The Great Mocha Rescue

Mocha is a Chocolate lab / Rott mix that stole our hearts---especially Melissa’s. Our neighbor is letting the bank take the house back and moved in with his girlfriend and to our dismay---left Mocha behind. As Melissa Worried and fretted and went over and checked on Mocha and provided food and water—As time kept going by the situation seemed not to be improving---the pen fence was too tall for Melissa to clean the pen and Mocha was living in filth. Finally Matt sparked the fire in Melissa---by a simple statement "we need to Help Mocha". That next day Melissa researched and found Mocha’s legal owner and wrote a letter and prayed he would surrender the dog to her and we would frantically search for a home for this boy. We had success---the letter was received and the owner was receptive to Mel’s assistance---He came over discussed Mocha history and showed her all the commands the boy knew and gave her access to the pen---We(Bob and Mel) both spent hours scooping and cleaning up the pen---took some great photos of Mocha and spread the word---Sandy ( Melissa’s friend) and Bob both got interest from potential adopters of Mocha----After the families met him and Melissa made the decision which family was a better fit for Mocha. Mocha had a spa day compliments of Bob and Mel and went home with his new family. As I would have loved to add Mocha to our pack---Realism must take over and knowing 4 dogs was my limit---This was the next best thing I could do. Congratulations to Mocha and his new family---I hope a great a wonderful life you will have together. Mocha is a true Diamond in the Rough and has a reserved spot in my (Melissa’s) heart always.

Million Queen March

The following weekend in March—Melissa was off to Mississippi for the St. Patrick’s day/Million Queen march with the Pork n Bean Queens. What a fun Girls only fun weekend. We dress identically all weekend—it really distinguishes us from the rest of the pack. The festivities are all weekend and money was raised to provide wheel chairs for underinsured sick children at the areas Children’s Hospital. There was Wine tasting, The ball, the Parade of course which this year had an actual wedding in it---so all the Queen chapters served at the Wedding party trying to break the record for largest wedding party---never heard if that was achieved---but the PNB Queens opted to go as groomsmen—we were the only groomsmen there—I think we look GREAT. After the parade there was a BBQ back at the hotel headquarters and all kinds of festivities to participate in---then the grand finale---The PJ party---which our group started our own little party near the pool with fun games.

March the Month of Parades and Fun!

St Patty’s day was a day of good Irish fun---Bob is a member of the Highlanders 42nd and they participate in the big St. Patrick’s Day parade down town. After the parade we all go back to the commanders home and enjoy the traditional meal of corn beef and cabbage—of course Melissa snuck through a drive through first, that menu just doesn’t agree with her. After feasting and relaxing and visiting with everyone a smaller group goes bar hopping providing good Irish entertainment---the men still in their kilts, with one bagpipe player and drummer—we go to the wee hours and go from Bar to bar ---the guys in their kilts are always a crowd pleaser. Just look how cute they are.

Queen Tina turns 10

Cannot believe my little Florida Sunshine turned 10 this February---We have been through a lot together. She celebrated with getting a fire hydrant full of goodies (Food is Tina’s favorite things in the world). She did give us quite a scare this year—as many as you know, we had the prayer circles going for her. A lump appeared practically overnight on her leg. We had the lump removed—it had not attached itself to anything—the surgery itself is scary with her Lupus and heart murmur--- she sailed through it. The lump was sent out for testing----It turns out it is a form of Cancer and I am not much on Medical terms but here is the simple version. If you are going to have cancer this is a good one---It usually stays local—which means it tends not to spread over the body into other organs. And since the lump did not attached and popped right out---the Drs feel like they were able to get the area pretty clean---but the test did show the cancer went all the way to the edge of the tumor which means there is a risk of a few cells that got left behind and can form another tumor. So Tina gets to live her normal go lucky life being the Queen of the Cole-Helbig home and mama keeps a VERY CLOSE eye on this area any signs of growth—we attack it as soon as possible before it causes damage.