DALLAS DOLL: Sandra Bernhard and I meet at The Kessler

Meet-cute

Big D’s Kusner informs Bernhard that her infamous interview about Laura Bush is nowhere to be found

KESSLER SELFIE: Sandra Bernhard and Yours Truly in Big D.

By DANIEL KUSNER 

La Bernhard brought it to Oak Cliff, regaling us with a sidesplitting tale about Jane Fonda’s bday bash — running into Warren, Lily, Streisand, Midler, Rosanna Arquette and Joni Mitchell...

I’ve interviewed Sandy a bunch of times. Seen her perform all over. But we never met in person.

Until we did — in Oak Cliff. (Heyd Fontenot captured the Oct. 23, 2013 moment in the lobby of The Kessler.)

Here I am telling Bernhard that my favorite episode of “The View” has been scrubbed. (Which I joked with Kathy Griffin about...)

That infamous catfight, when Sandra and Elisabeth Hasselbeck got into a heated argument about Laura Bush.

UPDATE: Found the episode

Sandy ’n’ Yours Truly

BTW: I love Sandy videos...

Distinguished, gentle sheltie Gus Amann dead at 13

Gus Amann: Nov. 12, 2000 — Oct. 3, 2014.

A fearless patrolman, a devout companion and Olympian-skilled Frisbee catcher, Gus Amann peacefully died on Oct. 3, 2014, surrounded by his best friends Bryan Amann and Daniel Kusner. 

With impeccable breeding credentials, Gus stood out from his siblings because of a distinguishing facial mark that resembled the sacred stripe Hare Krishnas display between their eyebrows. 

His gold-and-sable coat was always impeccable and camera-ready.

If you were lucky, Gus massaged your leg muscles with his silky tongue — a service that only a world-class spa could provide. 

Gus lived in East Dallas, Phoenix, Ariz., and Oak Cliff. 

He enjoyed numerous trips visiting relatives in Arkansas and Illinois. 

Gus loved the Grand Canyon and running along the Katy Trail. 

He always beamed with pride while leashed to Bryan’s hand — whether strolling across the Santa Fe Trestle Trail bridge or standing guard during urban photo-excursions in downtown Dallas.  

He was a superb listener — issuing howling alerts and DEFCON-1 growls that warned of conditions requiring immediate attention.

By cocking his head during interrogations, Gus' intense concentration could separate each question by listening to a speaker's inflection.

Gus wore the devotional scapular while he drew his last breath. 

Shaded by pecan and live oak, Gus is buried beside his sheltie cousin, Bo Kusner, on the lawn of his Oak Cliff residence.

Sired by Cobblestone High Beam and dame Cobblestone Sweet-Sioux of Midlothian, Tex., Gus augmented the Shetland Sheepdog breed with his obedience and perceptive instincts.

He's already dearly missed.

Photo: Bryan Amann.

BEST FRIENDS: Bryan & Gus in Arizona.

SHELTIE SKETCH: Gus, left, and Bo. (credit: Bryan.)

Ghetto gardening

Every day, I bike by the corner of Ewing Avenue and Louisiana -- arguably Oak Cliff's filthiest crime-ridden butthole. And lately, I've noticed an empty plot of land (that was probably once a crack house), which is now slowly transforming into a community garden.
Over the winter, Dallas Observer's Jim Schutze wrote nifty piece about the "Oak Cliff gardens" -- a just do-it-yourself approach for Cliff-dwelling veggie-growers, who don't bother waiting for Dallas City Hall to grant them permission to do so. 
I don't know if City Hall gave the Ewing-Louisiana garden the official blessing from the "Gardeners in Community Development." But I sure do like it.