Monday, November 12, 2012
Capturing a Mouse and Shop-Giving
With my one and half year old son, duly by my side, last Thursday, an errant mouse had entered our apartment. We keep our windows closed -, so that sets up for a potential hole somewhere in the apartment - where, I am not sure. It was not so much the setting down of the glue traps that made me nervous or concerned, it was the fact that mice carry viruses specifically the hantavirus which can cause asthma in small children and I know was affecting my respiratory system. I was on a mission to get that mouse. How is hantavirus caused - who knows, but it comes with those cute things called mice. None which will ever be welcomed in my humble abode.
The first night, Thursday, when we spotted the mouse, it was moving so slow across the living space to underneath my desk in the foyer (yes, our apartment is that small - but well organized), that I thought I could just smack it and stun it and then put it back outside or in front of any of my complaining neighboring apartments who have complained about us leaving our son's big wheel outside of the night). Anyhow, upon positive identification, I had nothing in sight to whack the mouse, and in my hysteria (not about the mouse - I am ok with getting rid of rodents), the hysteria of the potential health effects (current or latent) that it may occur, the mouse disappeared, most likely into the bedroom. I was so angry that I went on tirade and started to further organize the apartment - so in this case, the invasion of the rodent was actually a small blessing in disguise. I went out to dinner, by myself, to cool down and plotted my strategy. I needed time to think.
Well, the next morning, I had laid out at least 15 glue traps with what my wife had found as n alleged obvious mouse lure to put on the traps, almond butter. We figured it was a NYC mouse, it won't go for just JIFs or Skippys, we needed a step up, something gourmet. By Saturday, I was incredibly frustrated. The mouse not only did not go for the sweet smelling almond butter, but it had harden up making it not only less of an attraction to the mouse but it just looked gross.
In my efforts to teach my son to conserve energy and keep the world a safer place and cleaner place, I have gone on a mission to recycle whatever bottle that I use. I look at all water bottles as 5 c. now. I have probably brought back at least $50 dollars worth of bottles over time which I put the proceeds in his college fund. It's not the amount, or even the time it takes me to take back the bottles (of note, you have to take the bottles back especially if they are stored label, CVS, Rite Aid Water, etc. to the same store - so it can take some time) Anyhow, I stopped off at my closest Grocers who actually sends one of their attendants to watch you to put the bottles in to make sure you are not trying to sneak one in that is not ONE that they take - its sort of like the reverse of shoplifting - its shopgiving and in this case, you can't give back to the shop, bottles that they don't take. So, I had 20 bottles - they took about 11, I then saw a few were clearly CVS' seltzer and Rite Aid...so off I went to CVS, and then I went next, with another 5 bottles finally Rite Aid, and one bottle that was a freebie (that just went into a recycling bin). I tell you this, not to share with you mind numbing extensive experience to get back $1 for your child's kid fund, but to let you know, then when capturing mouse, you need to get outside and think especially if it has been more than two days since positive identification of spotting one in your apartment.
While my son is only one and half, I thought it was OK to buy the traps that snaps off their head - I have to admit, I was mad, I was feeling a bit defeated, I am typically, in the past in past apartments, a pretty good mouse catcher, in under two hours, no mouse that has entered any premise that I currently or once resided, ever made it to the next day - this one had not only made it to the next day but was hosting on all kinds of things most likely and spreading potentially disease and destruction in the future. So, I found these different kind of traps that traps the mouse and at the same time, were my son to investigate it, it would not snap off his finger or any part of his hand or toe/foot and I placed them strategically next to the glue traps - I figured if the trap did not work, and the mouse nibbled on the trap that did not click, he would then fall into the glue trap in trying to escape what he thought was a pretty good maneuver - in short, you had to set up two lines of defense to out think the mouse - never, never underestimate your opponent even if, yes, it's a mouse. I also bought taco bell packet of cheese. All at Rite Aid and I bought sugar wafers (I need some comfort food as I had up to that point failed to capture the mouse - wafers make me feel good). I figured perhaps he likes just plain gooey cheese and that is what I would use next. I arrived home and I put the cheese on top of all the harden now wasted almond butter and reset all the traps.
