Whirling Dervish

Yes, I'm up late, but we are experiencing lightning and I don't want to die.  Plus, I'm enthralled online.  I was sitting here pondering, I am remembered one part of George's life that I forgot to include in his blog the other day.  It goes like this:


After we decided that George was not fit to be a house dog, we tried a few different methods.  The first was propping a baby gate up at the hallway so he would not have access to our bedrooms.  After he was demoted to the laundry room and the greater planet Earth, we had a baby gate at the laundry room doorway.  Now, we have a real dog fence with a door.  We purchased that after the terribly trashy green gardening / chicken fence / crap.  The real story - whenever such devices would fail and George would have access to the better half of the house, he would always take the same pathway.  He would sprint as a whirling dervish to my room and de-pants my Build-a-Bear.  My bear was a "sleepy" Build-a-Bear with a sleeping shirt, glow in the dark boxers, and bunny house shoes.  George would always go directly to my bear and strip Butterscotch.  First starting with the bunnies and then the boxers.  Every time!!!  It's a hilarious story but I always hated it!  Why couldn't he go eat something of dad's?  Like his pair of "walking pliers."  I'm happy to report that George is doing great.


So, I've also found some useless pictures that I'm including so people don't completely waste their time on here.

My Beautiful America...Beneath God's Wide, Wide Sky

Memorial Day is an interesting day here.  Where I grew up, there was literally no one in or from the Armed Forces.  So, the day was mainly observed as visiting every other person's grave.  Got a great-grandma that died back in the 1800's?  We'll visit that grave!  Had a cousin who died?  We'll go to their grave too!  Walmart and all floral shops sell flowers at this time for whoever.  It's not a day set aside to remember the men and women who have served or are currently serving in the Armed Forces.  This bugs me.  I am constantly bugged by the fact that it is also a day to take flowers or other things to the cemetery just for show.  If you take something to someone's grave, at least leave it there longer than just the weekend.  It should be about honoring them, not your own image.  I also get bothered when people only observe certain things seasonally.  For example, let's be religious when it's Easter.  Let's be patriotic at the Fourth of July.  Meh.  Try to have that excitement throughout the entire year, not just one day.  I also do not like how there are so many holidays where they are for an extended weekend.  Many people just seem to use holidays to go camping or work on the house.  Memorial Day used to have parades and would be special and about honor.  Now, I'm not so sure.  I've always felt confused about the holiday.  We had no family members in the Armed Forces.  I had no friends in the Armed Forces.  It was just a holiday that I saw in articles online.  Being in college, I am a little more exposed to people who have chosen the Armed Forces.  I have a friend in the ROTC.  A friend of mine married a marine last April and he left in May.  She was just reunited on Friday.  She only spent about forty married days with him in the past thirteen months.  A wonderful church friend and my bishop for a few years was in the army and stationed all over the world.  I have such a respect for these wonderful people and for what they do for our country.  I saw a good quote recently, "American soldiers don't fight because they hate what is in front of them but because they love what is behind them."  In the past few months, my mom has discovered that we have a flamboyant heritage full of feisty people.  One ancestor was described as a ferocious tigress when provoked.  Don't you just love that?!?!  Family legend says that when Yankee thieves were plundering and raping along the nearby river, she shot and killed one herself and hung him over the gate.  I think I we would get along.  We have ancestors who fought in the Civil War and date back to 1131.  Thomas West was the first Governor of Virginia and was active in promoting settlements in the New World.  I love that we have heritage in forming this great country and have help fight to keep our freedom.  Today, I feel like freedom isn't free.  That's why we have to stand up and fight!

Just Some Stuff

Here's a picture of a gray haired woman feeing a capybara a salad in the swimming pool.

Here is a sarcastic cat that reminds me of myself when I say, "That's nice."

Here is a picture that says "Olive my Pug."  Because everyone olives their Pug!

