Julie

Today a new angel is in heaven. Julie died this morning surrounded by family and friends. Julie was my first cousin (once removed), the daughter of Billy and Carmen, and the greatly loved sister of Molly. She was a gorgeous baby, born with Muscular Dystrophy. Her Great Aunt Ina and Grandma Edna remarked when she was small that she had the voice of an angel. She was the oldest of the four children born to cousins in a 7 month period. She played in the band and graduated college, nothing much seemed to stand in her way. She loved Jesus. I frequently received emails from her sending out the Word of the love of our Lord. I will miss that contact, that knowing that when I asked for prayer that she would answer and indeed pray. She was dearly loved and greatly loved others. You will be missed.

Julie: Sept 30, 1976 - April 25, 2009

Happy Birthday Samuel Evan..Our Miracle Baby and My Wedding Aniversary

April 19, 2009 is the birthday for the baby mentioned in two previous blogs. Samuel Evan, Amy's miracle baby, was born at 8:07pm. He is 7 pounds and 6 ounces and 21 and 1/2 inches long. Mom and baby are doing well. Congratulations to all concerned you have been and still are in all of our prayers.

I married Stan 29 years ago on this day. Wow. That really boggles the mind. My daughter asked me if I had any words of wisdom to impart. I am never shy at imparting any words, wise or not, as I feel the need but this stumped me. I have often asked that myself to others when I have come across someone who has been married a long time. One gentleman after 60 years told me that 'deafness' was his word of wisdom. He told me that you learn early on to be deaf to hurtful words or those said in anger because they aren't usually meant to be taken to heart. Actually that is pretty wise. There are few marriages that don't have spots that are hurtful but my advice is to remember the good times and be deaf to the bad. On departing one another always say "I love you" even if it is hard to do because if that is the last word your husband or your wife hears make it the words that count. Oh and one more thing. Never, ever admit to being awake if you fart in bed because no one can really hold it against you what you do in your sleep.

Happy birthday little Samuel and Happy Anniversary Stanley.

Wedding Cake and my Diet and Electro-Magnetic Bombs

I love small towns. I love the way people think in small towns. Tonight at about 2:30am a nice older couple came into the ER with two huge boxes. The first box contained the bottom of a grooms cake all done up in camo-style with butter cream icing. The second box had about 4 dozen miniature cupcakes with butter cream icing and candy pearls. Now we don't really know these cake angels but when the bride suggested just to throw the leftovers away(what is it with these modern day brides....) the Cake Angels rescued said yummies and said nope we're taking it to the ER. So we called the nurses on the in-patient side and we all cut off hunks of cake and a few dozen cupcakes. There was so much left over the cake angels boxed up the remainders to take to the police department. These are some very smart people when you think about it. They are taking care of the nurses and cops. In the event that they get ill or pulled over all they have to say is "remember when I brought y'all some cake" voila instant VIP status!! It has been my experience that nurses and cops all have a hankering for sweets and long memories.
You will recall from previous blogs that I am dieting. I am always dieting and while I am not looking to cheat it happens. It only happens if I can justify consuming something that I am not supposed to eat. If you watch the news on a daily basis then you could pretty much justify your way up to 500 pounds with little effort. Today on the news they were discussing an Electro-magnetic Bomb. That's the one that, according to the news, would be exploded in the air, mid United States and take out our entire electrical grid. Within weeks 90 thousand people would be dead. Now I don't know about you but for me that ranks right up there with supremo justification. Bring on the cake.

Lafayette Tea Party, Nancy Pelosi and CNN'S Susan Roesgen

**** I have some strong content in this blog.***

I was at the park in Lafayette with many others for our TEA
party and I was glad I went. It was crowded with a cross section of our population. The two things that we had in common are that we are all tax payers and we all are very unhappy with what is happening in Washington. What was neat was that I was able to talk with several people and asked them if they would be so kind to tell me where they fall income wise and if they were Democrat or Republican. Of the ones I talked with, most were middle to low middle income and it was about even as far as party lines although there were 2 independents. What was apparent was that we have some very unhappy voters and they feel that as a team we can change things. I was impressed with the speakers, the signs and the temperament of the crowd. When I figure out how to transfer my pictures from my phone to the computer I will share some really great shots of the patriots present.

I am more than distressed at the media. I make every attempt to watch several news shows so that when I give my news preference it is because I personally know what I am talking about and not just spouting rhetoric from someone else's mouth. April 16th is the last damn time I am wasting my time with CNN. I want BALANCED coverage not the crap that CNN pushes onto the airways. Susan Roesgen CNN "reporter" you are an embarrassment. Seeing it first hand just plucked my last nerve. If while watching her 'performance' interviewing people at the rally, you did not find her offensive, prejudicial and very unprofessional then there is no hope for you. You. Are. Stupid. She is a reporter not a talk show host. You Susan report the news not offer your stupid opinion. I thought that reporters were supposed to be above offering their editorial comments. You should be fired. If I remember right she stated the the rallies were "anti government, anti CNN, and a right wing event sponsored by Fox" She had the appropriate shocked look on her face and repeatedly interrupted her interview subject with her own comments. First of all we are against the government running our lives and giving away our money...so I guess that is anti government. I was ambivalent to CNN until today.... now I am very anti CNN. I am a Fox fan but I did not see anyone from Fox at my rally. I didn't see any Fox signs nor was anyone espousing the obvious qualities that FOX has over all the others. What I took part in was a non-partisan group of people that want their elected officials, Republican and Democrat to know that you are really pissing us off and that you are elected to your position by WE THE PEOPLE and you better start listening to us.

