Jamieson6 Summer Fun: Houston - We have a problem!

(written by Brad)

Well, we got up fairly early on Padre Island. We had to leave early so that we could head back up to NC.
The drive back was pretty uneventful...drove by some of the same small Texas towns and cool ranches.

Well - this drive was made a little longer by a stop in Austin to pick up our new friend. Yes, we went back to the Austin animal shelter, filled out some paperwork, and added a new passenger to the minivan.

The dog doesn't know that I exist at this point but I have to say, as an outsider looking in, it was a touching reunion. The shelter worker brought "Angel" out (we aren't keeping that name - stay tuned) and as soon as she saw Holly and the kids her tail almost wagged off her body. She made the happy whimpering sounds that dogs make and she licked Holly's face so much that you'd think she had peanut butter on it.

Even the workers at the shelter seemed genuinely moved by the reunion. Since she appears to be part husky, everyone agrees that New Hampshire is the perfect climate for her.

Say it together - "it was meant to be".

So then we drove to the Houston area to see Holly's friend from her days at Chili's, Rick. He and his lovely family live in a Houston suburb, Cypress. We pull up to their house, the kids open the side door and (start "Benny Hill" music here) the dog takes off and pees on every front lawn in the neighborhood. Actually the house on the corner got an extra treat - rhymes with "log grit".

Ahhhh, what a great idea.

Everybody, including Rick's two daughters whom we never met, are chasing this dog trying to help us out. Everybody except Eric, that is. Eric had already walked into the house on his own, because Eric is nosey and likes to see the inside of other people's homes.

Well after the dog relieved herself several times, she jumped back into the van on her own and wouldn't get out. Rick and his wife Tracy were so kind, they locked their two dogs in their bedroom so that our mangy mutt could hang out. "Hi, we're the Imposers...I mean Jamiesons - where's dinner?"

We had a fantastic time with them. The kids went swimming in their beautiful pool. They played classic video games on Rick's handmade 80's style stand-up arcade game (that didn't require quarters), we ate nachos and chili dogs - Texas style, and Bailey and Rick entertained us with guitar playing.

Of course - we left later than the Brad Jamieson tight schedule indicated we should, but it was worth it. We ended up getting to our hotel room at 12:30 in the A.M.

(As Brad said, the drive and all was uneventful, until said 12:30 a.m. arrival when I discovered that BRAD had left my toiletry bag, with brush, lotion, deodorant in the hotel lobby on SOUTH PADRE ISLAND!) It's been fun for two days with no brush, lotion or anything essential, including my meds!) Oh, and it is costing me $70 to have it sent to Raleigh. Thank you Rene and Heidi! They didn't check out until Monday, so they were able to retrieve my bag (that looks like a trash bag according to Brad) and mailed it from somewhere in Texas.