The weekend is hours away...

We should be doing this.... and this......

but first we are going to install our hardtop awning and screenroom....

should be interesting..............

Memorial Day

Here in the US Memorial Day has become a 3 day "vacation" weekend. Many have forgotten the true meaning of the day.

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. Many cities and towns lay claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966. It is difficult to prove the origins of the day. It is likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860's tapped into the general human need to honor our dead.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays, though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis' birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.

To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to 'Taps."

What, if anything, does your town do????

Marty

When I rescued Marty this is the only toy they gave me that was his. Since Rosie wrecks all toys we put it up and sometimes when he is alone with me I bring it out. Do you think it brings back sad memories for him?????

Calories and Allergies....

The celebration actually started on Wednesday. A friend stopped by my office and brough ULTIMATE CHOCOLATE CAKE....gah.... She also gave me these adorable salt and pepper shakers. I know some of you have theses too!

When I arrived home from work there was a package. AM sent BUTTERMILK PRAILINES...oh my GOSH!!! Have you had these???? Amazing.

Thursday at work a co-worker brought in mini-cupcakes. Sorry no picture of those. Then we all went to lunch. Sorry no pictures of lunch either. During the day I got phone calls, emails, and lots of "comments", and lots of cards... THANK YOU ALL!!! I also have 2 lunch dates next week. This celebration may never end....

C's friend R brought me a card and a dozen red roses..gosh I love that girl!

C gave me a Loew's gift card. I plan on using it for carpet for the screenroom at camp and more flowers.

P did a great "tape" job on my gifts. That flower is a Persian Violet. If you have allergies I do not recommend having one of these in your house for more than 20 seconds!

and you were wondering what P got me? Bet not many of you have a PINK FISHING POLE!!!! He also gave me some croc flip flops. Have you seen those? P was in charge of camera and forgot to take a pic of those.

After opening the gifts we couldn't decide what to do for dinner. I didn't want anything lavish since I had already gone out for lunch, so we decided to just go to *bill*grays* a local hamburger place. Heck y'all know what a burger looks like, no pictures there either!

Back home...my sweet Zoey.....

Time for cake...Chloe and Zoey were the only ones who wanted to join me...Marty and Rosie were running around like crazy "dogs" under the table. C asked if we could skip the "party hats" this year! Wow, doesn't she like to have fun????

The cake antics...

RPM here's a better pic of that cake.... Flowers from P (C's boyfriend)

and candy.......

See what I mean....calories and allergies!!!!! But a great birthday!

The Ultimate Birthday Post

Today is my birthday. I have had lots of birthdays....52 to be exact. I sit here and think about that number and honestly am in shock! I'm not 52, I can't be 52 is OLD.... right? Well, I'm here to say that 52 like 42, 32, 22 is a number. Each number brings change...not all good, but it's my number and I am happy to be here to be celebrating it.

They say most everything we do in life is imprinted when we're young....I think they may be right. Things I have learned......

It's nice to be the birthday girl..... Napping is good.
Friends will change......
When you are younger you get to eat more Cotton Candy....Just because your age ends in 2 doesn't mean you'll look the same in a bathing suit....

If someone says your their princess...you are.....
You either look good in a hat or you don't....

It is not always appropriate to dance on a bar top.......

If you think your cool...you are! Never kiss and tell.....
Life is not always fair.......


Someday you may marry a man that likes to fish, like your dad......

The size of your pet may change.... and the type......

but it is good to be kind to animals.....

Dress for the weather, but always have fashionable shoes.....

You will always be your dad's little girl.....
and your mom's.....
If your scared, hold someone's hand.......

Cookbooks

We've been told that the cookbooks at Green Mountain Pug Rescue are almost sold out. If you want one hop over and place your order!!!! They don't seem to be listed on the website, but email Karen and she'll hook you up!

*bark*t*shirts*

Some of you have asked about the availibility of purchasing *puppymill*tshirts*...here is the link off the website: http://www.womanmadeproducts.com/qs3/products.php?pid=474&detail=true

the good guys....

These are the guys from *Rescue*Ink*. They are quite a group! If you donated $30 you could sponsor a spay or neuter of a pet. They would then autograph your shirt.

of course we donated.....

Back in the swing....

Seems I've been very busy these past few weeks. The Spring events are behind me now, so maybe I can concentrate on regular day to day fun and catch up on things at home, camp and of course, blogging. This past Friday C and I went to her friend's wedding. The wedding was at 3pm so we both had to leave work early to get there in time. The wedding was very nice, sorry private people so no pics on the net! The reception didn't start until 6:30pm so we had a break in between to go home and change. Everything was very, but we were both tired and were home by 10pm.

Saturday morning I got up at 4am....I was concerned about the drive to the "bark" event and wanted to get the GPS from P and pack my stuff. I hit the road with Rosie at 7am. Seems the worry was silly as the trip was uneventful and we were amoung the first to arrive. Set up was quick...and we walked around and chatted while everyone got ready.
The very first gang I ran into was the group from Green Mountain Pug Rescue. Wow, what a wonderful group! Here's one of the lucky rescues....what a sweet guy he was..... Another pic of the sweet guy! How could anyone hurt that face?????



I can not say enough good about this group. Their love of Pugs goes deep and any Pug rescued by this group is lucky indeed. Lisa's Turbo came from Green Mountain and I'm sure she can attest to what a great group they are. Of course I did some shopping at their booth.....

The entire day was very emotional. There were all different rescue groups there. People would stop and talk about their rescues. Each story sadder than the first. I met blind dogs, dogs with no teeth, no jaws, missing feet, missing leg, on and on. The horror of some of the conditions there furry ones came from unspeakable. I spoke at length with a woman and her mom, who were holding a mother and daughter Chihauhua pair..mom was 18 daughter was 15. Neither had all their teeth, they were both gray, but honestly they were so sweet. The daughter goes to the dog auctions. I asked her how she does it and she told me you have to concentrate on the ones you can save. As she spoke her eyes filled with tears....

We packed up and headed home around 4pm. Rosie was exhausted from her day. When we got home the gang was happy to see us. Marty wanted to check out the cookbook I bought from the Green Mountain group....

Really do you see the size of this cookbook???? $20.00 what a deal! Stop over to their website and check it out!

Tomarrow...the guys of Rescue Ink

A Bark Heard Round the World

This weekend this event is being held in our state. We'll be there joining the voices against Puppymills.....

.....opt to adopt

Happy Birthday Sandy!

Stop over to RAGUS and be sure to wish her a Happy Birthday.....
I have been sitting here today wondering where April went and how it is halfway through May???? Seems I'm being pulled in a lot of directions and failing miserably at doing anything 100%! I guess I need the invention of a 26 hour day. Hopefully the demands will lighten and I'll soon be back on track!

Punch