April 16 Woodland Hills, California

A young raccoon follows Katrina (the cat) home at 1:00 am right into the house. This wakes up Goose (the Golden Retriever) and the commotion begins. The raccoon shelters under our daughter's bed (she is away at university). In the darkness masked eyes startle me.

A 3 hour circus follows. Everyone, in the house... that's me and my frightened wife and Goose, Katrina, and I'm sure the raccoon wants a quick return to a quiet, normal night.

A camel prod (from a Sudan trip) only serves to nudge the animal into a closet under the prom dress. For act two I put on gloves and boots from the NBC suit NBC News issued me for protection during the invasion of Iraq, (that's NBC as in nuclear, biological and chemical). That only stresses the raccoon more. There is now no interest in a path to cat kibble. By 4:00 am Goose and Katrina are no longer amused and go back to sleep. For act three I decide to shut all doors and I'll call animal control in the morning. My wife ( I have not been listening to her screams) suggests instead "open the doors and maybe the raccoon will simply leave". That works. A few minutes later Katrina's visitor scampers away, finally. Then the the alarm clock announces it is time for the morning conference call.

The Executive Producer says :"Burbank, what's happening out west? " ...'It is very quiet and I don't see we have any big news to offer today '

" Thank you , Chicago, what do you have ?"