You will never believe it...

Yesterday, I helped a dog.

I know. Can you believe it?!

I was getting out of my car and this little white yappy dog was at my heels...I said something like "Get a life." but it didn’t go away. I started walking away and it followed me, then I said something like "Go find your family, freak."

That dumb dog started running towards the highway, so, being the kind person that I am, I said "Get over here." And it did. So, I hollered down the both of the apartment stairwells but no one responded. Then I realized this dog was a run-a-way.

If I was a dog person, I would take it up to my apartment. But I'm not.
If I was a dog person, I would have a leash to keep it from running away. But I'm not.
If I was a dog person, I would have bent down to pick it up and pet it. But I'm not.

So, I just looked at it for a few minutes, trying to make a plan, probably saying things like "Why didn't you just stay inside" "I don't think anyone really likes you" and "You are such a freak." But because I am a KIND, CARING person, I didn't want this dog to run onto the highway and die...

When it started running back to towards the highway, I followed...hollering.

Then that dumb dog ran into someone’s first floor patio. I followed....hollering..."Get out of there freak." "What in the world are you doing?" "Are you kidding me!?!"

Then it disappeared out of my sight, so I started to lean over the rail to talk it out of that patio, and the door opened...more...and a teenager/young guy walked out...

I was like: "Is that your dog?"

He nodded.

"I didn't know whose it was. Sorry I if you heard me call it a freak...uh...I am not really a dog person...uh...i...uh...just didn't really want it to die."

But, what I was really thinking was:
This is why I don't really like dogs.
Keep a-hold of your dog.
If you are too lazy to take it on a walk, don't live in an apartment...live in a place where you have a fence.
You're a freak.

So...do you believe it?!

It's true! No one was around to see it, but you could ask that teenage-acne-faced-freak downstairs.

Major Teacher Voice

Hailey’s story…I wish I would have taken pictures!

Let me start by clarifying that I work in a clinic where lots of families come in and out of our office on a regular basis. Our waiting room has couches, coloring books, a chalkboard, books, movies, magazines etc. I come out and greet my kid/their family then take him/her to my office for 25 minutes of one-on-one speech therapy, then the last 5 minutes is for showing Mom (or Dad or Grandma or Grandpa or Aunt or whomever brings the kid) our work, how to practice at home, homework etc.

Our clientele consists of children with speech and language disorders, children with Autism, children with mental limitations, children with physical limitations; we have 1 year olds all the way up to 86 year olds…NEVER, NOT ONCE have we EVER had someone write on the walls maliciously. (Occasionally a 2 year old colors on the wall near the coloring table.)

Imagine my surprise when I realize my 4 year old client’s 10 year old cousin wrote on our lobby walls (inside the bldg!): “HAILEY WUZ HERE” with a smiley face and its tongue sticking out, as well as “40.” -- Eight inch letters – Green crayon -- across the wall – did I mention it was inside our lobby?! Inside!

I actually didn’t go into that part of our waiting room until after she left...so, I called my kids’ mom who gave me the grandmother’s cell phone number and left a message for g.ma that sounded something like this:

“Hi, This is Ms. Amy from Speech, I was just calling because it appears Hailey has written on our walls…I know this because it says “Hailey wuz here.” I didn’t know what you had in mind: if you would like for Hailey to come clean it up or if you would like her to write a letter to the owners of our clinic apologizing. Either way, please let me know your plan. Our number is….” (gutsy huh? – btw - I am not very confrontational, but I was mad!)

She called back and arranged for Hailey to come clean it up at 6:30.

At 6:45, Hailey and g.ma come in.

I say “Hailey, did you write on our walls?”

And she said flippantly “oh, yeah.” (my jaw was hanging open!)

“Well, Hailey, I am sad you made that choice, but I am glad you made a good decision to come clean it up. I am going to need you to clean up the HAILEY WUZ HERE and the 40 and the spot that some kid followed your example and colored on the wall too.”

“I didn’t do the 40”

(it was also in eight inch letters and in green crayon, so I basically knew she did it) “Well, I am going to need you to clean it up anyways, since you set the example and you are 10 and not 2 or 3 years old.”

“Well, I didn’t do it.”

“Okay, Please clean it up anyways” (I was actually pretty calm up until this point.) “Let me know if you need some help reading the instructions on that cleaning bottle.”

(I start to leave her to clean…)

And she says in the most ridiculous tone: “It doesn’t say 40 anyways; its says “YO”!”

(smoke starts coming out my ears)

**Major Teacher Voice** “Hailey, can I talk to you?” (she turns to look at me)

And I continue…”It makes me really sad that you made a poor choice to color on the walls. Even the 4 year olds that come here, don’t do that. BUT, it INFURIATES!! me that you just lied to my face.” (I am fuming here!)

“No, I didn’t”

“Yes, YES, you did. You said TWICE that you didn’t write the 40 but then you said that it didn’t say 40 but it said “Yo” - meaning you did write it because you knew what you intended for it to say.”

“No, I didn’t”

“Yes, YES, you did, you said….I repeated the above story…

“I didn’t lie…”

“Yes, you just lied to my face and that makes me really sad for you and the rest of your life if you’re a liar.”

