OK, it's already Thursday and we've accomplished about a third of what we aimed for and ignored the rest as we try to live up to the New Year's resolution of reducing both stress and our weight.
So, let's continue -- trust me, before we close today we'll get to the Texas Rangers' latest ploy to keep fans.
WHITE SETTLEMENT AND OTHER SHELTERS: Look, the city shelters are always full of dogs and cats that are either unwanted or are wanderers. The trick isn't getting veteran rescuers to go to shelters and save animals. The trick is reminding what's known as "the general public" to visit shelters and find a friend.
So, just in case "cute" or "a good story" works, here are some examples. We'll be looking at the White Settlement Animal Shelter and the Longview Animal Shelter today. But you can go online and google the animal shelter for your town or neighborhood and find other potential friends.
Consider, for example, the face on this cat Sassafrass. The face, with its symmetry, is amazing, but this little female is also a polydactyl kitty -- extra toes.
Now the two big dogs are Sam, the black lab mix, and Sarah, the brown dog. 
The story is they came into the shelter after they "may have foiled a burglary and confiscated a shoe as evidence."
How they wind up in a kill shelter awaiting the death needle is beyond me.
Call the White Settlement Shelter at 817-205-8650 and leave a message with a call-back number, they say. If you happen to drop by the facility and no one is there, call the shelter dispatch number at 817-246-7070. Shelter info is HERE.
Now, back to the east on I-20, you can find some small dogs at the Longview Animal Control shelter. This little pup standing in a shelter cage is Geed, a stray. (You could ask about Tico and Chacha, too.)
Astoundingly, these dogs are available for adoption! I wouldn't kid you.
To ask about adopting e-mail Darcy Cowles at [email protected], call 903-085-0377 or go to www.gotpaws.org.
THE ALVARADO DOG: Still uncaptured. Yep, thought this would be taken care of by now, didn't we?
But, no. We hear from Barb Staves that "this poor girl is still on the loose" and she is "likely 'knocked up' again."
Remember, the dog and her pups were dumped in Alvarado at the U.S. 67-I35W intersection. The pups were caught, but she's still loose, living off the leavings at the Chicken Express and on the kindness of strangers.
If you can help -- have tranquilizer expertise, perhaps -- or know someone who can, e-mail [email protected] or call 817-395-2860.
In the meantime, this possibly preggers pup continues to dodge traffic. Remember, not every passing stranger is kind. So, the sooner she's in custody, the safer she is, the more relaxed her supporters will be.
THE LITTLE GUY: Here's one of those adoptable pups rescued from beneath a house in Corsicana. They nine pups have been fostered by Tony and Lynn Gatlin and several of them have been adopted.
This is B.B., the shortened version of "Bottle Baby." Lynn reminds us, "B.B. got his name 'Bottle Baby' because he's the pup that had to be bottle-fed the night of his rescue. Well, look at this healthy boy now! B.B. is our little social butterfly."
The pups are 8 weeks old now. And B.B. is available for adoption (some of his siblings have already gone to new homes.)
To ask about adopting B.B., call 903-874-3722 or e-mail [email protected].
CONTINUED GLOOM AT THE BALLPARK: How about those Texas Rangers. People keep telling owner Tom Hicks, "Go get a pitcher." So, he goes out and hires a pitcher, long-retired hurler Nolan Ryan, to be the club president.
And with no Sammy Sosa home run watch this season, you were wondering how the Rangers were going to sell tickets this year. "Hey, kids, let's run out to Arlington and watch Nolan Ryan be an executive!"
It wouldn't be a big surprise to hear the Rangers announce that they'd hired the spirit of Walter "Big Train" Johnson to be the official honorary starter every third game. Mr. Hicks may think, "He's still got some life in his arm."
Sometimes poets express things best. Today, we have a guest appearance by devoted Texas Rangers fan Scott Chase of Oak Cliff. Here's Scott's spot-on haiku:
Ace Nolan Ryan.
Rangers hope springs eternal.
More heartbreak awaits.
