Mouse Hunt Night #1

So, I put out my glue pads last night to catch my friend Jerry the Mouse. I tried to keep my mind off of it by catching up on my DVR recordings and watching some new shows - but of course, every little creek I heard, I muted it and listened. I went to bed around 10:30 saying, I was going to sleep, I was not going to worry about a little mouse. I left my tv on in my room last night (for some reason I think - maybe that will keep it out of my room), turned my fan on (so I would not hear every creek in the house and freak me out). I dozed, then I would wake up. I looked as the clock ticked away minute after minute, hour after hour. I thought about going to my car to sleep (yes I thought about it), I thought about going to a hotel and I mapped out my plan of how long I am going to sleep at my house this week (I am going to try it tonight and see how it goes - if it doesn't go well - I am either going to Jasper, to the Durant's or to the Lenning's - this is your warning people - get my room ready - I might be coming for a visit). I also mapped out my plan of, if I catch the mouse in my drawer - how I am going to get it out of there. Its one thing for it to be in a cabinet near the floor - I can just get my broom and sweep it up - its another for a drawer - I have to figure out how to get it out of drawer (thanks to Amanda Moon for the dust pan suggestion). Finally around 1:45 AM I watched a little tv, which made me sleepy and calmed my mind and I finally fell asleep a little after 2 AM. I hate that I can't sleep and I let that little thing consume me - but I HATE HATE mice. Everyone has fears and that is one of mine. Just as Brooke W. told me today - "mice are Satan with tails"!

When that alarm went off this morning, boy was it tough to get up. I did my normal routine. I looked in my closet where I had glue pad #1 - nothing (which I knew since I didn't hear the mouse screaming cause it was stuck). Went to the kitchen to turn on my coffee pot (because goodness knows I need a lot of caffeine after only getting 3.5 hours sleep) and checked my other two - nothing - again not surprised.

So, I can only hope and pray that when I get home today I will have a surprise waiting on me - a dead mouse. Or I pray he is gone where he came from -back outside.

A Mouse In The House!

UGGGG! I have a mouse somewhere in my house...I HATE, HATE, HATE them! I opened my silverware drawer this morning and found the lovely traces of rat poop everywhere! It had gotten into my little packets of ketchup and all in the silverware. All the way to work I was thinking - I need a cat!!

Lets go back to November, 2005, week before Thanksgiving, I was laying on my couch enjoying my Christmas tree and I see a mouse run across my floor. I set out traps everywhere, called the exterminator and moved out of my house for a week. I couldn't sleep since they were stationed under my bed. Literally thought I was having a nervous breakdown (sounds dramatic I know - but it was horrible)! I caught 6 on the glue traps. Disgusting! Since then I have had a deep fear of mice. Sounds make me look around, I rarely sit in the dark watching tv (since that was when I saw them the first time) - I despise them.

So, needless to say when I saw them this morning - I was sick! I have searched my house and only found traces in that one cabinet. Hopefully it has left where it came in. I have set new glue traps in that cabinet, washed all of my silverware and am looking around at every sound and sitting on my couch with the lights on! :)

Ever had mice before? Any suggestions I do not know about? I need help!

Remembering Nick...

16 years ago today Heaven got a very special gift...

He will forever be young, forever be part of our lives, forever be part of our hearts, forever be loved and forever missed.

Fabulous Meal

I got my latest Kraft Food and Family magazine last week. I tore out a few recipes, went to the grocery store and got ingredients for a few meals. I made this one last night and it was WONDERFUL!!

Its a must try!!

Note: I used spaghetti noodles instead of capellini and I used onion, basil and garlic out of the non fresh aisle (out of a shaker) I also used an entire small bottle of the dressing - I kept on adding more to keep the mixture wet.

Capellini Caprese

Prep Time:10 min
Total Time:25 min

Makes:4 servings, 1-1/2 cups each

What You Need:
1/2 lb. capellini or spaghetti, uncooked
1/2 cup KRAFT Tuscan House Italian Dressing and Marinade
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups halved grape or cherry tomatoes
1 cup KRAFT Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
1/3 cup fresh basil, finely sliced

Make It:
COOK pasta as directed on package.
MEANWHILE, heat dressing in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic; cook and stir 2 min. Add tomatoes; cook 5 min. or until heated through, stirring occasionally.
DRAIN pasta. Add to tomato mixture; mix lightly. Sprinkle with cheese and basil.

YUM!!

Finally Uploaded Cruise Photos!!!

I have been really lazy in uploading cruise photos....so here goes...

Isn't that beautiful?

A house in Progresso

Store front in Progresso

Carnival in Progresso

Mexican Post Office

Mexican Cokes and Salsa and Chips in Progresso

Beach in Cozymel

Mayan Ruins in Cozymel

Dinner time...

No Water...

I woke up this morning, did my normal routine, and went to turn the shower on...water, then no water...WHAT? No water? What is going on? I went to my sink...no water. I flushed my toilet...flushed, but then didn't fill up. GREAT! No water in the house. Called the big ole Hayden Town Hall, we haven't heard of any problems. I went to the neighbors house - no water either. My mind immediately goes into overdrive. I didn't see any pipe burst evidence in my house, I paid my bill, then what is it?? Call Hayden Town Hall again - its a leak somewhere in my neighborhood...and we do not know when your water will be back on...great!

So, as I sit here - still not at work mind you- here is a list to remind you how wonderful having water is.

• You can flush the toilet - lets face it - when you cannot - blah!
• You can take a shower - as I type this - I a) feel nasty, b) smell, c) look gross
• You can brush your teeth - need I say more?
• You can drink water - everyone needs their 8 glasses a day
• You can cook with water, make coffee, etc.
• You can make ice - hot diet coke - gross!
• You can water your grass - if you are in a drought
• You can wash your car - which I never do
• You can wash your laundry - which thankfully I did last night
• You can wash dishes
• You can wash your hands - lets be sanitary please

Water - Don't take it for granted!!

Remembering...

Where were you seven years ago today? I was sitting in my car in the parking lot at work, listening to Mark Prater on the Rick and Bubba Show when he said, "wow, the World Trade Center is on fire". I ran up to our office, turned on the tv in the board room and alerted everyone about what was going on. We gathered around and watched in horror as the second plane hit the other tower. We, like the rest of the world, were shocked, terrified, hurt, sad, so many emotions running through our mind.

The day drug by watching and listening to the horror what was going on in NYC, Washington and PA. I wanted to leave work, I wanted to go, be with my family and just be together. Everyone needed to be around the people they loved that night. Tracy was in school at Buffalo, so far away from everyone. I know she was so lonely and sad up there. I remember being amazed that every channel on the tv and every radio station was on the coverage of 9/11, MTV, Home Shopping Channel, everything but the children's channels. Churches were filled that Sunday, American flags were flying everywhere, blood banks had people lined down the road. The world stopped that day, that week, that month.

Now seven years have gone by. The pain isn't as deep as it once was. It doesn't seem as as important day as it was six years ago after the first, second or even third anniversary. Yes, some flags still fly at half staff, there are still some ceremonies across the country, but its not the lead story on the news, they do not have a moment of silence like they used to. Today it was talk of lice, mortgages, and cooking during the moment of silence. People have forgotten, do not seem to care or want to forget the horror of that day.

This morning, seven years later, I was driving to work listening to Rick and Bubba. As they replayed the montage of that day, I could not help but think about where I was, the lives that were lost, and the sacrifices our soldiers have made for us. I could not help but cry for the lives lost, the children without dads and moms and the memories of that day. I hope we never forget or take the date of September 11 for granted. And I pray our country will be never have to experience a terror like that again.