funeral homes

Somewhere along the line, funeral homes, became parlors, then became mortuaries. Decca Mitford probably had something to do with that by the publication of "The American Way of Death". In typical Mitford fashion, she set off on the funeral industry like a wild dog confronting the funeral industry abuse of aggrieved families, she saw behind every funeral.

She had an impact for a while. To distance themselves from their shady competitors many "parlors" went from family enterprises to chains.

At the top of our street, next to the high school, is a mortuary. They have, what Mrs. T and I disrespectfully describe as, maybe 3 shows a month. How or why they stay open is a mystery, but every time I pass I'm reminded of Decca.

Passing there often makes me wonder what they could do with their free time, that is when they aren't having shows. I've gotten fairly creative at times. Seems like a wonderful junior prom space, art gallery, chauffeuring business, church. Who knows.

It seems as long they are empty, and probably have bills to pay whether or not they're working, it could be a great community resource, so long as you could deal with sudden cancellations.

Out of the blue, Number One Son sent me a link to this story in the Topeka, Kansas Capital-Journal, originally published in the Berkshire Eagle.

Mass. mortuary hopes chili cook-off brings 'life'

The Associated Press
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Western Massachusetts funeral home is trying "bring life" to business with a chili cook-off, a murder-mystery show and free limo rides to couples on their 50th anniversaries. Terry Probst, the new managing partner of the Devanny-Condron Funeral Home in Pittsfield, hopes the events will remind people that the funeral home is a center for community life.

He said if customers know that the funeral home also can be the setting for other, happier activities, they might take some comfort in the place later when dark times come.

Among other other events sponsored by the funeral home are an art walk, a visit by the Easter Bunny, and monthly birthday cakes to the Pittsfield Senior Center.

For all my joking about it, this kind of creeps me out, but I'm unsure why. Any ideas?

Toad

Bank of America

Several years ago, ten year old granddaughter Paige, in the spirit of American capitalism, opened a custodial savings account at her local Bank of America office with the $100 she saved. She hasn't touched it since.

Monday she received a letter from the home office stating her account had been closed and the bank wanted the $11.07 she owed. Her parents called to ask, huh?

Monthly account fees they were told, its our thanks for the Tarp funds. It shows up on your month statement.

Paige doesn't receive a statement, she went green years ago.

Tuff, pay up, or will sic the dogs on you, the voice on the phone intimated.

Today, Paige is going to school late so the local branch manager can tell a 10 year old why he stole her money. Mom stands ready to go "trailer trash" on them (dad's quote) if they don't give it back.

I'll let you know.

Toad

Stages of a boys life

Mrs. T and I volunteered to help a great friend at a professional do-gooder event over the weekend. Her husband is one of my oldest friends, and as guys will, he and I quickly began sizing up the women in the crowd. Pigs, I know.

There were two young, very attractive women in the crowd, and while cute, friend said, I have no interest any more. You?

I replied with my usual, "my shoes are older than her." He replied with his usual which I will not repeat.

That exchange led to this expose. It might help.

A boys life travels a long road.

From

I'd love to meet her

to

I'd do her

to

I'd do her, but at great personal cost!

to

I'd do her, but I am unwilling to pay the great personal cost involved, so I'll do something safer and as expensive instead.

to

I hope I can do her.

to

I want to do it all over again with her.


I hope that helped.
Toad

I bet your state doesn't do this

Missouri, probably much like your state, has money trouble.

Mercifully, the state constitution strictly requires a balanced budget. That's because the crackers and muttonheads that run the legislature are generally under indictment by the end of their limited terms, and given unlimited budget authority god knows where we'd be.

Unlike your state however, ours has a plan to restore fiscal responsibility.

Ready for this?

The Powerball Lottery

The state senate is arguing a bill that would require the governor to pony up $2 a week out his own pocket to "invest" in lottery tickets. If he wins, the winnings go to the state.

Pretty cool, eh?

From The Associated Press, February 24, 2010 - 10:16 AM

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Some Missouri lawmakers want the governor to play the lottery in hopes both he and the state will win big.

The House Tax Reform Committee scheduled a hearing Wednesday on a bill that pokes fun at Gov. Jay Nixon's proposed budget.

The measure would require Nixon to buy a $2 lottery ticket each week from his personal paycheck until he wins enough to make up a $300 million budget shortfall.

