Several Things

Yesterday morning, Gabe came pretty much as close as he could to being hit by a car. I had him out in the front yard at about 6 AM, figuring there would be little to no activity going on at that time. He happened to see a rabbit that I hadn't seen, however, and immediately dashed after it. It was clear that he was going to run all the way across the street, and it was as I watched him increase speed and distane away from me that I realized there was a car coming at the very same time. I just felt every bone, muscle, and vessel in my body tense up like they would never decompress again, and a wave of fear washed over me. I desperately called him with increasing volume. The last time I screamed so loud I am pretty sure I woke up the entire neighborhood as I witnessed him running RIGHT in front of the car. He never even flinched or slowed down. The car may or may not have seen him, but they sure didn't brake even a little bit. I don't think I took another breath until I saw him reach the other side of the road, missing the car by inches. And then, the rabbit was gone, and he trotted back over to me like nothing had ever happened.

Gabe is so important to me, if you haven't been able to detect that by now. Apart from the other Parsons, he IS my family. If I lived on my own, all I would have is him. He has been with me through one of the toughest years of my life. His sunny personality brings me the happiest moments of my day. He is God's gift to me. Needless to say, I would have been absolutely devastated had yesterday turned out any differently. God was so gracious to spare Gabe from a potentially fatal accident, and I thank Him continually for timing that event just the way he did. I am often reminded of how oblivious dogs can be to our world (such as the way moving cars can inflict damage) and how much they rely on us. I don't ever want to fail Gabe, because he never fails me from day to day.

Now, in somewhat of a weird transition, I have a new video of Gabe doing another trick. But before you watch it, I would just like to say that it's sooo annoying to hear my own voice! And I don't think it helps that I am talking to a dog in all of these videos. Basically I sound like a blubbering idiot. But it's a cute trick, so I am paying the price.



Finally, I am now sponsoring a little girl name Sandra from Uganda every month. She is only 7 years old, and both of her parents are deceased already. I don't know much else about her yet except that her favorite subject is English. I highly encourage any of you to check out the organization I am helping her through - Food for the Hungry. I look forward to writing letters to her and learning more about her, and hopefully letting her know that even from across the world, she is loved.

Colorado in one day.

The other day, I ran across the familiar verse of James 1:17: 'Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.' It just made me get to thinking about how many good things I have in my life, and how they are all from His hand. It was good to have that encouragement, as I have been rather discouraged lately. A trip to Colorado on Friday will undoubtedly be full of good things, and I would like to say that I am so much more than ready for it! In fact, my suitcase is already sitting out in my room - I just haven't put anything in it yet. Don't be surprised if you never hear from me again, cause Gabe and I are planning to find a cave and live in it. But if you want to come too, you're allowed.

Want to hear something gross? I have a wart on my finger. At least, I think it is a wart. I've given up on waiting for it to magically disappear, so I am now putting this flesh-eating goo on it in hopes that it will disintegrate. So far, I think it is working. Maybe I will keep you updated on that. Maybe I shouldn't. Maybe it's just too much of a stretch to write a blog when all you have to talk about is a wart.

And finally. I am doing my part to promote this video that I am in! Sarah is in it too. You just have to look closely. The song is just a joke but it was pretty fun filming in a grocery store while customers had the most interesting shopping experience of their lives.

What the Heck!

Is anyone else perplexed by this?

I Love the New Coldplay

Whenever I come across a picture on the internet that I like for any number of reasons, I save it to my computer. Why not share them with you?

Basically? Word Vomit.

A good reason to be a dog trainer: You get to interact with puppies. Today I got to meet Bailey, a Soft-Coated Wheaton Terrier who is 3.5 months old. Dangit, she's adorable! She looks like this:




I can't believe that a year ago, I had just gotten Gabe and he was that small. Like this!


I don't have any other very cool stories right now. I just love puppies, and I hope that I get to work with a million of them over the span of my life. Shanna, I think you need to put up some pictures of your little guy! Even if he is not a bike.

