It never ceases to amaze me what my brain will think of when it is sleep deprived.

The last few weeks I have felt especially weary. I am dragging myself around and counting the hours until bed. It hasn't help matters that the hamster runs on his wheel all night long. I think last night must have been the final straw for my subconscious hamster hating brain because the only way I could think to keep him quiet was to put him in the Crock Pot.

I was awakened around 2:00 and stumbled out into the living room. I told him to shut the hell up but he just kept running. (I think he said, "Do you want a piece of me?") I opened the cage as he ran to hide in the tunnel but I poked him out and stared at him but didn't know what to do. Where could I put this nocturnal athlete? All I wanted was a few hours of uninterrupted sleep. I took him with me and began the search. There it was in front of me on the counter. The Crock Pot! Surely he would be quiet in there. I removed the stoneware liner and lid and took it to the living room. He would be quite safe and above all QUIET until morning.

I don't really remember what happened next. I must have come to my senses because this morning the hamster was sleeping safely in an old cage sans wheel. The Crock Pot was sitting beside the cage.