Since we are pet-friendly here at SOH allow me to post a little memorial to our dog Joker who passed away peacefully in his sleep at home this afternoon. We knew it was coming, but my wife Sophie still took it real hard. Joker was born in our bedroom closet in February 1999 on the morning Sophie went into DePaul Hospital for hysterectomy surgery. When she came out of the anesthetic in the recovery room the nurse told her, "Mrs. Nolan, you have 9 new puppies". As with most puppies they had fleas, and Sophie went through the litter daily to get the bugs off them. Joker always had more fleas than the others, and he became her favorite so we kept him. She dearly loved that dog, and for the past 13 years he has been a wonderful friend and morale booster for both of us. Rest in peace, old buddy. 