Nixon's proposed 2011 budget assumes Missouri will get about $300 million if Congress extends the federal stimulus payments to states for an additional six months.

Toad

Thank you

Kids, collectively we have been awarded a major award.

The talented and witty Scottish Princess, Dumbwit Tellher has bestowed upon us the Kreativ Blogger Award, for which I am deeply humbled.

I like prizes.

If you haven't read her blog, Ms. Dumbwit is a visual feast. Part Art and Architecture, part life, love and family, and always entertaining, upbeat, and exciting. I look forward to her daily posts.

Subscribe right now.

Toad

Movie Stills

Think back to your favorite movie.

What was it that inspired you to see it? Had you read the book? Was your favorite actor in it? Was it date night and you had to pick something you'd both like?



Or, was it the photo in the ad, that caught your eye. It sure as hell wasn't the trailer.

Iconic images from movies fill our lives. I'm not alone in my inability to name famous actors. I may not be able to tell you who was in it, but I can probably recall the poster.

Each decade has a photo or a poster that is meaningful for a generation. Remember Easy Rider?


As long as movies have been made, stills have been released to generate publicity and to gauge fan reaction. It will go on forever.






If the movie is any good this could be the photo that rings a generations chimes many years from now.


Stick in the mud Mrs. T won't go, but I'm planning on it. Just wish I had a grandgirl in town to take me.

Toad

Women we Love

All my life and then some, Esquire Magazine has published an annual "Women We Love" issue. I haven't read it in 15 or 20 years, but was reminded of it when I saw it on display at the local newspaper stand.

In it are the usual, half sensual photo spreads for the movie starlets of the season, and clips and hints of only, what if. Normally pretty boring.

The last issue I read did have a column that has struck with me all these years, "women we are supposed to love but don't". Included in the list were the Victoria Secret girls. I couldn't have agreed more.

The second part of that story was naturally, the women we are not supposed to love, but do. I haven't a clue what any of the candidates then were, but I nominate the Eileen Fisher women.



Maybe it's because the appeal of 14 year old child/women posing as 20 somethings has just about finally lost its appeal for me. Do not misunderstand. I'm not a monk, but most fashion adverts leave me cold.



I probably should have asked, my bride, but didn't where Eileen ranks in the pantheon. I like the look. More importantly, I like the models.

Toad

Speeding tickets?

Police citations are taken with a grain of salt in Mayberry. They are somewhat more advisory than serious, especially if you have a certain mindset or are a member of a certain local tribes.

Tickets are meant to be fixed, except by the seriously stupid.

Get a ticket and one of two things takes place. You call your lawyer or police buddy and somehow everything goes away. All records are expunged. The second, more public option is this. On most commercial intersections hangs the shingle of one of the guys who was near the bottom of his law class. He advertises his ticket fixing service for $49. You may have to plead guilty to excessive noise, or part time vagrancy, but no moving violation ever occurred by the time he's through. All perfectly legal.



If you're of the right tribe, examples abound of cops driving the impaired home, after too many. In one case of mistaken identity the locals shot the tires of a tribesman involved in a drug bust gone bad. Once they realized their mistake the officers changed the guys tire, and returned his guns and merchandise.

I offer this background so you may share my incredulity encountered during dinner recently.

Mrs. T and I were at an event, the conversation was more gossip than anything and one of the women at our table, stone sober and straight faced, allowed that she couldn't count the number of times she had received multiple tickets in the same day. Usually driving car pool. She wasn't kidding.

Mrs. T got her first ticket in 30 years last summer and cried all day. She was unable to speak.

I asked if it were OK if her kids followed her modelling. Most certainly they wouldn't, she informed me. I'm still wondering why.

Toad

This Is Why Government Exists

Otherwise you wouldn't know.

Let us give thanks that February is over.

Toad

My Apologies to Oz

Mrs. T's favorite child graduated from Tulane 5 years ago. Immediately he went to work for a company which promised to work him to death, pay him well, give him lots of experience,and if he held up, give him a 1 month paid in full, anywhere in the world for two, sabbatical at the end of 5 years. That would be July.

But boys are different from girls.

The Friday before Valentine's he told his great boss, thanks, but I've had enough, I'm leaving the end of the month. Since his employer had heard that story before, he took the news in stride.

Girls would have stuck it out, at least until after sabbatical time.

His first call, after giving notice was to his sister, Mindy. You remember her.

" You're on spring break the first week of March aren't you?"
"Yeah"
"Wanna go to Australia?"

They left this morning with no more planning than you gave to picking up the morning paper. She's back in 10 days. He's staying a week or so longer.

To all my friends in Oz, I'm sorry to drop our problem on you. A week or 2 with 100+F temps may make the rest of winter in Madison, Wisconsin seem more bearable.

Toad

Separated at birth?

Mike Greenberg, ESPN

Famed boob guy, Dr Rey

TV's Dr. Fixit Fox, Dr. Oz

Toad

I picked up a new summer wardrobe

I am ever so grateful that traditional men's clothing rarely goes out of style. I'd be sunk.

While putting away the summer clothes last fall, I got a glimpse of what was in the back, all that I could have worn if......

And it really pissed me off.

So I decided to do something about it.

Around the time our SIL invited Mrs. T to join her at WW, I returned to the gym. 5 days a week. I began by taking baby steps. 3 years ago I couldn't walk due to a knee injury, and I never want to repeat that.

Eventually, I began to crawl. I told myself I was a more virtuous person, just by showing up. Male ego is fragile and needs constant stroking.

Now I'm at least standing up, and still showing up. 5 days per week.

Funny thing though. I haven't lost an ounce, but have lost beaucoup inches. I lost a suit size, and while I should be proud of that, I factor in the necessary shame that goes along with putting on the girth. It all evens out.

So since the weather was lousy all weekend, and I had Sunday to myself I went back to the summer clothes storage closet to see what turned up.

Thus far I have recovered all that you see here. An extra 6 pair of pants, a BB seersucker and a Cable Car poplin suit.

And a couple of spring sport coats.

Another suit size and the world is my oyster. Summer without the shopping. How novel.

Toad

Looking for 11 co-conspirators

You didn't really believe that summer without shopping bit, did you?

Buddy ADG at Maxminimus started an itch with this shoe.

I have the same opinion of GTH shoes as I do pants. Everyone needs at least one pair. However, I draw the line at dropping a wad on what are at best a private joke amongst insiders.

"Look at me's" don't need to start in the 4 figures.

That said, I believe every man's wardrobe should have at least one great pair of summer shoes. In the warmer climes a guy can get away with a lot, and not look like he's wearing clown shoes. Problem is there is not a lot to choose from.

ADG's post got me thinking. The greenie stickem caps are clearly shell cordovan Aldens. Saturday, I went to my local Alden buddies and asked them, what else ya got for summer? "What do ya want?" they replied.

Seems Alden will make anything, in any size, for an order of 12 pair.

So I'm looking for co-conspirators. Who needs a great pair of summer shoes?

Spectators?

My preference is for brown.

Blue Suede?

If we can find 11 like minded souls, Alden is at our beck and call. Any style, any last, any leather, any color, any trim, and it needn't cost an arm or a leg.

If you want to play email me.

Toad

Tiger you owe me nothing by Roland S. Martin

Editor's note: Roland S. Martin, a CNN political analyst, is a nationally syndicated columnist and author of "Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives on Faith," and the forthcoming book, "The First: President Barack Obama's Road to the White House." He is a commentator for TV One Cable Network and host of a one-hour Sunday morning news show.

(CNN) -- When Eldrick "Tiger" Woods joined the ranks of professional golf a dozen years ago, it was via the heralded "Hello, World" Nike commercial. When he steps to the podium Friday to speak to an assembled group of friends, colleagues and journalists, the world will truly be watching to see and hear the greatest golfer of this generation talk about the sordid events over the last three months that have kept him off the golf course and shredded his well-cultivated image and reputation.

The broadcast networks will air live reports with their main anchors there to report and comment on every word; the cable nets will undoubtedly have multiple individuals ready for instant analysis; and millions will tune in to hear Tiger likely apologize and possibly say if and when he will return to competitive golf.

He isn't expected to take any questions, and that has made for an angry bunch of columnists and commentators, denouncing Woods for calling a news conference to make a statement, and not undergo the grilling many want to give him.

Woods hasn't even said a word, and already he's been called a spoiled, petulant child who has lived in a sheltered world of handlers since he was 2 years old. Some have even gone as far as saying nothing has changed about him and he's showing that he is just as selfish and self-absorbed as ever.

Tiger, let me be as clear as I can as to whether you owe me or the American people an explanation of the events surrounding your car accident Thanksgiving weekend: Hell no.
I repeat: Tiger, you don't owe me or anyone else anything!

I'm sick of these sanctimonious folks who are blabbering about Woods needing to be grilled about his private behavior. Look, Tiger Woods didn't cheat on me. He's not my daddy, brother, cousin, church member, neighbor or friend. He didn't let me down or crush my view of him. He is not and never was my role model.

The only people he owes a grand apology are his wife, momma, family, maybe his friends, and his children, when they come of age. He doesn't have to work hard for me to trust him again. The most important audience he has to satisfy is a very small group of people.
That's it. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Ever since I was 14, my desire was to be journalist. And in the last 27 years, I've covered it all. In all of those years, I've never believed I was entitled to ask anyone a question. If it was at a county government board meeting in Austin, Texas, or a city council meeting in Fort Worth, Texas, public officials made a choice to talk to me and other journalists. It's our duty to ask; it's not their obligation to answer.

Yes, they were public figures, but no matter how many times I asked the same question, they didn't have to talk to the media. Should they? Yeah. Must they? No.

Every sports league has a rule requiring their locker rooms to be open to the media shortly after a game ends. Athletes are required to make themselves available or face a fine, but there is nothing that says they must answer our questions. If they choose to expound on what happened in a game, that's their decision. But their personal life? That choice is all up to them.

We have had to bear witness to all kinds of allegations about Tiger, the married sports star and successful product pitchman, being involved in a variety of affairs with cocktail waitresses, party girls, and porn stars. The details have gone from freaky to bizarre. His reputation has taken a substantial hit; companies he endorsed have removed his face from billboards and canceled contracts; and by multiple (and unsubstantiated) accounts, his marriage is hanging by a thread.
Yet still, he doesn't owe the American public or me a damn thing.

Meryl Streep has always earned my respect. When you see magazine cover stories on her, such as the recent one in Vanity Fair, she will talk about a host of subjects and pose for a ton of photos, but her family is off limits. She makes it clear: I'll talk about the work, not my home life.
Jodie Foster is the same way. If she is scheduled to discuss a movie, anything work-related is fine. But when you start asking about the father of her children, her love life and anything personal, she shuts you down quickly. In fact, her folks will let you know before the interview what the rules are. She's consistent and clear.

Intensely private people choose to remain that way, whether loving and faithful couples or a married athlete who is accused of bedding anyone and everyone.

Someone's personal life is just that, personal. None of us have the right to know what's going on in someone else's life when they are out of public view, especially if no laws were broken.
I've been clear that I'm a huge Tiger Woods fan. I've walked inside the ropes of many golf tournaments he's played in; shot hundreds of photos of him that hang on my wall; and count an interview with his father, Earl Woods, as one of my all-time favorites. But journalists need to cut the crap when it comes to demanding that he owes it to us to talk to as many of us as possible.
What's amazing is that many of us are hypocrites on this subject. For example, if a journalist is fired, you will hear the suits at the company say they cannot discuss the actions behind the move "because it's a personnel matter." Wait. Isn't a TV anchor, columnist or reporter a public figure? In some cities, they are considered celebrities. So the rules are different for us?

In fact, what if a reporter covered a news conference and returned with a team owner or elected official saying the following about one of their employees: "That's a personnel matter and I'm not at liberty to share with you the details of his termination." Would that editor, news director, or network president say that is acceptable? No! They would jump all over the reporter "to do their job" and keep digging to find out what happened. And the columnists and bloggers would be ripping them to shreds.

So what's the difference between them and Tiger? Personnel? Personal? Hello!

Isn't it amazing how different the view looks from the other side of the river?

iReport: Share your reaction to Woods' statement

We live in an age where public figures often share with the world who they slept with, want to sleep with, what they ate, what they wear, their travel and everything else. Nothing is off limits. The public craves it all on blogs, and in magazines, newspapers, TV and radio. For me, I don't care about any of it.

All I want is to see is a good movie, dance to a great song, watch an awesome sporting event, and witness one golfer take on his peers to become the greatest in the game.

When that public figure, whether Meryl, Jodie or Tiger, chooses to walk off the public stage, they don't owe me or anyone else an explanation. Their body of work is all that matters and that is what we will discuss for generations to come.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Roland S. Martin.

