hand-to-hand combat 2:00 [4]
At first I thought I would just ignore it for the time being, but would try to remember to set traps before going to bed. But the mouse ran across in front of me (and my bare feet) once too often as I sat watching the tube (a replay of Germany-France). Had to do something.
I was still trying to formulate a plan when it scooted out into the kitchen, where Gail was hard at work. By then I had armed myself with a magazine of moderate substance, and I was right on its tail, figuratively, pausing just a moment to alert Gail -- "Mouse!"
She hopped a bit but neither screamed nor fainted, but rather was very quick at answering my request for another weapon, in this case one of my treasured O' awards, a red yardstick from CNYO-land, just perfect for measuring snow depths.
Now doubly armed, I had the mouse cornered in the back of the kitchen, seemingly in control, except I expected at any moment it would disappear into some hole or shoot under the fridge. But it didn't.
And so I commenced my version of W's (and Rummy's) "Shock and Awe." Many swings with both weapons, mostly misses, but I think the poor thing was quite terrified and thus mostly frozen in its tracks. At some point contact was made, and then more contact, and then quickly it was over, disposal in the trash which conveniently goes out in the morning.
And as to damage to yours truly, I avoided the cardiac that Gail feared might be imminent, though my right shoulder, somewhat sore of late, seemed not to have appreciated the sudden and violent exercise, and the yardstick, the result of one errant blow that connected only with the oven, is now a mere 33".
No time to strap on the HR monitor, so no data, but the pump was ticking along pretty speedily... :-)