February 2 is quite an interesting date.  The big news of the day pertains to the observations of a groundhog. 

A what?

A groundhog. 

Don’t get me wrong- I grew up in Pennsylvania, where Groundhog Day is a really, really big deal.  I like groundhogs.  Every time I see one in real life, I am awed by the shear size and apparent strength possessed within that fur-covered body.  It makes me a little sad every time I hear an anecdote regarding the demise of a particularly pesky groundhog.  Someday I may even be interested in touching a groundhog, as long as all the necessary precautions have been taken to protect both myself and the big old furball.  Groundhogs are a-ok in my book, and I’ve got nothing but love for good ol’ Phil.

Sometimes I wonder, though, why we aren’t asking other critters to divine the future.  Take, for example, my dear friend Al:

Care to join me for a quick bite?

Does this fine specimen cast a shadow?  Yes.  Is he being asked to share his expertise?  No. 

I wonder, good reader, why is it that we feel a groundhog is a more palatable predictor? Al spends most of his time outdoors.  Al has rugged good looks, a relatively calm demeanor, and quite the smile.  He also loves a photo op.  Did he misspell something on the job application?  Did he say the wrong thing?  Was his handshake weak?  Did his halitosis get in the way?  (I tried to get him to take the breath mints with him to the interview, but he was convinced they would rattle around in his suit jacket and become a distraction.  I said, “Trust me, the breath is a much bigger distraction than some noisy pockets.”  Needless to say, alligators rarely take advice the first time it is offered.)  Does he stand a chance at getting the position of groundskeeper at the local golf course? 

Perhaps I am not being fair to all the groundhogs out there.  After all, there isn’t a whole lot of glory or glamour in the day-to-day existence of these guys.  Maybe- just maybe- I should step back and enjoy the forecasts that have absolutely no scientific basis for what they are: tradition.  Alligators have plenty to do, and get plenty of publicity doing it.  I am going to encourage Al to try for that job at the country club.  I’m also going to remind him that every groundhog has his day.

So we aren’t exactly being seasonal here, but I am in the mood to think warm thoughts.  I am desperately in the mood to think warm thoughts.  The sun is shining, so I have hope that spring will, in fact, arrive at some point before the decade is over.  A little ditty I penned for some of my most interesting acquaintances follows. . .

Saying Hello to My Little Friend (Strike up the band, boys!)

From across the patio,

Moving oh-so-slow(ly),

Dressed in a dapper shade of green,

I watched you preen.

Silhouetted by the sun I thought it might be fun.

So with my camera I snapped!

It seemed as if you clapped. . .  and now you are preserved in time.

I’m inexplicably inspired to rhyme.

Some love to watch you pray-

I love to watch you prey.

And now, good mantis, I bid you, “Good day!”

Alrighty-  I suppose that in the interest of full disclosure I should have warned you earlier that my ode is neither elegant nor worthy of public consumption.  Alas, it may be too late for you, but there is still time to warn your friends!  Please do not allow the folks you hold near and dear to your heart to suffer through that which you just endured.  My lyrical prowess disappointment is suddenly overwhelming.  Perhaps I should stick to lamenting the extensive dreariness that is winter in the (sort of) Midwest.  Until our paths cross once more, Little Praying Mantis- I am missing you and the warm weather in which you thrive!

A while back I learned about CSAs, otherwise known as Community Supported Agriculture.  This was back in my College of Agricultural Sciences days – where I learned things that we probably should be taught in elementary school.  Community Supported Agriculture is pretty cool.  The basic idea is that you are buying produce and other “farm” items (like eggs) from a local farm, rather than buying a zucchini that was grown in California and shipped all the way to New Hampshire for your consumption.  In most cases you pay a fee at the beginning of the growing season which entitles you to a certain number of “shares” of food per week.  It’s so neat!  I’d like to have a closer relationship with my food, and it would be great to know exactly where it came from and what has happened to it.  The food is as fresh as it gets and you can feel good about yourself for supporting your local farm – and the farm feels good about supporting the neighbors.  If you want some more specific information regarding CSAs and even where you can find one near you check out the US Department of Agriculture’s information page.  I found one very near where I live.

