The daily digest of Twin Cities culture | Secrets of the City

It's been one week and we have already discovered who runs the circus--I mean house. Is it Louie, the English Bulldog? My husband has always loved English Bulldogs, so when our son turned 10 he convinced the whole family that we should have one for the son's sake.
We ended up with the "stud" of the litter, Louie, because his brother Eddie apparently had issues...

When the breeder called and asked us to have Louie come back home and procreate more English Bulldogs, we declined. Louie was not a source of income for the family...He was family....NO hot English Bulldogs for him--

He is a very confident dog despite his lack of ...!
Moving on---

Next came Ernie. The backstory: Howard was trying to wind down from work by golfing with his buddies at Oak Ridge Country Club--yeah, I know, never name drop. But at this point in my life---WHO CARES?! So I took the kids to lunch at Figlio in Uptown. One crispy calamari, two homemade chicken soups, one order of grilled chicken wings, a huge plate of tortellini, and one of their great house white wines later.....
The kids and I ventured down the street and saw this adorable so-called "rare" white mutt in the window of what used to be the Uptown Pet Store----

With both arms twisted...the expressions from my kids' faces.....the wagging of his white tail---This little white $$$$$$$ dog was coming home. When we went to the golf course to show Howie .... let's just say after a few "very funny, take that rodent back" looks....Ernie was now another addition to the ........ family.

Smokey the rabbit, Bubba the guinea pig, and Freddy Fish (the 1st, 2nd and 3rd) were all now members of what I like to call the "JG Family Circus!"

In between all of this madness, we had a loving wheaten terrier, Elmer, who my sweet sister-in-law Marcia was kind enough to give a great home to. That is, until a year ago when he, too, went to the big animal sky filled with pets of all kind that have brought so much joy to so many people!

Bruno may be a teeny tiny little pupster, but make no mistake-----

If you even think about adding to this circus here...Let me stop you by saying we are officially closed until Bruno can get over his issues of being A SMALL BUT FEROCIOUS YOUNG DOG...

We are closed for business until everyone gets some sleep here at the JG Circus of Madness! Time for a nap or maybe a glass of wine from Figlio.