CH-CH-CHANGES EVERYWHERE…HUMP DAY HELP…A HERO'S TALE

It's been awhile since our last post but we've been busy, working to launch the revised and redesigned version of GIMME SHELTER that grew out of our recent Pepperdine University experience. Given all of the clerical tasks and logistics - like uploading content and art, and redesigning websites and blogs - the process has been daunting, especially for Lou who's more of a 'big idea' type that would rather be researching and writing.  Eugenie and I tease him that the book about a man who learns to overcome his anger has become a challenge to his progress!  Despite a few minor hiccups, he's staying calm (a relative term), proving that I did, indeed, help him evolve. Our thanks to Pepperdine prodigies Jesse Segura and Klara Tomkins for the new cover, and to Timothy Mitchell, another Pepperdine ace, for helping rework our website louisspirito.com. For those of you who follow us here on Blogger, you'll notice that Lou has tweaked that, too. Be sure to let us know what you think of all the hard work. 

cover design by Jesse Segura & Klara Tomkins

Despite all the busy-ness, we've still managed to squeeze in a little fun at the dog park, where I met the cutest Shepherd pups who think I'm just adorable. One strange thing though; every time I start jumping on them, mom and dad scold me and tell me 'get down' and stop 'humping'. In his most recent newsletter, Cesar Millan explains why dogs hump, and what to do about it if your pooch is out of control. According to Cesar, our grinding and thrusting can be sexual, social, playful, or a result of over excitement, and isn't limited to just male dogs. If you'd like to know more, read the article by Josh Weiss-Roessler.

doing the 'doggie mambo'

Finally, with Memorial Day having just slipped past, here'r a reminder to check out our pal Dan Cohen's new book, SINGLE HANDED,  about immigrant war hero and Medal of Honor Winner Tibor, 'Teddy' Rubin. It's a riveting yarn, and you wont' be disappointed.

'REX' COMES TO L.A. - A 'SINGLE HANDED' TRIUMPH

Ever since Christmas we've been urging our fans to help find a home for Rex, the sweetest pit bull who'd been marking time in the Santa Maria animal shelter. Well, it hasn't happened yet but we're one step closer. Connie Kruse and the other center volunteers brought Rex and a gang of his shelter pals to last weekend's No Kill LA mega-adoption

sponsored by Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. The Best Friends folks like Rex so much that they took him, and 10 of his pals, to stay at their beautiful West L.A. Shelter ( 1845 Pontius Ave, West LA 90025, (424) 208-8840, open 12:00 - 8:00 every day). What that means is that L.A. dog lovers and potential doggie parents can now go see him in person, fall in love, and whisk him out of there to a forever home. In case you've forgotten just how lovable (or, in his case, love-a-pitbull) Rex is, here's a video of him with Connie, when she drove down to visit him yesterday. 

And speaking of awesome stories...If tales of bravery and heroism are your cup of tea, you absolutely must read our friend Dan Cohen's just released book, SINGLE HANDED, the story of Tibor "Teddy" Rubin, the only Holocaust survivor to have received our nation's highest military distinction, the Medal of Honor.

 'Imagine you're a young Jewish boy from Hungary who's tossed into the Nazi death camps and forced to survive on street smarts and courage. After the Warthat same boy volunteers to fight in Korea for his newly adopted homeland, the U.S., where he displays unparalleled bravery only to be captured, imprisoned and tortured by the Chinese communists, who prove no match for his iron will and resourcefulness.' The advance notices are terrific and Tibor's exploits will leave you shaking your head.