Baby Shower

We had a baby shower at work and I just had to show you the "cake" that Melissa made. It was quite amazing. It took her three hours to make it. I forgot to ask how many diapers it took.

Date Night

As part of the marriage conference we went to this weekend, we went out on a date. It was really nice. Something we do not get a chance to do very often. The conference itself was great. Kendall and Jennifer did a wonderful job. We watched "Fireproof" and discussed several different books on marriage. It is easy to forget that marriage is not a given, it has to be nurtured.

Surprise!

It is rare that my husband can pull off a surprise. It isn't his fault...I should have been some kind of investigator. I can find the tiniest clue and piece it all together. But with the help of a co-worker, he absolutely floored me today. He sent a Barbershop Quartet to work to sing "Let me call you Sweetheart" and another tune I didn't recognize. They also gave me a card and a rose. It was incredibly sweet! I was the color of a tomato, not just my face but my neck too!! I will post the rest the pictures later. Love the first one. I'm on the phone with hubby trying to figure out why my co-worker is taking my picture. Then I see four guys in suits and I can't determine why on a Friday there is so much commotion. I heard someone say "are they going to sing?". Huh? What? Oh no, he didn't. But sure enough he did! The singing was excellent and everyone on the floor came to enjoy the performance. I hate being embarrassed. But hubby is still a keeper. It's been 22 years since he proposed and I'd still say YES!

Fussin'

It is Thursday and I'm tired. And I'm fussy. Ya know, sometimes it stinks being an adult. We finally got someone to actually show up and give us an estimate on painting the house. I thought Cletus was going to stroke out. The grand total = $4000. Holy Crow!! So we are figuring that if we rent a boom lift and buy the paint ourselves, that we will save $3000. As if that weren't enough to think about...the laundry is still not draining properly. We looked it up and Drano type products do not work on lint. So we called Roto Rooter to snake it out. But when the guy showed up, he said it was a waste of time to snake it. Excuse me? I'm paying you to waste your time...so snake it. He didn't. So we are back to square one on that one. If we replace the french drain, the county expects you to do a perk test. Ridiculous! Just another way to get money out of us. To do a test that doesn't matter. There was already a drain, the house is already built. What are we supposed to do if we fail? Pay more money to have it done again?? It is aggravating!!!!!

Pondering

I ran into an old friend today. I love K. She is always a ray of sunshine and a prayer warrior. She has unknowingly pulled me through some bleak times. But what she said really hit me. She made the comment that she wakes up in the morning next to a stranger. Wow! She and B have been married 20 plus years and have one son. He is getting ready to graduate from high school. She said that she and B have been so busy raising their son that they really don't know each other anymore. She is clearly concerned about life with B, without the son's activities. I don't think they have a bad marriage...I think we get so busy that we lose ourselves along the way.

Betty Lou's Reconstructive Process

We just got back from visiting Betty Lou at the local Ford dealership (where we adopted her). I apparently have a new bud for life, Phil. Phil is the body guy and he said that Betty Lou is very fortunate. The damage is limited to parts that are fiberglass and plastic and are bolted on. No damage to the frame. So, the front quarter panel and the hood will be replaced. Along with the bumper assembly and left lights. Oh, and the windshield wiper reservoir that was cracked. So this means that Betty Lou will be getting out in a week. It would have been two or so if they had to do welding. Phil said that I did a good job driving and deflecting the damage. If I had not turned and ended up hitting head on, the airbags would have gone off. There would have been damage to the frame. In some cases, it would be even enough to total it. I understand that putting back the airbags is expensive. Phil also said that Alfa (the other insurance carrier) is really good and insists on new parts (so no reconditioned crap). Of course I made Hubby go with me. I don't want to hear about damage to the turn indicator fluid!! Some of those mechanic turds make me so mad. They purposely talk garage lingo and act like I'm a dum-dum. Grrrr!!! Hey, I put the key in the ignition...what else do I need to know??

I think I know what's wrong...

I think I know what is wrong with our society today. I was contacted yesterday at lunch. She said that she is an "accident investigator" and asked me if I had retained a lawyer. I was floored. I had read the police report earlier that day. The other driver said that she had the right-of-way. And she didn't get a ticket. Even though the police officer stated that she failed to yield. My thought was that either the business that owns the van or that girl is going to try and sue me!! Holy Cow!!!!! It turns out that the lady on the phone isn't a lawyer, but she works for them. She spends her day reading police reports (here they are a matter of public record) and contacting the "victims". Yes, what she does is highly unethical and by the way, illegal! No wonder our court systems are tied up with crap and money-grubbing people are suing left and right. What ever happened to common sense?? Yes, I would sue but only if the other party would not do the right thing. Thankfully, ALFA is being very nice. They even upgraded me to a Camry.

Beep beep

Absolutely no offense to drivers of the Nissan Verse or similarly made vehicles. But for me, being used to my big honkin' suv...this little thing is a clown car. It even honks like a clown car! Especially when at 5'6" tall, I'm the shortest in the fam. Cletus driving looked like that scene in The Incredibles! Thankfully, I got an upgrade today. I'm now in a Camry. Much mo' better! Guess I'll have to return the clown shoes and the red nose. Thanks to J who offered to loan me her rainbow wig. Looks like I'll be in the Camry for two weeks or so. I have to go to the shop tomorrow and see what all they have decided is wrong. Hey, no rush...get it done right (the first time!).

Poor Betty Lou

The bumper, lights, quarter panel and hood are toast. But I don't think that they will total it. I surely could have been a whole lot worst. I'm glad that we took my car and not G's little car. Everyone walked away...that is the most important thing!!

Crash Payton

Well, it was my co-worker's birthday today. So we were going to take her out to lunch. I had, in all, five of the seven people who make up our accounting department in my Ford Explorer. We had just left the parking lot and made it halfway through the first intersection when a catering van turned in front of us. I ended up tboning the van. It was almost in slow motion and yet it happened in a blink of an eye. M said that he saw the van window shatter in slow motion. We were all so stunned that she turned! She started to turn left in front of us...paused (so we thought she was not going to) and then turned. Thank God everyone is fine...sore, but so far fine. The airbags did not deploy. The damage to my suv is concentrated in the right front part of the car. I really can't describe the damage very well. I took a quick look at it and thought I was going to heave. So I walked away. I will go take a look at Betty Lou tomorrow and take pictures. It was strange the waves of emotion that I went through. First just total shock. I called 911 but could hardly answer questions. Then remorse and sadness (crying). Then irritation. Sometimes I wonder why I pay for car insurance. I have paid full coverage for years and have not needed it. But when I do, the company wanted me to do all of the work. They wanted me call the other person's insurance company and basically handle my own claim. Um...and what do I pay you guys to do?? I finally got someone to listen to me and I have a rental car. It is a Nissan Vespa. No offense, but next to the big suv, it looks like a clown car. It even has a horn like a clown car. As you can tell, my thoughts are scrambled and I'm tired. I'm just so grateful, it could have been so so much worst. We could have easily been hit from behind as well; the airbags could have broken noses; someone could have been seriously injured. I'm glad we all get to go on through another day!