It has all gone to the dogs & grain

Busy doesn't even begin to describe how crazy I have been lately. Work (which I rarely speak of here) has kept me knee deep in dog doodoo for a while....literally. Part of my state government agency's work is finding those puppy mills in our state that are abusing and neglecting animals. Pitiful, I know. Another part? I talk about everything to do with agriculture.

Here are a couple of stories for you to read what I have been up to:

• 200 dogs seized at kennel
• Farmers Seeking Millions in Damages
• Woman charged with animal abuse after breeder raid

Three different stories about three separate instances all in one week's time - all including quotes from me. Sheesh - I do not know if I am coming or going, talking about dogs, grain or more dogs and definitely not getting sleep. But I guess it goes to show I love my job - or I would have bailed off this train a while ago.

I Hear Birds Chirping

Yesterday I walked out on my front porch to hear birds chirping. Now let me back up - 1) I walk outside on my front porch every morning to let Katie (my Yorkie) out. 2) I had heard incredible rumors about a month ago that there were birds chirping. But I hadn't heard it for myself.

I know what you are thinking: birds chirping? Who cares?! But I certainly care - and here is why...

SPRING IS ON THE WAY! I could never express through words how much Spring means to me. As tears drip on my keyboard with pure excitement, I know that Spring brings me these things:

• Warm weather is near, my friends. And what does warm weather bring you? A much happier Misti.


• Soon I will donning my extremities with a tan - a nice golden sparkle to my super white pasty legs. Yuck - I seriously perfectly match my white and ivory garments - and that is just despicable.


• The lake is calling my name - and not from the few restaurants that need my business in the winter. But my boat is calling my name.


• Right after Spring is Summer - duh! Summer is the only true time I am happy. Sure...I am a happy person overall, but in the summer - I am elated! I love the time outside, the time at the lake, the long daylight hours....you name it - in the summer, I love it. Okay, I don't love lawn mowing (but I have a great husband that does that) and I don't love bugs.

So there you have it - I think that I should get a pet bird. If I could get a bird to chirp every day and trick my brain into thinking warm days are ahead (everyday all year long), I would have it made. If I had a bird, what would I name it.....hmmmm????

It is one of those days!

Mondays - who really loves them? Not me. I have been swamped lately but couldn't resist the opportunity to share with ALL of my friends how one of my best buds is spending his time on this Monday. God love ya, Ryan Lanclos!

Green Acres is the Place to Be!

Although I didn't share in the music fun that was about to happen on Julie & Brad's Wedding Day, when the groom kissed his beautiful bride, the theme song to Green Acres began playing throughout the church. You can't find a better fitting song for these two Green's. Julie was a bit shocked - and Brad was too - but it made the small crowd chuckle with excitement for our favortie newlyweds - Brad & Julie Green.

It was truly a great day. I am ecstatic to see Julie so happy - and it showed as she stood there in here wedding attire. Brad looked great as well. It was a great Valentine's Day to remember!

I have shared a couple of photos - more to come later!

Congratulations Julie & Brad - we all wish you the best!!

Hugs & Kisses on Heart Day!!

My thoughts exactly.....

I am not sure what Wal-Mart Debra Jackson is shoppin' at, but I reckon it must be a nice one.

Funny story - the very first time I went to Wal-mart in my town, there was a man walking around with the sleeves cut out of his shirt, goofy hat on with a real life parrot sitting on his shoulder. No kidding! I saw lots of weird things. I was scared! I have barely been back since.

I admit - I am a bit of a city girl living in a country world. You should have seen the look on the face of the girl at the Lancome counter at Dillard's when I asked where the escalator was. I hadn't ever seen a Dillard's without an escalator. I am certain she thought I was a martian - since that Dillard's didnt' have a second floor. That's okay - I guess.

After six years - I still feel like a complete outsider everywhere I go in this town. I am sure the locals still feel the same way about my presence....."she's an outsider!"

Baby, Baby, Baby!

