Phinneus the Famous

So, yes, I know Phinneus is already famous amongst people who know me, but now he is famous to complete strangers as well! Awkward Family Pet Photos (a part of the larger Awkward Family Photos) just released a book and Phinneus is in it! I submitted an old photo of him surrounded by my plush hedghog collection and boy does he looked pissed. Here is the link. Also, Phin Master is going to be in an upcoming Hedgehog Welfare Society calendar. I don't have the link for it right now (thanks shoddy internet!) but I will try to get one up soon so that everyone can race to throw down their credit cards and buy one- it's for a good cause!

First Hedgie Post in Africa

Hello hegdehog followers! This is my first post from Botswana (although not my first blog post overall. Check out my Africa blog here). I have been keeping my eyes open for hedgies, but I haven't seen any wild one yet :( I guess this isn't really suprising as they are probably all out hiding in the bush from the intense sun. Have I mentioned that the sun is about ten times brighter and hotter than at home in the US? Well it is. I have, however, seen a stuffed hedgehog on display at the Botswana National Museum, and seen some gorgeous hedgie artwork.

I am really missing my quilly little critter! Matt has been taking excellent care of him- maybe even pampering him too much as he is getting fatter! Sometimes when we are chatting on skype Phin appears for a visit. Last time Matt was attempting to trim Phin's nails- and not being very successful- and Luis the inquisitive kitten was supervising. I miss those cozy little scenes! I miss all my critters, but luckily Matt shares airtime with the pets in Madison.

I have been spending more and more time on HHC again after a hiatus. It's great to reconnect with fellow hedgehog fanatics while I am so far away. They always make me feel better about missing Phinneus. Plus, I love looking at all the cute photos people post.

Tattoos in Botswana are not very common. I have one local friend who does have some (and they are quite tasteful and elegant) but we are definitely in the majority. Sometimes people spot my hedgie tattoo and they are pleasantly surprised. They usually smile shyly and then laugh a little. That's about all the hedgehog related news I have here in Botswana. As you can probably guess my posts will be much fewer while I am here. For news and updates check out the link above for my Africa blog. It's called There and Back Again: Africa.

Leaving Phinneus

Leaving Phinneus sucks. There, I said it. My increasingly chubby and mild mannered hedgehog seemed to be extra cute and snuggly last night when I had him out for cuddles. He knows. I cleaned his cage and washed all his bedding in preparation for his being sent home with Matt. He still needs a new bag of his Katz-n-Flocken, which I just remembered now as I type this- drat. Well I guess Matt's first hedgehog duty (after getting Phin all settled in) will be to purchase his weirdo fancy cat food.

Lucky me that I am dating someone who has the know how to set up a 24/7 live web feed of my little hedgie, and lucky for me that said boyfriend is also willing to do it. Hopefully soon I can link up the web feed to this blog so that I and any other Phin fans can keep an eye on him. Of course, what you will probably see is a lump wrapped in fleece. Occasionally the lump comes out to feed, and during the night the lump wheels.

I will certainly miss my Phinneus. The posts I make while I am in Botswana will probably be all about missing him, or thinking about the wild African hedgehogs which I just know will be lurking somewhere nearby. So, good bye for now Phinneus, you are in capable hands and I will see you in December.

DayWalker

Phinneus is such a funny creature. He is very secretive (he thinks he is, anyway) about his nighttime activities. He doesn't like for anyone to see him wheeling, he hides when the lights turn on, and he scuttles for the safety of his blankets when you catch him eating. However, lately I have caught him out and about tending to his business in the daylight. I often hear his loud crunching and when I come in to investigate he is cool as a cucumber. He still doesn't like to be caught wheeling, but maybe as his grows and changes his habits are changing too. He has grown into an extremely mild mannered and curious little hog. He rarely balls up and he is always up for rootling around and finding objects to anoint with when given the chance. His weight stays constant and in a healthy range. His appetite, while limited to only the kibble he likes and mealworms, is also healthy. Yes, Phinneus is a hog in his prime. He's just a little weirdo.

Couch Friends

In case you were wondering, hedgehogs make great couch friends. When you come home all tired and sunburnt (or cold and damp, or bruised and sore, or...whatever) it is just delightful to pull out your prickly pet and cuddle him on the couch. Maybe throw on some Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe and have some eatins' and you have a relaxing evening.

My Surprise Hedgehog Gift

Today when I came into work my boss gave me a gift which one of my extended coworkers (meaning someone who works in the same department as me, but which I never work directly with) had left for me. It was a tiny and very cute hedgehog eraser; one of the little Japanese ones which can be taken apart and then put back together. What a great way to come into work! I think my gift-giving friend had seen my hedgehog tattoo and that's how she knew I liked them.

It turns out a lot of people are hedgehog fans. For example, today Matt and I were idly browsing around a store called Fontana and one of the employees spotted my hedgehog tattoo on my arm and started telling me how much she loved hedgehogs, and that she had even gotten one for her sister as a gift. This is not the only incident where complete strangers have seen my arm and struck up a conversation. Of my four tattoos people seem most delighted and surprised (delightfully surprised that is) to see the little hedgepiggy. Even though hedgehogs are getting more and more popular they have yet to achieve the tattoo status symbol of say, and eagle or a panther or even a swallow.

Also, Phinneus is very glad to have a group of fans over at the Aurora Healthcare office where my dad works.

Hedgehog Bottle Opener

Just in case anyone wants to score a really cool hedgehog bottle opener for themselves or someone they know *cough cough*, here is one from Anthropologie! Anyone who has a trained eye for hedgehog artifacts has probably noticed an increase in the popularity of our spikey friends. Pop culture has apparently latched into the cuteness and marketability aspect of hedgehogs and come out with hedgehog themed everything. Hooray for hedgehogs! Now maybe people will stop running them over all the time...maybe.