It's one of those things where you don't realize how easily your pets can get into chemicals in your home.

This year we will be collecting our one millionth pound.

Often at shelters, we hear, 'I told my child she could get a pet, but she will have to take care of him.' That is an unrealistic expectation and often results in the pet being returned days, weeks, or months later. It is hard for pets to go in and out of a home. They bond with their humans and when they find themselves at a shelter, they become stressed at being taken away from home and the people they love. When an 'easy-way-out' decision is made to give up a pet, we are teaching our children that animals can be given away, turned away, and gotten rid of at the drop of a hat. If you are considering getting a cat or kitten, go into it fully aware that the adults in the home will have to help with the care of the pet.

I was asked, 'Are you worried about bringing it home?' No, I've got $500 in the thing. If it turns into a smoking heap, I don't care. I know a guy who crashed this Subaru; they put it on top of two trash cans and left it there. You go home, pick up the Thrifty Nickel, find a four-cylinder junker and offer them $300 for the thing. Weld up the trunk and go racing.

I'll do it this summer. Whichever team wins a series takes the skis home.

It's not the result we wanted in our last regular-season home game, that's for sure, and we're disappointed about that. It's disappointing, but that's all I can say. We just move on from here.