Happy Halloween

It's the haunting night! When the kids were little, I loved Halloween. Now that they are grown, it's lost it's magic for me like most holidays have. But I am stocked up on "the good" candy, as soon as Patrick carves the pumpkins today, we will be ready for the little darlings.
Let's hope they don't end up a tree like this little witchy poo did in the woods at my sister's house last week. I think she lost her sense of direction! I think this is one of the cutest Halloween decorations that I've seen in a long time.
Speaking of cute, you have to admit my friend Jules makes an enchanting vampire! Her gummy fangs were a little crooked, but then we are in the south where everyone's teeth are a little crooked!
Last but not least, here's the big pumpkin, where's Charlie? Or was she waiting for Carlos? And what IS she wearing under there? This was the Head Pumpkin from Creepover, she sure knows how to put on a great party! Oh and she can scrap too!

Have a Happy & Safe Halloween! It's hard to believe tomorrow is November!

:J 

What a Time!

Let's just start off with those girls from South Florida who know how to party! It was such a good time at Creepover. Linda & her crew really know how to put on a shindig. We cropped, we ate, we played and we laughed!!!!! I think the only thing missing was a proper amount of sleep.
The first night we had a little bit of a rain storm that brought some wind with it. A huge branch fell right outside the rec room we were cropping in, just missing our cars! This pic is of everyone pitching in to clean up! Always doing our civic duty!
The park we stayed in was gorgeous! Mike Roess Gold Head State Park in Keystone Heights Florida. Cute little cabins with real fireplaces, screened porches and hot showers. We took a break from scrapping to take a nature walk on the ravine trail. The water in the stream was about a foot deep and crystal clear. The stream meandered through the thick brush.
We even had a monkey man visit us. He must have cast "good scrapping" spells on all the girls as alot of beautiful work was done this weekend. Actually he was part of the costume party on Saturday night. So, So FUNNY! I laughed so hard I thought I was going to wet my pants! Our evenings entertainment was provided by the Village People, complete with all the dance moves, with a bit of embellishment and ad libing! Although they should have had a pirate in the group as someone spent the night asking everyone "Where's my F---ing RUM!" You can't tell it from the picture because Michelle's head is in the way, but I hear the police "man" was really packing. And we aren't talking guns here. That's the first installment of my diary of one of the funniest weekends in my life. Come back soon for more installments of How I Spent my Weekend Cropping and Didn't Finish a Single Project.

:J 

I'm off to Creepover!

The car is packed! I was amazed at what I could fit, and I still have the whole back seat empty! As soon as I get some pics loaded on the jump drive, I'm off to Creepover in the Woods for 3 days of fun and scrapping mayhem!
I'm excited to meet Jules & Kip & Linda. Jules, Kip and I will be cabin buddies, so I hope my snoring doesn't keep them awake! I'm also bringing stuff for s'mores so a campfire of some kind is in the works. Ooops! better be sure I take matches!
Wish me well, I'll be sure to blog when I get back and post pics!

:J

What to Bring, What to Bring!

I'm in the midst of packing for my very first weekend crop. Well outside of going to my sister's all weekend that is. There is no way I can take all that I take to her house! So I'm in the midst. What do I take?

Let's see so far I have this;
Camera
Cutter
Ruler
Pens
Scissors
Hole punch/setter thingy
Adhesive
Adhesive remover
Inks
Stamp Cleaner
4 kits to do
Clothes
S'mores stuff
Big Campfire forks
Blanket, sheets, towels & washcloths

So should I take my Cricut and my six cartridges? All my buttons? A bunch of embellies? Lots of Ribbon? Stamps? HELP!!!!
I've been to crops before, but never a whole weekend one. Will we really be scrapping much? Or being mischeivious? What kind of stuff will I be able to buy? Bunches????
I am stopping by most very favorite LSS in the whole world (so far) so I plan on getting stuff there. I just know I am going to get to the campground and say "GEEZ! I should have brought that!

