Ever Wanted to be a Fly on the Wall?

Okay, I have a question for you all today. I was thinking about it this morning as I was surveying the garbage in my garage that had been scattered everywhere. Was it Maggie? Our neighbor's dog, Wiggles? A raccoon or possum? Or even the wind? Short of sitting up all night or catching the culprit red-handed, there's really no telling. I do know that I've never seen Maggie bother the garbage. Even after it's been dumped out. I am tempted to blame Wiggles right off the bat, but what proof do I have? None so far. If I had a security camera, then the puzzle would be solved. But I wouldn't go that far just for a little garbage.

One year when my son was two, some pranksters cut the cord to his blow-up snowman in the yard and moved it to a yard a street over. Not a nice thing to do. And boy was I mad that they had destroyed it by cutting the power source. Once again, no proof. And kind of spooky that someone had been so close to the house and us not know it. Kind of like the other day when someone left the back door unlocked and my sister and brother-in-law came in and made themselves at home. Not that I minded them being there, but the thought that anyone else could have been in and out and me not even realize it. Spooky. But I ramble. Here's the question for the day.

Is it ever acceptable to use a spy cam or hidden camera? Would you have any qualms about placing one in your home if you thought something was going on that shouldn't be? What about at your business? Is this a serious invasion of privacy if it's in your own domain? Do you trust your babysitter? If you run a business, do you trust your employees? Would you go that far to make sure that your family and possessions are protected?

And then of course my mind wandered to the whimsical side of the question. What if you could catch the culprit who spilled the unknown substance on your freshly shampooed carpet? Or find out who left the glass of coke on your dresser to make the unsightly ring? What about finding out who put the red sock in the washer with the whites? Who broke that what-not on the mantle and set it back just so? Who keeps spitting toothpaste in my sink and not rinsing it out? Ughhh. Of course I know the answer. There's only three of us in my household. Most of the time I can figure it out by process of elimination. Oh but to have that coveted proof. There would be no more, "But mom..." or "I dunno, honey." And Maggie would be off the hook.

Of course, I'm not blameless. The other day I went to the fridge and thought, Hey, who drank all my Lipton Green Tea? And the answer is, no one in the house drinks it but me. Had to be me. Unless of course I'm being investigated by the CIA, and they've helped themselves to it while they surveilled my home. Somehow I don't see the boys in black chillin' on my sofa with a cold one while they install a stealth camera in my dusty silk plants. But hey, as long as they don't touch my hidden Dove chocolate stash, we're cool.