Would you eat this?

I copied this from a fellow blogger, Terrapin Stations. After taking this test...I realize just how UNWORLDLY I am! I had to Google about 1/4 of the items on the list to see what they are!!! See if YOU know what all of them are!

How the Omnivore's 100 works:
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.

2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.

3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating. (I don't know how cross out so I will make mine RED)

4) Optional: Post a comment at Very Good Taste, linking to your results.

My theory is: I'll try anything once, unless it sounds or looks utterly disgusting!

MY OMNIVORE'S 100

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile (not exactly, I've had Alligator)
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp

9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar (no cigars, thanks)
37. Clotted Cream Tea
38. Vodka Jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat's milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth $120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV (don't like beer)
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings or andouillette(STINKO!)
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang Souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom Yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. 3 Michelin Star Tasting Menu (maybe)
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

Tybee Time, August 2008

I didn't know that I would be going to Tybee Island this year. But I received an invitation, and I accepted. Tybee is an old friend, one you visit when you can.

My Aunt J had just returned from a week long stay in Tybee Island. (Her daughter-in-law's family has owned a condo on the beach since the early 80's, they share it among family.) Not long after her return, she suffered a stroke. It was a mild stroke, but left her a bit befuddled, stressed, and forgetful. Her daughter-in-law agreed a trip back to Tybee Island for a week more for additional rest and relaxation might be good for her. She in turn invited me, Courage, and Krumm to join her. We couldn't resist. So, on short notice, we tossed things in bags and loaded up the car.

The evening we arrived it was raining cats (see Reverend Mommy's blog for explanation) and it seemed a bit dreary. The next day it drizzled, but me and Aunt J walked on the beach just the same, getting caught in a downpour and loving every minute of it! On the third day, the sun was out in all her glory! We spent five days just lazily exploring the island. We walked for miles on the beaches and nature trails. We drove all along the little neighborhoods tucked away off the main strip. We scanned the souvenir shops for something unique, but didn't find it.

We saw all kinds of neat things on this trip...the beach littered with dead and dieing starfish. Pelicans and gulls diving for fish. HUGE spiders draped between trees and shrubs on the paths. A house with 15 cats in residence on a front porch. Concrete turtles dressed up in different costumes and adornments...similar to the bulldogs in Athens. On one boring and non-descript trail, the only excitement was a small snake slithering across our path, which of course sent me into hysterics. We dedicated one morning to Fort Pulaski and the trails and shore of the little island the fort is located on; Cockspur Island.

On the last evening of our stay, we drove in to Savannah for an evening stroll on River Street, to see the street performers and surf the shops there. We had dinner at One-Eyed Lizzie's (YUUUUUUMMMM FOOD-I highly recommend!!!!) and we went on a Ghost Talk-Ghost Walk. There was an underground blast a little north of us, which made a lot of the city lose electricity, so the ghost tour was interesting indeed!

I hate the fact that my Aunt had a stroke, but something good comes from all things. She and I had never been able to vacation together, beyond a weekend in the mountains with our 'Mountain Girls' Group', due to our schedules or family obligations. Since I am currently not working and she was dismissed from work for awhile, we could go on this little trip and have fun and relax. Her short term memory made some moments challenging (after discussing a drive out to a nature trail one morning, she went into the bedroom and emerged wearing her bathing suit and flip flops-all ready for the beach!) . She studied the road map for hours and plotted a 'new' route to go home by. She took us on a 9 hour road trip, where as it usually only takes 4.5 hours to get home. See, God is with us all the time. He was with me, giving me yet another test in patience.

Years back, when you visited Tybee Island, you were met with signs all over - in restaurants, shops, etc., that you're on 'Tybee Time'. Meaning, things are slower and more laid back on Tybee, so slow down.

Gone now, are the 'Tybee Time' signs. The new sign you see everyplace is a square block and within it a tie, a bee, and a little spot of land with a palm tree on it. Tie + Bee + Island. Hmmmm. I kind of like the old 'Tybee Time' signs better.

A Visit From Granny

She comes to me in my dreams sometimes, all soft and sweet and quiet.

She lost her voice about a year half before she died; dementia robbed her of it. The only time I heard it after that was when she was in pain. A couple of days before she died, it returned. She cried out loud for her Mama. It was heart wrenching. Her body was shutting down, her lungs struggling to take in air, her throat struggling to swallow the fluids that were building up in her lungs and stomach and washing up. She was too weak to cough and she was frantic. Even at 89, you want your Mama, the one who brought you comfort when you were sick, lost and hurting.

Finally, after much counseling and information gathering, me, being her guardian, with the help of her children-my aunts and uncles, decided to not have her fight this infection and sickness, but to make her comfortable and help her to go. To say it to the nurse, to give the go ahead to withhold treatment, but to make her rest, it shattered my heart into a million pieces.

The sea-sickness patch they placed behind her ear made her throat muscles relax and she no longer struggled to swallow. The morphine eased her pain and helped her to rest. She had not taken in food or water for several days. I know her body must have been contracting in excruciating spasms as she dehydrated. But the medication eased it. The nurses and CNA's kept her mouth lubricated with swabs. We wiped her brow with wet cloths and we turned her body to different positions to keep her blood from pooling.

We stayed with her constantly now. She no longer called for her Mama. The 23rd Psalm had been recited to her many times. She had received Communion one last time. Her loved ones spent last private moments with her. Me and my Aunt J were with her when she let go. Her breath was coming in puffs, and the puffs stopped. And then a long, last breath was released. My Aunt J walked up to the nurses station to get someone. I watched my Granny's face go from wrinkled and strained, to soft and peaceful. All the wrinkles smoothed out in those last few seconds. It was like watching a computer animation. It was unbelievable and remarkable. Her eyes had been closed but, now they slowly re-opened. I placed my hand over her eyes and smoothed them down, but they wouldn't stay closed. I couldn't help but smile, because she could be a bit stubborn at times!

We left the room while one of Granny's favorite CNA's came in to clean and dress Granny. When we returned, Theresa had combed and braided Granny's white hair, which hang down to her bottom. She had dressed her in soft, pink pajamas and she now lay on her back with her hands folded and her long white braid came over one shoulder and rested on her chest. I couldn't believe how clean and sweet and serene she looked. She was like an angel laying on the bed. So tiny and frail, but yet, not sad or sorrowful. Theresa did such a wonderful job in giving Granny her dignity back. She didn't have to wear a huge, bulky diaper anymore. She could lay on her back again, her back relaxed and her head gently supported by a pillow. She was clean and neat, the way she had always kept herself before her illness.

In my dreams, she comes to me and sits on the bedside. She doesn't talk. But her eyes dance and her smile is as sweet as I remember it. She has kissed me too. Soft little angel kisses on my cheeks and lips. It's like she is coming back to see me and make sure I am okay. She always wears a pink dress. The dress I remember her wearing one Easter, back in 1992. It was sleeveless and pink with white flowers. Her hair was short and curly then. But in my dreams her hair is long, braided, then wrapped in a bun on top of her head, the way I always fixed it for her.

When I was little and very much alone in this world, she took me into her home, into her arms, and into her heart. I lived with her for three of the most vulnerable years of my life. I never forgot that and I always thanked her the best way I knew. She took care of me as a young child, but the roles were reversed, and I took care of her when she was old. She was then my baby. I bathed her, combed her hair, fed her and talked to her even when she couldn't answer me. I knew when dementia took the best part of her mind, she still remembered me. I could see it in her eyes, her smile, and the way she held my hand.

When she visits me in my dreams, sometimes I carry her. Just like she carried me, when I was little.

A

Restaurant Review: Dickey's Barbeque Pit

Earlier this week I had lunch with one of my BFF. We visited Dickey's Barbecue Pit in Snellville. I like BBQ, but it is not usually my first choice if asked, 'Where do you want for lunch?'. But on this day, I wanted to try this new BBQ restaurant in Snellville, so we whooped the car in and gave it a try.

I have to say, I was quite pleased. I ordered the smoked chicken breast sandwich and the barbecue beans. My friend ordered the pulled pork sandwich and baked potato casserole.

My sandwich was excellent! The bun was fresh and soft. The chicken was a whole chicken breast sliced in 3/4" widths and laid on the bun. It looked rather plain at first, but one bite explained...no lettuce, tomato or sauce needed. Pickles and onions accompanied - but was not needed to enhance the taste of the sandwich. The chicken was extremely tender and seasoned just right. A little side of barbecue sauce was provided, and I barely used any of it.

The barbecue beans were bland in my opinion. They almost tasted like pork and beans with a dab of BBQ sauce on top. I only ate a few bites of those.

My friend said her pulled pork sandwich was equally tender and spiced right. The baked potato casserole was a scoop of mashed potatoes (appeared to be real, not instant), with a sprinkle of cheese, chives, bacon bits maybe?

The cost was average, my meal including a small, refillable, fountain drink came to $7.10.

The first thing we noticed when we went into the dining area was everyone in the place was eating an ice cream cone. We quickly zoomed in on the 'FREE ICE CREAM' sign over a self-serve ice cream dispenser. After we ate our meals, we helped ourselves to the kiddie size cones and vanilla soft serve. It wasn't quite Dairy Queen quality, but it was good and it was free. The size was perfect as it is enough to cure the sweet tooth, but prevents over indulgence (if you heed the one free serving per customer rule).

On a scale of 1 to 5, I give Dickey's a 4. The food was fresh and flavorful, the free dessert was an added bonus. I will definitely go back again!

One Pound at a Time!

It's Tuesday - you know what that means! WW meeting. I am so proud of Arthur - she has reached the 15 pound mark!!!!!!!!!!!! Me - I have taken off a little over 7 pounds!!!! Our meeting was very good tonight. We discussed the 'levels of comfort' you feel in regards to hunger and satisfaction. The low end of the scale is VERY HUNGRY. When you are at this point you will eat anything and everything to get out of this zone. It's a dangerous place to be. On the opposite end of the scale is OVER STUFFED. This happens when you eat too quickly, eat stuff you shouldn't, or go to the Mexican restaurant and eat a basket of chips and bowl of salsa before your food is brought out. It's not a good place to be either.

Right in the middle is the GOOD zone. You feel hungry, you eat a decent meal, you stop before you over do it. You aren't miserable and you have no guilt.

We found out that tonight was our leader's last night. She drives all the way to Loganville from beyond Porterdale to direct us, but she has taken on a teaching job and doesn't feel she can do both. We understand, but we will miss her. Our new leader is a man and we will meet him next Tuesday. We have two men in our WW group, so they are probably looking forward to having a male leader. It could be fun. We'll see. And I'll let you know.

My Brain Hurts.

I have been working on Chapter 1 of Math Modeling for a week now. My brain hurts. It is basic stuff, as far as Algebra goes. Stuff that is probably taught to 3rd graders these days. The same stuff I struggled through in 10th grade. In 10th grade, Miss 'H' scared the ghost out of me when she caught me drawing in geometry class. I was bored and lost. She told me in front of the class that I was in math class, not art class. I managed to survive the embarrassment and I did manage to pass the class with a C. I don't know how. I do know, that back then, (yeah, caveman days), you were only required to take 2 maths in high school to graduate. That was the last math I took until I started college classes 7 years later.

It took me three tries to pass pre-algebra in college, which I might add, you do not receive credit for. Now, many years later, I am attempted Math Modeling, which I thought was 'advanced general math'. No. It is algebra. Math Modeling means it is algebra and how it applies to real life. Have mercy on my brain.

Courage is taking Algebra. I see her whizzing through her homework and typing away on that little graphing calculator thingy. I am still doing the tutorial on the graphing calculator thingy. I usually resort to pencil and paper to get the right answer. (Something is wrong with the graphing calculator thingy maybe?????)

My trouble with math goes back to fourth grade. I had never had trouble with math before, but on this particular day in math class, my friend, Cynthia, convinced me to just go down the math quiz and 'guess' at the answers. It was adding and subtracting 3 columns of numbers. Stuff I had done since the beginning of second grade. I don't know why I let her convince me to do that, but I made a 13 on that quiz and was dropped down to Group 'D' in math - the lowest you could be placed. The rest of the year I did adding, subtracting, and not much else.

In 5th grade I was put directly into Group 'A' and was TOTALLY lost. I got three licks from the paddle from the math teacher for not doing my homework. I had never been paddled or punished in any way before. It broke my heart and I was dropped down to Group 'C' math. Ever since, I have struggled with math because I missed some basic teaching somewhere down the line.

You would think that someone who had such a bad history with math would have never gone into the field of bookkeeping and accounting. But what most people don't understand is that when I first got into that field, the old 10-key adding machine was my BFF. Then in the 80's, the PC came along, bringing with it the spreadsheet software, LOTUS 1-2-3, I think it was called? And all the accounting software packages that followed. I have done bookkeeping and accounting related work for over 25 years. I rarely ever had to do any math on my own...the computer does it for you.

But now, my brain is struggling to re-learn adding, subtracting, dividing, square-rooting, and some stuff I've never heard of before. If I really let myself be honest, the challenge is fun and exhilarating. I'm hoping this stuff keeps those neurons firing in the old gray matter and staving off Alzheimer's Disease a few extra years. Anyways, as soon as I figure out how to use the graphing calculator thingy, I know it will do all the hard stuff!

Kids Meals and the kid in me.

Arthur was just a toddler when I became familiar with the Happy Meal and the toy that came with it. She was two years old and Happy Meals had been around only four years or so, but they were the biggest and best thing that could happen to a single mom on a shoestring budget who wanted to treat her child to a fast food meal every now and then. The best part at the time was the fact that at two, she couldn't eat the whole thing, so we split it half & half! So it was really a treat for both of us.

The Happy Meal consisted of a small hamburger, small order of french fries and a tot-sized soft drink. Oh, and don't forget the 'prize'...usually a really cheesy toy of some sort. Arthur was quite pleased with the little books, Frisbees, balls and figurines that come with the meal; at least for a few minutes.

Over the years, the toys in the Happy Meal box improved with quality and often tied in with the current popular children's movie or TV character. I can remember Disney characters galore, My Little Pony and miniature Barbies with hair.

Not long after Mickey Dee's introduced the Happy Meal, other fast food restaurants came out with their own versions of the kid's meal with toy or prize. With the exception of Burger King, I must say the competition was quite disappointing. I hate to admit to giving in to advertising ploys, but I really hated getting those four page paperback books from Arby's and the coloring book with two crayons from DQ. I'd much rather get the wind up toy designed after the Disney characters.

By the time Courage came around, the Happy Meal toy was quite sophisticated. I'll never forget the Mini Beanie Baby craze. We had never eaten so much McD's before in our lives before they started including those little plush phenoms in the bag. We even had the Hubby eating at McD's - something he just didn't do! He would come home with several a week. What a dad won't do for his daughters!

My all time favorite were the McNuggets complete with Halloween Costumes. There is a Frankenstein, a Mummy, a Dracula, a Clown and several other out-of-this-world cute costumes. I put them out every Halloween for the memories and because they are so darned cute!

These days, McD's has improved it's Happy Meal choices (you can now have apple slices instead of fries, or low fat milk instead of soft drinks). The toy continues to be high quality and collectible. The other fast food restaurants have come a long way also. They have included healthier options for kids and improved the quality of their prizes. And thank God in Heaven, they all have increased the size of the kids meal soft drink to at least the size of a former small adult drink.

I am a BIG KID. I am 47 years old and partly because I am still a big kid and partly because I like to try to watch my calorie intake; I mostly order kids meals when I eat fast food.

I used to be so embarrassed to go through the drive-thru at McD's or Burger King and order a kids meal when I was alone. I felt like I was cheating and I felt like the person at the window would judge me...thinking I was too cheap or too poor to purchase a grown-up meal. The truth is...sometimes that was absolutely the truth (especially the poor part!). But mostly, I just like the smaller portions and the toy!

Yesterday I accompanied my parents to a doctors appointment and afterwards my dad wanted to eat at Checkers. I panicked at first because I didn't think there was ANYTHING on the Checkers menu I could eat and remain on my diet. But alas...they have a kids meal! So I got the hamburger kid's meal, no cheese, with fries and Diet Coke. I ate all the hamburger, maybe a total of 6 french fries and drank almost all of the drink. And I got a toy. As I fished around for it in the bottom of the bag, my dad remarked that that was the only reason I had ordered a kids meal, was to get the toy. I could only grin. Well, he is the one who said I'd always be just a kid to him.

School is in session

Well, it is back to school, not only for the youngsters but for college age kids and adults too. Courage and Krumm are 3 days into their new semester and have already formed opinions about their instructors...I myself am delayed starting my on-line classes because I procrastinated in purchasing my text books. I probably put it off because I am taking algebra (math modeling it is called now...WHATEVER!). I hate math.

I have come to an important decision about my career/education path. I am getting away from accounting and now headed in the direction of getting a degree in social work. I am very satisfied with my decision and know that it will much more interesting and rewarding than accounting. Yeeeehhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaa! Just got to get past this math class....

Plugging right along...

I am very happy to announce that, despite being on vacation last week, I lost another 1.8 lbs, for a grand total of 6. 6 lbs lost! And I am even more happy to announce that Arthur lost another 1.4 lbs, for a grand total of 13.2 lbs!!!!!!!!!! That is so awesome!

Our WW meeting went well last evening and afterwards Arthur treated me and Courage to spinach quesadillas and chips with pico salsa. As Rachel Ray would say....YUMMO!

A New Name

The Almost Daughter has requested a 'real' name. First, a little history...

Courage met Almost Daughter in 8th grade, (I think), English class. The first time I met her and Midder (her mom) was a 'Breakfast for Parents' that the English teacher held. I was given strict instructions for entering the school and class room by Courage to follow a few steps behind her so it doesn't look like I am hovering over her, don't smile, and for Heaven's Sake - don't laugh. These are things that parents do that embarrass middle school age kids to no end, obviously.

Almost Daughter was a little slip of a thing, with freckles, just like Courage, but with red hair instead of blonde. Almost Daughter has been one of Courage's BFF's ever since they shared that English class and a French class. She has spent tons of nights with us, eaten many a meal with us, cried and laughed with us, taken many a trip with us, and has wormed her way into all our hearts. She and Courage have shared many a teen girl's sufferings, heartaches, joys and loves. She is Almost Daughter...'almost' because she does go home to her real parents sometimes... (I exaggerate...she is home with her beloveds more than us).

Anyways, A.D. wants a 'character name' so I asked for suggestions. At first she said Howdy Doodie. I said, that sure is a mouthful. Then she suggested 'Krumm'. Of course I thought she said Crumb and I just didn't get it. She explained that Krumm is a character from the animated show 'Real Monsters'. Krumm is a monster who has no eye sockets, so he carries his eyes...one in each fist. (picture shown)I am not sure what they appeal is, but Krumm it is! (actually he grows on you!)

Am I the cause...

...for your road rage?

I watched a short Beth Moore lesson on t.v. today. If you are not familiar with Beth Moore, she is one of the best story tellers and teachers I have ever known. No, I don't know her personally, but I have taken some of her video/workbook classes and she is absolutely amazing in her ability to explain and teach, all with a wonderful sense of humor and enthusiasm like I've never seen before! She is the founder of Living Proof Ministries and she brings the Bible to life, taking a stories and passages we've heard all our lives, and makes them real. I took the class 'A Heart Like His' last fall and I learned the WHOLE story of King David. Never before was a Bible story so REAL to me then when I heard her tell the story and explain it. You read passages from the Bible and then she picks it apart and brings it to life and also ties it in to modern day life and how these stories, lessons and instructions still apply to us today. If you are interested in the least, check her out on t.v., every Wednesday on the WHSG station. The show is called LIFE Today with James and Betty Robison (For me in Loganville, that is channel 11, at 2:00pm) Beth does a brief 10 or 15 minute lesson. She always makes God's word relevant to here and now. In today's episode she said she was the cause of alot of people's road rage. (A resounding AMEN! from her husband off stage...)