Sunday morning came, I excitedly woke up to look at all the traps and of course, the mouse was not to be found. My son then tried to climb down the bed (inside the bed) from the headboard and that is when my wife demanded that she heard scurrying. I leaped up - You mean to tell me, I said to my wife, that the mouse has the audacity to sleep with the family too - he knew no bounds. I was irate. Yet, to my wife's credit, the bedroom with music going and cardboard boxes to munch on underneath the bed, made for a four season suite for a mouse. If I were a mouse, I'd probably head for underneath the bed too - at least in this apartment. Well, now I went about and set up triple lines of defense of mouse traps around the sideboards of the bed (away from my son so he could not touch them). I was so certain that if the mouse was underneath the bed, I would get him. We then left the apartment to go to an indoor kids' concert. Upon return, I checked the bedroom, no mouse. I actually then lifted up the mattress and the box spring and looked physically underneath the bed - NO mouse..there was really no where else to hide. The mouse was either there and had moved cleverly or was not there, never was there, at some point there, but now was somewhere else. I was miffed.
I laid down a new line of defense in the kitchen. At this point, I had surmised that if the mouse was anywhere he was in the live space or kitchen behind the stove so I laid out traps on both side of the stove. We went to my brother-in-law's for dinner. I came home. I was so exhausted, I went to sleep on the couch.
Around 4AM Monday morning, my son wakes for his mid-morning milk feeding. I know why Dad's go bald now. I go to the kitchen and I see the mouse has been caught. I was ecstatic. I rushed our oson back to his mother and got him milk and took pictures to show it was caught for management (to ensure that they did not think I was bluffing) As an aside, management rarely believes anything by a tenant and vica-versa until they have to believe. Pictures don't lie.
I am not convinced that there may be others and I am certain the back of the stove needs to be holed up - exterminators coming on Tuesday. I guess the way that the mouse was caught tells me he came back into the kitchen because he was going into the direction to go back underneath the stove as oppose leaving from the stove to hunt for more food. All this makes me sick inside because my number one priority is to maintain a clean and healthy environment for my son and for three days we had this mouse holding us hostage in our own apartment making it inhabitable. If we lived on a farm, ok, but we don't.
As, I put my son back to bed, he did say for the first time, in much less garble, Goodnight Dad.
And a book that I read to him often, Good Night Moon, has a section that says, "good night mouse in it" -- so, I will conclude instead with good bye, mouse.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Save the Date Saturday 25th of September - LBG's 100th Day Pre-Birth DAY...
Dear Uncle Frank and Aunts Judi, Johnny, and Lake,
It's been a long two days since I wrote you last. I know you are all very busy this weekend, but if you are around, Mom and Dad and are throwing me a 100th day pre-birthday party. Although technically I have not been born yet, in the traditional sense of the word, I have been working pretty hard in making myself in the image of Mom and Dad - both incredibly flattered that I chose them to fashion myself in their image - especially big fat Dad. Anyhow, on Saturday, 25th of September, the entire London Terrace Apartment is have their Annual Street Fair but Dad called them and told them about my 100 day pre-birthday party so they are re-naming the fair in honor of me this year. Now entitled the LBG London Terrace Street Fair. I am very honored to have been named the grand master of the fair. I also thought this was a clever idea because when is the next time that you get to celebrate 100 except when you are 100 years old and by then, I will probably not be as spritely and child-like as I am now. Though my Great-Grandfather on my Mom's side (her grandfather) lived to 97. Wow. So, I do have a pretty good shot of living 100 years and seeing January 1, 2111. I know it sounds freaky. In 2111, Dad will be close to 143 then, he will be one OLD MAN in every sense of the word and Mom will be 134 and if I wait as long as Dad waited to have me, then my children will probably see 2154. So, to sum this up, since Dad was on the slow track to having children, his grandchildren may still have a picture of him nearly 200 years after his birth or whatever device that we will have then to hold pictures, images, photos, etc. Ok, now that I sufficiently freaked everyone out with my view on numerology and mortality, I am in need of a story from Dad, so good night to all and I hope some of you will come celebrate my 100th day pre-BIRTH day party on Saturday.
Love you all,
LBG
It's been a long two days since I wrote you last. I know you are all very busy this weekend, but if you are around, Mom and Dad and are throwing me a 100th day pre-birthday party. Although technically I have not been born yet, in the traditional sense of the word, I have been working pretty hard in making myself in the image of Mom and Dad - both incredibly flattered that I chose them to fashion myself in their image - especially big fat Dad. Anyhow, on Saturday, 25th of September, the entire London Terrace Apartment is have their Annual Street Fair but Dad called them and told them about my 100 day pre-birthday party so they are re-naming the fair in honor of me this year. Now entitled the LBG London Terrace Street Fair. I am very honored to have been named the grand master of the fair. I also thought this was a clever idea because when is the next time that you get to celebrate 100 except when you are 100 years old and by then, I will probably not be as spritely and child-like as I am now. Though my Great-Grandfather on my Mom's side (her grandfather) lived to 97. Wow. So, I do have a pretty good shot of living 100 years and seeing January 1, 2111. I know it sounds freaky. In 2111, Dad will be close to 143 then, he will be one OLD MAN in every sense of the word and Mom will be 134 and if I wait as long as Dad waited to have me, then my children will probably see 2154. So, to sum this up, since Dad was on the slow track to having children, his grandchildren may still have a picture of him nearly 200 years after his birth or whatever device that we will have then to hold pictures, images, photos, etc. Ok, now that I sufficiently freaked everyone out with my view on numerology and mortality, I am in need of a story from Dad, so good night to all and I hope some of you will come celebrate my 100th day pre-BIRTH day party on Saturday.
Love you all,
LBG
One Friend Until Week 14
Dear Uncle Frank and Aunt Judi and Aunt Johnny,
Just to keep you update, Mom and Dad shared with Mom's side of the family on Friday night the news of my soon to be arrival. It was kind of fascinating to feel the response as I can not yet really tell you how it went, I am going to let my Dad explain it best since he's a fairly good story teller...but I will be better - he - he - anything to agitate my Dad :).
So, Dad and Mom set me up as a New Year's Gift to my other cousins and had the oldest cousin, Ben, read the proclamation, here's a copy pasted within. They all gave them all these glow-in-the dark glasses - you know the chakas that you receive at Bar Mitzvah - knowing my Dad, he will hand out certificates or coupons to his business, anyhow, as they all sat around the kid's table and the adults were at the adult table including ME, Ben read the following:
A GOLDEN GOLDING GIFT
Dear Ben, Alex, Jedidah, Eben, Gideon, and Joseph:
Your Rosh Hashanah gift from Aunt Amy and Uncle Blake will arrive in about six months. We believe this will be a very cool gift, but like all good things that come, you must wait as it is currently in production. It is the only one of its kind. This particular gift already knows that Ben went to Israel and is excellent at taking photographs; and that Alex can recite the entire Haggadah in order without notes; and that Jedidah enjoys coffee and krumpets (or at least he will at some time in his life), that Eben is an excellent builder and his favorite superheroes are Batman and Spiderman, and Gideon is so smart that he can rhyme words and loves to dance and sing; and Joseph is excellent in sports and understands two languages.
You will find this gift will bring you much happiness and joy and will be a part of your lives forever.
Your 5771 New Year’s Gift is a new cousin and looks forward to seeing all of you soon.
