I'm back!

Hi, Everybody!
I am sorry you all had to worry about me, but thank you for saying so many nice things about me while I was recovering from my big adventure! I know Biggun already told you about it, but she told you her version of the story, which is boring. Here is mine.
Annie came up to see me and then we all went up to K's house. When we went outside, I saw his beautiful garden again. This time, I had a plan. When they took me out of my carrying case and were going to put me into my ball, I got very squeezy and sneaky and popped right away and ran off into the garden. YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN IT!! It was so perfect and beautiful! There were so many places for me to play and so much dirt and big plants that covered me and everyone was chasing me and it was the most fun I've had because Biggun and her friends are slow and they could not catch me! Kee kee kee! I ran behind them and ran around them and they could not get me, but finally, because they are not a ground squirrel like I am, I wore them out. They all had to sit down and rest.
Well, while they were resting, I got bored because no one was playing with me. I am a very brave explorer and I decided to do some looking around. I squeezed under a fence and there was a whole wide world. I sang a brave little song and went running around all over! I saw so many things! Biggun doesn't have anything like this in our house. There were stinky things and shiny things and pokey things. There were big things and small things and hard things and soft things and everything was very exciting. And I scurried and I scampered and I skittered and then I saw them! A bunch of cousins like Newt! My cousin Newt! There were a lot of them and since I like Newt, I thought I would go say Hello to these cousins and ask them if they wanted to play with me, since Biggun didn't. That was my mistake. I guess maybe these ones weren't my cousins because they did not like me. One jumped right on me and I thought we were playing, because it was poking me like Biggun does when we play, but then, when I tried to play chase, the Newt bit me! IT BIT ME! Not like Biggun does, but for reals! It hurt so badly! I had tears in my eyes and I started crying and fighting like Biggun taught me, but it bit me harder so I screamed. It was so scary and so owie! I screamed and I screamed and Biggun didn't come. She's never done that before! And then the Newt (oops, sorry, Biggun says it's a cat, not a Newt) picked me up and said it was going to eat me and it started walking away, far away from where Biggun was and I was crying and screaming because I hurt and I was very afraid. I guess this is why I am not supposed to go too far away from people. I get into trouble when they can't see me.
And then K, who is very brave, got the cat. The cat dropped me and I did not see K. I was just afraid, so I ran to find someplace safe to be, but it hurt to run because the cat bit me in the shoulder and it hurt really badly and there was some blood and a hole where its tooth went in me. I found a corner and something grabbed me again and I bit it, only it was not a cat or anything else that is scary. It was K. He was rescuing me, but I still didn't know it because I was too scared. I heard him talking and I heard Biggun and then, soon, Biggun was holding me and I was shaking and shaking and shaking. She put me in my case and I got very little and just closed my eyes because I was very upset.
When we got home, she washed the bite on my shoulder. It hurt and I squeaked, but then she tried to put me down and I didn't want her to because maybe there would be another cat. I held onto her hand and she gave me some of my yucky medicine and then she held me until I fell asleep. She made me sleep in my carrying case. She said she was afraid that if I got in my nest, I would get dirt in my bite hole and it would be infected. Then I slept in the bed with her and I was in the corner of my case, right next to her, so I could stay warm. It was a scary night for me.
The next day, we went back to the vet again (that's my doctor) and it was a different person this time. It was a girl, but not like Biggun. This girl was afraid of me! Kee kee kee! She thought I would bite her, but I only bite Biggun. Well, and K when I am afraid, but I didn't mean to and I hope I didn't hurt him because sometimes I know I bite too hard. But the vet didn't want to hold me and she didn't know how and she was afraid of me. That made me feel sort of brave. Biggun held me (she is not afraid of me, but sometimes she pretends she is when we play) and the vet poked my wound and it hurt so I squeaked. She wasn't very nice to me, not like the other vet when I was there. She pulled off my scab and she cleaned me while Biggun held me and I tried to get away. And they weighed me,too. I am 3 ounces! Biggun says that I am HUGE and am growing so big because last time I was there, I wasn't even one ounce yet and now I am 3! It's all the grasshoppers. They make me big and strong.

