Hi pals, I've only been able to peek occasionally at the FML these days. I've been real busy. I'm still in love with my Rikki Tikki, Turkey's first Ferret in Residence, but my obsession lately has been in researching Turkish livestock-protection dogs. And I'm heading out east to select my own bundle of puppy joy next week. Rikki will have to learn to be gentle with the new giant in the house (well, she'll be giant quickly enough...). He always got the best of my doberman. Otter! That was some touching post you wrote about your ferrets Winston and Derrida. Rikki is cavorting on the beach with my spouse for a week, so I'm lonelier than thou... And hey, I noticed you have a Duke University email address--so you belong to Triangle Ferret association, I presume? I am moving to that part of NC in a couple of months. I hope to meet you, and sure would like to see you play guitar at some local cafe with ferret on shoulder. *I'll* sure put some coinage and a couple of raisins in your hat! And BTW, my ferret Emma (R.I.P.) also went into attack mode when I played a few notes on the harmonica. Rikki is interested, but Emma would leap up and bite HARD. Certain squeak toys would elicit a similar response, but the ol' mouth harp really provoked violence! Wonder why? Oh, and BOB CHURCH: You slay me. You really do. I got a good chuckle out of a recent post of yours, disclaimers and all. Hope to see you at some ferret gig or another sometime. I'll watch for the mismatched socks. Cheers, one and all, Sue Kocher Still in Istanbul [Posted in FML issue 1635]