Our Petsmart started doing the pictures with Santa thing this weekend, and
Louie and I decided to join in, helping with the fourleggers and trimming
pictures for the little snowflake ornaments, etc. We bought Milkbones and
Pounce and every little visitor got a "cookie." Five bucks out of each
picture packet went to Tenth Chance, which is probably the local shelter
that needs it most; their vet has threatened to cut them off because, even
with a discount, their bills have mounted so horribly that it'll take God
and Congress to get them straight.

We met some lovely people yesterday: Lonesome, who does not deserve the
name, he's such a showpiece and attention-grabber. This big, mighty black
cat--did I say big?--he has to be a good twenty-five pounds, is literally
one handsome hunk of cat, and did I mention he was huge? Joker, a Bernese
Mountain Dog with paws the size of dinner plates, a gentle giant, trained in
therapy to work with stroke patients; a tiny powder-puff of a Sheltie-Poo I
was asked to hold while his mama got loaded up with puppy food; a little
kitten with a big attitude, Napoleon, aptly named; and two bulldogs who
turned out to be froim the same breeder, and were actually littermates taken
by two families who had never met. When they met in the Santa line, you'd
have thought you were watching an adoption reunion special on Oprah. And oh
yeah, we met some great two-legged people too.

We were only supposed to be there two hours. Before I knew it six hours had
come and gone. Others who were signed up never showed. Good; more fun for us
then! I got to hold all the puppies and kitties while their servants signed
up for Petsmart cards. There's nothing like a little dog sticking a very
cold, wet nose in your ear to make you lively! Nor a kitty purring in that
same ear to make you forget the work week.

They were hoping Louie would do the Santa thing. But my husband is allergic
to the fibers they use for the beards, and his own chin-fuzz is nothing like
the beloved saint's. Now I'm running like a chicken with the Colonel behind
him, trying to find a Santa to fit the suit for next week. The suit they
were given is built for someone of smaller stature, and girth, than is
generally expected of a Santa-for-a-day. And for myself, does anyone know a
Trekkie who'd lend a set of Spock ears to an aspiring elf to use the next
two weekends?

Blessed be,
Baha