PXRD

“Trying to play hide and seek with my dog, but she gets just TOO EXCITED when I spot her lol”

These little guys are called Pikas, and they live in the mountains around where I am in Washington State (and other places too, obviously, but I’ve only really *seen* them here), and in these pics they are actually collecting certain types of plants during the rest of the year that they Only Eat In Winter.

Why do they collect food for winter from species that they don’t like to eat the rest of the year? Because these plants have Tannins and other stuff in them that make them taste bad/possibly even make them toxic when the Pikas eat them Fresh… so the lil guys have figured out how to store them in special little chambers in their burrows, and to let the plants *ferment* all year, like we do with dairy products or alcohol! So by the time winter rolls around, all the gross tannins and stuff have broken down from fermenting all year, and the Pikas can live on their stores of delicious home-brewed snacks all through the winter until the better-fresh stuff grows back in the spring!

My husband, pretty much the only one still allowed to go to the university to run his data experiments in a deserted building: COLLEAGUES, FRIENDS, COUNTRYMEN, give! me! your plants!

THIS SHOW IS SO PURE!

Of course I had to show the best part:

The…,.

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me: great!

scam caller: good. I’m calling because your IP address has been compromised. I’ll just need you to get in front of your computer so we can get your account fixed up.

me: okay! there is one thing I’m wondering, though

scam caller: what?

me: you really couldn’t think of a better lie?

scam caller:

me: like, my “IP address has been compromised.” How, exactly, does an IP address become “compromised”?

scam caller:

me: I was just wondering, is all

scam caller: why did you answer?

me:

me: what?

scam caller: if you knew this wasn’t a legitimate call, then why did you answer?

me: oh, I just though I would have some fun at your expense.

scam caller: what expense? talking is no expense to me.

me: well, you’re currently not accomplishing your goal

scam caller: my goal?

me: your goal of scamming my elderly grandmother. You’re not accomplishing that. I’d call that an expense.

scam caller: well, can I scam you?

me:

me: did you- did you ask if you can scam me?

scam caller: yes. can I scam you?

me, baffled: sure, you can try

scam caller: you need to get in front of your computer

me: yeah, that’s still a problem. I’m eating tater tots right now and I really don’t feel like getting up.

scam caller: okay. I will call you tomorrow morning, then.

me: I might not answer. My grandma definitely won’t.

scam caller: You answered today.

me: …touché?