WHEN YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE...

When you install a new hardwood floor in your kitchen you are going to spend a lot of time admiring it.

But you are also going to have to buy little felt furniture leg pad thingees for all the furniture that will sit on the floor.

Then you are going to have to buy a new area rug to go under the kitchen table and chairs.

Then you are going to have to vacuum the new area rug at least once a day because you chose a dark color that shows every speck of lint, dust, and pet hair.

Then you are going to wish you had bought small throw rugs to match the area rug even though your husband said "let's wait on the smaller rugs" because now you won't be able to get matching ones because your rug was made from a carpet remnant and they threw the scraps away.

Then you are going to notice that your vacuum cleaner (your Dyson) seems to be making a funny noise and NO!! your Dyson cannot die now because you've spent all your money on a new floor, furniture leg pad thingees, and an area rug.

Please, Lord! Not the Dyson!!

Then you are going to start researching The Shark to keep your new wood floor clean (because even your grandma likes The Shark) even though you know you can't buy it for like, say, oh, I don't know, 2 years.

Then you are going to obsess over the new floor and spend much of your day stooped over picking up little bits of stuff that you never would have noticed on the old linoleum.

Then you are going to wonder if it's really necessary for your family to actually walk in the kitchen. Really, why is that room so popular anyway? Can't people stay off that new floor and let her adjust to her surroundings.

Then you are going to get hungry and realize that the new floor can stand a little wear and tear after all.

Then you are going to ask yourself why you came into the kitchen in the first place.

Oh, yeah. A cookie.