Dem crazy squirrels

[fredericks]

We have an apple tree in our backyard. It bears little green apples, the name of which I can't recall, but the ones I've tasted this season have been tart as all hell. Because of the excessive tartness no one in the house has been eating said apples (although I could probably make some nice preserves, pies, or relish out of 'em), and so I'd think there'd be no problem with letting the squirrels have at the bounty. My father, on the other hand, seems to have made it his personal agenda to make sure the squirrels do not partake of the fruit from our tree. At least while he's around. Personally, I find it cute as hell to see them holding the apples in their little squirrelly hands as they nosh away. And I find it amusing as hell when dad takes it upon himself to curse at the squirrels and throw apples that have fallen to the ground at them. Little things entertain me.

No, I haven't finished Deathly Hollows yet. It's not that I don't find it engrossing, but that I'm sort of busy and distracted in turns. I'm up to page 240 or so at the moment. Once I wrap it up I have to get started on the Murakami for the bookclub.

I'm thinking I don't hate my job as much as I really dislike my floor. Being short on nurses suck. Not having secretaries around-the-clock sucks. Not having enough equipment on hand sucks. Getting the idea that management doesn't care enough about the issues above sucks. And on and on and on.

The Vegas trip is set. Now I work on trying to get my tight-fisted job to cover the conference fees.

Comments

[alicetheowl.livejournal.com]

The apples are either crabapples or Granny Smith.

Either way, it doesn't surprise me that squirrels would love 'em. My childhood home has a peach tree on the property, and the squirrels are always grabbing them. My father tells me it's rather funny to watch them running away carrying the peaches in their mouths.

We don't use any pesticide or anything on the tree, so the fruit likely isn't safe for human consumption. And we like squirrels in my family. ^ v ^

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

It's not crabapples or Granny Smiths that the tree bears. I think I'll have to ask the folks if they remember the name. They're usually a lot sweeter than they seem to be this year.

Aren't they adorable? They hold the fruit in the same manner we would. I'm surprised they don't have the thumbs to match. I'll have to post a picture of one in the act in the future.

[alicetheowl.livejournal.com]

Heh. Yeah, squirrels are wicked cute. ^ v ^

I think one has to be predisposed to liking rodents to find them cute, though. I know several people who wrinkle up their noses and declare that they're just rats with fluffy tails. Essentially, yeah, they are. I don't see that as an insult.

[xioley.livejournal.com]

A funny story about squirrels: my dad once saved a squirrel that had been hit by a car. He's kind of nuts, but he loves animals. He nursed it back to good health while it stayed in an old rabbit cage of ours. Then, when he released it, he claimed the squirrel 'hugged' him. Huh. Well, then. He was so enamored of the squirrel that he made a squirrel feeder and would climb a ladder to a tree to do it.

How are you avoiding the HP spoilers? I've only read the first book, and I let Dan tell me all the spoilers (but I'm not telling anyone, don't worry).

Have a great time in Vegas.

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

Aww! That's a cute story. I want to put another birdfeeder up, and those tend to attract squirrels as well. Then again, the squirrels are having a field day with the apples.

I'm avoiding spoilers by avoiding spoilers. :) I don't go looking for them and I don't go screaming that I'll physically assault people that feel like sharing spoilers. It makes things less stressful all around.

[devoosha.livejournal.com]

We could get your dad and my dad together...mine has a BB gun that he shoots at them. Not to worry, as my dad could not hit the broadside of a barn if it was in front of him, he's that bad. But it is amusing to see a 70-something old man hanging out the front door with BB rifle blazing just because the squirrels are getting into the bird feed.

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

:) I'm convinced the squirrels make games of these various encounters, edging each other on, tempting death and/or furry bruising at every turn. I watch the happenings in sort of the same way I watch the tentative manner squirrels attempt to cross a trafficked street - though they do risk more in the latter case than they do with my dad. My dad tends to knock more apples off the tree than anything else.

[modpixie.livejournal.com]

ooh, which murakami?

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

We went with Wild Sheep Chase. Ten pages in and I'm happy with the way things are going. :)

[1x2foralways.livejournal.com]

Squirrels noshing on apples = super cute mental image.

Eeeee, can't wait for you to finish Deathly Hallows! I'm nearly fit to burst with spoilery goodness! Can't wait to hear your thoughts on it when you finish. (:

:( at your floor. I hope it gets better.