The new kids haven't really "grown" any nicknames yet, but our original 3
have more than enough, here are a few of the most common:
 
Mischief: Mischy, Miss Mischy, Mischievooska, Miss Thang
 
Max: Maximoose, Maximoosch, Smooshie, Smooshable
 
Merlin: Merlinator, Whirli-bird, whirling dervish, white boy, Great White
Toe Shark (he's albino)
 
Buddy: Buddy-boy, Buddro
 
Fae: Fae-ferita
 
Max is still doing well in spite of the slowly enlarging tumor in his
jaw.  Fortunately it seems to be one of the slower-growing types, rather
than the fast-growing as we originally thought.  In fact, he had his
first Lupron shot for his adrenal disease a month ago, and is now in the
process of blowing his coat!  He never did shed his winter coat during
the spring, and was beginning to look quite scruffy from his adrenal hair
loss & excessive scratching.  Going in for his next shot this Thursday
morning, as the first one noticeably decreased his sexual aggression and
itchiness.
 
The abandoned adoptees, Buddy and Fae, have settled in quite well as part
of the gang.  Fae usually sleeps with Max, and Buddy loves to wrestle
with Max & Merlin.  So keeping them has worked out amazingly well - they
settled in with the original trio as if they were all meant to be
together.  The other day I came home from work & went to let them out.
I go into their room & start looking for them.  There is a 3-drawer
nightstand they took over ages ago as a perfect sleeping tower - I
removed my stuff & keep blankies in the drawers now.  Their favorite spot
is the middle drawer, which I have lined with a small Alpaca fur rug that
they insisted they must have (it used to be in front of the fireplace in
the den).  I pull open that drawer and all *5* are piled in.  This drawer
is about 20" by 15".  It was almost overflowing with ferrets!  I had to
laugh at the various stretches, yawns and sleepy glares coming from a
veritable ferret Hydra in that drawer!
 
Hug your weasels!
 
Melissa Bell
Knoxville, TN
[Posted in FML issue 3895]