There is a baby on board - and it is NOT mine. Actually, there are lots of people with baby brain which got me to thinking about babies (not to mention - there are a few people at work that act like babies...but we won't go into that!)

First, my good friends, the Smith's (Shandon & Kristina from Illinois), are expecting a new addition to their family this August. I cannot wait to see this little peanut! I just know Baby Smith will come out with highlighted hair carrying a Vera Bradley bag!

Second, my cousin Ricky and his wife Dana are expecting a baby girl this year - they just found out it was a girl and oh so very excited. Congrats to them!

And third, Blaine called me today to say that we were going to be an uncle and aunt. After informing him that we already are an uncle and aunt (to some fabulous nieces and a nephew), he told me that Ashley (his sister) and her husband Adam are expecting. (They recently went through in vitro and are only about a week along.) Congrats to them!! I am hoping to see a new baby(s) by November!! I can't wait to go shopping for baby gifts!

Now all of this got me to thinking - motherhood has become so much more publicized than it was back in the day. There are many debates on how you should raise your kids, to breastfeed or not to breastfeed, lay them on their bellies don't lay them on their bellies - where do you even begin? It seems as if everyone has an opinion. Do those opinions come with just being a mother with the perfect child? Makes me wonder....

Here is one thing I know for sure - when/if I become pregnant, you will be the last to know. Yes, you - all of you. To me (and no disrespect to anyone else), I want to be able to cherish the moment (just Blaine and I) as long as I can before the opinions start rolling in. I once had someone ask me to tell them when Blaine and I started trying to get pregnant so they could do the same. That's just plain weird to me. And that is not going to happen - I am never going to declare to the world "Hello....anyone out there? Blaine and I are thinking of having children!!!" Never gonna happen.

That is my soap box for the day. I guess the only way you will know is if I start getting fat. But please, don't start noticing my weight. Old age has already added 15 pounds - wait...have I been pregnant for the last 5 years? Damn!

Am I okay with making a total fool of myself? HA!

Just a few questions for a Tuesday:

You get pulle​d over,​​​ what'​​​s the most proba​ble reaso​n?​​​
I am speeding – of course I am speeding…I take after my entire family of lead foots.

If you could​ chang​e your eye color​ would​ you?
Since Momma Moore has referred to my eye color as “turd-muckeldy-dum” on many occasions, of course I would change my eye color. I would change it to just pure blue – no muckeldy-dum

Is it easy to annoy​ you?
I would say so. No bitching, complaining, talking with your mouth full, smacking your gum, stupid questions and even more stupid answers, questioning of my decisions, passive aggressive remarks, not listening or short man syndrome – other than those minor things, I don’t get annoyed at all.

Are there​ certa​in thing​s that can'​​​t be joked​ about​,​​​ if anyth​ing?​​​
Yes. Anything implying that I am not the greatest is just not fair!

What'​​​s the earli​est you'​​​ve gotte​n up to shop on Black​ Frida​y?​​​
I did go to Target one Black Friday morning – but soon after hitting the doorway and seeing all of the things that annoy me, I quickly left. And I am not returning on that day EVER!

On a scale​ of 1-​​​10,​​​ how good are you at wrapp​ing gifts​?​​​
8. Now – I wrap my gifts to look perfect. But by the time they travel south to my destination, they almost always look like I have sent them through the U.S. Postal Service for delivery - wrapping paper hanging everywhere, gift flopping out, box smashed to smitherines.

Are you okay with makin​g a total​ fool of yours​elf?​​​
If by "fool" you mean falling down stairs after taking a modeling class, then yes. If by “fool” you mean falling between two boats into the water when trying to go from one to the other, then yes. If by “fool” you mean screwing up the scripture at your uncle’s funeral, then yes.

Have you ever read a book in one day?
I have – but I am surprised that my OCD or ADD doesn’t kick in well before the end.

