Around this time last week, Sarah and I spent our time near a beach in San Diego, CA.  The forecast is calling for a decent weekend here in Chicago, but nothing will beat that fantastic breeze along the beachfront.  This weekend is very much a catchup weekend for us, since we were out of town for the past two weekends.  Our itinerary consists of grocery shopping, maybe a Target run or two, and loads of laundry to wash.  Ohhh, the life!  Hopefully your weekend will be a bit more interesting than ours.

Events Around Town

• Hang out with FRESH 105.9 at McCormick this Friday and Saturday for The Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicago Health & Fitness Expo!  With over 100 exhibitors, this event is free and open to the public.  Stop by the Fresh 105.9 tent for your chance to win a pair of tickets to see Jason Mraz, 8/13/09, at Charter One Pavilion!
• Mike LeBaron and the Fresh Street Team will be at Meijer in Elgin, this Saturday giving away prizes including tickets to see Creed 8/30 at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre!  Stop by and get a free TOMBSTONE 12” Original Pepperoni Pizza when you buy $10 in grocery at Meijer and (1) 12” TOMBSTONE pizza. Just bring your original receipt, dated August 1, 2009, to the TOMBSTONE truck outside to get your free TOMBSTONE 12” Original Pepperoni Pizza.
• Join the Fresh Street Team at the Rock ‘N’ Roll Chicago Half Marathon this Sunday in Downtown Chicago. 18,000 runners have registered for the sold out event and will be rocking to live music along the way. The bands set the tempo for this 13.1 mile party, where runners and spectators can hear music from 21 local bands.
• Northalsted Market Days, the largest two-day street fair in the Midwest, will be held this Saturday and Sunday.  While there, stop by the Fresh 105.9 tent for your chance to win a pair of tickets to see Dave Matthews Band on September 26th at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park!

Movies Out in Theaters

Funny People

Comedy film producer Judd Apatow is behind the laughs and drama playing out in the new comedy “Funny People,” in theaters this weekend.  Starring Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen, “Funny People” revolves around a popular, but terminally ill stand-up comedian, played by Sandler, who forms a bond with a struggling up-and-comer.  Seth Rogen plays aspiring comic Ira Wright in “Funny People.”  Rogen says like his character, he was excited to work alongside Sandler, one of his real-life comic heroes.   “Funny People” also stars Leslie Mann, Eric Bana, Jonah Hill and Jason Schwartzman.  This movie is rated R.

Aliens In The Attic

The Pearson family head to their Michigan vacation home only to discover its not-so-vacant status in the new comedy “Aliens In The Attic.”  The family soon discovers they are sharing roof space with a friendly alien, though the alien’s pals are not quite as friendly and set out to invade the home.  “Aliens In The Attic” stars Robert Hoffman, Ashley Tisdale, Carter Jenkins, Austin Butler and Malese Jow.  This movie is rated PG.

The Cove

Led by renown dolphin trainer Ric O’Barry, a group of activists infiltrate a cove near Taiji, Japan to expose animal abuse in the documentary “The Cove,” in theaters today.  The film picked up the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. 

The Collector

In a desperate attempt to repay his debt to his ex-wife, an ex-con concocts a plan to rob his employer’s country home, unaware that a second criminal has also targeted the property with a series of deadly traps.  The screenplay for “The Collector” was written by Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton who also wrote films in the “Saw” horror franchise.  “The Collector” stars Josh Stewart, Andrea Roth, and Juan Fernandez.  This movie is rated R.

Be safe this weekend and let’s chat on Monday!  312/591-1059!

RH

Shut down by the FDA!

Since Sarah and I adopted Coconut, our Labrador Shar Pei about a year and a half ago, we’ve fed her a combination of canned food from Evanger’s Dog Food of Wheeling, IL and dry food from Fromm, based out of Mequon, WI.  We chose products from these two companies because of their dedication to using only premium ingredients.  Their proximity to Chicago was a big plus, too!

It looks like we’re going to have to make a choice as of today!  Late last night, the Federal Drug Administration, which keeps tabs on veterinary practices, has pulled an invaluable license from Evanger’s.  According to the FDA, Evanger’s has failed to document important manufacturing business practices.

“The deviations in their processes and documentation could result in under-processed pet foods, which can allow the survival and growth of Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum), a bacterium that causes botulism in some animals as well as in humans.”

Botulism?  Ouch!  Looks like it’s time to find a new pet food.

Evanger’s response? Their CEO released a press release trying to spin the situation, by saying the problem is simply a paperwork oversight.  Other’s don’t seem to agree.

After being fed Evanger’s Pheasant dog food, which is one of Coconut’s favorites, Leslie’s Chihuahua became extremely ill.  “He was urinating constantly, vomiting bile, his eyes were sunken from dehydration, and he had horrible lethargy,” she said. “He wouldn’t get up and do anything. This is a Chihuahua who loved to play. One of my neighbor’s came over and said it looked liked Remy had aged ten years.”  (Source:  http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2009/06/fda_evangers02.html#ixzz0IdEUQ5Xd&D)

Any suggestions on what to replace Evanger’s with?

This blog entry is long overdue.  I think this story will be a perfect way to kick off a brand-new entry!

My dog is taking Dexatrim!

Poor Coconut, our 14 month old Labrador/Shar Pei!  For the past month, Sarah and I thought she was being a devil of a dog!  Without warning, she would squat down and start urinating in our condo!  Our immediate reaction?  “BAD DOG!!”  Because she has been housebroken for some time now, such behavior is quite unusual.

Yesterday was the last straw.  While sitting on the couch and eating my Cinnamon Toast Crunch (yes, this is true…), she jumped off of the couch and urinated on the floor!  This time I got up, scolded her, and sent her to her crate.  She shook in fear as I walked away.

It’s time for some professional help

I immediately picked up the phone and dialed up our vet to schedule an appointment.  In preparation for the appointment, I was asked to bring in a stool sample.  Lovely.  We drove to the vet this morning, sample in tow, and patiently waited for our name to be called.  Naturally, a young girl sat down right next to us (and our smelly poop bag!).  I was humiliated.  I’m sure she thought I smelled like dung.

After waiting hours to to be seen and $319.08 later, the prognosis was delivered:  Coconut has Urinary Incontinence.  In other words, she does not have the ability to hold her urine.  Poor thing.

She has been prescribed 50mg of Phenylpropanolamine, which is supposed to help strengthen her muscles so that she can hold her urine.  I guess it’s a pill form of kegels.

Well, being the good pet owner that I am, I came home tonight and looked Phenylpropanolamine up online.  As it turns out, at one time, Phenylpropanolamine was the active ingredient in Dexatrim!  Poor Coconut.  My 35-40 pound dog is going to grow a complex.

Then again, if she could talk, I’m sure she’d ask me not to place this blog entry onto the Internet for everyone to read.