Bill loves to look out the window and watch the birds, squirels and deer that live in the yard. He is the most avid bird watcher I know. He is a real fan of television programs like the fare on Animal Planet and Sun Rise Earth, the high def channel. He especially loves watching the wild life channels.

He has followed his nose to various corners of the earth in search of the most interesting fowl. I suppose it is fair to say that he has chased birds across the roof tops of Hindu temples and attempted to flush game out of tall grasses in some very remote parts of the world.

One day, instead of birds, he was watching a polar bear minding its own business out on the snowy tundra. Bill knows how animals greet one another and how they approach an unfamiliar animal that has wandered into the territory of another. In this case, the polar bear was not exhibiting any unfriendly or territorial behavior but rather the relaxed and casual behavior of a bear comfortably at home. Being the student of wild animals that he is, he decided that he would meet the bear and welcome him to the neighborhood in a very animal like manner. He calmly sauntered up and began to sniff the bear and licked the polar bear's backside in his best "howdy do" manner. True story. Now, the bear did not seem upset but he did not respond in kind which confused Bill to no end.

I suppose I should mention at this point that Bill is a cat. I should also probably mention that the polar bear, as he appeared through the "window" of a high def television, seemed like he was about the size of another cat. Bill was just trying to welcome him to the neighborhood of the master bedroom that Bill calls home. His sleeping basket is there and he hangs out with mom and dad in this safe den that he shares with his two brothers. The furry visitor to our bedroom was just through that "window" and frustratingly out of reach. He stuck his nose between the screen and the wall to ascertain the location of the polar bear and seemed confused that he couldn't find his way out to the tundra.

Poor Bill kept trying to "greet" the polar bear. We changed the channel so he could find some friendlier birds that he could play chase with. Bill still can't figure out how they get inside that window. At least they don't seem to be ignoring him. ;)