The Hamster Debacle

[RecoveringKinkoid]

My band and I are going through what is becoming known as "The Hamster Debacle."

Actually, it is not really called "The Hamster Debacle." What we call it is more like "The Fking Hamster Debacle."

This friend of mine wants to bring a fking hamster to Pennsic. Long story that does not need to be repeated here, but the short version of it is that this friend of mine wants to bring a fking hamster...in MY VAN no less...to Pennsic War. In other words, drive a day and a half in August to live in a primitive swamp environment for a week.

With a fking hamster.

Why didn't I head this off by saying "Oh, and by the way, don't plan to bring a fking hamster to Pennsic"? For the same reason I didn't say "Oh, by the way, don't plan on wearing a hat full of turds in my van on the way to Pennsic." In all honesty, it just did not occur to me that I might have to, you know, head that off.

She's trying to find a place to board a snake, too. I realize there is an obvious, "kill two birds with one stone" kind of solution here, but what do I know.

This is going to go very bad before it is all said and done. I just know it. She shows up to my house with a fking hamster day we are supposed to leave, it is going to get very, very ugly.

Another friend of mine, young kid of about fourteen or fifteen, says to me, "oh, at least at your age, you don't have to put up with a lot of stupid drama with your firends." I just sighed, and said, "honey, don't be looking too forward to that."

[Crossbow]

Quoted from the Pennsicwar.org site:

Pets
Absolutely no pets are permitted at Pennsic. This includes (but is not limited to) ferrets, snakes, birds, cats, and dogs. Individual exceptions may be made for service animals (see Disability Services).

Just let your friend know it's against site rules. Since it's not your call, it's not your fault.

And if they even try to call it a "service hamster:," smack them with a large fish.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Oh, we have. This is not going to happen, be it if she comes to her senses or I end up in an argument over it.

She is riding with me in my vehicle and I am one of the folks in charge of the camp. It will not be happening. She KNOWS it is not allowed. She is evidently simply trying to decide that that rule does not apply to her for whatever reason. She's trying to say it's just a little thing in a cage, nobody will know.

Just...no.

We've talked about it, actually. I am thinking that she might be not hearing what we are saying.

I am trying to stave off her showing up morning we leave with the damn thing in tow. She might actually pull that.

She has been alienating people with her attitude towards people she is travelling with lately and I cannot help but think it is about to come to a serious head. She wants a ride with me, she will be doing so under my say so.

[McGoddess09]

I am going to quote my vet on this one. He told me this after my sister's gerbil died:

"Promise me that you will not get anymore rodents. They carry diseases. I want you to go home and bleach everything the gerbil's stuff touched, wear gloves, and throw away all of the gerbil's stuff. "

So, I had to wear gloves, spray down everything with bleach, wash her bedding in hot water, vacuum her room, then bleach down the container, and spray bleach in the air.

Tell them that you would rather not expose yourself to disease. Rodents don't even show signs of diseases most of the time, so you can never tell.

[Exaspera]

Poor hamster. I don't think they really even like to camp.

[Kheldarson]

Hey, RK, if your friend does show up with a hamster can I go in her place? =P


Although I'm still trying to figure out why she thinks bringing a hamster would be a good idea in the first place?

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

"The F-ing Hamster Debacle" would be a great name for a rock band.

[ravevolution]

I say ditch her butt and go on your trip with your friends. . . at least she will have her hamster to keep her company, not to mention the only friend left

[shankyknitter]

wait wait wait a hamster at Pennsic?! A dog I can see for service reasons, but what's the point of a hamster? All the bugger's going to do is sit in a tent and over heat and die.

Or fall into the hands of the Ragnesfolke. Remind me to PM you an internet link to the only song the 'folke know.



It has a lovely calypso beat.

[Lachrymose]

And if they even try to call it a "service hamster:," smack them with a large fish.

Would that be a service fish?

[BookstoreEscapee]

And if they even try to call it a "service hamster:," smack them with a large fish.

Sorry, no fish allowed either.

Unless it's dinner.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Hey, RK, if your friend does show up with a hamster can I go in her place? =P


Although I'm still trying to figure out why she thinks bringing a hamster would be a good idea in the first place?

Actually, all joking aside, yes. You can.

In fact, I wish you were. I am not kidding. And not just because of this.


She is on the borderline of being an animal hoarder. She has so damn many pets at this point it costs her more to pay for a sitter than it does to attend the event.

She doesn.t want to pay extra to the sitter for the hamster. Although in the grand scheme of things, just pay it. Shit. You know? Whats a few more Benjamins after all this other outlay that is going on.

Nobody held a gun to her freaking head and told her to get all these animals. You want pets, it costs. I resent it becoming my problem. It will NOT become my problem.

She has got the snake squared away but is ominously silent about the rodent. Music practice tomorrow night promises to be....interesting...as I plan to bring it up and make sure we understand each other. I think what pisses me off more than anything is that she was not going to say anything to me about. She was just gonna show up with this thing. Only reason I know about it is because the other chick in my group DID know about it and brought it up in front of me last practice to give me a heads up because she knew I didn.t know what was being planned. It's my freaking van, I'm driving, and I am in partical charge of the camp. So this is all just disprespectful of her.

[BookstoreEscapee]

How much extra does a hamster cost?

[LewisLegion]

I am going to quote my vet on this one. He told me this after my sister's gerbil died:

"Promise me that you will not get anymore rodents. They carry diseases. I want you to go home and bleach everything the gerbil's stuff touched, wear gloves, and throw away all of the gerbil's stuff. "

So, I had to wear gloves, spray down everything with bleach, wash her bedding in hot water, vacuum her room, then bleach down the container, and spray bleach in the air.

Tell them that you would rather not expose yourself to disease. Rodents don't even show signs of diseases most of the time, so you can never tell.

That vet was an idiot.

Cats and dogs carry diseases too. And often hide signs of diseases, esp cats.

As long as you excercise at least minimal proper hygeine the chance of you getting sick from a pet rodent is slim to none.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I think something like fifteen bucks every other day or so for a week. o

Considering the cost of the rest of the zoo, I'd think that amount would hardly matter.