Of Mice and Me

One of the factors I’m experiencing about bein in the bush is that of the rodent quotient. Just like bugs, they are. Period. Although mice are less prevalent in number, their sign is much easier to notice as one will find it ezactly everywhere one eats and sleeps.

The tent that I’m staying in at Tobacco Camp is a pretty good thing I gotta say. It’s a little older than the rest and the style is a little different so instead of a zipper that gives the illusion of a contained space within, the entry flaps are tied together such that the interior remains relatively open to the elements. Also, the foamy I’m using is half again as big as the 24 inch bed frame it’s supposed to rest upon so at some point in the near future I’ll widen the frame by attaching a foot add-on to one of its long sides… either that our I’ll use a different foamy. For now I’m sleeping happily, and comfortably on the floor.

Remember that meditation cushion I wrote a bit about a while ago? Well, I don’t think I told you that I’m using it as a pillow at the moment and it is stuffed with hemp hulls; the shell of the nut.

Even though there ain’t any food for them in the pillow I suppose it smells to them like there might be so every once in awhile I’m awakened by a little scuffling; a wee scratching I hear through the cushion, and I know it’s a mouse. You may have gotten by now that as much as I am aware I am in to allowing all things to be as they is, and in this context, this means that when I wave a hand above my head to shoo them away, I ain’t too far outta peaceness while doing it. The initial awareness of a little animal trying to eat through my pillow three inches from my nose can be somewhat disconcerting but after a slight flail I’m back to waving one of my arms above my head with an acceptance and a smile.

Although I’m into allowing everything, as I say, to be as they is, I’ve made mention in earlier posts of our apparent need, as ‘civilized’ humans to deal with the infestation. Be it mosquitoes, bed bugs or mice, we find that their numbers must be controlled if not, in some cases, depending on the species and the specific environment, eliminated.

However, in the case of this place (the bush) there will be no elimination by a long shot, merely a weak attempt to curb. Still, the weak attempt does pay off to some degree and certainly, after the weak attempt, we notice less sign about the eating and food preparation areas. Mainly, while we do on occasion still see them climbing the walls, the mice aren’t climbing our legs as we eat and they aren’t skittering across my forehead just as I’m about to drop in to REM mode.

The other day we hiked to Tobacco after being at the main lodge for 3 or 4 days. We dropped our packs, grabbed the tools and went to work on the trail toward Moss Camp. We finished that about 7:30-8 and then came back to camp to end the day by fishin a bit and doin up a meal. I went to bed after dark and when I got up in the morning I noticed little brown flecks on my pillow and the green mattress sheet that covers the foamy. Acourse it was mouse shit… and I know that every where there is mouse shit there is mouse piss. So I’m thinkin to my self, ‘Self, mice are, and they’re urinatin and defecatin everywhere you are too. There’s nuthin you can do about it to change it or to make it any better than it is. Period.’

Fancy Acrobatics

Now, you might be thinkin, ‘Fool! Acourse there’s something you can do about it and acourse they’re shittin on yer bed! It’s on the frickin floor! Yer doors wide open and yer using a pillow filled with hemp hulls! Jeez! How daft can a guy be?!’ Well, those of you who’re thinkin along these lines, my response to you izzat daftitude and me aren’t mutually exclusive yet I am constantly and seriously amazed. I have no idea how they get in to and on some of the places they do – fancy acrobatics I’m thinkin! They’re absolutely everywhere, so whether there is human food available or not; whether a door is open or not; or whether a bed is on the floor or two feet above the floor, out here in the sticks, it really changes nothing.

I’ve recently read a post from Chris Glass’ blog. Apparently many of his commenters have asked for a humane mouse trap. He’s come up with a great idea that’s well and good in the context of a specific environment. Chris recommends letting the captured mouse loose outside a mile’s radius but he’s obviously referring to somewheres other than here. The reason I can confidently say this is because he’s referring to ‘a’ mouse. Out here in the bush, no matter where you are or what you do, on the light side there are hundreds within a reasonable perimeter and certainly tens of thousands within the mile’s radius.

There are ways to keep them at bay, and one of the ways is to buy a shiny new table from Ikea whose legs they can’t crawl up. Another way is to lay a large enough piece of poly table cloth to cover and drape, inhibiting any fancy upside down shit they might perform so’s to get on top. Still another way is at the core of my story and one reason for this post: It’s the best mouse trap you’ll never buy and it’s the trap utilized here at camp’s Damdochax.

