Black bears

 Recently, the neighborhood where my woodpile base is located has been buzzing with black bear sightings.  The humans have reported through email and phone networks that  a small black bear, possibly a cub, has been sighted twice in the woods next to the community.  They haven't seen the mother yet.  The local school, where Simon attends, has canceled outside recess until more is known about the situation.  Yesterday, as I trailed behind Marmee's walk to school I overheard at least one hundred excited children speculating about what the bear must be like, and if they would get to see it.

Of course I, Agent Chi had received reports of these new neighbors well before the humans.  When the chipmunk boys have ventured into the woods with their family, I have also tagged along.  Once, they were particularly close to one of the favorite bear hide outs, the local pond.  I found myself doing  a little bodyguard work on that occasion.

First, I tried to get the family to turn back.  I kept sending hypnotic glances towards the children, to make sure they whined a lot about walking.  It must have been very effective because the boys complained a lot of the time.  Still, the mother and her parents persisted in their pursuit of the pond.

I scrambled ahead to serve as a distraction to the bears.  Climbing a tree I began pelting them with acorns.  Quickly irritated, the chase was on.  My agility and skill allowed me to quickly lead them away from the family while I remained just out of reach.  My mission was successful, though I fear I may have created a new enemy.

Saturday, the family entertained guests, and was eating ribs and cherry pie on the back porch.  I was concerned the bears,  whom were still unknown to the humans, would be lured near with the smell.  As I stood guard I was startled and ready to fight when I saw the human children about to pet the bear cub!  I raced forward, about to reveal my secret identity, when I froze in my steps and realized it was only a friendly black dog the dinner guests had brought along.

A Facebook photo of the dog, attained from Marmee's friend

 Words cannot express the relief I felt.  I am keeping a close eye on this family until I know more about these bears.  I hope to form  an alliance with them to ensure the safety of these humans. If I can  find a good beehive to show the bears I think this will help make amends after the acorn incident.  Look for an update on this local situation in future reports. 

To Be List

Today the mother and children were busy getting messy and painting.  The chipmunk boys each painted rocks they had collected last week with their maternal grandparents.  Marmee painted an old tile she had stored in the garage.  I thought I would share her painting as well as part of her journal I copied to add to her dossier.

From Marmee's Journal:

I have been thinking today about the recent general conference address given by Lynne G. Robbins of the seventy titled What Manner of Men and Women Ought You Be. One part that really stuck out in my mind:

"Many of us create to do lists to remind us of things we want to accomplish. But people rarely have to be lists. Why? To do’s are activities or events that can be checked off the list when done. To be, however, is never done. You can’t earn checkmarks with to be’s. I can take my wife out for a lovely evening this Friday, which is a to do. But being a good husband is not an event; it needs to be part of my nature—my character, or who I am."

"Or as a parent, when can I check a child off my list as done? We are never done being good parents. And to be good parents, one of the most important things we can teach our children is how to be more like the Savior."

As I have been creating a To Be List for myself I was reminded of President Hinckley's List of Be's: Prayerful, Humble, Smart, Involved, Grateful, Clean, Still. Positive and True.   So I decided to get crafty today and make a reminder for me of this wonderful list of To Be's.  Now I need to get busy and work on being clean, we have paint all over!  As my oldest says though, "Sometimes you have to get messy when your making art."

Birthdays and more!

This past week the humans displayed behavior which I found suspicious at first.  Several large boxes kept appearing and they were being secretive about what was inside.  Could they be building some sort of "-inator", could their loveable, harmless family have been a front?  Then last weekend the boxes were opened with some ceromony.  The two youngest boys opened one box wrapped in colorful paper and revealed a plastic seat with chains.  The largest box was opened filled with lots of wood and plastic.  The parents began working in the garage during rainy weather and I quickly discovered they were constructing a swingset for the boys' upcoming birthdays.  In spite of severe thunderstorms and sudden flu symptoms in Dr. Carlisle they managed to complete the construction of the swingset.  The boys love it and call it their secret clubhouse.  If only they knew how awesome my "secret clubhouse" under the wood pile is, but fortunately no one seems to suspect my secret identity as Agent Chi.

A view of the new "secret clubhouse" (3 swings, one slide & fort)

The birthday week was also spring break for Simon, Marmee's parents came to visit and Easter celebrations.  It was a busy week for the family and I enjoyed watching their celebrations.

Alvin's 4th Birthday

Batman themed party

The family had a fun day in Washington D.C. with Marmee's parents.  They had lunch in the sculpture garden, visited 3 museums (Natural History, American History & Air &Space Museum), walked along some of the monuments and flew a kite in the national mall area.  In addition they launched some water rockets. 

Theodore flying a Kite

Simon Kite flying

Later they celebrated Theodore's birthday.

Theodore's 2nd Birthday

Saturday the family had Easter baskets and an indoor egg hunt.  I snuck a few jelly beans into my woodpile.  On Easter Marmee played her oboe in an instrumental ensemble for sacrament meeting. Sunday after Church the Chipmunk boys decorated eggs.

Happy Easter!

April 9, 2011 Mission Report

Agent Chi reporting on my successful mission against the Dastardly Dan Deficit.