You would think that that was the worst of it, but it was not. When I went back home, I had to stay in my carrying case until I had a scab. Then, when I had a scab, I couldn't come out of my room to play. I had to stay in there for 3 days. I only got to come out when I got my medicine and it was horrible because I wanted to run around and check my nests, but Biggun wouldn't let me. She said I could get out on Thursday. And she let me play with her in the bedroom on Thursday morning, but I didn't get to run around the house on Thursday night because she wasn't here. She went some place. She is always going someplace. I think she is forgetting about me. When she came home yesterday, I still didn't get to run around because she put me back in my case! I did not want to be there but she said we were going somewhere.

We went to visit Carrie and her husband and Kagat who does not like me because I am cuter than he is. But, the whole time, I was kind of scared. I wanted to get out and run around because I was tired of being cooped up in little places, but when I got out, it was really scary. Biggun put me in my ball (she has to get me a new one because I am too big for mine), but I was scared there, too, and I did not run around. I just sat there and shivered. Then she put me back in my case and I just went to the corner and slept, or just looked out and didn't do anything because I was afraid of cats who are not Newt. It was very scary. I got to sleep with Biggun but she was worried this morning because I was sleeping weird, she said. So, she cuddled me and that made me feel a lot better, but I just wasn't happy. I was supposed to stay there again tonight and then we were supposed to go up to the mountains so I could see my other BiggunMom, but I told Biggun that I didn't want to, so she brought me home. Tomorrow, she will still go to the mountains, but I will stay here. I will be lonely without Biggun and I am a little mad because I won't be able to get out and play for so long and probably I will forget where everything is, but it is OK because I would rather stay here than go someplace else. No cats can get me here and this is where my food is.

So, that is what happened to me. Thank you, everybody, for thinking about me and saying such nice things. I am all better now and my scab itches really badly, so I have to scratch it a lot. I will tell Biggun to take some new pictures of me so that everyone can see that I am fine.

Your little friend,
Chico

Update on Chico

Chico is a miracle squirrel! He must be part cat, as I can think of no other animal with so many lives!
He's eating, he's drinking (just water, folks...he's not allowed to get into the vodka) he's antsy to get out and play. However, he is stuck in his terrarium for three days while his shoulder heals.
I took him to the vet yesterday morning. He spent some time in the hospital being poked, prodded and cleaned up. This did NOT make him happy. The vet cannot give him vaccinations. It's illegal, as he is a wild animal. Also, Kevin will now have to go to the doctor and have his bite wound examined, but everyone's sure Chico is rabies-free. It's just a precaution.
He's on antibiotics and I am to watch his wound carefully. I washed it yesterday, but am supposed to leave it alone now, since it is scabbed over. Apparently, Chico will take care of it himself. I'm not giving him any grasshoppers while he is healing, since he gets so excited hunting them down and I don't want him to tear open his cat-tooth wound. I wonder if he'll be proud of his scar?
I have to say, evilly, that it's sort of nice having him like this. He is so cuddly! He just wants to be held. Ok, that's not quite true - he wants to get down and scamper and check on all his nests, but he is content to cuddle in my lap and wash my fingers and at bedtime, he INSISTS on being held for many minutes. And he wants a lullaby. Such a demanding little creature!
At any rate, it looks like he'll be fine. Next week, he'll be back to normal. Well, that is if we survive medicating him every morning and night. He's not having much fun with that part.
Thank you, all, for your kind wishes and thoughts. Looks like this little squirrel has beaten death yet again!

A message from Biggun

Dear Friends of Chico:
Chico will not be writing for awhile. He had a very bad accident yesterday; a cat caught him. He is still alive, but I don't know if he's going to make it. Cat's have very bad bites.
It happened because I was being even more negligent than usual. We were up at Kevin's house for a visit. While I was in the process of moving Chico from his carrying case to his ball, he leapt free and ran off into the garden. He had a good time making us chase him around. After about 10 minutes, I told everyone to just sit down and he'd get bored and come out to check on us.
I was wrong. He slipped under the fence, ran across the alley and into a yard of cats. One of the cats pounced on him. He fought and started screaming. Meanwhile, I had no idea he was out of the yard. We all heard him screaming but I thought it was a bird. Thank goodness Kevin didn't listen to me. He looked over the 6-foot fence, saw the cat with Chico and then vaulted over. He ran across the alley on bare feet and into the neighbor's yard where he got Chico away from the cat. Chico bolted and tried to hide, but thankfully, Kevin was able to corner him. Chico was still scared and fighting and bit Kevin's finger, but Kevin was undaunted and scooped up Chico, wrapping the little guy up in his T-shirt.
Chico was bleeding - he was punctured behind his ear, on his shoulder. He was bleeding on his hind foot. We put him back in his case and he was in shock for awhile. I kept him near me all night long. When we got back home, I washed his side with a cotonball and I gave him some of the leftover antibiotic from when he had pneumonia. He slept in his carrying case in bed with me so that he'd stay warm. He was still alive this morning, though he is disoriented and wobbly and he has a fever.
I am trying to get an appointment with the Dr. for him today. I don't think there is much she can do other than clean him up again and give him some shots maybe. However, I wanted everyone who reads about Chico to know that he is injured and to ask that you please think good thoughts for him.
I will keep you updated.
Thank you.

