I'm just ramblin' on...

Greyson (Month Nine) in Pictures!

2012-01-23T11:59:00.001-05:00

Greyson is 10 months old today!!!! Here are some pics from month 9!

Taking a nap. Still loves that paci!

Giving finger foods a try....does he like them?

He got this piano for Christmas...he loves to 'dance' to the music he makes!

He does feel a bit 'trapped' at times!

But mostly he is a very happy little guy!

Working on his driving skills.

Never know, he might grow up to be a farmer!

Greyson continues to be a delight! This past month he celebrated his first Christmas. He learned to crawl and loves to go 'exploring'. He loves for his Granddaddy Keene to take him walking on the trails to see the trees, flowers, and horses. He loves to touch everything. He has started pointing with his little finger...go this way, touch that, look at this! He continues to grow, learn and amaze his parents and grandparents!

Hair 2012

2012-01-02T13:11:00.000-05:00

Last January, I did a post called Hair 2011. My daughters had a blast with it! They laughed and gave (constructive?) criticism. So, here is another 'year in hair'. I don't think it is much better than 2010. Okay girls....lets have it!!!!


January...The 'do' is grown out and shaggy.


February...with a trim and the use of hairdryers and flat irons, the look is still grown out, but sleeker.


Mid-February...Flatiron the whole hair, and then tease the top! Wahlah...The Rod Stewart look!


March found my hair a bit 'fluffier'.


Not too much change in April.


May...the hair is pitiful! Outgrown and Out of Control!


Early June...long and curly-ish. Looks ok when you take some time to style it.


Late June...time to go short and sassy again!


July ... short hair is easier to fix!


August...not much change!


September...It's hard to get a good cut these days!


October...kept it short and sweet for my cruise to the Bahamas!


November...Ahhhh! Giving thanks for the inverted bob, it serves me well!


December...ending the year with short!

So what do you think girls??? Short is better? Longer is better? Which is more flattering for me...straight or curly? I know my daughters will let me know!

Greyson (Month Eight) in Pictures!

2011-12-23T19:16:00.000-05:00

Greyson turned Nine Months Old on December 23, 2011.

Here are some snapshots reviewing his eight month!

Learning to feed himself!

Enjoying a swing at the park in Helen, Georgia.

Now that he can crawl, he explores parts of the house he couldn't explore before.

He continues to be a joy to his Mom, Dad, Grandparents and everyone who meets him!

He is experiencing a lot of 'firsts'. His first winter.

His first hike.(Also in Helen, Georgia)

Working on his first 'car'.

He is a very sociable boy, and for the most part does not meet a stranger.

He loves bath time. That is 'play-time' in his book!

He enjoys books.

He ate his first Thanksgiving dinner with his family.

He was part of the annual Chapple/Keene family Christmas card photo shoot for the first time. Here he takes a break to enjoy nature.

He 'cooked' his first turkey.

He made his first craft.

He has an appreciation for pretty girls!

He loves other babies and children!

His first Chapple/Keene Family Christmas Card Photo!

What an exciting month with Greyson it has been! He has 2 teeth now, he has learned to crawl, he continues to learn and grow! He had his first Thanksgiving and will soon have his first Christmas! He is such a joy and blessing in our lives!

Greyson (Month Seven) in Pictures!

2011-11-23T23:41:00.000-05:00

Today Greyson is Eight months old!!!! These are the eight words his mommy used to described him!			Energetic!

Inquisitive!

Amusing!

Opinionated!


Affectionate!

Love!

Delightful!


Mischievous!

Greyson (Month Six) in Pictures!

2011-10-26T12:00:00.000-04:00

Greyson is seven months old now and continues to grow by leaps and bounds! He is sitting up 'mostly' unassisted now!

He really, really wants to get a hold of Mommy's cell phone...probably so he can talk to his Mimi!

He still enjoys being outside...even though the weather has turned cooler.

He can't take his eyes off those cats! They are very distracting when you are trying to get a good picture!

He is learning more and more how to sit up straight in his high chair, and learning to pick up finger foods and navigating them to his mouth!

Greyson has experienced his first illness...croup! Poor baby!!!

He has certain toys that he loves...I think maybe this sock monkey might be one of them!

Greyson (Month Five) In Pictures

2011-09-23T15:32:00.000-04:00

Greyson is now six months old! Happy six month birthday to my sweet grandson! Here are some hi-lites of month 5!!!!

Bath time has become one of his favorite play times!

He has learned to sit in his high chair which makes meal times easier and more fun!

His personality continues to blossom!

Sitting up is a skill he is still mastering.

Crawling is probably next on the agenda!

Everything goes straight to the mouth...including fingers!

His favorite playmates...the cats, Buffy and Sam!

A variety of foods have been added to his diet.

Buffy is becoming more and more tolerant.

Can be a bit fussy at times. . . . but the happy times make up for it!

Still takes quite a few naps during the course of the day.

Potty Mouth

2011-09-07T21:35:00.000-04:00

I admit it; I am a curser. I have been since I was about 16 years old, when my brother, Bobby, ticked me off one day and I chased him all over our front yard calling him all kinds of names and screaming "I'll kill you, dammit!"

I am not proud of this fact.

My worse cursing moments occur during fits of road or drive-thru rage. Ask my daughters. They were traumatized as children when someone cut me off or couldn't speak English at the drive-thru speaker. (I can still hear Jess' little toddler voice saying "uh-oh" when the drive-thru operator repeated back my order wrong.)

It hasn't helped matters that I married a man who may be a direct descendant of a Yankee Catholic sailor. When we met, my curse word vocabulary increased.

My oldest daughter, Amber, may have inherited the forked tongue, as I have heard her let out a string of epitaphs during a fit of rage (sometimes directed at me, sometimes a bad driver or bad boyfriend) that would shame some men. Some say I should be proud she took 'something' after me.

Now my youngest daughter, Jess, is quite the opposite. Her mouth does not utter such indiscretions. At least not in my presence. I am not saying she is an angel by any stretch of the imagination...but she has control of her emotions, and therefore her tongue, I suppose.

Except for one time:

We had traveled two and half , maybe three hours, from Georgia to Chattanooga, Tennessee, for a nice little family vacation. We were booked in a hotel near the aquarium and also planned to see Lookout Mountain, Rock City and Ruby Falls. After the drive, we were pulling into the parking deck at the hotel, and Jessica , age three at the time, decided she was ready to come out of the booster seat that had held her hostage for hours. She unbuckled her seat belt and slid out of the booster seat while our car was still moving. I turned to her, finger pointing and wagging, and eyebrows knitted, and said 'Jessica Chapple, you get back in that car seat and don't you come out until this car is parked and not moving.' She hopped her chubby little self back in the car seat and started buckling herself back in, then yelled 'You damn Mama!' in the sternest voice her little self could muster.

I was so shocked to hear these words come out of her mouth, I was speechless! But only momentarily. I looked at Chuck and saw the shocked look on his face, then one of us giggled. Then I could Amber in the back seat giggling. We tried real hard not to laugh (as not to encourage this behavior), but it was so difficult!

I haven't heard Jess truly 'curse' since that day. Oh, she uses 'substitute' words like freaking, but not the hardcore stuff. If she did, I would be just as shocked today as I was the day she was three years old!

Me, Chuck, Amber and Jess while vacationing in Chattanooga, TN. We took the riverboat ride up the river and back. Great fun! Can you imagine bad words coming out of either of these sweet girls' mouths???

Greyson (Month Four) - In pictures!

2011-08-29T11:33:00.001-04:00

Greyson is now 5 months old!

His fourth month was filled with more growing and learning!

Some of the hi-lites....

Learning to eat Big Boy food - from a jar!!!!
Mommy let him try several fruits and vegetables and he loves to eat!

Beginning to try to reach for things laying just ahead. Pre-cursor to crawling?

Able to keep his concentration on things a bit longer.

Really enjoys bath time now!

Sits in his excer-saucer and plays with the toys.

Still taking several naps each day.

Learning to hold and use a sippy-cup!

Greyson continues to be a joy!
He's very social and loves attention. Mommy says he loves to
get attention at the grocery store and at church.
He still loves to see Daddy come home at the end of each work day.
He enjoys being outside and is growing more and more attached to his 'kitties'.

(p.s. does anyone know how to rotate pics within a blog once they are inserted? I tried rotating them during the 'choose photo' part, no option...and no option given after they are inserted either. They are in upright position in my computer file.)

How the Best Memories are Made

2011-08-15T11:56:00.000-04:00

Some of my best memories are the ones made while vacationing with my daughters. They include:

1. Me, making a flying leap in the pitch black dark from my bed to the girls bed....heart pounding and about to pee my pants . . . .after Amber let out a blood curdling scream. All after going on a ghost walk in Savannah. "Mom, did you just whisper 'Monk' in my ear?' 'No.' AAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!

2. Me, screaming bloody murder and climbing a very steep hill very fast after a long, exhausting hike...after Jess picked up a monstrous looking millipede on the end of a stick and came after me with it.

3. Jess and I giggling and laughing out loud and getting yelled at by a very groggy Amber....after the resident rooster of the camp grounds crowed until all he could do was croak!

4. Laying in bed, frozen stiff and scared half to death...after Amber asked me 'Did you hear that? It sounds like footsteps in the hall.', while staying at the cabin in Cleveland, Georgia. I answered 'It's just Jess going to the bathroom or something'. And Jess answering from the other room, 'No, I am in bed and I'm not moving'.

5. Thinking how I want to strangle Amber...after a long exhausting day of hiking on Cumberland Island and dealing with 'bungee-jumping' worms, fighting lizards, and it's 1:00a.m. and all I want to do is sleep, and I hear Amber asking her tent-mate, 'If you could be any magical creature in the world, what would you be? I would be a unicorn!'.

6. Me and Jess plotting to conceal the cat-sized cockroaches at the 1800's hotel we stayed at in St. Mary's from Amber....watching them almost float across the tops of the curtains, they 'skittered' so fast (and yet they made a clicking noise like they had on tiny high-heel shoes)...and finally telling her about them the next day when we checked out. If we had told her that night, there would have been NO SLEEP FOR ANYONE!

Ahhhhhh...the memories!

Welcome to Blogging, My Daughter!

2011-08-06T15:49:00.000-04:00

FINALLY! My oldest daughter has joined the world of blogging! I asked her to start a blog back when she and Chris lived in Pine Mountain, Georgia. They were always hiking and taking the most gorgeous pictures on the hiking trails, parks and Callaway Gardens, that I wanted her to share their experiences on a blog. But she 'never had time'. At that time she was not a mommy and not employed. Why in the world, I thought, does she not have time.

Now that she is a full time mommy (which means she is also full time employed, though not at an office), she has miraculously found the time to write a blog. Hmmm.

Her blog entries are short and witty. Not long, detailed, and drawn out like mine. Her blog, so far, does not contain clip art or pictures. Unlike mine.

She named it Monk Monk to Mommy. You have to read her first entry to understand why. I always knew she could write. I always knew she had a great sense of humor. I've really enjoyed reading it so far.

I've added a link to her blog in the column to the right of the blogs I read regularly if you want to give her a try! I think you'll like her!

Spring..Around the House

2011-08-04T11:39:00.000-04:00

Spring is one of my favorite times of the year...especially around my house and at the park. So many fresh smells, vibrant colors, and fun things to find. Spring is a time of renewal for the earth and our souls. These are a few of my finds...

Close up of Snowgoose Cherry blossums.

The Snowgoose Cherry Tree looks nice with all her white blooms!

Some type of Lily I beleive...right before they bloomed out a gorgeous white.

After it bloomed...

I call this the Duck-Billed Tree, for obvious reasons.

Another shot of the Snowgoose...when she was all budded out.

Not sure what this fuzzy stuff is...mold?

Pink stuff at the park.

Early spring...before the leaves put out.

Buzzards (a.k.a. Vultures) in a pasture near my mom's house.

Sweet tiny blue flowers at the park.

