> > The beaver is the state animal of Oregon, and as for the umbrella, it's because it rains so much here.
>
> WHAT??? The beaver is the state animal for Oregon? But it's Canada's national animal!!! It's even on our nickel! No fair...

Wow! Special greets to you, my fellow Canadian. Brings a tear to my eye that our commensurate Presence herein has grown. :-)

>
> (Yes, I know, the beaver is not quite so majestic as the bald eagle...

Bald eagles may look cool and sharp-eyed and all, but we know Beavers RULE over Baldies absolutely. Even Ben Franklin noted that the Baldie was a weak-blooded, scavenging, fishy-smelling garbage-picker of a bird (which is why he suggested the noble Wild Turkey to be America's ideal national symbol. :-)


> But watch for those calm days when the only sound to be heard is the rhythmic *smack* *smack* *smack* of the beaver's tail on the water as he warns his fellows of the bald eagle circling overhead, waiting to snatch him up... Ah, serenity...)

Naw, the bald eagle is probably hangin' out, lurking and watching for any Handy-pak Snacks™ that industrious Mr. Beaver might happen to drop. Too bad for them that beavers don't eat fish.