Indeed, you may wonder, "what's with the title?" I'm not really known to have a "favorite" animal, however, I feel that the hamster comes pretty close (I'm not at liberty to reveal my other two "favorite" animals, lest I be forever labeled as a softy...) I've had a number of hamsters in my life (Mom tells me 5, but I'm pretty sure one or two more would be a fair guess), most notably "Pooky," who, as fate would have it, died due to a momentary lapse of reason on my part. Alas, that story is for another blog.
Back to the topic at hand. For a primer, see the link I posted at the right, called, "A Church of Squirrels?" The link will bring you to a Wikipedia page that contains a list of collective nouns for non-human mammals (Trivial Pursuit enthusiasts: read it, know it, love it.)
Take a moment to peruse and ponder this list. Is your favorite animal listed? If so, count yourself among the lucky. Walrus? Check (Dad...). Dolphin or cat? Check, check (sis...). Elephant? (Check, moy love). Squirrel? (Check...Mom's bushy-tailed rats have a church? Come on...) Flying Spaghetti Monster? Well, maybe not, but you must check out the link anyway.
So, what's with the hamster? The fuzzy critter really doesn't get a fair shake here, does it? My argument: if a fur bearing rodent can have a church, why can't a cute, cuddly teddy bear of an animal have it's OWN collective noun? (Don't you DARE write and tell me that the hamster is ALSO a rodent, I won't hear of it) Aha, now we can see the unfairness inherent in the system. I have taken liberties, admittedly, not truly knowing if hamsters indeed travel in flocks. However, somebody had to stand up for our fine, myodonta friend...and that person is me. Gods be damned, it was about time.
Now a final note...why a "flock?" Why not a kine, a passel, a prickle or a bevy? Or any one of a number of words that normal people never successfully utilize during conversation? Let's not get ridiculous, people. In the words of the great Hans Hoffman, "The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak."
Besides, "A Flock of Hamsters" was a really good 80's band with cool hair.
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1 comment:
i am of the manner of women who know how to use photoshop...hehehe
well, i don't want you all to think i completely photoshopped those. all i did was erase the roof of a house that was in the lower corner of the hand-holding pic. that's how i got it to look like it ended in my hands :)
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