Part Poop I
While my parents are in town, I am determined to maximize use of the extra hands. To that end, a dumpster was delivered to my driveway for the week. Today it was filled with yard detritus and various, unworkable and undesirable elements from the garage.
Getting started cleaning out the garage meant digging out my snow tires from the corner. Odys von Pievan is due for a tire changeout. Yes, folks. This is Alaska, and there has been snow in the nearby mountains since the end of September. There's no need to dream of a white Halloween. It's pretty much a given. Anyway, when we pulled the tires out, I dreaded the sight I beheld in the corner. Mice shit. I won't say "mouse shit" because there was too much. Back to the van we went to make sure there were no furry critters in the tires already there. None found, but that didn't make me feel too much better. If there are mice, where are they?? Instead of doing the garage cleaning as planned (i.e., going through teaching boxes and rearranging the backyard toys so both vehicles would fit), the next three hours were spent moving items to inspect the perimeter, sweeping away the multitudes of miniature pellets and looking for food sources.
One cluttered corner showed many signs that the little fuckers had made themselves quite comfortable. The netting for the trampoline stank horridly of rodent piss, and the entire area was bespeckled with crap. And there, in the corner, was the hole. Tomorrow we'll hit the crawl space with traps. Can you detect my excitement? I didn't think so.
After sweeping and bleaching that area, we continued the search for the food source. Did you know that mice like bird seed? The huge bag I bought was spilled behind the yard equipment, intermixed with a plethora of more crap. ugh - They eat and shit in the same place?? Mice are so gross. Once that area was swept and bleached, we straightened up and called it a day. There will be plenty more to do tomorrow.
Part Poop II
After dinner, Jujube did her usual disappearing act. She goes off to play by herself, and reappears in the kitchen smelling horribly. It was bathtime, so I grabbed her to clean her up and get her in the tub. Although I should have learned my lesson ages ago when she pooped in the hallway between her room and the bathroom. Whatev, call me daring. Her changing area is now in the room down the hall from the bathroom, and I carried her bare butt to the bathroom, putting her down and closing the door once there. She went over to the training potty, which is a usual occurence. She'll sit for half a beat, then slam the lid and then try to climb into the tub before getting completely undressed. Today, however, was different. She climbed into the toilet, standing in it doing her little dance for a minute. She then climbed out and sat down. I gave her the potty book, which she wouldn't let me read to her.
I busied myself getting the tub ready, letting her have her moment. When she stood up, I smelled more of that horrible smell. Could it be? Yes, it was! Foul as it was, my little bug pooped in the potty. woooo haaaa!
