Happy Birthday Seven!

Today is my sweet Seven's birthday. She is our first. Tom and I adopted her from our local Humane Society when she was just nine weeks old. Today she turned 13. I love and adore all of my dogs, they all have their own special place in my heart, but with Seven, with her I have an indescribable ache I love her so much. We went to the vet the other day for a little spot she has on her eye lid...our vet wants to have it taken off and said it might take three to four years to come back and I said "and then we'll take it off again when she's 17, because she's gonna live to be 30!" Our vet said "She'll be a pall barer at your funeral, right?" Right.
So, Happy Birthday Seven-11, my Levy girl, my Principessa, my flower girl!!

Baby Jack likes bangles

Last weekend one of my favorite cousins and his wife were in town and I got to meet their baby for the first time. He is beyond adorable. So, when they first arrived he was not super excited to meet me. He liked everyone else but when I looked at him he would just let out this big cry. It kind of broke my heart. Tom said it was because he was afraid a bird was gonna fly out of the giant, crazy bun on the top of my head. ha ha, my husband is hilarious. But I didn't give up and eventually I won him over.
What also won him over were all of my moms Metalsgirl bangle bracelets. He played ie. mouthed them for quite a little bit. I am pretty excited that I can now say "kid test and approved"! Seriously though, I often have people wanting to get jewelry for a new mom but worry that a necklace might be yanked off or earrings tugged on - but now I know that these bangle bracelets are just the thing and actually double as teething rings!

Thank you Jack!

new "About Me" photo?

This might seem like a ridiculously petty question to ask but I am seriously having trouble deciding. To change or not to change my photo on my "about" page. This one is in the running. I know the back ground is lacking, it's in an elevator. blah. But there is something about the photo that feels very me, very content, happy. So, if you feel so inclined have a peek at the current "about me" page of my website - HERE - and tell me: to change or not to change.

happiness is Charles Nelson Reilly

I might just be revealing too much about myself, but oh well. I might be revealing that I am a big, giant nerd, but oh well. I might be revealing that I have very strange taste, but oh well.

So here's the deal: do you get the Game Show Network? If you do then do yourself a favor and set your DVR, VCR, Tivo, or whatever to record Match Game. Yes, it's the same one from the 70's - NOT a remake. For you young 'uns who never saw Match Game - well, I think you will like it, I think, maybe, well, you should! Tom and I watch it every night when we get in bed and cheesily play along! It's that time period where everything was innuendo. It is innocent and salacious all at the same time. The clothes alone make it worth the watch.

I actually took this photo of my tv the other day - Charles Nelson Reilly and Betty White had drawn on mustaches with permanent marker - silly, but funny. And it reminds me and validates why Betty White is so awesome - she deserves this whole resurgence of popularity. And Charles Nelson Reilly might just be my favorite thing of all time! He was out of the closet before out-of-the-closet was a phrase and I adore that about him!! Especially when he does his "Chuck" straight guy schtick. I'm telling you, it's funny stuff, especially if you are bored with the crude humor of today. Check it out...

11 years

Today is our anniversary. I couldn't possibly find all the right words to say how lucky I feel, how happy I have been. For more than 11 years I have had someone who laughs at the silly things I say, who always has my back, who puts me first, who supports the choices I make, who wildly encourages me, who wants everything good for me, who tells me he loves me every single day, who appreciates me, who loves my family, who treats me like every girl dreams of being treated, who wants the same things in life, who has the biggest heart of anyone I know, who is open minded, and knows exactly what is truly important. I don't know how I found him but I will cherish and appreciate what we have every day of my life.

uneventful update

Not too much to report, which is A-Okay with us! He has slowed down a bit I think...well, I say that, but then you might think differently if you watch this video that Tom shot just last week. It was dinner time and I guess he was hungry! You think?!?!?! So silly. And pardon the barking. When it's dinner time Seven always feels the need to make several announcements "Places everyone, it's dinner time! Places! Places!" Just like when she lets us know that the mail has arrived or that the neighbor is walking her dog or that the wind just shifted. Enjoy!

It's the little things...

Who needs diamond rings when you can have a trash can? Believe me or not, I can say with all seriousness that I would take this trash can over a lot of the fancier things in life most any day.
Don't believe me? Well, here's why: I've been a little stressed the past few weeks...having strep and the flu while trying to get ready for Dogtoberfest and The Austin Flea, leaving town just three days after these big events, and all the while dealing with physical therapy...it's just been a lot. But a couple of times a year there is this flea market that I LOVE to go to. It's about an hour and a half away and it is Fan-freakin-tastic! Most times it's my mom, my best friend, and her mom that all go together. This time the only, only day we could all four go was today - just two days before these big events I've been planning. It was crazy for me to go, I had waaaay too much to do. This morning I called and canceled on them. But my mom pushed and pushed and I caved. So, so happy I did because I now have an ANDY GIBB TRASH CAN!!!!

