Sebastian

My Little Itty Bitty Baby

Last week I did not write a blog because on Sunday September 22, 2013 God brought my fur-baby Sebastian to Heaven.  He was better known as "Itty Bitty" and was 10 and a half years old.  He was a teeny tiny little thing only weighing about five pounds. He always reminded us of Tiny Tim from Scrooge.  He was the sweetest most gentle little dog.  He would melt the heart of anyone he met and was always the favorite no matter where we went.  To watch him bark at a stranger was almost comical knowing his stature was so small yet he had no idea how small he was and I don't think he cared really.  He was so brave he would even walk up to the newest member of  the Aston dog pack "Pepe" (who is more than three times his size) and take a bone right out of his mouth.... and "Pepe" would just sit there.

Itsy Bits after his grooming and showing off one of his favorite outfits.

Itty Bitty was born in upstate New York in April of 2003 and came into our family the end of that May.  I will never forget how he was already potty trained when we got him.  Shortly after taking him into our heart and home he became like a little Magellan of a world traveler.  Back then we were living in the Hudson Valley (where we live now) however moved to Los Angeles just a few weeks later.

Itty Bitty

I will never forget how we turned an armoire into a traveling doghouse that sat smack-dab in the middle of the two front seats of the Giant Penske Truck for him and his older sister Pookie (our now almost eleven year old Pekingese) to ride safely with a front row seat across the country.  He stopped off in Kansas, Texas, New Mexico, the Grand Canyon and even Las Vegas before we arrived in LA.  He and his big sister "Pookie" were expert travelers by the time we hit the West Coast, always having to play it safe and quiet as we snuck them both in and out of countless hotels and motels along the way.  Over the next few years he got to travel to Mississippi and Florida several times.  We even brought him to Florida all alone last year so he could be the Number One Dog for two weeks.  Two places he even lived that I forgot to mention were Nashville and Brooklyn.  However it wasn't until we moved back to the Hudson Valley again that he got to settle down to his final home.  Itty Bits loved it here.  He had a giant back yard, and he was trained to wait for us at the bottom of the steps when we were taking all five of the fur kids out so he could be carried up and down the stairs (as they were too steep for his tiny little body to manage).

Itty Bit's, the Halloween Punkin Dog.

Sadly, in the past few years he began having some medical issues and developed a heart murmur, a hernia and arthritis.  You would never know it by looking at him because he  always seemed to have a fire inside that kept him the center of attention.  Although the smallest of the bunch he had the biggest personality.  Every day he would dance for food and run to his little house so he could eat in it away from the rest of the pack.  He had his own wardrobe of shirts for all different occasions and seasons.  Some of his favorites were when we dressed him up for Halloween and Christmas.  He always had the most fun of all the dogs doing this.

First there were 4...

Then there was 5!

Itty was a one-of-a-kind dog and will forever be missed.  It was a shock to us when he began having severe symptoms that we learned to be Congestive Heart Failure.  He started with a little cough and I planned to take him to the vet.  Then Saturday night it got very bad.  His little heart turned real quick and he passed in our arms while in the ER room at the vet Sunday morning.  I would like to believe he hid his pain and and suffering from us to keep us from worrying for him.  He fought it all the way to the end before we held him as he went to the rainbow bridge.

"Itty Bitty" Sebastian, the Yum Yum Dittly Dee, little doggie is now at the Rainbow Bridge in Heaven.  He will always be remembered and always loved until we see him again.

The Rainbow Bridge

Sebastian

Itty Bitty

Itty Bits

Bittely Bits

Sa-bitty Bits

Dittely Dee

Itty Bitty

Bitty Bitty Baby, my little baby boy.  Your momma will always love you!

Blessings, Love & Music,
Ava xo
www.avaaston.com

Thank You Al Gore

Thank's Al. You're the best, no matter what people say.

So it's official (well sorta) that Al Gore the great and mighty inventor of the Internet has done it again.  What am I talking about? Well, in case you haven't been to the Northeast anytime recently it seems that, well based off the climate at least, that Al Gore has cured and fixed the Global Warming issue.  The problem is he did it just a little too much. Instead of balancing things out it seems he went slightly overboard.  Now instead of having a balance with all four seasons here in the Northeast we kind of have been having it all mucked up.  Goes in line with not having a balanced budget, so as a Democrat I guess in a way he's par for the course and since that's all Obama does is play golf it works for him.