:J

A Happier Week

I'm going to be more cheerful than my last post, so here's some things that made me happy lately.
Campfire at my sister's house. Every year toward the end of October, my sister holds a cookout/campfire for all her husband's retired work buddies and we always get invited. They make a huge campfire in their backyard, we eat potluck and sit around and discuss the "world situation" as she says. The group I sat near was discussing books they have read. One of the ladies had the most gorgeous southern lady drawl and I was satisfied to just sit and listen to her talk.
Packers Win! Yes they beat the Miami Dolphins this week. What made it even more joyous was three things. They beat the Dolphins so I was able to dish trash to all those Dolphin fans I work with who give me heck about my team every week. Go Pack! Second good thing. I came in First in the pool we have with a bunch of friends from DH's work. I picked the most winning teams this week! Since I am the only woman, it felt good to reap revenge on a bunch of Chauvenistic males. Third, Brett Favre threw no interceptions! WOOO HOO! Lately he has been plagued with interceptions.
The Fair. Friend Linda and I used the free passes that came with our cable bill to go peruse the exhibits at the fair. Really neat things there! Our HS kids placed first with their FFA booth (see blog two blogs ago) They worked hard on it. Looking at the other booths, I was glad to see my picks for the other places matched up with the judges.
Creepover I can hardly wait to get to this Scrapping Campout! What a blast it is going to be to finally meet Jules, Kip and Linda. We have shared many good times through our scrapping on cyber places, now it will get even better in person! I love the park we are going to, many good times when we camped there years ago!
I've been Googled! In checking my site meter, I noticed that some one in South Carolina googled my maiden name and it led them to this site. How I will never know. I can't think of any one I even know in So. Carolina, let alone anyone who would know my maiden name. So if you are still around, pop in and say HI!
Well that's it for happenings around here, I'm off to get ready for work, I think I will wear my new hippie blouse I have been waiting for cool weather to wear. If I don't get moving, I'll be late!!
Make today count!

:Jayne

Catching up from the Weekend

It's been a weekend since I last blogged. Uppers & Downers & Uppers again. Where do I start? I guess with what I most want to get off my chest, and then I can get happy again.
We had some very upsetting news on Wednesday evening. A very close friend of ours who was like a second father to our boys when they were growing up, committed suicide last Monday. To say we are in shock is a huge understatement. Frank was not the a man you would ever thought would do this. Successful, great kids, great wife, great life, well respected, just never would have thought he would do this.
Frank & his wife Chris, and their boys, Jim & Steve, were our first friends when we moved to Pensacola. They lived across the street from us in Navy housing. Frank & my DH, Chris & I, Jim & my oldest son, Daniel, Steven & Kevin, my middle son, became fast friends. Of course everyone took care of the my youngest, Pat. We did scouts together, Frank as Den Leader, Rick as Asst, and then vice versa. Frank & Rick ran the Webelos side of Day Camp the years I was Day Camp Director. Frank was Kevin's soccer coach. Chris & I did all the school volunteering with the boys, we all ate meals together, we watched each others kids, we even camped together on non scouting campouts. When Frank got sent to Panama, and Rick went to the Eisenhower, Chris & I stayed behind in Pensacola with the boys. The boys always wanted us to just get one big house and all of us live together. We got each other through lots of hard times. We were even camping together when I found out my dad had died. To say the least we were unseperable for many years.
So now he goes and does this. WHY? I am angry at him. He has a great wife, one son who is in the Navy as a Lt. in the Nuclear Sub program at Bremerton, the other is an accountant for the largest auto dealership in our city. Why Frank? Why did you do this, and then to have to have Chris come home to find you! WHY? I will never understand. My heart breaks for Chris and the boys. I am so angry at him. How selfish! but it's okay Frank, your friends will help your family pick up the pieces and move on. But you will never see your sons marry, hold your grandchildren, or take them camping or through scouts. Your sons will, they are good men, very good men. I hope you DID see that.
I'm sorry I have rambled on way too long. I promise to be a happier blogger tomorrow. Frank was a good man whom I deeply respected. I am terribly sad but very angry at the loss of his life so unnecessarily.

:J

In Case You were Wondering

40 Questions about me!

1. What is your occupation? Adult Vocational Education Data Specialist & Athletic Dept. Secretary
2. What color are your socks right now? Barefoot - I live in Florida!
3. What are you listening to right now? The hum of the hard drive and Amarillo Sky in my head.
4. What was the last thing that you ate? Gumbo, Fried Mullet and 3 French Fries.
5. Can you drive a stick shift? Yep
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Watermelon
7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? My oldest son
8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Yes
9. How old are you today? 46
10. Favorite drink? Dasani Water
11. What is your favorite sport to watch? Green Bay Packer Football
12. Have you ever dyed your hair? Nope, I'm a virgin Which color?N/A
14. Favorite food? Cuban food & Manny's Pizza
15. What was the last movie you watched? Monster In Law
16. Favorite day of the year? The Last day of School
17. What do you do to vent anger? YELL
18. What was your favorite toy as a child? My Barbies
19. What is your favorite, fall or spring? FALL
20. Hugs or kisses? Both
21. Cherries or blueberries? Both
22. Do you want your friends to email you back? Yes
23. Who is most likely to respond? Monkey girls
24. Who is least likely to respond? Jason, my brother, but if he does, you will Laugh yer butt off!
25. Living arrangements? In a house??
26. When was the last time you cried? Today
27. What is on the floor of your closet? Shoes & a box of Scouting Books and lots of Dust
28. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending this to? Dunno, Depends on who reads this
29. What did you do last night? HMMMM, I plead the fifth
30. Favorite smells? Rain, Babies, Sweaty little boys, Lilacs
31. What inspires you? Nature
32. What are you afraid of? Losing my memory
33. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? Cheese
34. Favorite dog breed? My Lab/Chow mix
35. Number of keys on your key ring? Which Key Ring? I have 3. One has 2, One has 3 and One has 5
36. How many years at your current job(s)? 3 at this school, 14 with the district
37. Favorite day of the week? Saturday
38. How many states have you lived in? 4- Illinois, Virginia, Indiana, Florida
39. Favorite holidays? Any that I can get my whole family in one place at one time.
40. Ever driven a Motorcycle or heavy machinery? Yep Motocycles and Tractors.


Okay now copy and paste and post yours!

A Day at the Fair

It's Fair week in Escambia County! Actually our Fair is 10 days long, no one can pack this much fun into just one week! Today was Fair set up day. The FFA kids from our school always put a lot of hard work into their booth.
FFA, for those of you city folk, is Future Farmers of America. The name changed to something more politically correct in the 90's, but for the life of me I can't remember what it was changed to. It was FFA when I was a kid, and it will always be FFA to me.
Future Farmers of America teaches the youth of our country about the agriculture and farming vocations. It's not just about farming. There's lots of science to it.
Think about it, everything we eat, and most of the things we use had a start in agriculture. In Florida, the first agricultural item people think we grow is oranges. WE don't even grow oranges in our county!!!! Not commercially anyway. Escambia county is known for peanuts, cotton, sorghum and grains.
I was recruited to help because my friend, Melissa, the FFA advisor, has been having back trouble this week. I was supposed to help the kids set up, and Melissa was supposed to sit back, supervise and direct the show. HA! She is so stubborn, we couldn't stop her. She even got up on the ladder. I admire Melissa, she is a can do girl. But she needs to rest that back! Fair week is just beginning! I ended up cutting out all the labels you see, while Melissa & kids labeled everything agricultural. That's one of the rules! The kids even remembered to label the bat & ball, ashwood and cowhide, because it is commercially produced agriculture!
They did an awesome powerpoint presentation on agriculture and featured Commissioner Bronson, our Florida state Agriculture Commisioner. He talked about his start in ag, and how it took him all the way through the legislature and to the Commisioner position. The kids teased that we would all have it memorized by the end of the day, and someday we would need to know something on that presentation for the million dollar question. The powerpoint will play continuously throughout the fair. It also has a part that the background music is the song, "Amarillo Sky" I love that song! It is a country song but I don't know who sings it.

