Hop on pop's bandwagon, and wish him a Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day from your friends at the Dog Denizens of Genesee Park (DDGP)!

Americans first celebrated Father's Day in Fairmont, WV on July 5, 1908. Seven months earlier, 210 men -- all fathers -- perished in a mining disaster in Monongah, WV. Organizer Grace Golden Clayton sought to honor the dead paternal familiaris, and chose a date closest to her own father's birthday. Few, though, paid the event -- too close to Independence Day -- too much attention. Clayton's holiday was "one and done." Two years later, Spokane resident Sonora Dodd created her own Father's-Day-themed celebration. Congress entertained legislation to create a federal holiday honoring fathers. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson came to Spokane to promote a federal Father's Day. However, Congress -- supposedly fearing Hallmark-style commercialization -- demurred. Although President Calvin Coolridge recommended a national holiday in 1924, he did not issue a federal proclamation.

The fathers of America -- unlike the mothers in the country -- went unrecognized and unheralded for another three decades. In 1957, Maine Senator Margaret Chase Smith rebuked her congressional colleagues for failing to honor fathers thereby "(singling) out only one of our two parents." Federal recognition would come almost a decade later when President Lyndon B. Johnson issued a federal proclamation in 1966 that designated the third Sunday in June as a holiday honoring American fathers. In 1972 President Richard M. Nixon signed into law legislation that created Father's Day.

If you're grilling steaks for dad, fix him a cocktail -- provided that a doctor and/or judge hasn't prohibited him from imbibing. The Bourbon Sidecar is a whisky cocktail that will whet Dad's appetite while he snacks on Ruffles and onion dip.

Bourbon Sidecar

2 oz. bourbon

1 oz. triple sec

1½ oz. lemon juice

Combine the ingredients in a shaker filled with ice.

Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass.

A three-day weekend generates human stupidity

Maybe it's the relatively warm Seattle weather or the three-day Memorial Day weekend. Or maybe human stupidity runs year-round.

People in town don't seem to understand that the leash law applies to them and their canines. Within a span of five minutes around 12:15 pm, we saw two instances in which people hurriedly leashed up their dogs as they walked along the path in Mount Baker Park. Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) 9.25.084(a), Offenses Related to Animal Control says that it is unlawful for an owner to "permit any animal, except cats and pigeons, "to be at large or trespass upon the property of another." SMC 9.25.020(E) defines "at large" as "a dog or other animal inside the city of Seattle, off the premises of the owner, and not under control of a leash of eight feet in length or shorter."

Did you catch the conjunction in the definition of "at large"? It's not enough to maintain your animal under your control if the dog is unleashed.

But the brunt of our disdain will be heaped upon the thoughtless and stupid owner who left two tiny dogs -- a long-haired Chihuahua mix and a miniature Doberman -- "tied" to a sign pole on South McClellan Street between 36th Avenue South and South Mount Baker Boulevard. My own leashed dog and I passed your two pooches as we went for our stroll. The flimsy leash that you used to tether both dogs broke loose, and the Chihuahua mix scampered off in the direction. Although you emerged in a couple of minutes, the time seemed like an eternity. I didn't know if your dog would venture in the path of traffic -- cars, sport utility vehicles, the #14 Metro bus -- on McClellan. You said that you were "watching" and were "in the store"... a place locals call the Mioposto Restaurant.''

Selfish, careless lady, what the hell were you thinking?

I don't care if you were dining on roasted beet salad or picking up a Fungo Straginole pizza to take home. You had no business taking your dogs along on the field trip. Situated in a restaurant, you had no control of your dogs -- and less so than the others who tether their dogs to the bike rack next to the restaurant. Don't think your indiscretion is a big deal? SMC 9.25.081(f) characterizes animal cruelty as to "tether or confine any animal in such a manner or in such a place as to cause injury or pain or not amounting to first degree animal cruelty defined in RCW (Revised Code of Washington) 16.52.205."

They're playing your song, lady.

Remember to tell your mama 'Happy Mother's Day"

Happy Mother's Day from your friends at the Dog Denizens of Genesee Park (DDGP)!

An acquaintance confided that Mother's Day -- celebrated on the second Sunday in May -- caught her by surprise. The confusion is understandable given that we celebrated Easter a couple Sundays ago and the weather is more appropriate for March Madness than the Kentucky Derby.

A brief recap on the history of Mother's Day. In 1914, Congress passed a Joint Resolution establishing the second Sunday in May as "Mother's Day" to acknowledge the roles of American women in nuclear families. Anna Jarvis, who made it her life's work to establish a holiday honoring mothers, opposed the inevitable path to commercialization. "I wanted it to be a day of sentiment, not profit," she said. Jarvis decried the purchase of greeting cards as "a poor excuse for the letter that you are too lazy to write."

If you have invited Mom to brunch, impress her with a Mimosa (provided that neither you nor the maternal familiaris are barred by your doctor and/or attorney from consuming alcohol).

