Dogs!

Here I am with Johnny, the German shepherd near the bottom left, Robert (the yellow Lab) next to me and Lilly (the golden retriever), getting lots of doggie love!

It's no secret that I love dogs. My friend Troy can't believe it when I stop to say hello to every dog I see on the street when we're walking down Broadway.

So imagine my delight every year when members of the Columbus Kennel Club come with their dogs to talk about their annual dog show.

This year, it's 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on the grounds of North Highland Assembly of God Church, 7300 Whittlesey Road. Organizers say there's more room there than at Lakebottom Park and lots more parking than at the park.

I'm bummed out because I've got to be at Steeplechase all day and I'm going to miss the show.

But at least I got to see some of the dogs Wednesday.

For the first time, I got to see in person, a Bouvier de Flandres, the cattle dog of Flanders, and the Kerry Blue terrier, who used to be known as the Irish terrier.

And then there was the beautiful standard poodle, Pru, whom I met last year when she was about 10-months-old. She'll be 2 in February.

The triplets were the hit, though. They're actually not triplets, but siblings from the same litter. They are Xindi, Kudzu and Voxx, the Vizslas (Hungarian bird dogs) owned by Trish and Wayne James.

They told me years ago that he wanted a dog he could hunt with and she wanted a dog she could show. So they're trained in field trials and prance around a ring.

These three dogs are just stunning! I was afraid one of my colleagues would kidnap Kudzu. But Trish got all three home safely.

You know how you go into Publix and you'll see everyone you know?

It was the same last night.

One of the people I ran into was Mike Blackwell, someone I've known for a long, long time. He's a local music promoter and I had no idea he had any dogs until I saw a huge bag of dog food in his cart. I asked what kind of dogs he had that he'd have to get that big a bag of food.

He said to come out to his truck and see.

Mike has Weimaraners! And they're gorgeous. One is female and the other a male. Heidi wanted to say hello and lick me. The boy sat on the floor on the passenger side.

Then he said he has 11 babies at the farm. His Great Pyrenees mated with his male and she had 11 babies! Actually, she had 12 but one died.

I'd love to have one of those puppies, but they when full grown, they can weigh as much as 100 lbs. I don't need a dog that big.

When I was in Japan in 1998, one of my Aunt Keiko's neighbors had one and he was gorgeous. His coat was so thick that in the summer, the owner made sure that his dog house had air conditioning. Yes, the dog house was air-conditioned!

I'm going to go out to Mike's farm soon to visit the puppies. I can't wait!

Steeplechase updates

Because of the fire at Bibb Mill, access to the RiverMill Event Centre is a little iffy.

So the venue has been changed. If you have a ticket to the Chasers Eve party Friday night, please call the Steeplechase office to get details. It will be at a private home, and the home owner doesn't want the address to be made public.

Also, tickets to Galloping Gourmets competition Saturday morning are still available for $20.

Raffle tickets for the 2009 Acura TL are also available for $100. There will be 1,000 sold.

Tickets for Galloping Gourmets and the raffle are limited, so if you want one, buy one now!

Call 706-324-6252.

Steeplechase at Callaway Gardens

I haven't been to all 23 Steeplechase events. But I've been to a lot of them.

And I have to admit I was the first to report someone saying, "Oh, there are horses here?"

At that point, I think Steeplechase became a social event, instead of a sporting event.

Either way, it's always a lot of fun. The one year I went with my friends Oz Roberts and Tom McCafferty may have been the best one. It was freezing that day. Really, really cold. We must have spent more time sitting in the car than out.

That's the thing about Steeplechase. Some years, it's really chilly. Other years, it's almost summer-like. Hot, cold, rain, fog. I've seen it all. This year, it's supposed to be sunny and mild.

Another year, I was wandering around the Infield talking to people for a story and a handsome young man came up to me and introduced himself. It was Tom Ford and we've been really good friends ever since. He moved to California in 1995 and I miss him.

In 1996, Cameron Faucette and I went. In between races, we'd walk across the track to visit friends in the Terrace or check out what was going on in the Infield.

At one point, she yells, "Hockey players!" The Columbus Cottonmouths had just started playing and we were hooked. We went over to talk to the players, who were injured and couldn't play. There was an unfamiliar face and when we asked who he was, he told us his name and that he was the new goaltender.

When I got back to the newsroom, I told Mark Rice, who was our hockey writer at the time. And he reported it, after he confirmed it with the general manager, who was Phil Roberto. Phil started calling Mark "Scoop" after that.

Years later, I told Phil that story and he started laughing. He said he named the wrong writer "Scoop."

Saturday, I'll be at Steeplechase to judge the Galloping Gourmets competition and later the L-E's Best Terrace Box competition. And I'll be writing the goings-on.

So if you see me, stop me and tell me what you're doing at Steeplechase.

Scary movies

Around this time, every year, people ask me what movie scared me.

Other than that close-up of Lucy Liu in the first "Charlie's Angels" movie, it would have to be "The Changeling." No, not the one with Angelina Jolie that's coming out sometime soon.

It's the 1980 movie with George C. Scott and Trish Van Devere. He played a man whose wife and child were killed in an accident. He moves to start a new life, and she helps him buy this spooky old mansion. Of course, the mansion is haunted by a little boy. It wasn't gory. It was just scary.

One night before Halloween, I was alone and I watched "Halloween." I lived in a ground-floor apartment and I checked and double-checked that my windows were locked. I mean, I had what, four windows in the entire apartment and i was checking them. Again, that original "Halloween" wasn't gory. Just scary.

I will not watch what passes for "scary" these days, which seems to mean a lot of blood. I just can't watch those kinds of movies.

So what movies scare you?

DWTS, Week 6

Several years ago I did a phone interview with Michael Flatley. I can't remember what the occasion was. He must have been performing in Atlanta with one of his shows.

And I really don't know why I thought he'd be a difficult interview. He just seemed rather arrogant.

To my delight, he was very, very nice. Humble, even. Since then, I had a much different view of him.

He's been guest judge on "Dancing With the Stars" this week because of head judge Len Goodman's crazy trans-Atlantic schedule.

Tonight, he danced. I know he's closer to 50 than 40 now, but he hasn't lost a step. I still can't believe how fast he taps. I took tap class for years and I know how difficult the routine he does.

OK. Finally, Cloris Leachman was voted off. I completely agreed with judge Carrie Ann Inaba last night when she said, "We lost Toni Braxton for this?" after watching Leachman's performance.

Leachman inexplicably stayed for six weeks.

Next one to go? I'll bet it's Susan Lucci.

DWTS

I'm convinced that the judges want Brooke Burke to win this season's disco ball trophy.

Several of the other couples were so much better, including Lance Bass, Cody Linley and Warren Sapp.

I don't get it. Maybe the implants are wowing the judges.

I'll continue to vote for Warren.

The hip hop segment was great fun to watch. Lots of fun.

I think tonight was Cloris Leachman's final night on the show. But I've been wrong before. Maybe it will be Susan Lucci's last night.

Chihuahuas Rule!

Once again, a Chihuahua won.

I was a judge for the Petland Pet Costume Contest this afternoon. Other judges were my colleague Tim Chitwood and Columbus public relations guru Sheila Salter.

So even though I own a Chihuahua, there were two other people who agreed with me.

L'il Bit, is a tiny, tiny Chihuahua, unlike my giant Chi, Chipper. She was dressed as a homeless Chi. She wore a teeny knitted cap and a sandwich board. On one side, it said "Economy hitting hard" and the other side said "Will bark for treats." Around her neck, she had a tiny tin can with the word "treats" written on it.

Our photo chief, Mike Haskey, took this marvelous photo of L'il Bit. Mike and his wife, Rebecca, own two Chihuahuas. But we are not biased at all.

We all liked the fact that the owners used a lot of creativity in dressing up their dog. I spoke to the owner later and she said L'il Bit won the same contest two years ago.

Second place went to Ink, a turtle dressed as a queen. She made her way majestically across the parking lot, followed by her princesses, two huge dogs that were dressed as Snow White and Cinderella. I can't remember their names.

Third place was Punk, a white poodle dyed green with a red mouth. Of course, playing the Joker from the last "Batman" movie.

All of the pets, mostly dogs, but including the turtle and a guinea pig, were wonderful. I wish they could all win.

A busy Saturday

I can't believe I did it! I said yes. Not once, but twice.

Tomorrow morning, I have to go to the Columbus Public Library at 10 a.m. for the uncrating of the Smithsonian's Montgomery bus boycott exhibit. That is going to be a very interesting exhibit and our library is the only one of two libraries to get this exhibit. It goes on view Nov. 1.

From 1-3 p.m., I'm going to be a judge for Petland's pet costume contest. That's going to be great fun.

Right after that, I've got to go into work to write the story about that exhibit in the library for Sunday's paper.

Then at 6 p.m., I am judging another costume contest. This one is for Spooktacular downtown.

It's going to be a busy day. But lots of fun.

I'm still debating whether to bring one of my babies with me. I think Pookie Belle will be the best behaved of the three. She's the sweetest dog we've ever had. It's amazing because Chipper is her father.

