We recently discovered little bits of the rubber lining from the garage door all over the floor. They had been chewed up by something…
That was a bit unsettling.
Hubs cleaned up the mess, taped the area that had been chewed with duck tape, and we decided to keep the door shut at all times.
That made me feel better for about a hot minute! Instead of thinking how this did not seem like a solution, I decided to block it out. That works much better.
The next morning I checked the area and sure enough all those little bits of chewed up rubber, and now tape, were back. It was safe to say whatever it was, it was INSIDE my garage, so keeping the door shut “at all times” was not really helping me, or it.
I couldn’t help but think…
So help me God, if whatever this is, gets in my house…
Forget about the normal emotions one might have about a mystery creature eating their garage door. I mean, no one would like that. Is it a big animal? A small one? rat? mouse? snake? A snake with teeth that chews? Maybe!
Although the idea of this animal or thing or whatever is giving me the heebie jeebies, I’m more concerned with my son finding out, or worse, this thing getting inside the house. If either of those two things happen, then I know it could be a time bomb waiting to explode. OCD does not need a good reason to cause trouble, and you better watch out when it does actually have a good reason, and I think some disease carrying mystery rodent is a damn good reason.
*****
Hubs at Lowe’s: Should I get a trap or poison?
Me: Oh my God! A trap! If it eats the poison and crawls somewhere in the garage to die it’s going to smell terrible and we will be on the hunt for some decaying smelly snake with teeth.
Hubs: Honey, it’s not a snake. Snakes don’t chew.
Me: whatever.
Hubs: OK, a trap. Should I get like a snap trap or a cage trap.
Me: I don’t want to kill it.
Hubs: Well, what do you want to do with it?
Me: I don’t know, but I don’t want mystery guts in my garage and I really don’t want to kill it. That’s mean.
I started to wonder about the little guy’s family. Were they looking for him? Was he lost? Was he cute? Was he a HE? Now I was beginning to be less scared for me and more scared for this mystery guy in my garage. A trap sounded so final and all Disney movie tragedy-ish.
Me: Get something humane. I’m sure his family is looking for him.
Hubs: {laughter} You think?
Call me crazy, but I think he’s kind of cute.
I wonder what he was thinking?
“Hey, guys sorry about the door, but I really need to get home…”
Going home…
Hubs got home from work, and took him across the street to the area he suspected he belonged. He mentioned seeing some field mice across the street. Great.
There’s a phone tower and some secret underground room that the phone guys come to everyday. There’s a huge generator, and other crazy stuff. We always joke and call it the Portal to Another Dimension. If I tell about this now, I won’t have a blog post about it later. The story is worthy of a blog post.
Anyway, hubs thinks he lives there, and guess what?
Sure enough! Somebody was waiting for him.
And off he went…A reunion!
Let this be a lesson.
Life is like a Disney movie.
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I always think they are cute, too! What a great family reunion story.
Janet recently posted..MtR: He’s that good!
Twitter: themommymess
says:
He was cute! Poor guy! I can do without his long creepy tail, but his little face is super cute.
Adrienne recently posted..PETA would be proud!
It’s nice to know that life IS like a Disney movie. Yay!
Now, where’s my tiara?
Alison@Mama Wants This recently posted..Shit I Did As A Teenager
Twitter: themommymess
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I know, right?!
Adrienne recently posted..PETA would be proud!
You are so much kinder than me. THAT is my biggest fear! I have many posts dedicated to my battle with the mice that have taken up residence here. I think we finally got rid of them but I’ll never feel completely safe here. How in the world you managed to make this a cute story is a testament to your story-telling/blogging abilities. Even your pictures made it look like it could be a Disney story.
AnnMarie recently posted..Camera Woes
Twitter: themommymess
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Haha! I’m waiting for them to call me with the script!
Adrienne recently posted..PETA would be proud!
AWW yay! He found his family. Glad it was something cute and not a big ol’ gross snake. I would have been freaking out either way.
Erin recently posted..Our Story Part 4 . . . The Valentine Card
Twitter: themommymess
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I was originally freaked out, but he was cute!
Adrienne recently posted..PETA would be proud!
Snake with teeth? (I confess, I’d have worried the very same thing!)
So glad he found his family. And think of the story HE gets to tell!
Kimberly recently posted..Robin Roberts – MDS Diagnosis
Twitter: themommymess
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Can you even imagine what his story might have been?
Adrienne recently posted..PETA would be proud!
