Shoes, Ships, and Sealing Wax

Duck duck goose

It has been cool and very rainy here. "Nice day, if you're a duck," my mom used to say about this kind of weather. I'm not sure about ducks, but I did see a goose on the sidewalk after work today. I actually see him around the building pretty frequently, and it concerns me, because somebody told me once that lone geese don't survive very long. Apparently they need the rest of the flock, or at least a mate, or they starve to death, because geese take turns eating and standing guard. If there isn't another goose around to watch his back, a goose won't be able to put his head down to feed.

I haven't been able to verify if this is true, but if it is, it seems really sad. I'd like to set up a little sanctuary or something where the single geese could re-flock and a form new social bonds. If nothing else, I could act as watcher while they ate. I have offered to do as much for the goose at work, but every time I talk to him he runs away, his big web feet fwap-fwap-fwaping across the parking lot...

Actually, now that I think about it, in the parking lot there is evidence that either the goose has friends or that he is eating. "Through a goose," as they say.

I will sleep better tonight, now that I've realized that.

Oh, and I was thinking about geese for a reason. I set up a little online photo gallery on this domain. Right now there's nothing on it but snapshots I took Saturday while I was playing with my new camera (most of the pictures are of geese; that's the connection), but it's another cool feature on my new site. I am like a kid in a candy store right now!

Posted by Nic at April 12, 2004 07:38 PM