Hello everyone-- I really like this thread. Here's my 2 cents: Trace, who is a girl, is named after a guy, Trace Beaulieu. He used to play Dr. Clayton Forrester on Mystery Science Theater 3000, and was so funny that I decided to bestow upon him the honor of a ferret namesake. Not that he knows about it! The Muddler is named after a character from Tove Janson's children's book "Moominpappa's Memoirs." I thought it was a great name for a ferret, and he acts just like the little guy in the book--kind of shy and usually causing a ruckus. Take care-- Michelle [Posted in FML issue 2651]