"Fletcher Likes Elaine!"

"Fletcher's getting upset!"
"Fletcher forgot to hit record!"
"Where did Fletcher leave that raw tape?"
"Has Fletcher been eating Kung Pao at my desk?"

Am I pulling a "Jimmy/George" from Seinfeld's 6th season? Nope. Have I resorted to berating myself aloud? Not necessarily. You see, KTBS has a new sports intern. Likable fella'... he's a senior at Northwestern State University. Saints fan... Braves fan... LSU fan. Did I mention his name, yet? No? It's Jonson. Fletcher Jonson. That's right, kids... our intern's first name is 'Fletcher.' NOW check out the quotes from above and tell me I'm not going to sound like an absolute loon in the newsroom. Now, picture this: Just as I am exiting the men's room, talking on my cell phone---the party on the other line asks me who our intern is and if he is enjoying his internship. "Oh, Fletcher Jonson Very Happy." I need a nickname for The Intern, pronto'!

When it comes to animals known for their toughness, little fluffy, white puppies are normally down the list. But I'll take our Maltese whose diet includes left-over Cantina Laredo, over any hardened carnivore. There isn't a tougher animal, pound-for-pound, in the country. I returned home from a quick trek to work on Saturday afternoon, expecting Gracie (Maltese) and Baxter (handsome devil at the top of the page) to greet me upon my entrance. Key into lock... no barking. Back Door opening... no barking. "Puppies! Yo! Where'yat?" The two of them were lying side-by-side near the staircase. Didn't take long for me to realize, the white hair of Gracie was stained with blood all around her left-eye. That's when Dr. Fletcher zipped into action. The two pups remained calm, cool and collected despite the hook fastening Baxter's Rabies tag to his collar had slipped through Gracie's lower eyelid. And they were still connected! On the second attempt, I slipped the hook out of Gracie's eyelid... blood poured forth---but a dab of Neosporin to the wound, and Gracie was as good as gold. Looking back, how is it that Baxter, a rambunctious lout if you are to believe "others" in the family, didn't try to run around with Gracie affixed to his Rabies tag? I'm telling you, man... those dogs communicated somehow. I feel like the Dog Whisperer to a certain degree!