Marley--A Pet Profile

Breed: Boston Terrier
Sex: Male

Age: 3 years 6 months old (25 dog years):

Adopted from Mid-America Boston Terrier Rescue: March 25, 2007
Hometown: was Ft. Smith, AR, now it's Wichita!

Nicknames: Marls Barkley, Marlboro man, Marsupial

About Me: I am a dog. Not just any dog, a man's dog. That man is awesome - he feeds me twice a day and slips me human food all the time. I am a tad overweight because of him and I love it. If I see you out in public don't be offended if I smell your behind--it means I like you.

Activities: Eating, sleeping, trying to figure out new ways to lay on laps, watching Conan, eating peanut butter, tooting, sitting on the back porch and eating q-tips.

Favorite Toys: Mid-century antique furniture

Favorite Food: Purina Pro Plan for sensitive stomachs - yeah it's boring but I'm a dog and it's all I know so I love it.

Favorite Treats: Meat treats dog biscuits; they make me obscenely gassy but I can't stop eating them.

Favorite places: Futon, rug by back door, & behind the couch where I have my way with pillows and blankets.

Tricks: Sit. That's all.

(profile written by Shawn & modified by Mindy)

Quotes as Fuel for a Triumphant Day

I ran across the following quote in Oprah magazine (hey, don’t jeer; it’s a good magazine!) a few months ago, and feel it’s too good not to pass along:

“…see how the flesh grows back
across a wound, with a great vehemence,
more strong
than the simple, untested surface before.
There’s a name for it on horses,
when it comes back darker and raised; proud flesh,
as all flesh
is proud of its wounds, wears them
as honors given out after battle,
small triumphs pinned to the chest—“

~Jane Hirshfield, from For What Binds Us

I tend to get carried away with great quotes-they clutter my cubicle much like the mail conquers our dining room table. But having the messiest office is worth it. These tidbits of wisdom, thought up by some ordinary and extraordinary people, can be my fuel for a triumphant work day.

So here’s one more quote—a tasty bit of encouragement my forever friend sent me. It’s the last one. I promise!

“When a lot of things start going wrong all at once, it is to protect something big and lovely that is trying to get itself born…this something needs for you to be distracted so that it can be born as perfectly as possible.”
~Anne Lamott

Sister's Weekend 2007

The second annual Dunning Sisters Weekend occurred this last weekend in Bolivar, MO, where my baby sister, Erin, and her newly wed hubbie, Ryan, live and attend school. My drive was about 41/2 hours; Megan's-almost 7. Saturday we ventured to Branson, MO, to visit our all-time favorite theme park, Silver Dollar City! We shopped, got old time photos, went to the saloon show, and rode rides (well, I didn't-I was the purse guard). Sunday we slept in then went antiquing. I even found a starburst clock for $8! Yes, it works! I've left out lots of details but I at least wanted to get photos up and share my excitement over getting to spend time with two of the most important people in my life, & my BEST FRIENDS!

Small towns

Chanute, KS, is home to over 9,000 people and is also the town I lived in my whole life (until '00). Going back to visit is hard, because it seems like the town is always changing, and I'm noticing the "not so good" things about it. Then I wonder, "has this town always been like this, and I'm just now noticing?" Probably. When I was younger, I was oblivious to the economic hardships, familial dysfunction, substance abuse, etc. Now it seems to be so darn evident. But, like any town, Chanute possesses both wonderful and sorrowful qualities. I'm so lucky to have experienced all the wonderful things.

This weekend Shawn and I though we'd take our "child", Marley, along for a nice Sunday get-away to good 'ole Chanutey. The drive was pleasant, the fields lush from the recent floods (that happened to occur on Erin/Ryan's wedding day!) and the watchful sun bright in the sky. There were even fields of sunflowers bowing to the sun. I always try to find just one who is, perhaps, rebelious and turned in another direction, but I haven't been successful yet.

We arrived at my parents and enjoyed brisket, taters--the works. Then we went to a flea market, where we hit the jackpot, so they say. I forgot that MOST THINGS IN A SMALL TOWN ARE CHEAPER than in the "big city." We bought an awesome chair for $5. It was originally marked $20, but the salesman knocked the price down. We were elated! It needs reupholstered; once done, it will be groovy. My dad explained that the man likely wanted to be rid of it as it would cost more to ship it off to the dump than to sell it to us city slickers.

Ok, I guess that's it for now. Enjoy the pics below of our flea market steals.
Here's the chair:
And here is the cheesy floral painting in our living room:

And here's a picture of us at Council Grove, KS, for Labor Day weekend:

And one last pic of my new 'do: