Happy Birthday, Winston!

3 years, 10 months, and 17 days ago, my life changed. I was offered a full time job at Winthrop raising me above the poverty line and officially making me inelligible to receive food stamps for the first time since graduating college. I didn't want a nicer apartment, more nights out, or new clothes - I wanted a puppy. All througout my childhood, I had dogs that were great, but never once did I have a puppy. We always got the show dog that was no longer show quality or the recycled bulldog. So when I ventured on to the Charlotte Observer and saw six of the cutest frenchie/boston terrier mixes - I knew it was time. Forget the fact that I couldn't eat or pay utilities for the next month. I drove down to Columbia, SC to look at the little pups and waited in a pet store parking lot for the "breeder" to call me back. I thought about turning around numerous times. What would I do when I wanted to go out with my friends? Who would watch him when I wanted to go to Charleston for the weekend? Would I betray Gus by loving another dog? Right as I was about to pull out of the parking lot and head home, she called me. I pulled into the trailer park and had a million thoughts running through my head (not all of them were PC) but I stepped inside. I knew once I crossed that threshold, I was going to be walking out with a puppy - I am, afterall, my mothers daughter.

I knew I wanted a little boy and four of the six were girls so she handed me the one boy who's ears had stood up already. I played with him for a little bit but we really didn't connect. I put him down and thought about maybe taking a different one. But the minute I placed the little guy back with his brothers and sisters, he batted them around with his paws and I realized he wasn't so shy afterall, he just needed some time to warm up to me. So I picked up "Winston" and announced that he was the one. With a cardboard box and an empty wallet, I drove back to Rock Hill.

(winston's first day home)

When I came home to my roommates, they weren't as thrilled as I was. "Hello Lauren, did you forget we aren't supposed to have dogs!!!" I walked upstairs with my head down and my puppy in the crook of my arm. Did I make a huge mistake? That night I cried. I cried for Gus. I cried for myself. And I cried for Winston. 3 years, 10 months, and 17 days later, I look back on that day and realize I made one of the greatest decisions of my life. Winston has been there through breakups, road trips, new jobs, new apartments, and new beginnings. He is my best friend and the only one I can do my creepy dances in front of without judgement.

I know you can't read this, Winston, but Happy 4th Birthday! You are officially an old fart!

Dirty South

Wow...I was almost right on when I said "see you in six months" on my last post. So if you're still with me, thank you! I feel like this week is kind of blog worthy. And if anything forced me to do it, it was today's southern inspired meal of green beans (the weird square kinds that I don't think are natural) with ham, mac & cheese, pulled pork, and cornbread. (I got really hungry and couldn't wait to take a picture and then eat...so this is between breaths)

I'M GOIN' DOWN SOUTH! And I'm pretty pumped about it. It's Winston's 4th birthday on Friday and I thought - what better gift to give my best buddy than a trip back home (he was born in Columbia, SC...a TRUE southern gentleman)? To top it off, March Madness starts TODAY (Clemson will lose) and the weather finally doesn't suck (although it is kind of dreary today). So, in honor of my southern homecoming, here are just a few things I'm looking forward to:

1. Winston and I. Alone. On the open road. Blasting out tunes. He has a killer voice.

2. Seeing Ms. Breanne Keys and her new baby. Wow. I never thought I'd say that sentence before the age of 40.

3. Drinking a beer in 80 degree weather and hopefully getting a red tint on this Casper body of mine.

and 4. Visiting the 'Throp and everyone in it.

Ok...welp, I think that's it! Go Bucks!

ok fine...5. Seeing Mr. John Hampton Wallace who I will surely want to kill after 15 minutes - and kicking his ass in Darts at McHales.

Happy Halloween

I have an addiction and no, it's not blogging. It's dressing up my dog and if I ever thought it was appropriate, October is the month.See ya in 6 months!

Struggle Bus

As I was driving to work the other day, I was stopped by a school bus coming towards me. He had his little arm out that shouted "STOP"! So I stopped, and I waited for the little kiddies (this seems to be my new favorite word) to jump on the bus. One by one, they piled on. And they kept coming. The inside of that bus must've resembled a clown car - but that's beside the point. And I sat there for what seemed like a half hour. The bus would not put his damn arm down.

He was waiting for a straggler (this would've been me had I taken the bus in high school). Is there not a rule that states "you must be at the curb when the bus pulls up"? How can you make people sit there and wait for somebody that may or may not show up? I was pissed. So I said, screw the arm, I'm going! I knocked off the stop sign and a child flipped over the hood of my car, contents of his book bag flying everywhere! And that was my Thursday morning.

March for Babies

On Sunday, April 25th, I will be walking in the March of Dimes March for Babies. The March for Babies helps raise money to prevent birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. This walk is doubly special because two of my co-workers, Sarah and Kyle, have seen the miracles this organization can provide. Below is their story and a picture of Will, their son.

"At 19 weeks Sarah went in for a high risk scan because she was pregnant with twins. Sarah and her husband, Kyle, found out the twins had a rare disease called Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome and she was put on bed rest. After many exams and procedures, Sarah delivered Will and Jack via emergency C-section at 26 weeks, and both boys weighed under 2 lbs. The boys struggled to survive and sadly Jack passed away 2 days after he arrived on this earth. Will spent 224 in the NICU and thanks in part to research by the March of Dimes he is a healthy, energetic 2 year old."

(story and picture taken from http://www.wwhotv.com/)

If you would like to donate to this organization, please visit our team webpage!

Vroom Vroom

For quite some time, I've been completely smitten with Duggy, my Honda Civic, but as of lately, I've started falling for a couple cars...hard. I feel really guilty. Duggy and I have had a couple problems such as a faulty passenger door handle and a new battery but other than that, he's been nothing but a gentleman. To be completely honest, I didn't even look at other cars until I saw this. The Dodge Challenger. I want it. And good news, my birthday is on Friday!

Old School

I don't really have anything to talk about today. I think it's because weekends usually consist of laying around in front of the tv, trying to figure out where my next meal is coming from, and kickball. So I decided to share some classic photogs with my readers. Unfortunately, I think all my readers include Carrie who sent these to me, Cory who I've sent these to, and my mom who has probably seen these in the 22 years we lived together. But if for some reason you aren't one of those three people, enjoy!

Mission Accomplished

A couple months ago I blogged about this incredible deal they have at Bruegger's. You can purchase a coffee mug and pick up a coffee, hot chocolate, tea, or pop at anytime throughout the whole entire year for "free". The mug was $70 (thanks Santa) and each cup is $1.79 so naturally, I started an excel file to see how long it would take to pay off my coffee.

40 cups, a few stained teeth, and one heart palpitation later, I have successfully paid for my coffee!

I think this calls for a celebration!

Public Humiliation

During the week I usually try to go home for lunch so I can save money on food and take out my main man. Yesterday I was so tired that I fell asleep on the couch and didn't have time to take Winston out. I could tell he was pissed when I left.

Proof. I came home to this - a chewed up starbucks cup that he had pulled out of the trashcan. Usually I take him to the scene of the crime, push his nose in it, and give him a little spanking (please don't call PETA on me). Yesterday I did something different. I plopped him down and took a picture. I told Winston if he doesn't want his picture all over the internet, he better straighten up. I think he got the point.

Sunday Sightings

It was a Sunday just like every other. A nice meal at the parents house, an afternoon spent cleaning out Duggy, and random easter bunnies walking down the street...

Yes, I realize Sunday was Easter and this would be ten times creapier was it not. But this was a 6 foot tall Easter bunny. He had no posse. No gaggle of screaming children. Just an empty basket and a lonely road.