After it was read, the kids all sat there in amazement and my Safta (the name that we call Amy's Mom) said, Amy is going to have baby. All the adults got up and hugged and kissed my Mom and Dad. I felt loved. First Uncle Steve (Amy's Sister's Husband), gave my Mom a kiss and my Dad, a big Hug and his typical sophomoric humor said, "Are you sure that you are the Dad?" to my Dad, but then apologized later". My Dad took it in stride. Aunt Helene kissed both my Mom and Dad. Then Uncle Michael and Aunt Elissa gave both my Mom and Dad kisses and hugs. Safta by this time had explained to my cousins that I would be joining the cousin crew in about six months and then they all jumped up and got excited. Of course, Alex, the only girl cousin wanted me to be a girl, but all the boy cousins wanted me to be a boy. I am going with my Dad's intuition who believes I am going to be a boy. In any event, Alex, who is about six years old, then yelled out, "Jedidah (who is Uncle's Michael's youngest child at 1 yr and 2 month), is going to have a friend." Safta said that they will all be my friends. Then, Alex chimed in, yes, but he will have someone to play with that is his own age." No question I am going to be in the company of some pretty smart cousins. Oddly, Jedidah somehow must have understood as I, too, am able to write my thoughts through my Dad because when ever anyone other than his parents would hold him, he would cry loudly, but when Aunt Amy held him, he was having a great time as if he knew he had a friend in Amy (literary and figuratively). Danny, whose son is Joseph, and is related by being the son of one Saba's Sisters, also shed tears and called his wife who could not join the evening annoucements. After Mazel Tovs and so forth, Saba (what we call Eduardo as grandchildren), opened up a Johnny Walker Golden Label Scotch and Saba, Second Cousin Danny, Uncle Michael, Uncle Steve, and Dad had a glass.
Dad got up and made a toast to both my Mom and to family and thanked everyone for their love and support and looked forward to having me be a part of this wonderful world and life. Then Mom kissed Dad and I was in the interim, busy away, working on the maintenance of my body, building upon my fingernails and toenails and other areas that I have to make sure are working soundly and fine. Of course, I took a moment, and thanked Mom and Dad for bringing me into this world and letting me be a part of this wonderful thing called Life and then, like Dad, I went right back to work to building myself and making myself stronger, trying to figure out the English language before I am born. Both Saba and Safta think Dad is going to be a tough but good parent. I think so too but he is so goofy with his other nephews and nieces, and I get to have that type of goofiness around me all the time while I am growing up so I am sure his sense of humor will rub off on me.
Anyhow, Mom and Dad and me decided that in about two more weeks, you can start to share the news of me with everyone and anyone that you wish that you hold dear to your heart. In the interim, if you wish to share it with one other person that you hold most dear outside of our family, you may do so too between now and week 14 which ends around Sep 23. So, we go very public on September 25th.
Well, that was pretty much it. Mom and me are now in the bedroom back in Manhattan. She is sleeping while I am building myself. Dad is well writing my thoughts until some day I can write them myself.
Oh, Mom got Dad a book about Birthing Partners - knowing Dad, he will read it from cover to cover and then follow his own strategy.
Love all of you.
Just to keep you update, Mom and Dad shared with Mom's side of the family on Friday night the news of my soon to be arrival. It was kind of fascinating to feel the response as I can not yet really tell you how it went, I am going to let my Dad explain it best since he's a fairly good story teller...but I will be better - he - he - anything to agitate my Dad :).
So, Dad and Mom set me up as a New Year's Gift to my other cousins and had the oldest cousin, Ben, read the proclamation, here's a copy pasted within. They all gave them all these glow-in-the dark glasses - you know the chakas that you receive at Bar Mitzvah - knowing my Dad, he will hand out certificates or coupons to his business, anyhow, as they all sat around the kid's table and the adults were at the adult table including ME, Ben read the following:
A GOLDEN GOLDING GIFT
Dear Ben, Alex, Jedidah, Eben, Gideon, and Joseph:
Your Rosh Hashanah gift from Aunt Amy and Uncle Blake will arrive in about six months. We believe this will be a very cool gift, but like all good things that come, you must wait as it is currently in production. It is the only one of its kind. This particular gift already knows that Ben went to Israel and is excellent at taking photographs; and that Alex can recite the entire Haggadah in order without notes; and that Jedidah enjoys coffee and krumpets (or at least he will at some time in his life), that Eben is an excellent builder and his favorite superheroes are Batman and Spiderman, and Gideon is so smart that he can rhyme words and loves to dance and sing; and Joseph is excellent in sports and understands two languages.
You will find this gift will bring you much happiness and joy and will be a part of your lives forever.
Your 5771 New Year’s Gift is a new cousin and looks forward to seeing all of you soon.
