A Love Story

Once upon a time would be a perfect way to start this story, but I will save you the frills.  This is a story about a girl that had a dream and it came true. I grew up the middle of five kids and all I ever wanted was a dog.  A dog that could live in the house and sleep in my room.  This dream presented a problem...my parents weren't going for it. To my Mom a dog was extra work in an already busy household.  The inside dog who slept in my room, was a no-go. (It is important to mention here that I had a wonderful yard dog name Pokie, he was a good dog.)

Cut to 2004.  I married the guy of my dreams and he made all my dreams come true, including the one to have dog...in the house.

I started my search for "my dream" online.  Not knowing what I wanted starting looking for female dogs in need of a home in the Austin area. I ran across a Shar Pei/Golden Retriever mix named Brandy.  She had the funniest face.  Her nose was way to big for her face and her eyes were tiny....she clearly belonged in our little family.  After a series of conversations with my new husband and Brandy's "foster mom" it was decided on October 22nd, I would drive to New Braunsfelds Texas to pick up my 21st birthday present.

She was the best $75 dollars I ever spent. When I married the hubs he was working nights.  I would go to school during the day and spend most evenings alone...as the middle child of a rather large family this presented a problem.  I was lonely and homesick.  Brandy took all that pain from me.  She gave me someone to talk to, take care of, snuggle, walk with, and love.  In those early days we would chase cats and take long rides through the streets of Austin in my green VW Beetle. It all boils down to this, she needed a home and I needed a friend.  We were a perfect fit.

So why am I up in the middle of the night waxing poetic about a dog.  Because today she died.  Sunday she was fine, Monday morning she was fine, Monday night she was sick, Tuesday morning she was sick, Tuesday afternoon she was dead.

The girl that changed my world is gone.  Sitting here in our new home it feels empty for the first time. She should be sitting at my feet or on the couch snuggled up beside me.  My heart is literally broken.  For me she was a living dream come true and now she is buried in the backyard.

One day I will tell you guys some stories about Bran.  She was an old soul with a personality all her own. She was smart, funny, had the best hair, and gave the sweetest kisses.  I have stories to tell but right now raw sadness has set in and tonight I just miss my dog. I will miss her the rest of my life.

OMG guys it has almost been a year......

I am a total slacker.  How has it been almost year since my last blog?  I read blogs all day long of people dedicated to writing everyday....why can't I be that girl?  I know all of you have missed me or at least all 7 of my loyal followers have.  I have been receiving emails and being asked in the halls of work when I will post again.  Not really.  Only one person has asked why I haven't been blogging.....I just figure that one person represents at least like 100.  I am delusional.


The following is what we have been up to....in pictures. 

Bought a house. 

Gained a baby.

Clayboy got married.

Started eating meat...again.

Clint became engaged so we threw an engagement party.

The Hubs graduated with his masters degree, then quickly got bored. 

Started growing strawberries. 

That is about it.  Sad but true. 

For Squirt

This blog was never meant to be a soap box.  In my humble opinion.....opinions are like bung holes, everybody has one.  I try to stick to the facts, but today I am pulling out the soap box.

I have a dear friend whom I love and admire deeply.  She is kind, loving, passionate, beautiful, giving, funny, brilliant, and a lesbian.  The lesbian part I could care less about, but it seems to bother some to the point of hatred.   Now my girl can stand up for herself,  but this post is for bullies in the world.

Next time you feel it is your place to judge as though you are God, please consider the following. 

He without sin cast the first stone.

If you don't have anything nice to say....don't say anything at all.

Pretty is as pretty does and right now you aren't acting so pretty.

Hate breeds hate.

Always be kind for everyone is fighting a hard battle.

Love aways wins.

Jesus is watching you.

Nobody is perfect.

This one is for you Squirt....I got your back!

What's in a House

One year ago today we buried my Grandmother.  We called her Mimi.

Today members of my family packed up my grandparents home because it has sold.

I am sad.  My grandparents bought their little house in 1961. My dad was 11.  That was 50 years ago.  For 50 years my family made that little house a huge home full of laughter and love.

