Gracie Lucy

2012-01-21T17:05:00.001-06:00

Used to be I would hop in the car and drive anywhere. It didn't matter that it was 200 or more miles away. Now, I think I'd rather stay in my jammies and have a movie day. Does that mean I'm getting old??

Well, even though I think I've lost my sense of adventure, Tdawg and I drove to Boiling Springs, North Carolina to visit Gardner Webb University. We drove through Chattanooga, TN to Knoxville, TN to Ashville, NC and over the mountains into Boiling Springs, NC. It was a pretty good drive...but really long. We left at 8a central and got there about 4p eastern, with a lunch stop in Knoxville. The weather was not the greatest: about 20 degrees and snow. Some of the driving was a tad nerve wracking.

I was so glad we got there before dark! We looked around the small town and drove around the campus. We checked into the hotel and had dinner. Georgio's had awesome authentic Italian food. Mama Mia!! I was so full and I ended up giving half of my Tour of Tuscany (lasagna, fettuccine and ravioli) to Tdawg.

Saturday morning, we toured the campus. And the football facilities. All I can say is WOW! The weight room was bigger than my house. The locker room was bigger than Cosmos gym and the high school field house combined. It is a private college and division one. They have money and do not mind spending it. Even the training room is nice: with 12 tables! They provide all sorts of workout/practice/game clothes and equipment...and they wash them too! Bless them!!

We finished our tour with a private meeting with the head coach. He was very gracious and genuine. I would so like for Tdawg to play there. It is really far away (sniff) but he would get such a good education. It would be a great stepping stone to medical school, or whatever he chooses to do. This really is tough!

Sunday morning, we drove (I drove, Tdawg snored) back through Gaffney, SC to Spartanburg, SC to Atlanta, GA to see my sister and her husband. We had a lovely lunch at Copeland's. Yummy!! It was just the break I needed. Yes, it was Sunday...but driving in Atlanta's 8 lanes of traffic make me SO nervous. And then north to Alabama. All in all, 890 miles. Maybe my sense of adventure isn't gone after all.

Tdawg was so nervous that he didn't sleep much Friday night or Saturday night. So, by Tuesday he had bronchitis. And with him coughing like a maniac, I didn't sleep either. I'm so tired...and still have much to do. Next weekend, we go to eastern Tennessee and the following to Indiana and the next to Memphis. I get tired just thinking about it!!

Goals Dreams and Inspirations

2012-01-12T10:58:00.000-06:00

Wow, I'm really in a funk. It has rained for days: dark, damp, dreary, dismal, drippy and depressing. I have webmd diagnosed myself with seasonal disorder. So what is the rx? I'm not one for pills. So I called bestie and whined through lunch. That actually does help by the way...temporarily! Bestie is not only a good listener...she asked me what my dreams are. I don't know! I have done the same thing for so long that I think I've lost myself along the way. I have determined my identity by what I do: wife, mom, worker bee. The biggest problem with that is when it radically changes. I was the victim of a layoff two months ago. So now I am: wife, mom and useless. I have been doing projects to validate my not working. It is good to finish projects: refurbish the outside lights, organize the closet, paint the living room. But pretty soon, the projects aren't enough. And thus the funk.So, even though I'm not much for resolution. I think some goals, dreams and inspirations are in order. Starting with reading One Thousaind Gifts.

Cletus Update

2012-01-12T10:27:00.003-06:00

Cletus did indeed break his foot. He was limping around some but stepping off of the curb made it unbearable. The xray showed three or four spider-like fractures. Doc said it is typically slow to heal. It is right below the base of the pinkie toe, where all the tendons and ligaments connect. So, he is in a cast for six weeks. Bummer! He is not a good patient! Now that I think about it, I haven't met a guy yet who is a good patient. "Ya big baby!" He is most frustrated by his lack of mobility. Well, on a happier note, he loves the Kindle that I got him for Christmas. Maybe that will keep him sane for the remaining five weeks. Now the question is: what is going to keep me sane for the remaining five weeks.

Buddy is 20!

2012-01-11T14:36:00.000-06:00

Hard to believe my little boy is 20...but then again, he is 6'5" and not exactly little. What a sweetie he is!!

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T20:31:00.001-06:00

And so we say good-bye to 2011...I sincerely hope that 2012 is a lot better. Thus far it is not starting out so well. Buddy is still not feeling well. Three weeks ago, he had all four of his wisdom teeth removed along witha twelve year molar that was impacted. Maybe V is right, he won't eat because of the pain. His diet has been basically one meal of 1/2 box of macaroni and cheese, one pudding cup, sprite...and later a cup of vanilla ice cream. Best guess is about 500 calories. He has lost 11 pounds in two weeks. I have to beg and plead to get him to go out for a little while. One day we went and played putt-putt. Afterwards, he just wanted to come home. He went up to bed and stayed there the rest of the day. I think Cletus has broken his foot. He had been limping around for about a week. He didn't know why. And then Satureday, he mis-stepped up onto a curb and felt a stabbing pain. It is now swollen and it can't bear weight. So he has been using Tdawg's old crutches, until we can get into see the doc.

December Birthdays

2012-01-01T20:24:00.004-06:00

My great niece (Z) turned 2.

A few days later, my nephew (K) turned 4.

I think I'm getting too old for little kids!

Christmas in the Park

2012-01-01T20:02:00.003-06:00

The grills met to walk in the park and see the Christmas trees. And then on to Bonefish Grill (yum!)

Being an accountant, love the local CPA firm with their beancounter ornaments.

Love the one from the health center. You have to laugh when you see miniature barbells, jumpropes and yoga mats on a tree.

Dr. Seuss is always a good idea.

Also loved the tree with antique doorknobs, keys and hinges. I wasn't the only one who liked it, it won for most unique.

Auburn Letters

2012-01-01T19:57:00.002-06:00

My friend gave this to me for Christmas. She did a great job with chipboard letters, scrapbook paper and embelishments.

Modgepodge Letters

2012-01-01T19:55:00.003-06:00

I actually made something off of Pinterest. I should not have trimmed the pictures...but since I did, I filled in with stickers. Z and K's parents loved them. Really easy to make. I got the wood letter from Hobby Lobby. Painted it. Then modgepodged the pictures on. I went ahead and sprayed it with sealant after I got finished.

At the Beach

2012-01-01T19:20:00.001-06:00

Actually, at Bridgestreet at the SOCA gallery. The paint was incredibly thick and difficult to work with.

Southern Magnolia

2011-11-23T19:39:00.015-06:00

Back at the Bottle and Brush. This was harder than I thought. Just because of the limited color and shading. We only had white, brown, gold, rust and blue-green.

The background...

Rough in the petals...

and the leaves...

