“Google is actually spidering me to take on MySpace based on my social media strategy.”  Randy Bain 3/17/10

“I’m sorry…we don’t have any religious reporters here…uh…I mean religion reporters.” –Sonja Bailes on the phone 3/18/10

“I’m a big fan of my press pass.” –Marcy Novak 3/18/10 

“I saw every single movie that was up for nomination for best costume design.”  –Jim Christie 3/8/10

“I like my Palm Pre, but I’m sort of having app envy.” –Sherri Talley 3/12/10

“I did Nick’s makeup.” –Sherri Talley 3/15/10

It’s not your usual gathering of entities.

Keithville, Louisiana has the distinction of being home to the Eddie D. Jones Memorial Nature Park with some of the most beautiful running/biking/hiking trails anywhere.  Adjacent to the trails, is Chimp Haven, a 200-acre chimpanzee sanctuary, the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery and Forcht Wade Correctional Center. 

It’s how close these properties are to one another that gives the area a serene, pride-instilling, beautiful, mysterious and sometimes eerie feeling.

From the church graveyard, the sight of prisoners farming peas, the sounds of chimps screaming to occasionally remembering that the park ranger once saw what he thought was a cougar in the woods, this is a fascinating place.

“I will never be too old for Bonne Bell Lip Smackers, especially Cotton Candy.” –Heather Bloom 3/2/10

“Sherri, men aren’t asking you out because you aren’t enhancing your moustache.”  –Heather Bloom 3/2/10 

“Gotta stay fit for the ladieeeeeeees.” –Casey Allen, February/10

“I love the feeling of just letting a fad go by.” –Sherri Talley 3/7/10

“Aren’t you a Shreveport landmark?” –Linda Watson Louviere 3/7/10

“Did I ever tell you guys about how, when I first moved down here, I went through a drive-thru, and they were like, “Why are you talking all fancy?” –Eric Carlton, former Wyoming resident 3/3/10

“I don’t eat sweets.  They mess with me glycemically.” –Sherri Talley 3/2/10

“I’m not used to being really sad on air.  I’m used to being pleasant and stuff.” –Crime Team Meteorologist Marcy Novak

Sharon Fullilove:  “I hate MOSs.”  Corrie Cross:  “They’re Satan’s gift to news.” 2/19/10

“I’m not big on text messages.  Let’s sit here and talk about it.” –Gary Hines 2/23/10

“It’s nice to have quarters.” –Lauren Ostendorff 2/25/10

“I’m actually just creating a little world for Rick Rowe.” –Randy Bain 2/25/10

“What is it with bald guys…they’re the best speakers.” –Corrie Cross 3/1/10

There’s something oh-so-cool and downright emotional about an animal receiving an honor for helping our men and women defending our freedom.

Maybe it’s because I believe animals have no ill-will.  Sure, there are the basic survival instincts, but I’m pretty sure they’re not sitting around gossiping and planning Desperate Housewives-type revenge on one another.

So, when the news came today of Treo, a black lab, receiving the Dickin Medal for animal bravery in war, I was particularly interested in what Treo did to deserve the honor.  Turns out, the Royal Army Veterinary Corps arms and explosives dog twice found hidden bombs while serving in Afghanistan, thus saving many lives.

Treo is way cool.

So, after sniffing around a bit, I found that numerous pigeons, horses and a cat have also received this award.

Wait.  A cat?

I seriously thought that was written as a prank.  So I searched it.

I’ll be goll dang.  Sure enough…there it was.

From Wikipedia:  1949: Simon – the ship’s cat on HMS Amethyst during the Yangtze Incident, noted for surviving injuries from a cannon shell, raising morale and killing off a rat infestation during the incident, by doing this duty despite being wounded. He was raised to the fanciful rank of “Able Seacat” and awarded a campaign medal. The medal was sold by the Royal Navy and is now a valuable collectors item, partly because Simon has been the only cat to win the medal.

Maybe I’m not hanging out with cool-enough humans, but I don’t know too many everyday people among us who are willing to kill rats while dealing with cannon shell wounds.  Oh, and try raising morale while you’re at it!

Here’s to Simon and many more than nine lives where he is now!

“I can Skype it so simple it’ll be scary.” –Randy Bain 2/3/10

“Did Randy just meow?” –Erin Moore 2/4/10

“We sure can’t have a country boy from Greenwood crying in the canteen.”  –Sparky 2/5/10

Sherri Talley: “Ed, what are you giving up for Lent?”  Ed Walsh: “I’ve decided to stop being nice to people.”  Clay Kirby:  “When did you start?” 2/15/10

“Your scripts are about to be all jacked up.” –Corrie Cross 2/16/10

The Port-O-Let Convention taking place on Kings and Shreveport-Barksdale in Shreveport is about to come to an end.

The South doesn’t usually lend itself to snow that lasts long enough to build a snowman.

So, when 4-6 inches accumulated last week in the ArkLaTex, southerners didn’t dilly dally around with valuable time and so much pent-up creativity.  They went to work, diligently giving life to sneauxmen and sneauxwomen who would live very short lives.

Here’s a sampling of that creativity, no doubt inspired by residual Saints cheer!