Ahh, all this talk of fresh veggies makes me want to eat.  Also, I wish I had some goats…even though their eyes are pretty weird.

You’ve seen BigDog, right?

Holy crap that thing is crazy!  It’s like a page out of a science fiction novel.  Most of the people I’ve shown this to think it’s two guys walking around.  No way, this is actual technology right in your face.  You have to see some of the other awesome stuff this company is up to: Boston Dynamics.

Check out the earlier version of BigDog:

I’ve never really taken the time to look at hedgehogs…but I heard they were super cute.  A Google image search is all it takes to see how cute they really are.

In an effort to delve deeper into the world of hedgehogs I visited www.hedgehogcentral.com, where they focus on the African Pygmy Hedgehog.   According to the website hedgehogs can be litter box trained, don’t get stinky, and they can happily eat cat food!  Add on that they live 4-7 years and are disease resistant, you are less likely to be heart broken by a tiny sick companion.  Adorable!  Now I’m starting to really want one of these little babies.  If you want to learn more about these cute creatures check out Hedgehog Central or The International Hedgehog Association.

Above photo from www.hedgehogcentral.com, feature photo from www.hedgehogclub.com credited to IHA member Bryan Smith.

Alrighty- I’m going to just throw something out here for you.  I get a real kick out of reading the dictionary.  Reading may be too strong of a word, actually.  I suppose I am perusing more than anything.  I can’t seem to find the time to read a novel.  Oh, how I miss a delightfully meaty novel.  You know what I mean- the kind of book with a plot and characters that you will savor for years to come.  A novel is like an elaborate, labor-intensive holiday meal.  Deliciousness that fills you up to the point of bursting takes a lot of energy not only to make, but also to digest.

The ’short’ in short story is a bit of a misnomer, if you ask me.  Yes, a short story can generally be read in less time than a well-developed novel.  Yes, a short story tends to occupy much less real estate than a novel.  The actual story, though, can exist far beyond the confines of the pages upon which it is printed.  For that reason, I sometimes find that short stories just are not short enough.  Don’t get me wrong- I love a good short story.  A short story is like a thoughtfully prepared weekend supper.  The spread is not overwhelming in its scope, but there is plenty to enjoy and it pairs quite nicely with a glass of iced tea.  Throughout the week following the meal, you find yourself thinking about just how remarkable the entire experience was.  Still, it requires a respectable block of time and energy.

Dictionaries are a gift.  Where else can you go and have tiny little packages all ready for your consumption?  Where else can you go and be informed, entertained, and nourished in increments of your own choosing?  Where else can you randomly come across a word as enticing as pampootie?  Nowhere, my friends!  Well, for the purposes of promoting dictionary perusing, the answer in nowhere.  A dictionary is ideal for someone with limited time and/or focus.  A dictionary is equally ideal for someone with extensive time and/or focus.  It has to be one of the most versatile collections of printed language ever amassed.  Words with their pronunciation keys, definitions and sometimes even origins and contexts are separated into little nuggets of text, arranged alphabetically, and available for the taking.  Perusing the dictionary is like eating a snack.  There are times when one overindulges and leaves with a tummy ache.  There are times when one snags but a mere taste and yearns for more.  There are times, however, when one is able to satisfy a hunger without compromising anything else.  A handful of dictionary entries is an awful lot like a handful of pecans . . . just right.

Go forth and find yourself a dictionary.  Open the tome and behold the wonders within.  On your way to a specific word, take time to investigate the neighborhood.  Share what you find with a friend (or a stranger, for that matter).  Snack on the endless buffet of morsels waiting to be devoured.  Tighten those pampooties while you’re at it, though.  We wouldn’t want you to trip.

We are just getting started here in Mochi land.  Later today I will start you out with something cute.  In the meantime, look at Mochi: