Sunday Sip 🪤
Mouse Trap Karma
Welcome to our quirky weekly newsletter, the Sunday Sip! We like to think our personal essays channel the spirit of WKRP in Cincinnati. I'm stepping up to the plate this week, so expect a lot less Dr. Johnny Fever and a bit more Les Nessman.
I've got a mouse dilemma to share, along with some plugs for recently published articles, a Substack recommendation, and a PSA about a book I hated (and you should avoid). The Culinary Corner is back, and I have a few event suggestions for your calendar. So, grab your favorite beverage, and let's dive in!
The Mouse-Capades
Heat lightning was putting on quite the show. It wasn’t as dramatic as the Northern Lights from a few weeks ago.
But still, the heat lightning was worth watching.
We stood by the windows, overlooking the deck, watching the clouds on the horizon take turns glowing–Stay Puft Marshmellow Man from Ghostbusters springs to mind. Around them, bright flashes lit up the sky, casting an eerie ambiance. In one such flash, a mouse darted out from its shelter under the deck fire pit.
It was like watching the Ice Capades as it glided about, gathering discarded seeds from the bird feeders before dancing back to its hiding place.
My first thought was, “My God, what big ears you’ve got.” This was quickly followed by, “Dear God, Houston, we’ve got a problem.” We stepped away from the window as if burned by the lightning.
Fixing the problem required a trap and peanut butter—simple enough. We set the trap the next morning under the oversized, useless fire pit. Well, it was not entirely useless; it was clearly offering a mouse with huge ears a staging area for its stash.
Sure, I considered moving the bird feeders, as the discarded seeds scattered on the deck were attracting some unwanted guests. But for now, the feeders would stay. I liked watching the birds.
That evening, as the final credits for a Clarkson’s Farm episode rolled, we heard a thwap. “OMG! The trap!” We ran to the windows to peer into the darkness. Nothing. I flipped the deck light on. The mouse with the large ears was dragging the trap across the deck. I flipped the deck light off. “OMG!” We stepped away from the window as if burned. But by what? Shame? Guilt? Triumph?
The next day, the mouse was still in the trap, and its death dance was over. It was disposed of, and the trap reset. After all, there couldn’t be just one lone mouse playing mouse-capades. And yes, we caught another.
Where does this end? I know it’s “just” a mouse, but I can’t trap all the mice. After all, it was getting a free lunch, just like the birds. My conscience was conflicted.
“Moving the feeders would resolve so many issues,” I heard a voice whisper. Would Mother Nature teach me a lesson?
Karma found me, but in the least likely of places—Target. For those unfamiliar, Karma is the principle of cause and effect, where one’s actions directly influence their future. Some say it’s the universe’s way of keeping balance. I was about to find out if that balance was tipped against me.
I needed a new tube of mascara and some Poppi Soda, aka sparkling water. No, I didn’t need either, but it was a good excuse to cruise the aisles without Chuck. He hates shopping without purpose. After wearing out the novelty of purposeless shopping, I made my way to the entrance to pay.
“Gasp!” A huge red tape was stretched across the entrance to the self-checkout area. Only three check-out lanes were open, each 2-3 people deep. I took my spot in the first lane. More customers were taking their places in the other lanes.
I looked at my watch as I heard a raised voice ahead of me. The woman paying for her items was on her phone, and there was apparently a problem. The cashier said to the next person in line, “Sorry.”
“Should I lane jump?” I heard a voice in my head ask.
The woman was getting more annoyed with whoever she was talking to on her phone. The woman directly in front of me was eyeing her options in the other check-out lanes, then leaned on her cart, resigned to her fate.
I jumped lanes and watched the person paying for his goods fish his credit card from his wallet. To my shock, he didn’t appear to know how to run it through the credit card machine. I looked back at the lane I’d abandoned; two more people had replaced me. And the phone lady had finished her transaction and was now at Starbucks. The lady who stayed put was now getting ready to pay.
