HI Al Jerimiah here! The most wonderful thing has happened -- in spite of the fact I got caught doing another Cheerio caper! Yes, I admit the temptation was far too great.... as everything was set for the open house on Sat AM-- Friday night Mom let us out to play for the night. Well, Lulu used to do the night watch-- and now since the shelter is unpatrolled at night -- it seemed like a suiting position for your truly Jerimiah the wonderful! Anyway she let Rex, Handsome, Dewey & myself out for the whole night. It was great there are pretty lights on the small Christmas tree instead of a night light- ad in the small room she left on a floor lamp so we wouldn't get lost inn the dark. Then I spied, er smelled them, the Cheerio's she stashes on the fourth shelf in the corner bookcase. Well you know I tried, really really hard to be good. The longer we played the more I smelled them in the box and eventually I knew I had to rescue them for Handsome, Dewey & Rex were going to starve without the Cheerio's. Now it was tough she did a good job of keeping them safe-- but I climbed up onto the kitty carpet stand-- then got a hold of the first shelf- (it sure helps that I lost weight and built my muscles up-- if I wasn't such a lean machine it wouldn't have worked) I kept pulling myself up like a ladder from one shelf to another and finally there I was face to face with the Cheerio's -- so I pushed them with my nose and down they fell- right to the floor! The kids were so happy-- they had been cheering me on the whole time-- getting down was a challenge-- but when I did-- we helped those Cheerio's right out of the box! Then morning came-- well we were filled up and sleepy so we tucked our selves into bed-- but I forgot to pick up the mess...... Oops Mom came to check everything out folks would be coming in a few hours for holiday open house--- Jerimiah! The other kids poked their heads up and looked-- I slept on. Well they told me she was fussing and cleaning & all- then let the other kids out to play. Soon folks arrived we had lots of folkses who came and Handsome & Dewey had a family that took a special interest in them-- they dais they would come back again too! Well wouldn't you know Hospice Mom Marilyn who likes the cheerio caper adventures -- bless her heart-- she brought me a BIG box of em, Mom was soo busy she didn't even notice. The a secret Santa present came for Rex, hey more cheerio's-- guess he wouldn't mind sharing after all I rescued them for him too! :) We had a lots and lots of company-- but they forgot to sneak me fudge-- well,I guess Cheerio's is pretty good too! So I want to thank everyone who came to visit -- even Ray who came all the way from PA to visit so I could taste his hand. Nice muscle tone Ray-- comeback again you hear we can wrestle around some more! Gosh it was such fun. And Mom never said a naughty word like NO to time the whole day! ( I would have closed my eyes so I couldn't hear anyway!). I sure had fun seems a bit quiet today in comparison! Lots of thank yous to all the neat folks who chose to stop by and visit us and play. We had such fun. The others might not be her-- but I truly think we should do this again next year-- and I will share the Cheerio's with you too! Your friend Jerimiah, Jr Mascot at Ferret Wise Shelter www.ferretwise.org [Posted in FML issue 3263]