Mouse in the House

I've felt compelled to blog something the last couple days, but I really haven't sat down at a computer for more than 5 minutes. Sorry, loyal readers. Work has been keeping me on my toes. I could cry and complain that last week was midterms week - except I don't have midterms anymore. Now I can cry and complain that this week is Notre Dame's fall break, but I don't get a break! The real world is overrated.

Besides work, here is another reason the real world is overrated: Marvin.



Meet Marvin. Yes, that is a mouse - a mouse trapped in a tupperware container.

I never worried about these furry little house guests while living in a dorm. Maybe I should have, but I never did and never encountered any.

Recently one appeared in our house...ok, maybe more than one, but we've only caught one so far.

Housemate A has been scared stiff of the little bugger for the last week and a half. So today I cleaned out the pantry. Then later in the day, when we heard some mouse-like rustling, my brother and I somehow managed to corner him in the pantry. Working like cats (uh, with containers instead of claws) we penned him in (jumpy little guy). Then, as Marvin (named by Housemate C)made what he thought would be his big break, my amazing brother slammed a container down on him.

He was a pretty cute thing and being the humane humans that we are, we elected to release him away from the house. So we got in the car (with the mouse in the container) and drove a little up the road to Highland Cemetery. I let him go and he bounded away...not too far from Knute Rockne's grave.

Sorry Rock!


Don't tell Housemate A, but I know Marvin has a buddy, Mo. I've seen Mo scooting around since the removal of Marvin. But maybe now that Marvin's been taken away, Mo will get the hint and leave on his (her?) own.

In the meantime I might have to look into this:

DEPRECATORY BLESSING AGAINST PESTS

(mice and rats, locusts, worms, etc.)

The priest vests in surplice and purple stole, and coming to the field or place infested with these creatures, says:

Antiphon: Arise, Lord, help us; and deliver us for your kindness' sake.

Ps 43.1: O God, our ears have heard, our fathers have declared to us.

All: Glory be to the Father.

P: As it was in the beginning.

All Ant.: Arise, Lord, help us; and deliver us for your kindness' sake.

P: Our help is in the name of the Lord.

All: Who made heaven and earth.

P: Lord, heed my prayer.

All: And let my cry be heard by you.

P: The Lord be with you.

All: May He also be with you.
Let us pray.

We entreat you, Lord, be pleased to hear our prayers; and even though we rightly deserve, on account of our sins, this plague of mice (or locusts, worms, etc.), yet mercifully deliver us for your kindness' sake. Let this plague be expelled by your power, and our land and fields be left fertile, so that all it produces redound to your glory and serve our necessities; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Let us pray.

Almighty everlasting God, the donor of all good things, and the most merciful pardoner of our sins; before whom all creatures bow down in adoration, those in heaven, on earth, and below the earth; preserve us sinners by your might, that whatever we undertake with trust in your protection may meet with success by your grace. And now as we utter a curse on these noxious pests, may they be cursed by you; as we seek to destroy them, may they be destroyed by you; as we seek to exterminate them, may they be exterminated by you; so that delivered from this plague by your goodness, we may freely offer thanks to your majesty; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Exorcism

I cast out you noxious vermin, by God + the Father almighty, by Jesus + Christ, His only-begotten Son, and by the Holy + Spirit. May you speedily be banished from our land and fields, lingering here no longer, but passing on to places where you can do no harm. In the name of the almighty God and the entire heavenly court, as well as in the name of the holy Church of God, we pronounce a curse on you, that wherever you go you may be cursed, decreasing from day to day until you are obliterated. Let no remnant of you remain anywhere, except what might be necessary for the welfare and use of mankind. Be pleased to grant our request, you who are coming to judge both the living and the dead and the world by fire.
All: Amen.

The places infested are sprinkled with holy water.

1962 Rituale Romanum

Harsh stuff. On second thought I feel kind of bad cursing the little guys to obliteration...

RIP Sailor

As if this week already hasn't been rough enough...

Last night one of the cats of this house attacked my beloved 4-year-old goldfish, Sailor.

Sailor is a fighter. (S)he came into my life at highschool senior prom - the theme was "Under the Sea" - in all the flower vases on the tables swam little, tiny, 10cent goldfish. At the end of the night, the students were asked to take them home. So I got a fish I named Sailor after our highschool mascot.

Sailor grew to an enormous size. Sailor accompanied me to Notre Dame - and even to my Nashville Retreat where "Sr. Mary Library" made a little paradise for him(her?). Sailor always traveled in a jar - yes, just like Gill from the movie "What About Bob?"

'Sr Mary Library's' Retreat for Sailor - Nashville, Jan 2008

Sailor was a fighter - not only did (s)he withstand thousands of miles of travel, but also K80's demands to jump and do tricks, nights (and days) of frigid water, weeks of filthy water that I never seemed to change. - Sailor even survived falling down the garbage disposal of the kitchen sink!

But this last attack was too much.

After watching the Redwings loose the game last night, I went up to my room - Sailor was not in the fishbowl.

After a minute I noticed a shredded golden tail poking out from under a shirt on the floor - there was Sailor gasping in the air.

Emergency action was taken: Sailor was put in water and watched carefully. Sailor most listed to one side, head down, gasping every few minutes...but Sailor was a fighter and every ten minutes or so would muster all strength to swim a lap around the bowl.

After commending my little fish to the care of Father Francis, I gave up my watch and fell asleep.

In the morning, Sailor was no more.

Rest in peace, Fishy. I'll miss you. :-(

Sailor traveling home for Christmas 2005