The Misunderstood Rat
by Jonathan Balcombe, Ph.D.
Rats are one of the world’s least understood creatures. Stigmatized as filthy “pests” for centuries, these inquisitive opportunists are actually naturally sociable and make excellent companions. New scientific studies show that there is more to rats than laboratory supply companies would have us believe.
Rats love to play, especially when young. During play, rats’ brains release large amounts of dopamine and opiates (in people, these chemicals are associated with pleasure and excitement).1 They chirp with apparent joy both during play and in anticipation of it,2 and one distinguished neuroscientist believes these chirps are a rat version of laughter.3
Rats are also tactile. They will nip gently to solicit tickles and strokes from trusted human companions.2 In a carefully controlled laboratory study at Bowling Green State University, rats accustomed to tickling ran to the hand four times as quickly as did petted rats and made seven times more chirps. The difference increased over the five-day period, suggesting a growing enthusiasm for being tickled.4 In the same study, each rat was presented with two metal bars, only one of which offered a tickling reward when pressed. The animals pressed the tickle bar repeatedly, but almost never pressed the other bar.4
Rats also play fair. When researchers at the University of Lethbridge analyzed video footage of playing rats, they found that individuals assess and monitor one another, then fine-tune their own behavior to maintain the play mood.5 Playing rats restrain themselves when they know their actions would cause pain to another individual.6 The cooperation and fairness required of play may form the basis for a sense of right and wrong and the rudiments of moral behavior.7
Like humans, rats appreciate variety in their food. A 2003 study found that rats (and hamsters) favored new foods following several days’ exposure to a single food.8 Rats will also enter a deadly cold room to retrieve highly palatable food, even though their regular chow (which is dry and monotonous) is available in their cozy nests.9 This is a rodent version of shunning the fruit bowl and dashing out for donuts on a wintry night.
These studies show that rats are not as different from us as some might think. Not only do they try to avoid painful or stressful situations, they seek out pleasurable ones. They look forward to a good game, they obey rat rules of social conduct, and they have preferences. These traits constitute more reasons why these sensitive, intelligent animals should not be subjected to harmful experiments.
References:
1 Panksepp, J. 1998. Affective Neuroscience. Oxford University Press.
2 Knutson B, Burgdorf J, Panksepp J. 1998. Anticipation of play elicits high-frequency ultrasonic vocalizations in young rats. Journal of Comparative Psychology 112: 65-73.
3 Panksepp J, Burgdorf J. 2003. “Laughing” rats and the evolutionary antecedents of human joy? Physiology & Behavior 79: 533-47.
4 Burgdorf J, Panksepp J. 2001. Tickling induces reward in adolescent rats. Physiology & Behavior 72: 167-173.
5 Pellis S. 2002. Keeping in touch: Play fighting and social knowledge. In Bekoff M, Allen C, and Burghardt GM (eds.) 2002. The Cognitive Animal Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press.
6 Church F. 1959. Emotional reactions of rats to the pain of others. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology 52: 132-134.
7 Bekoff, M. Wild justice, cooperation, and fair play: Minding manners, being nice, and feeling good. In R. Sussman and A. Chapman (eds.) The Origins and Nature of Sociality. Aldine, Chicago. pp. 53-79.
8 Galef BG Jr, Whiskin EE. 2003. Preference for novel flavors in adult Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus). Journal of Comparative Psychology 117: 96-100.
9 Phillips H. 2003. The pleasure seekers. New Scientist October 11: 36-40.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
The Misunderstood Rat
A short, neat article, from the Physician's Commmittee for Responsible Medicine.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Friday, December 07, 2007
Random conversation
(Whilst supervising Beanie during run-around time yesterday.)
Bear: Beanie's getting big...
Syn: Yeah! Beanster! Beeeeeanz.
Bear: ...
Bear: No, you know what? He *is* big.
Syn: ...
Syn: No more chocolate cake for Beanie.
Bear: No.
Beanie: !@#$$!
Bear: Beanie's getting big...
Syn: Yeah! Beanster! Beeeeeanz.
Bear: ...
Bear: No, you know what? He *is* big.
Syn: ...
Syn: No more chocolate cake for Beanie.
Bear: No.
Beanie: !@#$$!
Monday, November 12, 2007
A happy meal
I was looking at Not Quite Nigella's entry on Una's in Double Bay and it reminded me of one of my happiest meals, at Una's on Broadway. The thing is, the food wasn't all that good even. It was just such an unexpected meal, and soooo welcome and warm, that it makes me smile on the inside to think about it.
I say that it was unexpected primarily because we were supposed to be up in an airplane at that time, heading for Bangkok, en route to London, except that we only had lowly staff travel tickets and had spent the entire morning and afternoon waiting at the airport, before we were bumped off the last flight. Well not technically, technically they told us we could probably get to Bangkok but then would be stranded there at midnight and we decided we'd much rather spend the night at home than in some strange hotel in Bangkok, nice as it is, I'm sure.
