Phoebe and Her Unicorn by Dana Simpson for August 13, 2023

You mean the pavement that people fry eggs on?

How about finding some shade?

My first introduction to the word “sploot” was a Reddit post on r/aww called “Puppy accidentally sploots on the floor”.

I was expecting something much grosser and was relieved when I actually watched the video.

I’ve observed “our” squirrels doing this for more than 30 years of summers. But only this year did I discover it had a name. We do have some photos of squirrels doing it. The best spot seems to be just outboard of the crotch in a branch that is nearly horizontal. That way your belly can get any breeze that happens by.

On a hot day here sidewalks are also hot, and you lie like that on the cool grass to cool off.

BTW, it looks like squirrel wants to borrow Phoebe’s phone to call someone.

Mr/Mrs Squirrel looks like they want their say.

Wouldn’t sprawling out on the grass be cooler?

The only time I ever sprawled out on pavement was when I just got out of the pool and wanted to stay warm in the sun while drying off.

I AM SPLOOT!

I only heard the word when our present dog does it and my daughter says he’s splooting! Never heard that word before that!

Maybe the squirrel next to her gave her the idea!

I think in the last panel the squirrel is asking Phoebe to take their photo with the unicorn, because otherwise none of their friends will believe it happened!

Dogs and cats do it too. I have pictures.

She’s a pretty good splooter.

If it’s hot, the last thing you want to do is lay on the pavement.

It IS a fun word to say, “sploot.”

I splooted once. My doctor prescribed me a cream and it cleared right up.

Wait… something that unicorns don’t have a word for???

I’ve seen cats and dogs do it for as long as I can remember. I think it’s universal in warm blooded animals.

On very hot day recently, the pavement here in Kansas City was measured at 124 degrees F, which would probably feel hot even to a unicorn.

It’s gonna be a hot one today so if you’re going to sploot on the pavement, you might want to do it in the morning.

Marigold and the squirrel look so cute like this.

The shadows around unicorn and squirrel are very muted, so it must be in the shade. Pavement that has been in the shade for a while might very well be cool enough to sploot on.

I tried to post about that on the Anthrocon FB page but the cabal (there is no cabal) apparently decided it was too off-topic :^(

How have I never heard this word? It’s a great word =)

The pavement absorbs the heat. Lay on the grass.