Sculpture Walk 2008

Just wait until you walk around downtown. There are 15 new sculptures on Broadway between 12th and 10th streets.

I thought last year's was a great group of sculptures. I think this year's is even better.

Uptown Columbus tried mightily to keep all of the new sculptures covered, but as Uptown president Richard Bishop said, some people get curious, especially after a few drinks late at night.

So many of the sculptures' covers were torn away.

The official unveiling was tonight. There were more than 150 people at the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, listening to Bishop, Reynolds Bickerstaff and Larry Sanders talk about the importance of public art and the success of last year's Sculpture Walk.

Richard said he was hoping to sell 25 percent of the sculptures, and was very pleased to exceed that goal.

Four sculptures were sold and three are on loan. Columbus Regional Healthcare bought "May Flower," which was the People's Choice and Friends of Uptown bought "Saturday Distraction." Private collectors bought "Garden" and "Gathering of Eagles." Richard said "Gathering of Eagles" will eventually go to the collector's garden, but right now, it's still in the median of Broadway in front of our building.

A fifth sculpture, a gorgeous piece made by children in the Thompson-Pound Art Project, was donated by those kids. It's in front of CB&T's main branch on the corner of 12th Street and Broadway.

On loan are "Potato Man," which is in front of Subway, and "Mickey Watcher," which is in the median on Broadway at 11th Street.

Also still here is "Paddle Wave," which is in the median of Broadway in front of our building. Christopher Fennell built that out of wood that came out of one of the mills that was being renovated.

So we still have eight sculptures from last year and 15 new ones.

I love "Phoenix," created by my old friend Jon Lumpkin. Jon is not old. I've just known him since he was a teenager. It's a huge piece that's on the southwest corner of 10th Street and Broadway. It's spectacular.

Susan Geissler, who did "May Flower," Sherri Treeby who did "Saturday Distraction" and Gregory Johnson, who did "Gathering of Eagles," all have new pieces on display.

They are all very special.

Geissler's "Ma Can I Keep Him?" is a little girl holding a huge cat. She told me earlier today that the model of the little girl is the daughter of the owner of the foundry where she used to get her pieces cast. The cat is her very own Charlie.

Johnson told me the story behind "Fishtale." When he was a little boy, he went fishing with his Uncle Ray. He hooked a huge catfish. Johnson asked his uncle for help, who told him that he hooked it, he reels it in. So he said he turned his back to the pond, put the pole over his shoulder and started walking. He dragged that big fish to the bank, where his uncle took it off the hook and with his knife, pinned the fish in a tree to clean it.

Much later, after his uncle and both parents died, his sister sent a packet of photographs. In the packet was a photo of Johnson with the fish. He couldn't believe that the fish was only about seven inches long.

"Fishtale" is shows Johnson as a little boy. Instead of a catfish, he's holding a large-mouth bass.

Johnson has made statues of his wife, children and neighborhood kids, but the first time he made a statue of himself.

It will be raining tomorrow, but the weather should be good Saturday. Walk around Saturday and check out all the sculptures.

I think you'll like what you see.

Mr. Blackwell

I call myself a fashion person, but I'm really not that obsessed like some people. I mean, I am obsessed with "Project Runway," but that's just really good television.

I don't know what I'm going to do now that Mr. Blackwell has died. He died Sunday at age 86.

I, like so many people, loved his Worst Dressed List.

You know who were on the list: Pop tarts like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera; self-proclaimed divas like Victoria Beckham and Mariah Carey; royals like Queen Elizabeth and Camilla Parker-Bowles; icons like Martha Stewart and Cher; celebutante Paris Hilton; respected actors like Meryl Streep and Diane Keaton; and in recent years, men like Dennis Rodman and Marilyn Manson.

Who is going to do that now?

Dancing with the Stars, Week 5

I can't believe that I watched the first hour of "Dancing With the Stars." I just wasted an hour of my time. It was a recap of all the dances from last night. They showed all eight dances in an hour. It took 90 minutes last night.

Sheesh!

Now, I'm waiting to see who is going to be booted off.

Warren Sapp and Cloris Leachman have already been saved half an hour into the show.

This is really annoying.

But the big dance production number is a lot of fun. It's called something like "Dancing Through the Decades." It started out with a fabulous tap number a la the Nicholas Brothers. Then it went with a James Brown thing, break dancing and ended up with a futuristic number. Nicely done, as judge Len Goodman says.

I really can't believe it! Toni Braxton is going home. I had chosen her as my frontrunner this season.

