Dear So and So

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Dear car,
I'm sorry for blaming you for what I suspected was mice all along.
Dear mice,
I could literally buy half a new car for what you've cost me over the years. There's a whole outdoors out there. Not only that, there are plenty of nooks and crannies in the garage where I'd never find you and you'd never bother my stuff. Stay out of my freakin' car.
Dear wiring harness manufacturers,
Seriously, do you really make enough profit off replacement wires that you continue to make housing that tastes good to mice, even though it's been a known problem for decades???

I hear you. My car only has 11,000 miles on it. It sits on a pristine asphalt driveway, with neat lawn all around. Last month, a chipmunk had my engine wiring harness for a little snack, and it just cost me $1200 to replace a stupid bunch of wires wrapped in chipmunk jerky- oops, I mean wrapped in rubber. My insurance coughed up $450 which helped ...a little.
The next day the chipmunk was back inside the engine and left his little tufts of red fur and poop on the sticky trap I put there.
I started placing RAT TRAPS baited with p.butter right under the car engine, on the driveway. In one month the traps have killed 5 chipmunks under my car. The chipm population in my backyard seems to be almost gone now, and no signs of them in my engine now. I'll keep putting the traps out till thanksgiving i think.
I dont like killing things but this was simply too expensive to let happen again.
I'm just glad nothing else gets caught in the traps by mistake.

[Biciclista]

wow! never heard of such a thing. Must have been an ad in chipmonk.craigslist.com advertising what a cozy set up was in your engine compartment.

that would have been traumatic at the least for me!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

to all my good TE Buddies.
DH and I are going to the ocean for an overnight wednesday Who knows the next time he's going to feel like traveling? Then, this weekend with our sons we are going to have a ceremony for his esophagus that he will be losing next week in surgery. sounds odd, but my kids are um.. well, they're our kids and they're into it. D-I-Law is going to make a flammable esophagus to burn in effigy.
And for the surgery day, two biker ladies i know have volunteered to hang out with me for part of the day. How cool is that?
and the rest?? O OOOO scary.

Mimi, I am thinking of you and your sweetiepie. What a wonderful idea, going to the ocean! They say salt water is healing, and the surf rhythms should be comforting too.
I think the effigy ceremony is a great idea. Time to say goodbye to that body part that is not behaving itself. I will be sending positive energy and love your way. Keep us all posted here if you can. oxo

[Crankin]

Lisa, your story is worse than mine! We had to put out traps too. I didn't feel bad at all, after spending $2,000 on 2 cars because of those d*** things.

[OakLeaf]

I live in the country. There's no trapping them all. I'd be happy if I could keep them out of the house! I'm just thankful it's only mice - (so far ) the chipmunks leave my car alone, and the rabbits that like to hide underneath it don't seem interested in taking up residence. Maybe we should just start propping the hood up every time we park the car, the same way we have to take the seats off the motorcycles whenever we park them.

The worst part of it is we only have the one four-wheeler, we need to have one available because of where we live, and invariably the only rental vehicles available at the last minute are huge frickin' boats that get 20 mpg and barely make it up the lane.



Mimi, sounds like a good plan. Enjoy your weekend as much as you can. I'll be sending extra thoughts your way on the 26th.

[Catrin]

((((Mimi & RD))))

[laura*]

Dear idiots in the expensive SUV who were going to park right on the bike lane / MUP:

Did you not see the car sized rectangles aka parking spaces outlined in white paint alongside the traffic lane? Didn't you suspect something when you had to drive over a huge car stranding berm? Didn't you see me heading straight towards you?

At least you figured out your error when I stopped and started gesticulating at the parking spaces.

[Crankin]

Oak, I live in the woods, too, but the chipmunks had to go! DH has to park outside (his car does not fit in the 80's style garage), so obviously that doesn't work, but after we filled up the holes in garage walls, set the traps, and kept the acorns swept up more religiously, they have stayed away from my car. Oh yea, they made a nice igloo out of acorns in my engine.

[alexis_the_tiny]

Mimi, many many good vibes to you and RD! Hope the surgery goes well...

Dear knees and hips, I know its beginning to rain a lot and my ballet years have not been kind to you. But will you please not choose the time when I need to run after a hyperactive child to stiffen up and shoot pain barbs everywhere? Thanks...

[bmccasland]

Dear Chloe,
I know in your short life that humans haven't always been nice to you, and you're still not sure you trust me. I'm sorry that the antibiotics are bubblegum flavored and not tuna. But baby, you really need to take your meds. So when I get home this afternoon, let me hold you, cuddle you, and then take your meds like the good girl that I know you are. You'll feel better, really.
Your adoptive Mom

[Bethany1]

Dear State of NE,

THANK YOU for opening the Steamboat Trace trail the other day. It's only 15 miles from my house and I can ride in peace. I even got to see a beautiful hawk next to the trail. I did 8 miles today with ease and except for acccidentally scaring a jogger, it was wonderful.

Now to buy something to cover my cold ears and some gloves later today so I can go farther. Cycling at 50 degrees at 14 mph is colder than I thought it would be.

[indysteel]

Good luck, Beth. Dosing a cat is such fun. I hope Chloe starts feeling better soon.

[Grits]

I have been able to get my dog to take any pill as long as it is coated in a glob of crunchy peanut butter. Maybe that will work for your cat - if not a liquid, obviously. Good luck!

[Owlie]

Dear headache--
Please go away. I have a study guide to finish.

[bmccasland]

Good luck, Beth. Dosing a cat is such fun. I hope Chloe starts feeling better soon.

the Power of Tuna....