A New Addition...A Dog named Pepper!

Right around Memorial Day, my niece spotted a dog running up and down her street.  She told her mom about the dog that she saw three times out the window.  Her mother walked out the front door and the dog approached her. 
My sister decided to call the phone number on the tag attached to the collar.  There was no answer.  She left a message to inform the owner on the dog tag that she found their dog. 
The next day, we went to Jacksonville for a Memorial Day weekend party.  The owner contacted my sister back and said they do not want the dog anymore.  If she wanted to take ownership, she could come get the dog's food and water bowl, kennel, and anything else they had for the dog.  After returning from Jacksonville, my sister contacted the owner and told them she would take the dog.  When my sister went to the dog owner's house, she asked the breed of the dog.  We learned it was a German Pointer.  My sister spent the weekend with the dog named Pepper.  At this time, my sister was on a contract position for a job in Tampa.  Hence, she did not have the time to spend with the dog. 
I decided to keep "Pepper" the dog over at my house until my sister returned from Tampa.  After three weeks, I told my sister I loved the dog and I insisted I had the backyard, as well as the time for the dog.  She decided to give her to me since I already bonded with her for the past three weeks. 
However, Pepper is a RUNNER!  The first time she got out of the house, she ran about 3-4 blocks in approximately 2-3 minutes.  We couldn't find her!
The next time she got out, she was in the backyard and I accidentally left the garage door opened.  She was like a CHEETAH!  She sprinted so fast, I barely got a glimpse of her.  It took us approximately a half-hour to get her back.  She ran up and down main roads.  We finally caught her at the local Winn-Dixie near our house. 
The last time she got out, she ran to the end of our street and stood at someone's front door.  Once we saw her at the neighbor's doorstep, we called her name and she came running to the car. 


I believe she is finally learning not to go far and hopefully we will not have to chase her anymore. 
The picture below is a good resemblance of my new addition, Pepper.

College

In 2012, I started attending an online college program.  After eight months, I decided to take a leave of absence and never returned to the college because I landed a FULL-TIME job!  When I say full-time, I mean it was working from day to sometimes almost midnight. 
Even though it was difficult to study at home before and after work, I still maintained a "B" grade point average.  In October 2012, I decided to take a leave of absence from the school because of family situations. 
I have attended City College since October 2013 and planning to graduate in 2015.  It has been difficult to study, maintain and provide for my children, as well as look for employment.  Now, I will experience what it is to be a single mother for the third time.  I am hoping I will be able to continue to attend school for another year and graduate with a Paralegal degree. 
I believe faith, GOD, and my children will allow me to complete school and get a degree to move forward in life with or without him.  I will prove to myself and others, I will not be a disgrace.

Fourth of July weekend

Hope everyone's Fourth of July weekend went well! 
My sister has been out of town for almost a month on a contract position in Tampa.  My children and I had a GREAT time at her home in Ormond Beach with the pool and fireworks!  We decided to leave on Friday to Ormond Beach, took the children and dogs with us.  After reuniting with my sister, we went to Sky King in Daytona Beach and split the cost for a GOOD time with some fireworks and food! 
We bought mortars, repeaters, and fireworks for the children including my niece.  While snacking on sushi and seafood salad, we fired up the grill cooking steaks.  I made pasta salad with pesto, half-cut grape tomatoes, olives, mozzarella cheese, and dices of ham for a side dish.  After dinner, FIREWORKS were on the mind.  Therefore, the kids had snap pops, sparklers, and a few other things.
I love celebrating the Fourth of July with family and friends.  It is a time to celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by declaring the Independence from Great Britain.  My family would rather celebrate in the comfort of our own home or someone close to us rather than fighting the crowds and traffic in our community to observe fireworks.  Furthermore, we as a family had a GREAT time over the holiday weekend.