I was petting my little Cricket dog last weekend and noticed a bump on her lower lip. It felt like a tick but upon further examination it was clear that it was some type of growth. Dream Girl and I wrestled her to the ground and took pictures of the offending growth for possible Internet and email research in the future if needed. Cricket especially likes being wrestled to the ground. Not....

Cricket looks funny when she gets mad, though. When she is happy her ears look like bat ears. They stick straight up. When she is slightly peeved they each slant out at about a 45° angle. When she gets up after being wrestled to the floor her ears stick straight out to the left and right like wings. She was really PO'ed. She is such a tough little dog. She will kick a 150lb German Shepard's butt if it appears on the television. We had to put a Plexiglas cover over the front of the rear projection TV in the Den. Now she just bounces off the cover when, during episodes of Cops, the police use the dogs to capture a fleeing suspect, or when Tom Bergeron shows a clip of a dog drinking from a water hose on Americas Funniest Groin Shots Home Videos. She evidently has issues with dogs that have made it to the big time.

So, On Monday, Dream Girl took Cricket to the vet to have the growth checked out and the substitute vet (our vet was on vacation) said that it was some type of tumor and did a biopsy to determine if it was malignant or benign. And then we waited. I told her not to be stressed out but I don't think it was very comforting. She was in a funk and could only be slightly unfunked by the prospect of a chicken jerky treat. Oh, you thought I was talking about Dream Girl.... No, I was talking about Cricket. Dream Girl was in a funk also but no amount of chicken jerky would excise hers. The defunkifier for Dream Girl  was the call from the vet's office yesterday saying that the biopsy came back benign. Dream Girl held Cricket and told her that it was all going to be ok and Crickets ears went back up, so all is well on the puppy front.

I am so ashamed. I have been putting off posting about our last lunch trip to the Back Porch. We ate with some friends and the special of catfish, fries and brown beans looked so good I dove right in and neglected to take any photos. To make matters worse we were treated to a slice of each type of pie being served that day.... and yep.... no pictures of the freshly home made Buttermilk pie, apple pie or the, gift from a benevolent pie God, chocolate pie either.

All the pies were good, really good. The buttermilk was the only one that a human could actually eat in one setting. It was the least rich but still caused me to wonder aloud why I had "that one last bite". The apple pie was simply a really good apple pie. All it was missing was a big-o dollop of Blue Bell Ice Cream. The chocolate pie was by far the best. I don't know what was in it. I probably don't want to know. In fact, I know I don't want to know because I am sure that the crust is the only thing that I am allowed to eat... being diabetic. It almost has the texture and taste of a chocolate brownie batter poured into and baked in a pie crust. And the chocolate chips... I did mention the chocolate chips...that's what I'm talkin' bout.

I am such a failure. I know I have let you down and I apologize. In an attempt to make up for this recent photo failure I fully intend to have the Friday Fish special again this coming Friday. It is a hardship but I am willing to endure it for the sake of my readers. I will tell you that it was the best catfish I have had in years. It had to be fresh. The fillets were thick and meaty. They were very flaky and had no "fishy" smell or taste. What they did have was that wonderful taste of corn fed catfish. The tarter sauce seemed to be an original creation with minced onion and a southwest spicy base of some kind......

Wait.... I feel the urge for Wednesday's Special at TBP, Meatloaf, Macaroni and Cheese with a buttermilk biscuit. I'll let you know how it was when I get back. YES, WITH PICTURES.....