What Ginger said. The mercury vaporizes and will dissipate down to safe levels in 15 minutes or so with an open window -- it's worth staying out of the room for a bit, but nuking the contents of the room is way overkill.

---

It's been more than 15 minutes now, I have a cannister vac so I have to dump it in a trash bag, which I'm double bagging. I'm throwing out the thing I was making for Evander.

---

There are mouse droppings in my laundry room. I should tell the landlady, right?

---

Oh, no, Hil. But yes, you should. At least it's obviously not food that's drawing them there?

---

askye, that sucks! I'm sorry you're having to throw out Evander's gift. What Ginger said, though - it's like, the amount of mercury in a can of tuna, or something.

And Hil, uggh. I wish you patience and presence of mind in dealing with your landlady.

In the town where the party never stops, you have to carve out a few hours for yourself, and I think that's what I'm doing today. Also, I'm kind of annoyed at D and I need to process it.

---

Is your laundry room also her laundry room, Hil?

At least it's obviously not food that's drawing them there?

And obvious that it's not something Hil is doing or not doing that is bringing the mice, since presumably the landlady believes that the laundry room is adequately clean. Wouldn't it be nice if her landlady could be swayed by reality? But I'm guessing she won't be. Oh Hil, I feel for you.

Once in grad school there was a huge mouse infestation at UCI and most of the campus housing was affected, including the faculty homes, lots of the professors were affected even people like J Hillis Miller. Mice were the great equalizer.

---

Is your laundry room also her laundry room, Hil?

No. The basement is divided up.

I emailed her about the laundry room, and pointed out that the wall next to where I found the droppings is also the wall that was leaking water last year when there was a lot of rain, so we already know that there's some kind of hole there. And I said that, if she calls an exterminator, she should probably point out that wall as a possible entry point for the mice. (She hasn't called an exterminator yet.)

---

She hasn't called an exterminator yet.

WHAT. So she's fine giving you shit and blaming you, but she won't do what she's supposed to do, AS A LANDLORD, which is call a damn exterminator?

She is a lousy landlord. I wish it were a possibility for you to move. Do you have a multi-year lease that's keeping you there?

---

Once in grad school there was a huge mouse infestation at UCI and most of the campus housing was affected

Wait, what? That's where I work! Must keep an eye out for the critters. Eep.

Hil, I'm glad there is evidence that shows it's not your kitchen causing the problem. It sounds like your kitchen and mine are very similiar, and I don't have mice. Being messy doesn't bring them in, it's having poor structure that brings them in. Of course, being messy keeps them longer, depending on size of mess. But in the laundry room? What? are they feeding on the lint??

ION - I need to alphabatize my CD's. I have them about 3/4 unpacked, and roughly alpha order in groups of letters, but not alpha order individually by artist yet. Blah. Don't want to think that much on my day off.

---

sj, just read your white font (was on my phone before). Yay!

And now, some mememe.

I feel almost normal today, but I'm still taking it easy with tea and yogurt and saltines for brunch. Fingers crossed the Pearls are kicking in. I almost don't recognize my face in the mirror, I look weird to myself. And my bras are a little big. And, most annoyingly, my jeggings are loose. I know, a lot of people think they're an abomination before the lord and Tim Gunn, but they are comfy and fit me well and my butts looks cute in them. Or did.

---