So we went home, which was really only a little bit less strange than some random Thai hotel, because we'd pretty much just moved in. Everything was in boxes, everywhere where helpful friends and family had stacked them. The bed was made up, but we had to dig up some shampoo and spare towels, put our airplane clothes aside and find something to wear, because we had to go out and find the internet so that we could re-list ourselves on the next day's flights and book some back-up tickets via the US in case all the flights were full again.
So that's how we found ourselves in Broadway, which is where my office is (and I managed to get in a last minute report too, woohoo), and then at Una's, which was warm brown and cosy, an absolute treat because it was shit cold and freezing out, and because we were tired to our bones.
And we had rosti and schnitzel and sauerkraut and ginger beer, and we ate and stuffed ourselves and giggled and it was so good because we were warm and full and relaxed and could go home and sleep in our bed. The next day, we got on a plane to London, via Tokyo instead, on the longest most tortuous journey Ever. But that is another story, a long and tortuous one that I don't think anyone really wants to hear about and also Bear says I should go to bed soon.
Goodnight!
I say that it was unexpected primarily because we were supposed to be up in an airplane at that time, heading for Bangkok, en route to London, except that we only had lowly staff travel tickets and had spent the entire morning and afternoon waiting at the airport, before we were bumped off the last flight. Well not technically, technically they told us we could probably get to Bangkok but then would be stranded there at midnight and we decided we'd much rather spend the night at home than in some strange hotel in Bangkok, nice as it is, I'm sure.
So we went home, which was really only a little bit less strange than some random Thai hotel, because we'd pretty much just moved in. Everything was in boxes, everywhere where helpful friends and family had stacked them. The bed was made up, but we had to dig up some shampoo and spare towels, put our airplane clothes aside and find something to wear, because we had to go out and find the internet so that we could re-list ourselves on the next day's flights and book some back-up tickets via the US in case all the flights were full again.
So that's how we found ourselves in Broadway, which is where my office is (and I managed to get in a last minute report too, woohoo), and then at Una's, which was warm brown and cosy, an absolute treat because it was shit cold and freezing out, and because we were tired to our bones.
And we had rosti and schnitzel and sauerkraut and ginger beer, and we ate and stuffed ourselves and giggled and it was so good because we were warm and full and relaxed and could go home and sleep in our bed. The next day, we got on a plane to London, via Tokyo instead, on the longest most tortuous journey Ever. But that is another story, a long and tortuous one that I don't think anyone really wants to hear about and also Bear says I should go to bed soon.
Goodnight!
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Friday, October 12, 2007
Permanent Vacation
If you don't, if you don't have the time... to stay up at night, and not a Friday night but a Thursday night. And watch an early Jim Jarmusch film and enjoy it, can you really say you live?
If space and time become so tight, that there is only the workday and then the weekend for everything else, and no loose time to be loose in, when do you catch the stuff that floats by?
Is the organised plan time scheduled thing the adult thing to do or just a lie because it's all surreal anyway. Underneath. Everywhere. And all structure is fake and false and inaccurate and inadequate anyway.
Anyway! This Jim Jarmusch film is quite interesting. Do film afficionados refer to him as Jim Jarmusch, or just Jarmusch? SBS is like the sole deliverer of non-pop culture on the teevee, but man I hate those erection ads where the two bald men pretend to play the piano with their penises. GROSS.
If space and time become so tight, that there is only the workday and then the weekend for everything else, and no loose time to be loose in, when do you catch the stuff that floats by?
Is the organised plan time scheduled thing the adult thing to do or just a lie because it's all surreal anyway. Underneath. Everywhere. And all structure is fake and false and inaccurate and inadequate anyway.
Anyway! This Jim Jarmusch film is quite interesting. Do film afficionados refer to him as Jim Jarmusch, or just Jarmusch? SBS is like the sole deliverer of non-pop culture on the teevee, but man I hate those erection ads where the two bald men pretend to play the piano with their penises. GROSS.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Caffeinated ranunculus
So, it's midnight and I really should be in bed because it is a school night but I went out with some other postgrads, an Italian girl and an Austrian girl and a lovely newly wed couple, she was from Lebanon and he was from Jordan and they brought us to this totally kick ass Lebanese restaurant, where you had to book and order the food ahead of time and all the customers were gathered to break their fast and then we ate so much food on disproportionately small plates and then went to an Arabic cafe where the waiters wore red fezes and embroidered waistcoats and we drank dark Lebanese coffee spiced with cardamom and had argily! Apparently it is also called hubly bubly, which is a ridiculous name for it. Can you believe I've never tried it? Yes, I am about ten years behind. It's not for want of opportunity, I've just never really felt like it. It smelt nice, but did kind of burn my throat and really, asthma sucks enough without encouragement. Hmm. And then I kept feeling like I was breathing out smoke for a while after that. Wieeeeerd.
And then we went to a popular bakery and I bought 1 kilogram of baklava! Yah! Baklava for weeks!
I sometimes forget that coffee makes me stay awake. Perhaps I thought maybe it wouldn't, because it was Lebanese (I know, that makes no sense), but whatever. It's kinda like with the potato chips. After awhile I forget again that they taste really bad and make me feel ill.
