I had an idea for Sherri, the 13 year old who wants a ferret. Will send this to her, but also would like pointers/corrections/suggestions from shelter keepers and those who have raised 13 year olds (the only kid I ever helped raise was my sister due to my parents' very long work weeks, Mom's illness, and then her death, and I was young myself so NOT someone with adult judgement) to be posted on the FML so that she can watch the FML and learn better than I will know. Sherri, information is one of the most powerful of weapons. For the start of your learning, please, go to http://www.ferretcentral.org (NOT .com which is much more recent and not at all the same thing), and every day till you are done with them all, please, study a section in the writings there (and maybe tackle some links). Either after you have finished the basic FAQs or after you have finished all the things go to the links for finding local ferret shelters. If there is a way you can get to the shelter, even if it's only on weekends, donate your time to help there. That will teach you more and give you a lot of hands-on experience. Meanwhile, you will get loads of furry kisses and hugs from ferrets. If you prove yourself enough to your mom by doing this then she may be willing to adopt a ferret or more for you. There are also some shelters which have fostering programs in which you cover day-to-day care but they cover medical care at a specific animal hospital. I am thinking that with your age, and college coming up soon, that you might be best off with an adult or even an older ferret who has trouble dealing with other ferrets, but the medical costs which come when old age hits can be high so you might want to foster such special-needs individuals once you learn what you need to learn, and if your mom agrees. Sukie, with Steve and 7 furballs who like to snuggle P.S. Oh, I wanted to let you know that FML well-wishes are POTENT! Evan, Steve's dad, had Sue, Steve's mom, teach him how to figure and find fat calories and percentages yesterday! FINALLY! I'd also like to point out that the sort of extended diet help they have used is not normally available around them and we'd never have found it if it was not for a wonderful FML member who got me to the ADA site, which then got me to the head of the RD program in Missoula, who then recommended some individuals. So, it was someone right HERE on-list who helped save Steve's dad, too! Oh, and I even finally got a check which was sent after my phone call last night (Fed Ex Saturday delivery) from that cosmetics catalog, so your kind wishes must even extend to money matters. <G> Now, as long as it doesn't bounce like a ferret. ;-) Next project for the wishers: to prevent people from closing primary polls in areas due to the locations' high minority racial make-ups -- hey, you folks are powerful so why not extend your fairness?! :-) Okay, I'll shut up on wishes now; am getting silly. Maybe I'll even catch up on the sleep on need. Just think you hsould know that the people here are GREAT! Sure, we have our fights and our characters (Who? Me?), but we're a group which is 50% larger than the town in which I grew up and that town really beat the FML out on BOTH scores for frequency and levels! :-) [Posted in FML issue 2965]