Finally our time was up and we had two minutes to get out of the building. The kids, Melissa, that's her on the end in blue, and Ms. Vail, our Vet teacher, on the other end, posed for a quick and blurry pic. We didn't care, we were so tired and ready to go. And at 4 p.m. after two long days of booth building, we did!
It was a long, hot, humid day, but it brought back many of my fair memories from 10 years in 4H. I hope the kids do well, we have always brought home blue for our display ever since we started 4 years ago.
Good Luck kids! Keep up the winning tradition for WFHS!

:J 

Wonderings & Blitherings

It's mid week, A good time to be a blithering, wondering idiot.
Why is it the week I can take hour long lunch hours and leave campus to eat, it rains every day? We consider it one of the "bennies" of being a 12 month employee. When the rest of the staff and students aren't there, we can go to the restaurant of our choice, eat a meal without inhaling it, and return to an afternoon of blissfully working in peace and quiet. So far not this week. We're shooting for tomorrow as the day of freedom. Some of us have a workshop on Thursday and most of us took a day of leave for Friday. Tomorrow, we're doing lunch. If it's not raining that is.
300 million people. Boy this is getting to be a crowded country. How many of us are here legally? Or are the illegals in or out of that count. I wish we could pick and chose which illegals get to stay. Lately here I have seen alot of hardworking men from south of the border put our town back together. I see them in the stores, buying food, cleaned up after a long hard day doing what many of us refuse to do, hard back breaking work. I see them with their families, together shopping together. They are always polite, sometimes more polite than we are to them. They are clean and dressed, not always with the latest fashion name brand emblazoned across their chest. But they are clean and wear their pants pulled up. I would pick them to stay. Can we pick people to send south of the border? I won't mention names. But names aren't important, actions are.
Speaking of actions, I've been pouty today. I dunno why, just am. The Birthday was great, I look foward to tomorrow, 20 Years!! and the weekend and seeing my sister. and the next weekend, meeting the girls for Creepover. Anyway sorry for being pouty.
George Strait's new CD is worth the price. His voice is so smooth.
Dancing with the Stars. It's time for Jerry to go home. Joey after him, and then let Mario Emmitt and Monique show them what dancing is. Emmitt is a hometown boy, my vote is for him, but Mario can dance for me anytime!
How bout those Saints and Bears!!! I see them both going far!
So I have rambled, probably offended, but this is me. Blithering.

:J

In Broad Daylight!

