Auntie Elaine - Here tonight!

Her plane lands about 9:00PM tonight. Can't wait. I only wish she'da brung my friends with her. You know...Abbey Mia, Harper and Piper! I'm told they're staying at a luxury hotel with room service so I guess it can't be too bad for them. I get to see them in October at the Yorkie Ball in Nashville, Tennessee. This is where all us Yorks and Yorkettes get to feel like real princesses and princes. Oh I'm SOOO excited.

Doesn't it look fun? Here's a slide show of some pictures from a previous Yorkie Ball. Just go to the page via the pink link and wait for it to start changing photos, like a real slide show.

Now I only need to find a gown and to go on a diet so I'll fit into it.

Excitedly yours,

Princess Mary-Margaret of Dawn

Dear Grandpa...

If you needed a place to live, you could come live with us. If you needed some food, we'd make sure you had it. If you needed some money, even if we didn't have much, we'd share with you. And if you felt sad and just needed a hug, we'd be the first to give you one.

One of Mom's favorite sayings is "Lead, follow or get out of the way!". We had a situation today and we're taking proactive steps to resolve it. We don't have time to be distracted by miscellaneous words without understanding or empathy. In case you were wondering, we took the job tonight and resolved someone else's problem. By doing that, we helped resolve our own.

That being said....

We love you, too.

Your Grand Doggy,

Mary-Margaret

Mary-Margaret OBrien

Please vote! Thank you!!

Mary-Margaret OBrien

Love and smoochies...

Mary-Margaret

The Advantages of MOEN Faucets

This is our former kitchen faucet (RIP = Replacement in Progress)


We cleaned up the kitchen, started up the dishwasher and then went off to work. After picking up our mail and taking care of some stuff we went back home and Mom had her lunch. She went to rinse off her bowl and "snap" the handle to the kitchen faucet was no longer attached.

She couldn't believe her eyes. The metal that attached the handle to the base of the faucet just broke clean off. It took a while for her to process the projected enormity of this disaster, what with her friend from New York coming for a visit in just three days. Yegads...and NO kitchen water? Unthinkable!.

She called her favorite plumber who has literally bailed her out of all sorts of calamities (They're on a first name basis now!) and he immediately calmed her down. It's a MOEN (he said) and they have a lifetime warranty. Get them on the phone (tomorrow, because today is a holiday) and have them overnight the part to us and he'll come right over and fix it at no charge.

Woo hoo! So she goes to the MOEN website and finds out that our faucet is no longer being made. It's a single handle, low arc, polished chrome with a sprayer on the side..sort of like a "Legend", but the ones she finds don't have a sprayer. We have pictures to send MOEN, and we'll post them for you as soon as the "internet police" decide to let them go through. So far, it's been about an hour since we sent them.

MOEN will take good care of us. This is only the 2nd time in 23 years that we've had to call on our warranty. They make a good product.

That was our day, Grandpa!!

Love you...

Mary-Margaret

PS: Today - Tuesday - we called MOEN and they aren't sending us the broken handle. They're sending us a whole BRAND NEW FAUCET ASSEMBLY! We're getting "Chateau"!! Woo hoo! I just LOVE LOVE LOVE MOEN!!

Sunday, 2-20-11 Dr. Neeko S Spaulding, Phd

(sent 12:30AM Sunday Halifax, San Juan and Santo Domingo times - 8:30PM Saturday PST)


Good Morning and Welcome to the YorkieBrigade Chapel on this, our fourth Sunday, February 20, 2011. This is a place where all are equally welcome; a place we can share our prayers and provide support and encouragement for each other.

Today, we have a very special guest speaker who will share his inspirational thoughts with you for today. He's a veteran of many personal trials and he's always landed on all four feet. Please welcome Dr. Neeko S. Spaulding, PhD*.

