Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Taking a poll...

Who thinks that Rosi would make a perfect addition to our Awesome Pawsome?


Rosi is a 6 week old doxie mix that is just personallity plus. She loves to play. She has had her first set of puppy shots, and wormed. per age She still needs 2 more sets of puppy shots and another round of wormer, rabies at 3 months and spayed at 3 months, this is all included in the adoption fee.

Have I mentioned my weakness for dachshunds? Black and white dogs? Puppies?

And Trevor? Yeah, he's totally sold, too.

Must...be...strong...

Monday, June 28, 2010

Elsie...

On Saturday, I stopped by PetSmart on Greenville Avenue to buy a plastic air tight container for my extra birdseed. Paws In The City was doing an adoption drive, and the middle section of the store was lined with adoptable dogs and cats. Even though I am (most definitely) not in the market for a forth dog, I cannot resist the urge to take a gander at all the sweet faces looking for forever homes. But I stopped short when I saw this adorable lady:




Yes, that is Elsie. A five month ole pup that is the spitting image of our Alley Cat. Don't believe me? Judge for yourself:




The strangest thing is that Elsie's mom is a Husky mix with one blue eye. Granted, we don't know the breed of Elsie's dad, but it makes me stop and wonder what all might go into the making of an Alley Cat or Elsie. Other than irresistible cuteness (and a wee smidge of terrier)!

Since I have a giant soft spot for black dogs with white paws, I feel that it is my duty to help find Miss Elsie a home. Here is her description online at PetFinder.com:
Est DOB 2/22/10 Well they tell me my name is Elsie buuuuutttt I know I am not a cow! I am much much cuter! I am one of 7 in my litter and I think I am the smallest of the bunch; everyone has been adopted but me. I am a pretty spunky girl! I am working on housebreaking and I am crate trained. I even put myself to bed when I am tired-my foster parents don't see that often in a puppy! I am so sweet and love to cuddle when it is nap time. I ride in the car like a champ! My mom is a husky mix with one blue eye. I have a little more to learn about life-won't you join me? If you would like to meet me, please contact pawsinthecity.org for an application.

Elsie is up-to-date with routine shots.

C'mon! You know you want to! All the cool kids have big, black dogs (with white parts)! What are you waiting for? Join the club!

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Reason No. 9842 why MY mother is just plain awesome...

Yes, that would be Grammy Pammy
cleaning the pool with a margarita in hand!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Happy Birthday dear...

...Haskell!

It is hard to tell, but that is Haskell ringing in his "5th birthday" (a.k.a. his fourth anniversary of finding a home by running out in front of MY car) with a Frosty Paw ice cream.

My baby is getting so old!

(Whimper)

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Dear, Sweet Cousin Jane...


My cousin, Jane, passed away last night. She was 95. Her maternal grandparents and my great, great grandparents were the same people. I guess that made me her first cousin, twice removed.

Cousin Jane was a magical person. Trevor once described her as having an aura around her. She was generous and warm, honest and true. She cared deeply about people.

I cared deeply about her.

The last time I saw her:

On New Year’s Eve, Cousin Jane came to Dallas to visit her daughter, and called to let us know that she planned to call on us for tea the following afternoon. A flurry of activity ensued as Trevor and I tried to prepare for our guest. We broke out the wedding china for the first time, and arranged it around our dining room table. Trevor picked up tea cakes, tarts and cookies from Tart (thanks to Avia who knew the baker and called in a last-minute favor less than an hour before they were scheduled to close for the holiday), and I scrubbed our house from corner to corner. I brushed the dogs and wiped them down (even going so far as to spritz them with perfume). While on the phone with Jane, I had made the mental decision to drop Gypsy, Alley and Haskell off at my dad’s house before our scheduled tea time, and pick them afterwards. Until, that is, Jane asked if the “reverent Labradors" from my wedding would at home. She was planning to call on the entire family – two and four legged members alike.

That evening, just as we were about to head to Irving to ring in 2010 with friends, our washer backed up and nearly flooded our house. $250 and one emergency plumber later, the problem was fixed. My sanity, however, hung in the balance. This was the first and possibly only time in my life that someone would call on me for tea. And having Jane in my house felt like the biggest honor in the whole world. I wanted to get it right!