Greyson (Month Four) In Pictures

2011-07-26T07:34:00.000-04:00

Greyson has had a fun-filled fourth month! He has come to visit his family in North Georgia, he has been to church a few times, and gone to Westville Village (recreated 1800's village in South Georgia). He can hold his head up really good now, hold him self up on his arms when laying belly down, and has started rolling over. He has discovered his voice and loves 'talking' and 'squealing'. He is so pleasant natured, always smiling, laughing and cooing. Unless he's hungry or has a soiled diaper of course!

Greyson is holding toys, examining them, and of course, tasting them!

At four months, he is more sociable...engaging eye contact longer...

And growing like a weed!

He has discovered he has a voice and loves to coo and squeal!

He is working on his arm and neck strength!

Everything is funny!

Finally, bath time is fun time!

He still sleeps in his bumsey (spelling?) and we can judge how much he's grown by seeing past pictures of him sleeping in it.

Greyson (Month 3) In Pictures!

2011-06-23T11:36:00.001-04:00

Happy Day!

Greyson is 3 months old!

His latest accomplishments:

*Moving up from a size 0-3 months to 3-6 months

*'Discovered' his hands and feet

*Tried cereal in his bottle

*Went to church for the first time

*Visited his family & friends in the Metro Atlanta Area

*Sitting up in his Bumbo Chair unassisted

*Playing with toys

*Increasing his vocal talents

It's hard living up to this cuteness!

I find you to be most ...entertaining!

Riding in the car is not half bad!

Yeah...I still love to lay on Daddy and sleep!

I like to sit in my bouncy chair and look around.

I just love Tigger!

I love to sit up alone...and Tigger tastes great!

If I'm not the center of attention...I will find a way to be!

The girls simply cannot resist me!

Hey! This Poppa fella doesn't have much more hair than me!

Look at me Mama! Look what I can do!

Scrub-a-dub-dub....a cutie pie in the tub!

Getting to know the extended family.

Greyson (Month Two) in Pictures

2011-05-24T11:29:00.000-04:00

Month Two has been an exciting month! Greyson has gained weight and is growing, growing, growing! His Mommy has had to pack away the Birth-to-Newborn size clothing and now he is wearing 3 month size! He is taking both breast milk and formula. He likes to eat ALL the time!

Taking a little snooze.

Riding in the car...a new experience!

Beginning to make cooing sounds!

Giving Mommy a little break.

Still love that paci!

I love attention!

I'm handsome and I know it!

I love to imitate you!

Things that happened in month two:

*My neck muscles are getting stronger.
*I'm eating more at each feeding.
*I had my first visit from Aunt J.J.
*I've shown Mommy and Daddy who's the boss of this house!
*I have been smiling alot!

Greyson (Month One) - In Pictures!

2011-05-03T11:40:00.000-04:00

Greyson has Mimi's Elf Ear!

Sweet Baby Boy!

Beginning to be more and more alert each day!

Mommy is reading to Greyson...he props his feet on the book!

Sleeping Angel!

Adorable!

Greyson looks alot like his Mommy when she was a baby in this pic!

He may have inherited Mommy's Worry Gene!

One Month Old and Growing!

Welcome Greyson!

2011-04-28T21:31:00.002-04:00

The night before Greyson was born.

After nine months of waiting, my daughter became a mother, which means, I became a grandmother.

How strange it seems to think of myself....a grandmother. But here I am, 50 years old, a grandmother.

The night before his (planned) arrival, me and Chuck drove the three hours to South Georgia to be with Amber and Chris on the eve of their parenthood. We braved the smell of manure and paper mill to get there, and then suffered the haphazard sleep of those who lay all night on a lumpy futon. (The 'bed' in the guest room).

Of course I didn't sleep hardly a wink, and not just because of the lumpy futon. It was mostly the excitement I could barely contain of knowing soon a little baby would be born into our family.

The next morning, Amber and Chris were already up and gone by the time we woke. We scrubbed up and headed to Americus to the hospital.We hadn't been there long when the doctors wheeled Amber away to surgery.


Our first glimpse of Greyson!

After a bit of waiting, there was a flurry of excitement just beyond our waiting area, and around the corner came a bassinet on wheels, pushed by a nurse, containing a little bit of an angel inside it.

All us grandparents gathered around to see the awesome wonder...a tiny bundle of pink skin and dark hair.


Getting his first exam.

And then they wheeled his little chariot on down the hallway to begin much prodding and poking. A few minutes later we were allowed to stand near the nursery, to watch the little baby behind the plexiglass window. We ooohed and aaaahed and I have to admit I cried a little.


The joys of Grandmotherhood!

Becoming a grandmother has been one of my best accomplishments. And I didn't have to do a thing!

Blasting the Winter Blahs

2011-02-17T10:04:00.000-05:00

Blast your Winter Blahs away with Color!!!!

Compliments of

John A. Sibley Horticultural Center

I hope this little sampling of the plants/fauna at Callaway helped make it a brighter day!!!!

Getting Ready for Greyson!

2011-02-16T11:38:00.001-05:00

A baby shower was given for Amber by me, her sister, her grandmother and friend Debbie for her side of the family and friends from and around her hometown, Loganville, Georgia. (The weekend before, there was a shower from her inlaws for friends and family in and around Oglethope!)

We had so much fun playing games, catching up with friends and family, and eating delicous food! But the best part of the shower was watching her open all the terrific gifts she received....all in preperation for the arrival of Greyson!

Greyson's bath tub

I can see him now, splashing in the bathtub and wearing all the cute outfits she has collected from friends and family since the announcement 'It's a boy!'.

Waiting for the next gift to open!

Such cute little outfits!

Debbie working hard in the kitchen...the veggie tray was fabulous!

Me, Debbie, Mama and Aunt Judy worked hard that morning to get the decorations 'just right' and the food 'just so', and we were pleased with the outcome.

The food table was scrumptious!

On the menu:

Finger Sandwiches (chicken salad, pimento cheese & egg salad)

Chips & Dip

Sausage Pinwheels

Pigs 'n Blankets

Fruit Tray

Veggie Tray

An assortment of dips

Nuts & Mints

Cupcakes

Oreo Cheesecake bars

Greenish-Bluish Punch

I get hungry everytime I look at the picture.

Debbie used to cater, so she knows all the little tricks to present food in it's most lucious appearance!

Monkeys abound at the baby shower!

When Amber was still a baby, she climbed in her crib and on the furniture so much, her daddy said she acted just like a monkey...and it stuck. One of her nicknames was Monk from then on! Therefore, there had to be monkeys at the shower!

Amber smells a doodie diaper!

The younger girls experience a doodie diaper.

Showers can be a learning experience for the younger girls...why you have a shower, what you do at a shower, the kinds of foods and games you have at the shower. I think these girls had a blast!

Grandma's little guy...can't wait to meet him!

Dad and Granddad get goodies after the shower.

Greyson's dad and granddad got into the fun also...they came near the end of the shower to help load up the gifts...and to finish off some of the goodies on the food table!

The Year 2010

2011-02-10T21:08:00.000-05:00

The year 2010, was a year of mixed blessings. Some wonderfully good things occurred, and some terribly bad things occurred. With both happy and sad events, I hope that I have grown in my personal life and in my faith life.

The beginning of 2010 was a turning point in my step dad's long battle with brain cancer. The last couple of months of 2009, he struggled to endure his chemo treatments. The new year came and he became unable to sit up for very long, or feed himself, or bathe, or anything. His speech was nearly completely gone. Early in January, an MRI showed that his brain tumor had grown back and doubled in size. His oncologist halted all treatment. Shortly before his birthday, Hospice had to be called in. The day before Easter, he lost his battle with cancer. This was one of the saddest events of my life, but watching him suffer and struggle was worse. At least now, we knew he was at peace.

With profound sadness, also comes ecstatic happiness. Late summer, we found out my daughter Amber and her husband, Chris, were expecting their first child. My first grandchild. The circle of life continues. We just celebrated the upcoming birth of Greyson by having a couple of family/friend showers and now are eagerly awaiting for his arrival!

My former mother-in-law and good friend, Mary Mahaffey, suffered through-out 2010 with her battle with C.O.P.D. and complications from diabetes and a host of other ailments. She spent a great part of the year in either the hospital or personal care homes. She came close to death several times. But her faith in God sustains her, and she is determined to stay alive until she can meet her great-grandson. She came home a couple of days before Christmas, and was able to stay home until just this week. It was a big accomplishment for her.

This year, my daughter Jessica, graduated from Georgia Perimeter College with an associates degree in the pre-med track (science degree). She had been accepted by Georgia Gwinnett College, but decided to apply at UGA also, more or less 'just to see what might happen'. She was accepted at UGA and is now in her third semester there. When she graduates with a bachelor's degree in science, she can then go on to medical school. She is looking at several different schools in Georgia and is beginning to think about the tests you must pass to be considered for acceptance into those schools. I am so proud of her!

So many ups and downs in 2010. My husband lost one of his best friends to a heart attack. My cousin's husband graduated from college to be a school teacher...at the age of 39! I began planning my first cruise. . Jessica's fiance is a U.S. Marine, stationed in Afghanistan. My mom learned to live alone, for the first time in her life, at the age of 72 when my step dad died. I finally got hired as a full time, benefited employee where I had been working as a temp for over a year.

What will 2011 bring? I know. More happiness. More sadness. I can only hope that the experiences I face will help me to grow personally and faithfully.

Hair 2010

2011-01-01T22:23:00.000-05:00

January 2010

February 2010

March 2010

April 2010

May 2010


May...starting all over with a REALLY BAD CUT!!!


June 2010 July 2010

August 2010

September 2010

October 2010

November 2010

December 2010.

Winter Winds

2011-01-01T21:53:00.001-05:00

December 21st is Winter Solstice. The beginning of winter. I think we have a pretty good beginning!

Frosty and Santa are in their element! - December 26, 2010.

The back yard.

Brrrrrr!!! It's cold outside!!!

When the driveway freezes over, it's treacherous!

The front yard got a good dusting.

Hard to believe this is the same yard...one week later! December 31, 2010.

Driving to my Mom's house.

Snowy scene in Winder.

Horses in a snow covered pasture.

Pretty in the forest!

I enjoyed driving around and looking at nature's work.

It's winter, but the backyard tree still has some leaves clinging.

The blueberry bush has turned red.

The fig is but a twig.

The snow goose cherry tree is just plain nekked.

The snowball bush looks dead, but I see a bud forming!

Fall Preview

2010-11-18T21:22:00.000-05:00

Fall has arrived, in all her glory! The leaves are turning, the air is cooler. The days grow shorter. Fall is a wonderful time of year with its own palette of colors, aromas and things to celebrate. This is just a little preview of fall in North Georgia.


Usually, the first signs of fall begin with leaves changing color.

Pumpkin patches become 'the place' to go. In early fall, the weather is still nice enough for short sleeves.

Hardy flowers continue to bloom though the days grow cooler.

Trees begin revealing their alter-egos. Some yellow...

...some red.


Creative people make 'centerpieces' for their driveways.

Animals start getting fat and fuzzy!

The creek waters grow very chilly! Just below this point in the Chattahoochee, tubers in neon pink and green inner tubes float lazily with the stream. But the cool air and icy waters bring that summer treat to a screeching halt!

Ghost Stories

2010-10-29T23:10:00.000-04:00

I love the month of October and I love Halloween. I like that the leaves are beginning to turn and the air is beginning to cool. It is time for jack o'lanterns, chili, and spooky stories!!!

My Halloween story begins with stating this; I sometimes wonder if a place is haunted, or just the person. In other words, are ghosts attracted to certain places, or certain people?

Not long after my first husband and I were married, we purchased a used, single-wide, mobile home. We didn't know much about it's origins or history, except that it came from North Carolina. After we moved in, we determined by marks left on the ceiling and floor, that our two bedroom home was formerly a three bedroom. A third bedroom had occupied what was now our kitchen area. By tracing the faint marks left on the ceiling and floor we could tell that the room was tiny, not much bigger than a closet. I was glad the former owners had remodeled, as the kitchen/dining area was now larger and I couldn't imagine it being half the size it now was.

Our marriage only lasted three years, and soon I found myself living in the mobile home alone with my less than one year old baby. We lived there for a total of seven years, just she and I. But I wasn't always sure we were alone. On several occasions, the lamps would turn on by themselves. My ex-father-in-law explained this away with 'bad wiring'. Other than that, the only other thing was that I just sometimes felt like maybe there was a child's spirit in the house. I don't really know why. Maybe because some of the stuff left behind from the former owners included some cartoon stickers on the mirror and a nautical themed twin bed frame.

