During my recuperation on the couch, I've been keeping an eye on our bird feeders. The suet feeder is always the most active, with small birds like robins and tits as well as big ones like parakeets and magpies. This persistent squirrel has also been amusing me.
As you can see in super close-up mode, it's actually licking the suet. It's having trouble getting a bite but it's determined. How often in blogland do you see a picture of a squirrel tongue? I'm glad to once again provide you with something here at Shadows & Light that you are unlikely to see anywhere else.
I hesitate to say it, but I think I've turned a corner on my illness. My fever yesterday afternoon and evening hovered around 99ยบ F (not really a fever at all), without paracetamol, and I am feeling better. I'm still coughing but I suspect that may go on for a while. I'm still going to take it easy today.
I got a call from next-door neighbor Mrs. Kravitz* yesterday evening asking me if we could care for her dog today. Apparently they're away and they accidentally told the dog-sitter they'd be home yesterday, when in fact they're not coming home until tonight. And the dog-sitter has Christmas plans. Of course I said we'd help, but it turns out the dog-sitter found another solution so it looks like K-dog will not be staying with us today after all. Which is just fine with Olga.
The weirdest thing was, when Mrs. K called, she asked how I was feeling. I thought, "How does she know I'm sick?" We have the same dog-walker, so Dave's theory is she called the dog-walker to pick up her dog from the sitter and floated the possibility of dropping it off with us, and the dog-walker told her that I'm sick. Either that or she reads my blog, which is a chilling thought given all the grousing I've done about my neighbors.
I guess it's a good reminder that we shouldn't write anything online about anyone, unless we're prepared for them to read it!
I finished "Sometimes People Die," Simon Stephenson's medical mystery novel about unexplained deaths in an underfunded East London hospital. It was a really good book, quite the page-turner, and an interesting depiction of what life must be like for junior doctors within the cash-strapped NHS. I have a few minor quibbles but overall I'd recommend it.
*Not her real name
That's a good photo!! Just hope the squirrel's feet don't slip.....could be painful!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you are now on the mend
Good to hear that you seem to be on the mend.
ReplyDeleteI’m so glad you’re seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I tend to keep lots of stories to myself when it comes to blogging. I don’t want anyone to recognize themselves in a negative story. (Although it sure can be tempting.)
ReplyDeleteMy blog is not available to search engines although I rarely tell stories about locals apart from glowing ones where my neighbours have been kind to me, which they are all the time but I don't share much about it, it does seem quite personal and not stuff to share. I often wonder about bloggers who talk about neighbours all the time and some blogs are very easy to find. I am glad to hear you are on the mend and hopefully it will be well on the way out by the end of today.
ReplyDeleteAdam Kay's This is Going to Hurt, the Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor, is a very good read although I suspect you have already read it as most people seem to. It is a book for light relief and quite funny and easily readable in one day.
ReplyDeleteVery glad to hear you're doing better now. I've always assumed that the K name was from that TV show, maybe the Honeymooners? Anyway, yes, I'm more careful what I say in my blog when I find someone I know in real life might be reading it.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to have a bunch of laughs and see plenty of squirrel slow motion videos, just type "Mark Rober Squirrel Challenge" into the YouTube search box. There are I think four videos now that show just how determined squirrels can be when it comes to finding food.
ReplyDeleteAs an innocent new blogger, I urged all my friends to read my blog. I have often regretted that, since writing about them would be such fun.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are feeling better and hope you enjoy your holiday break!
ReplyDelete"Not her real name."
ReplyDeleteHaha! That's great.
I am so glad to hear that possibly your bug has done its worst with you and is now packing up and leaving. Still take care.
Love to you, Dave, and Olga.
How would she even know you have a blog? If any of the SHARE volunteers read mine then they know what an unapologetic liberal I am and how little I think of republicans. In fact maybe it would be good if they did read it if all they listen to is Fox. Which I have no idea about their politics. I assume republican since they are all religious. Though I'm not the only one. There are at least three others that don't vote republican.
ReplyDeleteNone of my friends read my blog that I know of. Marc reads it, says it's the only way he knows what's going on.
