Mother of Pearl

On Sunday, Dad and I ventured out to Sunset, Texas to check out "Licks & Promises Kennels" to get a lab puppy. Kind of a weird name for a kennel but whatever. My Mom asked that we not get a puppy but an older lab, and that the lab not be chocolate because they are wilder. Well, we came home with a 7 week old chocolate lab. Such rebels.

We named her Pearl, even though she's brown and she's perfect! We had her completely checked out by our vet and he said she is GREAT!! That made a mother happy. :) Mom and I are both her Moms because I'm training her, staying up with her at night, and playing with her all day but if I move, Pearl stays with my parents. Just like we did with Belle. I was at the Riverhaus ("Riverhaus..Riverhaus...chicken and dumplins' everydayyyy!") last week and put some wildflowers on Belle's grave, let her know that we were really needing another dog since she had passed six weeks ago. It was very sad because Belle was a family member, not a dog. She was the best ever, we had her for seven years and I carry a stone that Belle and I were playing with the day she was hit, in my running shorts daily to remind me of her. It was "time" for a new addition, and as you know, it always helps heal the heart.

Pearl: Funny name for a funny puppy. Watching her run in the grass that is half her height is hilarious. She's got needles for teeth but is learning not to bite. She ALREADY walks on a leash with me and uses the bathroom outside right when you put her on the grass. Pearl and I stayed up the entire first night and starting at 5AM last this morning...but I don't even care because she's wonderful! We are very blessed to say the least!!

PS-Many of you received Adam Whitmire's email about fund-raising for Big Brother, Big Sisters, his goal is $3,000.00 and he only lacks $800.00 so please make a donation for this great philanthropy!!

Wurst Blogger...that is BRATWURST

Okay, so, I now realize that I need to blog at least every-other-day...sorry to my FOUR readers.

So, what's up with me? What'd I do last weekend? Thanks for asking.

Has anyone seen You, Me, and Dupree? Remember how Depree get's to wear a gold star in the wedding scene because he's the bestest of best friends to the groom? Ahmmm...

I am giving myself a gold star and the star is given to me by Lindsey Hodges. Why?
Oh no biggie, just went to a huge, unairconditioned warehouse/barn on Saturday night (yes, we have these in Wichy) and watched Germans dance all night in straight up leiderhosen. I get a star because I WAS THE BEST DANCER OUT ON THE DANCE FLOOR....JUSTTTT kidding, no dancing from me. I went as Lindsey's husband because he had to babysit Knox, AKA: watch Tech's game since he played for TTU. Anyway, it was actually fun! The big security man going through the German men and women proceeded to ask Lindsey, MA, Steven, and I if we had tickets...I said.."Well, kind of." He said REALLY loud, "Is it that hard of a question? Gah?" I proceeded to say, "Is it that hard of a job to be a ticket taker?"....NO I didn't...because, what's that? Oh YEAH...I'm jobless. So, I wasn't rude to him because I may be asking him if he needs an understudy soon.

Okay-so, we finally get in, Linds and I don't technically have our junior league tickets so...they let us in and we get dinner tickets and are twice as rude as big security man was. There were so many Germans because we have Sheppard AirForce Base in Wichita Falls and Germans love to fly planes...oh and becuase it was Oktoberfest..forgot to mention that. Sheppard (SAFB) is the second largest base in the U.S. of A. and contributes mucho to our economy. Go Germans! Go Wichy!

Things seen INSIDE Oktoberfest, not made up: German slideshow of what looked like to me as pictures of Sound of Music Halloween outfits from Party City. German dancers. OH--the camera man for KAUZ filming us and me shaking my head "no" the entire time so that it would be cut from footage. A BMW inside the building where people could "sit" in it for fun...don't really know if this was a game or something. A German dinner of..sausage, rolls, sauercraut, and pretzels. A comment said by me, "Linds, this is a REAL sausage-fest."Lots 'O German speaking people. It was neat to see their culture.

