Hi, folks! I'm sorry that we have had to lurk for so long, but life's been demanding and exhausting. I will try to finish the behavior and nursing FAQs in the next few months but can't manage more. Thank you so much, Bruce, for doing the health section (and for teaching us so much; we love your posts and always feel they make us better ferret parents), and dear friend, Nancy who is handling some of the sections I just have no time for. I've been very positively impressed, as well, by Judy's grasp of ferret personalities and modifying training techniques to suit the individual, including her grasp of training without any negative responses. I just had my second operation in ten weeks (neither major, thank goodness), not too pleasant for somebody who went into the year not expecting any(or any post-op infections, either, but what the heck), but a 6 week antibiotic-resistant sinus infection and a pecan sized breast tumor (benign -- we just found out a few days ago, despite it not looking right to the oncologist as it came out -- we DO have some real luck -- YIPPEE!) developing from nothing in 3 months can do funny things to one's plans. The health problems of elderly extended (but emotionally close) family members also went well beyond our expectations, with operations among them coming up to something like a dozen as of last week, and three suffering through illnesses till death claimed them. Add the stress of Steve's sister having a serious chronic illness, and all the job scares, and we just don't have a great fondness for 1993. Oh, well, we all have to have some years like this. Our marriage and the ferrets kept us going through thick and thin. Meeteetse once again fainted when she smelled Mommy blood, poor thing. She's got great eyesight and loves to watch tv and monitors. 'Chopper kept us on our toes by climbing everything possible and jumping to the impossible, including her ferret on the flying trapeze act with the dining room ceiling light. All loved the scents of Thanksgiving and spent the day trying to stay awake to lick the air. After a scant taste of eggnog, Ruffle extended her raisin word (banging on the oven drawer handle -- a taught trick intended to strengthen rear legs) to banging on the fridge, which appears to be "Give me eggnog." It's probably the brightest thing she has ever done. Spot treasures the toy black footed ferret. Meltdown tried very hard to fill my shoes and to take good care of me, the poor little gal is just TOO responsible for her own good. She's now on Otomax for a recalcitrant ear infection (fungal), but her 6 month check-up (She's old enough to need that.) showed her to be in the health of one a year younger. Ferrets are great, and so is my hubby. Re: the untreated ferret with Cushings. Please, reconsider. If you don't treat your little one, the fuzzy is sure to suffer for that. If you are unable to operate now, at least look into c-Lysodren or Ketaconazole to keep some control until you can afford to operate. We have always found that the funds we put into our loved ones' health have been among the best spent of any monies. Would you let a tumor go neglected if it were in your body? I LOVE the term "ferret flop". BTW: to answer the question all are avoiding, what Spot likes massaged with a vibrator is a full tummy. We figure that the reason Meltie likes her hands done is because of her early arthritis. It's incredible what a hit the massager is with these guys. You sure learn: A: What might be inclined to get stiff or sore on an individual, and 2: Pleasurable areas on them. This isn't a joke; we really DID get them their own vibrator after Meeteetse's attraction to the Braun toothbrush taught us that all the rest enjoyed the vibrations just as much. Rog, sorry to hear that the audio didn't work with the Erdmann lecture on lympho. All, give your weasels a hug for us. Barb, how did your public performance of the filk song go over? Thanks for permission to add it to the behavior segment. Spoke with Pat, but how are you doing, Chris? You two and Gregory know you always have a place in our concerns. [As you have in ours. I'm just _very_ busy. We're having a couple of minor scares with Gregory, but so far so good.] Love, Sukie, Steve, Meltdown, Ruffle, 'Chopper, Spot, and Meeteetse [Posted in FML issue 0653]