One night I returned home from either work or some outing, and a young man who lived next door was waiting outside my house with a rife in his arms! He was all worked up, saying someone was in my house. He said the lights came on, then went off. I told him no, that the lights did that sometimes. He insisted he saw someone walk across the windows while the lights were on. At this point, he has me really spooked and I am afraid to go inside! He volunteered to go inside and check my closets and under the beds. He came back outside after a short while and said he found nobody and nothing suspicious. With the hair on the back of my neck standing up, I went inside and locked up.

Several years after that incident, I met my current husband. We lived in the mobile home for several months before moving to the house he already owned about twenty miles away. Me and Arthur both were terribly excited about moving to his house. It was much larger than our place, and the bedrooms were upstairs. It was a simple house, a kitchen, dining room, living room and half bath on the ground floor, and three bedrooms and two full baths on the second floor. The house was part of a small subdivision, but we didn't really feel like part of it as our house was located at the entrance, one house away from from the corner lot going into the development. We had a house on one side of us, a big expanse of trees behind us (we couldn't even see the next house in the subdivision), a field on one side, and an empty lot across the road from us. It was evident our house was once part of a farm or something, there were fruit trees and remnants of old fencing here and there. The apple, pear and plum trees seemed old and gnarled, but still bore fruit that we enjoyed picking and eating.

Not long after we moved in, things begin to happen. Nothing major. Sometimes I thought I heard someone call my name. I felt like a cat brushed up against my legs. (We didn't have a cat at that time). Things were moved.

After Courage was born, the happenings increased. Again, I thought someone called my name. I opened a window to answer what I thought was my husband - perhaps he'd locked himself out of the house, but no one was outside! The vase given to me by my OB-GYN group was moved and finally I found it broken on the floor one day. (Even thought it lay on a carpeted floor). One morning while I was in the shower, cowboys and Indians were hooting, hollering and shooting up Dodge. The whole time I thought Arthur had turned on my t.v., sound full blast, and was thinking oh, if she wakes up the baby before I can get ready for work, she is going to get it! But when I turned off the shower, the house was quite. Still dripping wet, I tiptoed around the house in a towel, checking my t.v. for the tale-tell dot of light in the center of the screen (when our old t.v. was turned off there was a dot of light in the center of the screen that faded gradually, over several minutes, as the t.v. cooled off), feeling the back of the t.v. for heat, but not feeling any, and then standing over Arthur in her bed, watching for signs that she was faking sleep. Nothing. And luckily, the baby was sound asleep also.

Eventually, I learned that when some of these things happened, it was preceded by the smell of burned fruit, peaches to be exact. I begin to pick up on an impeding 'happening' when I smelled the peculiar odor.

One day, while home alone with Courage, who was nearing three years old, the door bell rang. I was upstairs folding clothes and I lay down what was in my hand and went to check the door. But no one was there. I went back upstairs, checking on Courage who lay napping in her crib as I passed her bedroom door. I had no sooner got back upstairs, then the door bell rang again. Aggravated, I went back to the door, peeked out, saw nothing. I turned to go back up the stairs, and before getting up more than a stair or two, the door bell rang again. I unlocked the front door and jerked it open. No one. I looked up the street on both sides. I begin thinking maybe a little girl who lived up the street was playing jokes, as I had told Arthur earlier that week she was not allowed to play with this child because she had gotten her into trouble on the school bus. I closed the door once more and went back upstairs to finish folding the pile of clothes. After a minute or so, the door bell rang. I stomped downstairs, looked out, saw nothing, opened the door and ran all the way around our house, thinking if it was the mischievous child from down the street, I would catch her as there was nothing to hide behind. When once again, I saw no one, I began to get spooked. I went inside, locked up and went upstairs.

Once upstairs, I began to smell the burnt peach smell. And then the doorbell began chiming in earnest. It was as if someone had their finger on the doorbell and was just holding it down. The doorbell chimed and chimed until it started making a weird sound like it was getting tired and losing its voice. That did it.

I called my husband, the great skeptic and master of giving everything a scientific explanation, that it was me or the house. I told him I was leaving. He could either go with me, or stay. That was his choice. I told him about the doorbell and no one visible to ring it. He of course had an answer. The doorbell wiring had a short in it, therefore it was stuck in the 'ring' position. Whatever. We began house hunting that weekend.

About a week after the doorbell incident, I saw the older man who came to cut the hay in the field on one side of our house. I put on my shoes and went and stood at the fence that separated our yard from his field. I waited till he could see me and began to wave. He drove his tractor near the fence and got off and came over to where I stood. I introduced myself and he said his name was Paul. I guessed he was in his eighties. I asked him if he knew much about the land where my house was, before my house was built. And he did.

Paul stated that he had owned the land where my house and the rest of the small subdivision now existed. He said that his parents owned it before him. I asked him what was here before. He replied a small family home and farm. He grew up there. They had the usual...farm animals, a garden, and fruit trees. I asked him where was the house located? He said oh, about the same place my house sat, but maybe a little closer to the road.

The hairs on my neck begin to rise. All I could think of was how I'd learned that back in the 'old days', families often buried their dead on their property. Often to the rear of the property. If Paul's family home sat a bit closer to the road, then the family burial plot could possibly have been about where my house now sat. Now I asked him, if there was a family plot and he said yes. I didn't ask him where it was located. I didn't want to hear it. He did state that the plot had been relocated, from the family home place to a new plot off Hwy 20, near his new home. With that said, he stuck an arm in the air, with his hand crooked to wave goodbye and headed back to his tractor. I went back inside my house.

Not long after, we struck a deal with a home builder who took trade-ins, a big help when you don't have cash stored away for a down payment on a new home. I left that house without looking back. I am happy to say that other than a couple of 'auditory' happenings, the new house has been spook free!

Now that the story has been told, I would like to reflect on the different types of 'happenings', as I like to call them. Me myself, I tend to have more 'auditory' happenings; I hear things. Other people are more 'visual', they see things. Others feel things, have a 'sixth sense' about things, etc. I have felt things (cats rubbing against my legs, a hand on my shoulder), but thank our Good Lord that I don't see things. At the old house, I would smell the burnt fruit, but haven't experienced that since leaving that house. I have a chiffarobe that is over 50 years old, that has a tendency to open itself (the door), but it once belonged to my Grandmother (daddy's mama, whom died before I was born), and then it belonged to my other Grandmother (momma's mama), who died just a few years ago, therefore I am not afraid of the door opening. I feel like it is one of, or both of, the grandmothers saying 'hi', don't forget me. Of course I won't. But, I prefer not to see their ghost. They can just open the chiffarobe door!

Is it fall yet? (Walking in the Park #2)

2010-10-14T22:09:00.000-04:00

Fall has arrived...or has it? According to the calendar it has. But it remains HOT! Here are some 'fall' pics from a recent walk at good old Meridian Park, Loganville, Georgia.

Beautiful Colors abound in the park.

Beautiful purple bridge climbers.

Mr. Bee enjoying an early morning sip.

A worm eaten leaf.

Red is the new green.

Sweet pink blooms...beginning to die off, but still so pretty!

Sister dandelions...One dressed in her spring yellow, the other in her winter whites!

A butterfly (or moth?) with paper-like wings still clings to a branch, even after death.

An abandoned web looks like early Halloween decorations.

Even what we consider 'weeds' are attractive in the right setting.

Show us your baby blues!

An interesting cluster of seeds? Not sure, but looks neat!

"Orange Blossom Special"

French-Kissing trees. True love? Or just lust?

Popcorn on a stick!

Green peas, anyone?

Ducky park greeters...they only stayed around our little park about a week. I think they didn't like the kids chasing them.

Things I Planted This Summer

2010-09-05T22:22:00.000-04:00

I've had a busy summer...but have managed to have a little bit of fun and have managed to do a few things around the house....and I planted some things! I don't have the best of luck with plants of any kind, but I please take a look at some stuff I have planted...and hopefully I will have pictures later showing you how these things have GROWN!!!!

This is the muscadine vine. I can hardly wait for this little guy to produce some big juicy muscadines! Will probably be next year though.

This is one of two Austin Blueberry Bushes I planted this summer. Again...will probably be next year before any fruit is produced.

This is the pomegranate tree. The kind you find in the grocery store??? I do not know the answer to that!

I planted all these guys in the upper reaches of our back yard, a little too far to drag the garden hose, so I carry buckets of water to the plants about every other day. Sometimes they really looked parched. The muscadine vine fares better, because it is planted at the base of some trees where the leaves have accumulated, and I think the leaves prevent evaporation, so the ground stays moister. I am truly hoping to reap the rewards of all the water-toting next summer!

A Baby in Our Future!

2010-08-26T21:05:00.000-04:00

We have a baby in our future...and it's not mine! It is my daughter Amber (aka Arthur) and her husband Chris (aka SIL) who are expecting the bundle from heaven. She is only 9 weeks along in her pregnancy, but already we love this baby as if it were here.

Amber is experiencing a good bit of nausea, but no vomiting, which is a bit different from my own pregnancies with Amber and Jessica (aka Courage). I was sick from the beginning till the end with both. More so with Amber, but lots of vomiting with both. But she seems to have a pretty good handle on the situation, by sleeping as late as she can, and eating a lot of small meals.

Seeing as Arthur and SIL live 'out in the sticks', the nearest hospital is 1/2 an hour away. But she seems okay with that. She has had one OB appointment so far, and she loved her new doctor! She couldn't say enough good things about the doc and her staff. So that is a comfort.

They have not began working on the nursery yet...they want to hold off till they find out the sex of the baby, which we are guessing will be before Christmas. When they find out, we will ALL know what to buy...pink or blue!

This baby is a lot of 'Firsts'...Arthur and SIL's first baby, our first grand baby, Courage's first niece or nephew, and the first great grand baby for my Mom and Amber's grandparents on her Dad's side.

I know this baby is bound to be gorgeous. It's mama was a big eyed, bald, smiling little gem. It's daddy was a chubby cheeked, eye-twinkling, smiling cherub (according to pictures). So the baby is bound to be just simply gorgeous!

A Walk in the Park

2010-06-26T14:11:00.000-04:00

Most days of the week, you will find me, and maybe Courage, taking a walk at the little park near where we live.

This park is not large, not beautifully landscaped, not any thing particularly special. But it is close and does offer a mile or so of paved walking trail which enables one to get a bit of fresh air, sunshine, and exercise

And if you take the time to look, you can find bits of beauty strewn about in small doses.

Pic. 1: A tiny little daisy pushes upwards from the grass and weeds, it's yellow face yearning towards the sun.

Pic 2: There are many names for the dandelion; including priest's crown, monk's head, telltime, Irish daisy, lion's tooth and blowball. Dandelions actually have a purpose, other than irritating those who want a perfectly groomed lawn. They serve as food for ladybugs, aerates and provides nutrients to soil, and serve as a home remedy as a diuretic and liver stimulant. They are edible and are a good source of Vitamin A and C. A lot of good comes from this lowly, yet beautiful (at times) weed.

Pic # 3. Brush growing near and in the water's edge have a beautiful backdrop of the sky as the sun goes down. Pic# 4: The reflection of trees in the creek that feeds the pond gives a double take on the beautiful view.Pic #5: The mushroom, or toadstool, is another plant that plaque lawns and gardens. It is a fungi that grows mostly on soil or on it's food source. The most common in my corner of the world appears to be these white capped ones. But I have seen pictures of beautiful red ones, oranges ones, even blue ones. Mushrooms, like the dandelion, serve as food and has medicinal uses.

It's amazing what beautiful plants you can find at your local park. I don't know the name of this tree, but it's flowers are breathtaking. They look tropical and put in mind little ballerina tutus. Do you know the name of this tree? Or have any information on it? This is a close up of the flower and the tree grows near a creek.

More Spring Snapshots

2010-06-01T21:21:00.010-04:00

The following photos were snapped in early April, 2010, on the trails of Callaway Gardens.

