Happy Anniversary, Weezie!

Weezie and my story all begins with Paris.

 Paris, the Chinese Crested that my dad met while shopping in Pets Mart, and would visit many weekends with hopes to adopt. Paris was a foster-dog and would be up for adoption when her treatment was compete. However, Paris never went up for adoption, as her foster parents decided to keep her once she became healthy.

 

The news about Paris was a real disappointment, but was accompanied by an option to foster either a Chihuahua or a Chinese Crested named Weezer, who was in transit from New Iberia, Louisiana, where the night before-he was abandoned outside a dog shelter with 2 other dogs, who were killed by a motor vehicle. My dad was giving it a think, but was unsure if he really wanted a dog that was not Paris.

It was a Sunday and I was at the Galleria shopping with Jenny Wilkinson, when Doug called me about his situation. You see, all along while Doug wanted Paris, he was telling me that he had found ME a dog, because I think he was afraid that in wanting another dog for himself, he would be disrespecting his relationship with his Chihuahua, Penny. Penny, who was MY dog, until Doug became extremely attached, and claimed her as his, about a month after I got Penny. I talked with Jenny, and we told Doug to wait until Weezer got to Austin and then he could make up his mind, and see which dog he preferred. After all, we were just going to foster him, we didn't have to keep him forever.

When Weezer got to Austin, Doug met him, and sent this picture. 

I encouraged Doug to bring him to Houston, and at midnight Kelly and I went over to our parents' house and got to meet Weezie for the first time. I fell in love with him pretty quickly after that. We had to be real careful to keep him calm for the first few months because he was sick with heart worms. When he was well, and we were asked if we would like to keep him, and make him officially part of our family, there was no doubt in our minds.  It was a very special day.

Doug's decision that I should have a dog was, at the time, quite unexpected, but, in hindsight, it was one of the best things that ever happened to me. At first, I didn't like his name, but now I love it because it describes him, and he is the most beautiful thing I have ever laid my eyes upon.

Weezer gives purpose to my life, and coming home to him is the happiest part of my day. He is an absolute angel, and I would not trade him for a million dollars, or even a million and one. 

If you ever are in the market for a dog, I would encourage you to get a rescue dog. Every time that I look at Weezie, if he is awake, he is giving me the most adoring eyes. I can do him no wrong, which is always a comfort. He hardly ever complains, and he has never had a single accident in my apartment. 

He is my best friend. 

Here's to one wonderful year. It could have been pretty terrible without you, my Weezie Dearheart. 

I pray for many more to come. 

Thanks, Doug. 

Weezie is a reminder that when things don't turn out as you've envisioned them, a better thing than you might dream of just might be headed your way.

Spring Fling

My mouth has been watering all week, knowing that my mom was going to bring her carrot cake to San Antonio this Sunday. Apparently, she made an estimated one hundred and seventy five of them in high school. 

My Grandpa Packy is always the life of the party, and today was no exception at my Aunt Marilyn's "Spring Fling" Garden Party. Supposedly, he is turing 80, but I think he may be kidding. He sure acts about my age. 

Weezie loved all the Stones!

Packy is loving "Treme" on HBO. Man, I wish I had HBO! 

There were football shaped candles on the cake, but it was too windy to light the candles. Here, Packy biting into one, for a not-so pleasant surprise. Lisa invited everyone over for Thanksgiving, and I am excited already. She knows how to do a perfect Thanksgiving feast. 

echinacea

Even though we were celebrating Marilyn's birthday, she gave a hand wrapped and thoughtful present to each guest. It was such a generous thing to do.  It was just like her.

Great minds dress alike. The fashion forecast is out: Panama hats are the hottest thing this spring. 

Milo, our once timid dog, who is gaining more and more swagger by the day with the help of Doug's new nickname for him, "Wolfie", guarded the party and barked at Packy.

Packy wasn't taking any chances

Doug drove me back home. It was so nice of him. Being the passenger was so relaxing, and also nice to get to chat.

It was a perfect day.

 I am so lucky to have these wonderful people in my life. 

This garden is home to so many beautiful plants and memories with family. It is neat to think of all the years we have come together to celebrate the springtime. It's such a joyful time of year. All of those who couldn’t be here this year were with me in my heart. 

True Story

One night my mother got a call from me at 4 am while I was living in the east village of Manhattan. "I can't sleep" I told her. She told me to write a poem about my troubles and here is what was written. This is one of your only chances to hear me portray myself as a villain. Enjoy...





Thirst forced me from bed to the sink
Feeling a gummy worm under my toe

I paused before sipping my drink

And flicked on the light to see below

What was found was no treat,

What was found was live meat!

