Wally’s Monthly Book Review: Flowers for Algernon

So I decided to step outside my comfort zone and try a book review for this month. So I sank my teeth into Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes, and when I was done chewing it up a bit, got right to reading it.

Wow! This is something, let me tell you! So it’s a novel published in 1966 about a mentally retarded 32 year old man named Charlie Gordon who is selected for a scientific experiment designed to increase his intelligence. Different scientists and even a romantic interest character come into play, but my favorite character was by far Algernon- a lab mouse who was given the same drug as Charlie to increase intelligence. During the experiment, Charlie and Algernon are tested on different brain teaser puzzles, increasing in difficulty as the drug progresses. Algernon gets pretty smart, let me tell you! I think I really like the bond that Charlie and Algernon develop as they both get more intelligent, shows you humans that us animals are way more than just good looks! Now I won’t spoil the ending, but it was very good (and emotional, I may have shed a bunny tear or two). It’s the type of book that makes ya think, and I think more humans could use that type of entertainment in their lives.

Now I would offer my copy of the book to anyone interested, but unfortunately, it is slightly chewed apart. So might I recommend you visit the library- from what my human has said, it is not only excellent for socializing, but apparently they have one or two books you can look at too!

Hop long, hop often,

Wally

(I Can’t Get No) Relaxation

At the end of the semester I notice a lot of humans getting nervous about “finals”- which I can see why, that sounds so damn serious. Now, I can’t pretend I understand what these finals really are (from what I can tell they seem to be very long blog posts which get harshly “graded”), but I think I can help with some tips about feeling a bit more relaxed and stress free!

1. Sleep is good. I loooove to sleep, and I always feel way more relaxed after a good nap. All nighters are tempting, but they just make everyone crankier in the end.
2. Food is good. Eating good food is even better. My favorite snacks are Doritos and popcorn, but I have a theory that eating healthier (like lettuce and more lettuce) makes you feel better…I might get a paper published about it
3. Hop around with friends. Even if you still have a lot of work to do, a 5 minute carrot break with friends can help ease your stress a bit
4. Pet furry friends like me! I heard rumors that sometimes they have dogs visit campus, and even if you have a furry friend at home that will work- science and stuff proves it. I personally love playing with cats (though they often seem frightened by my ears and lack of a tail…)
5. Just breath! Twitch that nose, take in some good ol’ oxygen, and think some peaceful thoughts for a few seconds.

I hope my tips help, and just in case they don’t, here’s a last resort picture of me wearing a hamster friend like a pair of ear muffs to make you smile!

Hop long, hop often,

Wally

Movin’ Out (Wally’s Song)

My human graduates next Saturday, which means I’ll be leaving the only home I’ve ever known. I guess I’m sad…it’s got a lot of great molding to chew on, and the one couch let’s me get a great view out the window. So overall, it’s a pretty great place!

She started packing up her clothing last night, so I tried to foil that plan by chewing on her duffel bags, but she just moved them out of my way, so that plan didn’t really work. My next plan of attack will be any moving boxes she tries to use- I can annihilate one of those in 15 minutes easily. No boxes, no packing!

Now I know, she technically can’t live there forever, but I never said I would move! My name isn’t on the lease (that I may or may not have chewed up) so I don’t have to commit to leaving. But my human keeps insisting that the new house will be just as good…but I dunno. How is a simple bun like my supposed to pick up my life and start fresh somewhere else? All my friends are here, and my favorite spot on the lawn is here! I’m definitely going to need to keep forming plans to ruin her packing…we will leave this house over my fluffy dead body!

FredFest 2k15: The Good, The Bad, and The Furry

In one of my earlier posts, I wrote about Fredonia canceling FredFest activities. And I think we all know that that did absolutely nothing to keep the off campus FredFest activities from hopping. Block parties, two story funnels, all the usual tricks- I even enjoyed a beer!

Or a box of wine…

But hey, it’s all in the spirit of FredFest, am I right? So anyway, it seems like all went decently- though I did hear that a ton of people were humping like me in Sunny’s- and I think that’s pretty cool. While I was chewing up newspapers earlier, I even noticed an article about it:

http://www.observertoday.com/page/content.detail/id/612389.html

Pretty interesting read in my opinion, because 1- it didn’t even seem that negative, and 2- I’m a rabbit, so I was just impressed I could read that well.

So I think overall, it seems like people had a decent weekend- nothing too ugly has come to the surface [yet], and hopefully nothing will…maybe if the college humans can keep up the same type of respect that they seemed to show the police in the article, FredFest isn’t doomed forever! Go humans!

Hop long, hop often, and cheers!

Wally

Can Anbody Find Me SomeBunny to Love?

Well too late! I already did!