Today was my first early day off of the week. I got home about 3, ready to search for a chicken wing recipe (which I found) and make my husband his favorite Japanese Chicken Wings. I set about cutting up the wings into drumettes. Why are they drumettes? Why aren't they wingettes? Anyway, cut them up, floured them, fried them in real butter, made the sauce, poured the sauce over the wings, and put the pan in the oven to cook for 1 1/2 hours. Feeling a bit tired, I went to the living room to sit in front of the big window and watch the world go by.
I noticed a white car in the driveway at my neighbors. It looked like their car but not quite. Something was different. I noticed a young man ducking in the driver's side door like he was putting something in, or taking something out of the backseat. He then got into the car and drove into our cul de sac, stopping right behind my car, then he proceeded half way around the cul de sac and stopped. The next time he started he went back to the drive he pulled out of and stopped. Then he took off quickly down the street. It almost looked like someone who was learning how to drive. It was then I saw him. A fairly well dressed young man (if I didn't know my son was in the backroom, I would have thought it was him) in khaki shorts, button up short sleeve shirt and black ball cap take off running after the car. The really surprising thing was, he was carrying my neighbor's table router. OMG! by the time I got my shoes on and ran to the street they were long gone. They were ripping off my neighbor's garage and when I came to sit down they must have seen me. When I first saw them, I didn't give it a second thought, it looked like their car, it looked like their son kinda. It wasn't until the young man went running down the street that I knew something was wrong. In broad daylight, 4 in the afternoon.
I knew my neighbor would be home soon so I watched for him. When he pulled up, I went over and told him what I saw. I felt bad I couldn't stop them, I felt bad that it was too late to call the police. I felt bad that this is happening in our neighborhood far too often nowadays.
I am in shock and feel violated and it wasn't even my home.
As we talked my neighbor said that they must have been casing the house and watching. Our other neighbor, Bob and my neighbor Mickey are both usually home at that time of day. Both are retired, and Bob or his wife are usually outside. They are our neighborhood watchdogs. But today neither was home.
So now we will watch a bit more closely at the people walking and driving by in our quiet little corner. The real world has invaded our utopia.

:J

Celebrating Another Day!

Yes the rumor is true, today I turned 46. One year farther into adulthood, one year closer to being a senior citizen. Not that I buy into the age thing. It's not about age, it's about living life everyday! Besides somedays I still feel like a teenager, and some I feel 80 (usually directly following a day I THOUGHT I was still a teenager!)
I figure since I am older, I need at least two days to celebrate now. Yesterday, was a shopping, eating and napping day. While I napped, my DH shopped for gifts, and afterwards we drove to the beach to pick up a pizza, which we brought home and ate while watching Auburn cream Florida. WOOHOO! This Noles fan was glad to see that!
Today has been nice, quiet day. The kind I wished for when the boys were little. We made biscuits and gravy for breakfast. I got a new sewing machine from DH. My first brand new machine that has never been used by anyone! I have had a few sewing machines, but they were only hand me downs. The dog got me Photoshop Elements 5. He's such a good dog!
Patrick gave me a big hug & kiss before heading out to work two double shifts at Sonny's. He also thought I was only 42. Bless his heart!!! I love that boy.
So no big plans today, no cake, no party. My gifts, unmaterial, happen everyday. I am so blessed. It sometimes sounds so trite, but I truly relish the simple life I lead. As long as I wake up everyday next to my DH, my children are happy and productive young men, and I have a picture to scrap, life is good.
I will never see world peace, our world will never go back to what it was when I was a child. So I am thankful for every day God gives me, so I can make a difference for the good. That is the greatest gift, one more day.

:J

I Haven't Seen This in Years!

This morning I fit in to a sweater. Not just any sweater, but one of those cutesy sleeveless sweaters with a matching cardigan. And not just any cutesy sleeveless sweater with matching cardigan, but a size 16/18 Misses sleeveless sweater with matching cardigan! I am basking in glory. However short lived!
Sure it could just be the brand. Sure it could just be cut large. But Helga and Berta fit into THIS sweater, on this day and I am rejoicing! Will they fit after I wash it? Will they fit next week with water weight gain? I don't know, but for now I can say, 16!!!!! Okay yes there is an 18 there too!
It just feels good to wear something that fits in the shoulders AND in the chest. It drapes my body as clothes should. It encourages me to try on other size 16/18 clothes and not head immediately to the "women's size" and browse through the granny clothes. I feel fashionable today. I feel cute. I feel skinny!
It may not be long lasting. I will probably pig out on some dessert that I don't need to eat, I will probably skip my walk a few days. I'll be back in the women's dept soon. But for now I am a size 16/18!

:J

Morning Monday!

