I don't know why, but I've been blacklisted by squirrels. Last year, one just ran out and attacked me as I was biking to class. Stupid little critter. It tried to run between the wheels of my bike. d'oh. When I turn to see what the thump was, it was scampering merrily off behind.

Well, today I had another encounter with squirrels. This one was dead already, but I was unable to dodge in time, and squished it further with my car.

Both events have been traumatizing to me. For some reason I always feel bad, even though I know all squirrels are evil, conniving creatures.

What do you think? Offer insights. Share your own squirrel stories. Or stories about any other force of nature that might have blacklisted you. (I'm also blacklisted by the post office. another interesting story. Thats a force of nature, right?) C'mon, this is my desparate plea to get people talking!

-- Kaitlynn (kaitlynn@quietones.com), August 13, 2000

Answers

i like to chase them around trees. And i mean around quite literally. They circle it in a spiral and i usually collapse after trying to keep up.

-- Nae (quietones@mail.com), August 13, 2000.

I think we have found a new enemy, Nae. Bank of America. Or rather, those cheap Nationsbanks masquerading as Bank of Americas. Its really much better in CA, where I opened my account. But back here, nothing works. You'd think that since its been about a year and a half since the merger, and a year since all the signs have been changed, they'd actually BE a Bank of America by now. But no. If it weren't for the glories of direct deposit, I'd go crazy. It requires all these special forms to do anything from here, since my account was started in a proper B of A, rather than at a NationsBank. Sheesh. And the logo here is just awful. awful awful awful! Out west they have a cool logo. One that actually took thought to make. The one they have here is horrific. Its cheap clip-art, basically. I shudder every time I see it... Oh, to be in CA...

-- Kaitlynn (kaitlynn@quietones.com), August 13, 2000.

Everyone knows that the only proper bank to use is Suntrust, formerly Trust Company. But some people (like you people) have decided *not* to live in Athens for some reason so you must venture forth and use things such as the B of A. But, I just wanted to say that a group of squirrels used to live in my attic and they were actually very friendly and hardly ever fell through the ceiling or played loud rock and roll music. Now, some bats moved in recently and I had to move to a new much nicer house (which some of you have seen) where I have not seen squirrels, bats, but Kaitlynn did show me the Bank of America logo.

-- chip (chip@spynotebook.org), August 16, 2000.

Kaitlynn, i assure you that i long for California more than you. And now that BofA has patched things up with me, the world is well again

-- nae (quietones@mail.com), August 16, 2000.

How can that be, Nae? Noone can pine for CA with such ardor as me.

-- Kaitlynn (kaitlynn@quietones.com), August 16, 2000.

kaitlynn, you might have a million reasons to long for CA, like me, but dear, longing nae has the one absolute and only reason that matters to her living and breathing soul.

-- RenYi (Lorenyi@aol.com), August 16, 2000.

thanks ren-yi, i don't think i could have put it better.

-- nae (quietones@mail.com), August 17, 2000.

you're welcome. always at your service...

-- RenYi (Lorenyi@aol.com), August 17, 2000.

You don't think that my utopia is as important to me as Nae's soul is to her?

-- Kaitlynn (kaitlynn@quietones.com), August 17, 2000.

my pookie is in california. 'nuff said.

-- nae (quietones@mail.com), August 17, 2000.

My baby is in California (my computer. its the first major thing I've bought with money I earned all by myself, therefore, my baby). My bike is in California (another thing bought entirely by me, thanks to the miscreant that stole my old bike. but, the joke is on him. My old bike was possessed...). My dinosaur beanbag is in California (very very comfy. and it has dinosaurs on it!). My friends are in California (well, some are, others will be). My clothes hangers, some clothes, my sheets, my comforter, my clock, my textbooks (mustn't forget those), my little posable wooden person, my knight in shining armor (its 3 or 4 inches tall. has a sword even. I think it might be one of the King Henrys), my pictures, my posters (all of them, probably. even the ones that mysteriously vanished last summer), my calendars (one monthly, one daily (courtesy of the beautiful Talia)), my laundry basket, etc. etc. Yosemite is in California. The best and most beautiful University in the world is in California. And oh yeah, I left my heart in San Francisco...

-- Kaitlynn (kaitlynn@quietones.com), August 18, 2000.