Pawful Pollen

 
Achoo! Oh, how my little rat nose is so clogged!
 
This week Ratlanta saw its highest pollen counts in years, with the tiny granules causing it to soar to 8,164 on Monday, thereby shattering the longstanding record of 6,013 set back in April of 1999. Then the next day we busted even that record by more than a thousand points, topping out at 9,369. With counts of 5,174 and 4,379 on the days after that, and Friday’s merciful rain washing out the muck but still keeping things up at 1,009, it’s safe to say that this week’s been the most miserable that local allergy sufferers have experienced – ever. Including one little rat.
 
With the insidious imps invading the air I’ve been forced to make my nestlet out of tissues rather than the typical cotton bedding, and I can distinctly say it’s not nearly as comfortable. The pollen’s also been percolating my fur so that I’ve begun to look more tan than black, and this stuff is itchier than fleas! In fact I feel so terrible that I’ve been pondering going to visit the veterinarian to see if he has any allergy medicine made in rat dosages. And as you might remember from one of my previous blogs, I’ve got to be in some serious misery to overcome my fear of the vet!
 
On a sunny note, these record-setting pollen counts have inspired me to bring out my artistic side: if you feel so inclined, please sniff out the picture album I made on my “Muzzlebook” page (www.facebook.com/bobtherat); just like this blog, it’s entitled Pawful Pollen. (I hope sniffing through it doesn’t clog your muzzle!) In the meantime I’ll stay hunkered down in my tissue nestlet, looking forward to the day when pollen season ends and ragweed season begins, because at least you can wet rags, right?
 
Keepin’ it squeak (with a hankie in paw),
Bob