When I was six years old and standing in the back yard of my baby sitters house (I think this was the baby sitter who fed us dog biscuits, but I digress) my best friend spilled the beans that she was giving me the new Andy Gibb album for my birthday. I was beside myself with excitement. I wore my Andy Gibb t-shirt to my party and true to her word, Kim and Natalie (her sister) gave me the Andy Gibb album. Today, 30-some-odd years later Kim took this picture of me holding this Andy Gibb trash can! how cool is that?!?!? I mean, it's Andy-freakin-Gibb! oh, and it was cool that it was Kim and I that found it and all that too! Seriously though, a day spent with friends who are more family than anything else, is sometimes the absolute best thing that you can do for yourself, trash can or no trash can.

The Ashley special

My friend Ashley started out with five bangles. Then she got five more, then five more, then five more...I think she was up to 25 when she said "I want 15 more brass and 10 more silver!" that's right folks, she wears 50 all at once! I make the darn things and I am envious of her!! They look so cool on her. So I finally decided to start selling them in larger groupings than just five - I haven't jumped to 50 - let's just start with 20. Check 'em out!

Ashley, I think you need 50 more.

I have been a busy little beaver.

Since recovering from the flu I've been working day in and day out, late into the evenings and on the weekends. My 30 day challenge hasn't gone as smoothly as planned, but the idea and spirit behind the challenge is there. So, check out what I've been up to...

The file system in my brain is broken.

You know those days where you are working along, feeling quite productive, and you think of something you need to do. So you stop what you are doing to go do the thing you just thought of...while doing thing number two it occurs to you that there is something else you just must do now or you'll forget it altogether, so you move on to thing number three and so on and so on and so on until you realize that thing number one is still sitting there, first in a long line of half way done tasks. Welcome to my life.

I think I am on thing number 12,000.

My brilliant idea of 30 days of new jewelry (see photo above), while still a good idea in theory, is, in practice not working out as well as I had hoped. The fact that I came down with a fantastic case of strep AND the flu didn't help my already sinking ship. And on top of that I am very busy planning another round of The Austin Flea in conjunction with Dogtoberfest (a fundraiser for Blue Dog Rescue). Ahem. Too much. Did I mention trying to help coordinate and proof the production of the fifth Music and Mutts calendar (another fundraiser for BDR)?

I am not even exaggerating when I say that I have, at a minimum, 8-10 To Do lists going at a time. I am as scattered as the scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz, bless his little straw heart. So my question is this? Does it take an actual wizard to organize your life?

cold nose = warm heart? or is it the flu?

So, I was feeling kinda under the weather for a couple of days. Sore throat, achy, just ick. I didn't feel truly awful, but enough that it was bugging me so I called the doc. So, for future reference, when the nurse come in and looks down your throat and then goes, literally, running from the room only to come back with a bright blue face mask on - it's not a good sign. Oh, and yells "Make sure the doctor gets a mask too!" to who ever. And when, at the end of your visit, both the nurse and the doctor tell you to head straight home, don't stop at "Go", talk to no one on your way out, don't worry about checking out, again, not a good sign. I'll tell you what it equals, it equals a big fat case of strep throat AND the flu. Crap.

Seven gets cozy.

Some days I dream of having the life of one of my dogs. I mean really, look at this. Could she look more comfortable? And this could have been her 10 am nap or her 1pm nap or her 5:50 nap...take your pick. She found that if she limps ever so slightly she gets a cookie, if she barks and barks and barks we yell "Seven! Seven! Seven!" and then go find her and then she gets just the attention she was demanding. She has us so trained. I bet she considers us very well behaved.

such silliness

I was leaving for the grocery store the other day and noticed Horatio pacing on top of the water bowl stand. I asked Tom if he'd get them some water since I was on my way out. Before either of us could make a move Horatio just plopped right down in the water bowl. I would love to know if this was some sort of stance he was taking, like "I'm gonna sit here in this bowl until you get me some water!" or if it just seemed like a comfortable place to chill for a bit...

Birthday party for the Big Man

We finally had Preacher's birthday party this past weekend. I was about a month late but I am pretty sure he didn't know. There were about 20 people here and I assumed everyone would go give him a pat on the head while he napped off and on on the couch. But no, he was Mr. social! It was really pretty hilarious. It was like he knew it was his party and he needed to make the rounds. He seemed particularly fond of the kids...possibly because they may not be as protective of their plates as the adults. I don't know. But he was a wonderful host. After everyone left he sacked out and was pretty worthless all day yesterday too. His party pooped him out!

It was pretty awesome. We have had THE most amazing support since Preacher was diagnosed with lymphoma and to have a good number of those supporters at our house this weekend getting to spend some time with him, well, it was the best.

30 days

It is quite possible that I have bitten off more than I can chew. While we were in New York in early August I had this baaarilliant idea: 30 days of new jewelery. A new design every single day. For 30 days. What better way to challenge myself, force new ideas and creativity, keep things fresh, stay in people's minds. It really is a good idea. In theory. However, in actual application it is, ummm, a bit more difficult than I imagined. It's not quite as romantic now that my 30 days have begun. But, enough complaining. Ick to complaining. I am doing it. I am committed. So, today is day two of my 30 day self-imposed challenge. To follow my progress you can visit the piece du jour here. Each one is for sale and will be marked sold when it's gone. How embarrassing if they are all still available at the end of the month. Hadn't thought of that one... oh well, still this is mainly a challenge for me, see what I can come up with. Let me know what you think as the month goes on...