So today I woke up and promptly took my dogs to have their morning pee. ( I know you're all "what??? a rat with pet dogs???!!!" - that is the least upsetting and shocking fact about my rat-dom so I am doing YOU dear reader a favour - gradual, y'know) Anyramblestoomuch, whilst my doggies were peeing a human neighbor and her young offspring (only the adult was verbally assulting your rat writer) objected to the off-the-leash ways of one of my dogs, mind-you she my dog was in OUR yard. I can't fault her emotional reaction, I've learned to try to empathize with humans who are fearful of dogs, I wish humans would try to empathize with rats that are fearful of everything...as a response to my stammering apolagies I got a big rat earful that contained such gems as "that's not the way we live here" and "people like you" repeatedly. I was also accused of doing many things that this rat and this rats dependents would never do.
It made me sad as I realized yet again, that not everyone is acepting of rats. They don't understand why a rat such as myself might not want to live in the dark dirty city, that maybe despite my rat appearences I need green space and light and quiet. To that I say "it's not yours". It's not mine either but I'm willing to share it. I am willing to put my dog companions on chains so that you may feel safe in our public places. I am willing to talk with you about the things I may or may not do in the hopes that we can be tolerant and not fearful or dis-trusting of one another. I am not willing to conform to what you want me to be in order to feel that your neighborhood is some how better than. Your neighbor is a rat. That is that.
In light of this altercation I took stock of the aesthetic appearences of my dwelling, insecure much? Why yes, I am. I saw that the box spring I couldn't fit into the upstairs level of my new home is still just sitting there. Apparently no-one on freecycle wanted it. Then I got to thinking about what you could do with an old boxspring, well apparently I am not the only one.
Boxspring trellis' for the garden:
http://members.cox.net/nonacook/
Boxspring Shelves:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Book-Frame--Recycle-a-Mattress-Box-Frame-into-a-B/
At this point in time I have removed the fabric, as well as the main piece of wood that ran along the centre. What's left was the fabric, mattress like material - not sure what I can do with that. Also, the liner material that is similar to a wool disaster blanket but seems to be much more durable. I will be rolling this into several 2 1/2 feet in length and 4 inch in diameter bindles. The purpose of these is to push/stuff /kick them against the bottoms of the doors that are letting cold air in. The gaps beneath the doors are wonky in size and level making it difficult to put plastic seals on, we don't want to replace the doors themselves (they are gorgeous old wood doors) and will not be needing the extra insulation in the summer months. Also they need to be moblie, as they are moved often - this house is the home to 6 and 5 pets.
Now, onto the boxspring structure...fence? Workshop shelf? Storage unit/ wall??? We'll see, hopefully I will put pictures up soon of the project and it's various stages.
Be good, okay? Okay.
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I too have been verbally accosted in suburbia. I spent a lot of wasted time thinking that I was somehow to blame for some silly infraction of all the "rules" of suburban living but have come to the assertion at this older age that I find myself at...that human beings(not all) spend a great deal of energy worrying and stressing about matters that are really quite frankly a load of shit and really don't make a grain of sense in the very large universe that we find ourselves in. I too have been viewed as a "rat"(I would prefer to be a wiener dog) within society but I don't care anymore what others think because it has taken me almost 50 yrs. to figure out who I am and I'm pretty ok with that...I'm not perfect but I'm ok when it comes to the human species(again I would prefer to be a 4 legged furry creature as they make more sense to me). So my point is Ms. Rat...I think you're pretty ok too and the intolerant neighbor is really the one with the problem. Long live Rats in Suburbia!!!! It takes a brave Rat to do so:)) And please post the boxspring in progress as I have a bathtub in my backyard that makes a perfect flower planter!
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