Hello everyone.

I really appreciate your coming today to send me off into my second half century. I’m guessing some of you are wondering why I came up with such a seemingly morbid means of celebrating this milestone birthday. Let me try and explain.

When my mother died, we did all we could to include her in her own funeral. We had a CD playing of her singing, so she could entertain us after death the way she had during life. We played a schottische and danced it in a foursome with a space for her spirit making up that fourth dancer. We had a 21-squirt-gun salute that devolved into a water fight, just as she would have herself instigated. It was a perfect way to celebrate her life, but…

Though I’m sure she was there in a metaphysical sense, it was regrettable that we couldn’t all see her smiling face and know that wonderful outpouring of love and affection was being received and felt by her. That’s what gave me the idea to hold this wake; my turning 50 was just a convenient excuse as far as the timing goes. Funerals are for the living, of course, to help them honor their dearly departed and start their own grieving process, but in a way, I think we’re doing things a bit backward. Everyone should get to attend his or her own funeral while they’re alive to enjoy it!

My desire for this stems back to my youth. I used to send my mom to parent-teacher conferences each year and then, teachers’ pet that I was, I’d grill her, “What did they say about me?” It always frustrated me that she wouldn’t bring a tape recorder with her to help with her spotty memory.

Hence, I’ve asked you all here today, to help me be a proverbial fly on the wall at the ultimate parent-teacher conference, to let me know how I’m doing so far on my life lessons.

A friend of mine who nearly died recently of esophageal cancer told me this event shouldn’t be called a wake—it should be called an AWAKE, as in being fully awake and aware of what life and living has to offer. Having lost both parents, a stepfather, a couple of best gal pals, several other relatives, three cats, three dogs, my cockatiel, etc., etc., I know only too well how brief our time in this incarnation can be. I want to get the most out of this go-round as possible. Thank you all for helping me do this very thing.

Please note, however. I’m not actually dead and if you insult me too strenuously, I can still pop you one in the snoot.

From Moon Zombies to a House of Ghosts

Posted by Chuck Smith No Comments

My best bud from high school, Lori Soyring, has a 15-year-old nephew, Halen, who is suffering from cancer. She shared this great Star Tribune story about the hospital’s use of therapy dogs to help bring comfort to patients like Halen. Please check it out and send him your thoughts and prayers for a full recovery—Sid

http://www.startribune.com/ lifestyle/relationship/137720208.html

Some may be rewarded with walk-on roles in one of Mihm’s upcoming B-movies!

Frodo

and Robbie

Robbie

(3 yrs old, on right). We are two rather larger Cairns. We each weigh about 20 lbs. We are very mellow and even tempered, we are crate trained too. We love meeting new new people and making friends. We would very much prefer to go to a home together, we tend to rely on each other for support. We are currently hanging out with the Wisecarvers. If you are interested in adopting us, please contact our foster parents at 320-963-6085. (We are neutered, vet checked, vaccinated and heartworm negative.)

My thanks to Sue Storms, who always does a wonderful job keeping us informed of Westies that have come available for adoption. Here are several great stories of dogs finding their forever homes!—Sid

A number of Westies were adopted this past year by members of our Little White Terriers group. I have asked their new families to write their ‘love story’ to share with us. Who doesn’t love a happy ending?
Give your Westie an extra hug while you read these happy-ending stories.
Miss Paisley (formerly Trouble) by Sue Storms
“Trouble” entered my life in January when I was alerted of a 14-year old Westie in an east-suburban shelter. Her original owner had died and she was given to a family member who kept her for a month before taking her to the shelter because “we just can’t handle her”. Trouble then went into foster care with John and Steph Wisecarver. After a week and 2

