My ferret has a second name. It's I-F-D-A-S-C-H-U-W-I-T-Z. . . . 100% serious. Two weeks ago, a local shelter mom told me about two litttle ones looking for a home because their owners were getting new carpeting. . . *whimper* I've been looking since I got little Cody about three months ago; he needs a playmate(s) very badly. Tripod Bob is old and crotchety and does not tolerate other ferrets on his turf. Lily is old and crotchety and blind and deaf and is absolutely TERRIFIED of other ferrets if they try to play with her (she squeals and screams and runs away). So Cody is left playing with me (and he doesn't seem to think that I'm very fun most of the time). Shannon even agreed to hang on to them for a while (thank you, thank you, thank you); I'm moving soon and then will be on vacation (what? a day off?) and want to make the transition as smooth as possible. I called and made an appointment to go and visit them and was preparing myself to walk out with them on the spot; the initial reports were not too encouraging -- no shots, living in a pet carrier... When I got there, some conditions were better than expected: the pet carrier was actually large enough to comfortably fit a medium-sized dog and was well-equipped with a hammock and other necessities. She brought them out to play and I met Oscar and Sweet Pea. They were eating Happy Cat cat food and were given lots of treats (Oscar was given pretty free access to potatos -- he ate part of one while I was there). Various reasons were given for the surrender (new carpet, 10 month old grandchild, and mommy not dealing well with death of animals. . .better to surrender them). They are absolutely the sweetest little kids and -- yes -- they left with me (darn that ferret math...). I can't, however, bring myself to call any animal "Sweet Pea" or "Sweetie" or "Pea" so I had to come up with another name for her and the name that won was "Ifdaschuwitz." *giggle* (I really had to put some thought into that one. . .) Well, that's not so much a first name as a last name, so I've decided to just give both of them the subappelate "Ifdaschuwitz" and that way I can get around the whole Sweet Pea thing and just call her Witzy for short. OSCAR: is going to be one biiiig boy! He only weighed in at 2-1/2 pounds last Friday at the vet, but is growing (and his coat is looking sooo much better) now that he's on a better diet. Once he puts on his Fall/Winter weight, I fully expect that he will crest the 4-pound mark. He's 2-1/2 years old MF sable male and is just a teeny bit nippy but that's OK. He's so laid back and calm, too. SWEE... I mean, WITZY: teeny little thing but a real firecracker! 3 year old MF sable female. VERY well bite trained and I can tell she's going to give me a lot of new proofing work to do. She only spent one night with me while Shannon got ready for them but managed to get to places to which my kids haven't even DREAMED of going. *sigh* She apparently gives lots of kisses (I don't seem to be on her "OK" list, though, and haven't received any). On Sunday, Cody and I went to visit them after they had been given a clean bill of health and -- of course -- he didn't want anything to do with that. He didn't run away but did cower when they went to investigate him. *sigh* I'm hoping that that will be better when he's more sure of his surroundings. Anyway, I ramble. Dooks to all the fuzzy -- and fuzz-deficient -- faces out there and condolences to all with sick ferrets or those departed for the bridge. Andy, Cody Lily, Tripod Bob, Oscar, & Witzy [Posted in FML issue 3103]