Of Dead Mice and Men and Chocolate.

We have had some rodent problems in the motorpool. It's a garage so it's got plenty of places for little mice and bugs and spiders to creep in at night. I don't mind them much. I actually find them funny. We slept over at the motorpool once and had eatten a cookie before bed, leaving the wrapper on a table just above my head. At one point during the night a mouse tried to get to the wrapper and the crumbs it contained by crawling over my blanket. It scared me at first and then I realized what was going on. I put the wrapper on the floor and quitely watched the mouse squeeze inside and eat up all the crumbs. I giggled to myself and fell back to sleep. Later it got into my quaker rice cake that I had left on the desk. I chuckled and thought that I need to be more careful. The same thing happened to a co-worker and he thought traps and poision. I proceeded to talk him out of it, explaining that as long as we had food in the motorpool we would have mice. No matter how many you kill. And the mice were saved to munch another day.
That next monday I was taking out the trash and found a dead mouse in the bottom of the can. Apparently the little guy had jumped in from a near by table for some snacks and after eatting had realized he couldn't get back out again. I was a little sad but he had jumped in himself so I guess it was fair. The heat in the motorpool through the weekend must have done him in. There was a break room around the corner that I'm sad to say doesn't get cleaned well and three offices that have small stashes of food, but the little guy couldn't pass up that trash can. He found a way in, got his reward, and meet his end. All that for a few crumbs.
As I thought about the mouse I thought "we do very similar things". Okay metaphoric similar things but still. We get an idea of what we want, we go through great pains to get it, and sometimes (not all the time, as I'm sure this was not the first daring feat that this mouse had made in the quest for food) we kill ourselves reaching for it. Some how the risks always seem worth it. In love, work, friendship, and family, who wouldn't go to great lenghts to get what they most desire.
Oh, I seem to have left out the contents the little mouse was after. It was a swiss cake roll wrapper. So we all understand the blinding effect chocolate can have on us.

Racoon Rescue Ranger

Some time ago. On a very hot and humid day. I was taking out trash......again. I rolled one of the big shop trash cans out to the dumpster. There was only one can today so I was alone. This is not uncommon.


I lifted the can in front of me and dumped it in. As I lifted the can away to shake it and ensure that all the trash had fallen out I saw a raccoon. I realize now from the look on his face that he was more frightened than me but at first sight I was so startled that I screamed and stumbled back ward. I dropped the can and nearly fell down. I walked back to the office to do the responsible thing, call animal control. When I told them what happened no one cared. I said it was hot and if the raccoon didn't get out he would die. "So" they all replied. I couldn't let that stand.



I marched out to the dumpster determined to find a way to help this little guy out. I look around and find bits to lower in. The first was too short and he fell back in with a chatter. I look again and get a bigger frame piece to lower. He climbed to the top and paused on the edge to give me what I like to think of as a look of thanks. He trotted off and was never seen again. I hope he found some place safe to be. It's nice to do a good thing even if its just for a small animal.

My Nights With The Pagans

I'm not a Pagan. Not really. But when I stumbled across a Pagan group that held meetings and classes once a week I was intrigued. I've been in Oklahoma for about 6 months now and I've made very few friends. I didn't really know how to meet people. I never really have. I am not what you would call socially adept. But these lovely, if a bit odd, people welcomed me. It was nice. I see them once a week and have a very pleasant social outlet. Even though I wouldn't call myself Pagan, not in the strictest sense. I call my spiritual preference "cafeteria style", one guy at the group calls it "eclectic". We talk about everything. Politics, religion, sex, whatever comes up....pardon the pun, totally unintended. I find myself thinking "maybe I am pagan, I do seem to fit."Never having really stamped a title on my God or religious preference I wonder sometimes if there is one for me. Or if a title is even necessary. I'm not really looking for input. Just thinking to myself. Is my desire to remain untitled keeping me from becoming a part of solid social circles?

Ah, having a back log on topics.

I know I've been away a while but I'll be back soon with amazing stories!

Still to come......
How I got hit in the head by a goat.
Mac, hero to Raccoons every where!
Dead Mice and Greed
My nights with the Pagans
The A-Team, and my long time Mr.T infatuation

I don't have time right now but I will very soon.