ladynox25

Okay, I think I agree with the people who say that doing this instructing thing this semester is probably a Bad Idea (tm). So that's the end of that idea. But, given a semester in which to prepare quizzes, tests, lecture notes, etc., in my spare time, is it doable next semster? Should I take that rain check?

[Poll #553978]

Today I found a dead mouse in the BOD incubator room. I've found all sorts of bugs in the BOD lab and incubator, including ladybugs, daddylonglegs, crickets, millipedes, and one cockroach. How they get in there I don't know. If they're alive, I tend to put the ladybugs, daddylonglegs, and crickets outside. The millipedes I ignore. The cockroach I stepped on.

However, a dead mouse is another thing altogether. I don't think I would be squeamish when it comes to a live mouse[1], but a dead one is different. I didn't want to touch it, even though I was wearing gloves. One of the nice maintenance guys took it away from me.

Yesterday, I found a prize. Someone in my apartment complex was tossing a nice used chair away. I looked it over carefully and it had minimal wear on the upholstery and legs, one not-too-bad stain on the bottom of the cushion, and only a slight musty odor. It was about the right size and shape for what I'd been looking for, and the color was as close as I could hope to get it[2]. Voila, le chair! However, I live on the second floor. Problem.

So I called the lady at the apartment complex office and asked her if one of the maintenance guys could help me. Trouble was, of the two guys, one was off because he'd cut his hand open the day before, and the other was moving washers and dryers. The lady said she'd ask him if he could do it. So I waited until 5 pm rolled around and no one showed. So I figured they were done for the day and decided to ask my downstairs neighbor[3], Chuck, to help me. Trouble was, he wasn't home from work yet.

Then it decided to cloud up and thunder. We're talking serious, dark clouds here. And I was just sure it was about to rain. So I decided not to wait anymore but went ahead and moved the chair myself. It wasn't too heavy, but heavy enough, and decidedly awkward going up those stairs. I heaved and rocked and heaved some more and managed to get it all the way up myself, and then managed to get it in my apartment. And then it didn't rain. Figures. *grin*

Fortunately, the chair was light enough that I didn't hurt myself but I did have some sore joints and muscles today. Anyway, I sprayed it down with disinfectant and now it sits in my living room. For something I got for nothing, this one is a find, I must say.

[1] When I was working in a movie theater one summer, they were doing construction to add seven more screens to the theater, and this displaced the local wildlife. One day I went into the employee room and heard a rustle up on a shelf. A field mouse had gotten in, and was now hiding in an old McDonald's paper bag. I carefully rolled the bag up, with it facing away from me so he wouldn't attack me, took him outside, and let him go. Not his fault his home got torn up!
[2] My living room is tan and brown and blue. The chair is tan and brown and blue and rust.
[3] Also my coworker. Also the boss's son. Also a really nice guy.