It is crisp and cool here this am. I love this weather, but it makes it hard to get motivated to go to work as I want to stay home and be outside.
I had a great weekend and got alot accomplished that I wanted to do. DH & I cleaned out our closet and took tons of clothes to the mission. He got rid of alot of flannel shirts and sweats. I hope they get those on the shelves soon, with this cool weather they will be needed. Now my challenge is to not buy more clothes to fill the closet back up. We both still have enough clothes to outfit all small country. I counted DH's Packer shirts and he has 13 of those alone! Not to mention his Harley shirts and souvenier shirts. We put alot of his stuff in a "work shirt drawer" so those will be gone as soon as they get messy!
I organized my stuff, summer on one side of my closet, winter on the other. It will make it easy to get dressed now that we are in "transition weather" I still have tooo much stuff. I don't know how the pioneers did it with so few clothes.
My reward for cleaning was scrappin'. I finished two pages and they are up at the Monkey Board. I'm still not ready to post them anywhere else. It's easier for me to put it out where I know people will say kind things, not ready for the world to critize me!
I am so frustrated with my Packers. They show so many moments of brilliance, where I think they are going to win and then in one move blow the game. I know Favre still has alot of good games left in him, he has a young offense that is molding into some awesome players. I just wish we could keep it together for a whole game. But like my own kids, they are my Packers and I love them when they are good, and love them when they are bad.
I'm off to the real world.
Have a Marvelous Monday!
:J

Thyri

The first ten years of my School District career I spent in a PreK classroom as a Teacher's Aide. It was one of the most rewarding times in my life. I loved the children, our program and our school. We were a 200 student school of only 4 year olds. We were like family.
In my ten years there, I had many students I adored, but like most anyone who spent time in a classroom, I had some I will never forget. That is how I came to know Thyri. (Tie-ree)
Thyri came into our classroom every day with a huge smile that lit up his face, a hug as big as a gorilla's, and a happiness that radiated my soul. Thyri was the second oldest of four children being raised by his mother in a housing project nearby. Aside from his smile, good nature and his eagerness to please, he was an average 4 year old boy.
Because he was 4 years old, he had energy that most of us wish we could bottle. He wasn't hyper, but all boy through and through. Since I couldn't harness that energy, we spent many a day on the playground at outside time running laps. Thyri would race the entire class and win everytime. Some days he would run laps around the playground alone, each time stopping to ask me how he was doing. I would reply, "Very fast, but I think you can run faster!" To which he would take off again at top speed.
Over the years I thought about Thyri, his smile, his energy. I hoped all was going well for him and his mom, who expected the best from all her children, manners, cleanliness, honesty, good grades. From time to time I would hear about his sisters, but never Thyri, until this past Thursday night.
Thursday night my younger son's high school, West Tech and my older two boys high school, Escambia, played each other at a 9th grade football game. I was manning the pass gate, which gave me a good view of the stadium, so I got to watch the game in between checking passes. Not many people come to 9th grade games, so I could see most of the game. During the first quarter, Escambia had the ball on about the 50 yard line when all of the sudden #14 took off downfield for a touchdown. I heard one of the boys standing there say "Did you see Thyri go?"
In my mind I made a connection, there couldn't possibly be more than a few Thyri's around. Later on, as I was talking to my oldest son's old soccer coach, this same #14 blew down the field again for a touchdown. This time the coach asked one of the boys, "Was that McBride?" It was then I knew it was my Thyri.
"Thyri McBride?" I asked the coach. "Yes," came his answer. I then told him the whole story, how he was in my PreK classroom, how he ran and ran and ran every day at playground time.
"I guess all his running has paid off" was his comment to me.
I brought up his name later in the game to the Asst. Principal, who is also a friend of mine. He told me that Thyri still had that same huge smile, and a great attitude in school. He told me I should see Thyri after the game, so I did.
I stopped him as he came up the hill but no he didn't remember me. (they never do from PreK) I congratulated him on his 3 touchdowns and told him the story about all the running he did in PreK. I told him that I heard good things about him and I was proud of him. The whole time, he smiled and laughed and nodded, genuinely interested in an old woman's tales of his childhood. He told me his mom and sisters were doing fine. Finally, I shook his hand and let him go on with his teammates, but assured him I would be in the stand cheering him on for the next 4 years.
I never in a million years dreamed that energetic, running boy would go on to be the fine young man he is today. Talking with him that night I still saw that same smile that came through the door and lit up my day so many years ago. We have both touched each others lives. You just never know how.