The Azaleas at Callaway...there is such variety in colors and types. This maroon hued one is beautiful in it's pre-bloom glory! All along the trails we found Azaleas in all stages of bloom...from buds to full out flowers.

Along one trail we found this interesting spider web. As you can see, the web spreads out around an area, then funnels down into a hole where I imagine a black, hairy, spider lives. I didn't see the spider itself, but I suppose his prey walks all around the web and then decides to go exploring in the tunnel and BAM! He gets eaten!

This tree...it was sleepy. It kept yawning right in my face! What creature finds refuge in it's mouth during the day...only to come crawling out at night to find food???

No, this tree is not bullet ridden...I think this may be a virus in the tree bark, or perhaps an insect or bird has drilled holes while looking for food? Whichever, it doesn't seem to have caused fatal harm to the tree; it is very tall, has a good girth, and appears very sturdy.

This 'pink' palm-like tree is fascinating in leaf and color. It also has berries which I am sure attract birds to it's branches. I don't know what kind of tree it is, but is seemed a bit like a tree you would see at Christmas time; something festive!!!

This butterfly is so bold and colorful! The wings have black, white, orange, red, and gold in stripes, diamond shapes, dots, waves, and bars. Do the colors camouflage the creature while it sips on flowers? Or indicate to its enemy that it tastes bad? I do not know, but his colors and patterns are so pleasing to the eye!

Inside the underside of a bridge, we found some abandoned dirt-dauber nests. Actually wasps build these little tubular apartments from mud - shaping them with their mouths. Inside the tube they lay an egg and bam!..another wasp is born! Luckily, these type wasps are not too violent and not too active in early May!

Friends

2010-04-28T21:25:00.000-04:00

Ahhhhhh...girlfriends! What would I do without them??? This particular gathering was for a semi-sweet event...my friend Penny leaving our work place. (She is second from left, on the left side of the table). We had our 'going-way' party for her at Frontera. WE all love Mexican food!!!

But let me assure you, this is not the last we will see of Penny, because three other girlfriends in attendance of the this party have had a 'going-way' party of their own in the past year, and here they are, still in the circle of friends.

I thank God above for my GIRLFRIENDS!!!!!

Splendid Spring!!!

2010-04-16T22:54:00.001-04:00

Spring is Splendid!

A few examples of her glorious beauty!

March

2010-04-16T22:34:00.001-04:00

The month of March has come and gone. It was a month of happiness, and a month of sadness too.

March brought birthdays for me, my younger daughter, my cousin, a good friend, and my stepdad, Ed.

March brought much anticipated spring.

March brought Hospice to my stepdad's beside, and just days after his 64th birthday, God took him home.

I thank God for the birthdays celebrated this March.

I ask God for peace in the coming months as me and my family heal from losing our loved one.

A Lazy Saturday

2010-02-27T14:46:00.001-05:00

Today is a lazy Saturday. I have done something very close to nothing, all day. I got up early, took a shower, ate cereal for breakfast, washed and folded some clothes, and looked at Face Book and blogs. The T.V. is on the TBS station and I am on my third movie...Corrina, Corrina, The Cook Out, and now I think I Love My Wife.

It's weird seeing Steve Buscemi in something besides an Adam Sandler movie. I enjoy lazy Saturdays, because for the most part I am always stressed out and feeling 'crazy'. Sometimes I just like to reflect on the good stuff in my life, stuff that makes me happy and makes me smile... and Lazy Saturday is a good time to do that!

Work has been going great since I became a full time, benefited employee on January 2.
I have a wonderful circle of girlfriends and family members
I have a good husband
I have two wonderful daughters
I have a decent home and a decent car
I have a closet full of shoes and clothes
I have a big screen tv and a laptop computer
I have two sweet kitty cats
I have friends and family who help with my Mama and Ed (step-dad)
Now that I am gainfully employed, I have a few $$ in my checking account (but I'm not loaded)
I have faith in God
I have plenty of books and magazines to read

I am being kind of silly and also materialistic, but I can't help it. I am lazy today....and happy!

Wonderful Winter!

2010-02-15T15:43:00.001-05:00

Last Friday morning, the weatherman was so excited he nearly peed his pants! We were expecting one to four inches of snow and all of Metro-Atlanta was waiting...almost holding its breath even.

I sat at my desk and worked away...glancing ever so often to the big plate glass windows across the back wall...watching for those first flakes. So distracted by this watching and waiting, I totally forgot to attend a meeting!

At last, after noon and after lunch time, the white stuff was seen blowing down from the skies. It didn't come down softly, but hurriedly and forcefully. All of us drones went to the windows to watch a few minutes before returning to our mountains of paperwork.

After about an hour, there was a good dusting of snow covering the cars in the parking lot and the surrounding grassy areas. But the parking lot and driveways remained clear.

At 3:00 that afternoon, people begin to feel nervous about their drives home, and some decided to use vacation time or comp time and leave early. I was one of those people, opting to hang around until 4:00 and then packing it up and leaving.

The drive home was not so bad. The traffic was thick but thankfully everyone was driving safely and I made it to Loganville without too much delay.

By the time I passed through Grayson, the ground and trees were covered with snow, and slush was forming on the roads. It truly began to look like a Winter Wonderland!

I made a stop in the grocery store to get a few things, and then carried on towards home. It's amazing how snow and ice changes the way things look, almost making you feel like you are on foreign turf.

Here are some views of the Wonderful Winterscapes on my way home from work...

February Follies

2010-02-09T20:43:00.004-05:00

February...it brings the cold, the rain, the wind...and with it, Arthur and her husband's first anniversary of marriage and his 33rd birthday...new duties to learn in my new job...hard tests for Courage in Physics and Chemistry...Hubster's business may be picking up a little...colds and sniffles...Valentine's Day...a new season of LOST...so much going on! I love staying busy!

Looking for a Laugh

2010-01-24T21:07:00.008-05:00

I have a lot of sadness in my life right now, with my Step dad, Ed, slowly losing his battle with brain cancer, and my former mother-in-law, Mary Kate, battling various health issues of her own. Just this week we learned Ed may only be with us for another two weeks to two months. And Mary Kate just came home from a week long hospital stay where she was being treated for breathing difficulties and trying to get her blood sugar regulated. Since she has come home this week, she told me her left lung is not working barely at all anymore, and she is struggling to breath with the remaining one.

While all this sadness is occurring, I find a laugh where I can find it. Luckily, my husband is a character, and he is always doing crazy stuff that makes me laugh. And my kids always keep me smiling. Even the cats do things that make me smile and giggle. One night, when a storm raged outside and Courage and I huddled in the basement - just in case a tornado touched down - we laughed hysterically at the things she wrote in her kindergarten yearbook. And when Arthur calls me to tell me about the antics of my three grandkitties, well, that is another source of laughter!

At work, I have been so busy with my new position, that I've barely had time to smile, what less laugh, but I still have managed to get in some chuckles. I especially have fun with names of people receiving traffic tickets.

I can't stop being amazed at the creativeness some mother's have in naming their children. I am not going to mention any of these names, because you might know some of these people...or BE one of these people, and I don't want to offend anyone!

But there is one name I cannot help but share with you.

This past week a co-worker came to me with a traffic ticket, a ticket for speeding. He was doing about 20 miles over the speed limit. My friend was laughing and she said you won't believe who got a speeding ticket!

I looked at the ticket and at first I didn't get it...on traffic tickets, the last name is listed first, followed by the first name. I read the name in this order and it didn't really hit me till I looked down at his signature at the bottom of the ticket.

Speedy Gonzales.

I kid you not, a Hispanic male, by the name of Speedy Gonzales, got a speeding ticket.

I couldn't help but smile at the thought of a Hispanic mother naming her child after perhaps her favorite cartoon character from her childhood????

Yeah...I got my laugh for the day!

January - Quick Check In

2010-01-14T20:25:00.004-05:00

Just a quick note...my new position is working out wonderfully! I am learning alot of new responsibilities and staying so busy that the day flies! Got my first new paycheck and I am pleased. New benefits are retro-active back to January 2! I am beside myself with happiness...in regards to my job! Check Ed's Journey to see what's going on with my step-dad...

Happy New Year!!! (2010)

2010-01-01T16:25:00.002-05:00

Hi Blog Readers and Friends!

Happy New Years to you! I hope everyone who reads my blogs find some fun, interesting, and helpful reads on my blog this year.

I am still learning as I go...in fact, just today I found out people had been commenting on my blog stories and I didn't even realize it! I am so sorry if you ever commented on my blog and perhaps wanted a response...I just didn't realize comments were being left!

In 2010, my new year's resolutions include...read more, write more, and answer comments when needed!

Bitty's Story

2010-01-01T16:22:00.003-05:00

(Bitty with Courage...he was so adorable!!!)

One Saturday, me and my girls, Arthur and Courage, were running errands and stopped by the Kroger store at the intersection of Hwy 78 and Rosebud Road. Upon entering the store, we saw a young girl of about eleven or twelve with a box and a tiny kitten.

The girl said she had had a box full of kittens, and this was the last one. Her family had rescued a momma cat and her kittens, but now it was her job to find homes for the babies. She had given them all away except this one. At the same time we had walked up, an older lady also walked up and she and my girls were both ooohing and aaahhing over the baby.

It was really tiny and cute. It was gray with darker stripes and some white. It had big eyes and ears. The girls took turns holding it and it climbed up to their neck and nuzzled and meowed. They begged me to have the kitten. My life flashed before my eyes as I thought of Hubster coming home to find a new cat in the house. But for some unknown reason, I said yes. The older woman commented she should have gotten there just one minute earlier. I told her I was sorry. But she smiled.

(Bitty - at 4 or 5 months...giving Courage a neck message while other kitties, Blacky and Siamese, lay close by.)

The girl held up the tiny kitten and informed us her name was Sweet Pea. My girls took Sweet Pea and we went inside Kroger to get whatever we came for, plus kitten food and kitten milk. When we got home with her, we fixed a bed out of an old computer monitor casing (turned upside down it made a perfect little box with an open door). An old throw pillow stuffed down into it made the perfect bed for a tiny scrap of a kitty. Now we placed the bed and it's occupant in the girls' bathroom and closed the door and I said a little prayer. Please let the kitty be quiet.

It is hard to believe, but that kitten never made a noise. She slept all night to the best of our knowledge, for in the morning when the door was opened, there she lay, still on the pillow in the monitor casing. Only after we opened the door did she open her mouth and let out a bitty meow.

We actually were able to keep 'Sweet Pea' hidden from the Hubster for about a week. When he finally saw her, he looked at me with a look I interpreted as a 'I'm ticked off and hurt at the same time' kind of look, and he didn't speak to me for two weeks.

Sweet Pea was soon scheduled for a visit to the vet and lucky for me, Arthurwas of driving age and she did the honors. She called me later with a report, giving me all the hi-lights of Sweet Pea's first doctor visit. First of all, she stated, Sweet Pea is a 'him', not a 'her'. Wow!

So, the girls changed the name from Sweet Pea to Frisky.

(Laying with Siamese, who grew to love him after just a few months!)

The name Frisky lasted about two days...we couldn't get over how 'itty - bitty' this kitty was, and the name 'Bitty' was born from that.

Bitty tried his best to make friends with the other two cats in residence...Blacky hissed and slapped. This really shocked us because Blacky supposedly nursed orphaned kittens back in her days as a 'pound kitty'. Siamese Kitty didn't do too much hissing or slapping, but she more or less tried her best to ignore Bitty. She would either walk away from any area he was in, or she would turn her head if he came up to nuzzle her.

(Bitty cleaning Blacky's ears.)

Eventually, Bitty did make friends with both Blacky and Siamese. Neither of the older cats cared for his rambunctiousness, but both loved it when he calmed down and wanted to cuddle. He would lick their faces and clean their ears for them, and they would return the favor.

Bitty's most favorite thing to do was to 'give massages'. He would take almost any opportunity to lay on your chest and massage your throat or neck. He had been de-clawed as a young kitty (of about 5 months old), but he still had some claw nublets that could really dig into your flesh. Any one who lay down or sat in a reclining position for more than a minute was to be treated with one of his famous massages. If you felt sad and lonely, he could bring you out of your funk really quick with his kneading and the touch of his cold nose.