Some of the actors do the bi-coastal thing like Cameron Mathison did last season and Susan Lucci is doing this year. Goodman is doing the trans-Atlantic travel. He hosts the British version and then goes to Los Angeles. Next week, apparently there's a conflict and Michael Flatley of Riverdance fame is going to take his place.

It's be very interesting. I can't imagine Flatley being as critical as Goodman. We'll see.

DWTS

It's half-way through the competition.

Surprises?

Let's see.

Cloris Leachman is still there. But Misty May-Treanor is not.

What's wrong with this picture?

If Misty had not been hurt, I'm sure she'd be in the competition giving Brooke Burke a run for the trophy.

I still can't believe Brooke Burke is on top of the leader board. Brooke Burke!

I'm still a Warren Sapp fan.

OK, I've got to vote for him.

We'll see who's voted off tomorrow night. The way things are going, I have no idea. Every week, I think Leachman will be the one booted off. And every week, it's someone else.

Ginger and her babies

OK, I think I've got it figured out. Here's Patty's cell phone photo of Ginger and her babies.

Ginger is a mama

Ginger, Fred and Cheryl's Chihuahua, had her babies this after. In something like six hours, she gave birth to five babies. Three boys and two girls.

I haven't seen them yet, but my sister Nancy and our mother were there when babies 3 and 4 were born. They left when my other sister Patty got to Fred's house. She said No. 5 came after they left.

As usual, Ginger's maternal instincts kicked in right away. She was very attentive and fed her babies right away.

Patty sent me a picture of them on my cell phone. I've been trying to send them to both of my e-mail accounts, but since I'm technologically impaired, I haven't received them yet. And they should have been here long ago.

As soon as I get some real photos, I'll post them.

Whoops! Here it is. I finally got it.

Nope. Didn't work. Like I said, I'll post pictures later.

Oktoberfest at the RiverCenter

Woo hoo!

Remember some time ago, I wrote about the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts' Ambassadors Network?

The first event was a wine tasting and it was very successful. I'm a tee-totaler, but I tried several of the wines. I had a great time, seeing lots and lots of my friends. And meeting new ones, too.

The second event is next Saturday from 2-6 p.m. It's Oktoberfest at the RiverCenter with a beer tasting.

There will be 20 beers from around the world, along with three Reislings.

It's $35, and that includes food samples from local restaurants and traditional German music by Pete and Mike. These two guys can be seen on a regular basis at the Bavarian House.

Proceeds benefit the programs that support the RiverCenter and its outreach programs like ArtsReach. ArtsReach allows underserved populations to see shows that they would normally not be able to see. Other programs include master classes, pre-performance lectures and matinees for schoolchildren.

It's limited to 400 tickets, so you'd better order your tickets soon.

The last thing the e-mail I got from the RiverCenter said that you have to be 21 or older. Duh!

Tickets are available only at the RiverCenter box office and no tickets will be sold at the door.

Call 706-256-3612.

Fountain City Ensemble

Columbus State University Schwob Department of Music professors Andree Martin, Paul Vaillancourt, Amy Griffiths and Lisa Oberlander became the Fountain City Ensemble about four years ago.

One of them, I can't remember which one, was going to perform in Kiryu, Japan, and the other three wanted to go. So they decided to form an ensemble and all four of them got to go.

Andree and Paul are married, and Amy and Lisa have known each other since their college days.
In the photo, Andree (left-to-right), Paul, Amy and Lisa, are in Kiryu.

Every year since then, they have performed a program that included a commissioned piece. Apparently, there isn't much repertoire for flute, percussion, saxophone and clarinet.

The quartet's Oct. 27 concert is the first with a commissioned piece. But it is still a very contemporary program.

I'm very intrigued by it.

There is a piece by a composer named Jacob ter Veldhuis, who is better known as Jacob TV.

The Dutch composer, who calls himself an "avant pop composer," is obsessed with American pop culture and he has a piece called "Heartbreakers." He uses video and audio clips from "The Jerry Springer Show."

There is a reworking of Gregorian chants called "Chance Chants" by Barbara Kolb, along with a multimedia presentation of Louis Andriessen's "Workers Union," which features clips from the 1927 movie "Metropolis."

I'll have more about the concert in next week's To Do.

The concert is at 7:30 p.m. in the Studio Theatre. It's free.

Halloween and pets

Some people think I shouldn't dress my Chipper up. But he looked so cute.

On the other hand, he really, really looks unhappy, doesn't he.

I'm looking for costumes for my Piiko and Pookie Belle, too.

Tell me if I'm wrong to dress up my babies.

Project Runway Finale

You have got to be kidding me!