The Better Mouse Trap You'll Never Buy

The Better Mouse Trap You’ll Never Buy:

– Begin with a medium to large bucket and large being the common 5 gallon variety;
– Pierce a beer can through the centers of its top and bottom;
– String a length of bailing wire through the holes in the can;
– Pierce the lip of the bucket on opposing points of its circumference;
– Affix the wire with the can to the two holes on the lip of the bucket;
– Fill the bucket with three inches of water;
– Spread peanut butter around the middle of the can;
– Set anywhere there are rampant rodent types;
– Lay a stick from the ground to the rim of the bucket;
– Check and dump the contents every morning;
– Refill and re-bait as needed.

Yer good to go. But like most traps, the downside to this one izzat it ain’t particular. Shrews, lemmings, voles, moles and all sorts of little life forms that aren’t part of an infestation get done in too.

This brings us to the second reason for this post: We humans, in our physical state here in density #3, are destructors – pure and simple. In our perceived need to eat food for survival’s sake, even if we are raw vegans, we must still kill the plants we consume. Check out Katherine Turner’s blog post about Acknowledged Symbiosis if you like. It’s very cool.

Acknowledged Symbiosis

Question: Have you ever brightened up your toilet with a chemical cleaner? If so, then you’ve done in millions of little life forms. As human beings, we can certainly reduce our impact but the only way we will ever not leave a footprint is to become that which we are, have always been and will always be – Spirit.

Our current state as human beings is both dual and a paradox in that we are at once animal and spiritual. As I’ve come to suspect, the whole reason for our being here on Planet Earth, is to realize and experience the quantum leap from our relative animal state of destruction, suffering, survival mode and separation mentality to our absolute spiritual state of creation, constant enjoyment, thrival and unity consciousness.

In absolute reality we are One with All That Is and in our relative experience we are indeed one with the infestation because we, in our current mass mentality of separation, are ourselves such a thing. Yet, we have the potential for infinitely more. The result of this realization and the simple intention to aspire to becoming our Infinite and Eternal, Authentic Spirit Selves, is that our lives, at first slowly, begin to improve and then, the more we stay with our intention, by leaps and bounds, turn in to an adventure; a fun game (watch Bill Hicks).

The third and final reason for this post is to put to print the concept of the acceptance of ourselves as destructors. Only through accepting all the characteristics (good and bad) of our current state in individual form – that which is – can we begin to transcend our suffering, animal state. Our reality works in this way: what we focus on expands. If we, in any way fight, deny, hate or resist that which is then we cause the result of these thought forms (negative emotions) to increase. In the projection of our emotions, because this reality and everything in it is a mirror, we cause ourselves to suffer. Also, the more emotion we attribute to our focus, be it in the direction of resistance or of allowing, the quicker that which we focus upon manifests. Even in the midst of our destruction we create more of that which causes us to suffer – another paradox.

To bring this post all together: Again, the mice are. When we allow them to be as they are instead of being mildly pissed at their existence in our homes and when we honour them to be as our fellow life forms of density #3, we jump off the rollercoaster ride of negative judgement and destruction, on to the bandwagon of positive creation, thereby increasing our enjoyment factor. Don’t not take them out; don’t not clean our toilets. Certainly, make our specific environments a little less mousy and a little less dirty but, accept that which is; honour all that is; and love unconditionally, even while practicing destruction.

Okay sisters and brothers, here is my very own reality check expressed to you: I am still in the process of practicing what I think I know. In other words, there is always a distinct possibility that I may be fulla baloney. It is clear to me however that through my flailing and mistake making I become more and more clear about the characteristics of who I desire to be and who I really am – my Infinite and Eternal, Authentic Self. Thus, for evermore, you are welcome to disregard everything that comes outta this awesome huckleberry pie hole I call my mouth.

Case in point: Last night, back at the Lake Camp, while I was in the deeps of REM mode (the dream now forgotten), I was freakin awakened by the same said meece I was talkin about bein at relative peaceness with earlier in the post. I detected a distinctive yet muted pitter-patter/skitter that entered my dream and got progressively louder. The critical moment of my extreme flail came to pass when the pitter-patter was felt, yea, about 3 inches from my nose and I came to the realization that a mouse was hiking up my sleeping bag.

If there was a camera on me you could have witnessed a degree of flailing and slashing about that would have no doubt rivaled the antics of a mental hospital inmate… and I am referring to those candidates for straight jackets. Though I didn’t see it the mouse musta went aflying; you would have needed no further evidence of my deficiency or, as I prefer to call it – my lackalacka. Your observation would have been akin to me jumping out of my skin as the gong was struck behind me while I meditated. No surprise, there is still awareness to achieve 🙂

The experience ended after I laughed aloud at myself in the realization that this was the perfect ending to the post called Of Mice and Me. Actually; the experience ended about 20 minutes later when I fell back asleep.

The Universe continues to humblize me and to my great relief, I continue to be reminded that I don’t know a thing. I continue to grow in to the remembrance of my Infinite and Eternal Authentic Spirit Self.