Twitter: mwedwards
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Too funny! You have a great way of telling a story! Love the captions on the pictures too …
Melissa recently posted.."Be Boring (It’s the only way to get work done)"
Twitter: themommymess
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Haha! Thanks, Meilssa!
Adrienne recently posted..PETA would be proud!
I love that you used a humane trap. And you are right. Had he died in your wall, it would have smelled terrible.
My parents had a bunny that climbed up through their basement. It stayed in their living room for several days. They had no idea what was pooping all over the place.
Liz @ShiftlessMommie recently posted..Serious Relationship
Twitter: themommymess
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A long time ago I learned my lesson about poison. We had a giant, scary, gross rat at a house about 12 years ago. It was freakin’ disgusting! AND EVERYTHING you would imagine a scary to be. Well, sure enough, we didn’t know better, and it crawled down tin the walls…not cool.
Adrienne recently posted..PETA would be proud!
Your husband is a very patient man.
We once had a mouse that somehow climbed into our oven. One night we cooked tater tots and they just did not smell right. many nights later we discovered why. I will never eat tater tots again…
Bill Dameron recently posted..Object of my Desire
Twitter: themommymess
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Bill,
This comment made me LOL last night when I saw it. YES. Patient is the word. He’s pretty awesome to put up with my does of crazy everyday! I put up with my fair share too, don’t let me fool you into thinking it’s not give and take around here.
Adrienne recently posted..PETA would be proud!
I once stepped into the shower and discovered a rat in there. Now, I am not really afraid of most anything, but naked in the shower with an unexpected rat sort of creeped me out.
Jumped out, grabbed a towel and a box but there was no reunion. You are definitely kinder than me.
Jack@TheJackB recently posted..Those Three Words
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Now THAT would have put me in the hospital from heart failure for sure! RATS are not cute!
Adrienne recently posted..PETA would be proud!
Wasps decided they could get into a hole in the side of my house (where the window flashing should have been…sigh…) In two years we had two wasps nest inside the WALLS of my daughters bedroom. Thankfully Strata paid for all the repairs since our house has warranty, but what a pain in my behind!
I’m glad you got rid of your little pest!
Carrie recently posted..Kreativ Blogger Award!
Twitter: themommymess
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We were so nice that I’m wondering if he’s coming back? Like Ratatouille. OMG! Then he could cook for me and stuff. Yes, please!
Adrienne recently posted..PETA would be proud!
He is kind of cute. I definitely wouldn’t want it in my garage, though!
Karen recently posted..Self Esteem
Twitter: themommymess
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Yeah, I like him best across the street.
I am not a fan of mice…. not at all. I don’t know what it is but they creep me out!
Jackie recently posted..Strep & Squirrels
Twitter: themommymess
says:
I was pretty scared at first. The not knowing what it was was worse than seeing him.
you’re a better person than me…I would have set all sorts of traps and killed them…it’s from watching too much Infested on Animal Planet maybe…
and you’re site looks fantastic! I’ve been reading mostly in my google reader, so I haven’t actually been here in a while…
Not a Perfect Mom recently posted..Michelle Duggar Has More Sex Than I Do
Twitter: themommymess
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Haha! I don’t know, I would much rather see a live mouse than a squished up dead one! I’m glad you like the new design!!
I just want you to know that I have a rodent phobia and yet I read your whole post photos and all. That’s how much I like ya
I like the humane traps too. I admire you!
Pish Posh recently posted..Top 5 Funny Finds – Finding the Funny
Twitter: themommymess
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Awww! Thanks, sweet girl! I just hope he doesn’t come back!
I don’t know if I could do this!
JDaniel4′s Mom recently posted..Playing Outside: Chalk
Twitter: themommymess
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Haha! I couldn’t have done ANY of it without my husband. I’m glad he puts up with me.
Thank you for reaffirming my idea that life is just like a Disney movie. I am always torn when it comes to mice, they are so cute but I don’t want them anywhere near me.
Barbara recently posted..Parenting 101
Twitter: themommymess
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I’m with you on that! I really hope he doesn’t come back. But, he might have told all of his friends about the celery and peanut butter we left in his trap.
Twitter: ateachablemom
says:
Oh, how I hate rodents – definitely one of my biggest fears! You handled this with such grace and good humor. I also loved how you and your husband worked together to solve this. Somehow I would have made a rodent in the garage my husband’s fault – he’s lucky that way!
Mary Nelligan recently posted..Two Girls On The Run From Expectations
Twitter: themommymess
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Haha! It was the highlight of the week here.
OMG, he may be cute but I wouldn’t want him as a house guest.
Julia recently posted..It Was Home