Whatever Lola wants ...

... Lola gets.


We. Have. A. Lola ! ! !

It's not the greatest picture, but that's because she's awfully wiggly. Her nickname is now officially "Bumble-Butt", because, when she's excited, she tends to run into things. She's not exactly what one would call "graceful". She's a little stinky, a lot drool-y, but her winning personality more than makes up for any shortcomings. :)

So. Story-time.

Merry and her ex, about a year before they broke up, bought the cutest English Bulldog puppy on the planet. (In the universe. The galaxy even). Because Merry has a very loyal Jack Russel (Bella), the bulldog was going to be for the now-ex. When they broke up, the dogs parted ways as well.


This depressed Bella, who had always had another dog around. For several reasons, Merry and I have discussed getting another dog. I love Bella dearly. She's got the funniest personality, a very sweet and quirky disposition, but there's no denying that she's loyal to Merry. I'd like to have something to call my own, and Bella would benefit from having a pal. We've been looking at different breeds, have looked at one pet store so far, have done some research, but haven't found The One.

Well, the Ex contacted Merry recently and said she wants to get rid of her bulldog. Would we be interested?

Merry was so excited, but tempered it a little. She let me know very clearly that, though she really, really wants this dog, she wants me to make sure that if I agree, I do it for my own motivations - not because I think Merry wants me to.

We met with the Ex on Thursday night, Lola in towe, at Starbucks (our favourite haunt in case you couldn't tell). She is such a little lover! People kept dropping by to see the gorgeous Bully and she just ate up the attention. She wiggled her butt (she has no tail) and did her best to look her cutest.

(There was one guy in particular that dropped by twice, spending at least five minutes with Lola each time. When he approached us a little bashfully, he said, "I lost my Bulldog in the Divorce. Can I play with yours?)

My heart was stolen almost immediately. We almost took her home that night, but there was much cleaning to do in preparation. With their upturned noses, Bulldogs have notoriously bad allergies ... and we hadn't dusted (or swept) in probably 4 months. It was time, and what better reason?!

Come Saturday, after cleaning and cleaning and cleaning, Lola came home! Bella and she have had some growing pains, as I'm sure they will for quite some time. Though she's smaller by about 40 pounds, Bella is definitely Numero Uno, and has been putting Lola in her place. I've got to tell you, there's nothing funnier than seeing a 12 pound Jack Russel say, "Bitch, please" to a dog more than three times her weight ... and see the larger dog back off.

We're one big, unconventional, happy family. :D

The kindness of strangers

I'm being a bad girl this morning. I'm sitting outside at "our" Starbucks (the one we frequent so often that we know all of the baristas by name ... and vice versa) ... and I'm not getting a drink! I brought my 'puter, my knitting, and my breakfast and just kind of grabbed a table. It's nice weather, so I'm thoroughly enjoying myself.

Just a moment or two ago, I spilt some of the milk I brought (don't worry, I didn't cry). It wasn't too bad, so I just swished it away with my hand. No big deal.

But someone at the condiment bar saw and rushed out with a handful of napkins and a smile.

How cool is that?! That simple act just made my morning.

Isn't it funny how much we rely on outside forces to set the tone of our days? If someone cuts you off on the way to work, your mood sours and it could be hours before it brightens again.

The best days I have are ones in which I create my own happiness. When you choose what affects you and what doesn't, your day seems to go so much more smoothly.

That simple act affected me. I feel more attentive, excitedly watching for other little happinesses.

:D

It's official

I am Rogue. No, really. I went to the administrative office for one of the school districts that I visit (as part of my job) to get a photo ID made. When I looked at the finished result, I saw clearly, for the absolute first time - I have a grey streak. A full-on streak. Can you believe that?? At age 23, I am going grey in a serious way.

How cool is that?!

{ }
And also, I finally asked to be "demoted" back to the retail store for the Music Co. that I work for.

The job I currently hold within the company is so stressful (and has been since I started in February) that I've been barfing on a fairly regular basis.

I visit orchestra directors weekly, all over the metroplex, to provide services and supplies should they need them.

Basically, I am at their beck and call.

And I've been having a hard time juggling the needs of 45 different people per week.

So, I told my manager (who told the owner of the company - it's small and family-owned -) that I've been doing my best and still falling short, so could I please go back to retail.

And they're letting me. I have to fill in until they find a replacement (which could take a while), but the end is in sight, and I am breathing a definite sigh of relief.