Newton, NJ, 10/2/11 - Ellie, Joe jr.'s mutt (seen here hovering

 at Joe's knee), joined us for our annual and very festive pre-Cox

 Classic dinner at the Commissioner's home.  It was another

 splendiferous supper, prepared by the stellar mother-daughter

 team of Donna and Michelle, featuring a battle of the

 chilis -- meatatarian (Donna's) versus vegetarian

 (Michelle's) -- that ended in a virtual tie (because

what ingrate imbecile, having downed a heaping bowl of

 each, would deign to choose one over the other?).  

In any case, Ellie surely enjoyed them both, having been

 fed directly from her owner's plate throughout the meal,

a faux pas in most social circles, but what's a little

impropiety among friends and family? 

Joe jr., about to serve Ellie her wine which, I observed,

the dog properly sniffed and considered prior to lapping

up the glass' contents down to the last drop.