TGIF
May 5, 2006 | Filed under: Stuff
My high school daughter called me from school the other day. As I was on my way to go get her already, I knew something was up.
“I have a favor,” she opened with.
Oh boy.
“I rescued a—“
“Whoa. Stop right there,” I said. “If it’s breathing, give it back.”
“Oh, I can’t! It’s too cute. And I rescued it from some high school boys who were being mean to it.”
Ah, hell. I didn’t want another dog, or a kitten, or ANYTHING I’d have to take care of. I’ve already got my hands full!
“It’s a baby mouse,” she whispered, as if whispering it would somehow dispel the fact that I REALLY didn’t want an animal that I’d spent the first two years in my house, not to mention a small fortune, getting RID of.
“He’s just a baby,” she rushed on. “And he’s an orphan!”
And now, needless to say, he’s in our bathtub awaiting a cage, indeed a baby, indeed an orphan, albeit the damn luckiest orphaned mouse in town. Oh, and Ashes? Pouting like you wouldn’t believe …
Posted by Jill @ 1:01 am | Make a Comment
Kate Hardy says:
Aww, poor Ashes.
Dogs are so good at the ‘I’m having a hard day, I need lots of fuss and treats’ look, aren’t they? (My springer spaniel does this when he’s been told off for stealing a My Little Pony…)
Posted on May 5th, 2006 at 1:47 amMaureen says:
We had to put poison in several strategic locations in our house after our cat died. It was like they immediately knew we had no protection and decided to invade.
Posted on May 5th, 2006 at 3:04 amPat says:
The dog is cute. A Mouse however is a diff. story…we too had several of them many years ago for a few years. Yuk. They would run past you or up the wall.
We set traps with peanut butter and if I heard the trap slap, I would get nauseous. Thank God my husband disposed of the dead little critters.
Seriously, Be careful, they have that hanta virus.
Posted on May 5th, 2006 at 3:38 ameve says:
I rescued a puppy Tuesday – but we didn’t keep it, although if it would have stayed in the bathtub …
Posted on May 5th, 2006 at 4:23 amJulieS says:
You are a brave woman.
Posted on May 5th, 2006 at 5:27 amMelissa says:
Awwwwww! The mouse is adorable. Looks just like a pet rat I used to have. My baby was wonderful. She would sit on my shoulder and go with me to get the mail.
The life span for rats and mice is usually 5 years. My rat lived ’til she was 5. I have her tattooed on my left arm.
Ashes! You’re pitiful.
Posted on May 5th, 2006 at 5:50 amBrandy says:
Awwww! It’s cute, as long as it’s in someone elses house. I am not fond of little critters. Good luck!:wink:
Posted on May 5th, 2006 at 5:57 amAngie says:
Sucker!!!!
Posted on May 5th, 2006 at 6:21 amLook at the bright side…..if it only lives five years like Melissa says, you’re lucky.
I got roped into taking in a screaming, screeching, seed-eating, finger biting, feather-dropping cockateil. They live
for-frickin-ever. Now who’s the sucker???? :loser:
Marcy says:
It’s cute in a picture. In person it’s baaaaaaad. :whip:
Poor, pitiful looking Ashes. :rotfl:
Posted on May 5th, 2006 at 7:22 amSusan says:
Your DD knows what a softy her mom is!:lol:
Your little orphan (does he/she have a name?) reminds me of the hamsters my sister and I used to have.
Poor Ashes! He does have that look of ‘poor me’, maybe a cookie would cheer him up.
Posted on May 5th, 2006 at 7:27 amKimberly Holt-Whitlock says:
Oh Jill,
I had a pet rat when I was young, but for some reason as an adult I don’t care much for them.
Your poor puppy has that “poor poor pitiful me” look down pat. My chihuahuas have more of a “woo woo look at me” look, hehe.
Good luck with your newest addition.
