Fortunately, we know how to reassure ourselves that we're not members of that strange realm: attend the Greater Chicago Ferret Association's Greatest Ferret Show on Earth, an annual event at the DuPage County Fairgrounds in Wheaton, timed for the beginning of October.

Within an hour, our internal fears are assuaged. "You guys only have four," says a man who is cradling a large, albino, un-neutered male that he's considering for adoption. "I hardly even remember four." It seems he's been up to double digits for as long as he can remember.

It's as if ferret owners are part of a secret cult; lining the walls are tables filled with everything ferret: calendars, mugs, T-shirts, stuffed animals, ceramic figurines and shot glasses share space with other mustelid accoutrements, like cages, food, litter boxes, toys and, of course, ferrets for adoption. Meanwhile, ferret shows are ongoing throughout the day. In addition to more serious, breeder-oriented contests, there are sillier events to fit the nature of a ferret's personality, the likes of yawning contests and paper bag escape races.

We are, however, successful: We leave the Fairgrounds without a fifth ferret, despite a large, baby boy who curls up in our arms and nearly falls asleep (how the hell do you think we got four in the first place?). "Are you sure you don't want to keep holding him?" asks the nice breeder lady.

"YES," I say. "We are leaving NOW!"

Also by Dave Chamberlain

RAW MATERIAL
Below are records that I haven't had an opportunity to write about since they've been released, and are relatively off the radar in terms of mainstream press. All were released in 2001, and all are available now (meaning no pre-release bragging here).
(2001-10-04)

RAW MATERIAL
For atombombpocketknife, a band that's circulated around the Chicago area for a little more than three years, the show celebrates the release of its second full-length record (and third overall), "God Save the ABPK" (Southern).
(2001-09-20)

RAW MATERIAL
For those not in the know, Thumbnail is the product of Knoxville, Tennessee, where Jason Morris, David Burns, Steve Schmidt and Justin Sinkovich—now a member of Atombombpocketknife—were students at the University of Tennessee.
(2001-09-13)

CLOSE CALL
On the morning of September 11, Ryan Gowing and his friend James Cole were returning to their home in New York from San Francisco, on an ATA flight headed toward LaGuardia Airport. "It didn't look like a plane crashed into it, it just looked like a big black splotch," continues Gowing. When their airplane passed the World Trade Center towers, only one was burning.
(2001-09-13)

RAW MATERIAL
(2001-09-06)

RAW MATERIAL
(2001-08-30)

CONTINENTAL REPAST
(2001-08-30)

RAW MATERIAL
(2001-08-23)

RAW MATERIAL
(2001-08-09)

RAW MATERIAL
(2001-08-02)

RAW MATERIAL
(2001-07-26)

DISCOVERIES
(2001-07-19)