Posts Tagged "bunny"

Bunny Beyond Belief

Dear Kid,

It’s that time of year again. Yes, the rabbits are out. This thrills the Puppy who is eager (and by “eager” I mean desperate) to make a friend. It is less thrilling for Dad who is not eager to share his garden bounty.

This year, the rabbit likes hiding under the holly bush in the morning and foraging in the backyard in the evening.

For reasons that seem fairly obvious, the holly bush with its prickly leaves feels like a safe place for the bunny. For reasons I don’t understand, the rabbit does not seem to be bothered by the evening mosquitoes. Which is good because I doubt the rabbit would hold still for hydrocortisone.

Turns out that rabbits have just about three-sixty vision (the better to see predators while you’re picking lettuce). Their only blind spot is right in front of their nose. Which leads to a certain irony when they misplace something.

With the exception of the rabbit in The Secret Life of Pets (we saw the movie this weekend) and possibly Peter Rabbit, rabbits are affectionate little dudes. Snowball, the psycho rabbit in Secret Life (definitely one of my favorite characters), was determined to eliminate all humans. Most rabbits (a la Peter) spend their time plotting to eliminate Dad’s garden. (Seriously, there are rabbit seminars on the specific topic of your father’s garden.)

Jackrabbits, which belong to the genus “Lepus,” have been clocked at speeds of 45 miles per hour. Jillrabbits, which belong to the genius “Of course I know the answer,” have been watched (get it? watch? clock?) even faster.

New word of the day: crepuscular. As in “rabbits are crepuscular.” Which means they are most active at dawn and at dusk and when being chased by an overly friendly puppy.

WHAT? I would never eat my own poop. Yeah. That's it. Never. It must have been somebunny else. DearKidLoveMom.com

Rabbits can’t vomit, even after a night of raucous drinking. This is important because they eat their food twice. Like cows, except grosser. Cows burp up their cud and rechew it for digestive purposes. Rabits poop their first attempt at the food, then “reingest” (which means “eat their poop”) to be sure they’ve gotten all the nutrition they can from that particular lump of grass. Or clover. Or whatever.

Ick.

On the plus side, they are dang cute.

Love, Mom

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7/18/13 Library Advice & More | Thoughts on Libraries Part II

I'm not comfortable being preachy, but more people need to start spending as much time in the library as they do on the basketball court. Kareem Abdul-JabbarDear Kid,

This is Part II of My Thoughts on Libraries. If you missed Part I (horrors!) I am kindly providing a link for you to review Five Fun Facts About Libraries | Library Part I before going on. (Don’t worry–I’ll wait.) Ok, now that you’re caught up.

As you are doubtless without a doubt aware, there are different kinds of libraries. There are personal libraries where people hoard books in the comfort of their own homes (not naming names, but you are related to more than one person with a personal library).

Originally, the purpose of a library was to show personal wealth—in possessions if not in actual knowledge. Ashurbanipal, the last great king of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, had the first library we know of. Personally, I’m willing to believe dolphins have figured out a way to share knowledge but then I’m pretty gullible when it comes to dolphins.

It’s unlikely Ashurbanipal sat around in his library flipping through books because A) everything was written on clay and B) it’s not obvious he himself could read. It is also safe to assume his library wasn’t air conditioned.

It is widely accepted among elementary school students that Ben Franklin invented lightening and founded the first US library. It is true that he and his pals founded the Library Company of Philadelphia but there are lots of towns claiming they had a library before Mr. B. F. opened his. Ben’s library wasn’t free (don’t tell the elementary school kids); members had to buy in.

Nowadays (a great word I don’t get to use very often), public libraries are usually lending libraries and if you can sign a library card and prove you live in the area you can borrow a book or whatever (more on the ‘whatever’ tomorrow).

New York lawyer, governor, and bibliophile Samuel J. Tilden left millions to build the New York Public Library (best stone lions ever. Also the setting for a good bit of The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler which can be found at most libraries and is one of my fav books). He believed Americans should have access to books and a free education if desired. He did not, however, offer to pay your college tuition, which I’m sure was just an oversight on his part.

Other important people (and by “important” I mean “wealthy”) have founded or bequeathed money to found libraries.

The Bacon Free Library in South Natick, Massachusetts was founded in 1881 after a benefactor left $15,000 in a will. This of course is the second most important thing about South Natick, the first being that it is the home of BFF Nancy, my Bunny, and the rest of the clan.

On Campus, libraries are hallowed gathering places where learning is revered and groups of students relax the hours away searching for the Meaning of Truth and Obscure Facts.

Not.

I think it’s fair to say that college libraries are air conditioned. And that students often go there to find a quiet place to study cram away from the distractions of roommates and television sets. Or to research obscure facts for term papers or Trivial Pursuit the 25th Anniversary Edition.

My advice (which I know you’ve been waiting for):

1Read a book before departing for college because chances of having time to read a book for fun diminish in direct proportion to the length of time left to mid-terms.

2Meet and befriend the librarians (whether or not you can find one named Marian—extra points if you get the reference). It’s amazing how much time, pain, agony, and rework they can save you.

3Tune in tomorrow for Part III of my Thoughts About Libraries. And Whatever.

Love, Mom

Marian the Librarian is from The Music Man. Video included for your viewing pleasure.

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