I just got a new puppy this morning.  I've never had a chihuahua before.  She's 8 weeks old.  How much should she eat?  What do I feed her?  Is warmed milk OK.  How about dry dog food mixed with milk?  Will she freeze to death if I don't let her sleep with me the first few nights.  How do I keep my four, gigantic, adult cats from annihilating her?

Any suggestions from experienced chihuahua owners will be appreciated?

I bought a piece of history at a garage sale today for $3.   The bowl might have sat there til doomsday wating for someone like me to come by and buy it.  Someone, like me, who would appreciate the journey the china bowl has made to end up on a table crowded amongst mismatched water glasses and coffee mugs.   I need another bowl like a need a fifth cat, but this bowl was special.  I knew it the minute I turned the bowl over and read the notation stamped on the bottom, "Made in Occupied Japan". 

A flood of memories swept over me as I realized that I haven't heard that phrase in years, in decades.

During the time that America occupied Japan, my family lived in a converted barracks in Minter field along with dozens of other poor Okies and blacks.  The entire base was our playground.  Strips of grass grew between the enormous white buildings and made perfect areas for kids to play.   One of our favorite games was called, simply, War.  It also went by another (less politically correct) name of Army and Japs.   I was scared to death of "Japs".

Other games we played included Cowboys & Indians, mud pies, jacks, jump rope,  house, school, crack the whip, mother may I, green light red light, and red rover.  TV wasn't widely available so kids played outside all day, rain or shine.

Radio was the major source of entertainment.  We listened to "The Screeching Door" and "Amos and Andy".  Dean Martin sang about  Amore".  Patsy Cline sang about pyramids and "walking after midnight".  Hank Williams sang about Whippowills, too blue to fly.

We ate lots of beans, potatoes, tomatoes and onions.  Meals were huge, but very few people got fat.

We drove to the 99 Drive-In every Saturday night to catch the latest hollywood film.  I remember seeing "The Thing",  "Them" and  "The Body Snatchers" there.  My mom was a big fan of horror movies. 

In good weather, everyone took kitchen chairs outside at night to watch the stars and talk.  There was always a hope of catching sight of a flying saucer. 

Boys wore dark blue jeans with the cuffs rolled up and white T shirts.  Girls wore dresses that tied in the back, saddle shoes and socks.   

Betty Grable was a "hot" hollywood star who's legs were insured for $1 million dollars.  An unfathomable amount of money to people like us.   My dad was crazy about Betty Grable and my mom was crazy about Joseph Cotton.

Dick, Jane and Sally were the kids we envied and idolized.

You never heard swear words or foul language in movies or outside the confines of your own home.  You could occasionally hear your Dad swear if he got angry enough.  Then it was time to high tail it out of there.

Our heros were uncomplicated men who were easy to recognize because they wore white hats or red capes. 

Doctors made house calls, and teachers paddled troublemakers.

Very vew people owned their own homes.

Times were hard, but most people were optimistic and believed that hard work and clean living were the paths to success. 

America was respected throught the world for being a strong, peaceloving nation. 

The world was our oyster.

Watching the downfall of Britney Spears has been confusing, entertaining and neverending.    I confess that I've never been a fan, but I'm beginning to feel sorry for her.

It's obvious that something's really wrong with her.  I think it's post partum depression.   Am I the only person who feels sorry for her?