Tal E. Whacker

I'll be the first to admit that rodents totally freak me out. Yet, I think hedgehogs are super cute.

For a short period of time during college I had decided I wanted a pet hedgehog because I found them so adorable. My wonderful roommate of all four years of college, knowing my fear of rodents, set out to change my mind and save me discomfort when I realized they are rodents on my own. She sat me down and made me watch hedgehog videos with her on Youtube until I realized their rodent-ness and decided a hedgehog wasn't the right pet for me.

Fast forward most of a year. Tall Dark and Nerdy and I somehow get on the subject of hedgehogs and how absolutely awesome we both find them. We both talk a little bit about how they could be a really fun pet.

The next day, I get a text from my mom with a picture of her classroom's new pet, Tal E. Whacker (the name is a play on the word "tallywacker," which FFA members use to refer to the zipper pull on official dress jackets).

I had to wait several months to meet this little guy, until I went back to SD to visit my family. He was pretty cute. Although, when he curls up on his side and I can see his little belly and feet, he's a little too rodent-y for my taste. Just keep him on his feet, though, and he's the best!



Love and Hedgehugs

I saw the cutest window display at a stationery store.

My mom's class has recently gotten a hedgehog, which has prompted me to remember the time about a year ago when I really wanted a hedgehog, as well as many conversations with Tall, Dark, and Nerdy about how cute we both think they are.  Then, of course, my mom tells me she thinks they're illegal in the state of CA, so all we can do is dream, which is probably a good thing!

When I saw this window display, I was excited to see that apparently everyone else is feeling the hedgehog love these days, too!