I met my special somebun over spring break, while journeying through Maryland with my human. One look and a few quick humps later, I knew she was the one for me, and we cuddled all night long:

How cute are we? Now, obviously it’s quite the long distance relationship, but I really think we’ve found a way to make it work. I’ve found some key points to making the distance work:

1. Carrot bouquets go a long way. Or celery bouquets. Any food bouquet really…Nothing makes someone feel special like a bouquet of her favorite food!
2. Communication is key- I’ve found that when I’m not busy chewing on my human’s phone or computer keys, these crazy objects are actually great for staying in contact.
3. Still enjoy your own lives! Spend time with the friends you do have- I’ve got a house full of sorority girls who love letting me hop around and hanging out with me, and it’s the best life a bun can live.

Now not everyone is as lucky as me to fall in love at first hump, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen! Stay optimistic, hop around to different places, and meet everyone you can 🙂

Hop long, hop often,

Wally

Sam Simon: A Hero to Furry Friends Everywhere

Time to talk about something positive that restores my faith in humans! Sam Simon, the co-creator of the show The Simpsons, left his $100 million fortune to PETA, Save the Children, and his own foundation- the Sam Simon Foundation- which focuses on animal welfare and feeding the hungry. Now as both an animal and one who likes to eat, I fully support this idea!

Simon was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer in 2012, and passed away this past Sunday, leaving his fortune to continue to help as many in need as it could.Imagine if more well-off people did this, charities would do so well! I even included PETA’s tribute to Simon in this post, because well, I like PETA and what they stand for, and it’s a pretty great tribute.

Hopefully the world doesn’t look over Simon in favor of Matt Groening and James Brooks, because it really would be a shame for such a fantastic act by a great man to go mostly unnoticed…

FredFest Gets Thumped Out of Fredonia

FredFest, also briefly known as FrefFest in the spring of 2014. Apparently it’s been a huge big thing for Fredonia college students since the 1980’s, and after recent years of controversy, the 2015 FredFest was canceled in February.

Naturally, the vast majority of the college humans are pretty upset about this, because FredFest was really the only party weekend that the college had. But the problem remains that “Over the last three years on FRED Fest weekend, there have been more than 100 citations in the village, numerous campus conduct cases, injuries, and reported sexual assaults” (copy and pasted from my person’s email account- David Herman’s email to the student body, Feb. 9th 2015).

I don’t know much about all these “citations” or all the problems with drinking, but the sexual assaults thing stuck out and concerns me. Now us rabbits do tend to be…frisky… but even so, when my human’s slipper isn’t in the mood, I’ll back off. And that’s why I am baffled- do humans care more about the opportunity to drink than they care about the safety of their friends and peers? Because I think that’s what the FredFest issue is really about- the drinking isn’t the problem, it’s the actions of those who drink. Obviously the campus knows it is very likely there will still be parties- college students will drink, bunnies will hop, the world will spin ‘round.

Again, it’s definitely understandable to be upset about one of the best weekends of college being canceled. But perhaps a bit of perspective will help- it may stink for the students here now, but with luck and a few years without bad incidents, FredFest could make a comeback. I don’t think the administration is just sitting back laughing manically about ruining everyone’s spring semester, I think they just have this thing where they like their students to be safe.

So I think I’ll end with this- whether or not you’re angry about FredFest being canceled, be smart about how you spend the usual FredFest weekend. A cookout with beer and carrots and friends can be a lot more fun (and safer) than a FredFest rebellion rager.

Hop long, hop often,

Wally

The Devil’s Weed is Back, and It’s Tastier than Ever

That’s right everybody- the topic today is about pot. I didn’t expect my first post to be anything political in nature, but I have a feeling that you’ll get a kick out of this…

So as my human was online, I saw her reading an article about Utah and the possibility of it becoming the 22nd state to legalize medical marijuana. At first I thought “Good for Utah! You do you!” but then something else in the article caught my eye. Apparently some “DEA” guy has a few concerns about the bill…

And it’s because of the pothead rabbit population in Utah.

Now I’ll admit, “pothead rabbits” probably weren’t the exact words out of the Mr. DEA’s mouth at the Utah Senate panel, but he definitely implied it! Supposedly, us bunnies would enjoy feasting on good ol’ country grown marijuana that had been found in the Utah mountains, which (obviously) made us stoned out of our little minds. So, the DEA is concerned about having giant flocks of stoned rabbits sitting around not remembering how to be rabbits (apparently it makes us easier prey when we forget how to run).

Okay, Mr. DEA, I see your point. But, did you ever consider a rabbit’s right to choose to be high? As far as I know, it’s not illegal for a bunny to wake and bake, just a human (who doesn’t have medical clearance in certain states). You know, us rabbits live stressful lives, especially my wild cousins who are programmed to be afraid of everything and run away all the time. Maybe they could use a day to just chill and be stoned, think about the meaning of life and who created carrots and all that. So think about that, Mr. DEA, before you go messing around with rabbits’ access to recreational veggies.

Hop long, hop often

Wally

Welcome to Wally’s World

This is a blog written primarily from the point of view of me, Wally the rabbit. I hope to offer a different perspective on most things that people see, hear about, and read, while also being entertaining enough for you all to come back and look for more!

–All thoughts and opinions are strictly from the POV of a rabbit, and therefore should not be taken seriously–