Posted by MichiganAl on 6/25/06 4:24pm
Msg #128205

To all you new CA notaries, look down!

At least once a day, there's a new CA notary looking for information on how to get started. Look down two threads and you'll see Brenda offering a list of 5000 escrow and title companies in California if you'll donate $15 or more for Sylvia's dog. It's everything you've always wanted, you're career handed to you on a platter. Merry Christmas.

Reply by BrendaTx on 6/25/06 4:38pm
Msg #128209

Re: To all you new CA notaries, look down! Thanks Al!

I usually sell that list for $15.95. Let's get this baby's surgery paid for and get this stress off of Sylvia. She's helped thousands of people when they were fretting over a form.

I want her to march into the Doc's office on Tuesday and tell him "HERE it is, now get busy."

Reply by Becca_FL on 6/25/06 5:18pm
Msg #128228

Brenda and Al

When I read the newsletter last night, I just knew Macy (My Notary Dog) and I had to contribute. Now that I know it is Sylvia, I may be able to help more. I'll give her a call and see if she would be interested in possibly consulting with my Vet. I go to a not for profit vet. league and their prices are about 1/2 of any vet in town. Funny thing is, EVERYBODY goes to my Vet even the snooty beach people - they ARE that good.

Reply by BrendaTx on 6/25/06 5:23pm
Msg #128230

Re: Brenda and Al - progress is good...

http://www.texas-signing-agent.com/marketing/dog.htm

My paypal account is fat with $494 in it now for Little Bit. I expect another $85 in checks.

Reply by BrendaTx on 6/25/06 6:44pm
Msg #128276

We broke $600! - DOG ENTERTAINMENT BREAK

http://www.texas-signing-agent.com/marketing/dog.htm
My paypal account is fat with $603 in it now for Little Bit.
=========================================


The First Lady of Aggie Land was Reveille (Texas A&M Univ's mascot)
http://www.theeagle.com/brazossunday/photos/090504revcadets.jpg

The following story was RIPPED from
http://www.theeagle.com/brazossunday/090504reveille.php

The first Reveille’s blood lines were about as pure as the air around a petroleum plant.

She was a vagabond and undoubtedly the product of an era when spaying or neutering was deemed unnecessary or too expensive.

The original Reveille may have been a relatively cute puppy — what puppy isn’t? — but as she aged, her once-shiny, black coat dulled to a dingy mix of black, brown, and white, while her face became a beard of black and gray hair and her torso rounded.

To put it mildly, the original Rev was not going to win any beauty contests.

“She was a mongrel mutt in every sense,” said Howard Shelton, who played on the Aggies’ 1939 national championship football team and frequently observed the original Reveille roaming the campus. “She was definitely not an attractive dog. But that didn’t matter to any of us. A&M wasn’t that attractive back then, either. What mattered was that that little dog seemed to believe that she had some kind of special purpose on the campus. She belonged to us, and she seemed to realize that we all belonged to her.”

No Aggie — then or now — denies, contradicts, or questions that Reveille I possessed the disposition of an angel, the personality of a saint, and the nurturing nature of a blue-haired grandma.

But her initial arrival on the A&M campus is quite a source of debate. In fact, dying men literally went to their graves willing to take a lie detector test to prove that they either knew or participated in the real origins of Reveille.

Files in the Texas A&M University Archives contain dozens of versions crediting at least 10 different sources with bringing Reveille to campus. Through University Archives and other published reports, at least 36 people publicly claimed to have been involved in bringing the first Reveille to campus.

The most popular and widely accepted version of the story recounts how several Aggies returning from a Navasota bar late one night in 1931 accidentally hit a small puppy with their Model T.

The cadets backtracked and found the dog wounded but wagging her tail. According to legend, they put the dog in the car and smuggled her back into their dorm, Leggett Hall, which violated university policies regarding pets in the rooms.

As the story goes, the cadets bandaged the pup that night, and when the dog awoke the next morning to the sound of the bugler blasting Reveille, she barked enthusiastically. Her reaction to the bugle call inspired the cadets to name her “Reveille.”

That’s the neat, tidy tale that has been told, printed in official university publications, and immortalized throughout the years. It may even be true.

But other versions raise alternative possibilities. Jerry Cooper’s article in the Texas Aggie, the official publication of A&M’s Association of Former Students, recounts several other renditions:

• J.W. Batts, class of ‘35, claimed that Reveille was smuggled onto campus by him and Madero Bader, ‘32, after they found her at a truck stop in Hempstead while hitchhiking back from Galveston.

• Class of 1934 members Johnny Mitchell, Jim Wallace, John E. Weaver, and C.D. Long submitted a story in which a small black dog was picked up on a punishment march to the Brazos River by the A and B field artillery batteries.

• Asa B. Gibbs, ‘37, claimed that he and Ross Reid, ‘34, found Reveille in a ditch near Northgate (on the perimeter of the main campus), the apparent victim of an automobile accident.

