This Best of Bogue column originally was published Oct. 31,
2006.  Dear Gary: Halloween and strange sightings.  Layla, our
new Chihuahua puppy, is going as a bat (because she has the bat
look going already). Big dog Raider is of course TOO COOL for
dress-up. Precious (our black cat) is going as -- what a
surprise -- a black cat, and our cockatoo, Bambi, is going to
perch on my boyfriend Rich's shoulder and do her best parrot
imitation. Rich is going as Capt. Jack Sparrow.  I witnessed the
strangest thing today, like a scene out of "The Birds." Layla
was in the backyard eating weeds, her favorite pastime (I guess
I should feed her more greens) when she lets out a yelp and
comes charging into the house. I had heard a lot of bird noise
but was deep in what I was doing so I had not looked up.  When
she yelped, I turned and was totally amazed to see my whole
fence lined with birds, but that was the least of it! We have a
pistachio tree in the backyard and -- no exaggeration -- there
must have been 200 birds in it.