Dawson's Creek

So I've figured out that being a teacher has some great perks, along with some not so great "perks", but one big one is having the summer off to watch Dawson's Creek episodes! Yes, this is my summer ritual. No, they don't always have the season I need ready for check out at the local library, but I've been able to catch up starting this summer with Season 3. This is the season that begins with Eve...the eve-l Eve. I watched a few episodes featuring Eve, and I got really annoyed by the slow jazzy saxophone music they played when ever Eve entered the scene.

It's actually pretty funny to watch this show. It is definitely nostalgic, the reason I watch it, but it's funny to see how far they've come with story lines, production, etc. It's just funny to watch it 10 years later, with very different eyes. I think "oh my gosh, why are they so dramatic?!" then think I must've been the same way at that time...the reason I loved this show originally: I could relate.

A friend was watching it with me Friday night and he had never even HEARD of the show. I about fell out!!! Who HASN'T heard of the show?! And he's around my age. We were blessed with the "Witch Island" episode...possibly the cheesiest of cheesy episodes in the entire series' life. I said "We can watch something else." And he said (already hooked on the Dawson's Creek charm) "No, I like making fun of it." Mmmm hmm, he didn't have to admit it, but I knew he actually was enjoying the show. I think he was watching more intensely than I was! I let it slide but was just happy to see DC still had it after all these years.

Additionally, I was at Big Lots (a personal fave of mine) last Sunday and found the DC Series Finale on DVD for $3! How awesome! I snatched up that puppy and watched it as soon as I got home! How I had forgotten so much from that episode. And I must now share the story of the night when the finale aired. Jodi and I were living together in Devonshire Apartments back home. We invited over Sweet to have a "finale party" because us 3 LOVED DC. Sweet arrived just in time to watch a horrible storm roll in. As DC started, we had tornado sirens ringing all over town, but no tornado, just wind and rain. Then, DC would flicker on and off and we'd all yell in unison "NO!!!!" because this was before DVR existed, not that it would matter since the cable was in and out! Ahhhh, memories....

Thank you Dawson's Creek and all your cast for getting us through our high school and college years!

New Love in my life

His name is Kirby, he's about 14 or 15 inches tall, 20 pounds, black and white and the cutest thing I've ever seen! Kirby is a French Bulldog and Boston Terrier mix and came to me from a Rescue about an hour away. Here is his story...


This is the picture I saw on Petfinder and thought "oh those ears and that chubby little body!" But wait, rewind...here is the situation. It was mid to end of April and I was trying to plan for my summer and getting a puppy to train while I was off of work. I had called on a Friday to the Boston breeder nearby and found out the mama was pregnant with pups so I was excited to hear my potential pup was being made! Then, the next day, I was waiting for a friend to show up to head out on the town, and while I waited, I searched Petfinder. I found Kirby, called "Frenchie" on the site, and immediately sent an email and my application. The next morning I received an email saying she received my app and she'd be in touch with the calls to my landlord, etc. After not hearing for another day or 2, I didn't want this opportunity to slip away so I emailed her and told her all the reasons I should be this puppy's new mom and had to brag on myself--which is always hard and embarrassing--but I knew it had to be done so I was a frontrunner.

That Thursday, Peg called me (but I was teaching) and left a voicemail. I listened to it on my break and almost cried! I got a little teary eyed because I was so excited to hear that she chose ME for Frenchie! It was such great news! A student of mine and my student teacher were in there with me and I was screaming, or just celebrating loudly, and they were so excited to hear what news I got. Peg said when she read my application (out of 60 received!!!), she just knew I was the one.

I kept in touch with Peg and she said he was to be neutered Monday and I would get him Thursday. I immediately puppy-proofed and went out and got the things I thought a puppy would want.
Peg then called to say "He's really doing fine in recovery, I'll just bring him up Tuesday!" So I was even more excited! They showed up Tuesday and the minute he got out of the car I was in love! He immediately flipped to his back and wanted his big belly rubbed! I, of course, obliged and just loved him! We came inside to do paperwork and move him in, and show him his new home.
Do you think he settled right in and knew this was his home?

By the way, he hasn't laid in that bed since the first night when this picture was taken...he is probably thinking "that is for dogs!" and chooses my couch, recliner, or bed to sleep on. For example, this is his new favorite spot he just discovered days ago...
He's just so stinkin' cute I can't get over it! He had a few faux pas to overcome, such as he thoroughly enjoyed having his own feces for a snack, but only if he did it inside. Then, that was all done in secret and I'd only know he had eaten the evidence because it smelled horribly and so did his breath! That was gross but I think he's outgrown it now, PLEASE Lord. He also had one night where I awoke an hour early because of a nightmare, so he was up, then I went back to sleep and when I woke up for the morning cuddling, my feet discovered a cool wetness on the sheets. He had pottied a spot on my beautiful and expensive Anthropologie comforter the size of a car tire, which soaked through both sheets, the mattress pad and into the mattress itself. UGH! But I forgave him and soaked it all with soapy water and it's fine. :) How can you not forgive this face?

In the days following, Kirby received several gifts from his loved ones. Treats and toys galore! And I'm being serious, he LOVES every toy he has! He loves to chew on the chew toys, but then loves to chew a squeaky one and throw it around and chase it. I am so thankful, so blessed, and so happy this little boy came into my life! I've never loved an animal so much because he is just the sweetest, cuddliest, best puppy!! I can't say it enough.



I forgot to mention the most unbelievable part of his story. This little boy, they assume, was born right around Christmas or the first of the year, so he's now about 6 months old. He was in a kill shelter for around 2 weeks in the South, like Mississippi or Alabama, and no one even took him! I mean, a CUTE PUPPY in a kill shelter?!?! FOR 2 WEEKS?!?! And no takers?!?! Now I know it's because he was just waiting to come home to me, his real home. I love Kirby, he's come at the perfect time in my life and I just love him! (Did I mention I love this dog?!)

Ha ha...this cracks me up! My friend and her baby came to visit and Kirby wanted to be as close to her as he could be, but this time, he was just sitting....WAITING to get up there near her! My friend took a pic when he got up there and was laying directly next to her. He's also wearing his fashionable "party" bandana! Why not?!

And to end the story, this is a picture of a box of blank cards my sister bought me for Christmas this past year, right when Kirby was being born, and got it because she knew I loved French Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, and especially a combo of both. How perfect is this? It looks like him!

So over it

What is this rule that we are supposed to love family no matter what and always keep them close and protected? No. I don't think so. Yes, I think so for those who you love and those who need your support and help and are at least respectful, but heck no to those black sheep family members who embarrass you, disgust you, and totally disrespect and take full advantage of you. I'm over it. OVER it.

Why should I--a hardworking, responsible, self-sufficient person--have to carry the weight of one of my family member's mistakes and conscious BAD decisions?! I shouldn't. I have made my own decisions, be those good or bad at times, and dealt with the consequences or reaped the benefits--mostly I can safely say, I've been able to reap! :) So why should I have to continue to be screwed over because it's "family?" I'm not and I'm stopping it tonight.

Then, as I tell this person I'm done and no longer allowing them to walk all over me, they seriously have the nerve to ask how they screwed me over? That saddens me. Really, you don't know? You don't remember the bill in my name that you racked up to $1700 and is sitting in a debt collector's office? Not fair...not fair that my credit risks being affected from me trying to help my family out. I just shake my head in disbelief because I don't know what has happened to this person. But I do know that I'm done dealing with it and done being treated like doo doo. :)

Ahhhh, writing is liberating!