MOUSE WARS

I can remember as a kid, living on the farm, every now and then a tiny furry four legged creature with a long tail would find its way into the house and munch loudly on things (normally paper) in the middle of the night.  We would set a trap, and within a day or two said mouse would meet its end.  That was the way it went.

Well.... apparently not in this house.  And not with this mouse!

I have a fearless mouse in my house. Before the holidays this mouse first made his mark by eating ALL the chocolate in my candy jar... and leaving only the wrappers behind.  But he didn't leave the wrappers IN the jar... he hoarded the chocolate away in little hiding places and I periodically discover empty candy wrappers where he has gone back and eaten the hidden candy!

Then one night, as I was sitting on the couch with my computer checking emails, I see something scurrying in the corner of my eye.  I look up - nothing there.  Go back to the computer.  In a few more seconds I see something again - and this time, I find out what.  This mouse - this big earred, twinkle eyed field mouse - is sitting beside me on the couch.  Just looking at me. NOT SCARED!  He stares at me... I stare at him.  Like he's studying me, trying to figure out who I am, what I'm thinking, why I exist.... ugh.  He looked like a smart mouse.  So I decided to find out who he thinks he is... I said, "Hi. Who are you?"  And he twitches his little nose and runs off the couch.  I couldn't find him.

Needless to say... the mouse traps go out. (The nice kind though - that doesn't kill them!)  And this smart little mouse, doesn't take the bait!  I don't catch him.  Days go by, and I hear and see nothing of this little mouse.  I was beginning to think that maybe I had scared him away!

I proceed to go visit family for the holidays and return home... to a mess.  This little mouse found a packet of Orbit gum in a jar on my desk... and he proceeded to pull it out onto the desk, eat the WHOLE thing, and apparently suffered from horrible diarrhea in the process, judging by the amount of mouse poo he left behind. Yuck.  So... he's back - and it's now officially war.

The safe traps go out again... and with the same result as before.  But now, I've gone another step beyond that.  Anything containing sugar, that I think could even POSSIBLY smell appetizing to a little mouse, went into the cupboards or solid jars with lids or other indestructible contains.  But mousey is still here, and still hungry... so he starts eating my soy candles! SOY CANDLES!!! REALLY?!!!  I'm at wits end now... this mouse has to go. GAME ON!!

Mousey may be winning the battles, but I WILL win this war.....