Squirrel escapades.

So... I have this weird thing with squirrels.  I think they are so cute, and funny!!! Last year as I would walk up Old Main stairs twice a day, the funny squirrel that was running around in eye's sight was always a highlight of that hike. I got many a crazy look as I would giggle to myself as I watched him. What, people, you've never heard anyone laugh to themself before?? jeez..
This year I have been fortunate enough to have a squirrel (Shego) living in my backyard for my entertainment.  My roommates think my obsession is funny, and so dear Alli showed me a hilarious article about a squirrel tamer. Yeah, add that to the top of the list of future dream jobs. This girl even went to the trouble of making a variety of squirrel sized hats. Reading this, I was dying!!
I have never seen any squirrels in my hometown of Holden, Utah; but when I was home for the Thanksgiving holiday that would all change. I saw a squirrel living underneath my front porch and I tried to lure him out with Cheeto puffs.  I thought "Now I finally have a chance to domesticate my very own squirrel pet!"  Things were looking great.  I snapped a few pictures of him and lovingly named him Roscoe.
The next weekend I was home for my mom's wedding and I came home from decorating and to my ultimate shock, Roscoe was inside in the kitchen. When I came in he took off down the hall and into my bedroom! My mom didn't believe me when I told her I saw a squirrel in the house. So we went to further investigate, (holding each other tight in fear) and we went into my room. As we walked into my room, Roscoe came bolting out from underneath my bed to stop and stare at us. My mom is shrieking and clawing my arm and we run out and slam the door tight. There was a squirrel in my room! All I could think of was "I can't deal with this today, there is not enough time!" So like any other person would do in this situation, I snuck in my room and set up a Hansel and Gretyl bread crumb trail leading to the open window.  And then I set up my phone as a camera to capture all the exciting footage.! I was tickled with my efforts.
I gave Roscoe his privacy, and 20 minutes later I went to check up on him.  Sure enough, the bread trail was gone, but he was still camping underneath my bed! Roscoe 1, Makinzie 0.
Now, I didn't want Roscoe to have to die, so I said a prayer that he would leave without us having to kill him.  Two minutes later I go back in my room, and he is gone!!!! yup! That's all I have to say about the squirrel prayer. (ok, I know I'm so ridiculous!)
I went back to Logan, but called home and found the squirrel escapades had an interesting plot twist.  Roscoe had found his way back into the house while Bart was home.  Bart saw Roscoe scampering around like he owned the place, so Bart being the handy-man he is, he set up a trap with a cardboard box, a screwdriver, and curling ribbon. (How I wish I could have seen this happen!) He set up the trap and waited for Roscoe to be baited in by the bread he put there. (Roscoe was a nice plump squirrel after all of our baiting, let me tell ya!)  Roscoe wandered into the trap and Bart pulled the ribbon, initiating the trap.  Roscoe 0, Bart 1. Bart now had the squirrel, what was he going to do with it.  He knew that I would be sad if he killed Roscoe, so he put the box in the back of his truck and headed for the outskirts of town.  When he arrived, he opened up the box, but Roscoe ran and hopped up into the truck engine!!! Roscoe 1, Bart 1. Now Bart was ticked, so he jumped back into his truck and swerving like crazy he tried to knock Roscoe off his perch as he drove home.  I can just imagine Roscoe's little limbs spread out and trying to hold on tight for dear life! haha. Bart gets home, and lifts the hood of his truck.  Roscoe jumps out and scampers off around the corner to the back yard. Roscoe 2, Bart 1.
Bart got a legit live wire trap and set it up. I happened to be home that weekend, I came home and walked into the room where the trap was.  Not only was Roscoe in the trap, but he was stuffing his cheeks with the bait left in there for him.  As soon as he saw me walk in, he was so startled his mouth opened wide and the peanuts he was chomping on plopped out of his mouth.  It was so hilarious! I knelt down and was just observing Roscoe (so cute!) and I noticed he wasn't blinking.  Word to the wise, never engage in a staring contest with a squirrel, you will surely lose.  I was wondering if he even had eyelids (I later found out that squirrels have a defense mechanism that they don't blink when they feel endangered, but they do indeed have eyelids.) Now that I had Roscoe, I knew I had to take him to my hunter neighbor's house so that he could take care of him.  I was so sad, head hanging down low, knowing I was handing Roscoe over to meet his doom.  My neighbor tried to console me, telling me "It's alright Kinz, he is going to food storage heaven now." I sure hope so.  May Roscoe rest in peace.  No matter what the score was between us and Roscoe, we sadly ended up winning.

Well, that was pretty lengthy, but it is one of my favorite stories I have been a part of this year. My very own squirrel escapade. 
From me to you, Kinzie Lou.