Number 7

Although, somehow, this little bugger also managed to free himself from the trap (in spite of having its head and most of its appendages stuck within the crossbar) and crawl off a little distance before Brian caught him to finish the job....sort of.

Beginning to wonder if these traps lose a lot of their doin'-in-the-critter-power after several uses? That should be a warning on the package:

"Good for five kills, then power degrades. Maiming will follow for approximately four to five additional victims, after which serious wounds to trapped or injured rodents will result in an uprising. Please pack an emergency kit and be prepared to evacuate should you decide to continue use of trap beyond ten critters."

Number seven was a bit Rambo-esque. [ominous music]

Ugh

The chipmunk problem still persists.

Huh. Did I really need the word "still" in that sentence?

Anyhow, the little rats (sorry, Barb) are still an issue. Was more concerned about what (or WHO) might enter the dwelling if we took away the barricade - thinking we might be able to entice the incumbent squatters out into the light of day, thus emptying the area under the porch (and in the front wall) - but then became worried over who (or better yet, how many who's) would trespass into the vacated area if left open for any amount of time.

Turns out that (latter part) wasn't an incorrect assumption...or was it?

I don't know any more!!

Can't tell if those we catch burrowing either in or out are longtime, current residents, or very industrious newbies. ARGH! And it's getting to the point where I just think we need to cement it up and perform last rights (Egyptian-style) over those who are not long for this world. I do know it may mean tolerating (and suffering through) some very nasty decaying odors for an amount of time this summer, but I am just about to that very point.

I'm just saying.

Jean and Barb brought by some peanuts in shells to use as bait, tying one to the trap and making it a certainty to catch another little critter or two....right?

Well, you would think so, but we would all be wrong.

The little boogers took the whole peanut somehow, springing the trap AND getting away cleanly!

Ugh.

A quick word of good news

Brian picked up his car this afternoon - very late this afternoon - but it is mostly done, and he has wheels once again!

The collision shop did a beautiful job finding all matching parts for his car, so there is no necessary paint job! He still needs to return to them next week, Monday or Tuesday, to have them finish some little bits here and there (an under-the-car-guard-thing and something to do with an exterior mirror), but it is driveable and in one piece...so, thank you, God.

More another time. For now, smiles. Lots and lots of smiles.

Mistake, or MASSIVE mistake?

I'm hoping for neither.

I am here at home, car-less.

I allowed Brian to drive himself to work in my beloved John Wayne. Yes, 'The Duke' is in Brian's hands. [oh-my-Lord-what-was-i-thinking]

I had very little fear as he rolled out of the driveway and down the street, but as this first hour has passed, I have become more regretful in the (lack of) judgement I used when handing him my keys.

[cringe]

I do not know how I am going to get through the day worrying over my car.... (oh, yeah) and Brian's safety (and my car's safety). Those Fenton/Holly drivers are a rude, self-righteous, self-important, me-me-me bunch of road hazards. Entitled and stupid, and they're all on the road with my sweet little JW....and Brian (in my sweet little JW).

Did I make a mistake?

Number six

Number six did not go quietly.

It must have been scurrying across the trap lengthwise when it set off the trigger and....whap! Brian ended up having to put it out of its misery because the commando crawl (with the trap in tow) was too hard to watch. Just knowing it was out there, alive and suffering, was too much to bear.

About ready to uncork the opening for the remainder of the day to see what may exit the den under my stoop. By evening I am thinking we will seal the hole up in a more permanent (and cement-like) way. Until then, it's carnage city.

Now serving number seven!

Five! Count 'em...FIVE!

Five less chipmunks in my walls and under my stoop....and that's the way I like it.

Because I blocked the opening, it is impossible to tell if there are any more ready to try and see the light of day once again. I haven't heard the scratching and gnawing sounds I have become accustomed to around 5:30 every morning, so I wonder if we have managed to eradicate the colony in its entirety.

Today's victim had been sniffing around the opening for the past two days, and while he would dart into the hole, he never stayed more than a few seconds. When we frightened him by looking out the window, he would run for cover into the hostas and weeds....and not back into the hole - so I believe we 'offed' a stranger to the kingdom.

