Goin' To The Dogs...And the Cats!

I don’t really understand it, but I do.

All Ellen did is what any of us would have done. You adopt a homeless animal from your local shelter knowing you can give it a loving home along with the hope that every creature in your home will get along with the new guy!

And, if it doesn’t work out, it’s your responsibility to find it another good home, and not to send it back to the animal shelter.

Well, don’t be so harsh to judge on the shelter’s end of things, either.

Two years back, I adopted a little six-week-old kitten, and I was put through the ringer with all kinds of questions about where I lived, who lived there, where I worked, my vet’s name, would it ever be an outside cat…I’m seriously surprised that they didn’t run a credit history on me.

Between the interview (“So, do you know how to take care of a kitten?”), the paperwork to adopt was incredible, and yes, that verbiage is in there…”if you ever decide to give your pet away, you need to contact us first”, since they’re the first line of contact to find your adopted pet another home.

I also had to have my vet sign a certificate to tell them that Rufus did, indeed, have his second round of kitten shots. Not a binding part of the agreement, but I thought ARF (Animal Rescue Foundation) would like to know.

Here’s the deal, folks. Way, way too many people adopt cute little kittens and puppies only to realize that they grow up to be cats and dogs and they’re not prepared for the responsibilities.

The non-profit animal rescue organizations (as well as your local shelters) are all too aware of this, and they really don’t want see that cute little puppy you adopted come back to the shelter because it’s too big and doesn’t fit your lifestyle any longer.

This is why they want to interview you.

No, Ellen didn’t do anything wrong, really. She just didn’t read the fine print.

Is the shelter at fault? No, not really. They’re just being heavy handed with their rules.

Solution? Just give the kids the puppy!

Problem solved!

And, Coach Reid, Paul Would Like To Add...

One last thing:

If your cell phone or home phone rings, and it's anything or anyone Eagles-related, please, don't answer. All will be well. You're no longer Andy Reid, coach & GM, you're just Andy Reid, dad & husband. That's your full-time job now. Thanks.

Dear Coach Reid:

Please do all of us a favor and step down for the rest of the season.

Yes, the team's in trouble, but your family clearly needs you more than we do right now.

The team will be fine without you.

Please go home, get some sleep and reconnect with your family.

Your family loves you and needs you right about, oh, now.

Kisses,

Dee

My Second "Top Ten"

3 - The Fratellis, “Costello Music” (US Release, March 2007)

Late in 2006, Paul (my boyfriend) and I heard “Chelsea Dagger” for the first time, and we were hooked. We’re ‘80’s kids from way, way back, and as far as we’re concerned, there’s nothing better than a great throwback song that you can dance to.

Sure, “Flathead” has been used to death in the “I Pod” ads, but no matter. This is what I like to call “pub rock” at it’s best.

There’s no need to think about the meaning of the lyrics…well, you can, if you like, but you’d be better off just thinking about yourself in some dark little pub in London dancing to these guys.

Oh, and if you ever have the chance to see these guys live, make sure that you move the earth to do so.

4 - Amy Winehouse, “Back To Black” (US Release, March 2007)

She’s a total mess, a train wreck just waiting to happen, but you cannot deny her talent.

Her songwriting, along with that old, soulful voice just may be the last CD she ever does, but boy, does her voice move me.

She’s one troubled person, but when she’s got it all together, she makes incredible music.

And, 5?

I have one spot left for this second top three, and I haven’t decided yet which one it will be.

But, with that said, my top three have been decided!

Let me know what your “Top Ten” are.

Please feel free to leave a comment!

My Third "Top Ten"

So, it’s getting to be that time again.

The retailers can wring out the seasons for us earlier and earlier every year. The motion picture industry believes that the months in between September and December are the prime time to drop the big, serious films.

And, the music industry (for whatever’s left of it), follows the same marketing pattern. Yes, I’ve loved the new releases from Mark Knopfler and Joni Mitchell, but I thought it’d be a good time to take a look back to the winter and spring releases and see if any of them still held up.

And, these are the ones that have.

1 – “The Good, The Bad, And The Queen”, January 2007

The only tracks that alternative radio plays is “Herculean” (and, perhaps, “Northern Whale”), but for the first time in ages, I played the whole CD today, and it surprised me, again.

Albarn, Simonon, Allen and Tong have created their own dark London soundscape. It’s still sounds dark, haunting and amazing.