I heard the cashier suggest to the man paying that he insert the card into the machine. “Where?” he asked. The lady who’d taken my spot in the first lane was now checking out. There were still two people in front of me, and the guy who didn’t know how to use a credit card.
“Should I lane jump again?” I considered the question and thought perhaps I was doomed to never leave Target.
Success! The credit card guy was leaving, and the line was moving. Meanwhile, the phone lady was sipping her Starbucks, still talking on the phone.
I’m not sure if I believe in Karma, but I know one thing for certain: I’m done with lane jumping. The mouse trap has been retired for now, and the bird feeders are staying put. I may regret both decisions, but at the moment, I feel bad about the large ear mouse and his cousin.
In Other News!
At Life In Michigan, we’ve got a sweet article Chuck wrote about Steampunk on the Bricks at Art 634 at the Jackson event on May 25th.
We’ve talked about it since January, and it is finally here: Our State of the Michigan Beer Industry was published in the Spring 2024 MIBrew Trail Magazine. Go over there and read the whole article.
This is a Special Treat for you! On Chuck’s podcast, “Fans with Bands,” he read his May 26 Sunday Sip instead of an interview. I thought it was loads of fun.
Would you like Chuck to read more Sunday Sip newsletters for you?
Substack Restacked
As Chuck says, “Substack is where it is at!”
Check out this publication:
That Trans Friend You Didn’t Know You Needed, Robin Taylor curates this newsletter. “Trans and queer activist and writer of all things personal and cultural.” The weekly stack had a link to his newsletter, “How I Started My Substack with Zero Subscribers.” I’m like, “OK, I’m interested.” I was hooked. I’m sure you’ll be hooked, too.
Reading Nook
This isn’t a recommendation but a book warning! I hated “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I won’t share a picture or a link. It was insipid, trite, boring, and predictable. Why did I finish it? I wanted to figure out why it had 4.6 stars and 85.8k reviews. Lesson: Do not believe Audible reviews.
Upcoming Events
The Ann Arbor Summer Festival kicks off in June! There is much to be excited about, but you should definitely put on your calendar Thonetta Davis on June 14th at 9 p.m. and Jamie Register on June 15th at 5 p.m.
Switching gears, Batch Brewing in Detroit has a Comedy Jam on June 13th.
Yes! Sounds & Sights is back in Chelsea on Thursday nights starting June 6th. You can get their full lineup here. Please do not miss this show! Ladyship Warship on June 27th. We’ll be hurrying home from Traverse City that day so that we won’t miss it, you shouldn’t either.
Culinary Corner
After our Hawaiian adventure, I decided to give my liver a bit of a break. My self-imposed Dry-ish May sent me searching for beverage substitutes. Ta-dah! Meet Liquid Death. There are two varieties: Sparkling Water and Iced Tea. There are new ones I’ve yet to try, but my favorite at the moment is the Dead Billionaire (AKA the Armless Palmer).
After I put a brick of Liquid Death in my cart, some Joker said to me, “Aren’t you afraid to drink that stuff?” I wish I’d had a pithy retort, but I just glowered at him. I’ve read the back of the can, and it doesn’t contain ANY fake sweeteners. I bet that Joker has never read the back of any can.
And who doesn’t love drinking a tall boy?
Plus, if you sign up for their newsletters, you can get your “Horror Scope by Liquid Death.”
Final Thoughts
As we close out this week’s edition of the Sunday Sip, I hope you’ve enjoyed the blend of quirky dilemmas, reviews, and recommendations. From the dramatic mouse-capades on my deck to the chaos at Target, it's clear that life has a funny way of keeping us on our toes.
Remember, whether it's setting mouse traps or navigating checkout lines, karma has a way of teaching us lessons in the most unexpected places. As you sip your favorite beverage and reflect on my stories, may you find a bit of humor and perhaps a lesson or two to carry into your week.
Until next Sunday, keep laughing, keep exploring, and most importantly, keep sipping!