It was early in the spring when I first began with my squirrels nearly a year ago. I noticed one squirrel, in particular, seemed to like to pose for me, and they always dropped down into the same position. As I photographed him, it was funny, but he actually appeared to be modeling as he would hold the pose for a while and then began to vary it, such as dropping his paw down or angling his body in a different position. It was as if he knew he was working with a novice and was trying to train me! Note there were never any peanuts offered. Often, I would see him and began to call him Dropster, and strangely, he would immediately drop down. I later discovered this was called splooting. This is a position that a squirrel goes into often to cool down, but in working with them I have discovered this is often a position that they assume when they are relaxed or chilling out. Over my time with my guys as you will see this appears to be a common position.

On a side note, I later discovered that Dropster was not a male, but indeed a female! One day, I found her in this position by a tree. A few minutes later, another squirrel joined her, and I found myself documenting my first mating!

You may notice that the quality of some of these may vary as they were taken with a different camera.

Sorry, this is more squirrel stuff, but until I get on my feet again, this is me! I seriously considered fading away for a time but decided this was just the depression talking from the accident. So, I am trying to regroup and I hope I don't bore you with work from my "archives!"

I'm gonna miss you yelling "Mimi, c'mere" and "I wanna backed potato" (for 25 years).
It's OK that you couldn't say "baked".
Gonna miss sharing my peaches, grapes, bananas, green peas, green beans and cheerios with you.
I loved hearing you yell "Mimi". I knew the answer was supposed to be "What Kiwi?" but but I loved hearing you fuss at me when I just said "what?".
This is the first time in my life I have been without a pet and you were the last.

In case you didn't notice, click baits are getting ridiculous. I read the local paper online every day, and at the bottom of each page they have "interesting" articles. I stopped counting a fifty. They are definitely designed to get your attention. "This food is killing you." "Do this every day and live to be 100." "Buy any car you want for just $1,000."

Naturally, this is all nonsense. I looked at some out of curiosity, and many do not even mention the item in the headline. I imagine that some people with nothing to do go from one article to another.

I had to use a long nose pliers to remove the battery from its slot where it pops up because of spring action. The last shoot was only a month ago. How could it expand that fast. Battery is one recommended by Fujifilm.
I know manuals say to remove batteries when not in use for an EXTENDED PERIOD of time. How long is that?
Can you restore the enlarged battery to its former size? Hoggers here who have several cameras: how sure are you that a battery is not “hulking” in one of them. Do you have a method?

After 30 years I am retiring from B&H Photo as of 05/03/24. My job is being transferred to Geoffrey Ngai <gngai@bhphoto.com>. 

Working for B&H and interacting here with all of you has been a singular and entirely satisfying experience. I want to thank everyone here who helped make it so. When I started at B&H I never expected to be here for 30 years, Now it's time to step back, stop setting the alarm clock every morning, and spend more time paying attention to my wife. 

Best wishes to one and all.

Thank you Air, yea she looks better in person but she is aging but staying active. She has all this stuff all over the yard that keeps her busy, my images do not show the other areas. Yea the benches, she saw them in some ally or somewhere they were discarded and somehow got them back to her house and redid them. I remember them before she redid them, they were rusted and junk. She has plants and flowers all over the place plus the garden. I may do more at another time but her and my dad moved in there in 1949 I think, but have lived other places but always kept their original house. I grew up there.
Thank you for the reply.
Bruce.