Month: February 2012

It happened the Wednesday before last, following a mercifully short decline. I found him in the typical dead rodent pose. He was still limber when I found him, unlike Kurt who was stiff as a board.

I think he had a urinary tract infection judging from the foul-smelling pus that came out from the opening to the sheath surrounding his weird little penis, which I saw once when he took it out for grooming. I think this infection may have been the cause of his decline or an effect of general old age and senescence – maybe he just wasn’t able to resist infection since he was so elderly.

When I got him they told me he was at least 2.1 years old. He lived with me for more than a year, making him about three and a half, which is pretty good. He stayed very active and well-groomed up until the end and ate a variety of foods and had a good social life.

I remember when I first got him I thought he was a little slow but he quickly perked up. He was part of a trio of brothers and I chose him because, being all brown, he looked the most like a street rat. His successor Hans is much lighter, which agrees with his Germanic name. Both of Carl’s brothers were adopted quickly thereafter. I wonder where they are now. Now his only companions are a loaf of bread and the two other dead rodents in my freezer. I am thinking of how to pose them – maybe an all-rodent interpretation of the battle at Marathon? I don’t know. Maybe the squirrel can be the Persian king and the two rats the Spartans. Or maybe an imaginary colloquy between Kurt Vonnegut and Carl Sagan, their namesakes, with the squirrel as moderator. Something normal like that. I need some borax though. Hopefully Kurt is not freezer burned.

Dear Council Vice President Robert Lilligren,

As a resident of Ward 6, Stevens Square neighborhood, I would like to thank you for insisting on a citywide referendum on the proposed Vikings stadium in Minneapolis. By bringing this issue before the people you are defending the spirit of the city’s charter and the will of the people.

Most of my friends and family in Minneapolis agree with me in believing that huge amounts public money should not be put in the pockets of a major corporation such as the NFL and the wealthy owners associated with it. As a working student with increasing debt, I am personally upset with the idea of helping to pay for a stadium when I will not even be able to afford tickets to games there. I believe the contribution of the Vikings to Minnesota’s economy and culture is minimal compared to things like natural resources and higher education, both of which are losing support in the current economy.

By opposing bypassing the charter, you are doing your job of defending trust in government and respect for Minneapolis taxpayers.

Thanks again,

Isaac Hanson

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