Leanne Marshall won. Her collection was so boring. The colors were all the same and her petals were repetitive. The long gown was gorgeous, but the rest ...

I really, truly loved Korto's collection. The colors and designs were great and I bet I could have worn any of her clothes. Well, they would have to be cut down but they were all very wearable.

The judges were so wrong. 

I was happy to hear that she was the favorite of viewers.

But I am glad that Kenley didn't win. Did you hear her say she should have been nicer to Tim Gunn when he was announced as the fourth judge? Jennifer Lopez was supposed to be there, but she hurt her foot and couldn't make the taping.

All in all, I really think it was kind of a disappointing season. I really didn't think there were any outstanding personalities or special designers.

I still think Ralph Wimberly needs to be on the show. He's the former costumer at the Springer Opera House and he not only can design costumes, he can make some gorgeous dresses. When I win the lottery, he's going to make all my clothes.

DWTS, Week 4

OK. Rocco DiSpirito and Cloris Leachman are the bottom two of all the contestants on "Dancing With the Stars."

If Misty May-Treanor had not dropped out last week because of her blown Achilles tendon, Rocco would have not made it to this week.

I'm still astounded that Leachman is still in the competition, but there she is.

Rocco is going home. He was pretty bad. But not as painful as watching him try to open a restaurant a couple of seasons ago.

Chihuahuas. Not Beverly Hills, but Columbus, Ga.

My Chipper, a 6-year-old long-haired Chi. He looks sweet, doesn't he? Don't let that fool you. He's mean as a snake.



Ginger, the expectant mother.










Chester, AKA, the Fat Dog, is a rescue dog.






Pete, the one who started it all.

For many, many years, Cheryl, my sweet sister-in-law, was the biggest cat lover in the world. Everything was about her cats.

For some reason, about seven years ago, she bought a Chihuahua for her ailing father. He named him Pete. Pete really looks like the Taco Bell Chi. He was always a little skittish, but he's much better now. He doesn't hesitate to come up to you to be picked up and petted.

Then six years ago I got Chipper. He's a long-haired Chihuahua, and is the cutest thing. But he's got this unattractive mean streak in him. He can be sitting quietly, snuggling next to you. And the next second, he's biting hard enough to draw blood. Then he's apologetic. But it's too late. You're bleeding!

Almost three years ago, Fred, my brother, bought Ginger as a birthday/Christmas present for Cheryl. She's been hanging around with a Chihuahua in the neighborhood and she's expecting puppies any day now.

Then earlier this year, Cheryl got Chester. He's a big, fat Chihuahua. In fact, on the Fourth of July, two of her nephews walked in who had never seen him before. One of them said, "Where did the fat dog come from?" The other said, "He looks like a watermelon with legs." That's funny because my sister Dorothy said he weighs as much as a watermelon.

But Chester is a really good-natured dog. He just loves to eat. Kind of like an Okamoto. So he actually fits right in the family.

A couple of weeks ago, Cheryl said, "You know I've always loved cats, but I really love the little dogs."

They've always had dogs, but they've been bigger dogs. They've had two beagles, a rottweiler and a huge Welsh corgi. They did have a little terrier named Sunny, but he disappeared one day.

I can't name the cats that Cheryl has had. The one that we all loved was Rosie. She was a kitten when my mother's beloved Cherry was a puppy. The two of them would play and when we'd leave the house, when we got home, they'd be sleeping together. We lost Cherry several years ago and Rosie died earlier this year. We were all sad to see her go.

Cheryl just has one cat now, Harry. He's a huge, black cat with gorgeous eyes and he responds when you call him. He usually shows up in the evening. He was such a cute little baby. Cheryl rescued him and a sibling at a fast-food drive-through when they lived in Florida. Fred originally said she couldn't keep them. He had one in each hand and said they were called "Humane" and "Society." Cheryl found a home for Jelly, but kept Harry.

Ginger will probably have at least two puppies. When I was holding her last night, one of them kicked at me when I was stroking her bulging belly. Ginger's usually very hyper, running around and barking. Last night, she just went upstairs and got on Fred and Cheryl's bed, just nesting under the covers. I think that's a sign that she's getting ready to have her babies.

I was caught by surprise when Piiko had her puppies. I really didn't think she was that close to having them. I had a box ready for her, but she had them at the foot of my bed on a beach towel that she liked to curl up on. Am I glad I had that beach towel. Two of them woke me up around 6:30 a.m., squeaking and squealing. I took Piiko and the puppies to the box, where she had two more. The last one was dead, and she'd pushed her aside. I had gone to shower and when I came out, I found her. I wished that I had been there when she was born. I may have been able to get her to breathe. She was pure white, just like Piiko. The other three were born jet black. They are all silver now.

Of course, I have Miss Pookie Belle now, too, the product of Piiko and Chipper.

Anyway, Jessica came home this weekend, hoping to see the puppies, but Ginger didn't have them. She went back to the University of Florida this morning.

So we're all waiting for the new arrivals.

As soon as they're here, I'll take pictures and post them.

Michael Burks and Val Kilmer

Michael Burks (far right) with his son, Jason (far left) and Val Kilmer on the set of "Dragon Sword."

The title of this should be Sandra Okamoto and Val Kilmer. But no.

I have a friend named Michael Burks. I've known him for many years. Too many.

I had just started working here at the Ledger-Enquirer, and he just got out of the Air Force and was working at WRBL-TV 3. He likes to tell people that he would be my escort as I visited clubs around town late at night. It's true. There were some place that I didn't want to go alone. And I'd drag Michael out.

Then he started dating beautiful Star, whom he married, and he left Columbus after rejoining the Air Force.

I forgot all about him, until he came back to town. He had recently retired as a colonel and was the executive director of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra.

Then he left the symphony, went to work at Uptown Columbus. His job got eliminated and now he's doing part-time work for the LaGrange arts groups.

Anyway, in between the time he was in England (where he was stationed at the same base my nephew Scott was) and the time he got back to Columbus, he struck up a friendship with Tom Reeve, a British director and writer.

Michael started writing movie scripts and he's had two of them made into movies!

The first was called "Diggity: A Home at Last," which was partially filmed in Columbus. It starred Andrew McCarthy, Louise Lombard, Bill Treacher and Sonny Shroyer, who may be best known as Enos on "The Dukes of Hazzard." It's about a ne'er do well, played by McCarthy, who learns he's inherited an English estate. The estate is falling down, and he's followed by a young boy who thinks if he can help Raymond, McCarthy's character, he'll get his wings and go to heaven. It was released in 2000, and I went to the premiere here at Hollywood Connection.

I heard all about the filming of this one. How cold it was in England and all that stuff. I thought it was funny when Michael was complaining about sitting around waiting on the set. I think he thought movies were made like television shows. Kind of in one week and everything is done. Nope. Movies are all about sitting and waiting.

The second movie, "George and the Dragon," was the movie he didn't really talk a lot about. I don't know why. It had a much bigger budget and huge stars — James Purefoy, Piper Perabo, Patrick Swayze, Michael Clarke Duncan, Joan Plowright and Simon Callow. OK, so Purefoy and Perabo aren't huge stars. But the others are pretty big stars.

But the one he left out in my conversations with him? Val Kilmer. The bugger knew I love Val Kilmer. OK, maybe not as much as Russell Crowe, but he's right up there.

All he did was send me a picture.

The movie, renamed "Dragon Sword," is based on the story of St. George and the dragon. It can be seen at 5 p.m. Saturday and again at 3 p.m. Nov. 1 on the Sci-Fi Channel.

It was on that channel in 2006 and I watched it. I liked it. I don't know why it didn't get a theatrical release. I think Michael said it was out on DVD, but I haven't seen it in the stores. But then again, I haven't looked. I just might. I can get Michael to sign my copy for me!

Save the Ta-Tas

I met Columbus State University art major Josh Horne on the street a few weeks ago. I was walking to an interview and I saw a friend of mine who stopped me to talk to him. Then he said, "Oh, there's someone who wants to meet you."

The man of my dreams?

Alas, it was Josh, who wanted to tell me about a concert he was organizing.

Actually, one that he and his fraternity, Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) were organizing because he wanted to raise money to help find a cure for breast cancer.

OK. I guess that's a good reason to stop me on my way to meet the man, um, my interview.

And what better way to reach people his age than through music? I know this is not publicized as much, but men also have a chance of developing breast cancer. So Josh is hoping not to only reach young women, but guys of his generation as well.

The concert featuring Your Best Friend, the Sixxis, Classic Addict, Promise Drive and the Cuffs is 6-11 p.m. Wednesday on the CSU intramural field off University Drive.

We had to giggle when he told me the name of the foundation that the money goes to: Save the Ta-Tas Foundation.

Seriously, though, Josh got involved in breast cancer awareness issues because his grandmother died of breast cancer. So did his girlfriend's grandmother.

And like he says, everyone has a family member who is a survivor or who has died of breast cancer, or knows someone. That's for darned sure. My own grandmother died of breast cancer.

Admission is a $5 donation, but give more if you can.

Call Josh at 706-302-5936.

