Mousey Facts

• A female housemouse can have 20 to 80 babies a year.
• One mouse can drop 100 fecal pellets a day, plus hundreds of urine droplets, during its travels.
• A mouse can fit through a hole the diamter of a pencil.
• A mouse can jump 13" high from a standing position.
• A mouse can jump 38" with a running start.
• Mice can climb vertical surfaces.
• A mouse can jump down off of something 8 feet heigh.
• Mice are capable swimmers.
• Gestation period is 19 to 21 days, and litter size is 4-8.
• A mouse reaches reproductive maturity at 6 weeks.
• The mouse's lifespan is one year.

I obtained this facts from US State Department websites.

Muggs 8, Mouse 4

Muggs needs to improve her kill record: she lost both mice in my bed last night. The first mouse, at about 3.00 am, came dangerously close to my face. I flung it away with the blanket and it went 'splat' somewhere--against the floor? the wall? I don't know. The second mouse she brought later she also lost. I looked everywhere for it and couldn't find it-- my sleep was a little uneasy because I was nervous that the thing might actually be in my bed. Fortunately it wasn't-- I suspect it headed for a hole someplace. When I came home from work there was evidence on my bed--in the form of a wrinkled blanket--of another mouse fight, but as I don't have any hard evidence, this one doesn't get counted. So far, she has racked up eight kills and four escapees.

Perhaps Muggs is expecting me to kill them for her now? Maybe she is trying to teach me how to mouse and figures that if she brings me the mouse, I should know by now how to kill it.

By the way, I figure the mice prefer my bedroom to my neighbour's, as mine is much quieter on the weekends....

Dim Ideas Lightbulbs, Part 2

So, Canada has decided to ban incandescent lightbulbs by 2012. This makes me cross, for two main reasons:

1. Even the new compact flourescent lights have a barely perceptible flicker that can trigger migraine headaches, seizures, etc. What are we to do?
2. Artifacts in museums and galleries are very susceptible to light damage. The most damaging type of light is in the UV range, which, unfortunately, is where flourescent bulbs (compact or not) emit their light. Conservators do not recommend the use of flourescent bulbs in exhibits. Also, museums use special incandescent bulbs to recreate the look of gaslight of candle light-- a compact fourescent just won't be the same. What are we to do?

As I said in my earlier rant on the topic, while I appreciate the need for conservation, I resent the nanny state aspect of these laws. The intention is honourable indeed, but there are issues (such as the two above) that clearly have NOT been taken into consideration.

Along with the lightbulb theme, Ontario's new conservation awareness strategy Flick Off is raising some ire. Personally, I think it is quite funny and people who are getting offended by it clearly have too much time on their hands.

I'm A Winner

No, seriously, I really am a winner! I just won a brand-new sewing machine in a draw I never expected to win. I can't believe it, even though I have it unpacked and sitting in the middle of my living room floor. I am so excited!

Alas, I need to figure out what to do with my old machine. It trule is old-- from the 60s or 50s, judging by the manual design. It has sentimental value, so I don't want to just kick it to the curb. But it is big and quite limited in what it can actually do (and takes up a lot of space in my apartment). Hmmm.

On anther front, I have new pets. Worms. I got a kitchen composter--it's designed to stay in your kitchen-- and Third Floor gave me some compost with worms in it. I quite like worms, as evidenced by a lovely little letter I wrote to a national radio show (and which they actually read on air).....

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Dear Sad Goat,

I have intended many times to write to the Sad Goat but somehow, with all the busy-ness of university work I never got around to it. Now the university has set me free and, theoretically anyway, I have more time on my hands. It is actually in response to your program last week on field workers that I write to you now. The program got me thinking about other types of field work and, being a country girl, I thought of farming. But then I thought of another, little-known job: worm picking. Come spring, worm and bait companies from the big cities flood farmers’ fields and roadside ditches on damp spring nights gathering worms. It isn’t a job I would particularly enjoy: creeping along the damp ground until the dawn finally comes. You can see their bobbing lights on their hats as the crawl along the ground collecting the poor, helpless, harmless worms. Yes, I feel sorrier for the worms than I do for the people who pick them.

My family thinks me rather strange for this sympathy I have for the poor, defenceless earthworms. Apparently, when I was a child I actually picked up the worms and kissed them. I suspect I did this, though, more to gross out the others than to express any true affection for the humble earthworm. But I have observed that they are quite interesting creatures.

I was sitting outside in the dark enjoying the warm, quiet country night the other week when I heard a slight rustling noise in the garden beside me. In the faint gleam of light from the kitchen window I spied something slimy-looking. Wondering if it may be a garden snake, I switched on the yellow porch light and bent down for a closer look. It was a worm. In fact, it was several worms. As I knelt at the edge of the garden, I heard more rustling. The noise seemed scattered throughout the garden, and when I looked closer, it was caused by many worms coming out of their holes and moving through the dead leaves and twigs. I sat there for a bit, just watching the worms creep through the garden and pondering the life lessons the worm could teach us humans. One particular ambitious worm determinedly attempted to pull a rather large leaf down into his little home. He must have succeeded, for the next morning the leaf was gone. It was quite interesting to watch (I could see him take the edge of the leaf into his mouth) and got me thinking about earthworms again.

First Spring Walk

Muggs is so in her element right now. Now that the weather is so much warmer (although it still has a ways to go) and sunny, she loves being outside. When I came back from my last exam tonight it was still mild out, so I popped her into her harness and took her out for her first 'walk' of the spring. She headed straight for my neighbour's garden, one of her favourite places to poke around in. Then she munched on grass, walked up and down the sidewalk and sniffed everything she could. She loves the mild nights--the world is more interesting at night. Right now she's outside, after coming in to check her food dish.