I think I have rabies now!

Yesterday, Biggun and I were watching TV and I wanted some attention, so I bit her. And then we played, but not enough, so I bit her again. Do you know what she did? She picked me up and bit ME!! I am not kidding! She put me in her mouth and bit me! I squeaked! It was freaky. Then, when she put me down, I looked at her with reproach and hurt in my eyes...and then I bit her again. But, not quite so hard. Sometimes, that Biggun is mean to me. It's a good thing that later, she was all happy and had forgotten about all the biting and she played with me a lot. Whew. She is a freak!

Call the ASPCA!

I went to a party on Saturday. I was very cute. I wore my usual gear - stripes and spots. Everyone loved me, except Colleen. That girl is sick, I think. Anyway, Biggun let me out in the garden and it was wonderful! There was a lot of dirt and big plants to hide me, but everyone was worried about me (I think they thought I was going to attack them like the vicious animal I am!) and so Biggun had to put me back in my case. Darn it. But, it was fun.


Biggun and I, dancing at the party. I'm so big now!

And then something bad happened. Biggun and the other BiggunMom brought me home and put me in my room. Biggun kissed me goodnight and said that I could run around all the next day because it was just going to be the two of us for that whole day. But, then guess what happened? She didn't come back. The next day came and there was no Biggun at all. Then it was night again and the next day came and Biggun came in and let me play while she got ready for work. She missed a whole day!! She abandoned me! She kept telling me she was sorry, but still, I had to be alone for a whole day! It was the most horrible thing that has happened to me since I was abandoned the first time. I was very lonely.

My new hobby is digging. I like dirt now. It's very fun. I get into Bigguns houseplants and I start digging like crazy. She yells at me and says "No, Chico! Knock it off!" and I laugh and run away and watch her vacuum up the mess I made. It's very fun. And what was even more fun was...Biggun puts tea bags in the dirt of her plants because she is weird. I throw them out before I start to dig. Well, she was vacuuming and then she sucked up a wet tea bag and it whistled in the hose and she thought it was me and she freaked out because she didn't know it was a teabag...she just knew she'd sucked up something big and it was whistling. She was almost crying, she was so upset and she turned off the vacuum and took off the hose and then found out it was a teabag. I was right behind her, watching her (but far away from the vacuum because it is too loud) the whole time.

It's raining again today. No grasshoppers for me. But it is OK because I got six of them yesterday and they were delicious! It's very cold and stormy out so I have to sit in Biggun's lap to write this, where I can stay warm and snuggly. Also, I like to crawl up her shirt and get to her shoulder so I can make a nest in her hair. So, that is what I am going to do now.
Bye!

Sick Biggun

Biggun has been sick for days and days! It has been very bad - she comes home and lies on the floor under a blanket. She does not want to cuddle me, she does not want to play with me, she does not bring me grasshoppers. All she does is make big, loud, horrible noises that scare the fuzz right off me. She calls it "sneezing and coughing" but it sounds like she is exploding. It's scary. And she's ugly, too! Her nose looks like she was digging in the dirt too much with it and her eyes are not sparkly and shiny. She doesn't laugh. It makes me worried. Only, today, she is feeling better. She brought me some little grasshoppers when she got home and she also brought me some new weeds. They are fun to play with because they are sort of fuzzy, like I am. Also, she took me out and we played some games and that made me feel a lot better. And! She brought me a new treat! She gave me some cantalope and honey dew melon. These things are delicious. There are so many good foods for me to eat! I forgot to say that yesterday she brought me the yummiest things. She calls them chokecherries. They are just the right size and I had a lot of fun eating them. Anyhow, that is why I have not written for a few days - Biggun forgot to turn the computer on and I don't know how and she was making big, loud, frightening noises. Thank goodness she is better today because I needed to get out and play.
Biggun says she had to rest because we have a big weekend. I am going to a party! There will be many many many people for me to meet and hopefully some more delicious food for me to eat! Some of the people I will know, like my other BiggunMom and my good cuddling friend, Annie, and her friend, K who is having the party, and Ericka who takes good pictures of me and Colleen who is the only person in the world who has met me and does not love me. There is something wrong with her, I think. I don't think she gets enough grasshoppers. I am very excited! I wonder what I should wear?

