One thing I have always loved about Holy Week is the number of really classic religious movies that show up on TV, especially on the cable channels.

Finally a gorgeous spring day in the hills and I have a large white dog staring at me demanding to take advantage of it.

So I am afraid I’m going to have to make this quick: She’s got that bored/impatient look on her face, that canine frown we dog owners all know. As an aside, with the weather getting better this is a great time of year to adopt a dog. Check out Petfinder.com to meet that special companion who is meant just for you. You can change an animal’s life…and I’m sure that animal will change yours.

How do you explain to your dog that you will be going away for a while on a trip but you are definitely, positively going to return?

My Golden, Millie, is extremely perceptive. She knows when the suitcases and travel bags come out something is up. When she sees a piece of luggage she stares at it with apparent shock and disbelief. How could you? Why? Are you ever coming back?

Today is Millie’s birthday. April 1. But she’s no fool. She’s four and getting smarter (and wiser—there’s a difference) by the year.

A friend of mine told me today that he was feeling a little down. Was it something serious? I asked. Something physical? Was his marriage okay? The kids? Maybe, I was even about to suggest, he was depressed and should see a doctor.

“No,” he said, giving me a bemused look. “In fact, life is great. I just have the blues today. It’s normal. I’m fine. I’ll just go with it. It’s just the blues.”

Maybe it all started with a visit to the vet for Millie’s annual checkup last week but I couldn’t help but notice this morning amidst all the disturbing news out of Libya and the Japanese tsunami and nuclear situation, the media bombardment of weight-loss information, programs, miracle weight-loss pills, revolutionary diet research and absolutely money-back guaranteed diet of the stars. I’m an information junkie, so the first thing I do when I turn off the alarm on my BlackBerry is sleepily check my email.

Thanks, Charlie Sheen. Thanks for everything...the denial, the grandiosity, the epic unmanageability and the full suite of character defects you so generously share. Thanks for sharing because you are keeping it green for a whole lot of us who have been exactly where you are now. Maybe not with the unfettered access to media and the global digital stage or the porn goddesses but we have been exactly where you are emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually. And it is not a pretty place.

Dear Friends... I won't be writing a blog today.

I'm taking a day away from the office. But someone has to run the show in my absence, so Millie is filling in. Check her out approving layouts at my desk.

Have a fun weekend!

"Excuse me," she said hesitantly. "Could you tell me how to get to Third Street?"

She was dressed in a jogging suit and sneakers. Behind her stood a man in a logo sweatshirt of some sort holding a little girl's hand.

Tourists.
      
I love tourists. I love the idea that they have come to visit my city and that I can help host them. And I especially love to give directions.

"Are you visiting?" I asked.