The Lettermen

It's kind of dark, but you can kind of see the Lettermen singing. The reason I took this photo is to send it to my friend Bill Rich, who owns RSL Theatrical. I think he should make a bid to build a proper stage for the Phenix City Amphitheatre. Not one that's made of plywood and cinder blocks.


Last night, some girlfriends (Janet Roddy, Jan Crawford, Cindy Mohney and Phoebe Caldwell) and I got together for dinner for my belated birthday party. It's my fault. I just couldn't find an evening last month for us to meet.

After a great dinner at the Cannon Brewpub, Janet, Cindy and I went across the river to the Phenix City Amphitheatre for the concert by Gary Puckett and the Lettermen. We missed Puckett's performance, but the Lettermen were fabulous.

They sang all their hits and more. They're really, really good.

Tony Butala, the only original Letterman, said he'd been performing for 48 years. I have no idea how old he is, but he had the energy of a much younger man.

One of the funniest things he said was during an audience participation portion of the concert. He invited people on stage to have their photos taken with them during "Up, Up and Away."

When two little kids came on stage, he said, "I bet you thought you were coming to see David Letterman."

At another point, he said there were a lot of children who were probably wondering who they were. "Think of us as the Back Street Boys of the 1960s."

Another great line: "We've performed in Columbus many times, but we've waited our whole careers to play Phenix City, Ala."

I bet you're sorry you missed the concert.

I'm glad I went, and so were Janet and Cindy,

Taste of Home Cooking School

I just got back from the Taste of Home Cooking School. Years and years ago, the Ledger-Enquirer sponsored the Southern Living Cooking School.

I worked every single one of those shows and had a wonderful time.

I was part of this one, too, and had a great time.

My colleague, Andrea Hernandez, who is a business writer, and I co-hosted the show.

Basically, all we did was thank everyone for coming, introduced the culinary specialist, Michelle Roberts, and gave away door prizes.

At one point, a freshly-baked almond and caramel monkey bread came out of the oven. The first one was made to be given away to a lucky audience member. The second one was for us, those of us working backstage. Even though Andrea and I were technically not working backstage, we each took a piece. 

As we were eating, Michelle, who was onstage, says she needs me and Andrea to give away a cookbook. Heather Williams, who was in charge of the show, yells, "They're eating!"

Michelle turns and asks, "Eating?"

We run onstage to laughter.

I swear it was really, really good. I'd never had monkey bread like this. Michelle put a dab of cream cheese in the middle of piece of dough. You've got to try it.

I'll get the recipe tomorrow and post it.

You'll love it.

By the way, the cooking school was very, very successful. It was filled to capacity -- 800 people showed up.

Last year, when the school was here, Michelle said there were 200 people.

I spoke to someone in the audience who said she came last year and there were no vendors. This year, local restaurants had samples of food. Many of them ran out of food by the first intermission. I know that Kevin Jones of the Villa Nova, ran out even before the show started.

I think everyone had a great time, except for those who waited too long to buy tickets. 

This thing sold out on Monday!

So if you were one of those folks who thought you could buy tickets at the door, I know you were turned away.

Next year, buy a ticket when they first go on sale.

I'll see you at next year's cooking school.

Jerell is out

I can't believe it!

Jerell was eliminated from "Project Runway." I really liked him.

So that leaves Korto, Kenley and Leanne. 

I hope Korto wins. I really don't like the other two.

Troy's directing another show

Young Desiree Samone's (left) play will get its world premiere in Columbus' Liberty Theatre next month.

Troy Heard, the artistic director of the Chattahoochee Shakespeare Co., found a play called "A Love Supreme" by Desiree Samone. So he's producing the show in partnership with the Liberty Theatre. He'll be directing the show.

It's set during the Civil Rights movement in New Orleans. "A Love Supreme" is about a young girl who comes of age when she discovers her talent as a jazz singer, much against her mother's wishes.

Auditions will be at 4 p.m. Oct. 12 and 7 p.m. Oct. 13, at the Liberty Theatre, 813 Eighth Ave. Yes, that's this Sunday and Monday. I didn't get the information until it was too late for To Do. We recently moved our deadline up and not everyone got the word.

The production will run Nov. 14 -22.

Troy is looking for three women and one man: Chloe, 19-20, who narrates the play has to have a superior singing voice; Charlene, her mother, who is in her early 40s; Rita, Charlene's sister-in-law, who is in her late 30s and owns a nightclub; and Mr. Cook, a charming record producer in his late 40s.

If you're interested in any of these roles, call Troy at 702-423-6366 or e-mail him at chattshakes@gmail.com

I'm always glad to see a theater doing new plays, and this one sounds like a good one.

