Well, not me. Fred. Fred the basset. My April Fool. (You can see his birthday photo in my photos since I haven't figured out the Goodreads uploader code.)

I always wanted a basset hound ever since my neighbor Mrs. Arbogast had Pokey, a basset who slept on her driveway and never moved. It was like he'd been steamrolled. Maybe he was stuffed. Who knows?

Having been denied dogs (and Barbies, but that's for another blog) as a kid, the first dog I chose on my very own was Fred. I remember when I used to hold him in my hand and cuddle him under my chin. Now, he's 60 lbs and loooong. And a lover, especially of children.

Now, it just so happens we live about one hundred feet from the elementary school where Fred is something of a local celebrity. When the doors are open in the summer, Fred has been known to saunter into Mrs. Domanski's first grade class and have a sit down. Last year he arrived center stage at the spring concert and more than once the little league coach down the street has had to chase him off the field for catching baseballs.

But that's Fred. He loves chicken and his buddy dogs - Shayla, Sam and Niko. He sleeps. He talks. He insists on sitting in the passenger seat. In fact, he knows all about driving. And he likes dinner at exactly 5 p.m.

What he can't figure out are the cats. And that's just the way they like it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRED!