Yes, Launderess, you did tender such advice. But I, knowing nothing about this sort of thing, had no idea where to begin looking. And certainly it NEVER would have occurred to me that the bottom of the meter box had separated from the building to form a crack like that. Who would have thought of that?
As to hiring my own exterminator, well, that's a dreamy idea but simply out of my budget. I can only thank God that someone was finally diligent enough to actually look around and find something.
Oh, as to what the rat was chewing in my bedroom --- no idea. Both the exterminator and I looked around and couldn't see any chew marks. It was something very hard, which was why I thought at first it was one of my dogs gnawing a bone.
And sorry about the photo of the rat poop. I guess my aim here, as much as allowing you all to vicariously share in this heart-pounding drama, is to educate you as to what to look for. I never knew what rat poop looked like. Would not have had a clue. Now that I DO know, I'll certainly recognize it if I ever see any more of it. And so will all of you-alls.
I too hope this is the end. I truly, truly do.
P.S. I hope my 'fantasizing' about the handsome exterminator did not cross the bounds of good taste, even here where the "good taste boundaries" are fuzzy sometimes. What can I say. I am very stressed out and running today on NO sleep. Sorry if anyone was offended.
