NOW what do you think about global warming?

Scientists from the National Snow and Ice Data Center are quoted on CNN as saying, in reference to global warming, "Not to say I told you so...but I told you so."

The North Pole is melting, people.

Here, kitty kitty

So I am a huge sucker for animals. Especially if they're small. Especially if they're hurt. ESPECIALLY if they're small AND hurt.

This has gotten me into trouble before. Like the time a couple of years ago when I was driving back to Kansas City from Manhattan and saw what I thought was a litter of kittens on the side of the road. I stopped to investigate, thinking that I would load the tiny, helpless, mewling creatures into my car and drop them off at the no-kill shelter, thus saving their lives and providing several area families with the Perfect Pet.

It turns out that when one is driving 70 mph at night, it is fairly easy to mistake a group of baby possums for a litter of kittens. And possums do not take kindly to the idea of being bundled into the car and taken to the shelter.

I was out running this morning and saw a bedraggled black-and-white cat limping along the sidewalk. You know where this is going, don't you?

I approached him, crooning, "Here, kitty kitty..." trying with all my might to look like a friendly cat-lover, one who had pockets full of tuna and catnip. I just wanted to HELP him.

I'm not really used to being around cats, but I'm guessing that flattened ears and hissing means that they probably don't want to be approached.

Because I did not feel like explaining to either Andrew or my mother why I came home from this particular run looking like a scratching post, and also because I'm fairly sure that a series of rabies shots can't be added to the gift registry, I abandoned this particular mission.

But I still hope the little guy finds his way home safely, and that there's tuna waiting for him, and that someone will fix his hurt paw.

One of us

Dear Chicago,
Thank you.

You see, it's been a bit of a rough year. I've lost a few good friendships, and the process of those losses has caused me to question myself. Am I REALLY that funny/smart/interesting/good at using proper punctuation?

What if I'm selfish and boring and have been using semi-colons incorrectly this whole time?

You, all of you, made me feel entirely wrapped up in and surrounded by and connected with love. You're all such amazing, wonderful, (insert complementary adjective here) people - and spending the weekend with you made me realize that maybe it wasn't my fault that I lost those particular friendships - maybe it was just part of the process that happens when two people are growing, but their relationship is not. And not to go all Hallmark on you, but this past weekend really gave me a lot of hope for new and healthy relationships in the future.

So thank you, Chicago. You were more healing than you know. And also, you have really great hotdogs.

Love,
Erin

Author's note: The term "Chicago" includes but is not limited to Minnesota, San Diego, Massachusetts, Haifa, and Los Angeles.

"Someday, the light will shine like a sun through my skin & they will say, What have you done with your life? & though there are many moments I think I will remember, in the end, I will be proud to say, I was one of us." - Brian Andreas

Things I Am Terrified Of, Part I

So I live relatively close to a pond. Said pond is in the "yard" of a big corporate office building, and is thus on the corner of a really busy intersection.

Across the street from the pond is a hill full of juicy young clover blossoms and succulent, delicious grass.

Neither of these facts are of any importance until you add in the geese.

The pond is filled with several Canadian geese and their too-cute-to-be-believed little goslings.

Several times a day, the geese take it upon themselves to leave their watery home and meander across the street (and by "street" I mean "six-lane road close to the interstate") for a delicious snack.

I am terrified that I am going to be driving down Metcalf, changing the radio station or sending a text (dear Officer Dad, of course this is just for illustration - I never text while driving, no, no!) or taking a bite of granola bar or doing something else that may require that I take my eyes off the road for a second - and in that second, I will plow through the line of geese, thus incurring the wrath of all Canadian geese everywhere (those suckers are mean!) and making it look as though my Honda just lost the world's largest pillow fight.

These are the things I think about, dear readers. These are the things I think about.