getting picked up at the assisted living home

Today was another one of those "Hannah has the funniest things happen to her" days. I told a friend who is in sales there that I would attend her Brighton Gardens (elderly care facility) Walk Out for Alzheimer's this afternoon. Insert "Dog" before walk and now you're probably getting a better sense of this event. I arrived late as usual and was ushered to the registration table where I had to fill out a long form all about my dog. I really only wrote in the basics because I was 30 minutes late:

Name: CHARLIE

Age: THREE

Breed: CAVAPOO

Things that you dog can do: Hmmmmpf........well, he sometimes sits but only for a treat and even then it's about a 50-50 chance he'll do it. So I wrote "sometimes sits for treats" and went on with it.

The music starts and a guy on the bass is plucking along (Seinfeld style) really well with an over-the-top announcer who is calling each dog out one at a time to walk the floor and then to do their tricks or show off their costumes in front of the judges. It was serious business and I crammed into a small waiting area with Charlie bustling with nervous owners, dogs and tangled leashes. Everyone was looking at me as if I were an animal abuser because Charlie was costume-less. I gave him a bath people and that rarely happens.

One by one the dogs pranced out and gave Hi-5's, or caught a ball, or just looked cute silly in their tu tu's.

A lady even told me that her poodle named Cecelia got a "bikini shave" for the special day.

Last, but not least, Charlie steps up to the plate. It was rather anti-climactic as I tried to get him to sit (failed) and then eat a treat (spat it out on the sidewalk for me to pick up wet) so he neither sat, nor ate the treat. I also didn't realize that the form I filled out was where the announcer was getting his information to tell everyone about the dog. Apparently most people had written a private school application essay about their dogs while Charlie only had, "sometimes sits for treats". Awesome. He tried his best to talk about Charlie while I hurriedly walked around the courtyard before he had to say that Charlie was 3 years old for a third time....oops. In the end Charlie did charm all of the ladies and I'm sure brightened their afternoons. We went home with three goodie bags of treats (it pays to know the right people in high places at an active adult community).

After everything broke up, the bass player walked over and offered his congratulations to Charlie- for what, I'm not sure, followed by, "when are you going to come and see my band play?" Caught a bit off guard my instinct was to ask, "well what is the name of your band?" to which he replied,  "MarTAY and the ParTAY!" We stood there in the middle of the cafeteria area with all of the ambiance you can imagine. The smells and sounds and of course a room full of half asleep elders tired from the afternoon's excitement. I couldn't have made this one up if I tried. I smiled and we walked out. Later, I looked down at his business card to read only  this:

Marty Berning

ROCK STAR

and his phone number.

I thought he was gutsy and attractive.

Charlie's new girlfriend with the "bikini shave":

Check out the hand sewn Tutu:

things i am thankful for today

Ok, these are the kinds of posts no one reads, which is fine. I'm just really thankful today about lots of little things. This morning as my Dad would say, the first hint of Fall was in the air. I love it. Fall is my favorite season by far and the temperature change from Summer is a big part of that. I even went inside and put on a button down shirt with my shorts instead of a t-shirt just to celebrate. Yay, Fall is coming!

I scored some beautiful Hydrangeas at Whole Foods on Saturday that have been lighting up the table in my foyer. Every time I walk by them I can't help but smile. They are so robust and fresh and alive (I know, they're actually dead).

I'm thankful for music. Sufjan Stevens is playing some great songs while I do some work.

I enjoyed a post from Gwenyth Paltrow's blog, GOOP, which had a segment on travel in Hong Kong and made me think about great memories that I have from my time living in Asia and traveling there. It's hands down my favorite city in the world so far.

I'm really thankful that I have an informational conference call with a company today for a possible job. It is a sales position with a social media & digital marketing company called Sanjika. I am talking to them at 5:00 PM today. I'll post more about how it goes.

Last but definitely not least, I'm really happy that I was able to connect with a friend last night over coffee who has grown to see amazing works of God in her life through a very difficult and tragic accident. There is abundant redemption for our suffering, for those who belong to Christ. She is changed, her husband is changed and her children are changed. Good is good. I am encouraged to continue to move through difficult circumstances with hope and to be transparent about struggles. If we never tell our stories, others can't see God at work.

21st birthday fun

My baby sister Joy (sorry Joy) turned 21 yesterday! I can't believe it because I changed her diapers and remember so clearly the day I found out Mom was pregnant in the Winter of 8th grade. On my first day of high school my Mom and Joy were still in the hospital as Joy had gotten a fairly bad infection right after her birth and had to stay for a few extra days, so I went to Riverwood High School by myself and signed up for my classes. In college when Joy came to visit she toddled down the hall of my freshman dorm and everyone fed her candy until she was in a sugar coma.

Last night my parents and 5 of Joy's close friends came over for dinner and drinks. I wanted to do a little bit of festive decorating, but per usual, nothing overkill. I always take off one piece of jewelry before I leave the house for the same reason!

I made a large pom pom for the living room and one for the dining table...thanks to Martha Stewart I have made these a thousand times in all different shapes and sizes. They are great for topping gifts as well.

I think they all had fun and Joy felt well celebrated! The only snafu was that somehow the glass container part of our blender went missing 30 minutes before the party. After turning the house upside down and finding the base, blade and top, there was no luck with the pitcher. It is truly a mystery as there isn't much you can do with a glass pitcher that has no top or bottom. Needless to say the recipe I was going to use for frozen margaritas ended up being on the rocks....and I accidentally doubled the Triple Sec and thought it wouldn't be a big deal....whoops! All the girls were tipsy after 30 minutes. I poured them all large glasses of water before they headed out with a DD, of course. This morning I woke up and found this in the refrigerator.
Adult.  Chocolate.  Milk.

Happy Birthday Joy. You're so much fun and I love you. Maybe I will write a post later about all of the things I wish I had known at 21 that I know now. That would be very older sisterly of me.