Last year we dealt with a raccoon trying to get into our house. The noise a raccoon makes while tearing at the siding on a house is quite loud. It sounds like someone is taking a baseball bat to the house.

This year I’ve been lucky so far with that. Keep your fingers crossed because I really don’t want to deal with that again.

I did have to call the wildlife removal people though because some animal was caught in my chimney. I woke up on Sunday morning thinking my dog was in the living room scratching and then realized that the dog was in my room. I could hear something trying to claw its way out of the chimney.

I debated on calling the wildlife removal company. After I called the company, I debated if I cancel it. I really struggle lately with these ordinary daily decisions.

When Joe the wildlife guy arrived, he checked out my roof. There is a cap on the chimney but apparently an opening had appeared in the screening. He discovered a bird trapped in the chimney, right where I said it was. Joe dropped a rope into the chimney. The  bird grabbed onto the rope and Joe pulled it out. The bird, rather sooty and dusty, immediately flew away.

The good news is that I didn’t feel compelled to tell Joe that my husband has died. I told some repair man earlier that my husband had died and then realized I told a complete stranger who was at my house that I live here alone. Not so bright so I’m glad I’m learning restraint.

The other good news is that the bird is out of the chimney and the rest of my roof and soffits look fine. We won’t discuss what it cost to save the bird’s life.