(applause applause applause) <-----relaxed, laid back chapel today

(Neeko steps to the microphone and Parishioners are re-seated)

Hello all :o)

First off (now that I made it to the pulpit without tripping), I would like to give gracious thanks to our Pawsome Chaplain, Gorgeous Mary-Margaret, for making our beautiful gathering possible.
Also humble thanks to everyone for giving Meee the honor of speaking in front of our wonderful family here today, at our packed Chapel :o)

I would like to start with the very profound poem,
Saint Theresa’s Prayer ~

May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us. ~

I chose the topic "Everything Happens for a Reason in our Lives" because I'm a strong believer in the importance of trusting that our good God is always working behind the scenes on our behalf.
Indeed, at times that becomes very hard to follow. Even though we do not understand why things are happening the way they do at a particular moment, we have to remind ourselves that there is a Reason and we have to stay in faith.

Every Reason has a season in our Lives; some seasons are short, some are long and they feel like a gray winter but they all pass us by and when that Happens, we look back and realize the importance of each and every one. We realize the lessons we have learned and walk forward stronger and wiser.
Often we become irritated with the long, gray seasons and we feel that we are "stuck" and will never get out of the "rut".
God's time table is not in sync with our time table. That just means that God is preparing us for something grand. The magic of the long seasons is that the harder they are the bigger the reward.

There are times when we ask God for something to Happen in our lives and do not understand why our prayers are “not being heard”. God always hears our prayers but He is the one that knows our future and knows what’s best for us.
How many times have we asked God for something and later, down the road we looked back and said: “Thank God for not fulfilling that request; this is so much better than what I asked for”? Other times we look back and say: “Now I understand the Reason.”
With any adversity that we face, God gives us the opportunity to experience a greater peace, love and understanding.

Because of my very own experience with the Reason, I learned to just go with the flow.
When I was born, my future looked pretty gray. Today I look back and say: Thank You Lord for that gray winter season. Because of that Reason, I am here today, surrounded by so much Love, Pawsome Family and Friends!

Peace be with you and “May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.” Amen!

(applause applause ...some cheering.....more applause)

Thank you so much, Neeko. We can see why you are such a successful motivational speaker. You've definitely inspired us with your presentation today, and I hope you will accept our invitation to return whenever you like, even if it's just for coffee and donuts.

Which reminds me....refreshments are in the Great Hall today in order to accomodate all of our members and guests. Again, these are compliments of Sister Chiquita and her troop of Dancing Chihuahuas. However, they would be grateful for any contributions you might make of children's clothing and chew toys to their charity, The Dogwill Industries, to benefit Puppies without Parents. If you don't have any of the requested items with you, please feel free to drop them off at your local shelter anytime during the week.


Thank you again, to Dr. Neeko S Spaulding and his excellent staff, for the uplifting words this morning.

Bless us, Oh Lord, and help us to strive to live as St. Francis lived, and to remember to be as we wish others to be.

Amen. Go in peace.

Please remember to pick up your belongings from the cloakroom on your way out.


(PhD = *Pretty Happy Dog!)

Blessings.....

Mary-Margaret O'Brien
Lt. Chaplain - Yorkie Brigade Chapel
"Yorkie prayers are Angel's wishes!"
"Pups for PPL"
"A dog has lots of friends because he wags his tail and not his tongue." Anonymous

Ew...YUCK!...Blegh!!

I started my licking thing this afternoon. We weren't doing anything in particular and so I started licking air. Mom calls it "thrusting my tongue". Well, anyway...next thing I know she's got her fingers in my mouth.

"Open up, Mary-Margaret. I want to see what you've got in there!". Ummm (I thought), that would be teeth, tongue and maybe a little piece of old kibble...LEAVE ME ALONE! (I said). The fingers go between my cheeks and my molars and then she pulls my cheek out so she can see all the way in the back. "Hmmmmm", she says. "How long has it been such you brushed?". (Well, that would be NEVER. I say, because I don't brush them, YOU DO!!).

She gets up from her desk chair and walks into the bathroom. I don't think I like where this is going. Out comes my shocking pink toothbrush and the poultry flavored toothpaste.

"OPEN WIDE!", she says. (Uh uh...I say...no way!). Next thing I know her finger is all the way inside my mouth and she's pinching my cheek while pulling it away from my teeth. "AHA!! You have some TARTAR in there!". (Oh boy....this is NOT how I want to spend my Saturdays!).

After a bit of brushing and scouring she says "Oh, that's MUCH better!", and she returns control of my cheeks to me. "Ew...YUCK..Blegh!", I say, as I hop down and get as far away from my toothbrush as I can without leaving home. One of my gums even bled a little bit, she told me, and that's not good. So maybe I was trying to clean my teeth from the inside out all by myself? That doesn't work, in case you're wondering.

Although.....I do have to admit my teeth feel much more silky now without that fuzz on them. Maybe this isn't such a bad thing after all?



Love,

Mary-Margaret

Mary-Margaret OBrien

Mary-Margaret OBrien

The Bank and Me

When Mom remembered that there was a holiday on Monday she decided to pay some bills early and we went back to the bank....again! This was our SECOND trip to the bank. First time, my very good friend Lisa was at lunch. Lisa is my friend Einie's mom (that's short for Einstein, you know!?)



I'm sitting very nicely in one of the customer chairs and waiting and watching for Lisa. Mom's waiting for the safe deposit box lady to get us our new box. Our old bank is closing their branch so we have to get all our stuff out of their branch and put it into a new box at one of our other banks.

This time, Lisa was on break. Exactly how long does one take on break, I ask you? Hmmmm? Maybe if I sit up higher I can see when she comes back better.

This is getting me all worried. What if she doesn't COME back? I'll just keep on staring until.....huh? Julie just came by where I was sitting and told me "Lisa is back!".

"Mom? Did you hear her?", I asked? "Hey...come on! This is why I go to the bank, dontcha know?". I started talking to Mom and to Julie. I'm saying "PICK ME UP AND TAKE ME TO LISA!", but all they hear is "wrrrf...wrrrr....rowrrr...ruff!". Silly women!! They really need to learn Doglish!!

Finally, we went to the merchant teller's booth and Lisa buzzed us in. I practically FLEW out of Mom's arms and into a humongous pile of rolled nickels. Lisa and me...we just started loving all over each other. I could have stayed there all afternoon. People knew I was going to be there for a while, so the safe deposit lady come over to us instead. She and Mom did all the paperwork in the Merchant booth while me and Lisa just snuggled and kissed. When we were all done, Lisa gave me a cookie and Mom got a new safe deposit box. It's all good!!

Love and kisses...

Mary-Margaret

Mary-Margaret OBrien

Mary-Margaret OBrien

This is my entry for this week in the Bissell contest. The last four weeks the top winners have been blind cats. You think maybe if I wear sunglasses I might have a better chance??

Please vote for me. I really want to give my mom a Bissell carpet cleaner with 12 brushes. No....er...no particular reason, exactly (dum...de...dum....) It's just that I LOVE her so much.

Mary-Margaret

Sunday - February 13, 2011

Good Morning and Welcome to the YorkieBrigade Chapel, a place where all are equally welcome; a place we can share our prayers and provide support and encouragement for each other.

This morning we will talk about religion in general, and how each religion is very similar despite it's differences. Through exploring our differences we find that we are very much alike after all, regardless of who or what we are or where we were born.

How old is religion? Older than we can even trace. Hinduism is probably the oldest documented religion, at least 5000 years old and some historians have it as old as 20,000 years. Hindus are known to show respect, even perform worship, to certain animals and things in nature (e.g. trees, rivers etc.), and they often practice vegetarianism by avoiding eating meat.

Gautama Siddhartha (a Hindu) became a Buddha in the 6th Century B.C. He founded a new religion called Buddhism that is derived from Hinduism

Buddhism looks upon life in the universe as a totality which has by itself a right to exist unhindered, with no threats of destruction from outside to serve the needs of any single person or group, whether they be under the direction of any human or divine authority.

Buddhism also offers definite and positive instructions with regard to the manner in which humans should develop universal loving kindness towards all living things that exist in the universe, whether in close proximity or at a distance, seen or unseen, large or small, fierce or timid.

Buddhism, in a book called the Manual of Good Living or Dhammapada, this idea is expressed as follows.

All living things fear being beaten with clubs.
All living things fear being put to death.
Putting oneself in the place of the other,
Let no one kill nor cause another to kill.
(Dhammapada verse no. 129)*

Judaism, founded by Abraham, is estimated to be approximately 4000 years old .