• Bob Norwood, ‘35, said that he and his roommate found Reveille in a ditch between the old Boyett’s service station and Walton Hall. In Norwood’s version, she wasn’t injured, only wet and hungry.

• Eddie Chew, who served as an assistant groundskeeper for the A&M athletic department, claimed that Reveille was born at his home south of campus. In 1940, Chew said he didn’t tell his story at the time because, “she had such a good home ... and seemed so happy, and the boys all liked her. It sure made me happy to think the boys would want any dog I ever owned. And just look at how famous she is now. If I would have kept her, she never would have got anywhere.”

• Perhaps the most compelling and detailed version of Rev’s arrival belonged to George Comnas, ‘35, who delivered his Muster speech in 1980 on “the origins of the first Reveille.”

Comnas said he found Reveille in January of 1932 after he hitchhiked back from Houston. “In returning to campus late on Saturday night, I disembarked from a cotton truck at the old railroad station between the drill grounds and the horse stables,” Comnas said in his speech. “Along the side of the road, I saw a little whimpering animal, which was a small, nondescript dog principally of fox terrier bloodlines with some other mongrel blood. She had been hit by a car and was lying in a ditch whimpering more out of fright than out of injury.”

According to Comnas, he and about 25 to 30 other cadets who were arriving at the old highway gate across from the railroad station encircled the dog. The cadets were arriving by trucks, Model Ts, and so forth.

Comnas said that he took the wounded puppy back to Leggett Hall and was assisted by Bob Anderson, who was both his next-door neighbor and a veterinary student, in bandaging her injured leg and setting her hip in place.

Living in a cardboard box underneath Comnas’s bed at night and hiding in the baggage room on the lower floor of the dormitory during the day, the dog quickly recovered.

Within four or five days after finding her, Comnas began taking her out onto the streets to join the Corps of Cadets for morning exercises. By the midterm break of that semester, the dog was a constant companion during those morning exercises.

“I unconsciously said to the B-Troop Cavalry one day, ‘Here comes our Reveille,’ referring to the bugle call for Reveille that occurred just about the same time we were doing our exercises,” Comnas recalled. “The name stuck, and our pet became the pet of the Cavalry and then the pet of the band. ... I did not realize at the time that Reveille had become a symbol of the attitude of love and affection that an animal can have for man, and man for an animal.”

Comnas, who went on to gain an international reputation in the shipping and marketing of petroleum products and other commodities and was later named as a Texas A&M Distinguished Alumnus, cited the names of four fellow students in his speech who could corroborate his story.

Comnas even provided their home cities if anyone in the audience wanted to follow up.

Following his speech in 1980, Comnas wrote many letters to university officials and spent a considerable amount of time attempting to convince anyone who would listen that his version was the authentic one.

Perhaps the varying accounts of the origins of Reveille can be attributed to two things:

• She was so beloved that many people desired to lay claim to her — and possibly convinced themselves of playing a role in her discovery.

• She was such a vagabond that there was at least some truth to many of the versions.

In a 1990 letter to Jerry Cooper, Dr. Mavis P. Kelsey, who would also receive acclaim as a Texas A&M Distinguished Alumnus, provided some insight to the possibilities of the varying accounts of Reveille’s origin. Dr. Kelsey wrote to Cooper:

“I read with a great deal of interest your fine article ... about the origin of the first Reveille. I’ve always been interested in Reveille’s origins and wanted to report what I knew about them.

“After reading your article, I believe several people ‘discovered’ this same dog on different occasions before she became famous. I see no reason to doubt that Reveille was born on Eddie Chew’s place, as Eddie claims.

“I saw this exact dog several times running around the campus between the YMCA and Sbisa Hall where I was a ‘volunteer.’ I considered her to be a young, stray dog and used to pet her because she was very friendly and occasionally followed me to the dormitory where I lived across the hall from my friend Madero Bader (who seems to be one of Reveille’s several discoverers).

“For quite a while practically no one paid any attention to this dog who tried to be friendly. Then the dog started following the band and greeting people at the mess hall, and the next thing I knew, this exact same dog was known to everyone; and everyone vied for her attention; and she was called Reveille. I felt proud to have known Reveille when she was just a little, stray dog before she became the famous mascot.”

That letter may go a long way toward explaining why so many different people believed they had a claim to Reveille.

But in the broad scope of the tradition, it doesn’t really matter who actually brought the first Reveille to campus.

What matters most is that the little black dog with white feet and a golden heart brought warmth to a campus that was in grave need of any source of compassion.

Reply by RickinVA on 6/25/06 7:38pm
Msg #128300

Re: We broke $600! - DOG ENTERTAINMENT BREAK

Guess I gotta 'own up'! I was at Bryan AFB in the 50's (57) and as a way to get a little money, I'd wait tables at a resaurant in Bryan, every now and then. I actually ate there more often than 'waiting' there.

