Tag Archives: squirrels

21 things to the great 21s of today!

So today is the the 21th day of the 21th year of the 21th century. I am posting this on the 21st hour of my day!

So, I will share with you 21 things I enjoyed about being 21 years of age, back when I was 21.

  1. Drinking responsibly, and legally…totally new at 21!
  2. Community college…totally ready and willing to go back to school, but on my terms at 21!!
  3. Having roommates that weren’t my friends, didn’t usually feel weird.
  4. At 21, I can begin to officially quote, “Back in my day…”
  5. “So, this is clubbing…heh.”
  6. Whipping out my state ID with a smile, proving that I am 21.
  7. No weird life regrets just yet.
  8. Not caring about the sodium count in 10-cent ramen packs and 50-cent noodle cups!
  9. Totally a full grown-up with no age restrictions, unless I want to run for President.
  10. But still can be kind of a kid with my Spawn action figures together on a shelf. No explanations!
  11. No big student loan or credit card debts. Probably not ever, riiiiiight?!
  12. Working five days a week at a reasonable living wage for the time, hell yeah!
  13. My peak high metabolism.
  14. Taco Bell food tasted really good then.
  15. Decided officially that gambling was stupid, and I sucked at it.
  16. Sleep was way more manageable.
  17. Hanging out with friends when I can because I can, and they could too. it was just so simple and exciting back then!
  18. Following your dreams instead of chasing after them.
  19. Having an innocent, naïve world view that was more acceptable
  20. The amazing and totally responsible 20s life, 8-9 more of this year to redo…riiiiight?!
  21. Being very overly optimistic. (Now, I am cautiously optimistic).

So yeah, that’s my awesome 21 things I loved about being 21 on this day of multiple 21s. Also, enjoy this catchy opening to one my favorite classic TV shows, 21 Jump Street now…

This is probably going to stay in your head now (you’re welcome!)

Orion T

Oh…you might ask why is there a squirrel as my opening pic. That’s because today, January 21st is also Squirrel Appreciation Day! NOD YOUR HEADS TO OUR FURRY OVERLORDS OF CUTENESS!!!

Also, I carefully planted 21s, 21 times in this article of 21s!

Today is Squirrel Appreciation Day!

Today is Squirrel Appreciation Day!

Yes, appreciate those rodents, all 280 different species of them. Appreciate their bushy tails, large eyes, cute smiles, quick tree-climbing ability. Appreciate the joy a squirrel brings to our local public parks and many gardens. Sometimes, they act as pest control agents at no charge, devouring insects. They can also tackle waste, by grabbing small food scraps left by stupid humans. They eat mushrooms, resulting in their waste from digestion resulting in new, much needed spores that help the ecosystem. They are also cute, and inspire resourcefulness and quite clever. Here is one in action…

But perhaps, the best reason to appreciate is their nut-burying behavior. They bury nuts, then often forget (or do they?!). The results are many more trees grown from those seeds within, which helps the world of humans in many ways.

So appreciate the squirrels of the world, give back and spread cheer to the little critters. Feed some natural nuts or seeds, if you can spare (avoid processed food). If you have a yard or a porch, add a squirrel feeder. Also, place a small tub of clean water nearby. And overall, let the squirrels be their natural, adorable selves.

– Orion T

The above pictures were taken deepen with Stanley Park, Vancouver BC, Canada. You are likely to cross path with some scavenging squirrels on Squirrel Trail, and Beaver Lake. You might even find some rare red or black ones.

See the Black Squirrel…

photo-jan-04-12-00-47-pm

Here above is a squirrel in black, for which I have not seen this pigment until my recent visit to Vancouver. I watched them, and perhaps they watched me.

Their behavior differed a bit from the normal gray city squirrels of the Pacific Northwest US, of which I have seen around the University of Washington campus. The black squirrels seem shy to the cameras, and seemingly a bit faster and slightly smaller.

I learned through local folk and the googling, much about these squirrel mutagenic variants. Such are uncommon to see unless in some collective habitat (Midwestern and some Mideastern US, Eastern Canada), parts of the UK). However, I came across a gathering of many scuttling about through the center of Stanley Park, in Vancouver, Canada. Such are offshoots of the common gray and fox squirrels, leading to the darker gray to the very black. They can endure the cold weather better, and blend in with the dark. I heard these are not originally native to the Vancouver area but brought over some decades ago (possibly in 1914 according to one Wikipedia source), but I have yet to find the exact info.

Here is another one, living the simple life…

photo-jan-04-11-51-16-am

and a short bonus video of more, recently put upon my Instagram (travelingorion, follow me there!).

I love squirrels 🙂

– Orion T

Pictures and notes by Traveling Orion, (Orion Tippens). For external use for public use, please contact and obtain permission first.

Picture of Today 4/6/16, Squirrel!

Photo Mar 25, 1 39 31 PM

A little friend in the park, who knows things and sees things.

We shared much in common, very busy with much to hide. We know many ways to the same destination but prefer the long way around very often. We enjoy big bags of trail mix, and take time to enjoy the calling sunlight. We pretend to be simple, though it can be easier said than done.

– Orion T

Picture of Today 3/25/16, Big Squirrel on Campus

 

Today, at the University of Washington in Seattle, I took time out to admire the cherry blossom trees within.

And so did many others, including Sam Squirrel. Before the bushy-tailed agent of N.U.T.S scurried about on some mysterious mission, there was time to ponder the changing of Spring since the days of barely a week ago. There seemed more rain than last year, and the air a bit colder. The blossoms seemed somewhat thinner, and the trunks with more moss. What could it all mean? Perhaps nothing, Sam ruminated. The sight of it all must simply be enjoyed for as long as the peace shall last. 

– Orion T

Pictures of Today 6/19/15, Little Park Friends

I love birds, as I am considering a new hobby in ornithology.

This moment is my third time seeing the white-capped sparrow on the same tree in Denny Park, in Seattle. You may see them upon the center trees there, singing often, then fluttering away quickly when noticed. This time I sneaked a pic with some evening sunlight, for awesome effect.

Also in the same park, but during the morning on the way to work.. I noticed my ol friend, Sam Squirrel; hidden beneath, probably on some important mission. Good Luck Sam!!

 

– Orion T

Pictures of Today 5/28/15, Secret Life of a Squirrel

Squirrel

For the moment, Sam Squirrel was carefree, and cracking yet another shell. Inside, another nut to enjoy.

032 copy

Sam would take time, processing the meaning of life in every bite. This was a good reward for all the leaping and dashing Sam was born to do.

035 copy

But wait..Squirrel Sense is tingling!!

038 copy

Time for this Secret Agent Ninja Squirrel to take cover.. Danger is sensed, or another nut…both are equally exciting and impossible to tell apart.

– Orion T

Picture of Today 10/26/14

IMG_2073.JPG

Sam Squirrel decided now was not the time for action. Deadly agents of C.R.O.W. were passing through this Leafland territory, unaware of our dashing hero. What could be one, would be more close by..

Now is the time for stealth.

Picture of Today 2/27/14

1517516_10152117043758159_1505209046_n

To A Squirrel At Kyle-Na-No

Come play with me;
Why should you run
Through the shaking tree
As though I’d a gun
To strike you dead?
When all I would do
Is to scratch your head
And let you go.”

― W.B. Yeats

(Picture edited and originally posted from instagram.com/travelingorion)

…
Pictures by Orion Tippens. Note: Do not copy or use any of the images here or herein without written consent (contact Orion at travelingorion.wordpress.com). © Copyright 2014 Orion Tippens. All Rights Reserved