A food chain, according to Wikipedia, is the flow of energy from one organism to the next and to the next and so on.  You start with what’s called a primary producer, usually a being that rates low in terms of evolutionary development and differentiation, and go successively through various trophic levels of predators feeding on prey, till you end with the top consumer, usually a carnivore.

In our domestic universe, this web of energy flow was replicated in our caravan that steadily made its way from New York City to the Bay Area.  The animals were not represented, in our case, two by two other than the felines, but our food chain was complete with primary producer – a friend’s son’s hamster – and larger consumers, including said felines and large white dog.  No one was hurt, except one busted tire on the Interstate 80 two miles outside of Salt Lake City, no bodily part was missing nor eaten.  We all emerged, weary but unscathed, on the other side of the country after six days of journeying across the highways and rest stations of America.

Some random observations from our six-day trip:

• Driving sucks.
• Driving a 15-year old Volvo doubly sucks.
• Driving with a hamster entrusted in your care, two felines, and a large white dog makes for an, erm, interesting trip.
• Cheyenne, WY is worth a closer look.
• As well as Salt Lake City, UT. Never knew there were so many tattooed ski bums there.
• A good balanced meal filled with primary producers can be had, if one must, at Taco Bell.

Continue reading →