Rats!

Charlie Brown used to say it when he was frustrated. "Good grief" was another of his exclamations that some may use while reading this.

You see I recently acquired two rodents. Rats. Cute little black and white baby rats. That was the listing on the NewBedford Freecycle forum. Freecycle was started so that people could post items they no longer needed and wished to give away. By offering these items they won't end up in landfills. A noble idea, indeed. With the 11 baby rats offered, the owners hoped their son's pets wouldn't end up as snake food. It seems they bought one female and when she was brought home...surprise. Quite a bargain.

I went to the peoples home to get a pair of rattus rattus for pets. I thought they would be a great addition to the 'Man Cave', the name given to my shed by my sister, Lianne. So they were destined to become garage rats. They have settled into the wood shaving litter lined 30 gallon aquarium and survived below freezing nights, huddled together in their newspaper strip nest.

I seem to be the only admirer so far. Grace from next door wasn't interested at a peek at one when I brought it out to the fence separating our back yards. "Don't let that thing go!" was about all I can remember from the conversation. Even my cat Willy took one look at the aquarium and ran out of the shed. "Fine hunter you are" I thought as Willy disappeared over the horizon. Now, my cat real is a ferocious stalker. He has brought close to a dozen mice and two moles over last year. He brought home and dismembered several birds, one of them in my bedroom. Feathers still turn up every once and a while. Other items dragged home were a good sized snake skin, without the snake, and 3 or four squirrel legs with the tails attached. I assume coyotes caught the squirrels and were just too full to finish the 4th leg and tail. In a sudden fit of genius, one day I attached a tail and leg combo to my sisters Jeep Liberty's antenna using a clothespin. I watched the Jeep pull out of the driveway and disappear. "Hmm, I guess she didn't notice," I thought. About two minutes later the phone rang and threats of death filled my ear when I answered. It was worth it. Too bad it fell off somewhere on Sconticut Neck road.

Back to the rats. Hopefully my two rats will not end up a dozen, I was assured they were both girls. Honestly, I can't tell if they are or not. I haven't even tried. Not interested.

Oh, their names you ask. Thelma and Louise. Thelma is the cuter one.

Island LIfe

Most of this blogs followers know that I live on west Island in Fairhaven, MA. Not everyone my realize what "Island Life" is like. For most of life I have thought that life here was basically the same as most other places, with a lot of extras thrown in of course. Most of my youth was spent exploring and building forts in the 600 or so acres of woods on the island. The rest was probably spent on the beaches or in the water. We used to make rafts out of pallets and foam. Not the safest mode of sea travel, but when your young you tend to throw caution to the wind, or waves.

Recently though I think I have redefined "Island Life". I never considered living here to be similar to some Caribbean island, or even to the better know Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket islands. After last year I began to rethink that idea. There is some similarity to a Caribbean island, if you want it to be. We can spend lazy days down at Shirley and Herbie's beach. There seems to be a mythical concoction called a "Yellow Bird", but I have yet to taste such an elixir. Maybe I was actually afraid of the stories I have heard that the effects of pitchers of the drink render onto otherwise quiet individuals. I have passed that fear now and am ready for my indoctrination to the yellow haze.

After an afternoon at the beach I like to head to the bridge, yes we have one, where if tide allows I can do some fishing. I only caught 2 fish last year but hanging at the bridge is a great spot to watch the sunsets, watch everybody come and go on the island and drink some beer. What more can you want?

One day a short while ago we were sitting on a sea wall on the west side of the island and headed to the forested east side to check out the infamous Paint Ball Fort. The area had become somewhat overgrown and we decided to make a sight line for the up and coming marksman (I'm not sure if markswoman is a word) Mackenzie Martin who at 12 years old is competing and surpassing 18 year olds.

After checking out the unidentified (probably a raccoon or opossum) skull hanging on a branch at the location we decided to head to the middle of the island and check out what may be an Indian grave or maybe just a spot designated as the geographical center of the island. We followed the path to a southerly portion of the forest and walked back by Fir St.

A new phenomenon is the quiet hum of golf carts. The damn things are everywhere! I have stopped complaining and have starting looking on craigslist for the non-existent cheap golf cart. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

On any given summer weekend you can walk around and spot two dozen parties, and is your good at it you just may get invited in. The campfires a dead giveaway. Just start north and head into the south wind searching for the smell of wood burning. I have often said that the Fourth of July here is like downtown Baghdad during the Gulf War. Fireworks can be seen in a 360 degree view from the Causeway. Mattaposett, New Bedford, Dartmouth and a bazillion different backyard displays can be seen. The smell of gunpowder hangs so heavy in the air all over town it actually causes a yellow glow from the grocery store parking lot lights in the center of Fairhaven. I pack a 5 liter box of wine (Mountain Burgundy!) and cups and keep moving around as long as I can. A stop at the Pilat's party where they have a band is mandatory.

People down here are friendly and love to talk. I always seem to fit "How long have you lived here?" into every conversation with new friends. Those who live on Sconticut Neck,including Islanders, are known as Neckers. The amount of time you have been a "Necker" is like a social order. Lying is encouraged. Remembering events and places or people long gone adds a ton of points.

I have vowed to enjoy Island Life more this year, after all, it is OUR island!