DWTS, Week 3

Thank God they decided not to bring back Kim Kardashian.

They decided not to eliminate anyone this week.

However, if they had decided to let someone go, it would have been Rocco DiSpirito.

So he's going to have to work extra hard this week.

I think they made the right move.

Now, I'm watching the debate.

Dancing With the Stars

OK. I still cannot believe that Brooke Burke is the front-runner. Brooke Burke!

She got the first 10 of the season from Len Goodman. Len Goodman!

Misty May-Treanor blew out her Achilles heel last Friday. They showed the X-ray and it's severed.

My brother ruptured his Achilles heel while playing racquetball some years ago. It took a long time for it heal.

So she's out for the season.

I read online this afternoon that they were going to bring Kim Kardashian back. They didn't mention anything about that tonight. I'm glad that was just a rumor.

My pick for the season was Toni Braxton. I think I'm very wrong.

I really like Warren Sapp. I think I'll vote for him.

Deborah Singer

I wrote about former WXTX-TV 54 and WTVM 9 news anchor the other day. I said she and her fiance, Craig Stuart, are one of four couples who are trying to win an online wedding contest.

I swear I thought she said the contest was worth $8,000. Oh, no. It's worth $80,000.

Yikes!

That's a big difference. 

Anyway, go to http://charlestonweddinggiveawaycom and vote for the couple.

Project Runway

The challenge was to make an evening gown based on something from nature. So they went to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, where the remaining designers, Jerell Scott, Kenley Collins, Korto Momolu and Leanne Marshall, took photos of flowers.

Then they purchased fabrics and made gorgeous gowns.

The judges said even though Jerell won the competition, they couldn't choose between the other three for the final three to compete to show during Fashion Week in Bryant Park.

So all four will go home to create their runway shows for Fashion Week. 

After the judges see all four collections, one of them will be eliminated.

Gosh, I'm glad I didn't have to choose. Though if I did, I would definitely have chosen Korto and Jerell. I've always been annoyed with Leanne. But it's probably more about her voice than her talent. Kenley is just kind of disrespectful and defensive.

I've seen what they did for the runway. (Go to bloggingprojectrunway.blogspot.com for previews of each designers' collections.) I still don't know which one will be eliminated next week. And of the collections, I truly don't know which one will win.

As I've said all along, this season's designers are just not up to par to past seasons. I just don't know what it is. I've talked to friends who watch the show religiously and they agree with me.

Well, we'll find out soon enough who wins this season.

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

This is Chloe in a scene from the Disney movie "Beverly Hills Chihuahua," which opens Friday night.

You know that I have an ill-tempered, hot-headed, mean-as-a-snake long-haired Chihuahua named Chipper.

His name definitely belies his character.

He is, however, a beautiful dog and when he's sweet, he is just a sweet dog.

But he goes from sweet to mean in no time flat.

Last night, Chipper was snuggling next to me on the sofa. I moved slightly. He jumped up, whirled in my direction, bared his teeth, growled and bit me on my wrist. It happened in seconds.

If you see me out in the next few days, ask and I'll show you the teeth marks. And the scratch on my forearm.

Even though he's so bad, I can't help it. I still love the little bugger. He was the very first dog that was my own.

He weighed less than a pound and was so sweet. He was always wagging his tail and licking everyone. He was just a happy little dog.

I actually bought him for my mother. She's always wanted a little long-haired Chihuahua. But at the time, her beloved Pomeranian, Cherry, was still alive. The first night, when she went to bed, she left Chipper with me. "Cherry doesn't like him," was what she said.

So I left Chipper in his box in the living room. But I couldn't stand his whining and crying, so I brought him in to my room.

I didn't know at the time that Chihuahuas will pick one person in the family and will bond with that person. That meant from that moment on, he was my dog.

He was the sweet little, even-tempered dog until he was about 6-months-old. I don't know what happened. The woman I got him from simply said, "He's a Chihuahua."

Yeah, like that explains his behavior.

Every now and then, I think he remembers that he's supposed to be my mother's dog and will go to sleep with her. That happens every six months or so or a night or two.

Then he's back with me.

Now, of course, I have Piiko, my gorgeous little Peke-a-poo, and sweet, lovable Pookie Belle. Pookie is Chipper and Piiko's offspring.

All three of them sleep with me.

Anyway, back to "Beverly Hills Chihuahua." I can't wait to see it!

My sister-in-law, Cheryl, wants to see it, too. She has three Chihuahuas, and her Ginger (she's a couple of months older than Piiko) is ready to have puppies.

I can't wait to see them.