Now, I can hardly imagine Beth Moore being the cause of anyone's road rage. Me, on the other hand, I am quite sure I am the cause of a lot of folks' road rage! Like Beth, I have had a lot of sign language flashed at me. If I could read lips, I am sure I would know more about exactly what I did that ticked these folks off. Good for me, lip reading is not my forte.

What exactly does tick people off to the point of flipping someone off with the middle finger or screaming words that would embarrass a marine? As a fellow road-rager, I can tell you the top 5 things that make me burn to a crisp and cause me to momentarily lose my religion:

1. Someone cutting me off. You know, that person who decides at the last minute to whip into my lane with no warning whatsoever. Or he pulls out in front of me, even though I am doing 55 and there is only 3 car lenghths between us.

2. The person in front of me that makes a turn without signaling first.

3. The person riding my tail (excuse me! I only spoon with the Hubster!)

4. The person who nearly side swipes me.

5. And the person who passes me on a hill or in a curve, endangering not only me, but himself and any unseen oncoming persons.

There are things we can do to reduce road rage, in our selves and in others towards us. (This I learned from my advanced Health class last semester). Here are a few things we can do to deter road rage, according to my text book (in plain speak):

1. Leave early enough as to allow for delays. This prevents you from being in a big hurry and prevents tail gating (for the most part) and eliminates your need to try pushing the car in front of you down the road.

2. Do not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This prevents you from unclear thinking and also keeps your inhibitions intact so as you don't feel quite as free to make threats to the guy in the hummer who likes to play chicken on narrow country roads. Oh, and it also keeps you from getting DUI's and wrapping your vehicle around telephone poles and trees.

3. Refrain from using sign language and over-enunciating. Some folks just don't take kindly to the one finger salute or a shaking fist. The koo-koo sign (index finger making a circular motion around your ear) is not usually very well received either. Also, if you enunciate really well, that other person might really be able to read your lips. Even if you are enunciating a harmless phrase, like fudge chews, it could get you a good black eye or a jacked jaw.

4. Practice relaxation techniques when driving. Some suggestions are to listen to soothing music. Pray or meditate. At red lights do arm and neck stretches. Go on vacation, mentally, for a few minutes...imagine a beautiful beach with lapping waves and swaying palm trees, or a hike in the mountains. But don't stay on vacation too long, you need to focus on your driving.

5. More than anything else, use the Golden Rule. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. In other words, do not do the things that annoy you, to others. If you don't like tailgaters, don't tailgate. If you don't like it when people turn without signals, always use your turn signal. So on and so on. Also, if you do make an error that you feel may set someone off, make the 'I could have had a V-8' sign on your head - it is a sign that you 'messed up' and try to do an 'I'm sorry' face. (Of course your 'sorry' face could be misconstrued as your being a smarty pants and get you in deeper trouble. For these times I keep a personal size 'mace' in reaching distance).

On a final note; I heard a news report recently that stated that studies show that people who display bumper and window stickers on their vehicles are more likely to be involved in road rage incidences. According to the study, people who have these stickers feel like their vehicle and the air around it is their personal space. And if you get too close to their vehicle, it is like putting your face in their face, and they go off! The news report jokingly suggested drivers stay far away from other drivers with bumper and window stickers as not to antagonize them. I am going to take that advise seriously! Also, the only 'advertisements' I have on my car right now are 'Support our Marine's' magnet and a Christian Fish emblem. I want people to see the fish and think - there goes a Christian. Not 'look at that women who just gave me the finger! And she has a Christian Fish on her car! Some Christian!' I also try to remind myself, before I mouth off or honk my horn, the person in the other car might be a friend from school, church, or my pharmacist. (Don't want him making any 'on-purpose' mistakes!)

It's something to think about.

P.S. Check out Beth Moore. She is a lovely woman! (http://www.lproof.org/)

Beauty AND Brains!

I know I am their mom and mom's are biased, but I think both of my daughters (Arthur and Courage) are beautiful! They are both fair of skin, blonde, and have gorgeous eyes. But not only are they easy on the eyes, they are SMART!

Arthur graduated from Gainesville College with an associates degree in Criminal Justice and then went on to North Georgia College and State University to get her bachelor's degree in CJ, where she earned a 4.0 gpa during her time spent there. She graduated with honors with a combined gpa of 3.75. She had won out over about 100 other candidates for an internship with one of the most competetive counties in Georgia. Today, she is a very successful parole officer who works hard everyday to guide young people who have made a wrong turn or an honest mistake in their lives. And she is gorgeous! Beauty and Brains!

Courage graduated from an alternative high school a full semester early. She was ranked #3 in her graduating class. She just finished up her second semester of college where she is taking the pre-med course study, and she has a 4.0 gpa! She wants to eventually become a physician's assistant or an anesthesiologist. She has a while to make that decision, and she'll make a good one. And she is gorgeous! Beauty and Brains!

I wish I had the beauty and the brains. I am mediocre. I just finished my semester with a 3.43 average. Hey! I am a little bit smart! And the Hubster can tolerate my looks. So I am good!

Skating' for a good paws!

I joined Arthur, her BF, and four of her co-workers for a night out of country cookin' and skatin' last Thursday night. Yes, I said skatin'. Arthur was the youngest one in the group at 26. She said something like...do you know the last time I went skating was in middle school? That was like 10 years ago. HELLO! I am 20 years older than Arthur and I haven't skated since middle school! That is like 30-35 years ago!

Truthfully, I have been on skates since middle school. I believe anyone who has had a child in elementary school has experienced 'skate night', and most parents cannot get through skate night without their child begging them to skate with them.

Skate Night is a fundraiser/social event for children and their parents. It usually starts within a few weeks of the new school year and the PTSO (is it still called that????) starts recruiting poor unsuspecting parents right away to host skate night. It occurs on a school night and that day is usually very exciting for the students and very hectic for the parent, and exhausting for both.

First, the parent (usually Mom, sometimes Dad, often a grandparent) must bust their rear-ends to get home in time to pick up the kids from daycare, get home and stuff down dinner, and make the kids do homework before driving to the next town to Sparkles Skating Rink. I don't know how many times I threatened Arthur, and eight years later, Courage, 'Finish all your homework or we are not going to Skate Night'.

Once you arrive at the skating rink your child loses all the social training you've been giving them since they were born. They become rude, bossy, whiny and incurably hungry. Even though you ate before you left the house, they start begging for popcorn and Slurpees. They fight with this week's bestest friend in the whole world and when you try to intervene you yourself 'are not my friend anymore'. They start bossing other kids around and cry when they don't listen. In between all this going on, they skate, a little. If you are lucky, they don't get plowed down by the older kids.

The organizers of Skate Night really liven things up. They have coloring contests and other silly games that one or two of the same kids win over and over. It truly means the world to a primary school child to win a coloring contest.

Then there are the games; dead bug, hokey pokey to name a couple. This is actually the best part of the evening. All the kids are on the floor and they are laughing and having a good time. The parents are hiding in the snack area.

After blowing my diet (yeah, I would have to have nachos, darn it!), consoling my child for not winning the coloring contest, stopping an argument over who does the best dip, my child would beg me to put on skates and come out on the floor. I once swallowed a tortilla chip whole because Courage caught me off guard. I gave in after I could breath again, after all, she didn't shed a tear when I accidentally slammed her fingers in the trunk of the car when she was getting her skates out even though I had to run back to the front of the car to pop the trunk again. So there I was, baby-stepping in skates and holding my seven year old's hand. The grin on her face was worth the pain I felt later when I did a Fred-Flintstone imitation and did a smack down with my fanny.

And here is Arthur, 10 years since the last time she roller skated last, saying she doesn't remember how to skate. 'It's like riding a bike, you never forget how', I told her. I was right. She got right on the floor and after a few wobbly starts, she was off. She even had a little confrontation with some speed demon teeny boppers before the night was over. The BF wasn't bad on wheels either. I actually made it around the rink a few times myself, and exited the floor with no bumps or bruises. Ego still intact.

Oh, and our skating was for a good paws, uh, hum, cause, that is. Admittance was $2.00 plus a can of dog food. Not only did we exercise and reminisce, we did something good for animals at the shelter!