Stanley and Presents

It was a good day yesterday and I thought that I should at least mention part of the reason why. Stanley without a peep got up as soon as I got home and took me to the mall at about 8am to catch the early AM sales to finish off our shopping for our late Christmas. I really was to tired to drive alone and I didn't have any gas and he needed to see that my oil was out and then he would take care of that for me. Sure as shoot he got in the car and said, "you need gas". Then the oil thingy went off and he said "I need to go get your oil changed" Now I know that irritates the snot out of him that I don't pay attention to the cars. In fact he pretty much has a whole family who believe that if the car starts then...hey!!!!! whats to take care of!!! I don't NOT pay attention on purpose..in fact I see the damn thing blink every time I get in the car...it's just after a few blinks it goes by way of my subconscious. Well at any rate because I work quite a few hours and he is on vacation I know that he will take care of that for me and I am grateful...sometimes I forget to say that so here it is for all my two relatives to read about it. Thanks Stanley!!!!
I am a present hog. I love presents. I love to open packages...it doesn't have to be much, just paper and tape and I am in my element. So yesterday I reached a new maturity level after 56 years. I asked Stan if he had finished shopping for me and he said he had a few little things and I sat there thinking about the gas he just put in the car and the fact that I know he is just going to do the oil for me and I told him that what he has was enough. He got pretty quiet and it is hard to figure out what a man is thinking.... he probably thought it was a trick statement that what I really meant was that he had better get his butt to the closest jewelry store... but Stan if you are reading this.... you gave me the generous gift of your time yesterday without complaint, ran me all over town, fed me breakfast, gassed me up and I just know that the oil is going to be fixed AND you are shopping for all the food we are going to be eating at our home with our friends... so sweetie you have done enough.
I love you, Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas 2007

Christmas is my time of year. I love the smells, the decoration, the greenery, the sparkles, the gifts, and the music. I would have made the best druid if Jesus hadn't come into my life. I am wholly into tradition that I have borrowed, studied, adapted and made into my own for my family with hopes that they will take the best part of my traditions add their own and make new memories for their families. I am in an unusual position this year. Instead of being home on Christmas Eve like I have for nearly 30 years with a glass of Champagne in my hand, doing dishes and making casseroles for Christmas breakfast, I am at work with my friend Jilly and Leslie and saying good by to my friend Fazie. I am attending at times to old men, drunks, vomiting babies and guess because of the circumstances I am where I am supposed to be at this time. I believe that God is teaching me something if I can just listen well enough. Joshua was going to go visit his dad, Steve this Christmas. He has never done that and I being the selfish mama hen never let him go over MY holiday. So I in tears encouraged him to go and made plans to work. Becky being a new nurse this year would work as well and we made plans to 'do' Christmas as tradition dictates this next weekend. Well, fate stepped in and Joshua got hired to dance for Nutcracker in New Orleans and he is home now in bed on Christmas Eve and I am at work. I have cooked the same meal for years now and am held to the menu that I started years ago by the kids. Joshua with Rebekah echoing the sentiment one year, when I omitted the yam casserole complained that the table didn't look right without it even though no one eats the stuff. So in the interest of color and harmony I make the yam stuff along with a Prime Rib Roast, broccoli and yellow squash casseroles, jello salad and pretzel salad. I do Brussels spouts with almonds and lemons that everyone loves and have a bread. Then I have a dessert of some sort. I can add to but can not take away. I usually have friends over for dinner so afterwards I have coerced labor in wrapping stocking presents (which must be done messy) while I, with the afore stated champagne in one hand prepare the Christmas casseroles for the morning.
This year I have been thinking about my mom and really really missing her. Maybe it was getting the tree ready and looking at the ornaments that she gave my kids when they were born or maybe it was just that I can remember that she made our Christmas's special or at least in my child mind they were always the very best. I was on the way to work tonight and Silent Night was playing and I nearly had to pull over. I was transported to Hoge Memorial Church at the midnight service holding a candle with my grey palazzo pants on and my white silk shirt with my amber beads on. I must have been a 'babe' back then. We were singing and mom looked over at me and said you look so pretty tonight. I can still see her looking at me like I was just beautiful. It made me teary to remember that look in her eyes. My memory, my holiday, my joy. I look at my children and see my mom in them. My son has a kindness and a love that comes from her and he is alive today because of her steadfast prayer and belief in God. In my beautiful daughter she graced with honor, and trust. She is such a confident young woman and filled with compassion like my mom. I believe that my mom gifted me with the love of laughter and family. She loved her girls. We were the most important aspects in her life, and what she did and who she was, was largely for us. While preparing for this blog I was taking pics of the ornaments that she gifted my children with when they were born. They are not crystal, made of gold or silver but they are angels for my angels. They didn't cost much but I still have them and they go on the tree each year and will go to my children to put on their tree, their first tree gift from a loving grandma. As I was taking shots I found several ornaments that I had as a child that still grace my tree. One is broken but it has a place of honor. My memory, my joy. Then in my picture taking tour I tried to find the ones that belong to my kids from grade school. I found two that Rebekah made but couldn't find the apples that Josh brought home in second grade. After perusing the pics I did see the apples tucked into the tree but they didn't make this blog.