The last Christmas with my grandparents we managed to cram the following people into their home:

Papa, Mimi, Dad (their son), Mom, Todd, Deb, Chase, Amber (pregnant), Bear, Luke, Cooper, Abby, Nathan, Clint, Clay, Aunt Merissa (their daughter) Uncle Kyle, Aunt Carol (their daughter) Uncle Steve, Leslie, Matt, Robin, Aunt Pam (their daughter) and Lauren.

23 people.

Did I mention the house is less than 1000 square feet?

So I pose the question:  What's in a house?

In the house that my family moved out of today there was homemade sweet tea and sweet cornbread made by the best Papa ever.  My Papa's rose bushes.  Easter egg hunts and long games of Clue, Spades, and 42.  We shared secrets under a kitchen table transformed into a fort.  Sunny side up eggs and the smell of fresh cut wood.  An old boat we couldn't crawl on because it was covered with fiber glass. The most beautiful green paint and a sparkly ceiling.  Our school pictures line the walls and pictures of our Uncle Cowboy, who died before the grandkids were born.

Mostly we were together in that house.  We weren't adults to busy for each other.  We were not caught up in kids, work, or life.  We were just a family.  I never imagined the day would come that we wouldn't meet in the place that was home to my Dad and Aunts.

But we all grew up.

My brother bought his first house this week.  Now it is his turn to turn four walls into a home.

The Hubs and I close on our house the beginning of May.  I understand how my grandparents must have felt.  The excitement of making a house a home.  I want my dwelling to be like theirs.  Full of the laughter, singing, and games.  A place where my family can feel safe and accepted.

Today is a sad day, but my Papa and Mimi are in Heaven and they do not have the worries of this world.  They are singing with the angels, so it is alright that their house has been sold.  All the memories we made in that house will be passed from generation to generation.

My Papa would have loved our new house. It is a carpenter's dream.  When I walked in the first time I thought of him.  I knew I was home.

How Twisted is Your Veggie Burger?

 Last Night the Hubs and I ate at The Twisted Root.

My eldest brother suggested that we all meet for a burger, or veggie burger in our case.

This burger joint is found on Commerce Street in downtown Dallas in Deep Ellum.  When I told my Dad where we were headed the conversation went a little like this.

Dad:  Hey Ab whats going on?
Abby: Well the Hubs and I are heading to eat at the Twisted Root in Dallas.
Dad: Where is Dallas?
Abby: Off Commerce street.
Dad: In deep Ellum?
Abby: Yep......
Dad:  O great.  I hope you don't get stabbed in the ribs and left for dead on the sidewalk.  We use to scrape dead people off the pavement down there.  Great!
Abby: Ok Dad I will call you later.

He then continued to call every 15 minutes to make sure that we hadn't be murdered.

Back to The Twisted Root

The Twisted Root is found in an old building in the dreaded Deep Ellum.  Now the sign does not say "The Twisted Root" so if you head that way look for the neon sign that says "Burgers".

Upon walking in the door you must stand in line and order your food. 

The standing in line process made me extremely nervous because of the sign above.  

But luckily my beautiful, ever prepared sister-in-law handed me a menu and walked me though how to order a veggie burger. 

The Twisted Root gives you a new name.  

This way they aren't saying, "I can't hear you....what's your name?"  

Yes, I get that question a lot....I have a very thick East Texas accent.  

Anyway, the Hubs and I were dubbed Paula Abdul. 

This place makes their own ketchup and boy is is good.  

The guy above has a very important job.  When the food is ready he offers up an anectdoe pertaining to your new given name. 

For example, ours was, "Straight up now tell me Paula Abdul do you want this veggie burger?"

So then the Hubs walked up and got our yummy veggie burgers. 

This guy IS the atmosphere. 

Behold the blue cheese & tangy buffalo sauce veggie burger.  

I seriously died for a moment and went to veggie head heaven.  The black bean corn patty was so good!  

This "burger" was dripping with blue cheese crumbles and buffalo sauce.  Throw in their "fried ride" basked and their homemade ketchup and laaaaaawdy my tummy was happy. 