“Well that’s not what you asked…”

“Hailey, I am going to need you to apologize.”

“I didn’t…”

“Hailey, I need you to say “I am sorry for lying”

“But”

“Haley, you lied to me.”

(mumbling) “I’m sorry.”

“Thank you. Let me know if you need any help reading the instructions on the cleaning products.”

In the end, I let her grandmother know that I questioned Haley’s sanity…I mean, really, we have kids with all sorts of diagnoses that don’t do that kind of stuff!

-- and anyways, what kind of a criminal “tags” their own name? I would have at least written “MegPed WUZ here” or something….

Some new favs:

- Sugarland’s song: All I want to dooooo-ooooo-ooooooooo!
- Candy corn and peanuts
- Healthy Choice steamer bowl …yummy!
- Alan Jacksons’s song: Good time
- 17 Kid’s and counting – the series on TLC about the Duggar family
- The FABULOUS Houston weather right now – cool and crisp at night; warm in the afternoon! Perfect for Jeans and short sleeves
- The Twilight series By Stephenie Meyer <-- BTW, Stephenie Meyer spells her name just like Stephenie (Horton) Smith -- stephENIE -- cool huh?!

Same Kind of Different As Me

Logan gave me this book when I was looking for jobs in Fort Worth last May...and I am so glad she did!! It is a true story about a millionaire art dealer (Mr. Hall) and a homeless man (Mr. Moore) and how their lives come together. Its a great story, and if you haven't read it, you SHOULD!! There is a paper-back version available now.

Last Saturday, Sammie and I went to see Ron Hall and Denver Moore at the World Missions Kick-off at Second Baptist Woodway.

Mr. Hall spoke first. He was definitely the business man/sales person. He re-told important parts of the story...added personal accounts...retold other people's stories about their expereinces and life changes from the book...etc.

One of my favorite things he said was: if you are going to worry and fret about giving cash to a homeless person on the side of the road, don't do it. But if you are going to give cash away, not stress out, and let God bless that person, then give freely! He had a neat story about how $20 cash turned around a homeless man's life -- the homeless man used it to go get drunk that night but met a woman at the bar who reconnected him with his mother and two years later that once-homeless man came back to the woman's house and thanked her for giving as the Lord led!

He was very interesting but the real star of the show was: DENVER MOORE

At the beginning, Ron said "I don't see Denver, but don't worry, he'll show up, he always does." About 20 minutes into Ron's part of the presentation, Denver came in and Ron said "Oh, look, theres my co-author!" Denver had come in a side door and as soon as Ron called him out, Denver ducked down and sat somewhere. At the time, it seemed really staged to me, however, I really don't think it was b/c when Denver got onto the stage he was VERY uncomfortable. I think he was uncomfortable with 500 white people staring at him; I think that because he said so. He also said that he knew where every exit in that place was and that he was going to end in a song that way no one can ask him questions at the end and he can get off the stage quickly.

Denver was so focused. He was all about knowing more about the Lord and sharing his word. It was sooo interesting. He was on the stage for about 15 minutes (5 minutes was closing in song). He spoke about how he enjoyed hearing the pastor speak at Second Baptist and what he had learned from him. Then he spoke about Miss Debbie and how everyone needs to read the Bible and live by it like she did.

(BTW: Denver learned to read and write in the last 2 years. He is also living on the Ranch with Ron - they built two houses out there.) It was a little bit hard to understand him because of a combination of mumbling and poor grammar, but it was so interesting and I am so glad I got to hear him speak!!

At the book signing part, Denver was not interested in being there. He signed each book without making eye contact. I dont think he was trying to be rude. It was just not his scene, and it was not what he wanted to spend his time doing! He was definetly a wise and focused man and it showed through his get-to-the-point-attitude!

YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK!!!! Here is a quote to get you hooked:

One Month Later...

I don't know where time has gone...actually I do... Mr. Ike....YIKES!

I left for Dallas on Thursday Sept 11 - my afternoon clients all cancelled, so I left after my 11:30 client...I thought I would be in Dallas for a few days and then come back...actually, I was supposed to go to a wedding on Saturday, so I brought a dress and shoes etc so I could leave Dallas dressed and go straight to the wedding...NEEDLESS TO SAY...the wedding was cancelled...

I was going to post a bunch of pictures, but they would be the exact as the ones on facebook...since I am friends with most of yall on facebook, i will tell you: Just go look at them there! :)

Hurricane Ike came right up I-59 -- straight through Kingwood. :( There was quite a bit of damage in Kingwood...but not my apartment (Thank you Lord) or our office (Thank You Lord!)...

Electricity came back on 11 days later, and I came back to Kingwood on Monday, September 22. I left Dallas at Noon and there was no power at my apartment, but by the time I got to Kingwood, It had be turned on! :) yeah!

Work started noon on Tuesday. Clients came Wednesday. I had clients on Monday Sept 27 without electricity still :( I think everyone I know has electricity now...execpt one block of 5 ppl in Kingwood whose transformer was shot and is on back order -- that sucks!

That is basically where September went. Oh and to cleaning out my stinky fridge ( i wish there was sometype of way to share the smell of it over the internet...)