Speaking of Alice and of Good Things, I realized last week that Mr. Patrick is the best thing to happen to me since Alice. He's funny, sweet, silly, not too bright, and loves to follow me around. Every time I'm in a new room, I look back and there he is, asleep on the floor, but will wag his tail if I even look his way. I turned on the heat this morning for the first time of the season. I'm standing at the thermostat listening for the great whoosh of confirmation that the pilot light is lit when Patrick starts howling. In case you were wondering, that whoosh is not audible over howling.