(Bitty loved to play with string and ribbon!)

Another thing Bitty loved to do, was leap for things. With a string or ribbon, you could have Bitty doing backwards flips and flying leaps high off the floor. His curiosity often got the best of him, and his leaping abilities helped him investigate things he normally could not reach.

One day my husband installed a peep hole in the door going from the kitchen into the carport. I do not know what the peep hole looked like to an adolescent cat from the floor, but it didn't take Bitty long to decide to check it out at closer range. From a sitting position on the floor, Bitty launched himself straight up into the air and he would look at the peephole - for a brief second - before gravity pulled him back down to the floor. After a few leaps he graduated from taking a look to grabbing it with his fore claws, and then all four feet grabbed at the circular thing as his leap crested just at the peephole. Eventually, he had seen and felt enough. For that day, anyways.

Bitty loved to get inside things. Clothes baskets, shopping bags, boxes, anything that would contain him. He would also sit in the box or basket as it was lifted and he was twirled around. He did not try to jump out or seem afraid.

Bitty did not like being shut up in a room, away from whatever it was we were trying to keep him from.

One evening, the minister of our church and his wife came for a visit. I immediately locked all three cats into the upstairs bedrooms as I knew Bitty would have to climb over them and sniff them and I didn't know if they liked cats or not. In fact, it had seemed to me that I had heard the minister's wife was allergic to cats. We were having a nice visit with them and now they were getting ready to leave, so we bowed our heads for the reverend to say a prayer. During the prayer, we heard a loud, insistent 'yoooowwwwwl' from upstairs. Me and girls struggled not to giggle.

(Bitty did not like this Santa hat one little bit!)

He was a tiny little kitten when we brought him home, but now over the years he had grown into a lean, sinewy, long-legged adult cat. When we had him 'fixed', we discovered he had a form of viral herpes, that caused him to have a rattle in his chest and also cause him to have cold-like symptoms sometimes.

One time, when he was about 3 or 4 years old, his illness flared up and Bitty would not eat or drink water. I knew if he didn't drink something soon, his kidneys would shut down and we would lose him. His nose was clogged and he breathed from his mouth, and he sat huddled under the bed. We begged him to eat, even putting food in his mouth, but he wouldn't chew and wouldn't swallow. Water squirted in his mouth just run back out in a pool at his feet. Finally, I remembered something...if you cannot smell something, you cannot taste it. His nose was clogged. I remembered from childhood my mother putting Vick's Vapor Rub under our noses to loosen up our clogged sinuses. I dug around in the medicine cabinet and found a jar of the stuff and proceeded to massage a blob of the stuff onto the top of Bitty's nose and under it on either sides of his jowls, being careful not to get any in his eyes or mouth. In a just a few minutes, Bitty began blowing big snot bubbles from his nostrils! Then the mucous started running out of his nose. After he drained some, Courage approached him with bits of tuna fish on her finger tips, and he ate some!!!! Not long after that, he drank water. It was all down hill from there!

Bitty was not an angel by any means. He was always into something...you couldn't leave anything laying around that you didn't want chewed up, carried off, or messed with. When he wanted to play, he terrorized the other cats. When he wanted to massage, he wanted to massage RIGHT NOW. But little terror that he was, he had a special place in our hearts and we loved him dearly.

One evening, Bitty lay on his side and did not get up to play, eat, or massage. When we pet him, he growled. A friend who was over had worked in a vet's office for awhile, and he now pulled open Bitty's mouth and looked inside. Bitty's mouth was white inside; a bad sign, according to our friend.

Bitty spent Friday night in a fancy little vet's office off Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road. The vet tech there took him in, hooked him to IV's, took x-rays, and gave us bad news. They said Bitty appeared to have a blockage in his kidneys or bladder, I can't remember which now. They kept him over night and charged us $1,600.00. Arthur paid this bill, as she was in a better financial situation to do so than I was at that time. Our normal vet would take him early the next morning.

Our (cheaper) country-style vet took Bitty in the next morning and kept his IV's going, and said he would keep him a few days and see if he could 'fix' him. I worried about two things...if Bitty would live and what this would cost.

For several days Bitty lay in a drug induced stupor while Dr. Ferris tried to get him to start urinating again. He informed me over the phone that when Bitty would start coming out from under the sedation he would remove his catheter. He said he would re-insert it and drug him again. He said he put a plastic cone collar on him, but he still managed to get the catheter out. Finally, after several days of this, Dr. Ferris informed me that the tumor in his kidney was too large and in a position impossible to remove, therefore he would have to put Bitty to sleep.

Arthur and I drove to his office to be with him a few minutes before he was put down, Courage could not leave school for this, not even for a half hour or so. So are stupid school rules. Yes, I said it, STUPID SCHOOL RULES at Loganville High School.

Dr. Ferris warned us that Bitty was drugged with an anti-anxiety medication...that he would seem relaxed and quiet. When he brought out our little friend, Arthur and I cried. He did seem relaxed. He seemed his normal self in appearance. He was laying on a towel on the examining table and we petted him, kissed him, and stroked his fur for the last time. He was drugged and I am not sure he knew it was us. He was probably thinking 'where in the hell have ya'll been while I've been laying here in pain?' Dr. Ferris had been keeping him hydrated with an IV, trying to make him urinate. I wondered now if he was hungry, thirsty? He didn't appear to be in pain at this moment, but what about during the night when his sedation wore off and he felt he needed to tear out the catheter. I wondered now why Dr. Ferris kept him alive that many days...was he experimenting on him? Was he truly trying to help him, or help us, or was this for his own knowledge and/or use? He said he had studied the x-rays once again and realized he could never get the tumor out of the way to let him urinate again. Why didn't I ask him to put him out of his misery earlier? Why didn't I insist Dr. Ferris let me in the clinic after hours to see him at night after work?

Now the time had come, and we held Bitty as Dr. Ferris gave him an injection in the skin at the nape of his neck. Bitty slowly lowered his head, and closed his eyes. Very quietly he stopped breathing; stopped living. Arthur and I cried and continued to stroke his soft fur.

Later, Arthur's friend dug a hole in the back yard, under the big shade tree where the birds and squirrels gathered to tease Bitty as he sat looking out the back window. He started out as the baby of a throw-a-way cat living in a drainage ditch, rescued by a kind hearted girl and her mother, adopted by a family who loved him and kept him as an indoor-only cat, and now he was gone and laid to rest in a hole as big as the one left in our hearts.

Bitty gave us as much love as we gave him. He had purpose on this earth and I know one of his purposes was to prepare me for a bigger grief coming the next year. You see, he taught me deal with the death of a loved one. For the next year my Granny died. I know losing him first helped me prepare for that.

(Bitty passed out on the floor after helping everyone open Christmas gifts on Christmas morning...probably 2005.)

Life Happens

2009-12-12T23:02:00.022-05:00

My life has been hectic and crazy since my last post. My family (in different variations) celebrated Thanksgiving at home, have been to see the Callaway Gardens light show, attended a Christmas party, been to several chemo treatments (for my step-dad), worked, finished up a semester of college, and shopped, shopped, shopped for Christmas gifts.

(Our 'failed' Christmas Card Photo - the Chapple/Keene totem pole...failed because we couldn't line ourselves up straight!)

(Arthur holding Alex, my brother's pup. Arthur would love to have a pup of her own.)

Thanksgiving was nice and quiet. My oldest daughter, 'Arthur', and her husband drove up from Pine Mountain to have deep-fried turkey, dressing, sweet potato souffle, and cheesecake while giving thanks for our many blessings this year. We took many family pictures...posing this way and that, trying to get that perfect pic for our Christmas greeting cards this year. Of course, no one can agree which is the best one, so I ended up with two finalists, and used them both.
(My adopted daughter, Krumm, and daughter Courage, in front of a store in down-town Lawrenceville...'Girls Night Out' ...after dinner on the square.)

My younger daughter, 'Courage', and I drove to Pine Mountain one Sunday to go see the 'Fantasy in Lights' display. SIL (son-in-law) 's parents joined us and we dined at KFC and proceeded to the gardens to visit the Christmas Village and ride the trolley to see the lights. It was cold which I think enhanced the 'Christmas Spirit' feeling of the event.

(The 'failed' chocolate-fudge layer cake. The layers are not consistant in size, the fudge icing bled between layers. Not pretty...but doggone tasty!)

Courage and I attend the (5th annual, I think) Granny's Girl's Christmas Tea, which is not a 'tea' but really a sit down dinner, ornament exchange and reminisce-fest. My cousin 'Deputy Shell' hosted this year. Her house was adorable...her hubby had adorned the outside of the house with lots of lights and Shell had decorated the inside of the house and they had an enormous Christmas Tree that was very tall and very big around, I believe it was a Leland cypress. The meal she served was a Puerto Rican pork roast, potato salad, brown rice, salad, rolls and Tres Leche cake. Everything was so beautiful and so delicious. I really enjoy getting together every Christmas with my aunt and cousins to remember our mother/grandmother/great-grandmother and just get caught up on everyone's lives.
(Hubby and Courage pick out our tree...almost a 'failed' evening as hubby put the tree on top of the car before getting a fresh cut off the bottom and getting it bagged.)

My step-dad continues to receive chemo treatments twice a month for his brain tumor/cancer. He is doing okay...his tumor remains half the size it was in the beginning, but the chemo seems to be taking a toll. His doctor has recommended he finish up this 'round of chemo' and maybe take a break to let his body heal and build back up. About 3 or 4 more treatments and we will see what happens.

(My step dad, Ed, trying to coax Alex, the pup, to come to him. Was a fail because Alex walked right over and bit his big toe!)

Courage finished her fourth semester at Georgia Perimeter...hopefully with some good final grades. She has one more semester and she will graduate from GP with an associates degree in science. She is thinking about continuing to live at home and attending a local college to obtain her bachelor's degree in science. After that, off to medical school. Which one??? Someplace pretty close by I hope! (Emory? Mercer? Medical College of GA?)

(Mouse cookie...idea for upcoming
parties???)

Arthur and her hubby have become quite the hikers. They hike very often at local parks near their home and have even been able to get 'moi' and Courage to join them on several occasions. We all love hiking and being outdoors and feel this is going to be something we will all get more and more involved in and good at.

We have all been doing shopping for Christmas gifts. It is a challenge again this year, as I am not making a very good salary this year, and hubby isn't either. I do feel like things will change in 2010. I am actively pursuing gainful employment and am feeling the end result will be a better paying job with good benefits and I feel like it is going to happen soon! I feel like the economy is slowly getting better and therefore hubby's business will pick back up and he will start bringing in more income too.

(Courage and Arthur decorate a cookie at the Christmas Village at Callaway Gardens before seeing the light display. Not a fail, thankfully!)

I made chicken dumplings in the crock pot today and have ate myself silly. I also made my first 11 layer chocolate cake and it was not pretty, but it was very tasty. Now I am up late because I have severe reflux disease and cannot lay in my bed (though it sits at a near 45 degree angle) for fear of regurgitating and drowning in chocolate fudge cake icing. It is quite a shame, but I am 12 pounds heavier this Christmas than I was last Christmas. I vow to join the gym and maybe re-join Weight Watchers as soon as I land that gainful employment.

(Gorgeous pic of King of the House...Lex. He has beautiful whiskers. A fail - he turned his head when I was photograhing him - that turned out to be awesome!)

Fall Girls' Trip - 2009

2009-11-11T18:08:00.008-05:00

This past weekend was Fall Girls' Trip - 2009, to Cleveland, Georgia, to enjoy some girl time, mountains, and fresh air!
(Picture 1: Cousin Shay and Me at the cabin)

Four of us met up after work on Friday and drove up together, meeting the 5th member of our group at the mexican restaraunt in Cleveland. The place was packed like we've never seen before, but we were seated shortly and served quickly. After dinner we went to Ingles to shop for breakfast groceries.

(Picture 2. The Granny's Girls cake I made for the trip).

