Rats!

I can now check "have rat feces rain down upon me" off my Things to Experience Before I Die list.

I had a visiting Ben a couple months ago and still haven't had the strength to write up that story. Ben was successfully removed and I was waiting for evidence of any more intruders before putting out bait stations. I'm terrified my dog will somehow stumble on some crumbs of rat poison out in the yard and will die a prolonged, horrible death. So I refused to put the stations in after Ben's removal.

I'm rethinking this position.

I was getting ready to head off to a Christmas party last night when I heard very loud, very distinct chewing/gnawing in my kitchen. I tiptoed into the kitchen and after some focused listening, realized the chewer was in my attic. I banged on the ceiling with a broom handle, cursed, and went off to the party.

After Ben's visit, I knew I had to get into the attic. I only had a handful of boxes up there, but they contained photos and most importantly, my grandmother's photo album. Which is why I procrastinated on this task. The thought of her album being chewed caused me so much anxiety that I just kept putting it off.

Well, after the arrival of Amahl and the Night Visitors yesterday, I knew I had to get up there to rescue my boxes.

My house is the size of a postage stamp and the stairs up to the attic come down from the ceiling. I knew I was in trouble when I pulled down the ceiling panel and about four or five pieces of rat feces came tumbling down. I shuddered, tried to go to a happy place, and proceeded on. I began pulling the stairs down and a WAVE of rat feces rained down. I'll understand if you stop reading at this point; I can barely type.

The poop came down and I went up. Goodgodalmighty. Seems the rat(s) had traveled in and out of several boxes, chewing all the way. I was able to save all the photos but in a cruel twist, a box of things from my childhood and reminders of my Dad were pissed on by the little bastards. Needless to say, I went through a couple hundred disinfecting wipes today. Oh, and about 12 pairs of latex gloves.

I'm still horrified, I still have to deal with the rats and the attic and I'd just like to run away from home right about now...

I have to assume you've all had a better day than I.