My Trivial Pursuit buddy from high school, Sam, wrote in with this suggestion for keeping the rodents away: "I've had those problems, too. Now I keep a few cats around my vehicle all the time. They tend to get chomped by the engines, too, so keep a few spares on hand. But I haven't seen mice in quite a while . . . ." Thanks Sam. I like your idea, but as I'm queasy around mice, I also don't care for dead cats. I'm just quirky that way.

And if any of you were wondering, we have had no new mice sightings.

I had a good thrift store day. I went in to find my friend a mixer. I have a friend who turned 40 today who did not own a mixer. And she really likes to bake. And she did not have a mixer. She was holding out for the master of all kitchen appliances, the KitchenAid Ultra Power. But she didn't even have a hand mixer. So I found her one (in a lovely shade of avacado) for $2.99. So now she doesn't have to wait for her KitchenAid in agony. But my really great find was a $20 lawn mower. A mulching mower that really works. Martin zipped through the yard in no time. I love a bargain. I love a bargain.