You gotta love Chicago. Every year, when the warm weather comes along and the temperatures spike--so does the murder rate. This past weekend was no exception--we broke all records for high temps and....well...murders.
I love the afternoon guy on the radio, he was talking about how ridiculous it was that people kill each other when it's warm. And while I can't do his bit justice, I'll just tell you that he was right on when he said "This is stabbin' weather!" Yep. Like knives don't go in as easy when it's cold? Sheesh. People are idiots, aren't they?
So, now I start my day with that thought...."This is stabbin' weather!" And it makes me laugh. And a little bit nervous.
Along with all those stabbin's, I've got the frogs on my mind this week. While it's all lovely-like outside, it's just a bit too early for the frogs. I think they are all warmed up and looking for food--and I'm really hoping the bugs have warmed up and come out of hiding too. If we are gonna do this Spring thing so early, then, let's get on with it!
This whole frog death thing has got me in a tizzy too. After I was all sad and had a nice funeral for the frog friend the other day, I went out later to find all 4 of my frogs sitting there looking at me like "What the hell was that?" Yeah,well, I don't know.
So, there I was, all boo-hooing and looking some icky 'ole frog over to figure out how and why it died.....and it's not even my frog??? Criminy. I still don't know what the heck killed the thing.
There is lots I don't know about frogs, because apparently folks don't do a lot of research on LIVE frogs--they just dissect them in grade school to see their insides. But why don't we study how they live and die?? I can't find much info on this stuff, so I'm left to my own accord on this.
With what little I do know, I know that they don't typically die, bloat, and float at the surface of the water. Frogs sink and die. Period. You don't find them floating...ever.
Well...until this weekend.
So, now I'm left with a bloated frog with his tongue out--and no cause of death. No wounds, no marks, no frog blood. I'm left with two conclusions: 1) This was a visiting male and there was an all-out frog battle for territory or 2) This guy came along and tried to eat a bird and died in the process. (There were feathers in the water). I have a third theory that my neighbor tossed a dead frog in my pond, but I don't think she throws that well.
So, I dunno. My frogs are all accounted for--including my big male who croaks me to sleep each night. I have absolutely no idea who the carcass was or how he died. I have all kinds of theories....
but, remember.....it's stabbin' weather.
19 comments:
Maybe the frogs should be wearing coats so the knives won't go in as easily.
Speaking of coats . . . it's not frogs croaking (pun in ten did) around here so much as it is coyotes conversing with the moon and each other.
I think he was murdered. After all, it is stabbin' weather. Maybe he was poisoned by a rival.
Glad to hear all your guys are accounted for but that is odd. Maybe he was dropped by another creature?
Rejoice! The frogs are alive
and so they will thrive
If the skeeters get busy.
And the peripatetic
Sorely pathetic
Stranger honored, is buried.
A few days I noticed a headline on my Twitter feed, "4 Dead in 4 Hours in Camden". Now Camden is bad (as is Philly)...but even that is excessive.
Your pond has become a destination for the local frog population - The Hotel Amphibian - check-in, croak out (or something like that)...Oh wait how about "The Croak Room"...a little bar and bistro for the green population...
Your right about the warm weather. All the killing starts the first warm weekend of the spring in Milwaukee too.
I'm gonna remember
It's stabbin' weather - might apply around my house too.
Wow...kind of a relieve, but not really. And you would think we'd know more about frogs, seeing as how much info is known about odder and less common animals.
Regarding stabbing weather, I'm sure good ole' B-More is comparable to Chi-town on this. I remember we had a shooting at the 4th of July downtown fireworks display last year. A kid was killed. Seriously?? I know there are reasons behind the statistics, but come on!
Mystery frogs?!
Oh noes!
Maybe your yard is becoming the place that frogs go to die because they get a decent burial.
Well, hot weather makes me cranky too! If it's over 90, you should probably keep me away from knives.
Maybe a bird killed it somewhere else and dropped it?
Oh noes, not the image of the unrolled frog tongue in my head again!!
Diane--Maybe they shouldn't be carrying knives at all. I'm wondering where they hide them.
Chuck--OOhhh, that's creepy/cool. I'll bet it is eerie to hear at night. I'll take my frogs, thank you.
Anne--I have no idea! And it's driving me nuts not to know. I stopped at an autopsy.
DJ--Or I had 5 frogs and didn't know it. I hate mysteries. I really do.
Vanilla--Only you can write verse for a froggy funeral. :)
Silver--See? Stabbin' weather.
Grace--I like that. But I wish they would leave before they die. I can't do this "death" thing all the time.
Winnie--I kinda like that saying, you know. I love Garry Meier in the afternoons on WGN. I think you can get that in Milwaukee, can't you?
Nancy--Oh yeah, fireworks are a given for crime here too. What is with that?? Yeah, I'm not sure if I had 5 frogs and I just didn't see him...I don't know. But it is driving me NUTS. I go away for one night and that's what happens. Sheesh.
Pricilla--Oh, criminy. That's all I need. I cry for everything too--so they've got built in mourners!
Sharkey--I wondered that too. But why would they drop it? I would think one gulp and he'd be a goner. I'm thinking maybe I had 5 frogs and he only came out at night??? It's driving me crazy wondering.
Daisy--I actually thought of you when I laid it on the grass to see it. That darn tongue! Blech. And it's really, really long too.
Sometimes I can get Chicago radio, sometimes I can't. It depends on where the radio is and what's around etc. If I wander down toward Kenosha more I get more Chicago reception.
Is it really appropriate during stabbing weather to have a frog "croaking" you to sleep?....lol
Glad it wasn't your frog that died but as for the weather, our heater has run all day today because it's cold and there's snow on the ground!
Winnie--Really? You don't get WGN up there? I thought that went all the way to Russia! Hahaha!
Ann--Well, I'd rather have him croaking that stabbin'!
Beaded Tail--It might have been, but I still don't know. It's weird. I can't believe you have snow again. I think I'll die if we get snow. :(
You should do an autopsy. I did one for one of my fish that croaked. I had my scalpel ready. I think the fish died of liver failure but that was a preliminary finding. If you need some help, let me know.
Simone--I thought about it for a second and I stood there checking it over in the grass. But there is a line I cannot cross when it comes to that--it's like doing that on your cat or dog. Blech. I don't want to see the insides of those I love.
Post a Comment