Over thinking everything, the next morning was spent making sure that we had everything that Cousin Jane could ever want. We had white sugar, brown sugar, cane sugar, an array of different kinds of sugar cubes and Splenda (just in case). Whole milk, 2%, skim and cream. We had lemons and limes, and at least eight different kinds (and flavors) of tea. I had hot water (and more tea) that could be made in my Keurig, but also my tea pot boiling water on the stove. We had enough food for a tea party for eight. We had tea cups, saucers, plates for the cookie and tarts, water and a little bin filled with ice. We even set an extra place at the table incase her daughter decided at the last minute to join us.

We were prepared.

That is, until we were all gathered around the table drinking tea, and I realized that I had forgotten to put out the silverware. In the back of my mind I knew we were missing something. It just didn’t dawn on me what it was until I saw Jane trying to eat her cake with her fingers.

Luckily, Jane had a sense of humor. If I had not noticed, I don’t think she would have ever brought it up. She was just happy to be with us, see our new house and catch up on our lives as newlyweds. The tea was just an excuse.


Jane also blessed us by coming to our rehearsal dinner and wedding back in September. I remember arriving at Mattito's, getting out of the car and suddenly seeing her standing there in the parking lot. Almost as if she appeared out of thin air. She took my arm and we walked inside. I introduced her to our friends and family, got her a margarita and presented her with her first taste of Bob Armstrong dip. It was a wonderful evening that sped by at warp speed.

But having Cousin Jane there that weekend meant the world to me. In a way, Jane was like third grandmother to me, and it felt right having her sit in the pew where Moo and Memaw would have sat had they lived to see our wedding day.

I think it is only fitting that Cousin Jane passed on June 21st, the summer solstice. She was a bright, warm light in the lives of all who knew her, much like the sun on the longest day of the year.

She will be missed.

Friday, June 18, 2010

The museum's "Welcome Wagon"...

Hello.


I am a fat a$$ squirrel taking a mid afternoon siesta on this here ledge.


Zzzzzzzz...


(Sorry that this post is lame. The squirrel was just so cute! Plus, it is Friday, and no one should ever expect a lot of me on Friday.)

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Things my intern taught me...

I learned today that Rascall Flatts is the name of a band. Not the group's lead singer.

Apparently, everyone knew this. Except me, that is.

Something's amiss...

The coffee this morning was so strong it almost put hair on my chest, had a soapy after taste and made my tongue go numb.

Friday, June 11, 2010

A completely hypothetical situation...

Today is the kind of day when your Friday afternoon required training unexpectedly gets out early, and everyone decides to go out and get a margarita to celebrate the early start to the weekend.

Except you skipped lunch so you could get a report done before the meeting, so there is nothing in your stomach to lessen the effects of the alcohol on your system.

And then you start getting texts. You try to answer them, but inadvertently drunk text one the mother of one of your best friends.

(You are still not sure how this happened.)

Before you know it, everyone knows that you drunk texted Anni’s mother. Even your friend, Susie, who has gone to New Orleans for the weekend.

And then you buy a pair of flip flops and your husband arrives to drive you home.

Not that any of this happened to me. Especially not today.

Sigh.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

A few of my favorite (backyard) things...

Having enough space for both the dogs and a garden...


My Passion Vine...


Drought resistant Zinnas...


Figs!


My fountain...


Feeding the birds (even if they are little gluttons)...

Monday, June 07, 2010

Gotta' love Nora...

From: Agati
Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2010 5:58 AM
To: undisclosed-recipients
Subject: Lets work together!


Dear friend,

I am Barrister Kwame Agati, a legal practitioner; I am the personal attorney to a national of your country, who used to deal with Gold and Diamond here in Accra Ghana.

On the 21st October, 2006, my client, his wife and their only daughter were involved in a car accident along Kumasi Road here in Ghana. All occupants of the vehicle lost their lives. Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy here to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. I have Contacted you to assist in repatriating the fund valued at US$10,000 000.00, ten million dollars left behind by my client before it gets confiscated by the bank where this huge amount was deposited.

