Distracted Will Driving

I must confess.
I play a game during my daily commute and more so during the weekend.
No.
I am not playing Candy Crush while driving.
No. I am not Tweeting about potholes.
NO.
I am certainly not uploading pics of people doing silly things outside.
I play

Could I get invited into your home?

I look for mini-vans and SUVs with family decals on them.
I imagine that I am attempting to be invited into their home and I plan how I might interact with the family  based on the decal.

It is like a to-do list

• This one tells me Dad has expensive hobbies possibly to go with a position that requires networking on the green. 
• There's probably a lot of designer clothing and other brand name products in this home.
• I could attempt to borrow a small tool.
• The dog is probably of a larger breed. I couldn't visit this house too long because I am allergic to dogs.

• Dad probably has a beer belly with a room dedicated to him full of sports memorabilia. Or at least a small fridge full of beer.
• Mom has a drinking problem? I bet if I asked, she would share a glass of wine with me.
• The children would be fun to watch for a day.I could pretend to be returning a toy.
• Finally, I can guess with confidence that the car is full of ancient McDonald fries (which do not spoil BTW)

• If I were a burglar, I would ignore this house.  A gun-toting father with three daughters is a dangerous man. Additionally, avoid the topic of politics.
• The kid with the newspaper route has a good throwing arm and has discipline. I like her.
• Mom is probably a fiber crafter or scrapbooker. I like her, too.

• I can't...With this one...

My make believe family

• I want people to think I have a body builder partner. He doesn't tolerate nonsense.
• I could out run an crazed masked killer.And keep up with anything else.
• Unfortunately, this make believe family advertises that we are rarely home between shuffling kids to and from practice and our own hobbies. On the other hand, we don't have time to waste.
• The dog is a distraction. If you truly now me, I would never keep a dog.
• This also tells everyone that I have a amazing vacuum

I have been playing this game for years.
Sometimes I am a potential home invader. Sometimes, I am the Avon lady calling. I pretend that I have good  news to share.

That was all before I spotted a decal similar to the one above at the local Wally world.
It took me by surprise.
It is the beginning of a new game...

Why you don't have pets

Last year, I noticed that Fuzzy was exploring in the drop ceiling above below the kitchen above the basement bathroom. I placed tons of moth balls in the ceiling to discourage her. I believe she explored it to check on the groundhog and possum that had been living in it last Fall.

That got old.

So did the moth balls.

I found that I had to keep repleniishing them to keep her out of the area.

A month ago, the kitchen light blew as I flicked the on switch.

A week later the laundry light bulb blew and each new light bulb placed into the fixture would pop and never light again.

I went into the basement bathroom and found that the light fixture in there no longer worked. 

I was troubled by this. 

I checked the fuse box or switch box or whatever it is called. Nothing there.

It slipped my mind for a bit as many things do.

Until I spotted a pair of cat ears  from the laudry area in the drop ceiling above the basement shower.

It all made sense to me now.

Using a flashlight, I found many junction boxes hidden by the drop ceiling. No doubt one of those boxes powered the three lights.

I decided to take a more direct approach to keep the cat out of the drop ceilign and out of danger

Yes?

What was that?

You want to know how the cat gets into the drop celing?

She jumps on top of the washer.

From there she jumps onto the laundry shelving.

Then she jumps into the opening left there by the contractors who did not extend the laundry room wall all the way up to the ceiling to permit air flow or some nonsense. If you read my blog back in 2005, you would remember that I hired a company against whom I later filed a BBB complaint.

I am forced to remember it all the time, especially during times like these.

I padded to the garage and pulled out some of the bird netting that I used to keep the birds out of the strawberries. Cut it down square patches and stapled it to openings to keep the cat out of the area until my Step-Dad the electrician would arrive this week for the holiday.

It worked for a few days until she found a weakness.  You can see how she pulled the netting away from the wood on the right side.

Yes?

What did you say?

Oh, you want to know why the cat is so keen to visit the rafters?

it is Raja.
The kitten is tormenting her. Seriously.

The kitten will not giver her a moment's peace. I bought one of the towers thinking that Fuzzy could jump up there and escape the kitten. I didn't consider that the same tower encouraged Raja to claw her way to the top landing so she could visit with Fuzzy. 

Raja can not jump on top of the washer, the laundry shelf or into the rafter. Meaning Fuzzy can escape her constant need for attention. It is the highest, safest spot for her.

Yes, I suppose it is all very funny to you.

I ran  back into the garage and pulled out the chicken wire. I stapled it over the bird netting. 

That proved effective for about two days.

I found this scene last night. 

I called Dad,the all around handyman, who suggested that I find perforated sheet metal, cut it to size, and screw it into the wood. It would look better and keep the cat out. He and my Step-Dad are coming on Saturday to work on sealing off the access for the cat and fix the wiring that the cat damaged. Perhaps, 2 heads are better than one.

Meanwhile, I have stuffed all the opening with excess insulation from the attic, secured with bird netting and chicken wire while still wearing my professional uniform. (skirt, tights, dress, hair in a ball)

This morning I said to the cat "Challenge accepted."