Side note:
I can't wait for Colorado in 9 days.
I can't wait for Canada in 2.5 months.
I can't wait for Alaska in 13 months.

Side side note:
A friend of ours had 14 cavities in her teeth after she started working at a coffee shop. I haven't been to the dentist in 2 years. I pray to the Good Lord that I am blessed with better enamel than that...I can finally get an appointment now that my health insurance is kicking in!

And finally, I miss Hannah and Sarah living across the hall from me.

Good Riddance

I would just like to say that the process of buying and selling cars is ridic. I am happy and thankful to say that most of this process is now over in my life for the time being, but this is what it consisted of.

Part One: The buy

-Search cars.com for Subaru Foresters in this area.
-Give up.
-Search again.
-Give up.
-Search some more and finally find one worthwhile that is nearby.
-Use a small window of time to drive to Lawrence when Dad is available to test drive it.
-Go home to think.
-Call the dealership to put a hold on the car on the way home because I am too worried it will be sold before I can make an offer.
-Set up an appointment with a mechanic.
-Psych myself up for dealing with a used car salesman.
-Get a ride with Sarah back to Lawrence.
-Deal with the used car salesman.
-Make an offer.
-Buy the car.
-Fill out paperwork.
-Pay them money. A lot of money.
-Drive it home.
-Put in an air freshener. Pronto.

Part two: The sell
-Post my truck on Craigslist.
-Post my truck on Facebook marketplace.
-Post my truck on Cars.com.
-Put signs in the windows.
-Wash the truck inside and out.
-Follow up on every lead I get.
-Lend the car to a coworker who needs an extra car while I am trying to sell it.
-Maneuver ways to get the truck back when there is a potential test drive.
-Get mad when the test drive falls through.
-Lower the price.
-Follow up on more leads.
-Find a buyer
-Buyer does not have full amount in cash, but comes to see it from four hours away on a Sunday, therefore not having access to a bank or the desire to make a separate trip.
-Work out a deal with the buyer that allows me to hold on to the title until his check clears.
-Sell them the truck.
-Wait for the check to clear.
-Send the title in the mail.
-Email the new owner to let him know.

Part three: The extras
-Stress about getting all the right paperwork together.
-Take the Forester's title to be inspected since it is from out of state.
-Feel inadequate as a 20-something girl when it comes to these things.
-Pay them ten dollars and roll merrily on my way.
-Stress again about getting all the right paperwork together.
-Take the Forester to be registered.
-Pay them a bunch more money and then roll merrily on my way again.
-Still feel inadequate as a 20-something girl when it comes to these things.
-Wait 4-6 weeks for the new title to arrive.
-Put the new plate on my car.

***All while paying 4 dollars a gallon for gas.***

I don't want to do this again any time soon. And hopefully I won't have to.

Hey, Sigur Ros? Was. A.Ma.Zing.

Gabe ate a roll of Scotch Tape this morning. He's not as amazing as his video after all, I guess.

Gabe Improved

So I thought we should prove that Gabe CAN do some things. In his own special way.

The Merry Month of June

Today I applied for a credit card. Just for emergencies, nothing more. And, well, to build credit too I guess. Not only did the teller I spoke to fill out the online application for me - she also gave me a present.

'Ok, I submitted the application and they should be sending you something in the mail to confirm soon.'

'Thank you.'

'You're welcome. Oh, and let me get your chair.'

'My...chair?'

'Yes, for signing up with us today, you get a free chair! Let me go grab one for you.'

'I uh...thank you.'


It's like this. Except it's hot yellow. Jealous?

Also. I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I put a 'clean cotton' air freshener in my Forester. Not only that, I bought a pack of three in that scent. Well, it started off smelling clean I guess...but now it is more akin to the smell of urine. How does THAT happen? Contaminated cotton!

Finally, I have been invited to go to Canada for a few days in the fall. With 25 other people. That I have technically never met in person. I kind of want to go. What do you think?