My fear is in unblocking the opening to their warren; allowing any others remaining inside to venture out and meet their doom. If I open it up to exiting critters, what more would I be inviting? I have already seen how quickly another would be willing to take up residence!

No thank you!

Chipmunk-icide was not the only activity today. Jean stopped by on her way home to take a morning stroll around the neighborhood. She dropped of another NYC-bound daughter at Metro Airport early in the morning, so we made plans to walk a bit in the coolest part of the day before she headed the rest of the way home.

After a good gab and some giggles, she very kindly drove Bud to work on her way home, and I continued to work on the quilt throughout the heat of the day. Thank you, Jean, it was a nice break!

Tomorrow should find me piecing together the back and then stretching the beast! I'll keep you posted in the quilting blog.

P.S.

Chipmunk number four has bought the farm.

And STILL another one was there to mourn his passing.....and to take over the domicile and the secret stash of nummy chipmunk buried treasure. Yikes! It's like a clown car at the circus!

A bit of good news with that hard lesson learned

Brian took his car to a mom-n-pop collision shop at the behest of his usual car repair mechanic - this we did yesterday morning.

After a long day (and night) of not hearing from anyone, he was awakened this morning with a call from the owner who had news of the final cost for the repairs.

I had figured the price tag would be around three thousand dollars, and Brian had imagined the cost to be a good deal higher. Happy to say that even though three grand is a lot of out of pocket money to have a car made whole again, it wasn't as bad a total as Brian had braced himself for, and it left him feeling happily relieved.

Oh, yeah....the cost is $2900+change.

Cha-ching!

Another one bites the dust - HEY!

Another one bites the dust - hey, HEY!

If you're keeping score, this makes three. And I saw another one come out of the hole in the stoop...so we're not through, yet.

Driving mayhem

Today was a road-warrior-type of day.

I spent it driving a round trip of about 130 miles to pick up a young girl (a friend of Karl's), getting her to Ann Arbor's Autism Center to start the evaluation process, and then taking her back home to Rochester before returning home myself.

Brian's road experience ended with an accident, trashing the front left bumper and quarter panel of his car - ruining a brand new headlamp to boot! Bud is fine, and the other fella's SUV was slightly crumpled, but since Brian has PLPD insurance, he will be out of pocket for the repairs. [cringing] Hoping the repair costs aren't more than the balance of the loan, and that they are not more than the value of the car.

The car still runs and rolls, but there is a significant amount of mayhem to his car. Yikes.

It's all very sad, but in the grand scheme of things, it's so much better than it could have been. Just hard for him not to feel blue.

On the up side, I will have the honor of once again driving him back and forth to work for the foreseeable future. Yea! [mock sincerity]

Prayers muttered and fingers crossed for some low numbers from the repair dudes. Anybody got a few thousand dollars laying around that we can use......OR, some spare parts for an '03 Jetta S (Brian says the parts would be preferable).

Pseudo-breakfast. Pseudo-everything.

An unfrosted strawberry PopTart and a cold glass of milk. Mmmm.

Usually, I begin my day with a glass of chocolate milk, then work my way into peanut butter on toast and maybe a bowl of cereal. But my supply of chocolate drink mix was done-in by a rodent in the garage, where the pantry overruns are kept (on a heavy duty wire shelf system). Some little beggar chewed a mouse-sized hole into a new, industrial size container of Quik, and I had to throw it away! Argh!!

Can't call the insurance carrier for that claim - though I did consider it.

The sun is going to be sketchy today, darting in and out of the clouds, so I may end up turning on lights to get some good quilting done.

The cats are extra-needy today, and Bud will go to work around 10:30, but probably won't be home until midnight (long story). What those two things have to do with one another I have no clue.

Pseudo-writing skills.

Feels like there's nothing really of any importance to write about, although there is so much to tell. My time at Gram's, conversations with friends, stuff about the boys' activities, etc. But I just don't have the inclination to go into it. Sorry.

Well, if I am going to make any progress today, I will need to get started, so...see you in a while.

Have a great day!

Huh

If it's raining, it must be June.

Oh, uh...let me clarify.

If it's raining, it must be June - in Michigan!