Best,
Posted on May 5th, 2006 at 7:33 amKim
Karen D says:
I’m on a campaign right now to rid my house of mice. We live in the country, it’s only a 5 yr old house, but they come with the territory…I can’t stand them.
If my son came home and asked to keep one I’d have to laugh. And then say no. Rather loudly. Yuck!
Posted on May 5th, 2006 at 7:43 amKIM H says:
oh how cute:lol:
Posted on May 5th, 2006 at 8:26 amSuzy says:
Whoa. What to do with squeakers there?
Your daughter’s uber brave for 1) standing up for the mouse, and 2) for picking it up.
Nope. Sorry. I don’t care how much my kid would cry, pout, cajole, etc. I hate mice. They freak the heck out of me. You are a very brave and NICE mom to let her keep it. Though now I have to question your sanity. You’ve just INVITED a mouse into your home.
Posted on May 5th, 2006 at 8:34 amToni Anderson says:
KILL THE MOUSE!!!!!
Sorry having a moment! Like Karen I’m trying to get rid of poopy horrid mice. Outdoors is fine, they don’t bother me in the least. inside and I get really p***ed off!
Posted on May 5th, 2006 at 10:15 amDonna M says:
Cute! However, when I use to live in the country mice were a real problem especially in the winter! You are a very good soft hearted mom.:heart::smile:
Posted on May 5th, 2006 at 12:22 pmGood luck with that little creature. I prefer to see them only in pictures!
I live in town, very populated area–the other day I looked out my sliding glass doors to the back & there was a rat scurrying along the fence–yuck!! I reported the problem when I paid my rent. We do not need that problem!:rolleyes:
Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone–good chance to eat Mexican food which I love!!
Jayde says:
Awww… poor Ashes.
The mouse is cute… but then I’m an animal lover. Although I’m not sure that I would be as brave as you (an as forgiving to the species) and take the mouse into my home.
…have fun.
-Jayde.
Posted on May 5th, 2006 at 12:55 pmLaure says:
You should be so proud of your daughter for her big heart and courage to stand up to horrible boys abusing any animal. That’s a special girl you have there. And c’mon, the little mousey is just so cute. I’m sure you can even work a similar scenario into a book. Nothing sexier than a guy who will help a critter — doesn’t have to be a mouse.
Posted on May 5th, 2006 at 1:00 pmGood luck with the new houseguest, and scratch Ashes behind the ears for me. Such a sweet face. I thought my basset had the corner on pathetic looks, but that is a wonderful put-upon puppy face!
Jill says:
Well there’s a continuing saga but I’m swamped with writing today so it’ll have to wait until my next blog entry. Stay tuned, lol …
Posted on May 5th, 2006 at 1:06 pmruby55 says:
Aaw, it’s so cute. But you’ve whetted my curiosity with the continuing saga.
I had a mouse problem in my last apartment for 2 years too. I actually watched one mouse free another one from one of those live traps.
It was really ingenious. It pulled the trap to my printer table which was just a little lower than the top of the trap so that the trap was forced to open as the mouse tried to pull the trap farther under the table. It opened just enough for the trapped mouse to escape. I was totally flumoxed by the ingenuity. No wonder mice are used in learning experiments.
I think I may have a “bigger” winter problem now, as in: rats in the basement here instead of mice. Ugh. Most of my books are stored down there. I haven’t dared go down there since I’ve heard them. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a rat. I hope they’re dead after the landlord put out poison. The problem is: Did they die in one of my boxes? Eeeuw!!!:yuck:
Posted on May 5th, 2006 at 1:58 pmruby55 says:
P.S. My landlors is still trying to convince me that it’s not really rats in the basement but just the antiquated water heating in the house.
Well, I think I can differentiate between water gurgling and groaning and the gnawing, scratching sound of critters. Actually, it was his younger brother who put down the rat poison while the older one was holidaying in Acapulco for 2 months.:thumbsup:
Posted on May 5th, 2006 at 2:09 pmCarol says:
But it’s so cute, Jill! lol I still wouldn’t want though. I can’t wait to hear the rest of the story!