Well since a little past this time last year we had the start to probably one of the most cold and miserable winters I can remember.  It went on and on and on so long I can't say I even remember having an actual spring. Then when it came to summer it was like we packed an entire summer's worth of heat into the month of July.  Then we skipped right into what is now and has been turning into an early and very wet autumn.  

Now, anyone who knows this Greek Girl knows I love Autumn more than any other season, but really?  With as many rainy days we had this summer and now this? Hey Al Gore, can you chill out or rather warm up on this whole global warming thing?  It's like you turned the thermostat to cold and broke the dang thing off.  For crying out loud, the only time I got to put my bathing suit on this year was for an audition.  Now that is bordering on sacrilegious considering I never put my toes in any hot sand once this year let alone go swimming!!!!  What's even more is I can count the number of iced Dunkin donut coffee's I have had on one hand.  Which as you know is just bizarre in itself since last year I had like 20 of them every week!

So for this weeks blog I want to focus on my favorite things about the fall since it's coming so early and well at this pace if I don't act now before long I will be buried up to my eyeballs in snow drifts.  God knows, if there is one thing this Greek Girl hates more than the current occupant of the White House is too much white stuff on the ground.  No matter how pretty it is, it is dang cold and me and cold just don't mix, no matter how much olive oil I get in my veins!

1. Pumpkins.  Not only did I name one of my dog's Punkin' but one of my favorite things in the whole world is punkin flavored anything: coffee, donuts, pie, cookies and punkin rolls!!  

2. Foliage.  If you have never been to the Northeast you have got to come in Autumn.  The magic of watching the trees turn color is one of the most amazing things that you never get sick of even after living here all your life.

3.  Hoodies (aka zip up sweatshirts).  Yes I do wear them almost every day of the year, but I do it all the more in the fall.  They are so much fun, cute and they keep me warm.  Besides I have like 2000 of them, I have to do something with them right?

4. Back to school.  You are too old for school and have no kids Greek Girl?  I know, but that means all the rug-rats that run rampant around town are back in school and I don't have to be bothered by them :) j/k I loooooove kids...  But no really, it just means Kohl's is running serious sales and clearance sales like mad.  So bring on the clearance rack please!!!

5. Running.  Not only is it the best feeling in the world when you go for a long run but when you have the crisp autumn air and the foliage to go with it, never mind doing it at magic hour in the fall, is just an amazing thing for me.  Besides, it is just one more reason I can wear my sneakers more.

So there you have it.  My favorite things about this time of year, that is unless Al Gore gets the bright idea and reverse things again and muck's things up more.  You know, if you ask me, maybe since he is so full of hot air trying to explain how he invented the internet that maybe that is what started the whole global warming thing anyway.  Oh well, one will never know.  Enjoy your punkin pie and have a blessed and safe Autumn.

Blessings, Love & Music~
Ava xo :)
www.avaaston.com

Never Forget

Let us always remember and never forget those that were lost.

Every year shortly after my birthday a sadness comes over me.  No not because I turned another year older silly... but because the anniversary of the terrible events that took place on September 11th.  Like everyone else I can remember exactly where I was that day.  I was actually in a Dunkin Donuts in my hometown about to drive back to NYC, as I had been there having a late birthday celebration with family & friends.  For my regular blog readers I'm sure the fact that Greek Girl was in a Dunkin Donuts at the time is absolutely shocking. ;o) 

Although twelve years have passed it is something that remains fresh in my mind.  So many innocent people lost their lives and so many families were devastated.  It's amazing how some in the media will suggest we need to move on or somehow replace the meaning of that dreadful day.  If you ask me, some of the most amazing and poignant moments in any of our lives are days that live in infamy, such as 9/11.  These days need to be burned into our memories so we don't forget our past and so we can learn for our future.  My hope is that we don't replace the meaning of 9/11 and that we hold it and revere it as being a day of sacred remembrance.  No matter how hard the media and politically correct try to whitewash the true nature of what really happened that day.

