The destructive tornados and thunderstorms that hit metro Atlanta on May 20th left behind a trail of physical disaster and fallout. The one thing I did not expect to come from it was a happy, healthy, yet very LOST 7-8 week old Boxador puppy… who ended up being my baby for four and a half days.

Ellie May got her name because she bared the exact same colouring as the bloodhound, Duke, from The Beverly Hillbillies. Because she was a girl, I couldn’t exactly name her “Duke”… so I passed on the name of Duke’s best friend… Elly May… though I spell it “Ellie May”… and, boy did it fit my new whipper snapper!!! :-D Nothin’ but bites and kisses and puppy breath galore… she was a huge bundle of energy and sweetness. (Oh yeah, and a hell of a lot of work, too!)

While I really, REALLY wanted to keep her… just looking at her enormous paws told me I absolutely couldn’t. She’s at going to be least 90-100lbs. fully grown. Not to mention, I already have two very sweet NEEDY pups as it is. So, on we were to finding her parents and/or a really loving home. After a couple of days of posting flyers, receiving zero calls and up to my neck in puppy messes… not to mention getting more and more attached to that little poop producer, we just had to find a home for her. My neighbor, Lia, and I, who were her primary caregivers, tried every shelter, rescue group and friend we knew who might be able to take her. Finally, on day five, Lia’s friend found a home for her in Augusta. I just wish I knew who these people were, if they had kids and/or a fenced in backyard. I know things work out the way they’re supposed to, it’s just nice knowing how they work out.

Now, Bubba, Maggie, me, Lia and Lucy have our normality back… Still, I miss that little bitey baby and hope she always knows her Kelley loves her.

See more of my precious foster baby here.

Several years ago, my then husband, Scott, told me how the military counted down until an exciting event happened; they counted the wake ups rather than actual days. For some odd reason, that method stuck in my head and I’ve been using it pretty much ever since. Now, there’s only one wake up until the most exciting event of my life, this far, happens… I leave for England to FINALLY see my Jon! It’s been a long time coming, too. At times, these last four months feel as though they have crawled by… other times (like now!) it feels like we’ve zoomed right through them.

Last Friday night is when it finally hit me… that I… me… Kelley Chambers… will be boarding a Delta flight bound for Gatwick airport in England. Having never been out of the country (minus Mexico… that country simply doesn’t count!) this is the single biggest experience I’ve ever taken on alone. While the actual travel is only a small portion of the experience I’m about to embark, it’s Read the rest of this entry »

It’s no secret my adoration for pups. But on days like today, that chocolatey baby would be catapulted OFF that float and into the pool… for the main reason being that heavenly cushion would be cradling MY ass!

Just to show those who are oblivious to the heat metro Atlanta is experiencing… here’s a visual of today’s brutality. Both in farenheit and in celcius for not quite Americanized friends! … you know who you are! ;-)   Keep in mind, now, that those screenshots were taken at 8:45p at night.   Sick, huh?   Tell me about it.

Now, I know I realize others, England for example, have had far worse weather… Read the rest of this entry »