The Great Escape...Twice!

Everything was fine and dandy until Jefferson decided he was going to be like Red Foreman off That's 70's Show and do some home repairs on Coal's cage. Let's just say I'm glad he wasn't trying his hand at home repairs around the house. After a saudering iron, a hot glue gun, and a bunch of zip ties, Jefferson thought he was finished...that is until Coal escaped!

Yep, we've had him for less than a week and he's already wreaking havoc around the house! Not really. Jefferson found him that morning when he went to get in the shower. Coal had gotten out that night, fell off the table and then ran around until he got so thirsty that the sound of dripping water from our leaky faucet led him into the bathroom where he hunkered down in front of our electric heater.

So Jefferson put him back in his cage. The next night the same thing happened, only this time, catching the little booger was much more difficult.

Jefferson came into our bedroom, and shook me awake. "Genny, the hamster got out! Come help me find him!" We searched and searched and searched.

"He's behind the counters I tell ya!" I said for the umpteenth time as I over-turned the cushions on the couch...again!

"Maybe, but we don't have time to look right now 'cuz we gotta get to work. We'll look some more later."
 You mean, you'll look some more later, I thought. I already know he's hiding behind the counters and besides, I'm not the one who renovated his cage and de-escape-proofed it! (As you can see, I did not like the idea of having a mousie running around inside my house!)

Well, while making some deliveries that day for work, Jefferson, using his newly found hamster-catching knowledge (thank you google) made a pit-stop home and set up some traps. I was completely unaware of this until Jefferson called me.

"You did what?" I said.
"I spread flour across every threshold in the house, that way if he walks across it, he'll leave little footprints everywhere and we'll follow his footprints to where he's hiding! Then, I left some paper plates on the floor with food and water in them just in case."

Those were the words that literally came out of his mouth, but what I heard was, "Someone on google was trying to be funny and listed this idea as a joke to see who would actually try it out, and guess what, honey? I did it! So when you get home, there'll be a nice mess all over the floor for you to clean up and it'll all be for nothing because we all know the mousie is behind the counters just like you said." Of course, I didn't say this, and instead replied in the happiest voice I could muster, "That's great, hun."

It wasn't until after Jefferson got home from work that we found the mousie, and what do you know? He was behind the counters, all nice and snug with a little nest built out of paper scraps and a plastic bag. And for those of you who are asking, no, I did not have to vacuum up all the flour.