Surprising Texts

Carrie tried to call me during wrestling practice Thursday. Then she texted me:

My wife was near panicked when she found the hamster. She acted quickly and felt horrible for the little thing.

I checked in after practice, picked up Shane, and drove home. I was on autopilot. I opened the garage door and backed in.

I thought it was very weird when I opened my car door. It stopped before it swung open as far as I expected. The hamster cage was in the way. I got out and noticed there was a hand towel under the Prius...

I didn't see any blood, but I didn't check for hamster mooshed up in my tire tread either. The little one is either dead or running wild somewhere. Evidence hints at freedom....for now. The neighbor's cat is a very good hunter.

And thus, the era of hamsters ended unexpectedly.

I told Shane that we let her go free outside for Christmas. Whatever happened after Carrie put her outside and I opened the garage door is a mystery.

Hamster Update

One of our hamsters killed her roommate. Things have been quiet since, but there's not any other potential victims either. There was plenty of food in the bowl then; There was not any food in the bowl today when Shane and I checked in.

The hamster food was spilled in front of the cage. Bucket's the most likely culprit. Shane and I sprinkled some seeds in. The homicidal maniac stuffed her face while a pair of cats and a pair of boys watched from outside her cage.

I can make an astounding number of parallels from this to the Hunger Games. Can you?

Friday Night Visit

Shane and I went south to visit Kim and Ryan Friday. Carrie went to a farewell happy hour in her honor from her old office.

We weren't in the house more than 10 minutes when Kim took Shane to see their hamsters. We spent the next half of our house-call in the rodent room.

Ryan was nice (and brave) enough to let Shane hold Lil' Bob. There were no casualties.

Shane loved holding the hamsters. Look how intent and focused his face is in the pictures.

Of course, he kept trying to dismantle the cage from that point onward. He learned how to open the door after observing Ryan, too. I bet he wakes up tomorrow morning and asks to go hold our hamsters.

After hamster time, Ryan pulled out a surprise. Ryan's mom read The Biggest Pumpkin Ever to him when he was small and he wanted to carry on the tradition. He read to both his younger classes at school and to Shane.

I've taken to calling Ryan and Kim Uncle Ryan and Aunt Kim around Shane. I don't really know or care what the appropriate term is for a mother's cousin. They're close enough and they're family. Shane's an only child, but I want him to know he's connected into a much larger web than just Carrie and I.

Kim's boys didn't seem to remember Shane with any fear or trepidation. Whether they're friendly or stupid depends on who you ask! 

We finished off the night by going out for burgers at Red Robin. Carrie was already asleep by the time Shane and I came home. He's sleeping soundly, full of fries as I type.

Hamster Surprise

In case the previous pictures weren't enough, we know have two robos hamsters. I don't know their names. Shane re-designates them each time I ask.

Another Carrie Surprise

Guess what I found when I came home from work today.

I did not see this one coming.