It's the middle of tax season and I should be thinking about itemized deductions or ordinary dividends and whether they're qualified, foreign, tax-exempt or any of the above. At the very least I could be thinking about how to outsmart the stapler
which is still a challenge, but today I'm thinking about mice, or rather a mouse.
2 days ago Herb saw him skitter across the common area in the office. Later that day, he brought some D-Con from home but said, "I don't know if it's any good, it's probably pretty old", I told him, "I don't think rat poison can go bad, what's it going to become?.....vitamins?" Later that day I saw Mickey stopping to feed at the D-Con. Good I thought, and spread the news. We rejoiced. Sarah had her reservations about our method of extermination and hoped he didn't go die in the wall. (with that suggestion I must say I was thankful I wouldn't be working during the summer months). This morning I got the report that Sarah spied him in his death throes and Bob boxed him up and dumpstered him.
I was quite relieved that all this happened before I got to work. The last time a dead mouse and I crossed paths was when 2 year old Gavin reached under the stove, pulled out a mousetrap with mouse and proudly exclaimed "Mou". I have never been so brave in my life as to take that out of his little hand so fast. I think I gave him 3 baths that day.
And all this leads me to wonder.... why have I, in the last week, spent $73.47 on a rodent for my kids to play with?
Why does it have a name? Why does it have a bus? Why does the bus have a bumpersticker that says "my other car is a really cool pink ball that I can roll all over the Stricklands' house in" ?
It has 2 cages because it didn't seem to have enough ' play space' in the one. I even custom-made a tunnel to attach the 2 because Chub-Chub (thanks Jane!) doesn't fit through the tunnels that came with the cage. ( But I do have those tunnels on stand-by if Chub ever decides to be an average hamster and put in her 4 - 6 miles per night)
It probably has more living space in relation to its' size than my family members, not to mention the private gym and edible hut. Now, granted, this rodent will look you in the eye, and stand on its' hind feet and "not bite you when you hold it like this". It's still a rodent. But it's a rodent we have a connection with. It's a rodent who depends on us for all it's "creature comforts" (how perfect is that?).
And we, in return, are entertained. The way it fills it's cheeks full of food, and unloads it's cheeks in the wheel ( which I liken to us using the treadmill as a great place to hang the laundry ). The way it's teaching my kids that eating vegetables will not kill you. And I am happy to have this rodent in my life.
Anyways.... just my thought of the day...
Have a great week,
Carol