Has your significant other ever broke​n your heart​?​​​
If by broken heart you mean that the man of your life has gotten down on his hands and knees and scrubbed the entire house (and I mean deep clean!), nope…can’t say that has ever happened. If you mean made me cry so loud the neighbors wondered which dog was howling this time, maybe – but only because he was going on another fabulous work trip without me!!

Mouth....meet foot!

So remember how I wrote on Jan. 14 how much I despised Valentine's Day? Well mouth...meet foot. I guess that wonderful day means something to others - and there will be a huge celebration for the Moore family that day! JULIE IS GETTING MARRIED!! And I couldn't be happier.

Yep - you read it here first, Julie and her sweetheart, Farmer Brad, are tying the knot on February 14, 2009. It is going to be a small family, but beautiful, ceremony at Mom & Dad's church. I am going to be the paparazzi while everyone else is going to enjoy the moment - well...except Sophi - she is insisting on being the flower girl. For those of you I had told about the beautiful beach wedding we were helping Julie plan for the 1st week in June - disregard those plans and back up 106 days. A WEDDIN' IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN!

You know - I have to say - Brad just may be one of the best things that has ever happened to Jules. (Awwwww.....) Probably having TiggerMan (aka Tyler) is probably the best thing and then having little sisters like me and Nia are pretty great too. Somewhere after that falls Farmer Brad. I can't tell you enough how excited I am to have a new brother-in-law - he is such a great person and actually likes to spend time with our crazy family. Anybody willing to put up with us is a Saint! (Okay - we aren't THAT bad....but I am just sayin'.)

Farmer Brad - here is my advice to you:

• You now have another family to please... Dad is the bashful one - but watch his humor it comes up on your fast - you better laugh when it does. Mom is the crowd pleaser - she tries to please everyone...recognize this and quickly...she will literally do anything for you (& Dad too.) Ronnie can give you a hug for no reason because "brothers gotta hug" - watch him around meal time too. Shania is the talker...don't try to beat her on the Wii - she kicks butt. Angel is the quieter one...but the girls make up for that! Blaine...well...he is the family chef - especially on vacation....just call him Martha. Me? Well...I am easy to get along with (quit rolling your eyes, everyone!)... I am the planner (okay - OCD on planning)....you can even ignore my excessive planning but just pretend you aren't.


• You better treat Julie & Tyler great (I know you will.)


• You better treat the dogs like kings (or Julie will make you sleep in the doghouse.)


• Never move Julie far away from her family - we would be sad and mad at you. Actually - you can move her to Jefferson City - that would be fine with me.

Julie - here is my advice to you:

• ENJOY! The past is the past - and you got one heck of a great future ahead!!

Congratulations to you both. Valentine's Day will never be the same!!!

Misti Needs - a fun new game

I was reading another great blog yesterday where this blogger was playing a new game. Basically here are the rules: go to google.com, enter your name with the word "needs" following, hit search and then read all of the things you need. Here are mine:

• Misti needs - "to get back to her true calling." I think I am at my true calling - but you never know. Maybe clogging was my true profession. Can you guys just see me on the stage with Shoji Tabuchi in Branson every day - I think not!
• Misti needs - "thoughts & prayer." No kidding -I am always doing something stupid enough that needs prayer!
• Misti needs - "a friend." I love friends and I am lucky to have many. I never hurts to add more.
• Misti needs - "a new head." This one makes me laugh out loud. I have lost my mind - but I usually find it by the end of the day.
• Misti needs - "help from African partners." What? My dance moves are good enough? I know my ghetto booty is big enough. Maybe I just need an african safari.
• Misti needs - "a room view profile." I don't get it.
• Misti needs - "to get this off her chest today." My sweater is pretty itchy.....
• Misti needs - "to find a better way to pay the bills." Blaine - shut your mouth.
• Misti needs - "needs to feed them this." Feed who what? I think some chicken wings would be nice.
• Misti needs - "to come to San Antonio more often." Amen sista - I have never been and think I should go....now!!

Now unless you do this little game for yourself, you will never see the humor above. Made me laugh - and anything that makes you laugh is worth trying!!