Retired Rats: 2017

Monday, April 24, 2017

Domesticated Rats

When I was a young rat in junior high school, I had a choice of electives: foreign language, wood shop, home economics, art, or music. What was an aspirational rat to choose?

Budget Envelopes - Squirreling Things Away

Have you ever noticed how many people think squirrels are cute? Aww...look at those whiskers, cute eyes, and fluffy tails. Those fluffy tails are the only things

Genus: Packus Ratus
Pack Rats...Us? Oh yeah.

Salem set an all-time record for rain in February. This dampened our opportunities for outdoor fun, but it gave us time to work on clearing clutter from our lives. I think we need another six to eight months of record-setting rain to fully accomplish this!

If you haven't read Marie Kondo's The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up,

Scenic Byways - or Rat Mazes...It's All Good

The sun FINALLY decided to make an appearance last Monday, so we headed to the coast. Whenever King Rat and I have celebrations, big decisions to make, or the need to connect with our creator, we head to the beach.

There is something about the reassuring continuity of the ebb and flow of the tides along with the vastness of it all. It reminds us that life has its ups and downs, there are cycles to everything, and in the grand scheme of things, we - and our worries - are infinitesimal. Beyond that,

Rat Tails, Dog Tongues, and Hygge...

Did you know that rats control their temperature through their tails? When they get overheated, their tails can help regulate their heat, just as a dog's tongue does. I know what you are thinking; "Eww, rat...Aww, dog." What does that have to to with retirement? A lot.

Rat Teeth and Routines

I'm told rats need to gnaw on a regular basis or their teeth will keep growing to the point they can no longer eat. Routine gnawing keeps them healthy. As rats, we are teeth freaks. Floss, brush, water-pik, twice a day, at least. We don't have to worry about gnawing, but cleaning is vital. A few days this week,