"Oh, the chutzpah, the nerve!

to creep in my house!

YOU will DIE, you little perv!"

“But I'm just a mouse…

I have no other choice”

he said, in a pleading voice

“NO other choice? What do you mean?

This is MY house! MY house!

Where I am the queen!

I bought this house with hard earned money!

I buy this food to fill MY tummy!”

"It's hard to buy food when you can't get a job..."

"Oh, so that's your excuse? That’s why you rob?"

...."Even if I could get hired, they wouldn’t let me in the store

Please let me stay! I will do chores!”

“No!No!No! This house is TOO crowded

OUT OUT OUT!!!!” I shouted.

Smoothie Spendor

I just want to broadcast to the internet that I LOVE SMOOTHIES!!!!!!!!!!1

I enjoy at least 5 smoothies a week. They make me so happy and there's just something about eating fruit that makes me feel special. I learned the about a blender's magic at a young age because my mother was always making people so happy with her margaritas. We got to make virgin ones. After a few pitchers had made their way around the house, we got do pretty much whatever. 

I have wonderful memories every time I drink a smoothie of my days as a counselor of "Beauty Inside and Out" and "Campcraft" at Camp Mystic.  I would lead 4 and 5 classes a day up a big mountain called "Sky High" and the campers and I would enjoy smoothies as a treat for our hard work making it up the big hill. 

At camp, I used honey, and at home I prefer to make mine extra sweet with a 

.

Luckily my pet dog pitcher, Greyson loves them too. Weezie loves them too, but he's been taken hostage by my mean old man. And my mother, Laurie, loves them even more! She has one every single day. 

Becky Fly Trap

I had the most medieval thought the other day when I noticed that I had a fruit fly problem amidst my kitchen. Because I live up on a pretty high story of my building, and am the first tenant, I decided that the fruit flies must have spontaneously appeared out of thin air. How else could it be explained?


After a bit of research, I realized I was very wrong. That definitely goes against modern science. A bit embarrassing. 


Fruit Flies are attracted to alcohol and fruit that is fermenting. 2 departments my apartment is anything but lacking on any given Sunday. They have very acute olfactory senses and can creep in with your groceries or through the door crack, even when it's shut.

So, my fly trapping began last night. I put slices of an orange and a banana in this milk carton and it's working. Lucky for us, their brains are not as strong as their sense of smell, or we might've become extinct a while back.


Flee Flys! 

I want to live like an Old Fashioned Human

I looked at the way technology has changed the way I live, and wasn't happy. My quest for an old fashioned life in a new fangled world began by deactivating my Facebook page and turning off my cell phone more so that I can focus on the tasks at hand. 


Since the deactivation, I have been a little peer pressured by some friends to return. I think it's going to be a while though. 


The absence of these things has liberated me:
1. The invites
You, married friends, may not be able to relate to this, but my weekend plans were somewhat dictated (without my realizing it) by invitations sent to me by friends to their weekend parties. Now, when Friday rolls around, I don't know what's going on unless a good friend is hosting, or it's been talked up by people that I actually talk to. This makes me feel free to decide what I want to do, and sometimes that means just staying in. It's nice. As my Uncle Mark said one time: "I have been to that party".


2. Feeling a connection to people that I don't see in the real world because we exchange wall posts. 


3. Of course, I miss the pictures, but man, what a time suck. When I think about it, I don't miss the pictures. 


I should mention the times when it's been necessary to get on facebook for a few minutes...
1. to get pertinent information for my friend's funeral arrangements. 
2. to check for mutual friends with a potential sublet applicant. 
3. to look at someone's profile pictures that I found cute at a party last saturday, in order to hypothesize my chances. (He look's pretty single and pretty)


Au Revoir Facebook! Maybe I'll see you in 2011...?

Sub-let-luck

My plans for my summer in Chicago are moving right along. It's so great when you put faith in everything working out, and sure enough, it does.


I had one Craigslist offer on my place a couple weeks ago; a girl from Virginia. I promptly internet stalked her and found a mutual friend who told me that she is more than trustworthy. What a relief that was.


Then, last week my mom gave me contact info of Adam and Lauren Allen, who just agreed to sublet me their Lincoln Park place for a total steal. I couldn't be happier.  It's a 3 mile walk, and quick subway ride to where I will be studying, which is going to be so nice. Man, I never thought that I would have all this squared away so early.


I imagined myself having this great story wherein I arrive to Chicago with a bag, no place to stay and I have to rent a hostel for a few nights with Europeans. One of the Europeans and I fall in love with each other and with the windy city and never return home. 


Oh well, I'm sure there will be other good stories.