As soon as I entered the house after work tonight, I began complaining to my SO about sundry things...my headache, my aching back, my sore feet, the Wisconsin Badgers (who lost the Homecoming game in overtime), a mailbox full of bills, etc. etc. SO remained smugly silent, and eventually I griped my way into the kitchen --- and abruptly shut up at the sight of a WONDERFUL THING in the middle of the kitchen table...the new 2001 Ferret Calendar! With a terrific cover picture of a ferret dressed as Sherlock Holmes! SO had spotted the calendar in the mall where he had his hair cut and proudly brought it home. I tore off the cellophane, opened a Coke, cuddled a real ferret, and went through the calendar slowly, ooohing and aaahing over each picture, beginning with a Kubrick-esque January. And look what they did to the Sphinx! And the nostalgic take-off on the dog listening to the old gramophone -- as if a real ferret pays much attention to its "Master's Voice!" The scene from "Little Red Riding Hood" is darling, with a sable playing the wolf and a cinnamon as Hood. There's the "Alas Poor Yorick" bit from "Hamlet," and so on.....ending the year with Fertzilla trampling Toyko! There's a fine wry sense of humor in these pictures, which made me forget my headache, aching back and sore feet. (Wish it were so easy to forget the Badgers and the bills.) Anyway, thanks to Jeanne Carley for another great job. I'm glad it's in the malls so early this year. Saves tussling for the last one with other crazed ferret folk the week before Christmas. Signe [Posted in FML issue 3213]