So not important...so on my mind.

I think there should be a white house hedgehog.

The Obama family should definitely get their dog, and I will stand by any dog they choose. I hear the goldendoodle is up there on their list, good for them. But in the spirit of change and ushering in a new era, I think they should introduce a new species to the west wing. Thus, I say, they need a hedgehog.










Let's look at the advantages here:

1. Hedgehogs are cute. You can't see one and be in a bad mood.

2. They are both cuddly and prickly, much like leaders should be: tender and warm-hearted toward the nation they are leading, protective and vigilant against potential enemies.

3. Unlike other spined animals, their quills are not barbed or poisonous. This means they are OK in the hands of both children and foreign dignitaries.

4. Hedgehogs are nocturnal. Meet the new night watchman on the beat.

5. They interact well with other pets in the house.

6. Some people use them as natural pest control in their gardens. Meet the new gardener.

7. Did I mention cute already??

Michigan, I've let you down...

For the last couple weeks now, I've been fighting it. But the time has come to admit the truth:

I am a weather wimp.

I came to California, laughing at all those who say "oh yes, it gets cold here". I sneered at people who said "We get snow....on the mountains". I'm sorry, do you scrape it off your car every morning? Drive through it 5 months of the year? No? Oh, well then, you have NO IDEA what snow really is! Clearly these people are all spoiled rotten by the weather and just don't know it.

I woke up a couple weeks ago, smacked the alarm clock, got ready for school amid the chaos of my two 16 pound cats, and stumbled out the door.

Cold.

Hmmm...that can't be right.

Went to school, parked, and walked to my room quickly.

Cold.

Next day, same morning routine.

COLD!!

It's got to be 30 degrees outside. Why did I leave my coats in Michigan? I should have my parents send my winter gear over, this is clearly only the beginning.

A hasty check of weather.com confirms what I feared. Actual temp. on those mornings: about 60 degrees.


I'm sorry Michigan, I thought I was stronger.