Christianity includes Judaism which started over 3000 BC so Christianity predates Buddhism by over 2500 years, however Buddha predates Christ by 500 years. Christianity is incomplete without the old testament, which was written by the Jews.

The Christian Bible (sometimes known as the Holy Bible) is divided into two parts. The first is called the Old Testament, containing the 39 books of Hebrew Scripture, and the second portion is called the New Testament, containing a set of 27 books.

Islam, which comes from an Arabic root word meaning "peace" and "submission", teaches that one can only find peace in one's life by submitting to Almighty God (Allah) in heart, soul and deed. The same Arabic root word gives us "Salaam alaykum," ("Peace be with you"), the universal Muslim greeting. ("Peace be with you" is also said in Christian practice). Islam began in the 7th Century with Muhammed. Muhammad did not claim to be the leader of a new religion. He said he was reviving an old and pure tradition that he believed that Christians and Jewish fell away from.

Hindus and Buddhists believe in reincarnation until they reach Nirvanah by living a perfect life; Christians, Jews and Muslims believe in the Day of Judgment and heaven and hell. All religions studied today believe that one should take responsibility for their actions and the consequences of same.

Organized religion, regardless of the label it wears, is a rule book for living. In each of the religions mentioned above we find the concept of "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" a constant.

Here, in our Yorkie Brigade Chapel, we encourage all of our parishioners to follow this concept commonly known as "The Golden Rule". Whether Jewish or Christian, Hindu, Buddhist or Muslim...or even if one doesn't believe in a power higher than themselves, we all wish to be the best that we can be, and we encourage others to do the same. We all say to our neighbors "Peace be with you!", and respond by saying "And also with you!" Or as Buddha would say "May all beings be well and happy' [ Sabbe sattà bhavantu sukhitattà ].

Thank you, God, for bringing us together on this our third Sunday of Chapel. Thank you for continuing to provide us with inspiration to continue to come together with Prayer, Positivity and Love.

Amen

Go in peace, and remember "The Group that Prays Together, Stays Together!".

Please remember to pick up your personal belongings from the cloakroom as you leave. Coffee and donuts in the Great Hall graciously provided by The Dogters of the American Revolution in honor of our President's Day. Valentine's Day Sire-Puppy Sweetheart Square Dance tomorrow night also in the Great Hall. Wear your red and pink collars and get ready to Boogie!

Blessings,

Mary-Margaret
Lt. Chaplain - YorkieBrigade Chapel

*Provenance:
©1985 Buddhist Publication Society.
From The Dhammapada: The Buddha's Path of Wisdom, translated from the Pali by Acharya Buddharakkhita, with an Introduction by Bhikkhu Bodhi (Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society, 1985). Transcribed from the print edition in 1996 by a volunteer under the auspices of the DharmaNet Transcription Project, with the kind permission of the BPS.
This Access to Insight edition is ©1996–2011.

Lunch with Mr. and Mrs. "S"

On our way to the office we stopped by Mr. "S" office to pick something up. "Mmmm-mmm!", I said. "Something sure smells good!". Mrs. "S" said she was making sandwiches in the work room and I was welcome to watch. "Watch?", I commented? This isn't going well (I thought). They're having turkey and salami and chips and...they want ME to watch?

All turned out ok. I got some small (very small, mind you) pieces of turkey. Mom said ixnay on the salami for some reason. I don't think I've ever had salami before, but it did have a nice aroma. I didn't really want to leave, thinking that maybe I might get lucky and something would fall out of their sandwiches. Ahhh...no such luck.

When we left there was an overpowering smell of onions, though. We opened the door to the business across the hall from Mr. "S" and asked if Bella was there. Remember Bella? My friend, the chihuahua? Oh, well...anyway, she moved downstairs to suite 203, so visiting with her was out.

I was about to keel over from the smell of onions when Mom mentioned "Onions? Someone having onions?". I about died from embarrassment but the guys just laughed and said "Oh, you can smell them?". Well, duh.....aaaaack...and ...(tugging on her pant leg)...."Let's go before I pass out!" (I said).