I'm always surprised when friends and neighbors tell me they read my blog so yes, be careful what you say.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you are feeling better. Yay!
ReplyDeleteThat squirrel is adorable, what a great photograph. I love it.
Does your dog-sitter know that you have a blog? I'm glad that you don't use real names. Are you really Steve? LOL!
Glad you're feeling better! And I love the squirrel tongue. Ha!
ReplyDeleteMy whole family reads my blog so I definitely know that what I write will get back to whoever I write it about. No worries - my attempts to be controversial don't really make very many waves.
I'm so glad your temperature is down to near normal. Hopefully you will start feeling lots better as the next two or three days unfold.
ReplyDeleteI love the squirrel and it's tongue!
That's true that we mostly see squirrels chewing rapidly and not licking. Glad you're feeling better; I've found that a cough hangs on a long time. I'm finally over mine.
ReplyDeleteThe Mrs. Kravitz's of the world know EVERYTHING.
ReplyDeleteHopefully you've turned the corner. Merry Christmas to you and Dave.
ReplyDeleteI've learned a lot of lessons the hard way: Don't say something about someone you wouldn't be willing to say to their face. Don't make assumptions about anyone based on their religious beliefs (or lack thereof). Don't form opinions of people based on where they live or what they do for a living. Snarky comments and judgments have a way of coming back and biting you in the bum.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're feeling better, Steve.
When we lived in an RV and didn't stay anywhere for long, I felt a lot freer to talk about people than I do now. So, the blog must stay pleasant, because we have to live in this neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteGlad you're feeling better. Must have been that cheery Christmas novel you just finished!
ReplyDeleteI didn't even know squirrels have tongues, but why not.
ReplyDeleteBlogs might become rather boring without a little gossip about others.
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you both.
ReplyDeleteI go with the dog walker theory. Keep gossiping!!
BE WELL!! The new year will be a better one, they say.
ReplyDeleteThat's a very determined squirrel. Glad to hear you are getting better.
ReplyDeleteGZ: Yikes! I never thought of that!
ReplyDeleteFrances: Finally! (I guess it's only been six days but it seems longer.)
Mitchell: I try to be pretty circumspect and I don't use names (not real ones, anyway) when I'm being catty.
Rachel: I wouldn't hesitate to share interactions with neighbors, but I wouldn't share their news or personal information about them, if that makes sense. I always assume people can find my blog, but frankly I'd be astonished if any of them bothered! Yes, I've read Adam Kay's book.
Boud: It is indeed from TV -- Mrs. Kravitz was the nosy neighbor on "Bewitched."
Ed: I will try that! I'm laughing just thinking about it.
Colette: Soon after launching my blog, I told my family about it, and then I felt too paranoid to ever mention them. Until I realized that none of them read it anyway!
Ellen D: Thank you and you too!
Ms Moon: Yeah, I'm ready to be past this yuck.
Ellen: She would have to have searched for it, and even that's not easy because there are a surprising number of Steve Reeds in the world. It seems very unlikely. At least Marc reads your blog! Dave doesn't read mine unless I ask him to look at a specific post.
Red: You never know who's out there, it's true!
Robin: MY name is real, I promise! I don't think the dog-walker knows about my blog.
Bug: For some reason I thought that squirrel tongue would amuse you! It's always mildly disappointing when I prepare myself for controversy and it doesn't happen. I guess I should be happy, though.
Sharon: Fingers crossed!
Margaret: I'm sure if it were up to the squirrel he'd be gnawing away at that suet ball.
Bob: It's true! HOW do they do it?!
Jim: Thanks, and same to you, Jim! :)
Kelly: All good points. I want to be able to be a little snarky, because that's my sense of humor, but I never mean to be cruel or unjust. Hopefully that comes across.
Allison: One of the downsides of growing roots!
Catalyst: Ha! I actually really enjoyed that book.
Andrew: I didn't know that either, but I suppose almost every vertebrate has a tongue of some kind. I'm not sure about fish.
Merlot: Yes, let's go with that! That makes me much less paranoid. :)
Linda Sue: Here's hoping! It's a fresh start, either way. :)
River: Thanks, and yes, that squirrel is giving it his all!