After it was read, the kids all sat there in amazement and my Safta (the name that we call Amy's Mom) said, Amy is going to have baby. All the adults got up and hugged and kissed my Mom and Dad. I felt loved. First Uncle Steve (Amy's Sister's Husband), gave my Mom a kiss and my Dad, a big Hug and his typical sophomoric humor said, "Are you sure that you are the Dad?" to my Dad, but then apologized later". My Dad took it in stride. Aunt Helene kissed both my Mom and Dad. Then Uncle Michael and Aunt Elissa gave both my Mom and Dad kisses and hugs. Safta by this time had explained to my cousins that I would be joining the cousin crew in about six months and then they all jumped up and got excited. Of course, Alex, the only girl cousin wanted me to be a girl, but all the boy cousins wanted me to be a boy. I am going with my Dad's intuition who believes I am going to be a boy. In any event, Alex, who is about six years old, then yelled out, "Jedidah (who is Uncle's Michael's youngest child at 1 yr and 2 month), is going to have a friend." Safta said that they will all be my friends. Then, Alex chimed in, yes, but he will have someone to play with that is his own age." No question I am going to be in the company of some pretty smart cousins. Oddly, Jedidah somehow must have understood as I, too, am able to write my thoughts through my Dad because when ever anyone other than his parents would hold him, he would cry loudly, but when Aunt Amy held him, he was having a great time as if he knew he had a friend in Amy (literary and figuratively). Danny, whose son is Joseph, and is related by being the son of one Saba's Sisters, also shed tears and called his wife who could not join the evening annoucements. After Mazel Tovs and so forth, Saba (what we call Eduardo as grandchildren), opened up a Johnny Walker Golden Label Scotch and Saba, Second Cousin Danny, Uncle Michael, Uncle Steve, and Dad had a glass.
Dad got up and made a toast to both my Mom and to family and thanked everyone for their love and support and looked forward to having me be a part of this wonderful world and life. Then Mom kissed Dad and I was in the interim, busy away, working on the maintenance of my body, building upon my fingernails and toenails and other areas that I have to make sure are working soundly and fine. Of course, I took a moment, and thanked Mom and Dad for bringing me into this world and letting me be a part of this wonderful thing called Life and then, like Dad, I went right back to work to building myself and making myself stronger, trying to figure out the English language before I am born. Both Saba and Safta think Dad is going to be a tough but good parent. I think so too but he is so goofy with his other nephews and nieces, and I get to have that type of goofiness around me all the time while I am growing up so I am sure his sense of humor will rub off on me.
Anyhow, Mom and Dad and me decided that in about two more weeks, you can start to share the news of me with everyone and anyone that you wish that you hold dear to your heart. In the interim, if you wish to share it with one other person that you hold most dear outside of our family, you may do so too between now and week 14 which ends around Sep 23. So, we go very public on September 25th.
Well, that was pretty much it. Mom and me are now in the bedroom back in Manhattan. She is sleeping while I am building myself. Dad is well writing my thoughts until some day I can write them myself.
Oh, Mom got Dad a book about Birthing Partners - knowing Dad, he will read it from cover to cover and then follow his own strategy.
Love all of you.
Shared News
Dear Uncle Frank and Aunt Judi and Johnny,
Dad Blake and Mom Amy shared my pending arrival in about a half of year with Great Aunt Winnie, and Second Cousin Deborah and Judas and third cousin, Adam.
Tonight, they will share the news with my other Aunts and Uncles and cousins on Mom Amy's side in Allentown.
Thank Goodness, my Dad has a good memory because I will have 4 Uncles and 6 Aunts, 1 Great Aunt, and six cousins not including second and third cousins.
Anyhow, I wanted to wish my favorite Uncle and favorite two Aunts -(yea, my Dad said I should not pick favorites, but he then also told me that if I had to pick favorites, which ones would they be, and so I chose with some prodding by him to pick the three of you) a Happy New Year.
All I can tell you is that I felt the vibrations from the Shofar and I have to say that is pretty cool though Uncle Frank you'll have to explain to me why we blow from a ram's horn.
It's going to be a great new year and I can't wait to play with all of you soon.
Love from my parents.
Dad Blake and Mom Amy shared my pending arrival in about a half of year with Great Aunt Winnie, and Second Cousin Deborah and Judas and third cousin, Adam.