I think I'm going to go ask for some more cantalope now. That's some good stuff!

Angriness

I am an angry squirrel right now.
I was lonely all day because Biggun did not come home at lunch to be with me. She isn't going to tomorrow, either, because she says she is busy learning things. Whatever.
So, I was lonely and then Biggun did come home and I was very happy to see her. I ran around her room while she got clean (she's so weird...she goes into the little room and stands under the water and puts all sorts of things on her and stand under the water. She doesn't know how to wash herself,I think) and then she came out and we played some games. I guess I was a little too excited because I bit her too hard, she said. She said she could feel the pinch, even though she's not bleeding. There isn't even a mark! I didn't even hurt her!!! But she blew in my face when I did it and told me that I am playing too hard and then she put me down and walked away!!!! But, I still wanted to play, so I chased her and tried to play with her, but she just sat down in a chair and put her feet up where I can't get them and she won't play with me anymore! It's not fair! I ran around and around her chair and made cute faces up at her and stood up and walked like she does, but she's mad at me. I'm angry and sad because even though she is home now, I am still lonely. I'm just a baby!!!!

But, now I have to talk about something else: my name. People ask why I am named Chico and I don't know why so I asked Biggun and she said that she was going to name me "George" in tribute to the Looney Toons sketch, whatever that means, but then she changed her mind and decided to name me Chico. "Chico" means "small" and, also, she thought that many people would think I am a chipmunk (even though I am a ground squirrel) and Chico Chipmunk sounds cute. So does Chico Ground Squirrel. But, not George Ground Squirrel. And the last reason she named me Chico is because she figured that when I get as big as I am now, I will put things in my cheeks and have big bulges and I'll really look like a Cheek-o! I just like the name because she can say it in a squeaky way that sounds a little bit like how I talk.

So tired!

I've spent most of my day sleeping. It was such a big weekend for me and I am still tired from all the playing I did! Whew!
Biggun wasn't kidding - we had lots of big plans yesterday! I got some good grasshoppers, we cleaned the house and Biggun got all freaked out because I was hiding and she was doing laundry and then she couldn't find me and she was all upset because she thought maybe I got into the dirty clothes and was being washed in the big washing machine. I wasn't. I was playing in her bedroom. Kee kee kee. She was so happy when she found me.


Speaking of washing, here is a picture of me washing Biggun's hand. She gets so dirty!

Also, we went to sing! For reals! She says it's karaoke and we went to do it at a place called Armida's (it's a Mexican restaurant. She wouldn't share her food with me and it smelled good. Sometimes, she is very mean). I had to stay in a big purse on the floor, in my carrying case for a lot of the time. I didn't mind, though. It gave me a chance to wash and to sleep. And I listened to music, which I like. But, when I did come out, I got to meet lots of new people, like Emma and Rachael! And Ericka, who took pictures of me. I made lots of new friends. Here's one of them. His name is Rey and he loves me:

He even sang a song just to me! I am very special.


Hanging out at the club.

I have put up some more pictures (thank you, The Dot and Ericka!) in some of my old entries, so you should go back and look for them. Aren't I getting big??

Today, I found a comment from The Dot in one of my entries! This is very exciting because no one ever leaves me comments, so it was a big surprise.

Whew. I think I should go take another nap!

Another big day for me

Biggun and I have a new game. I practice killing grasshoppers and I use her fingers to do it. She puts out her hand and I attack it and bite it and kick it. It's fun. She makes her hand run away from me and I chase it. My cousin, Newt, the cat, plays this game, too. But, I don't bite too hard because it makes her mad and then she doesn't play with me anymore.


