ILUVTN

See the post below for a picture of the tattoo. Russ aka Psycho did a great job!

Need a tattoo? Go to Jackson Tn, Skinovations ask for Psycho!

Thanks Russ!

This is my first tattoo. After over 10 years of wanting one I finally got it. Here's the story.

I had been wanting a tattoo for about 10 years. My husband (jim) told me that if I got one that he would divorce me. I was too chicken to even try it.

3 years ago, my 2 sister in laws were on vacation in Orange Beach Al. They both got one! Well of course when I told Jim that Denise (John's wife - Jim's brother) got one. I told him that John thought that it was cool. I also told him that his sister got one too! He didn't say anything else. So when I went to the Gulf with them the next year I told him that I was going to get one too.

I didn't. I couldn't figure out what to get. I thought I wanted to design my own. Well I was with the adoption coordinator for Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue, she has one on her shoulder (her Min Pin). I thought that is what I want.

I told Jim that I wanted a Boston Terrier. He told me that if I was going to get a BT then I should get Bumper. So that is what I did.

I was in Tennessee for the weekend visiting my cousin who was there visiting from England. So we went to look at them at Skinovations, (I knew the guy that owned the shop) I asked Russ aka Psycho how much...he gave me a price and I went back on Monday and got it.

Well I didn't tell Jim or my parents. When I went home to my mom's, I shocked my dad. Of course he asked if it was real. Of course! I also showed my mom too...she asked the same thing.

I was talking to someone that night and Dad piped up and said that both of his kids elevators didn't go all the way to the top floor. (Alan - little brother, has one too!)

So now I have one, it is located on my back at the top above my right shoulder blade. The only time that it hurt was when he was doing the outline of the ears. It is up there where there is no fat!

The next tattoo will be of Tipsy on the other side, and then I will let you know if I am done or not.

Jim and I at the Richard Cheese concert in Chicago at the House of Blues

Richard Cheese (Mark) is a good friend of a guy that actually hired Jim at Hobbico 18 years ago. It was so great for him to have tickets waiting for us at the box office. We had a box seat behind the curtain so we got to see the bands come on before everyone else did. It was so cool!

It was so much fun, I have never laughed at a concert before or had so much fun. There was a fan of Richard's that Richard's likeness tattooed to his leg!

At the beginning of the show, Richard made sure that there were woman in the front row. I guess it was a better view for him.

Well its been a busy summer so far. Started playing softball in April, I am playing for the Guardian West team, which is the company that I work for. We are having a great season! 7-1! Not bad.

Went to a concert in Chicago last night. Richard Cheese at the House of Blues. Jim and I had a great time, I will definitely go back. Be sure to check out Richard Cheese's website www.richardcheese.com.

Been involved with the Central Illinois Animal Welfare Coalition. The coalition will be set up at Market on the Square in August for a morning to promote the better treatment of animals.

Still involved with the rescue, Jim and I transported 3 dogs to Manteno IL for their trip further north. One of the surrenders, traveled from Collinsville IL on Friday to Detroit Michigan on Saturday to his new foster home. I would love to have kept him but I already have 6 in the house.

Will post pictures of the Cheese concert and also of dog #73,74 and 75 in a few days.

Your Birthdate: April 13

You're dominant and powerful. You always need to be in charge. While others respect your competence, you can be a bit of a dictator. Hard working and serious, you never let yourself down. You are exact and accurate - and you expect others to be the same way. Your strength: You always get the job done Your weakness: You're a perfectionist to a fault Your power color: Gray Your power symbol: Checkmark Your power month: April

Greetings from Beth and Jim in Mahomet Illinois! I can’t believe how quick another year has passed. Here’s a brief summary of the events for the past 12 months:
My Grandmother passed in January. This was our last living grandparent between Jim and myself.

February brought in a huge snowstorm near Valentines Day. Jim was in New York on a business trip at the time, while I was home with the dogs. The first day brought white out conditions, that shutdown the city. Jim had some snow in New York, but nothing like what I experience here! On the plus side, I was able to see Jim on Valentines day from a web cam located in Times Square – we were talking to each other on the cell phone at the time.

My parents were planning to visit us in April, but my dad fractured a bone in his foot. He’s not certain how it happened, but it appeared to because from a walking exercise in the town mall. We received bad news the week of April 16th – a long time family friend (Bob Tillman) had passed away. Bob was a Boy Scout leader and I attended most all the events, since my dad and brother were involved in the troop.

We received more bad news in May – my brother’s wife passed away suddenly. Megan was only 33 years old, but had numerous health issues. This brought another trip to Tennessee for another funeral.
Jim and I also hosted a successful dog-training camp for other foster homes in the area. We had Boston Terriers everywhere! I also enjoyed playing softball this year for a Co-rec team sponsored by my employer.

In June, Jim and I headed to Georgia (near Atlanta) for Cindy and Jon (Jim’s sister and brother in law) 20th wedding anniversary. They renewed their vows and wanted family there for the celebration. Also in June, my aunt and a cousin rode the train up for the weekend. We had so much fun with going to a small waterpark in Champaign to shopping and "bare" hunting in Bloomington and then playing in the basement with stamping and scrapbooking. This was Anna's first trip out of the state of Tennessee and her first train ride. While she was here Jim and I took her riding in the TA as well photographing her on the motorcycle. Her dad said she talked about it for months afterwards.