Got so involved that I forgot the camera.

Good Grief

2011-11-19T09:25:00.001-06:00

9:30a Let me preface by saying I have only been up an hour or so. Watched a little bit of A&E...with a "Horders" commercial. So inspired, I hopped up and decided to clean out a kitchen cupboard. First, a bit of caffeine. We only had regular coke (left over from the visit this week). So I poured some and it fizzed. I lightly capped to bottle and waited for my cup to defizz. In the meantime, I started pulling stuff out of the overhead cabinet. And yes, knocked the 2 liter of Coke onto the floor. There the top popped off and it thoroughly exploded and fizzed everywhere! Good grief. I mopped three times...and I think it is still a little sticky. Or maybe it is my feet that are sticky now. And everytime I walk into the kitchen, I see where more Coke it stuck to a cabinet or wall. I think I will take a shower and go back to bed. Maybe tomorrow will be better...

My New Love

2011-11-15T17:28:00.009-06:00

Thanks to Sharika, I have a new love: Pinterest. I have attempted several of the projects...with varying success. I took some pictures that I shot in the Denver area and printed them on regular paper. Then modgepodged them onto a canvas. Finished with ribbon trim. When grouped together, I think they will look really good.

Craft - 1

2011-11-13T16:21:00.006-06:00

Thanks to J who made me go to craft night at Willowbrook. I seriously needed the distraction, after the rotten day I had.

It was really easy. Paint the $1 Michaels frame. Modgepodge and cover with scrapbooking paper. She burnished the edges with a drimmel. Paint embellishments. Hot glue it all together.

Homecoming Prep

2011-10-21T09:09:00.011-05:00

Girls get an outfit, shoes, hair done, nails done.

Guys. Well, guys are different...
I took Tdawg shopping. The salesman asked for Tdawg's shirt size...um, XL. No he was wanting the neck and sleeve measurements. Tdawg was lost. We finally found a shirt.

And then on to the pants. No luck. Even after doing the "jump test", he couldn't get the pants on. Ok. We try another brand. He says they are fine. I told him to come out of the dressing room. The pants are puddling on the floor. How about the waist. All good he says. Um, you could fit another person in there with you! Not a whole person...just a smurf. Well, Tdawg, the goal is not to put a smurf in your pants! The third try was a real success.

And on to shoes. What size: 16. Um, we don't carry anything larger than a 13. Wonderful. So we go to another shoe store. Tdawg says: I guess I don't get to pick my shoes. Nope. If we can find one pair of black shoes that fits, we're done.

And then...touching up the mohawks.

The result

Hoosier Cabinet

2011-10-20T08:22:00.013-05:00

After lots and lots of work. Hubby has finished stripping and refinishing the Hoosier cabinet for me.

Still has all original parts, including: the flour sifter, the glass sugar dispenser and the two baskets, one for lids and one for spices.

We found glass tiles (light enough and thin enough) to do the top with. It was quite the challenge. Originally, they were porcelain (tough to find). Most materials were either too thick or too heavy to allow the bread board to slide.

I wasn't really sure what to fill it with. S & V suggested pottery. Hubby got me the milk bottles from an antique mart. Still looking for eclectic mix of items to go in it...

Vs. Grissom

2011-10-19T16:02:00.005-05:00

Despite offering $5k to play in HG, Grissom opted to make us play at Goldsmith Schiffman field. Constructed in 1934.

With the rock wall surrounding it and the dilapidated conditions, we felt like the field was constructed during the War of Northern Aggression!

It was so bad that there were portapotties. Not something fun to do after dark!

Tdawg was one of the Captains.

A very hard fought battle. And we won! at the very end 20-10...so there was lots of dancing after the game!

Blackout Game

2011-10-19T15:56:00.004-05:00

The Cotton Classic...the Blackout Game:

The guys (CB on the left and Tdawg on the right)were ready with their new black jerseys and their mohawks trimmed...

...but sadly, the team was not focused. And we got our second loss of the season. This one hurt...Tdawg was one "sad panda". The better team did not win. We just handed it to them. Very disappointing.

Mexican Folkart

2011-09-20T12:14:00.007-05:00

My sister moved to Atlanta. She wants the kitchen in her new house to be like a mexican cantina. So I found an interesting folk art picture using Google. I freehand drew on brown craft/wrapping paper with a Sharpie, using the picture as a guide. Then I crumpled up the brown paper to make it look old. And then I painted and varnished it.

Fan!

2011-09-14T13:49:00.008-05:00

Sports fan: an ardent and enthusiastic supporter of some person or activity
(reference: crazy woman in the middle of the picture with her arms up).

Moms know it is all fun and games unless your baby is on the field!

And what a game! Down by 7-20 at the half. By the middle of the third quarter it looked bad at 7-34. Then the boys came roaring back. Score! Score! And Score again! It was 28-34, with less than two minutes left in the game. Tied it up at 34-34 with less than a minute left. Kicked the extra point to make it 35-34 and stopped their last drive to win. It was REALLY exciting!

Nice double chin...but ya know when I have my mouth open that wide...my neck gets in the way!

Victory

2011-09-05T10:46:00.003-05:00

Another battle won in the war against beige. Love the beach-y color of "Ocean Blue". Looks good with the white. But I probably need a prettier shower curtain.

Gardening Success

2011-09-05T10:37:00.003-05:00

Love our neighbors use of containers. It has been really dry this summer. Watering in one hundred degree heat is not much fun. So this is a fun idea to use a lot less to water and spray painting inexpensive metal buckets give a splash of color.

Cletus planted these interesting succulent plants. They have taken off and are starting down the stairs. Love the tiny red flowers. Almost cactus like.

Friday's Game

2011-09-04T19:57:00.003-05:00

Well, it was a blow out from the very first play. Very depressing. I felt so bad for the guys. They have been working for nine months and to have it blow up in their faces...ugh!

At least Buddy was having a good time...

Mean Hombre

2011-08-31T10:38:00.008-05:00

Mean hombre on the field. He loves this pic with his mohawk and the eye black smeared. He has got the look...and the attitude. A.I.E. (attitude is everything)

Off the field: sinus infection, upper respiratory infection and bronchitus. A shot and three scripts later-ouch!

But he is still ready to kick butt at Friday's game against Bob Jones High. It is gonna be a WILD one.

Quote for today.

2011-08-30T10:15:00.001-05:00

“You don’t need more hours in the day. God has given you plenty of time to do what He wants you to do.”

Wow! That speaks to me in a powerful way!!

Game Day

2011-08-29T14:33:00.005-05:00

Not just a jamboree...a real game. Tdawg (#79) played all four quarters. He was amazingly energetic after the game...probably because they won! 28 to 13 #happydance

one of the team captains!

taking time to sign a Little Trojan shirt!

Philosophy

2011-08-26T11:27:00.002-05:00

When you take things for granted, the things you are granted get taken. Don't miss the blessing...be thankful!

Finished Project!

2011-08-25T12:25:00.005-05:00

Finally finished. The last steps were mudding (caulking) and putting on the patina, then buffing. I don't think that the pictures do it justice.

Weekend Project

2011-08-24T13:14:00.006-05:00

I had so many plans for this last weekend. And got nuthin' done! I felt crappy all weekend. By Sunday night, I was feeling a little better. My buddy at work showed me a video and challenged me.

It's a little rough, as most first attempts are. It is a tshirt bag. You trim up a tshirt. Then flip a tshirt inside out and cover it in duct tape. Then staple the bottom and make corners.

Not sure if you can wash it without the duct tape coming off. But it works well for groceries and as a beach or workout bag.

Since you only need a tshirt, scissors, stapler and duct tape. How much easier could it get?? I'm going to try it again with some of the colored/patterned duct tape.

Celebrity in the house!

2011-08-24T13:10:00.005-05:00

Our local NBC station interviewed Tdawg after football practice on Monday. It aired during the ten o'clock newscast. He was SO excited. He took a pic of himself on the hi-def tv. Ah, makes a Mama proud!

Clean up Aisle 5!

2011-08-24T10:35:00.013-05:00

In step aerobics class, I nearly fall off the step (or try to tip it over) once per class. The instructor doesn't even turn around. When she hears it, she says: "L are you ok?" Somehow (!) she knows it is me. After class, I was explaining what a klutz I am. Both T and C said: "Oh no! You re not klutzy!" Mmm-un-huh. Ok.

I left class and went to Wally World. I wanted to pick up a few items. I found some colored duct tape (it comes in patterns: leopard and zebra print!) and some spray paint. I was trying to get a can. I ended up bumping another can off the shelf and it fell on the floor. The cap broke and it started spraying everywhere! (oh no, I'm not klutzy #sarcasm!). The nozzle stuck and would not quit spraying. I set everything in my hands down. In total frustration, I picked up the can and whacked it against the floor. Finally it quit spraying. One problem solved.

So, I set the mangled can on the paint table. I was going to get another can when the sales associate came up behind me to ask if I needed help. He startled me. And yes! I knock another can to the floor (#waytogome). The cap broke but fortunately, it did not spray. I was nearly in tears.

The poor sales associate (all of maybe 18 years old) was so sweet. He obviously has not had much training in dealing with weepy women in the hardware section. He said it happens about once a week (I swear it isn't always me). The mess would be cleaned up and not to worry. At least he didn't get on the loud speaker: "Clean up needed on Aisle 5. She's on the move. Clean up on Aisle 4. Clean up wherever this woman goes!"

Jamboree

2011-08-19T10:22:00.006-05:00

Can you tell...it is GAMEDAY!

Week 3: Stain Glass

2011-08-18T13:51:00.002-05:00

Almost done. Got it cut to fit and soldered (with only minor cuts and bruises). Doesn't look like much but it took me another three hours. Should only be a bit more of mudding and polishing next time and it will be finished!

Bucket List Addition

2011-08-15T16:14:00.009-05:00

I know y'all think I'm crazy...but I'd like to ride an emu! I drove around the countryside this weekend trying to find the emu farms. They must not be as popular as they were 15 years ago. One had been sold and subdivided. The other was destroyed by the April tornadoes. Bummer dude!

I thought about ostriches. But they are 9 feet tall, 350 pounds, with talons like a velociraptor. And tend to be quite cranky. I did see a u-tube video of someone riding an ostrich on vacation in Kuala Lumpur (in Malaysia). But Malaysia is really far from here...best I can tell it is halfway around the world.

So, looks like a field trip to Tennessee! Anyone want to go along for the ride?

First Day

2011-08-15T13:27:00.003-05:00

Tdawg's last first day of high school. Wow it has gone by quick. I asked him if he was excited..."just another day, Mom."

Stain Glass Week 2

2011-08-12T15:07:00.001-05:00

Lots of grinding this week. And started fitting it all together with the lead into the frame. A slow process. Got about half of it lined up. I'm liking it a lot better with the silver lead borders.

Stain Glass...day one

2011-08-10T10:39:00.006-05:00

I signed up for a groupon (group coupon) to create a stain glass picture. Looked pretty interesting. I probably would not have signed up if I had know it would take four weeks. I'm pretty completion oriented. Oh well.

Week One: we practiced cutting glass in line and curves and circles with different tools. Then we picked out our pattern (1 of 5). I liked the linear Frank Lloyd Wright inspired piece. Then we chose our glass. Then cut the glass with the pattern pieces. Sounds easy but it took the better part of three hours to do.

Can't wait to see what we do next...

Quilling

2011-08-05T14:36:00.005-05:00

I remember playing with paper and quilling when I was in Girl Scouts with Jeannie. Each piece is a tiny strip of curled paper. I never imagined that it could be made to look like this. WOW! This lady is talented! I really wonder how long it took her to do this. Amazing!

Tdawg's Bday

2011-08-04T09:09:00.004-05:00

Tdawg is always so serious...NOT! Too much like yours truly.

We ate for the first time at Wintzell's. It was really good. We ran out of conversation before he ran out of food. Yes, he ate all of it!

Some days I want to throw his phone out of the window. Strangely, he said he could live without his phone more than his ipod.

Cletus and Tdawg:

Hard to believe that in less than two weeks he is starting his senior year of high school. Really...where has the time gone???

Stacey

2011-08-03T13:12:00.010-05:00

My brother sent me several boxes from my dad's house. One of them was the Barbie friendship airplane with some dolls and clothes inside. Apparently Stacey did not enjoy the flight.

You might have noticed...she is a little green. After telling V about it. She said she had heard about this problems. Sure enough...according to the internet the metal earrings that Stacey once had reacted with her vinyl body and turned her green.

With my haircutting experimentation and her green "gills", Stacey is looking very punk rock! I am going to try and remove the green, as directed on the internet. If it doesn't work, maybe she will get a tatoo to complete her rocking new look.

I could use some advise about the clothes. Should I try to have them dry cleaned? Or should I hand wash them in the sink with Woolite?

Weekend Warrior

2011-08-03T13:05:00.008-05:00

Cletus started stripping the Hoosier Cabinet this weekend. I had started this project years ago, but did not do a great job of stripping off the multiple layers of paint. We hope to restore it to its former glory.

Some of it stripped really fast...other places had to be done over and over:

Down to the bare metal:
.

So after he finishes the base, he will prime and paint.

Oh My!

2011-07-28T07:52:00.004-05:00

Oh my it is HOT! Good grief. I got in my car yesterday and outside it said 105...the black interior fried my tush...Whoo!!

I stopped by the gro, it was so nice and cool. I just wanted to press my face against the cool (clean) tile floor. I keep telling myself that it won't last forever. We can endure about anything for a season, right?

Poor Tdawg!! Two a day football practice starts Monday. First game in three weeks. It is gonna be sticky in the stands...but the poor kids in full pads (bless them!).

I am blaming the weather for my list of unfinished projects. What in the world have I been doing?? I just can't seem to finish. And yes, I started another project this week. Maybe this weekend I can get my desk cleaned out and at least two projects finished...

As my mom would say...Let me sit down and have a cup of coffee and think about it...

Anniversary

2011-07-26T16:23:00.002-05:00

My surprise on Monday, our anniversary. Gawgeous flowers!! Well we made it 24 years (and counting). No one gave us more than six weeks!

She Said It Best...

2011-07-16T13:37:00.003-05:00

Great blog! Ms. Hood is talking about parenting her autistic son.

I didn't know that I would have a son who would teach me to be a much better person. To be more patient, tolerant and compassionate. He's taught me not to judge until I have the full story. And to not even judge after that. I've learned that there is never just one right answer. And that sometimes there isn't any answer at all. That we all do our best and sometimes that has to be good enough.

I didn't know that I could admire one of my own children so much. And try to emulate him. Oliver's first teacher once said to me, "life is very hard for Oliver." And it was meant to be taken at face value—life really is hard for him. Things that come easily to others—asking for something, joining a game, understanding directions—are difficult for him.

Oliver navigates the world with an upside down map. He nevers peaks the local dialect. And in effect, he's learned to work hard, be his own man and give others space to have their own differences. I think we could all try to be a little bit more like Oliver.

When?

2011-07-15T10:22:00.004-05:00

When will I ever learn that office lunches never turn out well? I must be a slow learner. I would do better to sit at my desk. People often ask why I eat lunch with Cletus so much. Simple: we do not talk about work. We do not have unappetizing conversations. We relax and eat and enjoy the time away from work.

Did I hear something?

2011-07-13T12:54:00.002-05:00

Did you ever get the feeling that someone/something was staring at you?
"Hey?"

tap tap tap..."let me in!"

hello?

flew off...bringing reinforcements...

Reunion

2011-07-12T08:30:00.003-05:00

Wheat Ridge Farmers!

Evolution of a Bowl of Fruit

2011-07-02T20:41:00.006-05:00

Nerves

2011-06-21T15:33:00.005-05:00

I'm getting a little nervous about this upcoming high school reunion. All the little school insecurities are creeping back to the surface. "What if they don't like me?" ...maybe there is a reason why I have not seen these people in years?

It is like the first day of a new school year. How I had to have the "perfect" thing to wear. And I called up my friends to see what they were wearing. Heaven forbid I end up being a fashion twin. Or worst yet, a fashion dud. Somehow over the summer, I had hoped to turn from a duck into a swan...

...I still feel like a duck.

Craft Idea

2011-06-21T10:09:00.008-05:00

Denise at work brought these in. She bought the letters at Hobby Lobby. They are like a really thick cardboard (very light). She got coordinating scapbook paper and glued it on. Then hot glued the ribbon to finish the edges. She did embelishments (has some scrapbook tool). She was going to stand them up. But I bet since they are light you could hang them with the 3M command strips. Too cute! You could do names. Or words: Dream, Believe, Perseverance, Faith. Very cool...I'm gonna have to try this!!

2011-06-17T09:49:00.004-05:00

Just for Today:

Outside my window... it is finally raining.

I am thinking ... seriously about a nap…too bad I’m at work!

I am thankful for... my fan at work (the a/c is not working….AGAIN!)

I am wearing... Jeans, black shirt and polka dotted flippies.

I am remembering... nothing! The grey matter is on hiatus.

I am hearing ....the printer coughing out paper

I am going... to do some yard work this weekend and pre-pack for Denver

I am reading... actually was reading: Debbie Macomber’s “Hannah’s List”. I need a new book for the trip.

From the learning rooms ... leopards don’t lose their spots (also known as: some things/people will never change).

I am hoping... the weekend has NO drama.

On my mind ... the weeks are slow and the weekends go by too fast.

Pondering these words….the more things change, the more they stay the same.

From the kitchen....it’s too darn hot to cook….but I did make burritos last night. And I’ll probably surprise Cletus and make lasagna this weekend.

Around the house... the Hoosier cabinet book wasn’t very helpful. But Cletus said he’d help me refinish it.

One of my favorite things… lunch with a grill friend!

From my photo memories… that looks refresing!

Blame it on the Heat?

2011-06-07T15:33:00.004-05:00

I guess I could blame it on the heat...it has been hot. Over 90 for ten or eleven days in a row. But all weekend I was Miss Fussy Pants and Ms. Grumpy Britches! Actually it was an epic funk!

I am pretty sure that it all started Friday, when I weighed myself at the gym. That was a mistake. Then I went to the mall to find the perfect black dress for the upcoming reunion. And then I got my hair cut. My head knows that it was the disappointment of my own *expectations*. But my disposition doesn’t care.

As my mother always used to say: cooler heads prevail. So I'm happy to say that I'm (almost) over it now.

The number on the scale is just that: a number. It is not who I am and does not tell my worth.

The dress (yes, I bought one) is cute. I'm sure I'll look just fine. Maybe even better than most.

Me and my hair have had a love/hate relationship as long as I can remember. The feud continues. Maybe someday I'll find a cut I love. Not likely.

Maybe some good sweating and working on creative projects will clear the funkified fog...

Freelansing

2011-05-06T15:40:00.005-05:00

From the stay in Cullman:
The Lake House

Sunflowers?
Love the background color

Single Poppy
for my Sister

From the power outage:
The Beach
(sorry about the shadow)

Hmm...Flowers on a Starry Night?

Started with just black and white and then played with color. Maybe should have stayed b&w

Ugh...my vase is out of proportion with the flowers

Before the storm...

2011-05-03T15:46:00.006-05:00

Tdawg got his hair cut. Friday was supposed to be their prom.

Tuesday...still a mess

2011-05-03T15:35:00.004-05:00

We have been part of the fortunate few who have power. A lot of people still don't. Including a lot of businesses. The utility company said that the industrial parks will be last. That apparently includes Cletus' work and mine.

I had to go in this morning anyway. Thanks to our resourceful IT dudes, I did payroll by generator and lantern. So much for the illusion of my glamourous job. Ha ha. Well, at least we will all get paid!

Who knows when we will get power at work. Even so, the facilities folks say it will take several hours to get everything back up and running. Sure hope I will have a job to go back to. This week long outage is killing the small businesses!

Sunday Evening

2011-05-03T15:24:00.007-05:00

Stopped at my in-laws on the way back home. Took them the essentials: bread, ice, gasoline and six cheeseburgers. They were thrilled! They lost power and a tree. But otherwise, they are fine. The rest of Harvest, did not fair so well.

Ronnie went over on Monday to help out. They worked hard all day and barely made a dent. Numb people trying to pick through the rubble hoping to find a treasure.

This used to be the Piggly Wiggly. The employees were in the back of the store in the coolers (only part still standing). They kept the manager from being sucked out of the door.

Next door was the Sur Sav pharmacy. A convenience store, pharmacy and gas station in one. It is the pile of rubble to the left of the vans.

Across the street...Anderson Hills subdivision was hit hard

Sunday...back to the 'hood

2011-05-02T08:56:00.003-05:00

Oh no...rain! Well, hopefully it isn't raining at the house. Once we get back, that is our only obstacle. One leaking triple window and some mushy drywall. Hopefully a painless fix from Window World.

Wondering what we are going back to... One of the hotel guests lost their house in the tornado. They were trying to figure out where to live. Another guest took the kids and camped out at the hotel. Her husband stayed behind. He called her to let her know that even though the house survived the tornado, it later burnt down.

Another reminder...puts everything in perspective. Family is ok. And that is all that matters. Stuff can be replaced.

Saturday...Wally World

2011-05-02T08:44:00.003-05:00

Amazing how a hot shower and a hot meal can make you feel like a new woman. I am woman hear me roar (with a cold shower) or purr (with a nice hot one). I am definitely a low maintenace woman. My kingdom for a hot shower. Yes, I took several LONG showers!

So it was a major shopping day. Had to get the essentials...plus request from my in laws. So by Sunday, we had the truck packed with extra gas cans, a generator, bread, water, ice, extra undies, books, drinks, tshirts...

Then off for some fun mini golf and skee ball.

Day Three: Friday

2011-05-02T08:37:00.002-05:00

Early am...we hit the road. Still no power. And still a LONG line to get gasoline in Tennessee. We went up to Murphreesboro. Nice sized town, outside of Nashville. I must say right now: Thank You Holiday Inn! They were so so nice and let us check in early and take a scalding hot shower. Halleluja! I feel like a new woman!

Spent sometime watching Fox News. Oh my. The pictures out of Tuscaloosa are stunning. We really did dodge a bullet. When you look at the maps, wow...one of the tornadoes was on the ground through the whole state of Alabama! They showed google maps and you can see how it changed the landscape.

Ok, off to lunch and the movies. I'm ready for some normalcy.

Pictures don't lie

2011-05-02T08:35:00.002-05:00

Thanks to a Facebook shutterbug, on 231/431 in Hazel Green looking south at Meridianville. Yikes! Must have been the four o'clock storm.

Pioneer Woman: Thursday night

2011-04-30T15:48:00.003-05:00

After a day of painting (four pictures!)and puttering. Sure could use a shower. Well, no power means no hot water. Kind of depressing having to throw out everything in the fridge. I hadn't made a grocery run lately. So, it wasn't too painful. We grilled all of the meat and offered it to everybody.

Tdawg left to go to Tennessee with a friend. Radio reports now say it could be another three to five days before we get power. Cletus and I started to rethink our idea to stay. Hmm...we could bail out of town too. Not likely to have to work tomorrow...a hot shower sure sounds good. And Cletus needs his CPAP to sleep at night. Yup, we are hitting the road in the morning.

Pioneer Woman: Thursday

2011-04-30T15:34:00.004-05:00

Day 2...still no power. The radio reports are not really registering. Lots of reports about Cullman, Rainsville, Tuscaloosa being affected by the tornado. Started wondering just how many had hit. Information was spotty at best. Still no land line. Cell service was spotty. Finally leared that ALL of the TVA power customers were without power. Cletus was up super early, as usual, and drove to Fayetteville. He got gasoline and groceries. He reported that no power until you got to Tennessee. On the way back, lines (50+ cars) were lined up to get gasoline.

Strange to see the neighborhood so quiet. Saw a lot of neighbors. Everyone eager for information. Some had chainsaws. Some had generators. Lots of questions. When would we get power. Would the water still be drinkable. Did anyone know of open businesses.

We drove over to check on Cletus' parents. Harvest was a war zone. A tree had fallen and the county cut enough to make it a tree tunnel and moved on. There was a lot of debris in the road. Fields littered with pieces of pressboard, mattresses, toys, sheets...and I thought what a disgrace. Then I realized, it was dumped there...by the tornado. On the other side of the road and back...there used to be houses. I was looking at the remains of someones life. Whole line of trees sheared off. Metal twisted around trees. Cars tossed. Unbroken toilets were sitting in the middle of the road! Unbelievable!! Information is still slow...but I head it might have been an EF4 tornado.

That scene was less than five miles from my house. It makes you instantly grateful for everything you have!

Pioneer Woman: Wednesday

2011-04-30T15:20:00.003-05:00

What a crazy week. It started off Wednesday morning. I wasn't feeling well and decided to stay home. I had a doc appointment scheduled for that afternoon. As the week had gone on, the weather channel was predicting a bad weather day for Wednesday. I kept Buddy home. I wanted Tdawg to stay home but he said he had a test. So, he left about 9:30a for school. Before noon, the tornado sirens were blaring. Buddy and I got into the closet and we lost power. The rain, the wind, the first of four hail storms. The house shook and I could hear trees breaking and things hitting the house. But when it finally quieted down, we were ok. One of the new windows was leaking. There were limbs everywhere. And bits of leaves plastered to the house. Other than that we were truly spared.

Cletus came home soon after and then Tdawg. Tdawg had spent the majority of his time at school in a hallway. They started at 10a and were supposed to dismiss at noon. Aggravating!! The school system put all of those people in danger just to get a day of federal funding. Grrr.

Little did we know that was just the beginning of the fun. It turned out that the whole neighborhood had lost power, so I didn't have my doc appointment. Cletus reported seeing whole trees (big oaks) in our neighboorhood pulled up by the roots and laying on houses. It was crazy!

Tdawg, Buddy and I left to go pick up Tdawg's tux for prom. We were at Gander Mountain when Round 2 hit. We could see the swirling clouds and the seafoam green cloud. Very spooky. That was the one that hit the Harvest area. We left right after and got home just in time for Round 3. Round 4 was about 6p.

It was scary. No power. No idea what was going on. No cell service. No land line service. Even the radio dial was unusually quiet. We learned later that a lot of the radio stations had lost power, their transmitter or both.

We stayed put through the dark night. Thank goodness for solar yard lights. They make awesome candles! It wasn't until late that night that we started to learn just what all had happened.

Cruisin...Day 3

2011-04-25T15:09:00.030-05:00

Thanks to our driver, we ended up in Progeso only eleven minutes late. Whew that is some fancy driving! Progreso is in the Yucatan Peninsula just about straight south of Mobile.

Progreso looks very old Mexico. There was an interesting market square. The shop owners stand out front and try to drag you into the store...literally! Lots of clothes and jewelry. They have no sense of "political correctness"...so you will find some interesting sayings on their t-shirts. Cletus found a Harley Davidson t-shirt. Tdawg found a pair of sunglasses.

It wasn't long before we boarded the bus to the beach resort. Progreso is fairly new to tourism. The market place was pretty nice and not too scary. But as soon as we left the parking lot and passed the heavily armed guard shack, it was a different world. We rode about twenty minutes. The area is obviously very economically depressed. Hurricane Gilbert had left his mark and significantly changed the landscape. There was a new salt water bay where all of the vegetaion had died. The buildings were haphazardly built but still had the typical bright paint colors. A strong military/police presence was evident in the area we passed through.

Our tour guide was something else; he told us that he learned english by watching the tv show "Friends". So he would mimick Joey's "How yous doin'?" He seemed to think that he was the Mexican Brad Pitt. Very funny!!

Once at the beach, it was nice but not as pretty as Florida. We had a nice lunch buffet (pronounced boo-fey).

Tdawg and I got a one-person kayak each and I taught him how to paddle and steer. It was a gorgeous day and we had a blast. Later I got at two-person kayak and had Buddy sit up front. I taught him how to paddle and I did most of the steering. He loved it! Then we just played in the water the rest of the day.

While Tdawg and I were paddling, Buddy and Cletus were relaxing in the shade. Well, Buddy was relaxing. Cletus fell out of the hammock and hurt his back. He ended up at the ship's doctor for an inflammation shot and some pain killers!

It was a long day! After I got Cletus set up in the room with and ice bag and pain killers, Buddy and I went out. We finally got dinner, watched karoke, played a trivia game. I had one of the drink specials. It was the Blue Margarita: Blue Curacao, Tequila and lime juice. Just tasted like six shots of tequila and some blue food coloring! Yow it was strong!

So, that is why I ended up on this stage at the Mikado (with fifteen other saps) learning 70's disco dancing. At first there were about eleven people watching us...but by the time we got done, the whole place was packed. It seats about 1300 people. They were actually waiting for the bingo game that was coming up next.

Lucky me. But that's ok. I'll never see any of these people in five days. Except, the one person I knew on the ship (Jana from work) spotted me as she was walking by the doors.

Cruise...Day Two

2011-04-25T14:56:00.007-05:00

Tdawg was most impressed by the room and the robe. He was feeling quite James Bond. I know what he is getting for Christmas!

I loved the towel art. I went to towel folding class. Too cute!

So, since we got a late start leaving Mobile...our NASCAR boat driver flew across the Gulf of Mexico. We were going 24 knots or about 27 mph. We were haulin'! And it was extremely breezy. No problem. Buddy and I stayed at the pool most of the day. I love days when I can stay in my swimsuit until bedtime!

Of course, a "Goombay Smash" helps the afternoon float away (literally)...Bacardi spiced rum, Bacardi light rum, Apricot Brandy, Coconut creame and Pineapple juice.

Cruise Day One

2011-04-21T16:20:00.007-05:00

Day one of the cruise did not go as planned...we were supposed to get on the boat at 11a. We were there but the boat was not. So we got a police escort to a secured parking facility. From there, we were bused to the convention center. And held captive until about 5p. We amused ourselves as best we could.

The lunch they served was sorry. I found a dance competition in another hall and they had a concession stand open. I know the cashier thought I was nuts. "Do you have hot dogs? Oh, thank the Lord!" Can't say that I didn't have a grateful heart! I was just happy to have something that Buddy would eat!

Afterwards, we amused ourselves as best we could. They showed movies and we watched the tugboats and sat in the sunshine.

Then our ship finally came in (literally!).

There were varying reports: fog, medical emergency for the delay. We were so tired by the time we boarded. We look so thrilled (and sunburned already) in the picture at 7pm...

Pain with Gain?

2011-04-21T16:12:00.004-05:00

Week 3 of Boot Camp! I missed Week 2, due to the cruise. But I'm back at it. Thankfully, last week I did not gain any weight. This week was tough though. Monday we ran...a lot! I did not do very well running. I consulted with Tdawg. I talked him into watching me and he corrected my form. So running on my own Tuesday was not as bad. Wednesday we were in the gym with free weights. I can only do 5 pounds, per hand. My shoulder screams too much with 8 right now. But I'm working my way up. I am in pain, so I'm hoping there is some gain to it. It is Thursday...I'm think I will just walk and stretch today. Whew!

Military Bound?

2011-04-05T16:43:00.004-05:00

Smarty Pants and I have a reunion in thirteen weeks. I noticed on her FB post she had: 22 pounds in 13 weeks...gotta get a personal trainer. Well, I don't have a personal trainer but we do have a makeshift gym at work. It is definitely not fancy...located in a corner of the warehouse. But we do have professional instructors. I love the kick boxing class. Very stress relieving. Yesterday, they started an eight week boot camp. I survived the first night. I did over 100 pushups and I am so sore! Ugh. The instructor took our weight, BMI and % of fat. Those are some numbers I could do without knowing! I don't think that I'll be joining the military anytime soon. But maybe by the end of the eight weeks, I will be alive, feeling better and looking better.

A Class Anyone?

2011-04-05T16:39:00.000-05:00

Opening day at Patriot Park

2011-04-03T17:06:00.003-05:00

A great day for baseball. The kids had a great time and the weather was beautiful. Very nice of Patriot Park to include us in their opening day!

The Right Choice?

2011-04-02T21:58:00.003-05:00

Lately, I have been feeling totally overwhelmed and nearly inable to make a decision. I think the problem is too many choices. I can't process all of it. So I become unwilling to decide. Then I become more and more anxious. My dad's favorite: "when in doubt, don't!" doesn't work for me. I read the other day that you should allow the selection be to from two or three choices. Then choose quickly and move on. Most decisions are not irrevocable. Chances are you can change your mind later on. Quit fussing trying to make the "perfect" decision and get on with your life. A co-worker of Cletus' came from USSR. When this guy went to the grocery store in Russia, he would be fortunate to find a loaf of bread...there certainly were not fifteen different kinds of bread. So when he went to an American grocery store, he was paralyzed by the number of the choices. I can totally relate. I am a people pleaser. I'm tough on myself; a bit of a perfectionist. I over plan. So, trying to consciously make choices and move on is not easy for me. But I'm trying...

Helping Hands

2011-04-02T10:01:00.001-05:00

Buddy's friendship class is doing their part to help the children in Guatemala.

Flowers

2011-03-27T16:38:00.001-05:00

Aren't these pretty flowers...but there is something not quite right about them. Oh yeah, they petals are made out of balloons! Isn't that wild?? Well, at least I didn't try to water them.

Photos from Smith Lake

2011-03-21T08:56:00.000-05:00

Weekend

2011-03-16T12:21:00.008-05:00

Ah, I had a fabamundo weekend. Eight of us went to Snowbird on Smith Lake. I was the best of everything: best house, best food, best weather, best company. I had very few expectations. Just wanted to relax, maybe paint, maybe write and just recharge my batteries.

Of course, lots of obstacles, came my way in the week preceeding...but I finally ran away from work. The weather was gorgeous, so I headed south on I-65 with the sunroof open and the stereo wide open. The local station was having a "Friday Eighties Free for All". So they were playing ALL the best music!

The house is huge and spotless. I spent most of my time in the "basement". The covered deck had a hot tub and the perfect spot to paint. I had the feeling that it was going to be a great weekend.

Painting again

2011-03-03T09:54:00.004-06:00

I painted again last night. I don't feel as if it is my best effort. It was quite challenging. The instructor said it was more difficult because it was more life like and not as abstract as some of the other paintings we have done...so But as they say, even a bad day of painting still beats a good day at work!

A Weekend at Home

2011-03-01T14:58:00.007-06:00

Well, I spent the weekend (mostly) at home and got busy on some projects...

1. I finished up the taxes and sent them away. Then boxed up 2010. Whew, big relief!

2. I fixed the necklace that was my grandmother's. The original chain was WAY short. Almost like a child's size. It is precious and when I wore it Monday, I got lots of ooo's and ahh's.

3. I painted some more on the dresser.

4. I straightened up some piles and actually threw some junk away.

5. I cleaned up a closet and donated fabric to a friend. And started working on my clothes. I closet shopped last week: a friend is down several sizes, so she gave me some of her clothes. So, now I have to make room for my new found treasures. Found some great fun clothes for the cruise. Whoo hoo!

Well, it doesn't sound like much...but it was good to mark stuff off of my to do list.

Road Trip

2011-02-24T15:43:00.005-06:00

Sunday, I went with a friend to Nashville to Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre. They have an excellent buffet with a wide assortment of choices. We sat in three tiers around a square stage. After we finished eating, the stage descended from the second floor into the square. A neat set up where everyone had a good view of the presentation. It was a cute play: Til Beth Do Us Part about a career obsessed couple trying to reconnect. At intermission, we had dessert (key lime pie...yummo!). It was a lot of fun!

This is the Stuff

2011-02-24T13:56:00.004-06:00

Heard this great song This is the Stuff by Franchesa Battistelli...check it out on youtube. It so sounds like me...

I lost my keys in the great unknown
And call me please 'cause I can't find my phone
This is the stuff that drive me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust that You know exactly what You are doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff you use...

Out with the Grills

2011-02-20T09:05:00.006-06:00

Went out today with the grills. So nice to get away and have some hip chick time!

First stop: County Library 25 cent sale. (random thought: hey, did you notice there is no cent key on the keyboard anymore?). Lots of books. Lots of people. Found some good deals. With the popularity of the kindle...will we even have libraries and actual books anymore? Kind of sad.

Second stop: Blue Plate. Good but not like I thought it would be. I was hoping for more of a true diner. Our fast paced life of drive thru food, has made hanging out at the diner all but obsolete. Oh wow, I must be getting old...I'm getting nostalgic!!

Third stop: Lowe Mill. It used to be a textile mill from 1901 to 1937. And then they made boots for the Vietnam war soldiers. Now it is a bohemian-esque artist loft. The building is great. Old wood and and old elevator (with an operator!). A cool way to repurpose the property. To say that they have mixed media is an understatement. There was drawing, painting, vintage clothes, print making, glass blowing, jewelry making, trash art and more. Interesting...Eclectic...and sometimes a bit disturbing. I bought I killer pair of ear bobs. It was meant to be that I forgot mine this morning (tee hee).

Fourth stop: Charming Charlies. Great place for jewelry, scarves, purses...all types of accessories. It is a bit visually overwhelming. But I found a gawgeous bracelet. By that time, we were ready for fortification. Nothing helps a chick continue shopping like chocolate...mmm, a real chocolate milkshake.

Last stop: Jo-Ann's. Not as big as the one in Franklin. But nice. I found supplies to fix a necklace and art supplies. There are so many projects to do and so little time. Hmm, wonder what new craft area I should try...well, maybe I'll finish a few current projects first.

I am refreshed and looking forward to the grills' weekend at the lake in March. A whole weekend to express. Paint, draw, photograph, write. I am not sure that a weekend will be long enough!

Valentine's

2011-02-16T14:02:00.002-06:00

Ahh, he is so sweet! I guess I'll keep him!!

Purposeful Time

2011-02-03T10:59:00.003-06:00

How much time a day do you spend doing what you love?
not much…seems it is all work and no-fun chores

What is it that you love to do?

activities with family
walk
photograph the moment
read
paint
watch clouds
create

Why don't you do it?
coordinating schedules
laziness
too many projects too little time
loss of focus
intimidation
perfectionism

What is getting in the way?
my way of thinking
time management
reluctant to start since I won’t have time to finish

What can you do about it?
Finish the projects that I have already started
Prioritize: set aside time for crafts
Focus: be in the moment, not thinking about anything else
Simplify: be picky about the projects I pick

What about you?

Sweet Lucy, we are off the Beaten Path!

2011-01-31T09:38:00.028-06:00

My sister and her husband came in from Atlanta. I challenge myself to show them something unique each visit. Some local flavor, so to speak. And this time it was quite flavorful! A friend from work told me about Kelso, Tennessee and the Prichard Rum Distillery. I was rather amazed that there was much of anything in Kelso, it truly is a wide spot on Highway 64. If you drove by this building...

would you really think it was a distillery? It used to be the Kelso Community Center. It still has the basketball goals and disco ball...Too funny!

Inside they make some excellent rum and bourbon the old fashioned way, in pot stills. It is quite an interesting process.

Of course, it originated with Grandpa making moonshine. Today they call it:"White Lightning". I'm not much of a drinker but I'm pretty sure it would take the enamel off my teeth! Anyway, it was a fun tour and always interesting to learn the biography behind it.

After the tour, we went across the street to the restaurant. Or should I say: "The Restaurant". Yes, it really is called that. And had a delightful lunch. I never had double barrel bourbon french onion soup before. It was quite good!

Painting Again

2011-01-24T19:38:00.003-06:00

A fun Saturday with Sherry, Frances and Velda...and dinner at Chili's afterwards. It was challenging to paint with the pallet knife.

Oh sNOw more!

2011-01-21T14:33:00.008-06:00

The Christmas snow was nice. The rest of the snow has just been a pain! The cardinals sure are pretty against the white!

Den

2011-01-20T15:18:00.002-06:00

I'm completion oriented, so once I start...
So, I did the den. I'm really liking the "sandy shell" color!

Ah, what to paint next...

One Last Fight?

2011-01-19T13:34:00.002-06:00

The snow is almost gone. But Tdawg tries to hit me with a snowball. Finally we call a truce.

Then the contest as to who has the coldest hands. Not fair that he has longer arms!

Maybe the snow is gone for this year. Everyone is pretty tired of it. But the weather dudes say we are going to get one more.

No Such Thing

2011-01-19T13:33:00.003-06:00

I guess there is no such thing as a squirrel proof bird feeder!

End of an Era

2011-01-19T13:29:00.004-06:00

Ah, so sad. The end of an era for the "lounge lizard" blue chair. I surprised Cletus with it over twenty years ago. We rocked the boys; spent sleepless nights in it. After awhile it was banished to the game room, where Buddy sat in it to watch movies. But alas, it was time to get Buddy a new game chair.

Winter

2011-01-14T10:44:00.004-06:00

Somehow, I just can not seem to get away from paint and snow. But I am about ready to start painting some happy spring pictures. And watch all of this white stuff melt away for good!

It is amazing how hard it is to paint a tree. Being random is so hard!

Sno-my-gosh!

2011-01-10T19:17:00.007-06:00

The birdies were happy for some seeds:

It was so pretty, we had to go for a walk:

Most people run to buy milk and bread and eggs. Not me, gotta go to Lowe's and get paint! And since I was home, I painted the laundry room.

More SNOW!

2011-01-10T08:36:00.013-06:00

The weather dudes got it right! We have NINE inches of snow!!

The house looks good with the new windows!

Snow shovel left by the previous owners.

Tdawg has some scraping to do...

The back:

Quiet and serene:

More Paint!

2011-01-10T08:22:00.007-06:00

Another beige bites the dust. The paint was not as dark as I thought it would be: it is chocolate brown. Looks good with the white wainscoating! Any darker, in that small of a bathroom probably would have been too dark.

Wow!

2011-01-03T18:01:00.008-06:00

One of my favorite Christmas presents, that I will treasure for years to come, courtesy of Tdawg (and A LOT of hints!!). He is quite an artist! The photo does not do the drawing justice.

Fresh Paint

2011-01-03T17:51:00.009-06:00

I actually did Buddy's room last week, before I got really sick. It is Sea Grass, which is a shade lighter than our master bedroom color, Dusty Leaf.

Can you tell that he really likes Spiderman and has participated in a lot of Special Olympic events??

I was thinking today that I should have painted Buddy's room when I got done with Tdawg's room in May. Oh yeah, the reason: I tore my rotator cuff. It has taken this long to get back to my chores.

Kitchen Accomplished

2011-01-02T22:31:00.006-06:00

I am feeling better. One of the prescriptions the doc gave me is prednisone. It is a steroid but I'm not feeling muscularly buff....just wired and edgy. I had too much energy and wanted to paint. So, Cletus went to Lowe's for me.

And the winner is...Sunrise Beach. It really warmed up the kitchen and gave it a beach-y cafe feel to it. It was so tired of boring beige. Somehow in the pictures it looks like three different colors. I think the first picture looks the closest to the real color. Not sure about the white curtains (leftovers from upstairs); they might be too sheer.

Come to think of it...Velda's sand crab picture would look right at home in my kitchen. Maybe I'll have to try to do one of my own. Ah, another project...just what I need.

If Lowe's were open, I'd go buy another gallon of paint and start on another room. But it is getting on towards 11p and I really do need to sleep! Maybe tomorrow?

Happy New Year and by the way, UGH!

2011-01-01T21:15:00.003-06:00

Happy New Year Y'all!

The good, the bad and the ugly. The bad news is that I'm not a hypochondriac. Doc Eddie just laughs at me. He knows that I do not come in to his office unless I am a mess. He knows me too well! He asked me for my diagnosis. He knows that I am a closet M.D. (me doctor) and diagnose myself before I make the appointment. I was thinking bronchitus. He was thinking walking pneumonia.

The good news is that they chest xray came back clear. So, it is not pneumonia. Eddie was genuinely surprised. It was still bad and absolutely NO fun. So a shot and three prescriptions later, I am back on the couch...counting the hours until I'm done with this.

Well, it is not that I'd be out partying. I'm going to keep the tradition and watch Casablanca. I would, however, be nice to feel well enough to socialize. Or at least well enough get a few things done. Oh well, for now...I rest.

Word

2011-01-01T00:18:00.002-06:00

My word for 2011 is...FRESH

Inspired by our recent unusual snowstorm. Snow has a way of making everything look clean. And giving the air a freshness...

So for 2011, a fresh start to the year. To make new habits. To break the old habits. A fresh perspective. A fresh look at the same old same old. Not a resolution, a fresh attitude.

2010 is Melting Away

2010-12-30T08:43:00.008-06:00

Poor Bob! He had a good run. Maybe since he was made with Christmas snow, he will be back again next year. I hope so!

Susie II is still hanging in there but she will be gone by the end of today.

And like my snowpeeps, 2010 is melting away. Well, the good news is that all 38 of the windows are in. The bad news: the house is a wreck. Construction guys plus melting snow plus power saws equals mud and muck in the house. So, the process of cleaning and putting it all back together begins.

Sunday was a fun trip to my home away from home: Lowes. Cletus finds it a challenge to drive in the snow. It was not bad. Just a little slippery in parking lots. We get snow so seldom, that it was cool to be in your own little snowglobe.

Anyway, the curtain rods they had up before for the double and triple windows were awful. Every time you tried to open up the curtain the rod would fall out and the curtain would end up on the floor. Cletus has had enough of that! Fortunately, before becoming completely overwhelmed with choices, we found several rods and curtains, on clearance! The single windows rods and curtains are ok (with a little Rit dye help).

It is such a big job...but one room at a time, right after I have a cup of coffee and think it over...

The Promise of Spring

2010-12-29T20:09:00.001-06:00

My favorite thing to do...

...as Sherry is so fond of saying: "it is hard to be random". Too true!