See how fierce I am? I'm biting her and kicking her!

I had peach cobbler this morning. Biggun was eating some for breakfast and it smelled good so I went over to see what it was and I climbed on her and she let me eat come of a peach. I like peaches OK (they're not my favorite) but these peaches were delicious. Biggun says I have a sweet tooth because I liked those peaches and because I like Kool Whip a lot. But she won't let me eat these kinds of good things all the time because she says sugar isn't good for ground squirrels, but that seems silly to me because she always eats that kind of thing and it seems to be good for her. But, then, she doesn't ever eat grasshoppers. Maybe they are not good for her. Maybe she knows what she's talking about. Probably, though, she doesn't...because I think I should eat more peach cobbler and Kool Whip.
Biggun told me this morning that we are going to have another big day. She says we are going somewhere again, but she won't tell me where. Maybe I will get more lettuce from the ground. I hope I meet some more new friends.

My big day

It was such a big day for me! I will tell you all about it.
When Biggun let me out for my run around the house, she told me that we were going to meet someone special. But, I didn't know what she was talking about. I was too busy making sure all my hiding nests were still there.
Anyhow, I was hiding and taking a nap and she was looking for me and looking for me and finally, I came out and she grabbed me and put me in my carrying case. Wow, that thing is getting small. It used to be so big, but now there's hardly enough room for me. We got in the car and drove and drove and went to get her sister, The Dot. I met The Dot when I was really little but I didn't remember her so well. The Dot has a cat named Newt. I wanted to be friends with Newt and Newt wanted to be friends with me, but Biggun wouldn't let me out of my carrying case to meet Newt. Newt has a harness and a leash and so she came with us when we all got into the car. We drove and we drove and then we were someplace I've never been, but there were so many kids! Lots of them, all over the place. And guess who I met there? Brittney! The girl who writes me letters. She is Biggun's and The Dot's niece! Isn't that amazing? I didn't know that. Brittney was having a T-ball game. I don't really know what that was because I wasn't paying attention because so many kids wanted to talk to me. I was very excited and I jumped around a lot which made me tired. Also, it was hot outside. Therefore, I did a lot of sleeping.


Meeting Newt! Isn't she pretty?


Hanging out in my cage, looking at Biggun.

Then the T-ball game was done and Brittney and her mom and her little brother all had to go someplace else, so The Dot and Newt and Biggun and I went to get food, but Newt had to stay in the car. I didn't. I got to go in. I went into the Chinese restaurant. It smelled good in there and I sat next to Biggun on her chair. It was a good time for me to have some good sleep since there wasn't any sun shining on me. Biggun and The Dot talked and laughed and that made me drowsy. It was very exciting, though. Biggun said we had to be careful so that I didn't end up on the menu, whatever that means.
When they were done talking and eating and laughing, we got back in the car, where Newt was also taking a nap, and we drove and drove to Brittney's house, but she wasn't there, so Biggun took me out and held me in her hands and she let Newt and I touch noses so we could meet! I was very excited. So was Newt. But, then I was put back in my carrying case until Brittney came home.
When she came home, oh boy! We went to her brother's room and I got out and ran around and she chased me and we played Sneak And Peek and she kept losing me so I snuck up on her to surprise her. She is very warm. I made nests in her hair and crawled all over her. I was very happy to meet her. Her mom fed me walnuts and a piece of strawberry because she is very kind. And the baby brother kissed me and made me slimy. That wasn't too fun. Then we went outside and I had to be back in my carrying case, but it was alright because they gave me some delicious real lettuce from the ground and also three tiny grasshoppers.


Brittney has me!

When it was time to go, everyone told me goodbye. We drove and drove and drove and went back to The Dot's house and I got to eat some more lettuce out of the ground and also a raspberry. I've never eaten a raspberry and it was very delicious. I liked it a lot.
When I got home, I was happy when Biggun put me right in my room but there was a surprise there, too! Remember when I said Biggun was going to re-do my room? Well, she did! I have new dirt in there and it is deep and also she figured out a way for me to keep my hiding box, so I still have that, too! It looks really nice. I like it. She did a good job. While I was still exploring my room, she left and then came back with two GIANT grasshoppers. I didn't know I was so hungry, but I must have been because they looked GOOD. I ate one right away. But, I was so tired afterward, I had to go into my hiding box and sleep.
Biggun left to go dancing. I wanted to go with but she said it is too smoky there and I can't breathe smoke because I just got over pneumonia. It made me a little sad, since we spent all day together, but it wasn't too bad because I got some good, peaceful sleep.
I wonder what fun things we will do tomorrow?