My opinion: Could anything be more true?

if I had a dime

If I had a dime for every time a teacher told my parents,"he seems smart enough, just needs to apply himself more", I could retire.

To my way of thinking I did apply myself, just had a hard focusing on the nonsense I was being fed. The Simon and Garfunkel song, Kodachrome, pretty well sums up my life.

I spent much of the day playing with the dogs, instead of what I really should have been working on, which led me to thinking how shaggy the big beast was, which led to trying to figure out when he should get a haircut.

Typically, his spring cut, is what is known as a puppy cut in the trade. His hair is about an inch long, and he's really cute. If he is terribly matted, or the barber is inexperienced, he gets shaved.

I can't bear to look at him when he looks like a bald deer. I know he is embarrassed for himself. It's days before he'll even go outside.

Then the stars aligned. The baby of the house is a Shih Tzu, which translates into Lion Dog.


I came across this in my travels. It's not a Ted, The Wonderdog kind of dog, but it's close enough.

I'm already in the dog house from yesterday, Mrs. T says absolutely not (abso-posalutely). What do you think?

Toad

Remember the Costanza prayer?

Please God make it stop.

I've got a birthday coming up. I've had them before, it's no big deal. That is why I was surprised to get a save the date email this far in advance telling me of my early birthday celebration.

Imagine if you will, it's mid afternoon St. Patrick's Day. In my youth, my Irish mother made certain to make us understand, we were deep into Lent. ST. Paddy's was a day of fast not feasting. Then something happened. Ever since, our family has celebrated our Irish heritage in a more contemporary fashion.

So, I get the email I am about to share, joyously telling how tickets have been secured for the following event to take place, Saint Patrick's Day afternoon featuring one of the wee people so well known to the Irish.


I quote,
"Marvin Hamlisch is host of “Marvin Hamlisch Presents: The ‘70s, The Way We Were,” a PBS national television fundraising special featuring 13 live acts performing their big hits from the 1970s, plus video of the music and pop culture happenings of the decade of the 1970s. The special will star Marvin Hamlisch, BJ Thomas, Three Dog Night, Debby Boone, Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr., Ray Stevens, Freda Payne, Guy & Ralna, Bobby Goldsboro, Billy Joe Royal, Peaches and Herb, Jonathan Edwards and Vicki Lawrence.

The television special will be taped March 17, 2010 at 2 p.m. at The Bezemes Family Theatre at Lindenwood University’s Scheidegger Center for the Arts in St. Charles, Missouri. All tickets will be $42.50 and will go on sale Friday, February 5 at 10 a.m. at the theatre’s box office 636-949-4433, at Telecharge.com or by calling 800-447-7400.

“Those who attend the taping must realize this is a ‘television taping’ and not a ‘typical concert,’” said Susie Dowdy, producer of the special. “This taping could last three hours or longer and might have stop downs and song restarts to get our camera angles right. The audience also needs to know they might be videotaped and photographed and included in shots within the special,” she added. The audience will not be permitted to take photographs, use cell phones or shoot personal video within the theatre property.

“Marvin Hamlisch Presents: The ‘70s, The Way We Were” will air nationally on public television stations beginning August 2010 (check local listings.)

This particular PBS national television special is a nostalgia program featuring the great songs and happy times of the 1970s. It is heavy in performance, but also includes “vignette pop-outs” featuring the pop culture happenings of each year in the decade…these brief, nostalgic pop-outs with voice-over will lead into live stage performances by various stars in the special.

Featured performers (through live performance) include:


Marvin Hamlisch - The Way We Were (1973) / Nobody Does It Better (1977);

BJ Thomas - Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head (1970) / (Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song (1975);

Debby Boone - You Light Up My Life (1977); TRIBUTE TO THE CARPENTERS: Close to You (1970);

Three Dog Night - Joy to the World (1971); Shambala (1973); Mama Told Me Not to Come (1971); I've Never Been to Spain (1970);

Ray Stevens - Everything is Beautiful (1970)--GROUP NUMBER; Misty (1975); The Streak (1974);

Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr., - You Don’t Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show) (1976); Last Night I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All (1970);

Freda Payne - Band of Gold (1970); Bring the Boys Home (1971);

Billy Joe Royal - Cherry Hill Park (1970); Under the Boardwalk (1978);

Bobby Goldsboro - Watching Scotty Grow (1971); Summer (The First Time) (1973);

Guy & Ralna - Put Your Hand In The Hand (1973); You Needed Me (1978) / Lean On Me (1972); Just An Old Fashioned Love Song (1971);

Peaches and Herb - Reunited (1979); Shake Your Groove Thing (1978);

Jonathan Edwards - Sunshine (1971); That’s What Our Life Is (1974);

Vicki Lawrence – The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1973)"

Who knew most of these people were still alive?