The Adventure Continues 🙂 Yippee n Yeeehaw!

One of the factors I’m experiencing about bein in the bush is that of the rodent quotient. Just like bugs, they are. Period. Although mice are less prevalent in number, their sign is much easier to notice as one will find it ezactly everywhere one eats and sleeps.

The tent that I’m staying in at Tobacco Camp is a pretty good thing I gotta say. It’s a little older than the rest and the style is a little different so instead of a zipper that gives the illusion of a contained space within, the entry flaps are tied together such that the interior remains relatively open to the elements. Also, the foamy I’m using is half again as big as the 24 inch bed frame it’s supposed to rest upon so at some point in the near future I’ll widen the frame by attaching a foot add-on to one of its long sides… either that our I’ll use a different foamy. For now I’m sleeping happily, and comfortably on the floor.

Remember that meditation cushion I wrote a bit about a while ago? Well, I don’t think I told you that:

1. I’m using it as a pillow at the moment; and
2. It is stuffed with hemp hulls; the shell of the nut.

Even though there ain’t any food for them in the pillow I suppose it smells to them like there might be so every once in awhile I’m awakened by a little scuffling; a wee scratching I hear through the cushion, and I know it’s a mouse. You may have gotten by now that I’m in to allowing all things to be as they is (as much as I am aware) and in this context, this means that when I wave a hand above my head to shoo them away, I ain’t too far outta peaceness while doing it. The initial awareness of a little animal trying to eat through my pillow three inches from my nose can be somewhat disconcerting but after a slight flail I’m back to waving one of my arms above my head with an acceptance and a smile.

Although I’m into allowing everything, as I say, to be as they is, I’ve made mention in earlier posts of our apparent need, as ‘civilized’ humans to deal with the infestation. Be it mosquitoes, bed bugs or mice, we find that their numbers must be controlled if not, in some cases, depending on the species and the specific environment, eliminated.

However, in the case of this place (the bush) there will be no elimination by a long shot, merely a weak attempt to curb. Still, the weak attempt does pay off to some degree and certainly, after the weak attempt, we notice less sign about the eating and food preparation areas. Mainly, while we do on occasion still see them climbing the walls, the mice aren’t climbing our legs as we eat and they aren’t skittering across my forehead just as I’m about to drop in to REM mode.

The other day we hiked to Tobacco after being at the main lodge for 3 or 4 days. We dropped our packs, grabbed the tools and went to work on the trail toward Moss Camp. We finished that about 7:30-8 and then came back to camp to end the day by fishin a bit and doin up a meal. I went to bed after dark and when I got up in the morning I noticed little brown flecks on my pillow and the green mattress sheet that covers the foamy. Acourse it was mouse shit… and I know that every where there is mouse shit there is mouse piss. So I’m thinkin to my self, ‘Self, mice are, and they’re urinatin and defecatin everywhere you are too. There’s nuthin you can do about it to change it or to make it any better than it is. Period.’

Fancy Acrobatics

Now, you might be thinkin, ‘Fool! Acourse there’s something you can do about it and acourse they’re shittin on yer bed! It’s on the frickin floor! Plus, yer using a pillow filled with hemp hulls! Jeez!’ Well, those of you who’re thinkin along these lines, my response to you izzat I am constantly and seriously amazed. I have no idea how they get in to and on some of the places they do – fancy acrobatics I’m thinkin! Also, they’re absolutely everywhere, so whether there is human food available or not; whether a bed is on the floor or two feet above the floor, out here in the sticks, it really changes nothing.

I’ve recently read a post from Chris Glass’ blog. Apparently many of his commenters have asked for a humane mouse trap. He’s come up with a great idea that’s well and good in the context of a specific environment. Chris recommends letting the captured mouse loose outside a mile’s radius but he’s obviously referring to somewheres other than here. The reason I can confidently say this is because he’s referring to ‘a’ mouse. Out here in the bush, no matter where you are or what you do, on the light side there are hundreds within a reasonable perimeter and certainly tens of thousands within the mile’s radius.

Shiny New Ikea Table

There are ways to keep them at bay, and one of the ways is to buy a shiny new table from Ikea whose legs they can’t crawl up. Another way is to lay a large enough piece of poly table cloth to cover and drape, inhibiting any fancy upside down shit they might perform so’s to get on top. Still another way is at the core of my story and one reason for this post: It’s the best mouse trap you’ll never buy and it’s the trap utilized here at camp’s Damdochax.

The Damdochax Mouse Trap:

The Damdochax Mouse Trap

• Begin with a medium to large bucket and large being the common 5 gallon variety;
• Pierce a beer can through the centers of its top and bottom;
• String a length of bailing wire through the holes in the can;
• Pierce the lip of the bucket on opposing points of its circumference;
• Affix the wire with the can to the two holes on the lip of the bucket;
• Fill the bucket with three inches of water;
• Spread peanut butter around the middle of the can;
• Set anywhere there are rampant rodent types;
• Lay a stick from the ground to the rim of the bucket;
• Check and dump the contents every morning;
• Refill and re-bait as needed.

