Awwww Therapy

"Come look," Feather whispered to me.

Big Dog and I were up in Arcata, staying with Arby and Feather and their 3 cats.

I followed Feather down the hall to their room.

"Look," she sighed. "Isn't it the cutest sight?"

Spaz Cat was in bed, tucked under the sheets like a little baby.

"It's our 'awwww' moment for the day. It's good for the bones."

Huh?

Feather went on to explain that moments of intense cuteness stimulate you into producing more female hormone, thereby preventing osteoporosis. Hmmm. She could have something there.

"What's that term in Japanese?" asked Arby. "Kowai?"

"Actually, kowai is scary. Kawaii is cute."

"Kawaii."

"Yeah. Maybe that's what I need. More kawaii in my life."

Big Dog snickered.

"You? Kawaii? There's not the slightest whiff of kawaii about you," he laughed. "Look at her! All in black... She used to wear coveralls and smoke cigars!"

"Long before it was sort of trendy."

But maybe that's my problem. I've decided to make more of an effort to seek out the kawaii moments. Like Feather says, it'll be good for my bones. We can all use a bit of Awwww Therapy.

The New Gophers

...are the squirrels.

Back at The Ranch, yes, the gophers are still there, but their territory is being invaded by bigger, badder, more fearless squirrels.

These are not the cute guys scurrying up a tree. These are ground squirrels that dig giant tunnels, eat up your veggies, and probably scare away the gophers. They've always been a problem for "the other valley" and if you've been to Morro Rock, you might have seen them begging tourists for junk food. Living on a diet of chips, fries and other junk, they are super-sized guys with big, pear-shaped asses.

Ours are healthier. In fact, the one that lives closest to the house loves to do calisthenics.

"Look!" I point to the deer fence. A squirrel is hanging on the wire, like it's doing chin-ups or something.

"Get me the gun!" Big Dog whispers, frozen by the back door.

"Shit." When I return with his .22, the squirrel has jumped off. But as if to taunt Big Dog, a moment later, he is back, hanging on the fence again. Big Dog raises his gun again. Critter jumps away. Nyah nyah nyah.

We're going to get live animals traps. Lots and lots of them. And then I'm going to skin them for hats, and dress them for jerky. Everyone will get some "squirky" for Christmas this year. And maybe some squirrel skin caps. At least I can dream, can't I? Happy Earth Day!

I Have A Secret

Well, I have many secrets. but the one I'm going to share with you is.....

Japan will never be a nuclear nation again. The aftertaste of a disaster is too disgusting. They have lost their ambivalence towards the nuclear age. They have lost the will to be a nuclear nation.

(whoopee.)

I'm not shouting it. I am whispering it, under my breath. I, like millions of Japanese, can't help but feel our good future will be jinxed by... well, hubris. Wasn't over-confidence what gave us Fukushima to begin with? We are cautious. We don't rejoice prematurely. but deep inside we have this sweet (and secret) hopefulness.

Fifity three reactors down. One more to go.