Close encounter of the furred kind
Last March, I did a report on UFOs (Unidentified Furry Objects) which described a number of critters who call Alameda their home. I had met some of them on my late-night walks, but there were a few that I had not encountered—at least not until Tuesday night. While walking past the picket fenced yard on Chestnut Avenue, I caught the scent of a UFO that I could not identify, but it supercharged my chase reflex. My human companion (HC) knew something was up, because my ears were up and my head was on a swivel. I guess he has learned to read my body language, because he instantly put me on a really short leash and also started scanning.
We must have identified the UFO at the same exact time, because as I triangulated the exact location of the scent (behind the picket fence) and started to lunge between the pickets, he pulled the leash in the opposite direction, yelled “Holy 💩!” and whiplashed me down the street. It wasn’t until we got to the corner that he stopped and said, “We dodged a bullet, Mouf.” I don’t know what I smelled, but he said he saw a black furry animal with a white stripe down its back.
February 2 was Groundhog Day, and this is the day when Punxsutawney Phil from Pennsylvania comes out of his burrow to predict how many more days of winter we can expect. If he sees his shadow, then there is supposed to be six more weeks of winter. Well, the weather on the east coast is nothing like the west coast. So, on that day, I performed the equivalent of “coming out of a burrow” by getting out of my California King bed and heading out the door for my morning walk. Well, both of us saw our shadows, so it looks like six more weeks of winter.
February 14 is Valentine’s Day in the human companion world, and while not a big holiday for house decorations, there were a few out there. Heck, even Starbucks took advantage of the marketing opportunity with a holiday cake pop.
In the past, I have devoted an entire report to Winter Bloomers. No, not the Victorian era underwear. I am referring to plants that flower in the winter.
This time of year, bulbs are bursting and plants are propagating. I really enjoyed the bright color and delicateness of the Hyacinth I found on Central Avenue.
On my way back from the FAAS shelter after my Gotcha Day party, I walked by the beautiful Central Electric Substation building that belongs to the City of Alameda. It doesn’t look like it’s being used for anything. Does anyone know the story of this building and has anyone suggested a use for it?
It had been a while since I visited the site of the new Alameda High School Pool complex to see how it was progressing. You all need to stop by the entrance on Oak Street and see the project. The planned pool here is big, but it isn’t the big one that you can just barely see in the back.
In closing out this week’s report, I want to share a picture of what I call “Street Cycling.” Someone took the time to put a really nice coat on a hanger and then display it on one of the street trees along Central Avenue. You just gotta love Alameda.
Happy Presidents Day!
Mouf, Roving Reporter
Bear’s-Eye View of Alameda
Mouf and his human companion can be reached via [email protected]. Their stories are collected at AlamedaPost.com/Jeff-Cambra/. All photos and videos by Jeff Cambra.