Though it is a small bit on my part, I want to take this time to dedicate my song, "I Carry You With Me" (written about grief & loss) to those who were lost and the loved-ones they left behind.  There is not enough that can be said and only so much the message of a song can bring.  My hope is that someway, somehow through it, one can find comfort in the words and it can bring healing.  

Blessings, Love & Music ~

Ava xo
www.avaaston.com

Birthday Week

Yup it all started with Spaghetti-O's and ended with a Cartman Cake... who knew?

It's my Birthday!  No not today silly... it's tomorrow September 4th. This makes me "happy happy happy".  Yeah, I did just quote Si from Duck Dynasty one of my very favorite TV shows!  Ever since I was a little kid... I have always loved my Birthday!  It makes me so happy in fact that one year it got me to thinking... is one "day" really long enough though to celebrate being born?  It's a really big deal you know.  So why not have a "Birthday Week" instead of a Birth Day?

So I unofficially changed the rules in the Aston Household... we do "Birthday Weeks" round these parts.  What does that mean exactly? Well... it means that for the week leading up to your special day you get to do things you normally wouldn't mixed in with your favorite things.  Like say for example eat a Twinkie.  See normally (most of you who read my blog know by now) that Greek Girl is a bit of a health nut.  So if one were to see me eating a newly back in business Twinkie they might think their eyes were playing tricks on them ;o) Alas it's true.... I did eat half of a Twinkie over the weekend.  (which tasted like cardboard I might add).  In any case on one's "Birthday Week" you get to do things the you want and have fun.

No Way! This is Not Real.... I would never eat a Twinkie ;o)

So what's on the agenda for Greek Girl?  Well since my mom lives a few hours away and she is the one who supplies the specially made "Cartman" Birthday Cake, I have to wait until next week to get it. We'll be making the trip to see my mom and get some Cartman Cake, whoooo hoot!  Seriously it's Yummo - made by a super talented baker in my hometown in upstate New York.  If ever in the area you should check it out, "Camille's Cakery".  My cake is a double layer, yellow cake with marble chocolate on one layer.  The other layer is all chocolate.  In the middle is custard and raspberry filling.  To top it all off is a real buttercream frosting decorated in the shape and image of Eric Cartman from the cartoon Southpark.  Don't ask, it's a long story... listen I like him he makes me laugh.  Yes I know he has a potty mouth, and do I think kids should watch it?... NO!  Hey if you think about it... Cartman is really like a church nun compared to twerking - just sayin.

So until I can go and get my cake I'm doing some things that according to Greek Girl are fun.  Not in any particular order: Well... except the working out part, that is first thing in the morning.

1. Workout (I'm in the middle of "Les Mills Pump" right now).

2. Get a manni-peddi.

3. Get my hair done. (hey it takes a lot of upkeep to keep my roots blonde) ;o)

4. Go for a Massage! (After over a month of Les Mills Pump with a bar & weights I sorely need it)

5. Go for Sushi with my sweetie at our favorite sushi joint.

6. See a movie!

7. Hit TJ Maxx looking for treasures! (hopefully some sneakers) ;o)

8. Roll into Dunkin Donuts for a hot cup of happiness!

9. Stop at Kohl's and spend my Kohl's Cash!

10. Count my blessings!

See what I like to do on my Birthday week is basically the same stuff I like to do all the time.  I just get to feel special because it's my Birthday!  Maybe one day I will get my dream car the Bumble Bee Camaro after I finally get a record deal...  and that will be awesome! But the really important things to me are spending time with my favorite person in the whole world, my fur-kids and getting to see my family.  Which in my mind everyone should do every day, not just on your birthday.  Because life is crazy, we are living in very perilous times.  The world is a mixed up place where things seem to be upside down most of the time anymore.  So in my mind, we should savor our loved ones and enjoy this life which is truly a gift.

Yeah I do silly things like eat a Twinkie and travel all the way to my moms to get a special Birthday Cake with a cartoon character on it. But hey, it's my Birthday I can do what I want! ;o)

It's worth the wait... Yummo!!!

So Happy Birthday to me and I hope you too have a beautiful day! 

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava :D xo
www.avaaston.com