Triumph!

Happy birthday to my other BiggunMom and she is named Tina. Thank you for saving me!
Happy birthday to my friend Pam. She's a good cuddler.

Guess what I did today!!! I burrowed! I have a tunnel! I built it myself! I am so happy! It has an entrance and an exit and I was very excited to show Biggun so I was waiting for her to get home, but I was hopping around too much and I collapsed the middle of my beautiful tunnel. :( But, Biggun still says it is very good and she's going to rearrange my room tomorrow. I'm getting more dirt! But, she says if I want more dirt, my hiding box has to go. That's ok, though, because I can dig myself a den. This is really exciting for me. I'm very proud of myself. Biggun is proud of me, too.



So proud!

The rain started again when Biggun got home. No grasshoppers, and I could use some because all that digging was hard work. She says when it gets sunny again, she'll give it a whirl, whatever that means.

Also, she says she's going to try to get some more pictures of me this weekend so I can put them up here. I guess people really like to see what I look like. She wants to get my baby pictures developed so that everyone can see how much I have grown.

It's been a big day for me. I should go take a nap now. Thanks for reading!

No more rain

It is raining again. Biggun says that usually it is not this rainy in the summer; usually it is dry and dead out by now. But it's always rained. Ever since I was born! Biggun says the rain makes the grasshoppers hide, so that means I can't have any grasshoppers again today. I'll probably starve to death. The only treat I've had today is a piece of a little tomato and that's no grasshopper, I can tell you.

I have a new favorite place to play. It's the closet. All of Biggun's shoes are in there and I just love shoes. She has a lot of them and they are so fun to play in! And when I am in there, it is very hard for her to find me because I can hide so well. My favorite game to play with Biggun is called "Sneak and Peek". We made it up. I sneak out of my hiding place and peek at her and when she says, "Hi", I have to go hide and then we do it again and again. It's a lot of fun for us. Anyway, the closet is a good place to play "Sneak and Peek" because I can play in the mornings when she's getting dressed and I have a lot of good hiding places in there.

Right now, though, I am not playing "Sneak and Peek". Right now, I am bored. It's rainy and cold out, so there are no sunspots on the floor for me to lie on. Also, Biggun got home and was tired and she is trying to take a nap. I wanted to take a nap with her, but she said I am too squirmy and she put me on the floor and told me to go play. But, without her and without the sunshine, there isn't anything fun to do.

What do you do when you're bored?

Not in trouble anymore

Kee kee kee, I'm such a clever squirrel! There I was, sitting in my room all by myself. Lonely. No grasshoppers (it turns out I couldn't have had any anyway because it had rained and rained and there weren't any grasshoppers to be found). And I heard Biggun walk by, so I made this really cool trilling noise that I've never made before. She rushed right in to check on me and I just looked up at her with my cutest look. She couldn't resist me and let me out of my room. She didn't let me run around - I had to stay on her shirt and watch TV with her, but it was OK because I was tired anyhow. I took a nice nap curled up next to her hand but now she's in bed and I am back in my room, eating seeds! At least I know she still loves me.

