Sorry I've been out of touch all. As I read through old FML's, I see many broken hearts that I have neglected to send a word or two of condolence. My apologies to you. It's been one of those lives for me lately. Some have bad days. I'm convinced sometimes that I'm just having a bad life! LOL. I hope the following story will make up for my absence. As usual, these furry little braniacs never cease to amaze me. For the past month, they have developed a new fascination for the kitchen trash can. A veritable smorgasbord of sights and smells lured my furkids to the edge and through the flap of the kitchen trash can. I can not begin to tell you how many fuzzbutts reeking of last night's leftovers I have pulled from the end result of their escapades." Dear God, Autumn...tomato sauce!!!!??? Don't you know how hard it is to remove mustard stains from a fur coat?" My pleas fell on deaf fuzzy ears as Autumn, Albi and Sam pursued their antics. Yes, once inside, there is really no way out short of mom coming to the rescue. Much to the surprise of a group of four who landed inside "the trash monster" one night a couple weeks ago. This time they would be rewarded with an extended stay at the Dis Comfort Inn. Approximately two hours later, a little gnawing feeling drew me into the kitchen..a feeling beside the one that demanded midnight ice cream. Little scratching noises became louder as I neared the kitchen. This would definitely explain the four noses missing from roll call tonight. Four pathetic faces there never was. Looking up from the kitchen landfill, little eyes pleaded to be rescued. Their new sweet aroma (as if they needed one of those) combined with the sweat of four weasels clawing for escape to form a perfume that would stand tall to a hob in rut. I vowed to do something about the trash issue. Thankfully I had to do very little. My mom had just purchased a set of Magic Kan's and for all intensive purposes they seemed to be weasel proof. For those of you that are not familiar with this new concept in trash disposal, allow me to enlighten you. A pedal must be pushed to pop up the lid. Inside is a 66 foot long trash bag with a razor cutter in the door allowing you to dispose of as much or as little trash as you want at any given time. It truly is a beautiful thing. I danced through the front door with my new ferret proof trash can, sporting a smile mimicking our old TV fave Hazel and chanting to my fuzzy little loves with teasing sing song. I had one up'ed them once again. (Mistake # 1) I delighted even further in giving them front row observation seats as I set up the new mischief proof disposall, laughing out loud as they looked on. Mu hahahahhah. (Mistake #2) Had I been paying attention I would have noticed that Albi was taking notes and Autumn was mapping out a plan of her own. I am thankful however that the revenge was slight with minimal damage. No one but a ferret companion would beleive what I witnessed in the next ten minutes. I like to call it the christening of the MagicKan. Albi approached the trash can and as he looked me dead in the eye, placed a little white paw on the pedal of the can. Disbeleif does not even come close to describing what raced through my head. In just a few minutes of quiet observation, he had figured it all out and did not hesitate to let me know about it. Still I laughed on as he lacked one tiny thing that would help him accomplish his mission. Weight. He did not have enough weight in his paw to open the can. I snickered at his futile attempt and walked off forgetting that the weasel always has the final word. An hour later I returned to find Albi's opinion of the new device in the form of a little yellow puddle laying dead on the lid of the MagicKan. A calling card of pee covered the lid . Ya gotta admire their temerity if nothing else. You will never find a weasel waving a white flag of defeat. "Yes," says Albi. "This is my final word." Kim at SUMS "I have no doubt that all living beings have souls but when I see how humans treat our animal companions, it is evident that the complete absence of soul and heart frequents only the human of beings.". Kim Fox Animal Communicator Director of Somethin Up My Sleeve Rescue [Posted in FML issue 4254]