They had to move my bed closer to the window today so I could catch glimpses of the battle in the alley. My body, already suffering from being kept awake for hours by Ryder Tournaments in the middle of the night, strained to peer around the corner of the window into the alley. My eyes blinked, trying to adjust to the bright sunlight. As they finally cleared, I could see the fire escape loaded with spectators as usual. I couldn't help letting out a cheer. Right in the middle of the stairs between the second and third floors sat Max. Not quite well enough to go back into battle, he had come to watch. His mom was with him and was sitting on the next rung up. That sight made it easier for me to swing around and sit on the edge of the bed to get a better view of the alley. As I looked down, I could see the cats all strutting around in their finery, obviously still mot recovered form the expose' we did on them. The dogs laughed and pointed fingers as usual, but I sensed jealousy from some. I noticed a number of the dogs were wearing hats this week and some wore sunglasses. This may not have been due to anything more than the bright sun, but we will have to see. My photographer has left a camera in my room just in case I spot anything in the alley we could use later.

A combination of the cats in their "phonery" and the dogs jealousy made for a bing-bang first round. The dogs fought furiously for every scrap taking a commanding lead of 7 to 3 at the end of the round. Ruefull Rabbit vowed to "do some swashbuckling" in the next round. Kennel, upset that he and his new baby were "cathandled" in the first round, started and impassioned pep talk but was drowned out by the loud purring of Reneemo, one of the younger cats. Macmarine, faithful dog that he is, whacked Reneemo with a rolled up newspaper. Well, that started the fur to fly. Off came the fancy hats. The velvet jackets came off, lace sleeves got rolled up and Francylou passed out the catnip. Needless to say, the cats came back in round two to even the score. We really don't want to get into what happened in the next round. After all, this is a family site and kids do sometimes read what I write. Suffice it to say the view from my window was not one you will find hanging behind a dog bar. You think General Custer had problems? Once the dust cleared in the alley, I could just barely make out the figures of two dogs standing in the middle of the alley surrounded by cats atop the battered bodies of the dogs they had vanquished. Softfire and Jean, being the lone dog winners, slowly backed to the restaurant door into which they made a hasty and tasty retreat. The cats had re-taken the alley and as they hung their victory banner a lone voice was heard from the pile in the center of the alley. "Sockit, you ever wear that "Neuter Your Cat" button again - you're barred from the doghouse."

Supersubs were: Hbear; IMDJ1; Alanbolt

Slams were bid and made by: Little Swan/Apache

Perfect 3-0 games were played by: Dtrum/Amanda; Ksswenson/Reneemo

Yhe cats were: Dtrum/Amanda; Ksswenson/Reneemo; Kwazy Cat/Cattitude; Sunny-Or/Acast; Harle/Galeb; Redbird/Wyatto; Rueful Rabbit/Alan Mitchell; Bobmt/Nanook; Meowmixjin/Francylou; Lorrocat/Rwcarrol

The dogs were: Brat Puppy Rover/Felden; Macmarine/Loraine; Happy/Yadenwise; Sokit2thecats/Cb Puppy; Lite Dove (sub Little Swan)/Apache; Softfire/Jean; Doggotu/Cmk; Borderline/Pomfrtd; Kennel Ha2/Dogcat Baby; Holyguy/Nonny