The said bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have his account confiscated within the next twenty-one (21) working days. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over two years now, I seek the consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased since you have the same last names, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you.

I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up for claim. All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Best Regards,
Barrister Kwame Agati, Esq.

-----Original Message-----

From: Nora
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 11:11 AM
To: barristeragatikwame
Subject: RE: Lets work together!


I LOVE the guarantee "that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law."! Oh my God, if only everything came with a guarantee, then I would have a car warranty that actually paid for everything that went wrong with my vehicle. Slurpees would never taste funky. My sheets would always be soft and wrinkle free. Deodorant would never stain my clothes. The laundry soap would always get my clothes clean without taking any of the color out. TV commercials would always be honest and maybe shorter - as really, do we need 30 whole seconds to figure out that Scrubbing Bubbles are bubbles that scrub? Ohhh, my lawn would be weed and pest free, what a dream that would be. And, these stupid spam emails would be prevented from hitting my in box and go straight to the junk email file.

In with the new...

I bought a new pair of Birkenstocks. My first new pair since the spring of 2004.

My old pair haven't been doing very well lately. And by "lately" I mean "the past several years". I have literally worn them to death. I just love them so.

Last year, I went into a store with the intention of buying a new pair. The sales guy talked me out of it, though. He thought the two on my feet were awesome. Evidently, people strive to have their Birks look all broken in and decrepit. I was trendy and didn’t even know it (who knew?!).

But I can only superglue my shoes back together so many times. So, yesterday, I bit the bullet and bought new Birkies.

And, yes, the new pair is the exact same color that the old pair used to be. Apparently, my love turns shoes a mossy, green color. I have nothing to say about the khaki-now-black part.



Friday, June 04, 2010

Baseball and diamonds...

The gang...


I have never sat so close to the field at a major league game before!


And, of course, I wore my Hank Blalock t-shirt...


...and now he plays for the another team.


THE OTHER TEAM in this instance.








Trevor takes baseball very serioulsy...


24 hours after Susie said "yes" to Ernie! Weeeeeee!

Hell in a handbasket...

One of my coworkers has the somewhat arduous task of going through all the links sent to her about the museum on Google Alerts, and scrapbooking all the relevant ones for institutional memory.

I say "relevant", because not everything Google sends to her has anything (at all) to do with the museum, our events, etc. Some are just plain random.

But sometimes random is good.

Take the following, for example:

I dedicate this image find to Heather of The Donut for obvious reasons…

I have absolutely no idea why this image from the Beginner’s Bible Coloring Book popped up, but I am probably going straight to H-E-double hockey sticks for finding so freaking hysterical.

Your welcome.

Love. It.

We call it "Crazy Alley"...

Thursday, June 03, 2010

Words to live by...

Junk, junk and more junk...

Our SPAM filter at work isn't functioning properly, so we've been receiving a lot of junk email lately. My coworker, Nora, has decided to have fun with it. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em mentality, I guess.

So far, she hasn't gotten a single response. Too bad.

From: ming yang [mailto:ming.yang81@yahoo.com.hk]
Sent: Saturday, May 29, 2010 8:19 PM
Subject: ACKNOWLEDGMENT


greetings From Hong kong
Get back to me if interested for details as regards the transfer of
$24,500,000.000 to you. this money initially belongs to a client who died
and had no next of kin in his account-opening package. in other to achieve
this, I shall require your full name, and telephone number to reach you.
Most importantly, a confirmation of acceptance from you after which I
shall furnish you with the full details of this transaction
Reply via this email only :mingyang5722@yahoo.com.hk
Regards.
ming yang

--------------------


From: Nora
Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 11:35 AM
To: ming.yang81@yahoo.com.hk
Subject: RE: ACKNOWLEDGMENT


WOW, $24,500,000.000!!! That is a butt load of money, but tell you what, you give me your phone number, address, middle name, how many times you had sex last month (oral sex does count), weekly bowel movements, and blood type and I'll contact you. Otherwise bite me.