I think sometimes maybe I am a bad wife. I don't iron his shirts, I don't particularly fuss over him, I mean I could, and I have in the past, but really he is a grown man and I can really do without becoming a nagging wife. Still, I decide on a whim to go out without him, without planning for his dinner... I let him go to bed alone while I stay up and mooch about online. I ask him to wake me up early, despite knowing that this is a most terrible and difficult undertaking, I... um. I suppose I'm not really even trying to be a good wife.
But then we make our own marriages don't we? It's not like there's some sort of predetermined duty list that has to be followed. Is there? Anymore? I think the beauty of our relationship/marriage thing is that we make it up as we go along. It's kind of like building a wall... no, a house, where every bit of the structure is newly, slowly placed, and it's all sort of good and strong, but is always, constantly, tested, pushed against, dinged, patched up, etc. Maybe the key thing is that we're doing it together. And we both want to do it, and we both want to live in it. It's like a shelter from the rest of the world.
I don't know. But he's crazy hot and I love him.
And then we went to a popular bakery and I bought 1 kilogram of baklava! Yah! Baklava for weeks!
I sometimes forget that coffee makes me stay awake. Perhaps I thought maybe it wouldn't, because it was Lebanese (I know, that makes no sense), but whatever. It's kinda like with the potato chips. After awhile I forget again that they taste really bad and make me feel ill.
I think sometimes maybe I am a bad wife. I don't iron his shirts, I don't particularly fuss over him, I mean I could, and I have in the past, but really he is a grown man and I can really do without becoming a nagging wife. Still, I decide on a whim to go out without him, without planning for his dinner... I let him go to bed alone while I stay up and mooch about online. I ask him to wake me up early, despite knowing that this is a most terrible and difficult undertaking, I... um. I suppose I'm not really even trying to be a good wife.
But then we make our own marriages don't we? It's not like there's some sort of predetermined duty list that has to be followed. Is there? Anymore? I think the beauty of our relationship/marriage thing is that we make it up as we go along. It's kind of like building a wall... no, a house, where every bit of the structure is newly, slowly placed, and it's all sort of good and strong, but is always, constantly, tested, pushed against, dinged, patched up, etc. Maybe the key thing is that we're doing it together. And we both want to do it, and we both want to live in it. It's like a shelter from the rest of the world.
I don't know. But he's crazy hot and I love him.
Friday, October 05, 2007
Squeaky Beanie
Beanie is the most vocal rat we've ever had.
He communicates to us in little squeaks, usually when he's protesting about something, and it's so funny! Monty was also occasionally vocal, mainly when you picked him up from doing something naughty (like trying to get into the fireplace) to which he would emit a plaintive "Squeeeeeeeeeeee!" like a little high pitched "Nooooooooooooo!".
Beanie is more of a squeaker and a scolder. There was the time he'd jumped up onto the coffee table (which was bad of him to do and he knew it) and delicately selected a chocolate biscuit from the packet that was open. Upon hearing the suspicious rustling, I turned around and saw him and probably said something like Oh! Biscuit thief! Thus alerted, he dashed off, escaping with his grand prize, except not quite going fast enough, probably because he was carrying this enormous chocolate biscuit and when I caught him, he let forth such a string of high pitched invectives in protest that I couldn't stop laughing and let him go. Bear then chased him around the room, with the same result every time he got close, and in the end, when we caught him, he would not, absolutely not, let go of his biscuit and we had to break it up and share it between him and Milo.
The second time he went for the biscuits was more recently, when I caught him readying to jump up onto the table and I said nuh-uh! And picked him up, to which he loudly went Squeak! in surprise and then when I plonked him down onto my lap, he Fooffed at me, which is exactly what it sounds like, just once, but loudly. It was extremely hilarious at the time and still makes me giggle to think about it. I mean, here is this furry little cream puff of a rattie with little pink ears, and he's giving me attitude.
:)
He's so great.
He communicates to us in little squeaks, usually when he's protesting about something, and it's so funny! Monty was also occasionally vocal, mainly when you picked him up from doing something naughty (like trying to get into the fireplace) to which he would emit a plaintive "Squeeeeeeeeeeee!" like a little high pitched "Nooooooooooooo!".
Beanie is more of a squeaker and a scolder. There was the time he'd jumped up onto the coffee table (which was bad of him to do and he knew it) and delicately selected a chocolate biscuit from the packet that was open. Upon hearing the suspicious rustling, I turned around and saw him and probably said something like Oh! Biscuit thief! Thus alerted, he dashed off, escaping with his grand prize, except not quite going fast enough, probably because he was carrying this enormous chocolate biscuit and when I caught him, he let forth such a string of high pitched invectives in protest that I couldn't stop laughing and let him go. Bear then chased him around the room, with the same result every time he got close, and in the end, when we caught him, he would not, absolutely not, let go of his biscuit and we had to break it up and share it between him and Milo.
The second time he went for the biscuits was more recently, when I caught him readying to jump up onto the table and I said nuh-uh! And picked him up, to which he loudly went Squeak! in surprise and then when I plonked him down onto my lap, he Fooffed at me, which is exactly what it sounds like, just once, but loudly. It was extremely hilarious at the time and still makes me giggle to think about it. I mean, here is this furry little cream puff of a rattie with little pink ears, and he's giving me attitude.
:)
He's so great.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Ratties relaxing
(Please ignore the weird first few seconds, some youtube compressing issue maybe?)
Here's a relaxed Milo, perched on his lookout, bruxing away happily. Look for the end where he boggles! Whee!
And here's Beanie, enjoying some special time with Bear. Spot the yawn!
Here's a relaxed Milo, perched on his lookout, bruxing away happily. Look for the end where he boggles! Whee!
And here's Beanie, enjoying some special time with Bear. Spot the yawn!
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
A cheerful outlook
This is a good quote, from (Ralph Waldo?) Emerson, found from this column by Garrison Keillor.
Hooray!
This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it ... Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.
Hooray!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Happy News
Congratulations to Adrian and Alysha on their engagement!
I told everyone it was so totally going to happen by Christmas!
I love being right!
Hahah!
Seriously, it makes me happy, very happy, that something in the world went right, and they met each other.
Cheers from Bear and I!
I told everyone it was so totally going to happen by Christmas!
I love being right!
Hahah!
Seriously, it makes me happy, very happy, that something in the world went right, and they met each other.
Cheers from Bear and I!
Rattie Macros
I totally love this website!
It can be a bit hit and miss, but with rattie photos + funny captions, you just can't go too wrong! :D
It always cheers me up.
Some favourites:
It can be a bit hit and miss, but with rattie photos + funny captions, you just can't go too wrong! :D
It always cheers me up.
Some favourites:
Monday, June 11, 2007
Oh no!
We've got rats!
heheheheh.
Everybody, please meet Milo and Beanie!
They came to live with us nearly two months ago when they were looking for a new home. They're about 5 months old and full of energy! They're also incredibly sweet.
This is Milo, snoozing on our sofa in our (his) mohair blanket.
And this is a short clip of Beanie, not doing much except looking cute, with random commentary from Bear.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Friday, June 01, 2007
Wedding gallery is up!
Finally, finished the web gallery! Please do check it out and let me know about any broken links or weirdness.
Might write a post later on the planning process in case it helps anyone who happens to be in the crazy stages of planning one. :D
Monday, May 21, 2007
Wedding photos!
Our photos have arrived! Today! Which is why I am not getting any work done. Hooray!
The verdict? There were lots of good shots. I still regret the hair, but it was a happy happy day. Here are some to start off with:
At the picnic site:
Matt and Connor waiting patiently with the rings (and sneaking a peek):
Tadah! Married! Just like that!
The verdict? There were lots of good shots. I still regret the hair, but it was a happy happy day. Here are some to start off with:
At the picnic site:
Matt and Connor waiting patiently with the rings (and sneaking a peek):
Tadah! Married! Just like that!
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
An early start
Woke up uncharacteristically early today, with the helpful urgings of Bear, just so i could get stuck into my work for the maximum amount of time today. Needless to say, with a recent wedding, house purchase and immigration papers to sort out, not to mention all the other usual stuff that needs to be done, my phd work has... not so much suffered as stagnated. And there is of course no better motivation to restart the engine than an upcoming meeting with one's highly driven supervisor!
So here I am, bleary but awake, sitting at my desk, no one else here, all quiet and peaceful, perfect conditions for working, and I can't stop thinking about pies!
I'm starving!
So here I am, bleary but awake, sitting at my desk, no one else here, all quiet and peaceful, perfect conditions for working, and I can't stop thinking about pies!
I'm starving!
Saturday, May 12, 2007
I am very bad
This weekend, we are helping Bear's mum with her Mother's Day flower stall, which, serendipitously, will be held in our backyard since we have an enormous backyard and it faces onto a busy road.
Mother of Bear and her partner will arrive tomorrow sometime crazy early like 6am, needing help setting up and etc. Which is why Bear, nearly three hours ago, strongly suggested that we both go to bed, because we needed to get up early tomorrow.
We? said I.
Well actually there was more like a pause where I looked at him in silence and then Bear said, "We? says Suyin."
Bear understands.
Which is why Bear is good!
and I am not.
Lala la la! Lala la la! Elmo song!
Mother of Bear and her partner will arrive tomorrow sometime crazy early like 6am, needing help setting up and etc. Which is why Bear, nearly three hours ago, strongly suggested that we both go to bed, because we needed to get up early tomorrow.
We? said I.
Well actually there was more like a pause where I looked at him in silence and then Bear said, "We? says Suyin."
Bear understands.
Which is why Bear is good!
and I am not.
Lala la la! Lala la la! Elmo song!
2 weeks later
I am absolutely dying to see my wedding photos!
In other news, just randomly googling my name with Bear's, I find out that the author, Han Suyin, after whom I am apparently named - does it count as being named after someone if your mum just decided she liked the name? Anyway, turns out Ms Han Suyin had an affair with an Ian Morrison, on which her book and the movie Love is a Many Splendoured Thing was based.
Tadah.
She didn't marry him though, but she did marry three different men! And had a rather full life.
There you go.
...
*back to craving photos*
Perhaps this is some kind of wedding withdrawal.
In other news, just randomly googling my name with Bear's, I find out that the author, Han Suyin, after whom I am apparently named - does it count as being named after someone if your mum just decided she liked the name? Anyway, turns out Ms Han Suyin had an affair with an Ian Morrison, on which her book and the movie Love is a Many Splendoured Thing was based.
Tadah.
She didn't marry him though, but she did marry three different men! And had a rather full life.
There you go.
...
*back to craving photos*
Perhaps this is some kind of wedding withdrawal.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Goodbye Alfie
Our Alfie, the smartest, stubbornest and most irrepressible rat we've had the honour of knowing, passed away on Friday afternoon.
He was approximately 2 and a half years old, and had been battling through bumblefoot, kidney disease and a large abscess. I brought him to the vet that morning to have the abscess lanced, successfully, but perhaps it was all a bit too much because that afternoon, when I came home from work, we found him passed away, halfway through climbing out of one of his favourite nestboxes.
I wish so much that I'd stayed at home with him and I hate that he isn't with us anymore, but I think he'd had enough and was ready to go.
Alfie was a really great rat. I could have sworn at times that he understood, or at least guessed correctly at everything we said. He was so smart, he figured everything out, even how to open the yoggie jar, and then he taught Monty how. He was an adult rescue, and had never been a pet rattie, so he was pretty aloof and never really cared toooo much for cuddles and such, but he listened to us, and was friendly to us, and I think he appreciated all that we tried to do for him. In the last couple of weeks, he had to take this horribly yuckky tasting medicine and even though we mixed it with yummy peanut butter ice cream, he still didn't like it, but we told him it was important and so he took it. Twice a day. He was a really great rat.
Here is my favourite video of Alfie, when we used to give him a yoggie to distract him from getting his bumblefoot treated. He asserts his dislike for being put on his back but realises in the end that he might as well just sit it out and eat his yoggie. The sound lags behind by about a second. Not sure why it does that:
Here is another one of Alfie enjoying a rub:
And a blurry one of Alfie being cute (he was incredibly cute) but then squirmy:
I'm glad we took Alfie in - he's testament that even the most frightened, unsocialised, bitey rescue ratties can become great friends, and it was also amazing to see how much they bloom with the right care and love.
We miss you Alfie! We miss you so much!
Remember our love and take care. Stay comfy my love.
He was approximately 2 and a half years old, and had been battling through bumblefoot, kidney disease and a large abscess. I brought him to the vet that morning to have the abscess lanced, successfully, but perhaps it was all a bit too much because that afternoon, when I came home from work, we found him passed away, halfway through climbing out of one of his favourite nestboxes.
I wish so much that I'd stayed at home with him and I hate that he isn't with us anymore, but I think he'd had enough and was ready to go.
Alfie was a really great rat. I could have sworn at times that he understood, or at least guessed correctly at everything we said. He was so smart, he figured everything out, even how to open the yoggie jar, and then he taught Monty how. He was an adult rescue, and had never been a pet rattie, so he was pretty aloof and never really cared toooo much for cuddles and such, but he listened to us, and was friendly to us, and I think he appreciated all that we tried to do for him. In the last couple of weeks, he had to take this horribly yuckky tasting medicine and even though we mixed it with yummy peanut butter ice cream, he still didn't like it, but we told him it was important and so he took it. Twice a day. He was a really great rat.
Here is my favourite video of Alfie, when we used to give him a yoggie to distract him from getting his bumblefoot treated. He asserts his dislike for being put on his back but realises in the end that he might as well just sit it out and eat his yoggie. The sound lags behind by about a second. Not sure why it does that:
Here is another one of Alfie enjoying a rub:
And a blurry one of Alfie being cute (he was incredibly cute) but then squirmy:
I'm glad we took Alfie in - he's testament that even the most frightened, unsocialised, bitey rescue ratties can become great friends, and it was also amazing to see how much they bloom with the right care and love.
We miss you Alfie! We miss you so much!
Remember our love and take care. Stay comfy my love.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
4 Days
It is 4 days to our wedding, and I am feeling nervous, excited, horrified, exultant, stressed, anxious, calm, worried and helpless, all at once!
And the forecast is for rain!
Aaah!
*furrow brow worriedly*
*add umbrellas to the list*
And the forecast is for rain!
Aaah!
*furrow brow worriedly*
*add umbrellas to the list*
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Fun Rattie Clips
This little video always cheers me up, here it is if you want some cheering up too!
Again, watch for the last part - absolutely priceless! :)
Again, watch for the last part - absolutely priceless! :)
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Saturday, March 31, 2007
No more banging on the doors
I miss my Monty.
It's a bit hard to think about him still, so I try not to, but then sometimes, it just hits me that something's missing. Something warm and bright. Like tonight, when it was almost rattie dinnertime (10pm), there was no one banging on the living room sliding doors, no small furry white creature looking up at you with an expectant look on his face when you opened the doors, no one pushing past the door to get to the kitchen to see why dinner wasn't ready yet.
It's a bit hard to think about him still, so I try not to, but then sometimes, it just hits me that something's missing. Something warm and bright. Like tonight, when it was almost rattie dinnertime (10pm), there was no one banging on the living room sliding doors, no small furry white creature looking up at you with an expectant look on his face when you opened the doors, no one pushing past the door to get to the kitchen to see why dinner wasn't ready yet.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Goodbye Monty
Monty passed away on Friday morning.
In my hands, as I petted him and told him how much we loved him and that it was all right. My little love went, and we are left bereft, without him.
This is a poem by Rabindranath Tagore. For my Mon mon.
I didn't read this poem to him, but I held him, and loved him, and sang him a song about how he came to live with us, and how gorgeous he is, and all the yummy things he's eaten, and all the funny and great things he did... then he started gasping, hard, then slower. I held him and told him it was going to be all right and I love him and slowly, he went. And I know I will miss him all my life.
Here are two videos, taken recently, of Monty enjoying his favourite activity - getting his cheeks scratched.
He was such a sweetie, my Monty.
In my hands, as I petted him and told him how much we loved him and that it was all right. My little love went, and we are left bereft, without him.
This is a poem by Rabindranath Tagore. For my Mon mon.
Peace, my heart, let the time for
the parting be sweet.
Let it not be a death but completeness.
Let love melt into memory and pain into songs.
Let the flight through the night sky end
in the folding of the wings
over the nest.
Let the last touch of your hands be gentle,
like the flower of the night.
Stand still, O Beautiful End, for a moment,
and say your last words in silence.
I bow to you and hold up my lamp
to light you on your way.
I didn't read this poem to him, but I held him, and loved him, and sang him a song about how he came to live with us, and how gorgeous he is, and all the yummy things he's eaten, and all the funny and great things he did... then he started gasping, hard, then slower. I held him and told him it was going to be all right and I love him and slowly, he went. And I know I will miss him all my life.
Here are two videos, taken recently, of Monty enjoying his favourite activity - getting his cheeks scratched.
He was such a sweetie, my Monty.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Hair cut
I cut my hair the other day.
It's now too short to tie up, has more of those layer things and is entirely at the mercy of the mischievous hair fairies. See, I thought I was growing it for the wedding... so that you know, I could just put it up and be done with it.
Now, it is wild and doing what my hair does when unrestrained by elastic - it goes Foom! The hairdresser had a euphemistic way of saying it - your hair has quite a lot of body in it.
HELP!
I think I am simultaneously both striving towards AND rebelling against, the expectation of the beautiful, well-groomed, poised, put together and shiny bride.
ROOAAAAARR!
In other news, we made an offer for a house, and it was accepted! *boggle*
It's now too short to tie up, has more of those layer things and is entirely at the mercy of the mischievous hair fairies. See, I thought I was growing it for the wedding... so that you know, I could just put it up and be done with it.
Now, it is wild and doing what my hair does when unrestrained by elastic - it goes Foom! The hairdresser had a euphemistic way of saying it - your hair has quite a lot of body in it.
HELP!
I think I am simultaneously both striving towards AND rebelling against, the expectation of the beautiful, well-groomed, poised, put together and shiny bride.
ROOAAAAARR!
In other news, we made an offer for a house, and it was accepted! *boggle*
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Monday, March 12, 2007
Ratties demonstrate metacognition
See this article.
Excerpt:
Excerpt:
Researchers have believed for some time that people and non-human primates are capable of “metacognition”—reasoning or thinking about one’s own thinking. There have been studies on birds about this kind of thinking process, but results thus far have been inconclusive. The new study is the first that shows a non-primate species has metacognition—a proposal that may well be controversial.
The study involved what is called a “duration-discrimination” test—offering rats rewards for classifying a signal as either short or long. As in most such tests, the “right” answer led to a large food reward, while a “wrong” answer led to no reward at all. The twist, however, is that before taking the duration test, the rats were given the chance to decline the test completely. If they made that choice, they got a small reward anyway.
“If rats have knowledge about whether they know or don’t know the answer to the test, we would expect them to decline most frequently on difficult tests,” said Crystal. “They would also show the lowest accuracy on difficult tests that they can’t decline. Our data showed both to be true, suggesting the rats have knowledge of their own cognitive states.”
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Wacky wedding dances
Wedding party seamlessly morphs into the music video from Thriller. Everyone looks awkward but game, except for the groom, throughly enjoying himself, and one suspects he came up with the idea in the first place. Hmmh! It is cool though, and fun to watch.
This one's for Sammie, Dirty Dancing fan (if I remember correctly!)
It's so sweet! Whee! Swishy dress! Rolled up shirt sleeves! Ahhh...
Sunday, February 11, 2007
The Best Cookies
Presenting...
The BEST Cookies I Have Ever Made!
And possibly ever eaten too!
These cookies are studded with cocoa nibs, hazelnuts and almonds, adapted from a recipe in Alice Medrich's Bittersweet - my happy birthday pressie from Bear!
The first thing I thought when I ate one was that it tasted expensive, but to be more descriptive, they're buttery but crisp, not overly sweet, with a lovely vanilla aroma that works so well with the toasted nuts. The cocoa nibs are amazing, not bitter or strong at all, but they provide this sort of essence of chocolateyness and, according to Bear, almost fruitiness. This may be the effect of the particular brand of nibs - we used Dagoba's.
YUM!!!
This is the sort of cookie that when you taste what you've just made, you have the immediate urge to wrap them up in little packages to distribute to all the people you know who really love good food, just so you can share the amazing thing that is this cookie and maybe show off a little.
:P
It is also the sort of cookie that inspires Bear to suggest costing the ingredients to find out if it would be profitable to sell them.
I won't post the recipe, but email me if you want it!
The BEST Cookies I Have Ever Made!
And possibly ever eaten too!
These cookies are studded with cocoa nibs, hazelnuts and almonds, adapted from a recipe in Alice Medrich's Bittersweet - my happy birthday pressie from Bear!
The first thing I thought when I ate one was that it tasted expensive, but to be more descriptive, they're buttery but crisp, not overly sweet, with a lovely vanilla aroma that works so well with the toasted nuts. The cocoa nibs are amazing, not bitter or strong at all, but they provide this sort of essence of chocolateyness and, according to Bear, almost fruitiness. This may be the effect of the particular brand of nibs - we used Dagoba's.
YUM!!!
This is the sort of cookie that when you taste what you've just made, you have the immediate urge to wrap them up in little packages to distribute to all the people you know who really love good food, just so you can share the amazing thing that is this cookie and maybe show off a little.
:P
It is also the sort of cookie that inspires Bear to suggest costing the ingredients to find out if it would be profitable to sell them.
I won't post the recipe, but email me if you want it!
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Not wedding dresses Part II
These are in the running, but lagging behind a bit...
Shirtdresses by Prada and Diane von Furstenberg, respectively.
I like the lace shoulders on this one, but the ruched boobage is a bit weird.
The style is, however, similar to these following ones, which are frontrunners.
and
There's another one I like even better though!
Shirtdresses by Prada and Diane von Furstenberg, respectively.
I like the lace shoulders on this one, but the ruched boobage is a bit weird.
The style is, however, similar to these following ones, which are frontrunners.
and
There's another one I like even better though!
Monday, February 05, 2007
I don't want a wedding dress
Today, I went to see a dressmaker in the city, to get some idea of what it might cost to get a dress made, seeing as I am afraid of entering a Bridal dress shop and cannot seem to find anything suitable at the shops.
So, Bear generously drives me to the city after work and I rock up to this dressmaker, and tell her I was thinking of having a dress made. She asks more questions, and I say, probably white or ivory, and yes, it's for a wedding, but I don't want a wedding dress, just a simple dress made. She seems to understand, then shows me an array of white and cream satins.
Too shiny! I say. Something that looks more natural?
She shows me a silk faille which feels and looks alright, but really I was thinking of a soft thin cotton - like the sort used in floaty summer dresses?
She tells me, I've never heard of anyone using cotton for a wedding dress.
But I Don't Want a Wedding Dress!
*!!!*
So, Bear generously drives me to the city after work and I rock up to this dressmaker, and tell her I was thinking of having a dress made. She asks more questions, and I say, probably white or ivory, and yes, it's for a wedding, but I don't want a wedding dress, just a simple dress made. She seems to understand, then shows me an array of white and cream satins.
Too shiny! I say. Something that looks more natural?
She shows me a silk faille which feels and looks alright, but really I was thinking of a soft thin cotton - like the sort used in floaty summer dresses?
She tells me, I've never heard of anyone using cotton for a wedding dress.
But I Don't Want a Wedding Dress!
*!!!*
Friday, February 02, 2007
Need some help please
Dear everyone, I need help choosing a photographer!
The original one I wanted isn't available, and the new top of the listers haven't got back to me (and I probably can't afford them anyway), so now, it's between these four contenders:
Tonia Lawless
Caterina Fara
Katie Rivers
Christopher Radford
Any and all opinions are extremely welcome.
(Help!)
The original one I wanted isn't available, and the new top of the listers haven't got back to me (and I probably can't afford them anyway), so now, it's between these four contenders:
Tonia Lawless
Caterina Fara
Katie Rivers
Christopher Radford
Any and all opinions are extremely welcome.
(Help!)
Thursday, February 01, 2007
How's the wedding planning coming along?
As requested by Jo, I shall start posting about wedding planning things. Most of the stuff is done, I think. You would not Imagine how much freaking time it took, but I still have most of my brain intact, albeit filled up with waaaaaaay too many images of tulle, pastels, flower arrangements and large glittery signs saying "Your Big Day" and "Bridal" and, for some reason, "Exquisite!"
Despite all insistence that we are not having a "wedding" but just a party that happens to have a marriage ceremony in the middle, no one believes us. Also, it appears that other people have expectations, which are fair enough and which one can give or take, because they love you anyway, but then I realised that there are also Expectations, and you just don't mess with those. Like when I thought I might want to wear my favourite black dress. It's not that it's illegal or anything, it's just Too Hard to think about what everyone else will think.
So!
We are still having balloons!
Things not yet accomplished:
1. A dress to be married in and to carry the weight of everyone's expectations and make me feel beeeeoootiful and also warm in the late autumn weather. Not too shiny.
2. Some sort of decoration plan - apart from balloons, some tablecloths or something, and flowers, somewhere. Lanterns? Mega-origami?
3. Rings to be married with. The alternative would be to exchange ratties. Whee!
4. Figuring out the actual ceremony, writing vows, etc. (Eek!)
5. Something for Bear to wear. Also not too shiny.
6. Possibly a photographer? Bear and I are grappling with the idea of paying such much money for snappy photo taking, but I am warming up to the idea. These guys are totally top of the list at the moment. They have the best online gallery! Plus they sound kinda sweet too. Everyone cross fingers that we can actually afford them! *cross*
7. A case of nice red wine. I think something drinkable. Not too heavy. Any recommendations? I like shiraz, I think.
8. A supply of sparkling bubbly. Would also appreciate recommendations for this.
9. Tables and chairs - need to sort out hire and delivery.
10. Cake! Decide on what and how many cakes we can justify buying. Yum!
11. ...
I think that's it.
*phew*
Despite all insistence that we are not having a "wedding" but just a party that happens to have a marriage ceremony in the middle, no one believes us. Also, it appears that other people have expectations, which are fair enough and which one can give or take, because they love you anyway, but then I realised that there are also Expectations, and you just don't mess with those. Like when I thought I might want to wear my favourite black dress. It's not that it's illegal or anything, it's just Too Hard to think about what everyone else will think.
So!
We are still having balloons!
Things not yet accomplished:
1. A dress to be married in and to carry the weight of everyone's expectations and make me feel beeeeoootiful and also warm in the late autumn weather. Not too shiny.
2. Some sort of decoration plan - apart from balloons, some tablecloths or something, and flowers, somewhere. Lanterns? Mega-origami?
3. Rings to be married with. The alternative would be to exchange ratties. Whee!
4. Figuring out the actual ceremony, writing vows, etc. (Eek!)
5. Something for Bear to wear. Also not too shiny.
6. Possibly a photographer? Bear and I are grappling with the idea of paying such much money for snappy photo taking, but I am warming up to the idea. These guys are totally top of the list at the moment. They have the best online gallery! Plus they sound kinda sweet too. Everyone cross fingers that we can actually afford them! *cross*
7. A case of nice red wine. I think something drinkable. Not too heavy. Any recommendations? I like shiraz, I think.
8. A supply of sparkling bubbly. Would also appreciate recommendations for this.
9. Tables and chairs - need to sort out hire and delivery.
10. Cake! Decide on what and how many cakes we can justify buying. Yum!
11. ...
I think that's it.
*phew*
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Ratties doing rattie things
An excellent video with pet ratties doing rattie things. And so many ratties! Whee!
You like belly kisses? Yes I do!
You like belly kisses? Yes I do!
"In Bed" photo
I thought this photo (printed screen from this Washington Post gallery) was extraordinary.
It's a photo taken by Thomas Coex, of a sculpture exhibit by Ron Mueck.
via Neil Gaiman's blog
It's a photo taken by Thomas Coex, of a sculpture exhibit by Ron Mueck.
via Neil Gaiman's blog
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Monty & Bubba
The stunningly gorgeous Monty, sitting on my old RGS jumper. In the background is Bubba, one of our gang of Ikea ratties.
A minute or so later, Monty, being alpha rattie and a generally all round nice guy, decides to groom Bubba, even though Bubba is kinda squashy and... quiet. Oh well, he reckons, I'll just give him a once over, just in case.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Lane Cove Park photos
Some pictures that Bear took, from our surveying excursion to Lane Cove River National Park, where our marrying-party-thing will be held later this year.
Duckies. A male and a female, out for a walk along the riverside. Awww..
The Lane Cove river.
Er... The bit on the other side of the river.
Yours truly, trying to figure out how to put up a tent in the catering area if it rains.
The eyormous lizard that came to say hello, and ate half a raspberry tartlet! Before a currawong stole the rest! Excitement! Drama! Biscuits!
Duckies. A male and a female, out for a walk along the riverside. Awww..
The Lane Cove river.
Er... The bit on the other side of the river.
Yours truly, trying to figure out how to put up a tent in the catering area if it rains.
The eyormous lizard that came to say hello, and ate half a raspberry tartlet! Before a currawong stole the rest! Excitement! Drama! Biscuits!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