Posted on May 5th, 2006 at 3:01 pmDennie says:
awwww… {which really means… better you than me!}
Posted on May 5th, 2006 at 3:46 pmK-K says:
Yuck!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would only keep it if said mouse had a mult-million dollars theme resort named after it otherwise I would be setting some traps.
I just finished Messing with Mac which I loved. Thanks cause I won it on the Easter Egg guess. Got it in the mail yesterday which is crazy since I also found an Easter Egg in my girls room that they were saving the same day. :rolleyes:
Posted on May 5th, 2006 at 5:50 pmJanelle Denison says:
Oh, Jill, you are *so* in trouble!
Your entry today made me laugh because I’ve so been there, done that! A few years ago my daughter wanted a pet rat — I don’t know what I was thinking, but I caved and got her one. She named him Cheddar. And he really was cute and very friendly. However, before I knew it, we also adopted Jack (as in Jack cheese *g*), Pebbles, Patches and Angel (who wasn’t such an Angel — she was black with a white stripe from her nose to her tail, and I called her Cruella because she BIT!). Anyway, when all was said and done, we ended up with FIVE pet rats. 
They have all since gone on to rat heaven, thank goodness! :yes:
Posted on May 5th, 2006 at 10:12 pmcarly phillips says:
Not happening in my house, no way no how. No mice. Never. I know, I know, I mean! :fryingpan:
Posted on May 6th, 2006 at 6:42 amJudy F says:
Poor Ashes…
Posted on May 6th, 2006 at 10:19 amMelissa says:
THERE’S A MOUSE IN MY BLOG!
Posted on May 6th, 2006 at 10:20 amChricket says:
Nope, can’t help myself… I am going to have to hop down from the balcony and add my 2 cents worth. I have laughed out loud a couple of times reading this thread, because I can identify both with your daughter and you. Through the years my son (now a 36 yr old Cop) has “Rescued” every critter known to Texas landscape from prairie dogs (similar to a small ground squirrel) to a snake, he “Forgot” to reveal for a few days (did I mention his Chicago raised father is NOT that fond of SNAKES?)
Of course…. MANY years ago as a child, I had a pet white mouse (my mom was a softy like you, Jill). One day I decided to surprise my grandmother and share my joy with her by taking my Friend “Nibbles” over for a visit. I learned many interesting things that day.
1. Grandmothers (at least mine) are not too fond of surprises.
2. It really is possible for a 5 foot tall, more than slightly rounded grandmother to go from standing to perching like a Parrot on the edge of a kitchen counter in 2 seconds flat.
3. My Grandmother could actually hit SEVERAL notes above high C with enough force to shatter the crystal had anyone in the neighborhood actually owned any.
4. Notes above high C tend to frighten small animals (like mice and grandchildren) and think they should also jump on the kitchen counter to hide so well that they are never found again.
5. Any subsequent visits to Grandmother’s house would only be allowed after a through “Frisking” of this grandchild (me) OUTSIDE.
Hummm…I wonder if this (as well as many similar learning episodes) had anything to do with my being her LEAST favorite grandchild. Ya think? I always thought it was because all the others were boys, the big sissies.
Chricket
Posted on May 6th, 2006 at 10:37 amGina says:
That mouse is lucky Ashes isn’t a cat.
Posted on May 6th, 2006 at 11:22 amRaine says:
Awwww…
I HATE having them invade the house…but I also hate killing them. (Or anything else–yes, I’m a sap). If someone could invent something just to make them stay outside, I would be SO happy… :yes:
But I don’t blame your daughter. And you can’t fault her for having a kind heart. :heart:
Posted on May 6th, 2006 at 5:22 pmDanica says:
Oh! I can’t wait to hear the continuing saga.
Posted on May 6th, 2006 at 11:27 pm