Here is an article about the Astrodome and what might happen with it:

http://www.foxsportshouston.com/05/23/12/All-proposals-for-Astrodome-bring-change/msn_landing.html?blockID=734614&feedID=3714

Here is an article about tips to save on laundry:

http://money.msn.com/saving-money-tips/post.aspx?post=110a64b8-5485-466b-a0a4-52618b6367ae

I'm King of the World!!

Today my mom and I had a conversation that I never hoped would come.  It was how George is getting old and won't always be around.  *Gasp!*  I am quite aware that my beloved George is aging; however, to me he seems immortal.  When the day does come, it will be very unpleasant.  Today was just a preview of that.  I insisted that he will be buried and buried inside our fence.  And buried in a box of some kind.  George, I hope you like UGG's because mom's not buying you a custom casket.  However, I will make you a casket spray.  George commands attention when he enters a room.  He is beloved by most.  Both of our dogs have been brought into the family for me after very difficult times.  A pet is someone who can help a person cope.  George was introduced after my dad came home and I needed a little friend.  George was a ball of fire.  It's strange to think now, since he is so mellow, that he used to fly off of our couch, breaking a lamp, or would run circles in our house since our dining room, den, kitchen, and living room are connected in a circular shape.  He would run laps!  And he would also run circles around the tree in the back yard.  George would spend his adolescence eating hair scrunchies, plastic popsicle wrappers, fruit by the foot paper, and other artifacts.  His only known crime is stealing Pop's antique pliers.  They were later found within the couch.  Speaking of couches - George single-pawed ate / destroyed our living room and dining room.  He literally ate the couch!  I think he just wanted a modern remodeling to take place.  We redid the dining room and living room by replacing the carpeting and we bought new furniture for the living room.  We also had to fence in the back yard!  He also destroyed most door frames and the lower three feet of most walls.  Lucky for us, George has never been a digger.  George spent most of his adult life being a member of "the barking chain."  He would spend most evenings consistently barking towards the South.  I always think it has been related to meth labs along the river.  Also in George's thievery, he has been known to have a thing for clothing.  While he despised his turtleneck sweater that I got him back in the day, he prefers more flowing material.  George would make himself part of the fabric with Mamoo's mumu (or muumuu, depending on how Hawaiian you want to get).  I think he was quite partial to the striped one.  George also took laundry off the line once.  Even though he is rather short, he somehow managed to get ahold of grandma's white robe and drag it around the yard.  I can still see it in my mind!!! My mom chased him all over the two yards!!  He also enjoyed hiding gloves of grandpa's.  He is kind of a klepto.


The morning after we got George, my mom put him in my bed to wake me up.  I still remember it!  I loved having a puppy!!  My mom brought him to school for show-and-tell and even put a little red bandana on him.  He was a hit with my fifth grade class.  George likes bandanas and his sherifs outfit was quite enjoyed by him this past fall.  He knew he was a man with authority.  Night one with George was lovely.  He did not bark at all.  We saved him from his caged and abused puppy-hood.  George was the runt and bullied by his brother, who later became "Elmo."  George's namesake comes from the list of many famous George's.  Such as, George W. Bush, George Banks in Father of the Bride, George Bailey of It's a Wonderful Life, George of the Jungle, and King George.  His full name is George Hondo Royle Buttons.  A regal name indeed.  Named for his parents and his cousin Hondo.


We like to think of George as a military man.  I always tell people that he is how a think Colonel Mustard from Clue would be.  George is built like a marine and his neck is the size of a full-grown man, literally.  In George's retirement, he has enjoyed luxuriating in the sunshine and sniffing about the yard.  You may find him on the tire of my tetherball pole.  George enjoyed gardening with mom and eating mint to freshen his breath.  He takes many naps and has always had nightmares.  His nightmare are probably due to his traumatic puppy-hood or being nearly eaten by Hank, a less than savory beast.  George has been plagued with seizures and is fragile with his health.  However, he is catered to and treated like the king he is.  George has always enjoyed the finer classical music.  He would sing to the piano when mom would play and would only be calmed in the car when his classical station was being played.  In recent years, George's hearing has left him impaired and without the finer arts.