Makes you want to gag doesn't it. I feel like Ralphie in the bunny jammies. No telling how much Redbreast will be necessary to purge this memory.


Toad

spring is on its way

Bill's Khakis irregulars in the summer styles are beginning to hit EBAY. Spring can't be far behind.






Toad

Dog Show - Part II

Let's get this out of the way early.

Repeat after me, " Toad, you are a pig".

I admit it, but sometimes it helps you feel better to call others names when someone is pointing out obvious truths.

I am willing to concede several points early on, in the hopes you will return the gesture when the time comes.

Point 1. Besides all the work that goes on behind the scenes, it is a great skill to lift a dog onto the judging box, take it down when told, and walk a dog down the runway on command. I grant that this is true.

Point 2: This skill is trainable to someone with a bit of common sense and a willingness to show up on time, perhaps in exchange for money.

In return for these concessions you must now accept the following.

Point 3: Many of the people on the front lines are, shall we say, stout? I am too. I'm merely pointing out the obvious.

Point 4: The baser instincts of humankind are always in place. That said, judges are people too, and all things considered, judges however much their work is to focus on the dogs, would rather deal with an attractive human. Whatever your preference, male or female, straight or gay is makes no difference.

Attractive participants probably makes for better television too.

Point 5: There are lots of trainable real and wannabe models looking for work.

Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to introduce to the you, the Toad School of Dog Show Handlers.

At the Toad School attractive model types will learn such skills as how to pick up, and set down a dog. Walking the catwalk with a dog. How to make and keep eye contact with judges.

Once trained, clients can safely hire a passel of graduates to attend shows, based upon the judges preferences.

Straight Female judge hire a beefcake. You get the picture.

Enrollment begins soon.

Toad

Mrs. T dodged a bullet

Gents, you can be the right guy, but you can't make yourself be the right guy.

Women will understand this intuitively, while very few men will understand it at all.

Mrs. T dodged a bullet last week. Her daughter(a college junior) has been dating a guy several years older, since school began in the fall. The lad has completed his schooling, and is hard at work on a successful career. On paper not a bad catch.

Last Tuesday, clearly thinking he was the one, the lad called and asked Mrs. T the dreaded " may I ask for....." question.

Mrs. T told him to call back in a couple of years when her daughter finished her schooling.

The two of them were here for the holidays. It was clear he was besotted, and that she liked him but maybe not as much.

Valentines Day came and went with no major announcements. It was clear they have discussed the matter, but maybe mom scared him off.

let the good times roll!

Toad

Westminster Dog Show

I've written before of my fondness of watching rich people at play. Often the settings are near idyllic, the toys exquisite, the charm gushing, the effort posing as non-chalance. It's almost too much to bear.

It's even better when the very rich go slumming, allowing the proles to think the rich are just like them. Dog shows exemplify the "they're just like us" cynicism which does so much to keep the lower orders in their place.

Tonight, is the kick off for the Westminster Dog Show, the World Series, Super Bowl CXLIV, the annual Olympics of the dog world.

Approximately 3500 dogs will compete in best of breed, best in class, best of show categories.



Americans are inbred with the notion that they can grow up to be anything they set their minds to. That same mentality allows anyone with a dog to believe their pet can be Best of Show. On a good day near anything can happen. You and your dog may actually win your local show.



That's not the way to bet though. Westminster entrants have been competing in 2 or 3 shows a week for several years. Amateur Owner/Handlers are competing against professional handlers at every meet.

Amateurs may go to several shows a month. The pro's and judges a dozen. It's all on the up and up but the playing field is not level.

To get into the best of show ring Tuesday night will set you back 6 maybe $700,000, all for practically no return. Start saving. I'll be watching for ya. (Animal Planet 8pm EST)

Toad