Yer good to go but like most traps, the downside to this one izzat it ain’t particular. Shrews, lemmings, voles, moles and all sorts of little life forms that aren’t part of an infestation get done in too.

This brings us to the second reason for this post: We humans, in our physical state here in density #3, are destructors – pure and simple. In fact, in our perceived need to eat food for survival’s sake, even if we are raw vegans, we must still kill the plants we consume. Check out Katherine Turner’s blog post about Acknowledged Symbiosis if you like. It’s very cool.

Acknowledged Symbiosis

Question: Have you ever brightened up your toilet with a chemical cleaner? If so, then you’ve done in millions of little life forms. As human beings, we can certainly reduce our impact but the only way we will ever not leave a footprint is to become that which we are, have always been and will always be – Spirit.

Our current state as human beings is both dual and a paradox in that we are at once animal and spiritual. As I’ve come to suspect, the whole reason for our being here on Planet Earth, is to realize and experience the quantum leap from our relative animal state of destruction, suffering, survival mode and separation mentality to our absolute spiritual state of creation, constant enjoyment, thrival and unity consciousness.

In absolute reality we are One with All That Is and in our relative experience we are indeed one with the infestation because we are ourselves, in our current mass mentality of separation, such a thing yet, we have the potential for infinitely more. The result of this realization and the simple intention to aspire to becoming our Infinite and Eternal, Authentic Spirit Selves, is that our lives, at first slowly, begin to improve and then, the more we stay with our intention, by leaps and bounds, turn in to an adventure; a fun game (watch Bill Hicks).

The third and final reason for this post is to put to print the concept of the acceptance of ourselves as destructors. Only through accepting all the characteristics (good and bad) of our current state in individual form – that which is – can we begin to transcend our suffering, animal state. Our reality works in this way: what we focus on expands. If we, in any way fight, deny, hate or resist that which is then we cause the result of these thought forms (negative emotions) to increase and in the projection of our emotions we cause ourselves to suffer. Also, the more emotion we attribute to our focus, be it in the direction of resistance or of allowing, the quicker that which we focus upon manifests. So, another paradox, even in the midst of our destruction we create more of that which causes us to suffer.

To bring this post all together: Again, the mice are. When we allow them to be as they are instead of being mildly pissed at their existence in our homes and when we honour them to be as our fellow life forms of density #3, we jump off the rollercoaster ride of negative judgement and destruction, on to the bandwagon of positive creation, thereby increasing our enjoyment factor. Don’t not take them out; don’t not clean our toilets. Certainly, make our specific environments a little less mousy and a little less dirty but, (here’s another paradox and the key in all cases) accept that which is; honour all that is; and love unconditionally, even while practicing destruction.

Okay sisters and brothers, here is my very own reality check expressed to you: I am still in the process of practicing what I think I know. In other words, there is always a distinct possibility that I may be fulla baloney. It is clear to me however that through my flailing and mistake making I become more and more clear about the characteristics of who I desire to be and who I really am – my Infinite and Eternal, Authentic Self. Thus, for evermore, you are welcome to disregard everything that comes outta this awesome huckleberry pie hole I call my mouth.

Case in point: Last night, back at the Lake Camp, while I was in the deeps of REM mode (the dream now forgotten), I was freakin awakened by the same said meece I was talkin about bein at relative peaceness with earlier in the post. I detected a distinctive yet muted pitter-patter/skitter that entered my dream and got progressively louder. The critical moment of my extreme flail came to pass when the pitter-patter was felt, yea, about 3 inches from my nose and I came to the realization that a mouse was hiking up my sleeping bag.

If there was a camera on me you could have witnessed a degree of flailing and slashing about that would have no doubt rivaled the antics of a mental hospital inmate… and I am referring to those candidates for straight jackets. Though I didn’t see it the mouse musta went aflying; you would have needed no further evidence of my deficiency or, as I prefer to call it – my lackalacka. Your observation would have been akin to me jumping out of my skin as the gong was struck behind me while I meditated. No surprise, there is still awareness to achieve 🙂

The experience ended after I laughed aloud at myself in the realization that this was the perfect ending to the post called Of Mice and Me. Actually; the experience ended about 20 minutes later when I fell back asleep.

The Universe continues to humblize me and to my great relief, I continue to be reminded that I don’t know a thing. I continue to grow in to the remembrance of my Infinite and Eternal Authentic Spirit Self.

The Adventure Continues 🙂 Yippee n Yeeehaw!