Lakewood's Groundparrot Gilligan Sees No Shadow! (But....)

[Gary Rice]

As many of you are aware, with the dearth of local Lakewood groundhogs, the forecasting of future winter days has fallen upon the shoulders of my parrot Gilligan; known now, affectionately, as Lakewood's "Groundparrot Gilligan"

We' ve had Gilligan for about 25 years. He came to us already "used" and supposedly from a sweet little lady. That, it seems, might not have been true. Rather, his former human companions must have been rather salty tongued. For all this time, we've tried to bring the boy to piety, but alas, his unique verbosity continues unabated.

Anyway, as he has done in years past, Groundparrot Gilligan again peered out his now fabled window. I went into his room this morning and asked him whether he saw his shadow. He responded with a low mumble that sounded, well, not like something printable in a family chat room.

Anyway, looking out that window, there's good and bad news. From Gilligan's vantage point, there were no shadows to see whatsoever. The bad news was that from his "sister" Hansie's vantage point, the slight, but distinct outline of the neighbor car's shadow could indeed, be seen upon the ground.

So I'm afraid it's inconclusive at this time, dear reader. Do we believe Groundparrot Gilligan that spring weather is just around the corner, or Hansie's (shall we call her "Hailstorm Hansie"?) prediction of six more weeks of winter?

Ah, the challenges of life in Lakewood!

[Kenneth Warren]

Thanks Gary for the levity, and the great photos from the Straw Poll.

So Gilligan won't be doing weather Podcasts for the LO?

Kenneth Warren

[Gary Rice]

Ken,

Thank you for your kind words of support, as always.

We live now, as then, in sublime times of change. The old saying about change being the only constant, has never seemed more true.

Old ways and means are crumbling, while the new is still in the process of breaking forth.

Still, and again, as has been written in one way or another many times, (going way back to Ecclesiastes, I believe) there is really nothing new under the sun.

Risking overuse of yet another metaphor, the pendulum swings over our lives, along with the passage of time.

Still, if we can stop for a short, fleeting moment, and smile, and laugh, even love, in the most positive sense of that word...and perhaps even sing "Kumbayah" once in awhile, Lakewood would be a better place indeed.

What's that, Gilligan? WHAT did you just say? If you said what I thought, cut that out right now! Watch your mouth or I'll......

Seriously, Gilligan is a great guy. He suffers from epileptic grand mal seizures once in awhile, so I generally stay pretty close by him. He may have cost me a few long vacation trips these past few years, but anyone having an animal companion would probably agree. He's well worth it!

[Mark Crnolatas]

Norbert

We have a squirrel that has been visiting our back yard for the last few years. Among the trees in eyesight of the yard, are several squirrel's nests, but this particular one who visits us just about daily, we named Norbert. He or She will take treats from my hand, then run a few feet away and sit and devour whatever it might be at the time. (Her or She, because I'll feed him/her but that is as far as I go).

Norbert made his/her daily appearance, and he did not cast a shadow. Now, I'm not sure how scientific that might be, since NASA hasn't called me about the results, but our Norbert, a true citizen of the "Wood" and all around mooch, did not see his shadow.

Disclaimer: It was rather early in the a.m so the timing might not have been quite accurate.

Note of Interest: My grandmother who came to Birdtown from the old country when it was first built, raised my mother there etc, told us all when we were kids, that when squirrels build their nests particularly large, the winter will be extremely cold. Hmmm.
Mark Crnolatas

[David Lay]

Note of Interest: My grandmother who came to Birdtown from the old country when it was first built, raised my mother there etc, told us all when we were kids, that when squirrels build their nests particularly large, the winter will be extremely cold. Hmmm.
Mark Crnolatas

She may be onto something...