thirteenth of November

11-11 and 11-12

11-10-9…

a week went by?

Yeah, so I have a week’s worth of conversational comics collages…November 3rd through the 8th and today’s:

November 3   November 4    November 5    November 6    November 7    November 8

November 9th…today’s lengthy collage:

November one and two

Since I didn’t post yesterday’s comics conversation I wound up shortening it, using the mid-section (see original full one here) only. I like how yesterday’s and today’s conversational collages flow together as one now. Not that it matters to anyone but me…I posted a separate post aout mice earlier.

mousedom monday

There is no peace in the house of mouse. Not last week and this week isn’t starting off any better either. I think it would make a difference if there were real walls or ceilings or floors in the bedroom, something other than lath. I know it has been this way at least 8 years.

No sense in rushing these things, you know. Of course, if there WERE real walls, even drywall, not necessarily plaster, maybe then I could narrow down where mice come in. It’s like a freeway in here.  

While having my coffee at the computer I had a mouse walk across the blanket on my lap, a blanket left earlier at the computer draped over the chair and onto the floor. I just left it there, so of course a mouse climbed right up into my lap from wherever he came in. Most probably he used the wall/floor behind the bookcase or the corner unit which houses the TV, computer, etc. Without anything on the walls they climb the lath from the basement (unless they are in the ceiling) and go wherever they want. There’s a big hole in the corner and the flooring along the walls leaves plenty of room for mice anyway.  

When the mouse got my attention I wrapped the invader up in the blanket and took it outside to shake it out. I showed it to my dog who promptly put it in his mouth, but dropped it as soon as I yelled at him. I guess it fell over the edge of the stairway after that. I got a good look at him so I would know him the next time. I took the blanket to the basement to wash it this morning, since I already had another waiting for a full load (I did three loads of laundry today since it was nice out).  

Then I went to wash the dishes, getting most of the way through before I heard the pitter-patter of little feet on the freshly placed aluminum foil under the cooktop. I just cleaned it yesterday and put foil down but did not screw the top down; it makes it easier to change the foil. Once I heard it I stood there and listened to the critter a few minutes, watching as he peeked his head up a couple of time to see if I was going to move, and then he went back to wherever he came from. I now know the glass jar I have on the pipe on the back burner blocks nothing. At first I thought that was where they came in, but it is not. This mouse was different than the one I threw out a few minutes earlier in the bedroom.

After the last mouse was killed in the empty base cabinet , other mice soon found it (right after that trap snapped) so I guess the warning went out not to use that cabinet anymore. That’s OK, I am not using it anymore either. Until they have all been stopped from coming in, there is no reason to waste my time putting things in the cabinet just to wash off mice doo constantly. There are traps in the attic and in that base cabinet I cleared out, but now that they are getting into another cabinet and the stove I’d rather live with stuff stacked up in the kitchen.

The thought has crossed my mind that maybe I should just get rid of everything and reduce life to three pots and pans and two sets of dishes and silverware. Maybe that’s what this is all about, some universal lesson about having too much stuff. I mean, others use paper plates for guests, why should I be different? I AM different, that’s why! Hard to believe I used to host all the holiday meals for the family. If they could see me now (roll eyes).  

I am to the point where I just can’t take much more of these mice. They are no longer just nocturnal, they are bold enough to go right across me, day or night. I don’t want to cook or use anything I already cleaned to cook with that they may have once again run across. The whole thing is disgusting.

This place is a disaster area at this point due to bringing stuff from the basement to re-organize and put into plastic tubs to put back in the basement to keep out mold and mice. It’s a tiny house, so of course there is no place to put things anymore. I expected to have another room built here by this time, someplace to USe the things I have in storage, rather than having it all ruined.

It is so frustrating. I am not used to living like this. I never seem to get ahead here no matter what I do. Being able to have a clean house again almost seems like a luxury I will never be able to afford. Dear God, how did this happen and when can I have my real life back?

3 EOM

Four mice down, who knows how many to go. I heard the trap snap at noon, then the pitter patter of others scurrying around the trap and under the stove. Someone else can check the trap later. The whole thing turns my stomach at this point.

The only plan I have for that cabinet in the future is recycling tubs, so after a week of killing mice I may consider how to do that. I don’t even want to think about having mice run around on something I would use for cooking or eating. I am bleached out at this point. I have been told I am not the only one with mice troubles this year. Apparently things go in cycles here in Madison…fleas one year, mice the next. Maybe I am the only one with the kind of response I have, though. I am really tired of it. What a pit.

At some point I need to move an old china cabinet out of the spot I have it in to clean whatever may be under it. I sstill smell mouse leavens. I have been using the china cabinet for food storage rather than the built-in cabinets along mice alley. I guess I should’ve put the cabinet on wheels prior to wedging it into place. Oh well, so much for that now.

Another month come and gone. The summer is gone, not much has been accomplished here. It’s been three years since I have been in my van and it too, is totally trashed inside now. It was in mint condition when I moved here. My screensaver says “van cleaning time”. I really can’t stand it. God, I miss my old life.

Here are the last three comics collages…enjoy them.

wednesday’s comics convo

Hmmm. Mental transference.

10-26-09

connecting during revival

The preacher mentioned hotdog sellers in the sermon last night. He was talking about events along the river Jordan, saying it might be a good place for a hot dog vendor to set up, a business opportunity, as it were, amidst the hungry crowds. Statue of the Holy One, anyone? It’s  just a little preacher humor warming up the crowd.  He was actually preaching from the book of Luke about the fruits of repentance last night. A little Genesis as well. This has been revival week. Since I put the “random” hot dogs on the last two posts (because of a little prodding from above) it was a little God giggle for me in church. God and I do have an unusual relationship, which some people may find a little too different but,  God has a way of making it real personal for me when we converse. This morning, when I saw the cartoons included a hot dog vendor, it went into the collage.

I had no money available last night but for  about $15 in coins and the $20 bill I needed to use for dog food. The five coins I put in the offering plate last night were Sacagawea dollar coins. Today I put five more coins in the plate. What’s left is for the offering plate tonight. Church has had revival nightly since Thursday, and then of course, there is church twice on Sunday, so I burnt through what I had. I try to put something in each time I go… sometimes more and sometimes less.

In the comics today was a Sacagawea likeness, so I used that in the collage. I like that a couple of connections came through for me in a  way that I could relate to my typical blog “coincidences.” My connection is a little unusual, I will give you that. Here’s today’s collage: