Detroit

[DetroitOtherday]

Hello?

Goodnight from the UK Detroit. Stay safe.

I'd forgotten about raccoons. And skunks! It turns out they're really real and not just cartoons!

Haven't worked out whether possums (opossums?) are real or just the US version of haggis yet though.

Errr...in real life, Chipmunks are manic, fast, irritating, squeaky little shits. They get very bold if they can get to food, and quite insistent. Best to shoo them away. They are kinda cute until they get brave. One camp they were running round my wheel wells, into my bags, and almost shaking little chipmunk fists demanding crumbs from my cliff bar.

Squirrels are noisier, but less irritating.

I might have told the squirrels about a certain element on here, and told em to be wary. There are some strange things out there.

I never used to be so prudish...then realized men had fooled me into being complicit in my own abuse for their kicks. My eyes are open.

No more. No more.

Opossum are ratty, shy. Not really trouble. Skunk are worse than I can explain. Even hint of skunk is beyond awful. One passing through, at a distance. Like burning rubber. Truly rank. Weaponized stink.

Racoons are bad, and sometimes rabid.

Detroit, have you ever seen a british red squirrel? Now they are cute! I'd post a picture if I knew how, maybe someone cleverer than I will.

They are smaller than grey squirrels and only live in a few parts of the UK because they have been pushed out by greys, which were introduced years ago from America.

Huh. So Alvin and the Fucking Bastard Chipmunks isn't so far divorced from reality after all? I'm not telling DD this; she'll want one as a pet, and the cats would never forgive me.

Squirrels here are just cute, usually.

"Prudish" is up there with "sex positivity" - just another way of shaming us into abandoning the analysis. It works a treat, until you see past it. Then there's no going back. You couldn't submit to it again and stay sane.

Here's a red squirrel, Detroit.

And a page about them:

www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-and-wild-places/saving-species/red-squirrels

They're not as aggressive as our grey squirrel, which is an introduced species.

And here are lots of the cutest pictures of red squirrels ever!

twitter.com/romasars/status/1144131573605945344?s=21

I saw a red squirrel for the first time in my life last year. I was so excited. And this year I saw a wild otter for the first time. Sadly had forgotten to pack binoculars and it was a long way away.

What cute ear Tufts! Beautiful!

Sorry about the bastard grey squirrels, guys!

The greys are indeed bastards. And surprisingly large/heavy. Once had a troupe camped out in my attic. I'd just be dropping off to sleep and suddenly they'd start clog-dancing above my head. Infernal. Had to have a man with a trap come round in the end. It was either me or the squirrels.
Hope your day is skunk-free Detroit.

Thank you Lang and Fanny for posting the red squirrel stuff, one day I'll be computer literate!
Detroit, It was an rich Brit who imported the greys from the US because he thought they'd look good on his country estate! Idiot!
Is it true if you get skunked you need to bathe in tomato juice?

We have some black squirrels too (apparently just a variant of the greys). DD had one regularly in her garden at uni last year, handsome chap.

Yup, tomato juice. Only ever had to bathe my old dog. It showed how much I loved him that I didn't banish him forever. It might take some sting out of it, but doesn't really work.

We have the black squirrel, some reds. Why on Earth anyone would transport grey squirrels and not Chipmunks....mystery.

I very rarely see skunk.

Beaver are cute. In fact, I'm just off on my walk, maybe I can take pics.

The wildest of the wildlife is seen in Walmart. Truly disturbing.

On the road

Ill prob sleep in a parking lot.

Too many drunks. Not safe.

Well, fuck.

Rules of the road for single women.

1. when men tell you who they are, and invade your space, better to give em space and split. Yuck.

I've got a safer place for one night. Even managed a shower.

I'd ask what happened, Detroit, but I can guess.

I'll join you in a rousing cheer in honour of showers though.

Good British morning, Detroit.

I hope you stay safe tonight. Make the most of the shower.

Hope your safe place stays safe Detroit.
As an aside, on holiday in New England many years ago I saw in the middle of the road a dead skunk. For the rest of the holiday (and now) all I heard in my head was the song "dead skunk in the middle of the road, stinking to high heaven"
I hate ear worms :(

When I lived in Pennsylvania, there was a 4-way stop near us which always smelled of skunk. Though in that context maybe sometimes it was burnt rubber.

Good morning, sisters!

Not sure if there are places here today, but I've been here before, it's less pretty, less private, and much safer. Unfortunately it's also more expensive, but for a few nights it's ok.

I hadn't been able to shower for 6 days. It was glorious. I didn't even wait for morning. Hot water. I make do with wet wipes, washing hair with cold water once in a while. I try not to care too much, and stay as nonoffensive as possible.

A nasty dude thought it was ok to comment on my physical appearance, and how I could appear more attractive. I let it go once. He repeated it over and over. Got a nasty tone. I really couldn't care less if my hair displeases him. Or my skinniness. Or how I could still be attractive to him and other men. My life is not improved by those things. To my shame he made me feel a prick of sadness, hurt. I know I don't look great. I know I look old and dischevelled. It hurt that anyone would seek me out. Insist on talking to me, just to insult me.

Not nice, huh. It also was leering and creepy, and I totally felt unsafe being around him. So I left.

Maybe a little family of skunk lived by the crossing? Skunk are quite cute...they just stink. There are places you smell hint of skunk.

Porcupines are lovely. Some dogs just don't learn, though. Have you ever seen sad doggies who try and take them on? I can't work out how to put pics in posts.

Try the paperclip under the text box?

Hi Detroit and all FWR!

Thanks to all for your kind wishes and concerns.

So far, we are having normal beautiful FL weather - 87 degrees blue skies, bright sun, heavy breezes... BUT it is quite ominous with the barometric pressure changes as creatures are quiet (hiding or gone). We haven't seen a bird (of which I usually see many types & sizes every day, no bats were seen last night and our owls were silent (or gone). Even the squirrels are nowhere to be found. Also no coyote sightings in our neighborhood since Sunday (usually several sightings of a certain pack each week). All of this is normal when a big hurricane approaches but some of the beauty is stripped from this paradise when the creatures cease to serenade the land with their voices.

Detroit, hoping your day is going well. That guy that insulted you is a shitbag - sorry you had to deal with him.

And my dear, you know what looks good? Being alive, being free of the prison you previously inhabited, being a survivor, being an indomitable and formidable woman looks good. Anyone that can't see you as you are can get bent.

Sending you hugs and optimistic energy for your quest to find a place to call your own. I'll check in again soon. XX

Hope you're both safe and well. This is my local wildlife: