When I was in college, I lived with relatives in the country. There was a spotted skunk (which are much friendlier than the striped ones) that ate with the yard cats and basically acted like one of them. Never once even offered to spray, even when it was accidentally provoked. I was even able to pet it from time to time.
For a specified value of great. The one I had as a kid was stubbornly nocturnal and got up about the time I went to bed. Then it ran around the house all night clicking its claws on the hardwood floors, along with other anti-social actions.
I took some pickled habaneros to a work potluck one time. While I was arranging them with the other pickles and such, a female co-worker popped up and asked if she could have one “Cause I just love them!” Turns out she thought they were the mild pepperoncini you see on salad bars …
For whatever reason, I just realized that Philo’s name could be a play on Philo Farnsworth. I can’t think of any particular significance to that, though; all Farnsworth did was invent the electron beam raster scan used in analog TV and CRT monitors.
Not easy to find? Depends on where you are. When I was in college, we had a friend who kept us supplied. But you’re right about it not standing up to a spicy sauce – battered and fried is much better.
When I was in college, I lived with relatives in the country. There was a spotted skunk (which are much friendlier than the striped ones) that ate with the yard cats and basically acted like one of them. Never once even offered to spray, even when it was accidentally provoked. I was even able to pet it from time to time.