The conversation this day was because George couldn't get out of bed.  He was in Lola's bed and got up but fell to the floor and did not go outside.  However, renewed vigor was restored after a spa day.  He had a lovely bath and massage followed by a nap in the sunshine.  From what I know, he is doing quite well.  George has developed arthritis in recent years.  It has kept him from activities that he once loved.  With modern medication, George has been healthier.  George is a king among beasts and I love him so much.  I will not be well when he is no longer.  I am really attached to George, as well as Lola (but this story is about George).  George will celebrate his twelfth birthday later this summer.  We love George!!!!

Snap Happy with the Camera

After three months of being horrible at putting any form of picture up on Facebook, other than the one of me and Prince Amukamara, I have finally put everything up!!!  I really have noticed that my picture taking has slowed down this past semester.  I was so busy!  I took some pictures today from a graduation party that I helped plan and execute.  However, those pictures are on my phone.  I will put those up someday....  There are a lot of fun pictures in these albums.  Of particular interest are pictures of Jim Cantore and my photogenic squirrel.  And also when I rented the flapper costume!!


The graduation was fun today and turned out even better than I imagined!!!  I was praised for my cleanliness skills.  It's a funny story.  We did not have the cranberry juice so she ran to the store.  This was like fifteen minutes before it was to start.  I opted to stay back and get things ready and cleaned up.  It was kind of like on interior design shows how at the last minute, they throw things together and it looks phenomenal.  She was shocked at how perfect everything looked by the time she got back.  Also a neat thing credited to me was the arrangements.  I suggested deco beads and submerging the computer keys so they look like they are floating.  They turned out really awesome!  Well, have a look around at my pictures.  They are all fun things!


http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150618910598188.409825.500518187&type=3&l=104424dc88


http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150924958913188.439811.500518187&type=3&l=c1bf5a61dd

Round About

Today was a fun-filled day spent with my mom.  My mom is also sick, but we had a jolly old time.  It started with her hauling things in and remaining on the rug by my door.  I was given a lovely present for finishing the school year so well - a cute cherry dress!!!  I also got three different colored rubber duckies, because I love them.  I have the complete collection now!  We departed from my apartment and debated on where to go for lunch.  We talked about the Greek food place and my mom asked if she liked it.  Her memory is also not feeling well this week with her cold.  So, we had a lovely lunch that my mom still liked from the last time she went there.  She also enjoyed her Greek potato.  Afterwards came the entertaining part.  Today has had lots of laughs.  We went to Menards to buy some flowers to plant in my pot and some for back home.  We walk in and my mom said that she was having trouble seeing and felt almost dizzy.  Well, her glasses broke!  I proved this to her by putting my finger through the frame to visualize the reality.  She was looking through only one working lens.  Luckily, the screws had stayed in and the lens was in the case.  I also told her that I could fix it, just like I fixed the ear hook with my bluetooth - with metallic duct tape and floral wire.  It's a beauty!  So, we walk around there, I had to hoist the cart over an enormous hose, we almost got smashed with a lowering door, and mom's health was questioned.  We got to the checkout and the lady asked if my mom was allergic to them.  She said, "No, I'm just really sick."  Probably not the best choice of words.  The lady probably though my mom was going to projectile vomit across the register!  What prompted such a comment?  Well, my mom was trying to decipher what color of Gerberas were hanging in a basket and she was very intense.  She would squint her eyes, but the more she squinted, the farther she would open her mouth.  It's like the two facial features were connected in some strange way.  I got a good laugh out of it.  At least that was better than holding one eye glass lens in front of her eye!  Afterwards, the sickly impaired individual started giving me directions to 70th Street.  Fortunately, you just have to follow the numbers in order.  I asked why she would want to give me directions.  She did not know, since she is so out of it.  Did I mention that I made her hold a kleenex which includes the sneeze shield (or something like that) to her face while she was in my car.  We decided that she looks like this:

