by Matty Boy Anderson 02.25.10

One of my worst habits is my tendency to celebrate things AFTER they've passed on. I used to cringe when I would re-read my old blog archives, at the long stretches of entries eulogizing one entertainer after another. Of course, now I cringe at the fact that I accidentally erased my blog and everything in it, but the point is, I'm trying to get better about talking up things that are currently extant. Also: I inevitably botch off-site apps. It's fate's way of telling me that I should confine my gibberish to a single cyberspot.

Anyways, one of these currently extant things is Hugo, who became the Official Pod Hamster in May of last year. He was preceded in the honor of course by Lothar (2006-2009), but also more recently by Olly, who, bless his tiny heart, could only stay in this world with us for a scant two weeks. Hugo got on board immediately afterward, and it's long been suspected that he's Olly's brother. Hugo does not share his predecessor Lothar's taste for adventure, but one thing is certain: he is a miniaturized polar bear that most likely came from the future to watch over us for whatever reason.

So, without further ado-go, here comes HUGO!

	Here he is to say hello from his expansive Ovo palace. For the first few months Hugo was very timid, and so this was his typical salutation. (Also he was only a wee snip when this shot was taken.)
	Please don't take it personally if Hugo checks a few things out first. He'll usually walk the grounds once a day just to make sure everything's peachy.
	Hugo loves to keep fit, like all good healthy hammies. Yeah, I call him "Hammy". And "Bun". And "Sniflet". You'd call him all sorts of embarrassing nicknames too if you knew him personally. I mean, look at his tail for pete's sake! You could just pinch it!!!
	Hugo's favorite time to run is around 5 or 6 in the morning, which results in a soothing rumble that makes it impossible for people nearby to stay awake. This is how Hugo works his magic. Note how he stretches; this is an optical illusion caused by his lightning speed.
	Hugo insists that his eyes are black, but occasionally they appear red, like Olly's (he was a cinnamon hamster that looked like a caramel creme with a tail). Hugo also has the longest fingers I've seen on a hamster, which means he's excellent at playing the tiny piano.
	Like Lothar before him, Hugo loves to help out on the laptop. Unlike Lothar, Hugo actually checks out what's on the screen before he decides he's bored with it. Lothar was pretty blase about computers.
	One of the things that makes Hugo unique is his fastidiousness. He likes a clean castle and a fresh, fluffy bed-pod. He will root through bedding until it softens to his liking. He will also bury favorite treats so they are in easy reach when he awakens. He will, with enough fluff, fully camoflage himself.
	So he can spy on you.
	Or maybe just nom. Hugo doesn't really care to spy on folks. He's simply too good-natured. He wouldn't alienate a potential treat-giver.
	Now it's time for a little cool refreshment. There is exploring to be done. Oh my GOD his pink shnoz is so adorable.
	The big chair is a favorite spot for grooming, plus it has lots of handprints and crannies to sniff. Sniffing is a high priority for busy hamsters. They see it as a kind of art form.
	The carpeted stairway was a big hit with Hugo- almost immediately after discovering them he began rubbing his sides on the wall. A hammy's scent glands are on its sides, and when they rub up on something, that means they love it so much that it's officially theirs. We're talking LUV.
	But luv and exploring are hard work, and sometimes a hammy can just get all tuckered out... even when they're not ready to be.
	Sometimes... a Hugo can get SO sleepy, he thinks he's a ferret. Or more accurately becomes a ferret, for brief periods of time.
	In moments of extreme comfort and snoozing, Hugo will delight onlookers with what we call a "paw show" (demonstrated at left). Witnessing a paw show where all paws are visible can improve the quality of your day up to 800%. That's what's known as science fact.
	Regardless of the depth of his slumber, Hugo will quickly investigate anything unusual on the grounds, for example, when his favorite Ovo pod is being cleaned and rid of funky hammy breath.
	Why, Hugo even poses for holiday pictures like these, as a reward for those who read all about him on the internet! BECAUSE HUGO LOVES US. Seriously: he crawled out of a Christmas stocking for you. So you better love him. Or he will bite on you until you do.

-MBA

PS: Did you notice? Ceaseless Fables hit 25 last Sunday! Hugo says "ta ta for now", next update will probably not be anywhere near as cutesy!