So, we'll take more walks and maybe this year we can improve our 'cat walking' over the course of the summer (ie, we both agree to go where she wants to go). I want to get her a longer lead so she can explore a bit more easily.

Yes, last exam. I feel a little lost with school done for another year. Working tomorrow, but I'm planning on spending the next three or four days making a dent in my sewing pile.

Back-Date: Easter

I realize I never did get around to blogging about Easter, so here's an excerpt from an email I sent to a friend, to give you some idea.

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I invited two of my friends to come to church with me and then back to my place for lunch. A rather easy lunch, really-- I heated up a ham in the slowcooker. But it was great fun, and I gave them chocolate Easter bunnies, too, which really surprised them! We had a wonderful time.

Easter this year has also been quite wonderful in a more sublime, deeply personal way, too. I only sang with the choir for one service (out of 5) over the past week, but I really loved it. I went to the Maundy Thursday evening service, again a first, and it was so deeply moving. I also did part of the vigil (2 am!) as well, so combining that with the Saturday vigil service and not sleeping well in general means that I am so exhausted!

Bird Songs

There have been all kinds of things (semi-serious, profound things) I've been meaning to blog about. But they have all been surpassed by seeing a purple finch at the feeder this morning. Finally, somebird is using the feeder, and a purple finch no less! I am quite excited.

I love the summer bird songs, and that's what I hear when Muggs wakes me up in the morning. I can hardly wait to get my window boxes planted, although I know I need to wait a month or so for that. Gorgeous weather scheduled this weekend!

Sobering

What do you know about the crisis in Darfur? I've heard a lot about it, but I didn't know where it was, beyond "someplace in Africa." The United States Holocaust Museum and Google Earth have worked together to create an interactive map of Darfur. Download Google Earth (an awesome program), spin to Africa and you will see Darfur outlined. As you zoom in, it will show you icons indication refugee camps, destroyed villages, damaged villages and other information. You can click on the icons to see more pictures, get the statistics or hear first-person testimony. I looked at one village, which was nameless. Out of 139 buildings, 130 had been completely destroyed. The arial image of the building-less town was quite sobering. So is the massive number of icons on the map.

If you don't have Google Earth, you can start here: http://www.ushmm.org/googleearth/

Huh?

'Rachel Hutson removed some photos from her college sorority days after she took a job as a civilian working for the military. She's also made her Facebook and MySpace profiles private, so that only friends she approves can see it. "I just don't want certain people to find me," says Hutson, who's 23 and lives in Newport News, Va.'

http://www.canada.com/topics/technology/story.html?id=9e8bebf4-bc4c-448c-898f-72584211be43&k=59978

Paradoxes & Random Thoughts

I love to entertain friends at home. When I had a big apartment I had few friends to entertain; now that I have a small apartment, I have many friends.

I feel guilty while studying because I'm not at the gym; while working out at the gym I feel guilty because I'm not studying.

According to Bishop Ralph, bunnies at Easter can have Christian significance: because they come out of holes in the ground, they remind us of Jesus coming out of the grave. This had never occured to me before. It's an interesting way to apply an essentially pagan symbol to a Christian holiday--and a wonderful excuse to bring a rabbit to church. (Apparently, the Bishop bringing animals is a tradition: last year it was a donkey, and in past years I hear there have been sheep, chicks and an arkful of other animals.) According to Bishop Ann, though, rabbits are a fertility symbol. I think she'll be hearing about that homily for a long time!

I put my little milk chocolate Easter bunny in a safe place so I wouldn't eat it before Easter and now I cannot find it for the life of me. So I went to the chocolate store today to get another one, and all they had left were white chocolate bunnies. So I got a milk chocolate duck. Two, just to make up for losing the bunny.

April 9, 1917 Battle of Vimy Ridge

Today, you have no doubt heard, is the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. This was the major Canadian battle in World War 1. Vimy Ridge is a a ridge of land in France which the Canadians were tasked with capturing from the Germans. And they did it. This was the first time Canadian soldiers fought as a Canadian unit, and not mixed in with the British. It was a formative event in Canada's history because it marked Canada's becoming a nation. The beautiful, white limestone memorial has been restored and today it was rededicated by the Queen at a grand ceremony. Unfortunately many Canadians know very little of our military heritage, so here are a few links to get you started:

Vimy Ridge Memorial on the Veteran's Affairs website
Canadian War Museum article on the Battle of Vimy Ridge
CBC news coverage

I have to confess, though, that I have been avoiding the TV and radio precisely because it is the anniversary day and there is a lot of coverage. This is not, believe me, from a lack of respect on my part. I deal with war at least three days a week at my job and I am usually quite interested to hear war stories from Canada's history. But I am also a rather emotional person, especially when I am tired (like now), and unfortunately I just do not have the emotional energy to absorb myself in the coverage.

Good Friday Morning!

I'm absolutely exhausted and in great pain right now (appropriately enough for Good Friday, I suppose) but I will have lots to blog about eventually: last day of classes, bimble came by for a visit, my first Maundy Thursday service (AMAZING) and vigil (also amazing) and plans for the Easter weekend.

Much less stressed about school right now, although still tons to do. Must finish that dratted essay by Monday and prepare for a Greek exam Thursday (YIKES!!!) VERY glad I got that voice software, as my fingers are too sore to move.