Like when there is heavy smog or the threat of SARS.  She felt like people would look at her strangely when we would drive by.  It was then we were on the hunt for a Ben Franklin store!  It wasn't where we originally thought it was.  So, we went to Hobby Lobby.  I would like to take a moment to say that whenever I go in their out of date bathroom, someone else comes in immediately after me!  It's times like this when I think that public bathroom are kind of odd and disturbing.  I prefer privacy.  I looked at some frames, but I postponed purchasing them.  I'm saving money and looking for something that I like more.  We did get some cute things for a cake pop bouquet though.  I have a vision of something cute for a birthday gift for my mom to make for someone.  It will be cute!  After this lovely event, we went back to 70th.  We drove by a place that my mom questioned why it was called "Reend Abeets."  She kept repeating it aloud trying to make sense that a store would be named Reend Abeets.  I said, "It's Round Abouts."  We got a big laugh out of this!  She really gets impaired when she is not feeling well.  After the Reend Abeets ordeal, we found our store.  It's really only a few blocks from where I live and they have every scrapbooking thing imaginable!!!!  It was quite overwhelming and we didn't know what to do with ourselves!  This will be the perfect place to go to for any and everything scrapbook related.  Our journey did not stop there.  We needed a dessert item to top off our day.  So we tried a place that I have seen while driving by.  It's a cute little diner type place that sells snow cones and such.  We each got a grape snow cone and shared some fresh cotton candy.  I love this new discovery!!  It's like a fifties soda fountain.  I love it!!!  There are some really great finds right in my neighborhood.  We came back and ate in the gazebo at my apartment.  A delightful time was had by all.  It will be even better if I don't get sick.  I kept spraying anti-bacterial on my hands and would spray my mom.  Hopefully that helps.  I sprayed her once and told her that it was my favorite flavor.  She said something like: "Green apple is a great flavor."  I told her it wasn't green apple.  Even her nose is ailing!!!  Hopefully she is on the mend soon because she's crazy when she is not feeling well.


A funny fact.  I'm sitting on my couch right now and an old couple just drove up.   I have a squirrel lounging on my railing and the old man pointed to Roland to show his wife and is now looking at my cute squirrel with great interest.  Roland is my pet and is loved by all who look into his big eyes.  After a year, I think my squirrels are starting to recognize and trust me.  I now am able to put peanuts and water out while they are on my porch and they don't run off terrified.  It's about time they recognize the girl who feeds them!


Here are two funny pictures:

I find humor in the wording of this picture.

This cat is a representation of myself.

Pleased as Punch

This week I have gone to my internship both Monday and Tuesday.  So far it is really great and I am pleased as punch.  It is perfect and I have to tell myself that this will probably be the last summer that is this blissful.  I have "office hours" that are from 12:30 until 4:00 where I go to my supervisors home where her office is out of.  We have been brainstorming and working on projects the past two days.  She has been getting me up to speed and informed on the upcoming events this summer.  Today we went to Hobby Lobby to buy some supplies needed for the graduation party this weekend.  I am loving the fact that I get to sleep in every day.  I make myself a nice big breakfast and casually get ready for the day.  I actually do not know too much today.  I'm still trying to adjust to my new schedule and do think that I am still catching up on rest from the school year.  I'm taking my vitamins as well and eating better.  I've actually had real meals straight from the kitchen this week!!!  Now that I think about it, I don't think I have had Panera or Jimmy John's in over two weeks!!!!!!!!!  I'm conserving the green paper in my wallet. Money is actually made out of cotton.  And, strangely, last night I was in bed before midnight.  Maybe I will take up carving wood or making quilts as I sit in my rocking chair....


Overall, everything is great here and I'm thinking about getting some of these cute picture frames at Hobby Lobby.  I hate that store because I love it so much!!!  There is always something lovely and perfect there.  Well, I guess I should go tidy up my kitchen so I can go to bed and do it all over again tomorrow!


Looking for something cute??  View my Pinterest page that is dedicated to all cute animals that I love!
http://pinterest.com/emily_bergen/animals/


Here is a picture of the frames that I am loving:

Here is a picture of two adorable critters: