tuesday
march 12
My Dog Skip Willie Morris, editor of Harper's in the late '60s and early '70s, returned home to Mississippi to heal the wounds he suffered fighting New York's publishing wars, and in the long Delta afternoons he wrote a book. Actually, he's written a bunch of books, but the latest is My Dog Skip, a memoir of his childhood whose hero is the canine Skip. Considering Morris' early career, his work with the likes of William Styron, Larry L. King, David Halberstam and Norman Mailer, and his recent memoir, New York Days, My Dog Skip is a surprising and fun read. It doesn't really stack up against My Dog Tulip, a dog memoir by J.R. Ackerley, but not everyone can write a classic dog book, because sentiment clouds the mind. Of course, that same sentiment clouds the minds of readers, and so almost all dog books are enjoyable for dog people. Today, Morris will sign and read from his book, and dogs from the SPCA service dog program will attend. 7 p.m. Brazos Bookstore, 2421 Bissonnet, 523-0701.

wednesday
march 13
Moving Vietnam Memorial Bay area veterans have brought the "moving wall" to La Porte. This half-scale model of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., has the names of 58,196 casualties and 1,300 missing in action, including the names of eight female nurses and two male nurses. Other exhibits will be displayed along with the wall. For those who don't anticipate a trip to D.C. in the foreseeable future, this is a wonderful opportunity. The Memorial will be at Sylvan Beach in La Porte through March 19. Prizes for a student art contest will awarded, with ceremony, 5 p.m. For more information, contact Jim Hodges, 473-0880.