[Gpdd] MISC: Why the guinea pig?

[Marty]

Why the guinea pig?

My junior year in college I had a roommate for one quarter who was just 
there for that one quarter to learn English. She was from South Korea. 
After she left I had a vacancy in my dorm room.  I worked nights at the 
front desk of the dorm and one of my coworkers, Denise,  was unhappy with 
her roomate.  She asked me if she could move in with me and I told her that 
if it was okay with the residence hall staff it was okay with me.

When Denise got settled in our room she asked me what I would think about a 
pet in our room... Nothing was allowed but fish but she had a guinea pig at 
home that she had just gotten and she wanted her piggie with her at college. 
I didn't know much about the little critters but I love animals and thought 
a small animal would be pretty easy to hide if necessary.  Denise's brother 
also had a guinea pig and the pet store told the two of them that both pigs 
were boars so they lived together. Well, this black and white furball moved 
into our room and into my heart.  Denise named "him" Guinifred and every 
time I'd come in from class or wherever the first thing I'd have to do is 
cuddle the piggie.  I loved to turn on my stereo while holding Guinifred 
because she would close her eyes and purr with the music. Hide?  HA! 
Guinifred was the wheeeeeekiest thing! "He" kept getting fatter and 
fatter-one day Denise said what if it's a female and what if it's pregnant?! 
A few days later, sometime between 2 a.m. when Denise went to bed and 5 a.m. 
when I got up, four little piggies joined Guinifred in HER box.  I was 
amazed at their alertness and how  much like their mom they were. Denise 
told me I could have one, but she got too attached and kept them all.

After I graduated from college I was missing having a fuzzball around.  I 
told my mom this and she said, "Why don't you get a guinea pig?"  No need to 
ask me twice!  I went to Meijer and came home with a TSW boar I named 
Winnie.  I don't want to ever get one from Meijer again... Winnie wasn't a 
healthy guy(he was only with me a little over two years  :( ) and now I know 
better and have more resources to find piggies when I'm ready for more. 
Right now I have my two, Sid and Tiger.

I love their little personalities (pig-alities?)  I have had four total not 
counting Denise's and they each offer their own special things.  Winnie was 
a snuggler and a music lover.  Blaze was my speedy little super-pig who 
loved to run around and scare me half to death by jumping off of my shoulder 
until I learned that I had to keep a hand on him at all times. Sid is my 
wheeeeeeeeeeeeker. He is the loudest piggie I've had. He loves to be right 
over my heart... I'm not sure if he is comforted by its beating or what... 
Tiger is another snuggler and a kissy pig.  He loves to get in my face and 
lick my nose!