I left there one night and drove around, as I didn't really want to go back to the base, and I thought I might find a girl, with which to 'while away the time'. I saw this little dog in the ditch on one of those road, so I picked it up, fed it a little hamburger that I had left over, and rode around some more. I went past A&M and saw some people there who had maybe a little too much of a good time, and since I couldn't take the dog past the gate at BAFB, I dropped it off in someone's car who was pursuing a 'young 'en' in the area. Looked kinda like he was gonna 'score', so I dumped the poor mutt in the guy's car and left. Later, I heard that the captain of the football team 'found a poor lost dog in his car' and smuggled him into his dorm. The rest is history, as they say. Same dog? How could you doubt it! <g>

Rick

Reply by BrendaTx on 6/25/06 7:46pm
Msg #128302

Re: We broke $600! - DOG - Rick ARE YOU SERIOUS??? n/m

Reply by BrendaTx on 6/25/06 7:54pm
Msg #128305

Re: We broke $600! - DOG - Rick wait a minute...

You're pulling my leg. It was in the 30's when Reveille was made Queen of the Aggies.
Good story, though!

Were you at the chicken ranch? LOL

What restaurant?

Reply by TitleGalCA on 6/25/06 8:08pm
Msg #128310

I'm in. n/m

Reply by TitleGalCA on 6/25/06 8:11pm
Msg #128311

Whoops, I meant to say that

Chachi is feeling the pain all the way from Florida and wants to help. This little Chihuahua, all 9 pounds of him is standing on his hind legs (I call it the Kangaroo dance) and barking wildly to send help to everyone's mentor, Sylvia and her significant other...her dog.

Reply by BrendaTx on 6/25/06 8:19pm
Msg #128312

Re: Whoops, I meant to say that - got your email! ty!!! n/m

Reply by DogmongerCA on 6/25/06 6:35pm
Msg #128269

Regarless if you want the info

I would encourage those who can to send a couple of bucks to help out a fellow SA who for YEARS has given of herself and experience and never asked for anything in return. Her and her families struggles with mounting medical bills prohibits her from doing this herself, and she would NEVER ask. Thank God Brenda was privy to the info and posted it for us to pick up the ball and run with it. God Bless you little ole pea pickin heart, in my best Tennessee Ernie Ford voice.

Reply by LkArrowhd/CA on 6/25/06 6:40pm
Msg #128273

Re: Regarless if you want the info-Yes please give a little

Medical bills are outrageous

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 6/25/06 7:17pm
Msg #128293

Re: Regardless if you want the info

Thanks Ron
But, I need to clarify something. If you mean mounting medical bills because of my surgery, that is not a problem. I have Tricare Prime insurance that took care of most of my hospital bill and the ongoing medical supplies I have to have.

It is Lil Bit's surgery that is the big financial problem, and at one time it wouldn't have been a problem - also if it happened a few months down the road it probably wouldn't have been a problem. It is just with so much happening at once that it is a major problem, and I know this can't wait much longer.

I had no idea Brenda was going to do this. I am overwhelmed at the response she has got.
Lil Bit may be "just a dog" to some people, but to us she is a baby, a part of our family.
We have two dachsunds as well as Lil Bit. They are rescues, that have been abused in the past. One has only three legs, but gets around just fine. They are all part of what makes up our family.

Becca called me and gave me the contact info for her vet, so I am going to call tomorrow and see if the surgery can be done for less than what my vet wants.

I thank you all so much for your willingness to help Lil Bit. I had another Yorkie before her, that I brought from England. I had her 15.1/2 years and am hoping to have Lil Bit as long if not longer. She has a lot of living to do!

Reply by DogmongerCA on 6/25/06 7:31pm
Msg #128296

Sylvia, I should have been more specific

I meant to imply that with so much time off, that most assuredly you SA and SS business had suffered. Add that on top of that the recent emergencies, and it can be overwhelming. Best to you and Little Bit:-)

Reply by BrendaTx on 6/25/06 7:34pm
Msg #128297

Re: Regardless if you want the info

Sylvia - I am just sorry that I could not figure out a way to get this underway earlier. I have known for a week. Sylvia would not have let me post squat if I'd asked her.

I thought to myself, I have nearly 400 people who read my newsletter...if only 1/2 would give $5 we could get this done.

However, Joan brought it to the attention of the board and I am glad she did. Sylvia called me and said "what?" I told her--I did not say "who" it was, but I did not think *my* reputation would get it done. I put a little pressure on her to let others know who it was. I knew if people knew they had an opportunity to help HER after all she's done to help others, Lil Bit's surgery would be certain. I knew it would be so good for her if she could quit worrying about having to put Lil Bit down.

When we give, it's not just for the recipient. How else could we ever feel like we could help Sylvia who has done so much for us?

I think with the stress of this hard situation off of her, her health might just take a better turn and she'll be terrorizing Florida again. Medical bills aside...we know that when we cannot work it's very, very hard.