Big Trouble

I'm not a baby anymore. I'm done being a toddler. I'm not even a little tyke. I'm a big kid squirrel, almost a teenager! Biggun and I were sitting on the couch, reading and cuddling, but I couldn't get comfortable because I don't fit in her hand anymore! I'm too big! Then, later, when I was off scampering, Biggun walked by to go to the computer and I ran with her all the way from the living room. I kept up! I'm so fast! The problem with getting bigger, though, is that I can get into more trouble. And I'm in big trouble right now. It's not all my fault. If Biggun hadn't been sitting on the floor eating her dinner, none of this would have happened.
Ok, so, we were having a good time playing. I would run out from a hiding spot until she saw me and then she'd chase me and I would go hide someplace else. It's a fun game. But, then she said she had to make dinner. She gave me some pine nuts and then she made what she calls "spaghetti". I don't like pasta. However, I DO like spaghetti sauce. I watched Biggun make it and she put tomatoes in and I like tomatoes. And there are green peppers, too, and I like green peppers. And she made it all up by herself and then she put it on the pasta and she came to sit with me on the floor. Only, the sauce smelled really good, so I kinda crawled up her leg and then I skittered across her lap and up her stomach to her chest, where she had the bowl of her dinner. I scrambled up her arm and over to her hand that was holding the bowl and I stuck my nose in. MMMmm, it smelled so GOOD! So, I thought I should try some and then she started laughing. When I grabbed a tomato,though, she said a loud, "Hey! Chico!", so I stuffed the tomato in my mouth and ran across her food and over the other side of the bowl. I dropped into her lap and I ran down her legs and behind a plant where I gobbled up the tomato before she could take it away from me. She was mad that I ran across her food and was even more mad that I got little red feet prints on her jeans. And now I'm grounded. After she caught me, she put me in my room with no grasshoppers for the whole night.
But it WAS a good tomato.

Ouch!

Yesterday, Biggun's friend, Carrie, came to visit me. She loves me. She thinks I am the cutest thing in the world...probably because I am. But! She and Biggun did the meanest thing ever! They cut my fingernails!!! And Biggun clipped one too closely and it bled. SQUEAK! It hurt so badly! So, because Biggun is negligent in her efforts to care for me, I have to take my antibiotic medicine again for a few days so that I don't get an infection AND she put Neosporin on my paw! It's horrible! This is the worst torture ever! I was going to stay mad all night last night and all day today, but I couldn't because when they were done abusing me, they took me outside and caught me 4 grasshoppers and one of them was very big with wings. Wings!! Big wings! They were delicious! I wonder what I would look like with wings?
Then, this morning I discovered something interesting. I found out that I like to dig now that my nails aren't so long. I practiced and practiced with the dirt in my room and I now have a little hole. Well, it's more like a dent in the dirt. It made me tired, though, so I went back to bed for a nap.

I checked my e-mail again today and found another letter from my friend Brittney. She wrote me a poem and I would like to share it. It's a very nice poem and very true, except for the part about my nose, which is really tan and soft. But, my eyes look like shiny beads or buzzing bees!

Brittney's poem
Your nose is so black as a bead
Your eyes are like silver buzzing bees
Your paws are the color brown just like the color of my hair
You are fuzzy just like the fuzzy mouse
Your tail is so fluffy
Your beautiful skin is the color of brown with stripes
Your ears are are the color of my eyes
A ground squirrel is just like this

Speaking of my nose, did you know I can use it like a shovel? I can! I use it to help me dig. But, sometimes, sand gets up my nose a little bit and I have to stop and wash my face because it tickles too much.
Another thing that tickles my face is the place behind the refrigerator. Biggun has this big thing called a refrigerator in the kitchen. I don't really know why. But, it is an interesting thing - she opens it a lot and cold air comes out. And then, the other day when she was cooking, she opened the refrigerator and I was going to look in again, but I saw that there was a space between the refrigerator and the counter and I ran down there. Then, I could turn and run behind the refrigerator. Guess what?? It's very warm and cozy back there. There is a lot of fluff and stuff and I made myself a little nest. Biggun got mad because she couldn't find me. Then she got more mad when I came out because I was "filthy" she said. So, she washed me and that made me sort of angry because I liked the fluffy stuff on my whiskers. But, the nest is still there, so when I can, I will go back and play in the warm place behind the refrigerator.

Ok, I'm going to go get a pine nut now. Thanks for reading what I did today!

A new friend

Today, I got my first real e-mail! I am very excited. Not many people have made comments on my journal entries, and that was making me feel a little unloved. But then I found this e-mail and I would like to share it with you because it made me so happy!

