Happy Anniversary!
That 'thing' is a skink. Two different times a skink wound up in my (Florida) house. The first time, I had no idea what it was and 5 years after the fact...it was hilarious how horrified I was: called wildlife control, exterminator, etc. Wildlife control said it wouldn't come out for any critters smaller than 5 ft long. The 'thing' I saw was about as long as my foot with a looong tail-but not long enuf for professional help (apparently-grrrr). Finally an exterminating service came out with glue traps and we had to force the critter out from behind the couch by hitting the couch loudly and firmly. Scared it enuf for it to come flying out an splat ont the glue traps. Phew. Even my 2 dogs were scared of it.
Within a couple days of that adventure there was anotehr one in the house, but my then b/f got it out, before I threw another freaked out fit.