Miss Paisley

adoption announcements to the Little White Terriers group, no interest was shown. Older dogs really pull at my heartstrings and I wanted to bring her home with me but my Homeowners’ Association rules allow only 1 permanent dog. I put my best writing skills to work and contacted each board member asking for a special dispensation for this old gal. Unanimously, they said “yes” and on January 14, 2011, “Miss Paisley Aberdeen” (who was no “Trouble” at all) moved in with Quinn, HobieCat and me.
It was quickly evident this gal had been well loved; she told me the human bed was where she wanted to sleep, the front seat of the car is where she requested she ride, her meals dare not be late, and a human lap (anybody’s lap) is where she preferred to sit. And with her deep, loud barks, she made sure her demands were heard! That deep bark was the only un-lady-like characteristic of this “Grande Dame”. Quinn instantly accepted her, HobieCat adored her and I was totally smitten – we loved having her in our lives!
She quickly became well-known and well-loved in my condo community. Her stroller rides brought lots of smiles as she held her head high and sniffed everything around her as we ventured through our complex. Our Westie friends also liked meeting her and she was happy to allow anybody to hold her if they wished. She also enjoyed going to Doggy Day Care every Wednesday and took it upon herself to keep an eye on all that was going on around her – she even learned how to use the doggy door! A huge honor was bestowed upon her when she reined as Queen of the Wayzata Westie Walkers in the James J Hill Days parade; a position very fitting for this lovely old girl.
I always hoped her former family was looking down upon her, watching her enjoy life, recognizing that it was possible for her to go on and still have fun after they died. Sadly,
her time too, had come to an end. After a short illness, she left us on November 8th. I thanked her for allowing me to spend these last precious months with her; I was honored to be her mom even if it was only for a short time.
I was surprised and comforted to hear my neighbors talk about her, taking a piece of ownership of her. I heard comments like “We were lucky to have her with us” and “We all loved her so much”. She was greatly loved by so many, many people that she met in the last 10 months of her long life. I think all her new friends eased her transition from her loving family.
I hope her story is a reminder to all that older dogs can still enjoy life and bring joy to many people despite their age or the fact that their family has left them. I’m convinced that Paisley is now reunited with her family, making her demands, once again enjoying the love she so rightly deserves. And I’m convinced that she is being “No Trouble at all.”
Vinnie by Julie Gibbons
It was a crowded room. I walked in, mingled a bit, and then I saw him. Our eyes met, well mine did at least, he was resting his head on his foster dad’s shoulders, and it was love at first sight. Well for me anyway. Even though he looked like a cross between a wombat and a kangaroo. But looks aren’t everything. I will make him love me I thought. I asked what his

Tony and Vinnie

story was. He was 8 months old and kept in a cage the first six months of his life at a puppy mill. I didn’t need another dog. Husband just retired early. Check. Daughter just graduated college and found a good job. Check. Our other Westie son was about to turn eight and he was a calm and well mannered little guy. Check. But I reached for the phone and called hubby. ‘Can I get another one?’ I asked. ‘Another what?’ he said. He said okay. He knows me very well. We brought him home from Crossroads and named him Vinnie. Vincent when he’s naughty. We now had Tony and Vinnie, the boys from Brooklyn, the only Italian names in the household. Tony hated Vinnie for the first few months. But now they rip through the house after each other. Vinnie thinks every wastebasket is a toy box for him. He chewed my brand new shoes I bought for a wedding. He walks around the bathtub and nudges everything he can into the water. Then he jumps in. His teeth are worn down on one side… I believe it’s from gnawing on his cage out of boredom in the puppy mill. He can’t be in the Westie Walk yet because I don’t have experience walking in Macy’s parade as a balloon handler. But this little guy has won our hearts and is so happy every single day. Our little Vinnie, er… Vincent, is very much a challenge but we absolutely adore him.

Atticus by Mike & Lyn Berglund
Our little Westie passed away about a year ago and my wife and I talked about getting another Westie, but we wanted to adopt or rescue this time. Your email this past February regarding Atticus, a 10 year old male whose elderly owner was put into a nursing home,

Atticus

made us think that this “big” little guy who is mostly deaf might be the one for us. My son and I left very early one Saturday morning in February to make the 5 hour drive to Bemidji to see if he would be a good pet for us. Upon meeting him at the kennel in Bemidji, he just warmed up to us, was all attitude, and very playful for a dog of any age and we thought we have to take him.
He has been a great addition to our family and blended right in. He is affectionate, attentive, has high energy in spurts, well behaved, and has a “nose” that makes up for his lack of hearing. What a joy he has been.

