It's a good weekend when Tara the hero Tabby cat is named grand marshal of the Bakersfield Christmas Parade and Killer the toy Pomeranian is returned to its owners

* … CATS AND DOGS: My two favorite stories of the weekend were all about cats and dogs. First, the organizers of the annual Bakersfield Christmas Parade scored the equivalent of a marketing grand slam by designating "Tara the hero cat" as its grand marshal. Tara, a former stray turned loyal

Tabby to the Triantafilo family, became a national sensation when a security camera caught her chasing off an angry dog that attacked 4-year-old Jeremy Triantafilo. On the canine side, it was good to see that Killer, a toy Pomeranian maltipoo mix, had been returned to its owners after a mixup at a local shelter.

* … THANKSGIVING: It's difficult to remember a Thanksgiving with better weather than we had this weekend. As a friend put it: "It's my favorite holiday. It's not about gifts or excess. It's about family, friends and great food." And speaking of the Thanksgiving meal, did you know that 51 million turkeys were consumed this weekend, and the average family spent $302 on meals? As for myself, I hosted a long table of strays, including a good friend who brought three delicious pies from Window Sill Pie Co.  They sell their wares at the Haggin Oaks Farmer's Market or you can find them online to order.

* … NO BURN DAYS: A friend of mine wrote with a concern that crossed my mind regarding the so-called "no burn" days enforced by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. He asked that I without his name because he feared retalitation from the "pollution police" at the valley pollution control district. He wrote: "I'm anonymously writing because of the No Burn Days. As a conscientious resident of Kern County, I/we want to do our part. We accept that we will only receive approximately 25 percent of burn days this year. What a dissapointment to go to the website and see that they couldn't have at least given us Thanksgiving as one of those days!" That may be asking a lot from the people who took on the popular Thanksgiving Day Pie Run a few years ago because they didn't approve of a small bonfire.

 * … GOOD FORM: A little good news, and good form, is always welcome in a world that often seems chaotic and hopeless. Carole Daigle was shopping at the Rosedale Walmart on Friday morning a woman gave her and two other women an envelope. "I first thought it was an employee passing out coupons.   put the envelope in my pocket and went to scan the item that we were looking to purchase.  When I returned to the department with the item's price, the other ladies asked if I had opened my envelope.  In each of our envelopes was a twenty dollar bill. WOW, we sure did not expect that! The lady that was passing out the envelopes had given out lots of money to complete strangers.  (She gave out a whole handful throughout the store.) How awesome is that?  I want to thank her from the bottom of my heart as she has restored my faith in human kindness. This one woman has lit a candle of hope that will burn bright and outshine the negative acts that we have been hearing about lately.  She made the holiday season brighter for many people. With a heartfelt smile I will add to her gift and pay it forward."

 * …NOISE: This from a resident of Trinity Estates in the Northwest: "We live in Trinity Estates and today, the Thanksgiving holiday, we are having to listen to a construction crew pouring concrete, compacting dirt, hammering and cutting stone beginning at 7 a.m. at the new home being built  on our street.  I don't blame the workers as I'm sure they can use the extra income. I do blame the builder for not showing more consideration for nearby neighbors and the family holiday."

California gas prices dip to near $3 a gallon, and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy warns Republicans that they need to prove they can govern

 * … GAS: The price of gasoline is close to dipping below $3 a gallon, certainly good news for motorists, but it also carries a potential downside. Some economists are worrying that lower gas prices

could prove to be a drag on the nation's energy boom, and that could lead to fewer jobs in energy rich areas like Kern County. In the midst of a shale-gas boom, the national average for regular gasoline hit a four-year low of $3.05 a gallon, and I have spotted it that low at a few stations around town. At the other end, lower gas prices are good for the airline industry, farmers and manufacturing companies.

 * … CLEAN AIR: There's good news and bad regarding the quality of our air. First the good, as reported in The Californian: "Overall, air quality in the Central Valley -- for both ozone levels (summer) and particulate matter (winter) -- is the cleanest and healthiest it's been since anyone has been paying serious attention." That's terrific, but don't think that means government is not watching you and your fireplace. Once again this winter, you can only use your fireplace at the risk of running afoul of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, who frankly would rather you not have a fire at all. That means don't even think about that cozy fire before checking to make sure it is not a "no burn" day.

* … KEVIN: House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy had some tough talk for his fellow Republicans recently, warning them that a "failure to govern" after winning the Senate could torpedo any GOP chances of winning the White House in 2016. His warning was being widely interpreted as a sign that the Republicans need to focus on governance and sound policies instead of acting as an obstructionist party. Said McCarthy: “If we don’t capture the House stronger, and the Senate, and prove we could govern, there won’t be a Republican president in 2016.”

* … HAPPY MONDAY: Think your week started poorly? Consider this note I spotted on a friend's Facebook timeline: "Started my day dodging (feces) whilst fishing my daughter's cell phone out of the toilet. Happy Monday everyone!"

* … DISEASE: Did you know that the percentage of adults in Bakersfield who are overweight or obese is approaching 70 percent, and that Kern County ranks 57th out of 50 counties for deaths due to diabetes? That is just one of the more alarming statistics shared with me by Tim Terrio, CEO of Terrio Physical Therapy. To draw attention to diabetes and other chronic illnesses Terrio is offering a free seminar this Saturday to help folks understand the chronic disease epidemic. The seminar will be held at the DoubleTree and will run from 9 a.m. to noon. Seating is limited to the first 100 people.

* … TRASH: Retired oil executive Lynn Blystone just returned from a 3,640 mile drive down the Alaska Highway, down Interstate 5 to Bakersfield and saw no roadside trash "until I got to Bakersfield whose Highway 99 on/off ramps and roadsides made up for all that was absent before. I know Mayor Hall has efforts to address this embarrassing situation. I think it will take more of us cleaning up as I don't believe those who toss trash will diminish. Obtaining clean air is a geographical obstacle, but trash is voluntary."