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May 2005 Monday, May 30, 2005Hedgehog ColorsI mentioned that all the hedgies in last weekend's Olympics were different colors. To see what I mean, here's a nice color guide. Numo's a brown snowflake, easily 70% + white. And in Minnesota, Jennifer taught me that the lighter the quills, the longer and sharper they are. I can attest to that.* *see 04.22.05 posted on 10:59 PM Saturday, May 28, 2005Green StainFor lunch, I had some collard greens. I set a little bit of chopped leaves aside for Numo. He ate the tiniest bit and then sat on them: 
posted on 10:32 PM Sunday, May 22, 2005Hedgehog Olympics!Today, Numo competed in his first IHOG. International Hedgehog Olympic Gym-Bar-E. At a holistic pet fair in New Lenox, Illinois. This all was as new to me, as it was to Numo. I heard there were five events and we'd need a Kritter Krawler ball for several. So, Numo, carrier, ball, Alise and I were off to New Lenox for adventure. Dawn Wrobel of Ain't No Creek Ranch was the IHOG organizer and judge. Here's Team Numo:  Five intrepid hedghogs competed in five events: Sprint  Numo ran to the end of a track for the fastest time. He was scooting along until he got to the last red segment:  Then he went back. Twice. 4th place. Shot Put No pics, but Numo pushes another ball down the same track. He was ready for this one. First place. Slalom Here Numo starts out on this starting block:  He needs to make the course to the opposite side, to where I was waiting. Numo really liked meandering. He timed out after 2 minutes and placed 3rd. Hurdles A series of foam gates to go through getting taller as you go. Numo kept getting stuck at the yellow gate that first got taller. I was told that most hedgies get stuck there. That's the one he's contemplating in the picture below.  4th place. Floor Exercise Here's where the real action is. Hedgehog poke around this course:  And get points for different types to actions, like going through the tubes, pushing stuff. Numo was a pro at this, he even pushed over the horse! He poked his nose under it, then got huffy, pushing his visor quills (those on his forehead) forward, getting caught on the horse. SCORE!  Hedgehogs start on this orange square. Here's a great pic of how wide Numo's shoulders are. In most pics, he looks like a lil' ball, but here you can see how small and trim.  I thought Numo had this one in the bag, but Sarah's lanky girl Kiana really took charge of everything on the course and knocked over the horse. 2nd place. Overall, it was a tight competition, and Numo ranked 4th. Not bad for a rookie. I was just so pleased that he was active and curious about everything. Not at all nervous or hide-y. He's not a hide-y kind of guy, but still good to see him eager to check out new things in a new environment. A few hedgehog olympics fun facts: [ ] Events time out after two minutes to keep things moving along. [ ] You don't applaud for hedgies, the noise scares them. Thus, you wave your hands like deaf folks do. [ ] The boys run first. If the girls run first, they leave their scent and the boys get nothing done. A bonus of today was seeing several lovely different pogs. Only five critters, but all different colors and shapes. Like lanky, ballerina like Kiana. Or Boris the bruiser. Diana's Nimmy was sort of golden and nice and round. Linda's Bucky (after Buckminster Fuller!) is a handsome albino. I've got a soft spot for the albino ones. Numo was a wee one. Both young and small. A nice new adventure. A big thank you to Alise who was up for the adventure and was team photographer. 
posted on 8:04 PM Friday, May 20, 2005 
posted on 3:43 PM Thursday, May 19, 2005Solving Hedgehog MysteriesProgress has been made at Casa de Numo. I built Numo a two story cage, and put his wheel on the second level. But he ra-ra-rarely used it. I figured maybe he didn't like the tube from one level to the next. I improved it. He had no problem hiding in the tube, but he still didn't use the wheel. I know hedgies usually love to wheel and run. Every night he gets plenty of time running around his play area. He loves that and continues his bestfriendship with the toilet paper tube. But no wheeling. Veronica of Hedge Hog'N Around said he was a runner. What was up? Then I take him to meet family and friend in Minnesota for a week. He wheeled like crazy EVERY night. That made me think he really didn't like the second floor. After I drop my lugguge and set down his carrier, I moved the wheel to the first floor. Still no wheeling. Hmph. So, then laying in bed two nights ago, I stared at the cage thinking, "What's the variable between Minnesota and here in Chicago?" Then I thought, "Light!" I've got a window-full apartmnet and plenty of light pollution here in Chicago. In Minnesota, and I'm guessing Iowa where Veronica is, are both pitch black at night. So, continuing the experiement, I threw a big piece of black fabric of his cage. Numo wheeled and wheeled and wheeled! Problem solved. Two nights so far, two nights of wheeling :) Now, being a designer and seamstress, I need to come up with a more elegant solution than throwing fabric up over the cage. Besides, it looks very macabe when I wake up in the morning the the big black box. I'm thinking roman shades. posted on 10:45 AM Sunday, May 15, 2005CandidsMy desktop is down still, hopefully fixed tomorrow. In the meantime, I've been catching up on some photos. Photos are prepped but I'm too pooped to write the epic about Minnesota. So, for you Monday morning enjoyment, here are pics and captions:  Handful  Numo in his carrier checking things out.  After a safe arrival.  Squinty. What Numo looks like when he's first checking you out after being balled up.  Unsquinty. Moments later, quills relaxed.  It's a paper towel tube!  Louis, the Rhodesian Ridgeback mix, dubious of Numo, watching very carefully.  More investigating.  Gus is quite the hunter, but he never got past slowly veeery cautiously circling the playpen. posted on 10:49 PM Thursday, May 05, 2005Hooray! Just a superfast post from my Minnesota vacation to say that my day of travel with Numo yesterday was supereasy and nearly everyone was super, super nice. They say alcohol is a social lubricant, I say it's a hedgehog. I was totally a hedgehog ambassador allll daaaay, answering questions. Thankfully I don't do that every day, being an introvert, but very pleased with the smooth sailing.I hope to give the full account once we're back in Chicagoland. posted on 6:53 PM Tuesday, May 03, 2005Numo Flies!Tomorrow morning Numo and I head off to the Twin Cities to meet the family. It is a supercrazy story. With my desktop tanking today, that'll have to wait another day. In the meantime, check out the superfly carrier I pimped out for Numo:    Everyone cross your fingers for me for safe travels tomorrow! posted on 10:54 PM Sunday, May 01, 2005 TODAY IS LOOSETOOTH.COM'S SIXTH BIRTHDAY! HOORAY! posted on 7:20 PM |
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NOTE:
I wanted and got a hedgehog, I do not want hedgehog stuff. Really,
I mean it. When you see hedgehog stuff, think of me and Numo, but please
do not buy it for me/us.
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top © 2005-2007 Brandy Agerbeck, Loosetooth.com
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