Friday, April 8, 2011 After Dan Deficit's failure to shut the government down through the elected officials and his powerful lobbying he decided to address President Obama directly.  Fortunately, his attempts to deliver pizza to the White House after that late night meeting failed, and I was alerted.  As I pored over the intelligence reports in my woodpile I discovered that Dan Deficit was planning his confrontation during the Cherry Blossom Parade Saturday Morning.  Surveillance of the family beside my wood pile informed me they were planning to attend the parade as well. 

Saturday, April 9, 2011 As Marmee prepared the backpacks for the parade I snuck in and hid beneath the boys' change of clothes.  Conveniently the back pack contained a small hole, which easily allowed me to keep a watch out for Dan Deficit.  It also contained several snacks, which I snacked on as we rode the metro to the parade route.  Of course I kept a few tucked in my cheeks for later, but not enough for the humans to notice any missing.

Theodore's First Metro Ride

Alvin is not so impressed with the metro.

Marmee did not notice me in her bag.

Once the humans settled along the parade route I snuck out and hid in nearby trees for a better view of the route.  From my vantage point I was able to see President Obama approaching with Dan Deficit disguised as a clown, sneaking up on the float.  I knew it was my job to protect the President, who was accompanied by his wife.  I leapt from the tree to the street where I scurried towards the float to warn the President.  When he was not responding to my cries I crept towards his feet to give him a little tug on his leg when I realized he was wax! 

My Hiding Spot in the tree

Wax Obamas

 At first I feared Dan Deficit had created a waxinator, transforming the President to a giant candle, but then realized this was not the real First couple, but the wax mannequins from Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in Washington D.C.  I am beginning to think Dan Deficit is more dense than dastardly!  He continued to pursue these wax figurines thinking they were the real thing!  Bravely, I jumped onto Dan and began biting his ear, he tried to bat me away, but I clung on knocking his clown nose to the ground.  We wrestled down the route, people laughed and thought it was part of the show.  Crawling into Dan's gigantic clown shoe I prepared to take a bite of his big toe when he kicked and flung the shoe with me inside to the other side of the street.  As I struck the pavement I saw acorns and forgot my mission for a moment.

After a moment my senses returned and I scrambled out to see Dan Deficit pushing aside the driver of a car pulling a float.  Dan's vehicle accelerated as I hopped onto the float.  Carefully I  and worked my way into the engine of the vehicle.  Once inside I chewed a few wires (receiving only minor shocks) and jumped out as the engine exploded into flames.  Dan Deficit was foiled in his plan and I returned to my hiding spot in Marmee's backpack.

Dr. Cullen is carrying me now!

Alvin does not always scowl in photographs.

Marmee and Simon enjoy the blossoms, despite a chill in the air.

Simon returning home on the metro.

 With the parade over the family walked around looking at the cherry blossoms.  I fell asleep and awoke as we reached the last metro stop.  When I returned home I immediately began to monitor the local news, but was pleased to see my mission had gone unnoticed.  Below is a report showing the car fire, with no mention of myself or Deficit Dan.  I also have included documentation of how close Deficit Dan was to encountering the real President.  The very same day President Obama made a surprise visit to the Lincoln Memorial, a very short distance from where I succeeded in throwing Dan Deficit's evil plan in the fire.







http://www.tbd.com/blogs/tbd-latest/2011/04/car-catches-fire-stalls-cherry-blossom-parade-10127.html

http://dcist.com/2011/04/what_shutdown_cherry_blossom_parade.php

http://www.nbcwashington.com/the-scene/events/Obama-Visits-Lincoln2-119574674.html

New Occupants

The residence next to my woodpile has new occupants.  The family moved in mid-February and consists of two parents and three young boys.

The father initially had me on alert.  He has the mad-scientist/ terrorist look with dark hair and a beard.  His lanky appearance reminded me somewhat of Dr. Doofenshmirtz.  When I discovered the following picture on their home computer I was quite excited that I may have finally found my very own nemesis:

But curse Perry the Platypus and his fame... they were merely pretending to be characters from his reality TV show for Halloween!  After carefully following the father for several weeks I discovered he is quite harmless and actually helpful to the humans in the area.  His work as a transfusion medicine physician reminds me a bit of a vampire so his alias shall be...

Dr. Carlisle Cullen from the Twilight Series

The mother is the biggest threat to my secret identity.  She notices me out the sliding glass door as she works in the kitchen.  I have often scurried into the woodpile just in time to escape the lens of her camera.  She has also disturbed the concealment of my woodpile entrance by removing many dead leaves and sticks, which had been left by the former occupants.  Her effort continues throughout the yard, ruining many of my hiding places.  I will admit the yard is starting to look prettier though and I do enjoy the new mulch in the flower beds.  The mother seems to love reading so I will give her the alias of a character from a book.  I especially appreciate the humor in my choice since her family consists of 3 boys, not 4 Little Women.

Marmee from Little Women

The children are full of energy.  While amusing to watch I must keep hidden when they are around to avoid being struck accidentally by a soccer ball or approached as if I were a pet.  I have often caught them dancing and singing to songs performed by my famous cousins... The Chipmunks, so their aliases shall be based from this musical group of brothers.

Far Left Theodore (almost 2 years old), Middle Simon (6 years old), Far Right Alvin (almost 4 years old)

My surveillance of this family shall continue, and then I will report my further findings via my Chipmunk Files.