It started out like any other gloomy working winter Wednesday in Dayton, Ohio. I have a ritual of coming in the shop door, and finding the place to put my stuff…1) keys on the hook, 2) connect phone to stereo, 3) hang coat up…we all do that…
But by step 2, it was already taking a turn…pulling my phone from my coat pocket, I saw that I had grabbed my wife’s phone, AND my phone. First thought…call my wife…(I know what you’re thinking)…
I spend another few minutes wondering what to do, when I notice one of my shop trash cans turned on it’s side. It’s odd, and empty, so I stand it back up, not thinking much of it, and head towards the back of the shop, to the office. Huh…another trash can is turned over, only this one was not empty, and the contents were strewn about “packaging department”. Lots of paper and cardboard spread about the floor. So, I look into the office to see 3 more cans in the same state…all turned over, and more or less, emptied out.
I’m getting the feeling that something is wrong…like “Hey, Maybe someone broke into my shop!” I look around a bit, wander back to the shop to see if any tools are missing, but it all looks to be in place…whew, nothing is missing…so…wtf?
As I expand my circling, I’m looking for anything to clue me in as to what happened…and then I found the first hint…
But where did these come from? Nothing like this walked into the front door…unless…it was my landlord messing with my (lack of) morning awareness… what else could it be? There is only one more door in the shop, and it’s bolted shut from my side…
The last possibility, a long shot, in my mind even now, is through a vent. In the office area, there is a 36″ monster of an exhaust fan, that can blow heat out of the building. but, the bottom of that fan is 12′ off the ground. That would be quite a leap for what I think is a raccoon! But I had to consider the possibility…
As I looked , I found paw prints running the entire length of the pipes and framework under the fan…still a pretty fur piece (hardeeharharr!) to jump…but there it is…from the fan, to the pipes, to the refrigerator, do the desk tops, and a tour pf the shop trash cans…just follow the tracks.
We’re all convinced the our furry friend cannot get out the way it got in, so we’re sure it’s still here somewhere. But tonight, we hunt!
Baited with cheese and some frozen (thawed) eggrolls. Thinking I might put a trash can or 2 around out trap, just to make it feel more at home. Will let you know how this works out.
