy killing them. But they cannot live in my house. So out they go!