I do. I hate chihuahuas. They're little. They're yappy. And I tend to trip over little dogs.
However, my sister's dog Chloe (a rescue) is part chihuahua and part terrier/mystery dog, and she's awfully cute and beguiling. She has longer legs (from the mystery DNA) than most chihuahuas, and is an odd-looking pooch, with all the wiry wisps sprouting up here and there.
It's probably the quirky that gets me. I like things odd.
A couple of days ago I sent off my "Listen to Your Mother" submission. Now it's out of my hands. The deed's been done. All I can do now is wait until late-February or whenever for the decision about who makes it to the audition phase.
And on Saturday I got a DNA kit in the mail. You know, from Ancestry. That site that's advertising on the TV all the time. I've read the directions. All I have to do is spit into a tube and send it off.
According to the story my biological mother told the adoption agency, my biological father was from Greece. Now, if you know what I look like, you might wonder if she said, "He was from Greece," or if she instead said, "He's from grease," which might have meant what? They loved fried chicken? They had french fries floating around in a deep fryer all the time? I'm not sure, but considering my skin's as white as notebook paper, I think I missed out on the Greek part.
The Native American part, too. The biological family I was able to track down (my birth mom died when I was 9) claim there's a Native American branch in our family tree. The last name--Gann--makes me think of Scottish/Irish.
I think it takes 6-8 weeks (or longer, because of all those commercials causing a flood of customers), but soon, I'll be able to say more than, "I don't know. I'm adopted," when someone asks, "Where is your family from?"
So, what have you disliked but later opened your mind up to?
Are you submitting to your local Listen to Your Mother show?
And have you done the DNA/ancestry testing thing? If so, what was the most surprising thing you found out?
Me thinks perhaps your daddy may have been a mechanic, a grease monkey?
ReplyDeleteMy friend did the test and discovered her father was not her father. It caused a huge rift between her and her mother.
I think it would be interesting to know. You probably have royalty in your blood?
Linda--Royalty? I doubt it.
DeleteI love the "grease monkey" idea. THAT grease I would believe...
Oddly enough, I am not fond of Chihuahuas either and I am a certified crazy dog lady ..... according to my daughter. This daughter did the DNA thing, too. Her husband and their daughter did as well. My son-in-law's father was adopted and they have no medical history on him. I am of German descent on my dad's side and my mother's family were share croppers. It was no surprise that middle Europe was predominant in my daughter's DNA, but the 1% Japanese was a surprise, as well a the small percentage o Native American. The middle eastern Jewish genes came from my husband. It was pretty interesting, They include my granddaughter as a control to see if it was a scam. I fid it ironic that my husband is Jewish and so terrible with money!
ReplyDeleteKathy--I wonder if just about all of us (in America) have a bit of Native American in our DNA?
DeleteSo, did you daughter and son-in-law decide it was for real or did they think it was a hoax?
I'm excited for you and can't wait until I hear what your DNA says. I do not see any dark and swarthy in you, but know the blood will tell all. I have done the DNA too and was startled to find such strong Germanic connections on one side. Knew a little was there but was shocked to see the Irish/German melding. No wonder the family was stiff-necked and trial. My greats came from Prussia to Indiana I think to keep him out of the army.
ReplyDeleteClaudia--Yep, nothing dark and swarthy about me. I can't wait.
DeleteThey make those DNA tests for dogs, too! Not that I'm implying anything, Madam...
ReplyDeleteI have not yet opened my mind to the DNA kits. While I think it's fascinating to find out about OTHER people, I'm not ready to take that step. My conspiracy theory mind says it's just another way for the government to track you. And no, I'm not planning any crimes!
What about Hick? Are you curious where HE is from?
DeleteYep, my in-laws have Chihuahuas and besides the fact that their breed is IMPOSSIBLE to spell with out spell check, they are very yippy dogs. I haven't changed my mind about them. ( I may have changed my mind about my own yippy dog.)
ReplyDeleteOne of my nephews had my dad do the DNA thing; I can't remember much about it but I don't think there were any surprises. Dad had researched his line pretty thoroughly, but yeah, there was Native American in there, I think. (One of Dad's uncles married a full Cherokee, I think. He and Aunt Oma had a son who seriously looked like a short-haired Cochise--so handsome, but definitely dark-haired and tanned. Which brings me to you...and if you aren't Irish/ German, I'll eat my shamrocks! :-) )
Good luck with LTYM!
Cathy--Perhaps I'll get my news before St. Pat's Day... and if you're wrong, there will be plenty of greenery for you to eat. ;)
DeleteI've always been told that we were Scots-Irish (which I up to recently thought was Scotch-Irish) and being blond and fair skinned, I never thought otherwise. Dogs? As long as they belong to someone else, they're OK. Good luck on the submission. Yesterday I sent in an (mass mailed, emailed request from the state daily paper) essay/ guest writer piece. So, I, too am anticipating publication. Love your blogs since I, too, am a (retired) teacher.
ReplyDeletePatricia--Thanks, and good luck. A guest writer piece? Great. Perhaps you don't do this, but I used to look at other writer friends--and the high number of publishing credits they had--and I used to cut myself down. Not any more (at least not much anymore). Now I just compare my own progress to my previous progress... and am patient with my snail's pace.
DeleteTotally with you on the Chihuahuas. I always feel guilty when I say I don't like the breed, but...I don't. I'm sure there are perfectly wonderful Chihuahuas out there, but I've yet to meet one. The neighbors have one named Honey, and if that isn't a misnomer, nothing is. That yippy little guy always gets loose and picks fights with other dogs and is truly an ankle biter (I can attest). He's a one person dog, and I know his human mama adores him. I'm genuinely glad they have each other, but I won't be sorry if he never gets loose again.
ReplyDeleteLisa--Honey? What a name for a little yappy dog. (And maybe it's just me, but it sounds like a better name for a female dog instead of a male.)
DeleteI can't wait to hear about your test result, especially since I've considered doing it myself. Keep us posted, and sending lots of luck on your submission!
ReplyDeletePat
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