Mimosa

¾ c. sparkling wine (champagne)

¼ c. orange juice

It doesn't get any easier -- three parts sparkling wine to one part orange juice. Pour drink into flute. Garnish with orange twist, strawberry, maraschino cherry, or mint leaves, etc.

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day from your friends at the Dog Denizens of Genesee Park (DDGP)!

As holiday aficionados will tell you, Americans celebrate Earth Day to foster awareness and appreciation of our environment and its resources. We could wax about the importance of saving the planet... our we could pay homage to the classic rhythm and blues (R&B) funk band, Earth Wind & Fire (EWF).

Drummer Maurice White named the group for three of the elements of earth, wind and fire. EWF achieved notice when it recorded the soundtrack to Melvin Van Peebles' 1971 movie, Sweet Sweetback's Baadassssss Song. Although EWF became a favorite amongst college campus, all members except White and his brother Verdine left the band.

White retooled the band, which recorded Top-30 hits "Evil" and "Keep Your Head to the Sky". EWF performed at the California Jam, a West Coast jazz festival, in 1974 and played on pianist Ramsey Lewis' Sun Goddess album.

EWF's That's the Way of the World, which Billboard magazine lauded as "a very tightly performed and produced package," generated title hit "That's the Way of the World" and "Shining Star". The group's concerts turned show business on its ear with pyrotechnics, lasers and illusions. EWF spit out hits throughout the late 1970s with "Getaway", "Saturday Night", "Serpentine", "Fantasy", "Got to Get You Into My Life", "September" and "Boogie Wonderland". Released in November 1979, the Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 went quintuple platinum in sales.

EWF went techno in the 1980s and released hits "Let's Groove" and "Wanna Be With You". Although White produced albums for Barbra Streisand, Cher and his own solo endeavor in the 1980s, EWF continued to record albums through the millennium. The band was inducted into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

Happy Pet Parents Day!

Happy Pet Parents Day from your friends at the Dog Denizens of Genesee Park (DDGP)!

An insurance company selected April 17 as "Pet Parents Day" to honor the contributions of human owners to their animals. If your dog, cat, pygmy goat or hamster hasn't purchased you a gift, flowers or card, here's a chance for you to remedy the situation. You won't want to invest in an iPhone 4 - particularly since the iPhone 5 will be released this summer - but there are plenty of presents that you can still purchase... baubles, bangles and beads. Or a five-iron.

New Mariners season, same tepid bats

The start of the 2011 Major League Baseball (MLB) doesn't look different from the conclusion of last year's campaign for the feckless Seattle Mariners. Thus far -after last night's embarrassing 12-3 home opener against the Cleveland Indians - the Mariners are tied for last place in the American League (AL) West race with a 2-5 record.

This time last year Mariners expected a lot after Mariners general manager "Trader Jack" Zdruiencik signed Chone Figgins and traded for Cy Young winner Cliff Lee and problematic Milton Bradley. We entered this season with a patchwork team made up of little-known-and-forgotten players (Jack Cust, Miguel Olivo, Adam Kennedy and Josh Bard). Few hold hopes that the Mariners will climb out of the AL West cellar. Is it surprising given that Seattle Mariners Owner Hiroshi Yamauchi hasn't demanded the termination of Chief Executive Officer Howard Lincoln and President Chuck Armstrong? The "Howie and Chuckie Story" continues unfettered despite minimal success and one of the more generous payrolls in MLB.

Regardless of whom you blame - there are so many guilty parties - the Mariners leadership is little more than a, tail-tugged-between-the-legs, hang-dog operation. There's little to celebrate until Big Changes to this chopped-ham-spread organization. What is deviled ham... a combination of ground ham and spices. Perfect for this team.

Deviled ham spread

• 4½ oz. deviled ham
• 1 tbsp. onion
• 1/3 c. mayonnaise
• 1/3 c. mustard
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• ½ salt
• ½ tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• ½ c. finely diced celery
• 6 hard-cooked eggs

Mince the onion and chopped the eggs.

Mix mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, mustard and onion into a large bowl.

Stir in salt and lemon juice.

Add celery, eggs, and ham, Blend thoroughly.

Happy Birthday... from the 'hood

Happy Birthday to our friend across the street, aka Biff and Zeke's mom... from your friends at the Dog Denizens of Genesee Park (DDGP)!

As the party planner of the block, you have achieved Pamela Harriman status in our 'hood as the "hostess with the mostest." We toast your birthday with a Pomegranate wine spritzer.

And tell Biff and Zeke that they owe as a column!

Pomegranate wine spritzer

• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon Grenadine
• 2 cups Prosecco
• ¾ cup pomegranate juice

Combine lime juice, Grenadine, Prosecco and pomegranate juice in a large pitcher. Serve in large glasses filled with ice. Garnish with mint leaves or citrus slice.