The Truth about Puppies and Red Birds

Well, I'm back, again. I had a busy weekend with Yale Street Market on Saturday. It was a good day, and I had a lot of fun visiting with everyone that came out for it. Leslie and I will have a booth at Art in the Park in Orange, TX on the 21st. So, if you are in the area come out and see us.

Saturday night after Yale Street Market, we went to El Tiempo Cantina with Leslie and Carmen. We had a really nice meal and headed home afterwards. When it was close to bedtime, I took Oscar out to potty. Immediately, I heard this loud crying noise coming from the street in front of our complex. I really thought it was a baby. I let Oscar in the apartment and headed back outside to investigate. Right away I saw something running around the street as car passed by. I ran to the gate and noticed that it looked like a tiny puppy that was about to be run over by a car. I started calling for the puppy as it was still crying out for help. The puppy stumbled over towards me and struggled to climb the curb and crawl through the gate. Finally, she landed right in my hands. She was adorable and probably about 2 pounds. I have no idea how old she was, but she couldn't have been more than a couple of weeks old. I ran in the apartment and called for Keith to come outside. I put the puppy down on the ground and she ran over to Keith and cuddled up next to his leg. Oscar was raising all kinds of hell in the house because he knew something good was going on outside. I noticed that it looked like the puppy had mange, so I knew that she couldn't stay in the house overnight. So, I decided to put her on the patio connected to our spare room. We have two patios...one connects to the spare room and one to the master. I was afraid to put her on the patio by the master, because I knew Oscar would go crazy all night if she cried at all. I set up Oscar's kennel on the spare room patio and set her up with food, water and blankets. I stayed out with her for a bit while she scarfed down some food and eventually curled up in the kennel. Then, about 15 minutes later we heard a loud crying noise coming from the patio outside our room. It seems puppy had found her way to our patio and was scratching and crying as loud as she could trying to get our attention. I finally got up and went out on the patio and carried her back to the kennel on the other side. It seems that she had gotten locked out of the kennel and wanted back in. I let her back in and propped open the door with a towel. She went right in and curled up for bed. The next morning I got out of bed to find her starring in the glass at Amos who was curiously examining her. She had made herself at home. Let me tell you, I really wanted to keep this dog. She was so cute, but she looked a lot like a lab mix (she had a beautiful golden color), and we definitely don't need a big dog in this apartment. So, I decided to take her to the SPCA, where it is my hope that she will find a good home. I put her on the counter at the SPCA and she kept running right back to me to hold her. I nearly caved and brought her back home with me. I can only imagine the look on Keith's face if I would have done that! They assured me, however, that she would find a good home. Of course, puppies are highly desired as adoptable pets. So, I hope that she has found a good home by now. She will definitely make someone a great pet. I was already attached to her in a matter of hours.

Ok...enough of that or I am gonna get sad. On a much happier note, I am proud to report that The St. Louis Cardinals beat San Diego in the NLDS by a tally of 3 games to 1. Starting tomorrow they play the NY Mets for the National League title. The Cardinals are definitely the underdog, which was also the case in the NLDS. I am very hopeful that they can continue to play excellent baseball, though. If their pitching stays strong and the rest of the offense (other than Pujols) contributes, they definitely have a chance. GO CARDS! GO CARDS! GO CARDS!
GO CARDS!

Until next time...

I'm all about lists...

I love lists. I make them all of the time. Lists for what I need to do during the day, grocery lists, gift lists, lists of menus. Trust me I am a list expert. I love the list shows on television. You know, the Top 10, 50, 100, 1000, etc. lists that are some channel just about any time of day or night. So, I thought I would try my hands on a Top 10 list of my own...just for fun. I have discussed my love of television, so I thought I would try MY list of the top 10 characters/actors on television. Just for clarity's sake, I am only including shows that are currently in production. If we were talking "all time", that would be a completely different list. Here it goes...

10) Lina Warbler on "The Class" (CBS)...played by Heather Goldenhersh. If you haven't seen this show, you should give it a try. Keith and I think it is hysterical. The character of Lina is my favorite...really fresh, funny and cute.

9) Dr. Addison Montgomery-Shephard on "Grey’s Anatomy" (ABC)...played by Kate Walsh. Kate is so awesome in this role. I just love her. I went from completely hating her character to actually feeling terribly sorry for her in the last couple of episodes. I think Grey's is one of the best shows on television in recent memory, and a big reason for that is actresses like Kate Walsh and characters like Dr. Montgomery-Shephard.

8) Old Christine on "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (CBS)...played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Totally laugh out loud funny. This character is almost as good as Elaine Benes...who knows, give it a few more years and she may top her Seinfeld character. I doubt it though. That one goes in the hall of fame!

7) Betty on "Ugly Betty" (ABC)...played by America Ferrara. I have fallen in love with this show, already! Mark my words...America Ferrara will get an Emmy nomination for her portrayl of Ugly Betty. She is just adorable.

6) Nora Holden on "Brothers & Sisters" (ABC)...played by Sally Field. Come on...it's Sally Field. The amazing Sally Field. Need I say more? Well, I will. I have only seen two episodes of this show, but I think it has great potential.

5) Alan Shore on "Boston Legal" (ABC)...played by James Spader. This eccentric, unpredictable character is one of the reasons that I can't miss Boston Legal every week. He is so terribly strange and a perfect yin for Denny Crane's yang.

4) Dr. Miranda Bailey on "Grey’s Anatomy" (ABC)...played by Chandra Wilson. She is the ever bitchy, but still loveable Resident of "Grey's Anatomy." Beginning late last season, I was happy to see that the character was allowed to show more sides of her personality...thus, making her seem more like a real person. Wilson is brilliant actress and has definitely not received the acclaim that she deserves.

3) Cartman on "South Park" (Comedy Central). I have been a South Park fan since its debut. They are still creating some of the best comedy available. Cartman in particular is perhaps the most ridicuously funny character ever on television...and he is just a cartoon (and a crappy one at that).

2) Shirley Schmidt on "Boston Legal" (ABC)...played by Candice Bergen. I hated Murphy Brown. Ask Keith. I just did not like that show or character at all. However, Candice Bergen on Boston Legal is pure heaven. I think I may like her more as an actress than I necessarily like her character, Shirley Schmidt. She is just spot on in her performance.

DRUM ROLL................

1) Nancy Botwin on "Weeds" (Showtime)...played by the incomparable, Mary-Louise Parker. She is the best actress on television. No doubt in my mind. She makes me believe that this woman, Nancy, is real. She plays one of the most complicated female characters on television and does it with ease. She is what all actors aspire to be. That's why she is numero uno in my book!

That's all for tonight. Hope you enjoyed my little attempt at making a top 10! I would love to hear your favorites...