The Storm that Almost Wasn't

For the last two days the weather network has been regaling us with tales of a super storm to hit and devastate the landscape. And for two days I've been planning my endeavours to avoid being trapped in the cold, clammy grasp of the storm's unrelenting grip. I've moved meetings around and cancelled social obligations all in the name of avoiding adversity and until only recently it was all for naught. Now it appears that the fearsome event we've been forewarned of and dreading has finally decided to rear it's ugly visage. The net effect is that I'm going to have to shovel the driveway again. It's not that bad though, it will be the first time in a few weeks that such attention would be required. I said in jest today to my boss that I can barely call this a winter, more of a prolonged fall season. Continually hinting at prolonged snow cover  only to repeal what accumulation was delivered. I think the longest we've actually had white lawns was a week or three before it would melt away revealing the interesting mysteries underneath. I say that because after the longest period of white, when the snow melted, there was a myriad of little trails through the dead grass. Clearcut evidence that rodents of some kind have still been unsuccessful at penetrating my domicile's defenses. I can trace these trails back to two specific areas that they must be originating from. One is under my back step and the other is under my front step. I will have to investigate further and shore things up so that they don't get a foothold in the interior of the house. I don't relish the opportunity to set and check traps, occasionally finding the remains of a cute little critter stuck in the trap. I won't attempt to impress upon the reader some of the horrors I have seen from this type of activity over the years. I don't know why I have such issues with the dispatch of small animals. I think it is from growing up near my Grandmother. She was always very compassionate and caring to the small animals. Often trying to save a baby bird or nurse an injured rodent back to health or always ensuring that the squirrels and chipmunks had ample food in the dead of winter. I guess witnessing that during my impressionable years must have rubbed off some. But also I live with the cold hard practicality of logic and sense that makes seeing these creatures as pests and makes it challenging to find them lovable. My first instinct is towards compassion for these invaders but ultimately the logic wins out, it's the nature vs nurture debate personified. The preferred solution to this type of predicament is to proceed with actions that accomplish the end goal but with a measure of ignorance. In layman's terms I want them to be dead but not have to deal with it. I also don't want them to suffer greatly but if it's far enough from the mind then that is of lesser consequence. That being said, I would never use glue traps, the most vile torture device man has devised for rodents. The usual procedure is to just fill in the hole. This allows for both sides of the equation to be balanced. On one side the mouse dies. But on the other side, did it really die? Or did it get the hint of pending danger and decide to move along. They almost always have multiple exits to their lair so I can reasonably assume that they went somewhere else. The old out of site, out of mind defense. I think that they probably mostly perish a slow death alone in their hole but I can't prove that so my soul can retain the semblance of purity by entertaining the possibility of escape. Isn't that the basis for reasonable doubt in our legal system? Either way, there are mice moving around under the snow in my yard and their activity was revealed to me this winter. Steps will be taken. I'm not sure where I was going with this previous to that moral dilemma, I guess I'll just put a pin in it until next time.