Wow, I haven't written on here since May! Well, much has happened since then and it does explain in part why I haven't been blogging as of late. I moved out of my mouse-infested apartment and into a lovely house with lots of room, a big yard and best yet, unlimited laundry access. I can do laundry whenever I feel like it and I can actually get my clothes dry without having to plug more quarters in or having to hang clothes on hangers in the bathrooms so they don't smell mildew-y! I feel victorious every time I do a load of wash.
It's been a busy summer. I am still unpacking but I have garage that I have all of the unpacked boxes in so I don't have to stare at them day after day while I decide what is going to stay and what is going to go. But the downside is that I don't unpack with as much vigor as I could because I just shut the door and ignore it and find excuses not to unpack things. I have what I need. And if I don't, then I go digging.
The kids are enjoying the great outdoors and since we have no TV reception, they are playing and imaginating like crazy! They have come up with some great play themes. This week, they are building pine cone cities in the sandy driveway. Sometimes, they race bikes down the hill in the back yard or pound rocks to find treasures within.
I am torn as to whether or not I should improve the TV reception or just keep things as they are. I have considered in the fall, getting the most basic of cable plans just to get the local channels adn a few others. I have been out of touch with what is going on in the world. I also did not have a phone, other than my cell, and no internet. It was like a technology holiday. And I have enjoyed the peace.
Now the phone rings, there is no caller ID, and I feel intruded upon and because I have only given my phone number to a select few family members, I know that it is mostly likely a telemarketing call. So, I can choose to ignore the phone or just click it on and hang it up. I'm in no rush to change the status of things.
I did think I was escaping the vermin by moving out of the apartment but it seems that there are vermin here too. And since we are next the woods and across from a field it should be no surprise that a mouse or two get in. I was alarmed and startled nonetheless when we had our first furry visitor.
My daughter said, "Mom, you have got to see this." I was sure what to expect. Low and behold, there was a small grey mouse in the bathtub, looking just as startled as I was and perhaps just as perplexed as to how it got there. I found a large empty soup can and figured i would catch it. My daughter had the brilliant idea of covering the can with a towel so that it could not escape or better still, jump out and run off to another part of the house. After chasing this poor mouse around the tub and realzing that they can jump several times their own body length, and I will be honest, I was squawking and shrieking every time that mouse jumped or I missed catching it in the can. Eventually, I did manage to scoop the little fur-ball into the can and cover it with a towel, and then released it back into the great outdoors. My heart was pumping from the adrenaline and a little fear. Do mice bite?
My boyfriend stated that perhaps this freed mouse will just return another day. "Not after the heart attack I just gave it, it won't!" And since that day, I haven't seen another mouse.
But lately I have heard something and suspected it was mice. Great.
Tonight, while I took Peanut up to bed, we both saw a flash of fur but it was too big to be a mouse. I wasn't sure what it was but I jumped and I screamed. Proud protectress that I am...right. It took a few seconds to recognize it. It was one terrified and started chipmunk. I managed to use my screeching abilities to scare it down the stares where it scrambled under my stove. I haven't seen it since but I am afraid of where it could be now and if there are more. Life in the country!
This past Saturday, in the span of 5 minutes, I had two odd comments made by two separate sons. We were babysitting my parents dog. Peanut, holding a glass cup, looks through it and says, "When I look at *insert dog name here* through this, she looks like a Limo." Interesting. Amusing. Cute.
Peanut exits the scene. A few minutes Banana Boy enters from stage right and says, "Hey, Mom. I have a good idea..." To which I reply, "What is that?", my suspicion radar beeping loudly... "Can I start a fire in the backyard?"
Any guess as to my answer? I looked at him, shook my head and he said, "Why not?" so I explained, "Well, you need a permit from the fire department and Smokey the Bear and considering how dry the grass is, the answer will be no." While I am thinking to myself, There is no way I am giving this budding fire bug permission to start anything on fire and thus why he is not allowed to be on the same plane as BBQ grill. Sometimes, parenting is all about common sense.
