Well, I finally made it home. Anyone flame me while I was gone (and it was safe, tee hee)? The meetings were great (yeah, right)....and the evenings were even better. You haven't lived until you have the post-tequilla shakes the morning of an 8 am paper presentation. Almost an out-of-body experience....and judging from the bright red and glazed-over eyes of some in the audience, it was. Thanks to all those who sent photos of ferrets; I was standing at the computer terminal looking at them, and a grizzled old archaeologist walked by and asked what type of rat I was viewing. Before I could say anything, a sweet young thang next to me said "That's not a rat, that's a ferret," and went on to cast doubts on the man's educational heritage. i was just wondering who else was reading my mail over my shoulder, and if the acidity of her remarks would etch my glasses. Well, we discussed ferrets over red beans and rice, and she was quite interested in joining the FML, not being aware of it's existence. (Now if I can only get her interested in osteology instead of ceramics....she said I was a bonehead and I said she'd gone to pot and had a shardy reputation.) I think she said she had three beasties, and lived in the Hate State of California, but I could be wrong. It was hard to pay attention, being easily distracted by this huge mass of almost orange hair that was defying gravity in a most unscientific fashion. So be forwarned. If someone with a sharp tongue and evil wit makes their presence known, it's not my fault. Blame it on the people who sent me fert fotos. I got a whole heap of mail, not to mention lots of back FMLs, so it may take some time in responding to FML people. Be patient. I'll try to answer everyone before I have to go to California in May. For those of you who are on the fence about meeting other FMLers, let me say it's great! I visited four members this past week, and all of them were not only nice, but decided if TLE could abuse me, they could as well (I think my forehead is tatooed "Verbally kick me!"). I felt like I never left home! It was quite difficult leaving any of them; most kept me up very late, one tried to lock me in their garage, and one tried to feed me to their goats. But all-in-all, a fantastic experience. They all loved my luxuriant and thick flowing hair and put up with my witty anti-California Fish and Game remarks. (If someone says I compared the combined inteligence of the Calif. F&G to that of a pithed frog, do not believe them. Its much lower. Nor do I believe they purchased thier degrees from the ACME School of Science, Divinity, and Truck Driving. The white-out under their names on the degrees clearly indicates the only money that exchanged hands was to the burglar who "obtained" the diplomas for them) Only problem with the visits was that I ruined a pair of boots cleaning them with clorox so I wouldn't spread ECE (But worth it, and my fault, not theirs). Well, not ruined; but they look kind of funky now...I'm cool. In any case, I'm looking forward to meeting more of you next month. And sorry Barbkitty; I got your message too late to reply or drop by. I'll make sure I do in May. Bob and the 13 Reunited Weasels-O-Fun [Posted in FML issue 1544]