Irrational Compulsion for a Balanced Meal

Am I the only person who has this issue?  Allow me to explain... Yesterday I worked in Clanton, Alabama from 10:00 to 8:00.  Usually the pharmacist who works the closing shift will take the second lunch.  Depending on how the day is going, second lunch my not come around till three o'clock or later.  Being the responsible planner that I am, I grabbed a snack baggie full of Cheez Its and hit the road knowing that I would need that cheesy goodness come 11:00 to hold me until three.  Well, I accidently filled my Cheez It bag a little too full.  When lunch time came around I was not hungry at all, but due to my "irrational compulsion for a balanced meal" I headed to Peach Park to find something for lunch.  

I looked at the menu.  I knew there was nothing I really wanted.  However, I was not satisfied with only a bag of Cheez Its for lunch. I needed side items. I needed real food. So, I ordered the half chicken plate complete with baked beans and potato salad.  Why? 

I once a accompanied Ben to a cook out at Ben Blanchard's house.  Needless to say, it was all guys and me.  My Ben volunteered to bring the sausage.  Ben B. and his roommate provided chicken and deer meat.  I sat down at the table, surrounded by all the various meats and thought... hmmm, something's missing. Side items? So, Justin pulls out some week old mac and cheese which the guys apparently thought nothing of and just gobbled it up.  So, I made this mental note that males do not require side items (read: a balanced meal). 

So, is this a girl thing? Is it girls who need an entree and side items? A sandwich for lunch and not just a bag of Cheez Its? Am I the only one?

Side Note: The picture above was taken by my brother when he was playing around with my new camera at the beach.  I didn't have any pictures of balanced meals that would be fitting for this entry. Sorry.  Beach pictures to come!

Meet My Baby Gorilla

Meet Berkley, the new baby in the Lassiter household.  Berkley is an 8 week old standard poodle pup weighing in at 10.6 lbs.  Since his arrival in Montgomery, Berkley has successfully gotten his bottom teeth stuck in his kennel, fallen into the swimming pool, had an episode of worms, an ear infection, and tracked little footprints of poo poo through the house.  He really enjoys putting both of his front paws in his water dish and then knocking it over. Otherwise, it has been a very calm introduction to his new family.   

Ok, I'm not really being fair.  He's actually been very well behaved for a giant 8 week old. I keep having to remind myself that he's just a baby and that baby's have to learn.  He is sleeping the whole night and doesn't even cry when I put him to bed. He is mainly using the bathroom outside and not in the house which is a huge relief. Today he went to the door for the first time so he could go outside to tee tee. I was very impressed.  Berkley also puts himself in the bathroom for nap time when he gets sleepy and just chews on his little bones.  Overall, I've been very pleased at how smart he is, especially at such a young age.

We can't decide what we think he looks like.  He reminds us of various things from a black sheep, a baby gorilla and a Clydesdale horse.  Mostly I think he is just a baby giant poodle. He has been so funny to watch! He runs and jumps on top of the other dogs, even Pete (who hates it).  He didn't really know how to go down the steps, but he'd just throw himself down them, tumbling to the bottom.  He's catching on to that better now.  In the picture above, he is in the car on his way to the beach. 

Here is Berkley with his aunt Cara.  He likes to sit in your arms like he is sitting on the ground, very odd, but I think it's a poodle thing since Clarke (RIP) was the same way.  In case you are wondering how I ended up with Berkley in the first place,  after my adoption application was rejected from the shelter in GA (biased Georgians), I bought Berkley from a (strange) woman from the Birmingham area.  Mom and dad picked him up for me on their way down to Montgomery for our beach trip.  Thankfully mom and dad had rented a pet friendly home in Sea Grove and Berkley, Pete, and the two Maltese puppies got to come along.  Yes, this is a full house.

Needless to say, we are having lots of fun!  Ben is still unsure about owning a poodle, but he's got Pete, right? Pete's a manly dog.  Anyway, I think Berkley will grow on him. How could you not love him? (Don't answer that, Poodle haters.)