Hi Chico,
My name is Brittney. I like your pictures. I hope
your freak is taking good care of you. Someday my mom
said I could come visit you. I do not squeeze little
animals, so you don't have to worry about that. You
are very pretty in your pictures. I liked the one
where you are sitting on the rock. When I saw and
heard about you, I thought you were so cute. If I get
to come over to your house, maybe I can play with you
the whole time. So ask your biggun if you would like
me to come visit. If I come over you will see that I
am not scary. I'll be little and I am a kid just like
you are. I won't be mean to you. I can play
hind-n-go-seek. I think you will be the best hider
because you are so little and I am sure you could
sniff me and you could be it first. So, I can play
with you. When I come over you will run from me but, I
will find you but don't worry I will be gentle when I
find you and let you crawl in my hand and you already
have been picked up so you will not be scared of
"hikes" so you will be so happy to meet me. I hope to
hear back from you soon so we can play together. Plus
we have lots of grasshoppers and I have a jar so I
could bring you some. I will bring lots and lots of
big ones. I am sure you like the legs, I think they
are like chicken legs. Since you are little you will
be happy to meet me.
Love Brittney

Isn't that a nice letter? Only, I don't like the legs...they are too bony. I spit them out.
(p.s. Brittney's mom wrote to me afterwards to tell me that she had done the actual typing and stuff and that Brittney really is a kid! I asked Biggun and she says she knows Brittney and can verify her kid-ness.)

One day, when I get big...

You know Biggun? She really is big. I like to sit on her feet when she's not moving around all over the place and when I'm not sleeping. It's a good place to hang out - it makes her laugh and I like that sound; it's warm and soft; it smells like something I'd like to keep in my burrow. At any rate, today, while she was making dinner, I was sitting on her foot, looking around. She was chopping green peppers (I tried one. It was pretty good) and then I looked up at her. She looked down at me and smiled and I just kept looking right at her because I realized: her eyes were waaaaaay up there! I mean, up up up there! She's HUGE! It's true that everything around me is big, but she is the biggest of all the big things. And, also, she can run really fast. Sometimes, after I've scampered about, I have to stop and rest. Then, while I'm resting, she sometimes walks by and I want to be with her, so I follow her, but she outruns me really quickly. Gone! Just like that.
I find it's very important for me to keep an eye on her. I always make sure to check her whereabouts every few minutes. She escapes really easily and I don't want to lose her. Sometimes, when I can't find her anywhere in the apartment, I have to call for her. She thinks this is cute, but, it's not. It's me needing to know she's OK. She always comes running when I do that and then she picks me up and I act all irritated. Well, it's not an act. Usually, I am irritated when I don't know where she is. If she gets lost, who's gonna feed me?
Anyway, I hope if I keep eating my grasshoppers, I will be big like Biggun and I'll be just as fast. If not faster.

Not the best day

It appears I have been abandoned again. All last week, Biggun came home and ate lunch with me. She took me outside where I played bravely in the tall grass. She loved me back then. And now? Now I am alone. It's past 5:00 p.m. and she has yet to return. Has she forgotten about me? This is squirrel abuse. I'm calling someone about this. It's not fair.
On the upside, I have some more pictures of myself. You see, I went to work with Biggun one day so that everyone could meet me. I found a nice pair of warm hands and they cuddled me for hours. This is how it looked:

That's me, sleeping like a champ.


Ah, those are my travel accomodations. That was also my sickbed while I was ill; I'd sleep in that in Biggun's bed, right next to her so that I would stay warm.

Ooh, speaking of Biggun, I think I heard the lock in the front door. I have to go look pathetic and abused now.

I'd like to thank...

So, the word is out. This blog is up and running. Thus, it is time for me to give some thanks to the people who made it possible for me to be here:
Thanks to Tina, who was elemental in my rescue. She was driving the getaway car when I was found and was the one who drove back to get me. I don't see her often, but I consider her a second BiggunMom.
Thanks to Chris and Keara and Kynzie. They brought me the terrarium (my room) and they took and e-mailed the pictures of me that you've seen on this site. And Kynzie LOVES me. But, then, who doesn't?
Thanks to Kara and Marilyn - the first two people I went to visit. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't have a traveling case. It was very fun for me to get out of the house that first time around. Plus, I was able to see how my brethren live...and it made me really glad to be where I am.
Thanks to Carrie and Patty and Joe who let me come to their house a couple of times and have included me into their family. Ha ha, Kagat, I am the favorite now!!
Thanks to Dr. Gervais who may not have given me much of a chance, but gave me and Biggun everything we'd need to make it through my bout with pneumonia.
Thanks to all of you who have met me in person and have adored me. I care for you all, my worshiping fans.
Furthermore, if Biggun dies, I want Annie to take me in. I think she could cuddle me as much as Biggun does.
So, keep watching and reading to see how I grow and develop!