Tonight, they will share the news with my other Aunts and Uncles and cousins on Mom Amy's side in Allentown.
Thank Goodness, my Dad has a good memory because I will have 4 Uncles and 6 Aunts, 1 Great Aunt, and six cousins not including second and third cousins.
Anyhow, I wanted to wish my favorite Uncle and favorite two Aunts -(yea, my Dad said I should not pick favorites, but he then also told me that if I had to pick favorites, which ones would they be, and so I chose with some prodding by him to pick the three of you) a Happy New Year.
All I can tell you is that I felt the vibrations from the Shofar and I have to say that is pretty cool though Uncle Frank you'll have to explain to me why we blow from a ram's horn.
It's going to be a great new year and I can't wait to play with all of you soon.
Love from my parents.
From Your Beautiful Baby
Hi Mom,
For your eyes only - for now. Thank you for taking such good care of me. I have a big smile and a big powerful heart thanks to Dad and you. Please continue to drink eight glasses of water per day and eat all right servings from the Pregnancy Diet Book that Dad sent you yesterday.
I love you both very much and I am having a great time inside of Camp Mom and Each week, I am getting bigger and stronger. Please continue to massage your tummy so I can feel the vibrations from your hands and it helps me grow even bigger and more healthy.
Please have Dad read the dictionary to me so I can say more than just the five basic baby sounds when I see Dad and you on the outside. I also like 70's and classical music - please play some on your tummy for me.
I can't wait to show you both my next picture of me in about 12 weeks. I am the first new Golding to be born soon in the 21st century. I am totally ready to take this world by storm.
Thanks to Daddy who I know is a bit of a Tornado, you can expect me to be a Tornado x 10 :)).
Please start looking into Harvard for me. I plan to enter at the age 14.
Do not tell Dad to worry, I will either get a scholarship or he will be extremely wealthy. He works very hard. What he does not accomplish, I will pick up the baton and carry it forward.
Be nice to him. It was nice to know Dad cried when he saw my beating heart. I am going to make you both very proud.
I love you,
Your First Born
For your eyes only - for now. Thank you for taking such good care of me. I have a big smile and a big powerful heart thanks to Dad and you. Please continue to drink eight glasses of water per day and eat all right servings from the Pregnancy Diet Book that Dad sent you yesterday.
I love you both very much and I am having a great time inside of Camp Mom and Each week, I am getting bigger and stronger. Please continue to massage your tummy so I can feel the vibrations from your hands and it helps me grow even bigger and more healthy.
Please have Dad read the dictionary to me so I can say more than just the five basic baby sounds when I see Dad and you on the outside. I also like 70's and classical music - please play some on your tummy for me.
I can't wait to show you both my next picture of me in about 12 weeks. I am the first new Golding to be born soon in the 21st century. I am totally ready to take this world by storm.
Thanks to Daddy who I know is a bit of a Tornado, you can expect me to be a Tornado x 10 :)).
Please start looking into Harvard for me. I plan to enter at the age 14.
Do not tell Dad to worry, I will either get a scholarship or he will be extremely wealthy. He works very hard. What he does not accomplish, I will pick up the baton and carry it forward.
Be nice to him. It was nice to know Dad cried when he saw my beating heart. I am going to make you both very proud.
I love you,
Your First Born
We Have Lift Off
Dear Future Uncle Frank and Aunts Judi and Johnny,
We completed our first appointment. Amy had her first ultra-sound. Together, we witnessed the heart beating for the first time. Truly one of the most magnificent and incredible sights I have ever witnessed. We were given our first picture. Confirmation at 8-weeks. Absolutely awestruck and utter tears of joy.
One more month, we can begin to share the news with others.
Love You,
Future Dad Blake and Future Mom Amy
We completed our first appointment. Amy had her first ultra-sound. Together, we witnessed the heart beating for the first time. Truly one of the most magnificent and incredible sights I have ever witnessed. We were given our first picture. Confirmation at 8-weeks. Absolutely awestruck and utter tears of joy.
One more month, we can begin to share the news with others.
Love You,
Future Dad Blake and Future Mom Amy
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