We left and worked pretty hard the rest of the day. We got a lot done so we're feeling good about it. Friday is a holiday for us. Lincoln's birthday celebrated. Poor guy...doesn't even get to party on his own day anymore. He just get's acknowledged and then lumped into "President's Day" with George Washington the next week. So much for reverence.

Have a good night, everyone.

Love,

Mary-Margaret

Press Release - Mary-Margaret & Hashimoto

Mary-Margaret O'Brien and her long-term fiance, Hashimoto of Lamanteer, have announced that they have decided to call off their engagement. They will remain the best of friends, according to Miss O'Brien's publicist, but they've decided to focus on their careers for the time being. Mary-Margaret is busy building her parish at The YorkieBrigade Chapel, where she acts as Chaplain, and Hashimoto is supervising the landscaping and installation of fencing at a new project in Hemet, California when he's not long-distance trucking across the United States.

They thank their fans for their continued support and ask that their privacy be respected.

Mom's Ratty Old Chair

Mom loves our ratty old leather chair, rips and all. It's the most comfortable thing we've ever owned, including our bed. We bought a new leather recliner/rocker because she was so embarrassed by the old one's appearance and she wanted to impress her friend, Elaine, who is coming for a visit in a couple of weeks. Elaine said not to worry but we did....a little, anyway.

Now Mom can't get rid of the old one. We will have 2 leather chairs when Elaine gets there now. Our ratty old one for me and Mom, and a brand new one for Elaine and other guests.



<-------(Brand New Chair)

Sorry...but we just can't get rid of something we love so much. The old chair is my special place for cat-watching, and keeping an eye on both the TV and the backyard at the same time. We're sure Elaine will understand. We KNOW my Grandpa will.

Love and kisses...

Mary-Margaret

Sunday Inspiration for the Day

Good morning. Welcome to the second celebration of our friendship and love for
each other and also the common love between all humans and their furbabies.

For today's inspiration I chose a piece written by Joanne Hirase-Stacey entitled
"Lessons". I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

If I greeted everyone happily
Instead of eyeing with distrust
If I didn't pass judgment
But accepted all
If I listened intently
With understanding in my eyes
If I brought comfort
All the time, no matter what
If I loved unconditionally
Without reservation
If I lived life more simply
Instead of worrying so much
If I played tirelessly
And didn't work so hard
If I made people smile
Just by my presence in the room
If I experienced true joy
At the little things in life
Then I'd be the perfect friend
Just like my dog.

Humans can learn a lot from their dog. Just for today...maybe just for a
moment....become your dog. See what we see and smell, and hear what we hear.
Feel what we feel and experience life from our perspective.

You tower over me and you have power over me. I am totally dependent on you for
food, shelter and warmth. I am happiest when you are happy; I'm at peace when
all is well in your world.

I listen for the gentle sound of my mother's voice. To me this means I am with
my family. She speaks softly and says she loves me. I know I am valued.

My mother's hands are gentle. She scratches my back and my belly and rubs my
shoulders. Her hands won't hurt me and I'm never afraid of her. I know I am safe.

I'm not perfect though I try hard to be. I'm rewarded with kindness and treats
when I remember my manners, and my transgressions are quietly overlooked and
forgiven.

You are the center of my life and I am most alive when you are at peace.

Thank you, Lord, for bringing us together again. We ask you, Lord, for a
special blessing for all the furbabies that have been lost or abandoned, and
that you help them find food, warmth, shelter and a forever family to love.

Amen

Thank you all for coming. Please don't forget to pick up your links and photos
on your way out. Coffee and doughnuts in the Chapel meeting room have been
provided courtesy of Sister Chiquita and her troop of Dancing Chihuahuas this
week.

Blessings....

Your Lt Chaplain,

Mary-Margaret O'Brien

The Importance of Clean Underwear

Remember when your mom used to tell you to put on clean underwear every day "just in case"? Like maybe you'd get in an accident and the ambulance drivers were more interested in the state of your panties than in tending to your injuries? Mom says that when you get to be her age you're not as concerned with "panty pride" as you are with "hair care". Now, she says, it's more important to make sure your roots are the same color as the rest of your hair before you go out..."just in case".

Nobody wants their EMT's getting a pool going betting on the last time you updated your appearance. And what if (God forbid!) you should end up in a mortuary, dead as a doornail and your family wants an open casket ceremony? Wouldn't you at least want a say in what shade Marcel Beaubelle, the "dyer to the dead", colors your hair?

This is what the conversation in our household was like this morning. The color has to set for 25 minutes and I know when it's a good time for a nap. Maybe if she can't find me I don't have to listen?


No such luck. "Go AWAY!! I don't want to hear about it!! You look JUST fine to me!!" (You think I'd risk telling her what she really looks like? Her head reminds me of a Hershey bar that's been left in the sun too long! Shhhhh!)









(I said "SCRAM!!")



When this is over we go get our car fixed. We took it our regular mechanic yesterday since we had a "delivery" for them. We figured we'd get the serve done and ask about our car at the same time. Talk about coincidence, huh? Everything points to a bad "solenoid"(?) in the transmission thing-a-ma-bob!! Whatever! I like to go visit the people in the waiting room. Mom just takes a book.

Have a great day, everyone.

Mary-Margaret

The BEST day ever!

Actually, I mostly have good days, but this one was special. You know my friend, Lizzie ? Her mom made an appointment to see Miss Marilyn today just because Lizzie and I are practically best friends. So it was me and Madison and Lizzie and a couple of other kids. We played and rested and then played some more.

We all got our hair done, and our nails. We got baths and massages. Ahhhhhhh....truly. I lead a blessed life.

Love,

Mary-Margaret

Dr. V and Me

I went to see my everly most FAVORITE doctor, Dr. V. She and I compete with each other on "Bejeweled" but she gets over 500,000 points and she was giving me suggestions on how to do better. But without thumbs, I guess I'll never get as good as her.

This picture is of me and my very good friend, Titan, in the waiting room. Titan is his new name. He says his name was something else before he got lost and wandered onto the Notre Dame campus in Riverside. All the kids just love him there and he has a forever home now. He's going to be their school mascot and the man that took him to Dr. V for shots and stuff was ordering him a green sweater with the emblem ND on it so he'd have an official uniform.



Good news. I weigh 10.6 pounds before pooping, roughly 10.4 after, so my weight is stable. Had some goop in my eyes still so Dr. V gave me some stuff to put in my eyes a couple of times a day for a week. I lick a lot...sometimes furniture, sometimes my paws...and sometimes nothing but air. It drives Mom crazy but Dr. V says there's nothing wrong with me and this might just be a habit. And my "booty" (rear end) now gets some hydrocortisone spray if I start itching or skootching again.

I was absolutely in heaven seeing all my very good friends at the clinic again, including another one from the "Gucci Shoes" place that has now been hired by "Dr. Blue Jeans", so now there are three ladies from the old place. Nicole (who used to wear me around her neck while she was typing), and Lynette, and Dr. V, plus Kim, Kristy, Daphne and Amy. Woo hoo! I also made at least three new boyfriends and I visited with one old cat named "Sal".

All the humans in the reception area were very impressed with my friendliness and they told me so, too. We happened to talk about "chapel" and Mom told them about the one lady that left because "it's not a real church or a real chapel". (Hello?...and the pastor is a Yorkshire Terrier...tell us, what was your first clue??) Our membership is stable...one leaves..one joins. It evens out.

We think of "chapel" as real even if it's in cyberspace, and we are looking forward to next Sunday. I've got absolutely no idea what I'm going to say so it may be a surprise to us all, including me.

Anybody that's comfortable attending a prayer meeting in cyberspace where the pastor is a Yorkshire Terrier, and the coffee and doughnuts after the service are calorie-free, let me know and I'll send you an invitation. We do enjoy ourselves there.

Love and kisses ...

Mary-Margaret
Lt. Chaplain
Yorkie Brigade "Chapel"

PS - This shows me taking care of one of MY clients. He's only two but he's very smart and talks English really well. He tasted pretty good, too.