Caesar by Mary Kay Pewowaruk

This past September, our 16-year old Westie Guthrie, passed away. This was especially hard for me as he had been with me since he was just 7 weeks old. Right about the time of Guthrie’s death, an email came out from the Little White Terriers about several dogs who were rescued by Secondhand Hounds and needed homes. At the time, I could hardly even look at the email and so deleted it. But about a month later, we heard again that Caesar was

Caesar

still available. The month we had spent without a dog in our home was very lonely and sad. My husband, who works from home, was just lost without the company of a furry friend. I wasn’t sure I was ready but I decided to inquire anyway. After a couple phone calls, I learned Caesar came from a backyard breeder in Ohio. His hair was pretty messy so when we finally met him, he was sporting a rather short haircut. But we all knew right away that Caesar would be a great companion for us and would help to fill that hole that was left in our home and in our hearts. We brought Caesar home on October 17 and he has now adjusted very well. It was a bit of a shock for us to have this 2-year old with so much energy (and the need to chew everything). We learned a few lessons the hard way: Caesar tore the frosted film off one of our French doors, he tore a hole in our car’s leather seat, and he ripped the bedskirt on my daughter’s bed. But we only blamed ourselves for these mishaps and fortunately, they are minor and can be fixed. Caesar is such a sweet, loving dog. He really likes to be held, is always ready to go for a walk or a car ride, likes to sleep with our 10-year old daughter, and is so fun to watch when he plays with his stuffed animals and chew toys. Caesar has captured our hearts and we are so thankful he is a part of our family! Thank you to Secondhand Hounds for bringing Caesar to Minnesota and thank you to Crossroads Animal Shelter, the Wisecarvers, and foster parent Greg Palmer for helping us in the adoption process.
Patty McPatty by Dori & Roger Schlins
Our June 21st, 2011 Adoption of Patty McPatty:
After the loss of 17 year old Weaver, the most magnificent Westie in the universe, we spent seven months grieving and trying to figure out how to choose the right Westie to bring into our home again. We never doubted that we would have another Westie; we just wondered where to find another puppy.

Patty McPatty and Dori

When we transitioned to the idea of adopting an adult rescue Westie, we suddenly had several immediate choices. Ultimately, the Crossroads Shelter in Buffalo was the wonderful source of our next Westie. Bless the Wisecarvers for their work with rescue and matching up potential owners.
This is the thing: Roger and I had owned 5 other dogs but all different breeds – we thought all Westies would be like our first in temperament and attitude, since we had never had two dogs of the same breed. Weaver was wonderful, but we had no idea that even among Westies there is a wide spectrum of personalities. Our Patty McPatty has been a revelation: she is extremely affectionate with humans/hates other dogs, never barks at all unless she sees another dog outside or catches a glimpse of a squirrel, never begs, loves to play with squeaky toys/balls, and passionately hunts mice or other critters in the yard.
Weaver was very even tempered and got along with all dogs; he accepted affection from us but did not lick our faces; he was a very noisy dog, barked at everything, but did not care to chase a ball. We loved his enthusiasm and quiet dignity. Now we have an angel in a dog suit. Patty lets us know every day how grateful she is to have landed in our house. We are working on the anti-social canine behavior, however. I do want to have her participate in walkabouts and the Sept parade.
All in all, the right pairing of rescue Westie and adoptive home is key but so incredibly worth it. Thanks to those who found Patty for us – we will be eternally grateful!
Roger and Dori Schlins
Rosie (formerly Sugar) by Vanessa Rico
I lost one of my Westies unexpectedly in August. Sad as I was, Allie, my other Westie, was