2 – “The Shins”, “Wincing The Night Away”, January 2007

Their wonderful fuzzed out single “Phantom Limb” was released about this time last year, and while James Mercer isn’t the best vocalist in the world, the nods towards the psychedelic era of the “Beach Boys” still sounds good to these ears. This CD didn’t go down well with old fans of the band, but cuts like “Red Rabbits” and “A Comet Appears” still make the CD worthwhile.

Oh, and some bonus rock trivia: “Wincing The Night Away” was named for Mercer’s ongoing battle with insomnia.

3 – “The Cat Empire”, “Two Shoes”, US Release, February 2007

There’s simply not a better cure for anything that ails you with this CD from this Australian funk/jazz/rap based band.

If you like to laugh, they truly bring it with the words to “Sly”. If you’re partial to amazing musicianship, they bring it home all of the way. You can tell they had a blast recording this.

There’s one cut on the CD that’s a bit twee (“Protons, Neutrons, Electrons”), and there’s more than enough homage to Bob Marley, but bear in mind this was recorded in the same studio in Cuba where “The Buena Vista Social Club”, and it was recorded live with some of the musicians from that project.

Rain, sweet, sweet rain...

Coming soon to an area near you!

Too warm, too late!

Okay, I want my autumn back.

I want my favorite season returned to me as soon as possible, ‘kay?

Summer, give it up!

Stop holding it hostage…I don’t care what you want, but I’m at the point where I’m willing to give up any historical East Coast storm during the winter just so that I can enjoy my favorite season.

Really, just let it go…you’ll be back soon enough next year.

Oh, and don’t let this week's cold front kick your butt on the way out...just remember to close the door, 'kay?

Kisses,

Dee

Another Nail In My Heart

Yeah, I know just how he feels.

"A Phillies Fan In The Mets Court"

Let’s see…the time is 1:47 PM.

Signed up for “CBS3” updates via the cell? Check.

Fresh coffee? Check.

Did the bathroom break thing? Check.

Is there enough paperwork piled around the desk to look busy for the next two hours? Double check.

ESPN.com tabbed on the browser? Of course.

Will Bunch, too? Live blogging the game? Absolutely, and I am there!

Time to wait for the first pitch? Only a small eternity, of course.

And, so we wait.

For those of us out here in those far thrown counties of Central and Northern New Jersey, we wait for that first pitch. Believe me, we're drooling in our keyboards in anticipation.

But, there are always questions that hang in the air:

Should I wear my Phils’ jersey? Do I dare put on my Rollins, or risk having some crazed Mets fan clobber me over the head with an overpriced pineapple in the produce section at Wegmans?

Should I leave the stuffed “Philly Phanatic” sit on my desk, or will I come back in the morning to find it stabbed through it’s little phanatical heart with a letter opener?

And what about my coffee mug?

It’s tough, you know, living in “Mets Country”.

Especially after today’s loss.


Which reminds me...where's my letter opener?

"Sports Talk"

I’ve always believed that the thin line between the New York City and Philadelphia area is a road, and it’s called 195.

North of 7A on the New Jersey Turnpike, it’s not a hoagie, it’s a sub. A warm steak sandwich is, well a warm steak sandwich with cheese and certainly not a cheesesteak ‘wit’, and these poor people will never know the glories of a “Tastykake” with Wawa coffee for a quick breakfast.

North of 7A, Philly fans are, and will always continue to be, the ones that are scorned. “You booed ‘Santa Claus ‘”, they’ll tell you, over all of the beers and wings in a northern New Jersey bar.

“Remember 1993! Remember Mitch Williams! Remember last year, when your so-called “Fighting Phils” gave it all up with only one game to go!”

“And, how about how Donovan fell apart in his only Super Bowl appearance!”

Yadda, yadda, yadda, ya know. We know!

While I’m over the moon that my Phils’ are moving onto the next set of games towards the World Series, I’m really feeling bad for the Mets and their fans.

There’s no schaudenfraude here, but I feel your pain, since I’m a Philly sports fan and once you’ve sipped the “Philly Fan” Kool-Aid, I believe you’ve just made a life-long commitment.

You need to go through the five stages of grief, but I know as well as anyone that there is no stage called “utter disgust”.

My team will be playing on Wednesday night, and yours won’t, but I promise to be good.

I promise not to wear any of my Phillies tees and jerseys until we’re in the World Series. Besides, I fear serious retribution in the produce section of Wegman’s if I do.

I’ll be nice, I promise. I won’t bring up the game if you won’t.

And, with that said….

“Go, Phils!”