:J

My 5 Wierd Things about ME!

Everyone who really knows me knows how long I had to think to come up with this list. But finally I did. So in no particular order and in graphic detail my list.

1. I can not drink out of Soft Plastic Tupperware cups. Nothing is more gross to me. I prefer glass, but if that is not available, it has to be clear, plastic, or I just do without.

2. I cannot clean up two things. Dog poo and People puke. I have shoveled all kinds of manure, even skipped school to do it. but Dog poo just gags me. And the other, well I am a sympathy puker. My children, thank god, never did that whereas I would have to clean them or it up. They always got sick when DH was home or made it to the bathroom. Sometimes I could hand them a washrag to wipe themselves with.

3. I cannot drive without some kind of air circulating in the car. I prefer the vent to windows down, but can drive in a convertable all day long.

4. I cannot eat grits. I must have been autistic in a previous life, I am a real texture person.
Grits taste alright, I just can't stand the texture. They make my mouth hurt.

5. I can't stand to see someone lick a knife. Again, the mouth hurts.

So now I tag 5 people to list their five wierd things. Make sure you tag 5 people too!
Kip, Sandy, Nichole, Pam C, and Peggy. It's okay bro, I know you read and don't post, EVER!

:J

My Baker's Dozen

After yesterdays depressive blog I decided to think of some things that make me happy. In no particular order here they are;

1. Visiting my hometown. The picture above is taken at our State Park, Mississippi Palisades. Sorry it was hazy that day.

2. My family. Any and all of them. It is so fun to be with them.

3. A Packers win. Just watching them play makes me happy, but I'm happier when they win. Actually I just love any football.

4. Beach & Pizza. It's a great date.

5. My dog, Dakota. He is such a great dog, he makes me laugh, he protects me. He has my fathers soul.

6. Flowers. Not bouquets from a florist, live ones growing everywhere, blowing in the breeze.

7. Paper. New paper from the scrap store. It inspires my imagination.

8. Cole's Fried Chicken, greens, candied yams, cornbread. Soul Food, nuff said.

9. A good Margarita. Any thing seems possible with one in your hand.

10. My hubby. I guess when I still get goosebumps just looking at him after 20 years, it must be love.

11. Travel. Some days I just need to know that soon I am going somewhere, anywhere, away from here.

12. Cheesecake Factory. It should be a sin.

13. Rain & Laughter & Lawn mowers running in the afternoon. Rain and Laughter are the best two free sounds in the whole wide world. Lawn mowers running relax me, I don't know why, it must be the constant hum going back and forth, rocking my mind to sleep.

What is your Baker's Dozen?

:J 

Outrage!

I am shocked at the news of the shootings in the Amish school. That was a sick, sick man. I have read his turmoil over the molestation of his young relatives. I read his grief over losing his daughter. But to kill the most innocent of all children when they have done nothing to him? It's the most horrific of crimes.
I have visited in the Amish community near my in laws home. I have a deep respect for the Amish, their pure living, their love and respect of God. These young girls have not been exposed to the violence of TV, music and movies. They more than likely had not heard of the recent school shootings in our country. They were the most innocent of innocents.
My heart breaks for their families, friends and community. It breaks for the intrusion of our maddening world into their quiet, gentle lives. I cannot imagine what those 5 surviving little girls will have to suffer with for the rest of their lives.
I question my own faith at times like these. How would I be able to forgive someone who did something so horrific to innocent children? Why does God let this happen? An Amish grandfather quoted in our paper said it best. "We think it was God's plan and we are going to have to pick up the pieces and keep going. A funeral to us is a much more important thing than the day of birth because we believe in the hereafter. The children are better off than the survivors." How true.
I pray for them, the survivors, the families. I pray for the shooter's family. I pray for our country to be given the answer to these outrageous crimes against our children. I pray to find forgiveness in my own heart.
Somehow this all has to stop. Our answers need to come soon.