Now on to Nancy Pelosi. You Madam are the winner of the Braying Dumb Ass Award given to the elected official that is so completely out of touch with what is going on around her. She said that the people participating were upper income.. referring it to a ASTROTURF movement not a grassroots movement. You only wish. You should be concerned because it was a NON PARTISAN event and no one there likes what you stand for. I know that you don't really believe it but you are an elected official and not appointed by God for life. You can be un-elected.

Now Dear Mr. President. You get the Head-in-the-Sand Award. Your people said that you weren't aware that there were TEA parties in over 500 cities to protest the stimulus bill and the increasing government involvement in our lives. Are you thinking that if you ignore it, it will go away. Oh, I forgot that you got a new dog. My bad. Well since you weren't aware let me tell you that there were THOUSANDS of people protesting what is happening in Washington. You should have known about it but you probably watch CNN.

The END

Joshua

I didn't have a clue how to be a mother and there you were, helpless, totally dependent on me. Somehow we made it through. You taught me a lot about myself. You showed me that a person can love someone else so much that their heart nearly bursts. I remember rocking you to sleep each night. You would fight and kick and cry then suddenly you just dropped off to sleep. I would sit there for a time just breathing in your baby smell and wonder how I would ever manage to raise you. Well, its been 32 years and you are mostly raised. I like what you have become and I love the man that you are but you will always be my baby boy.
Happy Birthday

Michelle O and English Etiquette

I have not watched the news for nearly 2 weeks thus missed our President's glorious march thru Europe during the G20 summit meetings. I have been busy with house cleaning, sangria making, raffle ticket selling, working and trying to catch a few winks here and there. I also wanted to see if I could abstain from the news without going thru withdraw. I am a news junkie. At any rate I heard snippets from friends like the haha's about the gift he gave the Queen. I really don't see too much wrong with the gift, I think it was thoughtful to have all her stateside visits on the Ipod. I happened to tune in today and had the mute on when I saw a back view of the Royal couple and B.and M. Obama getting ready for a picture. I was thinking that the Queen looks good for her age from behind and was thinking how tall Ms. Obama was when I saw Michelle reach over and attempt to put her arm around the Queen. OH NO SHE DID NOT!!!!! I was thinking to myself. Then the Queen moved slightly to the left and looked at her. Maybe I am mistaken but surely there are a score or more State Department etiquette people that should have talked with Michelle and explained to her that you do not touch the Queen without Her permission. I nearly wet myself I was laughing so hard. I wish that I could have been a fly on the wall in the Royal Bedroom that night.

QE: Oh Phillip, did you see what that cheeky American woman did to me
PP: No, What did she do?
QE: She tried to hug me. She actually tried to drape her arm across my shoulders. I am the Queen. She can't touch me. I did not give her permission to touch me.
PP: Oh Elizabeth just give off she is from the colonies and they have no manners...so very uncivilized.

I don't travel and I am pretty rude sometimes but even I know that you don't hug the Queen. Surely Mrs. Obama isn't that dumb...what was she thinking. Our first lady seems to be a very touchy feelie type of person but Michelle, there is a time and a place for everything and Buckingham Palace is just not the place. I can only thank heaven that she didn't kiss her on the cheek. It's a good thing that the Queen is a figure head or we might be sending Michelle letters in The Tower of London.

Amy's Shower Pictures and Food Critique

Per request of my niece and a reader named Tibby(yea!! I have a third faithful reader)here are the pictures from the shower.My hallway deer are the recipients of many a costume. Christmas finds them bedecked in bows, Santa hats, and wreathes. Graduations find them with Graduation caps on. A wedding shower sees them wearing wedding veils. During Mardi Gras I usually put them in over sized sunglasses and beads(not this year, though)I used to put bunny ears on them at Easter but lost the ears a few years back and never replaced them. This is a pic of Amy and yours truly. She is not due till the end of the month.

Two of the other hostesses with the mostesses, Courtney and Jessica.

Another hostess Jill and the ever ballooning Amy

I made a tasty Sangria if I do say so myself and Jessica enjoyed the fruit of the vine along with everyone else except the guest of honor.

Vanessa and me feeling the effects of the sugar let down. Vanessa is our very favorite MD.Last but not least Jamie and Amy mugging for the camera. You cannot imagine the blessing this baby is for Amy and I would request, all kidding aside, that all you readers please keep her in your prayers. I wish you could have seen the ultrasound picture that she had framed. When she was having her ultrasound done her husband noticed the image before Amy. In the lower right corner is an image of Jesus. It's very obvious and easy to see.

Now on to other serious things for inquiring minds, shower cake IS as good as wedding and birthday cake. Shower food is excellent in that you don't have to prepare it yourself and when you bring something it usually is your very best effort. We had about 30 guests and a ton of food. Everyone had a good time and Dr. Vanessa got to play games...her favorite shower activity. So many thanks to Dana, Jill, Courtney, Jessica, Jessie, Jamie, Yvonne(the cake lady), Angie, Amanda, Ms Saucier, and Georgette for the wonderful food. Oh and thanks to me for the Sangria and the Punch.