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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dear MomPerson,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This be a warning:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>hamsters STINK! They make giant messes</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>and you never know when they might bite
you!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Nig...uh no, I mean huckleberry</FONT><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=2><EM>Because MomPerson (who is writing dis--THIS) has old,
flat feet she buys really expensive padded socks to keep the feets from
falling off when she stands on them all day at work, on the cement floor. Very
expensive socks (for her)</EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><EM>She guards them with her life you know where this is
going, don't you, all you smug Basset people out there?</EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><EM></EM></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><EM>SOooo. Last night it rained and the wind was fierce.Then
it sleeted and the wind was fierce. Then it snowed just a touch, enough to
make it super bad and leave 1/2 of ice beneath the snow.. (Oh yes, I know what
you're thinking..."my dogs would NEVER...")</EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><EM>At 4:30 there was a general stirring in the ranks.I had
gone to bed very early, blown away by the sheer volume of food and drink over
the weekend, and the fun of seeing all my kids again (two leggers).(All 2 of
them,and their spouses.) So everyone wanted out. My first hint was that the
back door was frozen shut. This is never good with four dogs leaping at you
because they have to pee right now. Cooper charged out first with something in
his mouth followed by Nigel with a suspicious bulge in his lips... MY
SOCKS! MY $15 A PAIR SOCKS!!! ONE PAIR OF THREE THAT ARE LEFT!
NOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.</EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><EM></EM></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><EM>I stick my head out the door and say sweetly, "Cooper,
come here dear.Get a treat" HA! Dodge bounce dodgebounce run. It is cold, he
feels great, let's play. Nigel takes one look and he is off also. In my
jammies i put on my muck boots, grab the super flashlight and head out. It is
COLD! No no, says Cooper: "Bracing. It's bracing. It's SHOWTIME!!" Nigel
thought this was wonderful. So the two of them are galloping around the yard
with my socks, I have on jammies and boots and a flashight and with the wind
is it -22 altho, luckily, I am unaware of that as I give up and go to the
door. Hahahahahahahahahaha. It is frozen shut. It is now 4:45 in the
morning, black as pitch except for the flashlight and the door light and I am
standing in my little jammies outside with four expectant dogs behind me,
thinking "Breakfast" and perhaps by now "Cold".(What I am thinking is not
printable.)</EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><EM>I push, shove, kick and finally take my fist (the
flashlight cost megabucks, no way am I using that) and smash the door handle
until it opens. Everyone charges past me, nearly knocking me down, causing me
to let go of the door which slams and instantly freezes shut. Luckily, not as
securely, and besides, Nigel is now on the inside leaping on the door trying
to get me to give him a treat, so the door opens.</EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><EM></EM></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><EM>After I defrost a bit I send the Big Dog out again to
get my socks, which he obligingly does. He gets a handful of treats, the
others get nothing.I don't care how envious they are.</EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><EM>I really am. Really. Next time around, I am raising
hamsters.</EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><EM></EM></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><EM>Really.</EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><EM>MomPerson to Llewis, Mitchell and Bad Boys Nigel and
Cooper</EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><EM>Those of you in this weather, keep warm! Get those
little doggie coats and boots out.</EM></FONT>
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