CHRISTMAS DAY, 2009

I was brought up to believe in Tzedakeh, the Hebrew word for charity. But in the busy world we live in, for the most part that has always meant making a financial contribution to various charitable organizations. In all honesty, while the kind of help that comes in the form of a check is welcomed and very much needed, it is usualy a lot easier than giving of time and personal presence. Today, I found out something interesting. It doesn't give quite the same sense of satisfaction.

I tell you this because Benard and I just returned from an incredible morning spent at the Community Partnership for the Homeless in downtown Miami where we helped pack 310 box lunches in the dining hall while other volunteers distributed toys to a hundred or more excited kids who otherwise would have nothing to smile about on this Christmas day.

The food was actually donated by the Ford Motor Company, but the toys and the volunteers were recruited by the Greater Miami Jewish Federation. I read about it on line a few weeks ago and since money isn't flowing as freely these days, I decided to sign both of us up to appear at the Center at 8am this morning.

The Community Partnership complex, a 400 bed shelter for men, women and children, is not in the greatest part of town, as you can well imagaine. In fact, neither of us even knew the place existed although we both volunteer regularly at WLRN, the public radio and TV station, just two blocks away. When we arrived at 7:45 (Benard is always early), kids who live at the shelter were already playing in the concrete courtyard and watching big eyed as volunteers began arriving loaded down with toys.

Most of the volunteers, about 30 in all, were complete families - parents and mostly young kids. Each of us received a sticker with our name on it and were handed t-shirts to wear. After depositing the two giant stuffed toys we brought with us in the toy area, we elected to help with packing the lumch boxes . We soon had a factory line set up at a long table with Benard and some other volunteers stuffing each box with one sandwich, one container of macaroni salad, one package of cookies, one bag of chips, an apple and a cellophane package with plastic fork, spoon & paper napkin. I worked at the far end of the table with a 12 year old young man named David Kimmel. We were in charge of closing the boxes after they were filled, not an easy process, as we were quick to realize. With a little practice, we soon became a well greased machine, amazingly fast at our work, especially when we were joined by David's mother and older brother Jack

The Kimmel's were just one of the families who brought their children with them this morning to help those a lot less fortunate . The kids were all terrific, working as hard as the adults. Benard and I were certainly the oldest volunteers there, but I don't mind telling you, we both held up our ends of the table. Once the lunch boxes were stuffed, closed and counted, we decorated the hall with Christmas stuff. Before leaving we decided to offer the brand new brightly colored t-shirts we had both been wearing over our own clothes to two of the older kids still hanging around the toy area. Both were gladly accepted. That done, we we were off. Tired but feeling good about what we had just accomplished. Amazing! It really is better to give than to receive.

Merry Christmas, everybody. Make it a happy and healthy New Year.

# # # #

Photo captions:

1. Anxious time for the kids waiting for their presents

2. One very happy little boy - he couldn't wait to play

3. Benard working the line

4. The "closers" - David & Me

Is there a "Pet Owner's Anonymous" out there???

As Andrea's friend Doreen so wisely noted, "This is no longer about the kitty litter."



We, (Wasabi, Ginger, Andrea and Mommy, as I am known in the cat world) are 15 days into UltraPet's "Pet of The Month" contest and currently locked in a death struggle with an impossibly gorgeous Maine Coon named Lea. Ostensibly, the cat (or cats, in our case) who ends the month with the most votes, will be enriched with a year's worth of Ultra Pearls, the ultra-fancy kitty litter brand that my rescue-cum-elitist cats prefer.

Listen, you guys, it's a tough economy. Every little bit helps.

We made the semi-finals easily with the photo shown above. It looked like a slam-dunk for Team W&G. Many of you who read my blog were kind enough to vote when I sent out a mass mailing asking for your help. 98% of the cats in the semis had one or two votes at the most. Moral of this story? Don't count your kitty litter before it's in your litter box.

At the end of week #1 we were lulled into complacency with a substantial lead when competition popped up in the form of this obviously high class feline named Lea, owned by Don & Tammy S.(All owners go by first name and initial. . this is a top secret operation.) "They're power voting," Andrea hissed on one of our increasingly frequent phone calls regarding the evening's vote count. "What's with these people? Where are they coming from?"

"They're coming from out of the woodwork, that's where," I moaned. With our competitive juices now in full bloom, we both sprang into action to round up more votes for our team. Where to go now? We had already opportuned close friends, family and passing acquaintances. I considered asking the mailman whether he had an e-mail address. One day, I actually found myself ending a business e-mail to a client with brief instructions on how to vote. Fortunately, she was a cat person and understood the importance of the situation, but I realized that the situation was starting to get out of hand. Doreen was right. It was no longer about the litter. It was about family honor. It was about not letting that beautiful purebred take away the prize from my two little "hoods". It was about getting this damned contest over with already so I can get my life back.

OK, let's get down to business. We know there are more important things in your life right now, but brother, could you spare a vote? Just go to http://www.ultrapet.com/ , Click on "Enter The Pet of The Month" contest. Click on "Vote here for the etc. etc. contest". A page of cat pics will open up. Scroll down five pics on the left hand column to W&G sitting like perfect statues on my shelves. Click on the photo and follow directions to vote. Most important!!! Once you vote, Ultra Pet will send you a validation letter to your e-mail. If you don't click on that e-mail to validate, your vote doesn't count. If and when you do vote, please let me know what e-mail you used so I can follow up from my end.

In closing, I would like to note that Wasabi, Andrea and I will be eternally grateful for your help in our quest for the cat version of the Heisman Trophy. I plan to cry copiously when we are awarded the first bag of litter. Ginger, on the other hand, really doesn't give a damn. . . .she knows she's the best. # # # #

Photo caption: Ginger (left) and Wasabi (right) display their interest in the fine arts by posing as sculptures on my shelves. If they break something, I will kill them both.