Before you ask, YES. Timstersblog is mine. And Timmy crossed over several years ago. Since he has left, I have been to boarding school, and returned, my family has had three more hamsters while I was away, I have had one mouse that manged to escape my daddy's mousetrap  without an eye and with a broken nose, his name was Sherbert. He died October 29, 2015. I had him for several months, but he was never really that friendly. Just incredibly entertaining to watch as he would run so fast on his wheel that he would spin himself around several times before landing and doing it again. He was hilarious. But he is dead. Later the day he died, my mother took me to the pet store and I picked out a new pet. Now before I tell you what it is, keep in mind that I am an animal person. I love most all critters. I ride horses, I love dogs, and Ill tolerate most cats with love and affection. I had had my heart set on getting a corgi and naming him Shadrack, and was going to teach him how to herd cattle, but my parents didn't want to have a dog in the house, so they nixed that idea. Nothing bigger than a breadbox, for the most part, is allowed to take up residence in my house without parental permission. Now there is one rodent that has feline and canine qualities sprinkled into its personality. It has a tail (obviously), and it is small, though not quite small enough that one really has to worry for when it gets out, if it does, because few holes in the wall are big enough for them to fit through. They love their master, and will stick with them, even if the person has fallen asleep and isn't paying attention to where they are (unlike hamsters which will look for every opportunity to run away). They are very smart, will teach themselves tricks which need only a word associated with it and a few treats to help with incentive. They seldom bite, and I have heard they are the least likely to out of their entire genus There are very few things which they cannot eat. Most people loath these tiny creatures, saying they are the cause of one of the biggest plagues in history, but before I continue any farther with this, let me just remind you, twas not they, but the flea which caused and continued the plague. I can sense your disgust already. Yes, my new pet is a rat. Her name is Baby. She is the sweetest little thing you may ever meet. She is always ready for play time, and she loves to lay at my feet on my bed when I bring her out. She has a grand cage, one which any hamster would love to have, as it is about four times the size of any cage they get. To the best of my knowledge, she is a hooded, variegated champagne and white little fancy rat. For five days I kept her with me for up to six hours at a time, and she loved it. She bonded with me quickly. Far faster than any hamster I've ever seen, or had, bond with their master. In those five days I corresponded with a breeder in Colorado, who told me that if she did not have a playmate, her life with me would have been shorter than the one the mouse had, and I would not tolerate losing another cherished pet to a lonesome spirit. On November third, I went back to the very same pet store and picked out another hooded, variegated tri-color rat whom I promptly named Sugar. (So now I have a "Sugar baby") She was a little bit more of a challenge than Baby, as she didn't get the same amount of time playing with me to begin with as her sister did. I have had them both for almost two months now, and though they both love to stay with me upon my bed and play with each other and myself in between their naps, they both retain quite a bit of the original attitudes they had when I first got them. Baby remains MY rat, and loves to come to me when I call her for snuggles or a snack, and Sugar is more my fathers than mine, though I paid for her. She loves to hop up on his shoulders when he comes into my room to play with them, and sticks close to him whenever she gets the opportunity. They seldom leave the hood on my jacket when I carry them around on my shoulders, and they love to give kisses. They chew holes in everything, and rarely go an hour without pissing on my sheets, but sheets can be washed and holes are reminders of the dear ones I treasure for after they pass. They are the just about cutest little critters I have ever seen, and they both are some of the best little friends I have ever had.