:J

I Challenge Him

Often when I need to really hear it, I ask my DH "Why do you love just me?" His answers vary, and sometimes when he tells me, I tell him "Nope, heard that one before, you have to give me a new one." It's a game we play, a silly one.
Mostly he says, "Because you are you" or "Because you are here for me everyday." But I know it's also because of things I do for him and that I let him watch football all day without complaining. Sometimes he tells me, "Because love is an unexplainable emotion, it just happens." But even without hearing it, I know he loves me.
My favorite answer was, "Because you challenge me." That answer developed into one of those all night conversations where we giggled ourselves silly long into the night. So I continue to challenge him.
DH is a puzzle nut. He loves puzzles of any kind. Sukodu, Crosswords, Scrabble, Mechanical puzzles, and yes jigsaw puzzles. He's tried many different kinds of jigsaws. The shapes, mosaics and photomosaics. I found this one at Hobby Lobby and used my coupon for it instead of much needed (HA!) scrapbooking supplies. It's called "The Games We Play" I thought I had challenged him. But I didn't. He cursed a few times at it, but finally got it together in 10 hours. I guess I will have to continue to be his only puzzle, his only challenge.

:J

Happy 57th Anniversary Wally & Kathy! my in laws 

Six and a half

Six and a half is such a fun age to be. I think of all the family reunion attendees, Ben had the most fun. What boy wouldn't? He had plenty of woods to run around in. Plenty of Uncles & cousins to play with, more food, cookies and soda (or Pop as we call it) than any Six and a half year old boy could possibly eat, and grandma and aunts who just couldn't do enough for him. Yes, Ben was loving life at the reunion.
Ben loved the wax teeth brigade. That was his first experience with that. He got the act down quite well don't you think?

Ben was my walking buddy every day he was there. We walked "around the block" 2 miles everyday. One day we picked roadside flowers and I showed him how to make "forest crowns" He proudly wore his and we deemed him "King of the Pines" There was quiet time too. He concentrated intensely to put his first model together. He was thrilled when his BIG cousin, Pat helped. He was so proud.
Ben even tried to show us tricks. Like balancing a ball of his Grandpa Moe's head while Grandpa tied his shoes.
Oh to have a boy so small again! I tried to talk his mom and grandmom into letting me squeeze him into my suitcase and bring him back home with me. His mom was all for it, but for once, Grandma said no.
I guess I will just have to be happy with our yearly visits, talks on the phone and Where's George tracking expeditions. I just wish he wouldn't grow up as fast as my boys did. I think Peter Pan had the right idea.

:J 

This is the Family I Married Into

I sometimes question things I have done in my past. Truth or Dare games, bellyflops for cokes, skipping school to clean horse stalls. And now this, the family I married into, or at least most of them. Sad to say I bore one of these people, he is my flesh & blood. This is what we do for fun at a family reunion in Wisconsin. We dress the old people, the babies and a few others who may have had a drink or two, in ridiculous wax mouths and take group pictures.
I could blame alcohol, but most of them don't even drink. I can't blame genetics as a few of them aren't related by blood. So it must be something about spending time in the woods of Wisconsin with 30 members of your immediate family for more than a few days. It does something to your sanity.

Family traditions continue on, lets hope it's the last we see of the wax lips.

PS Mine is the one in the brown jacket on the right side. Right in front of the little one who is attending the first reunion he will remember. He probably thinks this side of the family is a little wierd and will kick and scream not to go back to the woods to visit them.
Some days I wonder.

:J