I am the anti-cupid

As I was working today, I came across two frisky little adolescent squirrels (this is not a metaphor, people--I'm talking about the furry little rodentish creatures) playing in a park up the canyon. One of the squirrels, we'll call him Boris, was playfully but persistently pursuing the other, we'll call her Natasha. While observing Boris and Natasha, I was on a mule, driving on an upwardly sloped trail, parallel to our fluffy tailed amours. I was driving slowly and carefully observing so as not to take my eye off, have them suddenly swerve into my path, and die a gruesomely passionate death in each other's tiny, tiny arms.

Natasha, though, was a bit reticent. She didn't want to be caught and may have been a bit annoyed with Boris. I find squirrel flirting very difficult to interpret. Suddenly, she darted out in front of my wheels, crossed the road, and didn't look back. Boris was just far enough behind to have to stop in order to save his own lusty life. He sat up on his hind legs, looked longingly toward Natasha bounding up the stream then, I kid you not, gave me the stink eye.

I got news for him, though. Natasha was having none of it. He needs to slow his roll and let her really get to know him, stop pressuring her and let the relationship develop organically.

I may be anthropomorphizing here.

They were awfully cute squirrels, though. And although winter is coming, there's still plenty of time for Boris to make a solid case for love. I may have thwarted his clumsy pursuit today, but if he has the heart and the will to court his lady squirrel, love will surely triumph. Good luck, Boris. And Natasha, heaven help ya, girl.

Last, sort of related thing. As I was searching for illustrations to accompany this post (which, by the way, I think probably actually show squirrels fighting or something, but whatever), I found this little dollop of awesomeness:

I also found pictures of squirrels copulating, but I won't post those. Not that there's anything wrong with squirrel intercourse. It just seems a little soon for Boris and Natasha and I don't want them getting any ideas.

And now, it is time for me to go to sleep because I have to be to work in 6 and a half hours. And I'm so tired, I just wrote a short paragraph about squirrel porn. Blurgh. 'Night.