The Twisted Root offers a great laid back environment that fosters the desire for good food and fellowship.  

They offer a wide variety of hamburgers and every burger has the option to become vegetarian. 

With two locations, both Dallasites and Fort Worthites can enjoy a wide rage of veggie head delights. 

Check em' out:  http://twistedrootburgerco.com/wordpress/

Sweet Valley High and Rangers Baseball Eve

Today is a great day.  First,  Sweet Valley High Confidential came out was purchased by yours truly!

This is the cover! 

For those of you that don't know, Sweet Valley High is a book series which chronicles the teenage dramas of Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield.   It's wonderful and angsty. 

 In the 90's there was a television show that came on Sunday afternoons....or was it Saturdays?  Anyway, I wasn't allowed to watch it because my Momma said it was too mature for me, but every Monday on library day I would make a bee line for the Sweet Valley High series and pretend I was Elizabeth.  Jessica was too much drama for me.

Back to the new book. 

Sweet Valley Confidential is first time a children's series will be updated as an adult book.  Folks we met the twins went they were 16 and now they are 27 and not talking? (GASP!!!!!)

On a really cool note Diablo Cody, the chick that wrote and directed Juno, is writing a script based on the new book....EEEEKKKK today is a great day!

Ok, if you are still with me I am sorry for the out burst pertaining to geeky teenage drama books...but hey we all have our guilty pleasures!

Reason 2 this is the best day ever!

TEXAS RANGERS BASEBALL!!!!!

It's baseball eve in Texas....it is the most wonderful time of the year!

Take me out to the ball gaaaaaaaaaaaaaame, 

Take me out to the crooooooooooowd, 

I heart the Texas Rangers.  The gentle noise that a game provides on a lazy summer night, the crowd cheering when Josh Hamilton sets up to the plate, the smell of cotton candy and hot dogs, the heat strokes (that is another story), red jerseys......sorry the excitement is bringing tears to my eyes.  

I must go now.....I must wash all my Rangers gear and dust off all my ball caps.  This year the Texas Rangers are going all the way. 

 Mark my words.  On March 31, 2011 Abby predicted that the Texas Rangers will win the WORLD SERIES!

How Do You Give Back?

 Saturday we went to volunteer at the Tarrant Area Food Bank because the Hubs needed a service project for school.

So we drove to the northside of town and waited for all our fellow volunteers to arrive. 

This is my brother-in-laws bracelet....it's a bunch of skulls. I noticed it and snapped a picture. 

The jury is out on his fashion choice....though it is growing on me.  

Back to the reason of this post. 

          When we arrived the Hubs signed us in with a Sharpie marker because he couldn't find a pen. 

          Isn't he the cutest lefty you have ever seen?

This is the Bestie.  She loves the Hubs. Therefore, she came to offer her support. 

Upon walking into the packing room I was hit by the importance of the work being done.  They sort, pack, and distribute millions of pounds of food to people in the greater Tarrant county area.   

The Dallas Morning News ran an article that said 80% of children in Dallas receive one meal a day....at school.  

          Children in our area are hungry.

I, on the other hand pitch a fit when we eat at home because it isn't convenient. 

The process goes something like this: 

1. Check the food to see if it is ripe.
We checked oranges, eggs, avocados, plums, bread, and sweets.  

2. We packed food.
Each box has to weigh between 40-42 pounds.  This involved packing 10 cans, 5 condiments, and then you fill the box with extras.  

         3. Every things is packed in banana boxes and labeled.  

 

My brother-in-law, Mike, was the best box carrier in the whole joint.  He even put boxes around his head.  He was super dedicated to the mission.  

How do you give back?  Are you a mother who gives her time to her children?  Do you volunteer your time through church or at a school?   

There is always a way to give back.  Everyone needs help and I happen to know 8 lovely people who gave to the Tarrant Aera Food Bank on Saturday.   

The Hubs and I thank all of you for helping us meet his goal and feed the people in our community!   

I might have some good news to share soon.  Stay tuned to hear all about it!