Monday, December 31, 2007

Hunger Strike

The Squeak has been on something of a hunger strike. Well, a modified hunger strike – if it doesn’t come out of a bottle or it’s not a Cheerio, she’s not having it.

Hunger strikes are generally used as a method of non-violent protest, usually for political causes but sometimes to bring attention to some other injustice, real or perceived.

So what it the point of Squeaker’s strike? Would she like better accommodations? This started the day after Christmas… is this her way of saying she is unhappy with her gifts?

No demands have been made, no TV crews have shown up at our house.

Maybe there’s a concert in the works; a big outdoor event headlined by U2 or some other socially conscious band. Maybe REM will get back together. Oh, maybe Plant, Page, & Jones can be coerced to do another Zeppelin concert.

Could I buy tickets even thought I am her jailer? No matter, concert tickets have gotten way too pricey these days.

We have tried everything – hot food, cold food, same food, different food, right before sleep, right after sleep, liquids before solids, solids before liquids… and nothing seems to work.

I’m not so much concerned that she won’t be getting enough nutrients; she’ll drink nearly 8oz at a sitting. It’s the sleeping (or the lack thereof).

Well, not lack of sleep; rather the lack of sleeping through the night.

Without the heavy proteins of solid foods, The Squeaker wakes up between 1-3am needing to be fed again.

I miss her sleeping through the night.

(!) UPDATE (!)

I started this post on Friday and Saturday afternoon, we had a break through! P.Pie cut mild cheddar cheese, ham, & turkey into small pieces and Squeak ate it up.

Well, she ate a third of it. The dog and her lap got the other two-thirds.

But, after she fed herself the protein apertifs, she was much more amiable for the other stuff.

Now let’s hope she goes back to sleeping through the night.