Rosie

also grieving. Things were just too quiet around our home. In late September, I learned of some Westies available for adoption through Second Hand Hounds. Rosie was one of a group that came here from an Ohio breeder and she was fostered with the Wisecarvers through Crossroads Animal Shelter. I decided it was time for an addition to the household, so I filled out the application and got a call to go out to Crossroads and see her. Apparently there were many applications for the dogs! I was not sure what to expect when I arrived at Crossroads and I didn’t want to get too excited. When I got there, the Wisecarvers brought me to meet the dogs who were very excited by all of the attention. Rosie (her name was Sugar originally) caught my eye right away. I believe I did not pick Rosie – she picked me. She followed me around the kennel and just seemed to know I was the “one”. She wasn’t much to look at to begin with. She was pretty skinny and was shaved. From what I was told, she was used for breeding purposes and she had had at least one litter. She was a friendly little dog, though, not afraid or shy so I don’t believe she was abused in any way. So, she came home with me that day and promptly settled in on my couch next to Allie! She has turned out to be a great dog! She’s quick to learn, happy, has a good disposition and is a good protector of my property from varmints such as squirrels and rabbits. She and Allie are good friends and get along great! This is another furry-tailed, happy ending! Vanessa
Bently by Mary & Gary Johnson
We adopted Bently, a Westie mix, about a month ago from Crossroads Animal Shelter in Buffalo, Mn. We are now wintering in east Texas – my wife and I, Bently, his older brother Scooter, a miniature Schnauzer, and Popcorn, a yellow tabby. The dogs go on daily walks along the Toledo Bend Reservoir with Mary and the local dog pack – a total of 7 or 8 dogs each day. Bently loves walking in the water, even with his short legs, and enjoys carrying the little treasures he finds each day. Has fit into the family really well and is a joy to have.
Glad I receive your emails – especially the one that alerted us to Bently.
Merry Christmas,
Mary and Gary Johnson
We hope you have enjoyed reading these happy-ending stories!
“Adopting a dog will not change the whole world, but it will change the whole world for that one dog.”

A neat ghostly event happened last night, as we finished our “House of Ghosts” shoot. (That’s the B&W 150s-style B-movie by Christopher R. Mihm we’ve been filming at our house.) At 7:35 p.m., during the shoot, TWO of our pendulum clocks just stopped. The big grandfather clock in the living room was one of them, and that has NEVER just stopped before. Since it was that one and Anthony’s deceased mother’s clock in the parlor, and since she’s known for doing that occasionally to let us know she’s around, we’re guessing it was she who was saying she was watching the final scene with her kid. A nice send-off, don’t you agree?

Remember to get in your RSVPs for our Open House of Ghosts. You can meet these mystical, magical clocks in person!

Friends of the Mihmiverse,

you are cordially invited to attend the

Open House of Ghosts

Whether you’ve been on screen, behind the scenes, or in the audience at a Mihm movie, please join us on-site for an open house party on Friday, Dec. 30, 2011, from 5–9 p.m. at the historic South Minneapolis Victorian home where Christopher R. Mihm’s latest major motion picture, “House of Ghosts,” was filmed.

What’s in it for you?

• Meet and greet the director himself, as well as cast members from this and many of his earlier movies at this unprecedented Mihmiverse mini-reunion.

• “Audition” for a walk-on role in an upcoming movie by re-enacting a scene from one of his movies with the actors present or take the Improbable-Dialogue Memorization Challenge.

• Shop for Mihmorabilia—and get it all autographed.

• Pre-order your “House of Ghosts” DVDs and/or reserve your collectible tickets for its May 23, 2012, premiere event at the Heights Theatre.

• Bring along friends or family members who’d like to check out the perks of becoming an associate producer.

• Hors d’oeuvres, soft drinks and desserts will be served.

Please RSVP to rsvp@sainteuphoria.com by Dec. 20 to get the address and directions to the house. For more information, contact Christopher R. Mihm at chris@sainteuphoria.com or Sid Korpi at sid@tworightfeetdance.com.