Rounding out the day: A Second Post, and Projection of Future Self

I spent the majority of my day plotting how to rid my house of mice. (Insert ax, bomb, pointy knife, noose, etc. here). If you're rather protective of mice, please note: I'm interested in getting rid of the ones IN my house, not on the entire planet. Mouse Death in moderation, dear friends.

Nature Google for my peace loving side suggested that I implement an essential oil such as peppermint or eucalyptus. Because mint will dry up breastmilk production, we have none in our home, but eucalyptus I do have. Ahem, DID.

A message board writer mentioned that mice hate Bounce dryer sheets. Bounce is a dollar or so out of my budget, so I grabbed the Kroger brand and doused several (fifteen-twenty) of those bad boys in eucalyptus oil and placed them strategically around my kitchen and in the attic.

I then implemented PHASE II: If You Don't Leave, Fine, Here's a Snap Trap with Peanut Butter. Phasers set from stun to kill, homies.

Phase III is where I fiddle while Rome burns.

In all seriousness, Phase III will be me going to the Container Store and purchasing thick plastic storage containers for the pasta, rice, flour, sugar, cereal, and cat food. I imagine a truly dedicated rat could gnaw through a tightly-sealed plastic container, but in the interest of a toddler who may grow several feet in height overnight (as they are prone to do), I thought thick plastic sounded better. Plus, I drop things all the time being clumsy as hell.

The next topic of address in my writing prompts is me in seven years. Let me tell you what I DON'T want to be still doing in seven years: Waging World War Freakin' III on the mouse population. If I had to guess, I will still be teaching and going strong. I will have decided on a hair color by then and will have found my sense of style. I will be running (NOT walking) races to the tune of at least 3 per year. With any luck, my student loans will be long paid off, and I will have a successful side project selling something that I create (art, food, tales of wonder) online for spare change. That's about all I want to currently imagine. Something tells me, I don't want to speculate whether my cat(s) will still be alive. And now since I've saddened myself with thoughts of cat companion death, I'm going for a 5k walk around my 'hood.

Peace, y'all.