ecstatic

I just got my Chinese grade and I am very very pleased. Clearly Zu Laoshi is more than a little generous because somehow I managed to pull an A out of my ass (and yes Katie I can already hear the "I told you so"). I can only imagine the curve required to give me that A because I know without a doubt that I blew the final.
I also got my evaluation at work. My supervisor must be feeling the holiday love because I got the highest rating I've ever gotten and that means I get the highest raise that my company will allow. Although it'll only amount to a couple-o-few cents an hour, it is still more money in my ever-emptying pocket.
The one thing I am not so ecstatic about is my new roommate. Don't know when he decided to move in, but this morning he let his presence be known. I opened my pantry door to find a mouse. And embarassingly enough, I screamed like a five year old girl. He's a tiny thing, maybe three inches at the most, but still big enough to turn me into a charicature of the pearl and high heel wearing housewive that jumps onto the counter and screeches in mortal fear.
Seeing Monk (the name I've given the little guy) made me think of a short story I read a while back about a woman, recently separated, who finds a tick on her back. The tick is in a spot she can't reach on her own and though she tries and tries, she can't find a way to remove the tick by herself. During the whole process of the attempted delousing, she realizes how truly alone she is. I feel a little bit this way because of the mouse. I would totally have left the finding and exterminating of Stuart Little up to W., but now I have to do it myself. All I have to say about that is EEEEK!