Things seen OUTSIDE of Oktoberfest, not made up either: Linds and Adele driving, without their headlights on, no, we weren't intoxicated one bit, believe me. A few airmen waving at us to stop, me saying, "Maybe they think we're cute..." Then, COP LIGHTS...WHAT? We're not hot? Nope, we were driving without headlights on...I contemplated telling the officer that it was a German tradition..but Linds covered by saying...."Oops...the Sewell people, turned my lights off...oh and I don't have my current insurance, oh and this license is expired because I like the picture better in the one!"

Oktoberfest taught me: We are VAIN. Also, that we have a pretty awesome amount of German culture in North Texas, you'd never think so!! 

Campy Wichy

So,  Mom, Dad, and I are babysitting my four year old niece, Mary Ella, all week because her Austin school flooded last week.

We call it "Camp Wichy" and I guess I'm the head counselor. I'm paid in hugs and kisses, so that's fine by me! Here's the problem, what happens if the head counselor is completely worn out after the first day of  camp? Not to mention she's been asked several times, "Aunt Deli, why aren't you married?" "Why don't you have job?" "Where's Johnwells?...Oh, well, what's a Bo-mont?" Man, this camp is super fun for the campers but a reality check slash fist to the face for the counselors. Kind of a weight loss camp for the adults running it...literally, "running" it. I've been running around all day playing with dolls, horses, finger painting, wishing we had nap time. We get to have a new camper at 4PM today, Knox Hodges. He's coming to camp for an hour or so because Mary Ella "really wants to meet this funny, little guy." My favorite time of Camp Wichy is meal time, Mary Ella is the prayer leader at her school in Austin; therefore, leads (sings) all prayers at Camp. It's super cute and makes it all worth it!

Is it fair for a four year old to hurt my feelings? Nah--she just speaks the truth, unfortunately for me, the truth hurts sometimes. Do believe I'll be getting my real estate's license starting today...if I'm able to lift my fingers after day one of Camp Wichy. :)

All campers are welcome, with parents, of course.

Good Morning Texoma! EGGS-actly...

My boyfriend once asked me where the city of Texoma was. I went into a long schpeal that Texoma was North Texas and South Oklahoma combined...AND that Texoma was the home of the best news channel around, Good Morning Texoma! (just like Full House's Good Morning San Francisco).

Anywhoo, I was watching Good Morning Texoma! two days ago when the lead anchor began talking about the egg recall and that many on the contaminated eggs could be in local grocery stores. He then said, in the deepest country accent, "Due to the current egg crisis, many Oklahoma residents are advisin' locals to become V..vvv...veegans? I hope I pronounced that right."

Word for word. Live, on the air. This really helped me start my day off the right way.

I actually really, really LOVE this news station because they cover it all! Tune in.

Hotter N' Hell is right...

Yesterday I experienced my first "Significant Weather Advisory." This was located on the lower left-hand corner of my TV and was in between "Excessive Heat Warning" and "T-Storm Watch."

A question: What on earth is a "Significant Weather Advisory?" I texted several Wichi friends and no one really knows what this is. The weatherman said, "Stay tuned, you're going to like the weather broadcast. We have significant weather out there." No explanation. No clue. Lindsey told me that once we were in a "Potentially Devastating Tornado Watch"...hmm..."potentially-" possibly  but not yet actual and "devastating-" defined as to destroy or waste entirely. Nothing better than a bit of completely confusing weather advice to get your day going.

I didn't know if I should hide in my parents closet as if a tornado was about to reek hacov on our town or if a cold front was heading our way. Being that it was 102 outside and a car temperature read 121, I'm guessing this was a heavy suggestion to stay inside. I left my iPhone in my car for about 30 minutes and when I returned to make a call, the cell said "Temperature Alert! iPhone must cool down before use." AMAZING.

I'm in Wichita Falls, Texas, a town with weather that will melt your face off, a town that is full of pools morphed into hot tubs during summer, a town that is hotter than hell and even the technology feels the blaze.