We then headed for the mountain resort to check in, unload the bags, and start getting settled into the cabin. Sleeping arrangements are chosen early, as that is where you unload your pillow, blankets and suitcases. For the first time in several years, me and my cousin Shay got the 'master bedroom'. Another cousin got the smaller bedroom with bunkbeds, one cousin called the futon, and my aunt grabbed a bunk bed mattress and pulled it to the 'living room' floor. No one likes climbing up to that top bunk.

(Picture 3. Me, Aunt Judy and Cousin shay on the porch.)

We watched 'The Excorcism of Emily Rose' and finally hit the hay after much talking and laughing.

After a big breakfast Saturday morning, cooked by one cousin and aunt, the day was filled with shopping. We found tons of bargains and came back late that evening with a truck load of goodies which we unloaded to look at, admire, and label for easy sorting when we returned home.

We had a large lunch at Glenda's in Cleveland. There was so much food that we all had a take-out box and had the leftovers for dinner. We watched 'The Lake House' with Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock and hit the hay late again.

(Picture 4. Aunt Judy, Cousins Stacy and Shay on the porch).

While watching TV we all pile onto the futon or the twin mattress on the floor. We snack and watch tv in silence. But when the movie is over we head to our sleeping areas and talk and giggle.

Sunday morning comes early - we all rise before the sun, me a little later than the others, and we start showering, dressing and packing. By 9am we are packed and ready for breakfast. We usually stop at Waffle House, but decide to hit Mickey D's this morning. McD's is cheaper, less greasy, and you don't have to leave a tip.

It was a good trip and I got the rest, relaxation and girl time I have looked forward to for the past few months. Early next year we will start planning the Spring Girls' Trip.

(Last picutre: Stacy, Shay and Judy on the hayride).

A Small Man. A Large Presence.

2009-10-15T21:19:00.011-04:00

My father-in-law, Paul C passed away yesterday. He was 90 years old.

According to pictures, Mr. C was never a very large man. He was straight and stout, but not very tall. When I met him, some 21-22 years ago, he was a little taller than me (I am 5'2"), and maybe 140-150 lbs. Over the past 5 or 6 years he has become smaller and thinner. With no fat on his body, he wore a sweater and sock cap mostly year round.

But when Mr. C walked into a room, you took notice. He had a deep, rich voice and it carried to all reaches of the room. He had a hearty laugh and a twinkle in his eye.

He loved to tease the girls when they were little by playing ventriloquist with their stuffed toys. His granddaughter 'M' especially took delight in these antics and would talk to the stuffed animals (to whom he was giving voice to) as if they were truly alive and speaking on their own.

He and Mrs. C, who passed a few years back, put on a wonderful spread and display at Thanksgiving. The first time we went to their house for Thanksgiving after Hubster and married, Arthur was 8 years old and not accustomed to such a fanfare exclaimed 'I feel like a princess' when she walked into the dining room with the turkey, fat, golden brown and gleaming on a table surrounded by visually temping side dishes, real china, crystal wine glasses and flickering candles. This absolutely tickled them to no end!

Mr. and Mrs. C accepted Arthur as their own grandchild, and not long after that 'M' and Courage came along. Birthdays and holidays were always fun, or at the least, interesting, at my in-laws. They are Catholic and I had to get used to seeing wine on the table for an 'every day' meal. It also took some adjustment on my part to hear an 'old' person curse like a sailor, and laugh at the same time!

Mr. C was a pilot in the Airforce, an accountant for Dobbins AFB after that, and then he volunteered his accounting abilities to his church for many years. He was the father of one son and two daughters, and the grandfather of three girls and two boys.

In the past few years when I visited Mr. C and would be leaving his house, he would warn me to drive carefully and to watch out for 'the crazy bastards', for he felt no one in Lawrenceville could drive worth a damn. I am inclined to agree!

I was with Mr. C when he passed. I prayed with him, stroked his hair and face, held his hand, and wet his lips. When he took his last breath, he was freed from the confines of his small and withered body, and God welcomed him into his arms.

God bless Mr. C. May he rest in eternal peace.

Time Gobblers

2009-10-01T21:07:00.004-04:00

Every day, I deal with time gobblers. Those little things that eat up the minutes, the hours, the day...leaving me feeling like I got nothing accomplished.

In the mornings there are things like indecisiveness on what to wear to work, bad hair days where I have to re-wet my hair and start all over, mornings when I need to check the Internet before leaving the house. You know, just in case I got a VERY IMPORTANT email overnight. Minutes are gobbled up...sometimes causing me to run late for work.

At work, little time gobblers sneak in in the form of co-workers stopping by to say hi, making coffee because the primary office coffee drinker/maker has stopped drinking coffee, and therefore has stopped making coffee, the need to go to the bathroom, the need to stop everything and look for a lost citation, the need to check my emails (work and personal), just in case I got a VERY IMPORTANT email since this morning...and since I checked it at work the last time. Minutes are gulped and swallowed but my, how it makes the day pass by more easily.

On the way home, minutes are devoured by the need to stop by the grocery store for bread, diet coke or blueberries; things me or Courage cannot live without. Sometimes minutes are chewed away by a gas station stop or movie drop or movie pick - up or fast food run. Oh, don't even think about the time consumed when one must stop and go inside the Walmart. Thank the Lord, they do not have computer stations set up at Walmart, Kroger or Quick Trip.

Finally, at home, when the house needs my attention, dinner is waiting to be prepared, clothes are piling up... I must take a few 'minutes' to check Face Book, my Blogs, and email. I also have to see what other people have written on their blogs, see what pictures People has posted of my favorite stars, and see what kind of rudeness Perez Hilton has dished out for the day. I need to check my checking account, pay a bill or two on-line, check the t.v. guide to see what is on tonight. Next thing I know, the minutes turn into hours, and it's time to go to bed. The minutes are gone by way of wireless Internet.

I yell up stairs to Courage to please bring down her dirty laundry or some other mundane chore, and she yells back 'In a Minute'.

Sorry, I have no minutes. My laptop ate them all.

And Change again!

2009-09-11T20:06:00.010-04:00

The Merry-Go-Round I call a job continues to go up and down and all around. A week after my last post, I was told I am back on 40 hours a week. The reason? One of the full time, permanent girls upped and quit! The top-dog divvied up her hours between me and the other remaining 'full time' temps and so we both are now 40 hour a week girls again. Whew! That's a relief!

But even still, he promises a layoff by the end of the year. I continue to search for ways to cut my expenses. But mostly I did all the cutting I felt like I could cut when I was laid off in April of last year. Thank God, I have been able to swing my part of the household expenses and my own personal expenses since I was laid off. But I have to admit, that is becoming increasingly difficult to do. I did have several small 'side jobs' to help tide me over on what most people would not call 'necessities'. You know. Stuff like getting the occasional mani-pedi, good make-up and hair care products, hair cuts, clothes, jewelry, stuff for the house, gifts for my girls and friends, and eating out.

The 'side jobs' have all but fizzled out. In fact, I have two small ones left, and that only brings in about $100.00 a month. So, I have limited myself to eating out with friends to once a week. Cut back on going out to the movies to maybe once a month, and that is sometimes at the Nasty Discount Movie Theater (which I have to admit has cleaned itself up a wee bit and is not quite as nasty as before), I buy cheaper hair care products and stretch haircuts long as I possibly can, and will doing my own nails. But every month it seems like something increases in cost. I buy a tank of gas a week instead of every other week now that my oldest daughter has moved away, and the cable bill keeps going up a couple of dollars every month or so! The health insurance policy I have is almost worthless, but I am so afraid not to have it in case something catastrophic happens. I know my car will need tires and brakes soon. Not to mention birthdays and the holidays coming up.

I think I feel another panic attack coming on. Breath deeply....deep breaths!

But anyways, I am full time again, for now. Also, I submitted my resume to the company of a very good friend who has been singing my praises and trying to pull every string she can get her hands on to help me get hired on at her company as a customer service rep (my area of expertise, I think!). She is a really good friend and I would love to work with her again...what less get some benefits like vacation days and better health insurance. And too, her company is a medical supply company and it sounds so very interesting and I think I would actually love to work there!

I am a bit proud of myself for my 'smart shopping' for those times I feel I must shop. I have a funeral to attend this weekend, and I simply do not have anything in my closet that I felt would be appropriate. Yes, I am sure I could have found something in that closet that would suffice, but I didn't want to wear that same tired old gray pantsuit that I have worn to everything since Arthur's graduation from college! I wanted a simple black dress. I stopped in at Heirs II, a consignment shop in my area, and tried on about six dresses. Two were too tight, one was too short, one was too hoochie, and one was too frumpy. 'Here, try this one', the shop girl said as she handed me one last dress because she wanted to close up and go home. I looked at it and was pleased. I pulled it on, and was pleased. The shop girl zipped it up with ease and it felt fitted, but not tight. I was pleased. I looked in the mirror...and bought it. The dress was brand new, still had the tags on it showing a $49.99 sale price. I got it for $18 and change! And it's so pretty! It's black with pink piping. It has a clean, fresh line and fits me perfectly. I have sling-backs to match in my collection of a bazillion shoes that my husband frowns at every time he walks by my closet or peeks under our bed but I refuse to part with a pair just in case I need them.

Pictures to come in a few days.

Changes

2009-08-27T22:37:00.003-04:00

Ah...just when you start to feel comfortable, things get shaken up again. Things change. Change is a constant. You either roll with it, or you bog down and get lost or run over.

I've worked full time with Gwinnett County as a temp for ten months, but was told this week that due to budget cuts all temps are being reduced from 40 hours to 20 hours per week. Okay...I personally cannot survive on 20 hours a week. Unless...I drop our health insurance plan.

And you know what would happen if I drop our health insurance plan, me or Chuck would suffer a stroke or heart attack, and Jess would get some terrible virus and need hospitalization.

What to do? You kick into SURVIVAL MODE...that's what!

So....the day after Labor Day my new schedule kicks in...I will work for G.C. two and half days a week and will find another part time job to pick up the other 20 hours....I hope!

Why not find a whole new full time job???? Because with my step-dad having chemo every other week, I need my Wednesdays free to take him to those appointments. We do have other people who could fill in, but the appointments are very involved and a lot of information is exchanged, and I just don't feel comfortable anyone else taking him except myself or my brother or sister-in-law. My brother is currently in school, and hopefully when he finishes up there will find a job. My sister-in-law's own mother is in need of her care, as is another elderly lady who has been ill, plus her own full time job.

I have had a few panic attacks this week...but walking, deep breathing, meditating and praying, has all helped immensely.

So, as it stands now, I will get one more 'full time' pay check and then it goes to half. I have already contacted my car insurance office and upped my collision deductible and cut out everything else I feel is not necessary. If I have to, I will become one of the terrible statistics in this country right now...a person who does not have health insurance. But I am hoping it doesn't come to that. (Oh and yes, my husband is self employed...so no go on that point).

I am scared of the changes which are coming about, but I am thankful for the constants in my life: Family, friends and God.

"HALF"

2009-08-12T21:44:00.002-04:00

Please see my post to Ed's Journey...Wonderful news received today!

MRI follow up

2009-08-06T22:24:00.002-04:00

We will not get any news on Ed's MRI done on Monday until next Wednesday. The waiting is so hard! Please keep praying for good news!

Movin'

2009-07-29T21:32:00.003-04:00

We had a little 'moving away' party for Arthur and SIL (my oldest daughter and her husband) tonight. Just a few of us got together and ate at their favorite Mexican restaurant and then came to my house and told stories, laughed, and cut up. But we all have to get up and go to work tomorrow, so at 9:00 we called it a night and everyone headed home.

Yes, Arthur and SIL are moving...to Pine Mountain (near Callaway Gardens). Some people think I am so sad, but really I am not. It is only a two hour drive away and we have already planned it out so that we will see each other every other month. One month, they will come spend the weekend here, the next month we will go there and spend the weekend. I'll probably actually see them more than I do now! (With the exception of seeing Arthur every morning as we carpool to work).

Please keep in prayer all the folks who are losing their jobs through lay offs...my cubicle mate, Nancy and a whole lot of others who work for Gwinnett County (county wide), a family member who told us tonight they are losing theirs, and everyone everywhere. Pray for these folks to find new jobs and to survive on unemployment, etc.

Your Prayers Needed!

