- Day 3

Still no signs of squirrels. Granted, the weather was crappy and it snowed like another 12 inches, but still. They're up to something. I just know it.

The Squirrel Conspiracy, part Deux.

No sooner did I write what I did yesterday, about the squirrels 'new' winter habits, than TWICE this morning, when I went to the bathroom, they were no where to be found.

Are they intelligent squirrels, reading my blog? How did they find out about the blog? Do they have some kind of inside informant? Is there a spy in the store? There is a vent behind me, and there's that shield bug (it's a type of beetle) that seems to have survived by being in the store despite the winter onslaught. Are the squirrels secretly feeding him, in return for vital information on me and what I'm doing at the store? If so, why are they so interested? What fiendish little plans are they hatching? When I mentioned yesterday about them being cannibalistic, did it bother them that I know so much about them? And my biggest concern...

Is it just the squirrels, or are there other rodents/insects/small animals involved in this conspiracy?

I'll keep you informed of any updates. But if I suddenly don't... beware the squirrels...

How much have we messed up the natural cycle of things? Even on a local scale? This is what I mean, in simple observation:

Everything I've read, seen, learned, grown up to believe (through my own witnessing) has told me that squirrels go away for the winter. They don't quite hibernate like bears, but if they can gather enough food for the winter, they'll basically hide. I know occassionally, if there's not enough food locally, they will have to forage a little during the winter.

I've lived in New York, I've lived in North Carolina. I have *not* seen a squirrel in the winter in all of my 28 winters. I'm 29 now, and live in New Hampshire. You know what I see, everyday outside the bathroom window, aside from the 2+ feet of snow that has been out there since early December? I see squirrels. Lots of 'em. Moreso perhaps, than I saw in the spring and summertime. And some of them are quite plump (most aren't, but a few are). They certainly aren't frollicking. In fact, they're probably freezing their arses off just as much as I do when I walk to work. Why are they out there? They're foraging.

WTH?!

There was plenty of food in the fall. I mean I could practically skate to work on a layer of acorns. The acorns would pelt the roof of the house, and one room that doesn't have a finished ceiling, it sounded like machinegun fire. There was no shortage of acorns. So why are the squirrels, even the ones that have a nice layer of "padding", out in subzero degree weather, where they couldn't get through the snow and ice even if there WAS food underneath? I'm just totally dumbfounded. I even know that squirrels are capable of cannibalism (not so cute anymore, are they?), yet I still am clueless as to why good hibernating areas + abundant food in the fall < winter hibernation/disappearing. I don't know if this is a rant, or an enquiry, or something else, but man, what the heck is wrong with squirrels nowadays? Or at least, northeastern squirrels? Why aren't you sleeping?!

Get a blog get a blog, I got a blog!
yeah ooh oooh oo ooo yeah I got a blog!

Even He's doing it!

Yes, you know boredom is setting in when one begins singing online (in text no less) and then pimping a friend's blog.