Just when we think we've heard it all, we hear a real stunner. There is actually a symposium on -- cat hairballs! Yup. Cat owners and other interested people (really?!) gather yearly at the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Silver Spring MD to learn about hairballs.

Those of us who own cats already know about hairballs. To my way of thinking, hairballs are the only negative about these wonderful, loving, schizophrenic animals. Cats practically take care of themselves, never need to be walked on a snowy day, adore you on THEIR terms. An occasional hairball is a very small price to pay for so much joy.

Unless you step on it in your bare feet in the middle of the night.

And now let's talk about our bridge hairballs... bad bidding. Let's see if we can rid ourselves.