2009-07-29T07:05:00.003-04:00

Please pray for Ed today, he gets chemo treatment #5 today. One more chemo treatment after today and then he gets an MRI of the brain to see if it is reducing the cancer tumor.

Please ask God to let his chemo work to reduce or kill his tumor. Ask him to give the nurses and doctors knowledge to treat him and patience and kindness.

Also, my mom fell in the bathtub night before last. She is sore and needs to be more careful! We don't need two down!

Thanks everyone and have a great day!

Not for the squeemish

2009-07-26T21:37:00.005-04:00

I got the stitches out of my hand this past Friday. It was 98% painless, and I got a good report from the doc. The assistant took the stitches out and put steri-strips on...which lasted until I got home. He said ok to get the site wet, but don't soak. Ok, it got wet, not soaked, but it still got water logged and split open. It looks really disgusting.

All in all, this experience from beginning to end was not a pleasant one, but not horrible. Dr. T gave me a hug (and a genuine, caring hug) as I was leaving his office, and just knowing the doc has a heart and is caring, well, that made it all ok. He is a good doc. I would recommend him to anyone. Anytime he knew he hurt me (i.e. as when he injected cortisone a year ago and lidocaine for the surgery) he apologized...said he was sorry he hurt me. Honestly, some docs don't seem to care.

Picture 1. Taken the day after stitches were removed. Oops...got the incision wet and the skin got saturated and the incision seperated. The steristrips the doc applied came off and so I put it together with bandaids.

So here is the ugliness of my hand...the day after stitches removed, and then two days after. It is improving slightly. ( :

Picture 2. Two days after stitches came out...the skin on either side of the incision is soft and gooey. I have to keep a band aid on it at all times. I highly recommend Nexcare bandaids. They make a near-water-tight seal all around the affected area and are very flexible. Mostly this isn't painful except when I bump my hand right on the incision area. Ouch!

Thursday's Guilty Pleasures

2009-07-16T21:46:00.005-04:00

I had a long and boring day at work today. Things were stressful enough before we received an email from (the commissioner???) announcing more budget cuts for the county. I took it as a sign that I will a) definitely not be hired by Gwinnett County any time in the next three years, b) will probably be laid off within a month to three months.

Therefore, I left the office feeling a bit let down and a bit anxious, and a bit hopeful. Hopeful? Yes, if they are going to lay me off, let 'em do it now so I can enjoy summer, fall and Christmas at home. ( :

Since I left the office this afternoon I have enjoyed several guilty pleasures:

* Dinner at Arby's. I had the toasted Italian Sub and a nice glass of ice water, and dinner was delicious as I read a magazine in the non-crowded dining area.

* Pedicure at NY nails including bright red nail polish, cute little flower on the big toe (I usually don't go that girl-y, but oh well!), and a very strange selection on the massage chair. I've never used this setting before...it felt like I was sitting on Santa's lap and Santa was getting excited, if you know what I mean. This was very strange feeling. I felt like everyone in the place knew I was getting a 'knee in the butt' sensation and were staring at me! LOL! Oh! and all of this was covered by a gift certificate given to me by Arthur and SIL for Mother's Day. I got two pedicures out that gift certificate!

* Came home, fed the cats and put them out on the porch (for peace and quiet - plus they love it). By-passed the kitchen and living room and came straight to the bedroom and turned on my SOAPS!

* Played on the computer waaaaayyy tooo long, considering I was thinking of taking a computer sabbatical. Rrrriiiiiiggggggggghhhhhhttttttttttt.

Now, gotta let the kitties back inside and get ready for bed!

The Deed Has Been Done

2009-07-14T21:19:00.004-04:00

(The bandaged up mess!)

The ole' trigger thumb has been repaired. The surgery took only about 15 minutes from the antiseptic wash down to the final wrapping. (The wait for surgery was much longer...three hours). The worst part of the whole thing was the initial injection to numb the area. The needle went in someplace between my thumb and pointer finger. I screamed loud enough to shatter the window in the operating room door. My wonderful nurse, Nicki, held my hand and I squeezed her hand as hard as I squeezed the Hubster's when I was in labor with Courage. The next injection was not near as bad because the lidocaine from the first shot was beginning to kick in.

Oh, the 5mg Valium tablet I took before surgery... did absolutely nothing to calm my nerves or make sleepy or make me 'not care' as the doc promised. I tried to tell him that such things as Novocaine, laughing gas, and small doses of anesthesia do not work on me. I told him I have awakened during surgical procedures twice. He didn't listen and would not give me more Valium. However, after seeing I was not affected by the Valium, he did shoot wonderfully large amounts of numbing agent into my hand so that I would not feel the scalpel as it sliced into the crease where thumb meets fleshy palm pad. I only felt tingling, pulling and pushing after that.

So far I have only resorted to Tylenol one time. I didn't get the pain pill prescription filled...because as I am very fearful of needles, actual pain does not bother me that much. He said I wouldn't feel like working the day after, but I decided the worst of it was over and went to work today anyways. You really don't appreciate your thumb that much until you have limited use of it. But after much exercise today, the thumb is already loosening up and feeling more mobile and useful. I am really looking forward to this cumbersome bandage coming off soon.

(that's the pill bottle my Valium came in...not pain pills!)

Trigger Thumb...it's baaacckkk

2009-07-07T22:15:00.006-04:00

Bad thumb.
Good thumb.
bad thumb.
good thumb.

My 'Trigger Thumb' is back. The condition is very painful and worrisome. So in six days I am having surgery. It is very minor surgery and should only take 10 minutes to complete. Supposedly it is quick to heal from. I hope so. I cannot afford to be out of work even one day without pay, but somehow, it will be okay.

This is my two thumbs...you can tell which one is affected. It is the one with the swollen joints and the inability to make a 'hitch-hiker' thumb.

This is my ouchy.

What's been going on this week

2009-07-02T22:01:00.007-04:00

(Blacky looks out the back window)

As usual, I have had a busy week and have had a lot going on. Saturday I attended a retirement party for a friend, Sunday spent the day with the 'rents, Monday back to work and holding a secret, Tuesday could talk about the secret because it's no longer a secret (Arthur turned in her notice at work because she and her SIL are moving south to be closer to his job), Wednesday spent most of the day with my dad at the Cancer Center in Athens (see Ed's Journey Blog), and today worked (very slowly since not many people at work and it was very relaxed).

Stuff in between going on...frantic call from former mother-in-law about my ex-husband, Arthur's dad, making me think he was on his death bed. (Wrong). Helping Courage work out problems with summer college courses (actually just serving as a sounding board because she will make her own decisions no matter what input I have), observing, but not participating in a LOT of drama going on in my office, and trying to squeeze in some exercises here and there.

I did see a cute movie last Friday...'The Hangover'. Bradley Cooper nice to look at, thank God, because the other actors are not. Ha ha! But they are funny and it is indeed a cute little movie.

I am off work on Friday with no pay. So is the life of a temp, but not hired through a temp service. (sigh) So that is (almost) two whole days without pay this week. Thank the Good Lord Courage's HOPE scholarship check came in this week so I can pay off her tuition fees for summer classes.

Courage's BF is arriving (late) tonight from his Marine base in NC, and will be visiting friends & family in GA and TX for two weeks. Then he goes back to NC to prepare to ship off to the big AFF. Courage is so excited about him coming she can hardly contain herself and is difficult to live with. Our whole family looks forward to seeing him and spending time with him, especially for 4th of July festivities.

Including some pics of my cats, because they are cute and special.

(Don't play with your food!) (If I get too close to the edge I might fall off!)

I'm a kitty princess! I like Luaus too!

Father's Day 2009

2009-06-21T22:19:00.002-04:00

I had a great Father's Day with my Dad (step dad Ed) and my former father-in-law, Hollis. B2 and his girlfriend provided lunch (Zaxby's) and I brought the dessert (Strawberry Pretzel Salad) and me, my Mom, B2 and his Girlfriend had a good time just sitting around and talking and laughing. B1 and his family didn't make it over...B1 was in Jasper, Georgia with our cousin (camping on the mountain) and my sister-in-law was probably getting caught up on some much needed sleep.

Ed is doing quite well after his second treatment of Avastin and other chemo drugs. So far he has had no bad side effects. I cannot help but wonder if those side effects are coming some time down the road. He goes for treatment 3 on July 1st and I will be going with him for that treatment. Ed said the Baby Bro did much better getting along with the Cancer Center staff this go-round (giggle). B2 also packed a lunch for them and they 'picnicked' in their private IV-drip room. Ed and I have already discussed it and when we go on July 1st I am going to make a 'food run' near lunch time...maybe to Checkers, maybe Mickey D's, maybe Arby's. We haven't decided yet. It is a day long affair, so I will be taking snacks, drinks, and reading material.

I also got to see Hollis (aka Papa) and Mary Kate (aka Nanny) today...my former in-laws who I still love dearly and am still friends with...or I would rather say, still family with. Nanny treated Papa and I with BBQ chicken strips, stewed squash, real mash potatoes, pinto beans, stewed cabbage and cornbread. There was also some cucumber/onion salad and fruit salad complements of her friend Hokey. (sp?) It was a delicious meal and a wonderful time of visiting. I don't get to see them enough and I really enjoyed just laughing, (crying) and cutting up with them.

The Hubster spent the afternoon at his Dad's also. His dad does not feel up to visitor's as of late, so just Hubster and his sister spent time with him. Hubster got a treat bag with articles of clothing he needed for Father's Day...because he is so hard to buy for!

Thanks to all the Dads out there for just being Good Dads. And to all the Dads who aren't good dads, I pray for you, because you don't know what you are missing. And to all you future Dads, just take notes from the Good Dads. I thank God for all my Dads...Ed (step dad) who has been my dad since I was seven, My Dad, (biological), who was a Good Dad until he married my 2nd stepmother and then he got sidetracked, but I love him anyways, God rest his Soul, Thanks to Poppa (former-father-in-law) for being there when I needed him during my marriage and divorced years from his son, and to my current father-in-law who has loved us in his silent but generous way.

If God Texted the 10 Commandments

2009-06-16T18:27:00.002-04:00

Got a cool email I just had to share...

IF GOD TEXTED THE 10 COMMANDMENTS

1. no1 b4 me. srsly.

2. dnt wrshp pix/idols

3. no omg's

4. no wrk on w/end (sat 4 now; sun l8r)

5. pos ok - ur m&d r cool

6. dnt kill ppl

7. :-X only w/ m8

8. dnt steal

9. dnt lie re: bf

10. dnt ogle ur bf's m8. or ox. or dnkey. myob.

M, pls rite on tabs & giv 2 ppl.

ps. wwjd?

If you have no idea what this says, look up the "words" on Netlingo:
http://www.netlingo.com/

Blast from the Past: 1984 (and making ammends)

2009-06-14T21:38:00.006-04:00

Christmas 1984. I was 23, Arthur was 3, and my dad was a Keystone Cop - ha! ha! I have long hair for another two years after this picture and after that it's rarely got past my shoulders. It did actually get down to my waist before I cut it. Notice the 'wings'...a continuation of the style made popular by Farrah Fawcett during my high school years. At that time, I had real eyebrows too. Now, after 25 years of plucking, they barely grow, except in places I don't want them to grow.

In the year following the time this photo was taken, me and my dad had a 'falling-out'. I am pretty certain that this occasion is the last time we were photographed together and the last time we were comfortable with each other. We had a disagreement over his wife's language in front of Arthur, and he refused to speak to her about it, so we stopped speaking and seeing each other.

Over the next twenty years we barely had any communication and only saw each other a couple of times. I had finally decided to try and make amends with my dad and was trying to muster my courage and decide how to go about doing so, but before I got around to actually taking action, I got the call that my dad had died from a heart attack. I never got to tell him that I still loved him despite all the years of silence and despite all the hurtful things that transpired between us. As a little girl, Daddy was the one who took care of me when I was sick and comforted me, and encouraged me to be more. I don't know what happened to us, except stubbornness and meanness on the part of other persons.

If you have someone in your life with whom you need to make amends, I urge you, do it before it is too late.

Hump Day

2009-06-10T22:58:00.003-04:00

I made it through another hump-day. Yesterday, attended the funeral of my friend's brother. Thanking God that she has a big family to help her through this sad time. Thanking God I still have both my brothers. Looking forward to a fun weekend with my kids!

Family Visit

2009-06-02T22:00:00.003-04:00

Here are pics from my visit last weekend with my parents.

Pic #1) Ed and Hubster
Pic #2) Me and B2 (my youngest brother)
Pic #3) Courage with Mama

Ed was having a good day that day. Hubster visited even though he was afraid he would cry when he saw my dad. But Ed looked so good, Hubster was actually bolstered by his good mood and good appearance!

Today, my dad got good news from the oncologist...he is starting a new treatment for his brain cancer tomorrow and we are hoping and praying this goes well. (For more details see Ed's Journey in the list of blogs on this page.) Unfortunately, Ed did suffer two seizures today, but thankfully, they were relatively mild. Of course, no matter how mild they are, seizures are scary and not fun what so ever. They always leave him tired and a little 'out of whack'. But some good friends were coming over to visit tonight and my brother is taking him for his first Avastin treatment tomorrow and this brings him hope for more time and better quality of life.

Work is still plugging along...I am still temping at Gwinnett County and still holding out for a permanent position there. Summer is in full swing with lots of my office mates taking vacation so my days at work are busier than ever filling in here and there while the office is short staffed. I actually like it like that; busy and crazy and no time to breath. I have no time to think of personal problems while at work. No time for anything personal actually. I do take my two breaks with my friends and we walk two miles each break even though it is beginning to be almost too hot outside to do that comfortably. Some days I take a 30 minute break (in order to bank comp time for doctor visits for myself and my dad) but most days take an hour and either spent it with daughter Arthur in her office (she has a real office with a door, not a cubicle like moi) or go out with my girlfriends to wonderful places like McCray's on the square. I even sometimes manage to get some thrift store shopping in. Yes, I love thrift store shopping!

So busy!

2009-05-23T23:21:00.007-04:00

Whew! It's been a crazy last couple of weeks. Last weekend I went on the Girl's Mountain Getaway Trip, a twice-a-year-outing with my bestest girlfriends (who also happen to be an aunt and cousins).
(Little Church on the Mountain - in the resort)

We don't go far...we all have family obligations that keep us from wandering too far away. My Mama was all worried about us all leaving for the weekend, but when I called her an hour and a half after leaving her house to say we had arrived at the cabin, her fears were relieved. (Me and Aunt J before dinner at Paul's Steak House, Helen)

Girl's Mountain GetawayTrip is always a fun and relaxing time for me. We don't do anything exciting, we just do what we like to do, which is eat, shop, watch movies, eat, shop, laze, eat, play bingo, (yeah, like old people play), and sleep. This trip we had dinner, drinks and dancing at Paul's in Helen. The next morning had us up early to shop...and I don't mean outlets or malls. We go to all the local thrift stores, church yard sales, consignment stores and garage sales we can find. We all have 'something' we are looking for. SF always looks for craft and teaching supplies for the daycare she owns and operates. I was looking for Tiki Party decorations. The others had nothing in particular in mind, but found treasures. SF and I hit the jackpot at a church sale. She got lots of crafts and supplies for a Western Themed party she is having for her daycare kids. I found tons of Tiki/Luau party decorations and supplies I need for a friend's retirement party! We were both very happy.

(Aunt J, MS, SMR - Aunt J is Mom to these two sisters)

When we are in or near Helen, we always have to visit two places; Nora Mills Granary and Betty's General Store. I sampled grits and bought sorghum syrup, blueberry and pear preserves, and a pecan roll at Nora Mills. SMR got funnel cake mix for her kids. At Betty's we got all the supplies needed for an 'at home' dinner...bread, tomatoes, mayo, and chips for tomato sandwiches. It is not in good taste to leave Betty's without sampling the salsas and mustard dips. It is a sin to leave Betty's without purchasing at least one of the saucer sized cookies from the deli/bakery. I kid you not, the cookies are homemade, and the size of a saucer, if not bigger. The peanut butter cookies are scrumptious, but the chocolate oatmeal are to die for! And they are only $1.59 each! If you are on Weight Watchers, they count for all 35 of your EXTRA points for the week!

Just a year ago, SF and I gladly took the tiny center bedroom with twin size bunk beds to avoid being trapped in a room with any of the other ladies, who were notorious snorers. But these particular cousins had gastric by-pass surgery last year and have both lost over one hundred pounds each and no longer snore. Therefore; SF and I drug the mattresses off the twin beds and pulled them into the living room and got the best sleep ever since these trips began, years ago. Yes, into the same room with MS, a previous log-sawer. I think SF and I did any of the snoring if any occurred. SMR, however, drew the short straw to sleep with Aunt J in the back bedroom and barely got any sleep at all...because Aunt J (who is her Mom) did not have gastric bypass and still snores. Or most notably, she does a thing with her mouth like swoosh (big intake of air) and puh, puh, puh, puh, puh (short little bursts of air blown out of her pursed lips). It's very annoying and nearly impossible to sleep through.

Saturday night we spent the evening playing Bingo with all the other mountaineers and SF won a round, and then we watched chick flicks late into the night. Sunday morning we packed it up and made one last stop before heading home...the Huddle House in Cleveland, where our delightful waiter entertained us between bringing us scrambled eggs, hash browns, biscuits and gravy, and coffee. SF left him her Bingo winnings for his tip, which was well earned.

Other things going on in my life...driving Courage back and forth to the airport (she flew up to see BF at Fort Lajuene, NC), taking my Dad to various doctor appointments, and working over time to make up time lost when taking Dad to various doctor appointments. I am ONLY A TEMP, so I don't have vacation or sick time to use for such things. Thank the Good Lord, my supervisor lets me make up time when possible.

(SF is proud of her Bingo winnings.)

My house is a wreck, (who has time to clean?????), I am sleep deprived, and haven't been exercising like I should. But it is well with my soul. The Hubster and I did take time out to see a couple of movies...Star Trek, which we both loved (yes, we are nerds) and Obsessed, which was very predictable and quite the let down. Better luck next time, Beyonce.

Lots of stuff going on!

2009-05-18T21:47:00.001-04:00

I have lots of stuff going on...so I am busy, busy, busy! But I will be updating soon!

Happy Mother's Day...To Me!

2009-05-12T22:10:00.006-04:00

My Mother's Day celebration began last Friday...by having my two daughters and their 'significant others' over for dinner. It is hard to work until 5:00, get home at 5:30 and have dinner on the table by 6:00, so I pre-cooked most everything Thursday night and re-heated right before we ate. The menu consisted of Marie Callender's frozen lasagna, Red Baron's frozen cheese pizza, frozen sugar snap peas, frozen corn on the cob and frozen bread sticks. Italy on Ice!

The lasagna was mediocre. The pizza and peas...over cooked. The bread sticks...stale tasting. The corn...was pretty tasty. The dinner was YUCK. But my new son-in-law ate two helpings because he said any meal he didn't have to cook was tasty to him. Courage's BF ate heartily because he said any food that didn't come from the mess hall was good. So they each scored tons of points. Afterwards we went to DQ for ice cream.

On Saturday I attended a Gold Exchange party at my cousin's house. I love to get together with 'my girls' and eat finger food and make money. I turned a few pieces of junk jewelry into cash for an upcoming trip! What fun!

Sunday came and me and my brothers and their families got together with our Mom and Dad to have a picnic. We had sandwiches, chicken, Mama's potato salad and cole slaw, baked beans and watermelon while we sat around and laughed and told stories.

Mother's Day is not about gifts, but my girls gave me nice ones. They know I love to shop and be pampered, so they gave me gift cards to do both! So nice!

I hope everyone had a very nice Mother's Day and got to spend a little time with their kids too! If not in person, then at least a phone call.

Tired

2009-05-03T21:51:00.003-04:00

For two weeks now I have been very tired. I don't know what the problem is. I have been trying to list all the reasons for being excessively tired:

* lack of sleep
* lack of exercise
* too much exercise
* depression
* anemia

Now I have gone through the list to see which one may apply to me:

* I get on the average seven hours of sleep each night. I wake up after 7 hours of sleep no matter what
* I walk on both my 15 minute breaks at work and some afternoons an additional 30 to 60 minutes - I think I get enough exercise
* As shown above, I think my exercise habits are okay. I've not been exhausted after exercise, so it's not excessive
* I don't THINK I am depressed. I don't have a problem wanting to rise and shine, I haven't had any crying jags lately, and I have no desire to hurt myself or others. I don't feel sad all the time.
* I do have a history of anemia. I am thinking this could be the culprit. I don't eat a whole lot of red meat, or spinach, black eye peas or other sources of iron. I do weight bearing exercise. I don't give blood anymore, I still have mother nature's monthly 'gift', so I am thinking this might be it.

The symptoms of anemia include fatigue and tiredness, confusion, shortness of breath, dizziness and pale skin. I have all these.

I am due for my yearly check-up and at that time I will get my iron tested. And once again they will ask all the questions and then they'll prescribe iron supplements for a month or two and I'll get ok again. I hope.

Four Meeses

2009-04-22T20:53:00.003-04:00

Arthur and S.I.L. have meeses.

One night, while S.I.L. was attending a good friend's funeral, Arthur was home alone with my two grandkitties, Arthur saw a little 'something' run across the floor. Chloe and Buffy took after the 'something' which turned out to be a baby meese. After chasing, catching, tossing and generally having a good old time with the meese, the meese managed to escape.

The next night Arthur and S.I.L. put out meese traps and have so far snagged four. Of course Arthur cried when the first one was found, and almost cried on #2.

Last night, Arthur woke up because Buffy was jumping on the bed and immediately digging in her claws and jumping back off the bed, back and forth several times. When Arthur flipped on the light to see what was going on, a meese was in the bed! Thankfully, that one was already dead.

I am not sure, but I think most mother meeses have a litter of about 8 - 12 babies. So there are probably 4 to 8 more fuzzy-wuzzies running around there.

When I was in the advanced stages of pregnancy with Courage and still experiencing morning sickness, I kept saltine crackers on my headboard to nibble on first thing in the mornings. One morning I woke to find a nice bite taken out of one of my crackers. I immediately woke up the Hubster and told him I didn't think his little prank was very funny. I was fat, nauseated, uncomfortable, and not humored at all by his nibblings. But the Hubster insisted it was not HE that took a bite from my cracker. I didn't believe him and told him to stop picking at me, I was not in the mood. That night, Hubster put a mouse trap under the head of the bed and under a dresser. I couldn't believe the cracker I had that morning had been dined on by a mouse, but in the wee hours of the morning a snap and squeal proved that was indeed the case. I had not believed a mouse climbed the bedpost and made it's way to the headboard. But it did.

I hope Arthur's meeses only get in her bed if brought there by Buffy. And they are already dead.

Z-Paks and Ear Drops

2009-04-20T21:50:00.007-04:00

If you read my blog about my step dad's journey with brain cancer, you will see today's post is about sometimes needing more than 'just medicine'. But there are other times when all you need is 'just medicine'.

Arthur suddenly came down with terrible throat and ear pains today, accompanied by chills and chest pains. I know Arthur. If it starts this quickly and this painfully, it's going to result into time in bed, time hovering over the toilet, and time off work that doesn't need to be taken. I urged Arthur to go straight to the doc-in-a-box after work. Thankfully, she listened to me.

The doctor (who's name I cannot remember, or pronounce if I could remember it) gave her the once over and prescribed a Z-pak and ear drops. Yeeeeaaaahhhhh! This means Arthur will be feeling fine, more than likely, in the morning and will be able to go to work. If she doesn't feel better, she now has S.I.L. to take care of her instead of Mommy-dearest, that would be me. (tee hee)

Yes, I did go to the doctor with her, only because we carpool, and it made more sense to go straight to the doc instead of home and back again. Arthur did comment when an older lady (my age) and a younger lady (Arthur's age) came out together. She said see, her mom still goes to the doctor with her. (smile)

Strep throat (or something close to it) is always treated BEST with medicine. This is one of those times when yes, the other stuff....chicken soup, jello, wet wash cloths, will somewhat 'help', but the Meds are miraculous and definitely at the top of my list!