<html><body><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; color: #000000"><div>What I did not send my Secret Pawtner........</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>This is my sort of Antiques Road Show Moment..... and since it shows how really stoooooopid I can be, I thought I'd tell it as Secret Pawtner season winds down.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>My secret pawtner, to send to, was Maddy. Angelika and I visited her lovely Vegas home, in March. We also had lunch with her, Kathy Lockhart, Pam Tanzey and Maddy's husband, Scott. Last Summer, Barb Sorenson and I had lunch with the same ladies. Translation....I've met her and know both that she likes (Duh) basset crap, and smokes. Not my thing, but I did think of that when trying to pick some Secret Pawtner gifts. I usually try to do treats, a little something from rescue (this year a shirt from Senior Hounds.) and something personal (huge pillow with her houndies on it. I got to take some of the pictures). I realized that I have a basset ash tray. Hmmmmn. I bought it years ago on Ebay. Not sure why. Didn't pay much. It is pretty, for an ash tray. Looked carefully. It is a GUCCI, ash tray. Gold G's. Embossed. Perfect condition. Has that colored stripe and gilt trim. I pulled it out and was going to throw it in a box. Had to wash it. The ash tray sits on an out of the way shelf and was pretty dusty. Before it dried, I turned on the TV. Antiques Road Show was on.</div><div><br></div><div>Hmmmmmn, I wonder..........some googling. DAMN! There aren't many of them out there and CHOKE. I found one that appears to have sold for, wait.....$675! Say what? It's an ASHTRAY!! Went hunting a bit and found that while that price may not be realistic, Gucci Ashtrays sell for hundreds of dollars. A bit beyond the Secret Pawtner budget.</div><div><br></div><div>Now I have an ash tray that I still won't use, but can look at and know it is way too valuable. Someday I might sell it. I thought of using it for rescue, but have other nice things to use for that and know there are a finite number of basset crap crazies (me) who are smokers (not me).</div><div><br></div><div> At least Secret Pawtner made me dig out the ash tray and think about it. Sorry Maddy.......I hope to see you in a couple months, but I am not sending you the over priced ash tray. I have a little smoker something I will try and remember to bring you.......long time Droolers will know in a heartbeat.</div><div><br></div><div>dawnslave</div></div></body></html>