A SLO RECOVERY FOR AN EYE WIDE SHUT and "HOW THEY MET"

You've heard the expression that some stroke of moderate good luck is "Better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick"? Well I can vouch that it's true. Almost two weeks ago, I was romping with my friends Porter and Lola in their yard when I ran into the branch of a bush. It hurt a little - we pit bulls don't cry uncle easily - but I figured mom and dad would fix it right up. They couldn't and so we turned to Dr. Lisa and our pals at Malibu Coast Animal Hospital who said that I'd injured my cornea in four places, one of which looked nasty. They sent us home with eye drops, ugh, and orders to stay calm, which meant no dog park, or play dates, and wearing the dreaded "Cone of Shame". I'm on the mend now but still looking like I forgot to slip a Mike Tyson hook. Hopefully Dr. Lisa will give us the 'all clear' on Thursday and then I can get back to my normal jovial mayhem. 

with my pal Charlie D before the 'incident'

Even though they're worried about my eye, mom and dad still took me on a delayed Valentine weekend getaway to San Luis Obispo. As usual, they went shopping and tried the local restaurants, like Firestone's (BBQ) and the Big Sky Cafe.  For me, the highlight was a new toy duck, and getting to share dad's bed, something that happens at home only when the Santa Ana winds come roaring. While I love cuddling with my grumpy doggie daddy, I was thrilled to get home to my own bed and my toys. Speaking of delayed Valentine's business, I thought I'd pull a fast one and post the entry mom sent to the local paper's  "How We Met" contest. She didn't win, but yours truly thinks she should have. Give it a look, and see if you don't agree. Regardless, I'm sure glad they got together or who knows where I'd be living right now. - From the time I was 17, I knew the man I was supposed to marry was somewhere in New York. But first I had to get there.  After college, I left L.A. and headed to the Big Apple. " Do what you love and you’ll meet the man of your dreams.”  For two years I followed my mother’s mantra and kept my eyes peeled at museums, and during lunchtime workouts at Jack LaLanne’s gym on Madison Avenue. Then one afternoon, HE walked into the club. Red sweatpants, black hair, devilish Italian smile - my whole being screamed that ‘Lou’ was the one. We were introduced by my best friend, Debbie. For the next 3 months, I played it cool, interviewing him while we ran on the treadmills. Then one day, he was gone. When two weeks passed and he didn’t show, I became concerned and called. He said his father had passed away and he was helping his family in New Jersey but would return soon. No more playing it cool. I’d tipped my hand; he knew that I was interested in him. When he returned to the City, he took me to a Halloween costume party. Five years later, we eloped and were married at Juliet’s Tomb, in Verona, Italy. We left New York and moved to Malibu, our home now for 24 years. After three decades, our time together keeps getting better.  Maybe it’s because he was born on Valentine's Day? Or maybe my mother was right. 

Mom & Dad on their 2nd date (don't ask)

Finally, here's a shout out to this year's Westminster Dog Show winner, a spry little Beagle named Miss P. As Beagles go, she's pretty hot but I'm still longing for the day when an American Staffordshire Terrier or our English cousin, the Staffie, takes the big blue ribbon.

Miss P, 2015 Best In Show