July brought our annual 4th of July neighborhood picnic, which has been traditionally held in our driveway. Jim also started building cabinets for my craft room. I now have my own room downstairs to work on my stamping projects and dog Rescue. I also accepted additional responsibilities when I was asked to join the board for Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue. It’s a lot of work, but it’s extremely rewarding to me.
In August I drove to Detroit, MI by myself to visit a friend. Wendy had adopted one of my foster dogs and we’ve become close talking to each other on the phone.

In September Jim took a motorcycle riding class in order to receive this classification on his drivers license. Jim and I also headed to Tennessee for a family reunion. I was finally able to meet Claire, a cousin of mine from England We have been corresponding for over 25 years, since we were in our early teen years. We instantly hit it off and are now planning a trip to visit her within a couple of years. We’ve never traveled abroad and looking forward to this adventure.

October brought Mom and Dad for a visit; they had not been here for over a year. I also attended my 20th high school reunion in Jackson TN. It was great to see old friends again.

November brought a visit from my mom, aunt and a friend. It was a Girls Stamping and Shopping weekend. We had a wonderful time together! Jim and I also went home for the Thanksgiving weekend to visit family. I also lost distant family member this month, Uncle Mun. He was my grandfather’s youngest brother and the last one of that generation. This brought Claire back over for the funeral.

Jim has decided to restore his 1968 Pontiac Firebird that he’s had for nearly 25 years. He’s expecting it to take at least three years to accomplish the task.

As of December 1st, Jim and I have rescued and found homes for 60 dogs, most of which are Boston Terriers. It’s a great deal of work and responsibility, but extremely rewarding! Especially when we see the happy families and receive pictures from them throughout the year.

As you can see our year has been filled with many memories and adventures. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Mahomet Illinois!

Love,

Beth Jim Bumper Tipsy and Daisy

This is Mia. She was a transfer from OH. She was only with us a couple of days but Jim fell in love with her. How could you not. Look at that face. She was a very sweet and lovable little girl. Of course Jim told me "how come we always give up the sweet ones?" She is housebroken and crate trained. I can't believe this little girl came from a shelter.

This little girl is not so little. I would say that she is about an 1 - 2 inches taller than Bumper. But what a cutie!

I took up to Forrest this morning and then called the foster home after a couple of hours and her foster mom had already fallen in love with her.

No Di it's not completed yet. Jim is still working on his project.

Okay here is my address for myspace page: myspace.com/iluvtn1 I think its really neat to have one. Like I said before I still have no idea how to link my blog to the myspace page. I am still looking for volunteers to help me with this project.

2007 was a busy year. I will post the Christmas letter after this post. What will 2008 bring? I hope better times, and NO funerals. 4 in one year that was all family is enough for anyone.

As of today, Jim and I have placed over 61 dogs in furever homes. I have 62 and 63 here with me now. Puppy mill girls...nothing like the last one. She was scared of her own shadow and terrified of Jim. Whenever he would go to pick her up to put her in the kennel in the mornings, it would be projectile pooping.....the backside going in circles and the poop flying everywhere. Of course that only happened if I forgot to put her in the kennel before leaving for work.

Baili and Jamie seemed to be happy girls. Tails are always wagging. Took Mia up to Forrest IL today to meet Theresa Corriveau (another foster home) Jim saw her and started calling her Mia the Moose. She is a big girl and only 1 1/2 years old. But so adorable. I have a picture of her above. Isn't she cute?

Well that's all for now. Later everyone!

Well I have started to work on the news letter for the Christmas cards that I am sending out. My goal is to have them done by Wed and in the mail on Thursday. There will be no picture this year.

Well Jim's Christmas was delivered on Friday the day after Thanksgiving. It came in on a flatbed truck. I called him at work to let him know. They were not suppose to deliver it until Monday. Of course we couldn't leave for TN until he knew that it would run.

So guess where he has been for the last 3 days. Out in the garage working on tearing it apart. Well I have taken pictures of the progress. Hope to make a scrapbook of it eventually. According to him, its going to be a 3-5 year project. I just want my side of the garage back.

Be sure to check back, I will eventually post pictures of my craft room once it is completed. No Diane not yet.

Happy Holidays!

Well the 20th has came and went. I had fun, it was so good to see everyone that attended. I even had one of the girls to tell me that I was saucy. She didn't realize how much spunk I have. I didn't have any in high school. I was a wall flower and blended into the wall a bit. My personality didn't really start to come out until after high school.

One of the girls that I went to high school with is a grandma! Can you believe it? I am just thinking about kids and she is a grandmother.

It was a really good time that night. We have already started to plan for the 25th. So if anyone is reading this and knows people from the North Side Class of 1987 please email then with my email address: bethalvis@mchsi.com We are shooting for getting in touch with everyone.

We only had two members of our class that are deceased. Gary Mooney who died not too short of a time after the 10th reunion and David Travis who was killed a few weeks before the 20th one. We took up a collection and is going to send it to the American Cancer Society in his name. I thought that was really great.

Joy Morrison Davis was the one that suggested it. I asked her at the end of the night how much and if there were a lot of people who gave money. She said that she had a few but were not going to ask, if they want to give they will. I didn't have a problem with asking. When you are in rescue, you get used to asking people for money. We have several classmates that are very well off, just going around and asking, I probably got close to $200.00. I think that was great!

Looking forward to seeing everyone in 5 years!

Now that I have a myspace page I am trying to keep it up to date as well. So that leave little time for my blog. Now if I can figure out how to attach my blog to my space page then I would be in business. Who am I kidding? I barely have enough time to sleep and eat much less try to figure out my space and my blog link.

Well maybe someone will take pity on me and help me out. Any volunteers?

It's almost done! 90% complete! I will be sure to post pictures once it is done!