This little blue angel was for Joshua on his first Christmas and he still looks for it each year
Becky was gifted this on her first Christmas, an angel for an angel.
This is an old Christmas Ball from when I was a child. It's really not pretty anymore, except to me. My memory and my joy.
These next two are from Becky in the first and second grade. How priceless they are to me.

This is my season of the year. I am at my best, my tiredest and my happiest at this time. I exist on no sleep, worry that the food wasn't right, wishing that I could do more and give more and be more. And I love it. I regret getting older because I will have to turn the reins over to my children and maybe will in that time be glad to do so but for now from my tree to yours, from my house to yours, and mostly from my heart to yours Merry, Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year. May our Lord reside in your homes to guide each of you this new year.

Wedding update vs. prednisone euphoria

December 20Th was a very good day. It started out not so good but ended on a rush for me... the cause to yet be determined but it was probably a combination of getting the hotel reservations for the wedding and getting a shot of dexamethazone for my tendons. Becky came to pick me up and take me to the doctors to get some blood work and my shot. I hate injections which should give you some kind of idea of the kind of pain I was in and have been for months. I over the last 1-2 months have managed to cry at least 6 times a day over nothing exception worry and exhaustion about my hands which have nearly been useless for the past month because of deQuarvas(sp) tendinitis and multiple trigger fingers that lock up on me. I think what was eating at me was the worry that I would be disabled.....when you can't wipe your behind without crying in pain...you are really in a world of hurt. I gleefully bared said behind and took my shot like a big girl. Then got my prescription for my 10 day dexpack of humpty dumpty steroids.
Becky and I then went to the Hilton and looked at the rooms and what they had to offer and got a contract. We have ROOMS!!!!!! We have a CHURCH!!!!!!!!! We have a wonderful ROOM PLANNER!!!!!! I was fairly dancing with delight. We sent downstairs to eat at the restaurant and prior to getting served she announced that the restaurant just wasn't working for her. Now in good sense.... what the hell did that mean?? She said that she wasn't feeling 'IT' and about that time the waiter came and we ordered. After all they have food, it doesn't smell bad, the service seemed lovely, the plates were clean and most important it was raining outside and it was dry inside....what's not to like?? We ate a good lunch and she drove me home. About that time the rain stopped, the sun came out all which spoke to me as a positive omen to go to Walmart. So I followed her in my car and off we went. On the way over I called my nurse practitioner the most awesome Aimee Guidry, to let her know that it was probably in my head but I was really feeling great, I had lots of energy...still hurt but it was better. She let me know that I might be getting mean due to the predisone....more than normal apparently but who cares. I don't see the attraction to narcotics when prednisone is available.... that stuff rocks. That night I emailed everyone about the hotel plans went to bed and woke up the next morning feeling better than I have in months. You know when someone gets a little tipsy and does some 'drunk calling'? Well I was in my car at 730am jetting off to JC Penney's to Christmas shop, prednisone text messaging multiple parties on my cell about how much I LOVE this stuff. They were all SO glad to hear from me that early in the AM. I am still in the best mood.... a little manic but whoo hooo.... I can jump rope..... (watch for that news item in the January blog. ) I may be a tad more snippy but generally I am feeling kindness towards most, I seem to be a happier, nicer person at least to me .... and no one else matters...... I LOVE THIS STUFF.
So what it seems that a combination of the prednisone and the fact that we have a church, rooms and all.... has just put me in the best of moods. Just in time for Christmas.!!!! Speaking of which I had a Christmas letter ready to go and my home computer has eaten my kodak picture site... I can't pull the needed pics up so my letter will have to wait(normally this would have reduced me into a spasm of tears but thanks to Ms. Prednisone I am still HAPPY)
You are all in my HAPPY thoughts tonight. God Bless

Delta Festival Ballet Co. and 2007 Nutcracker and Josh

On December 15 Becky and her wonderful boyfriend Shane drove me to Slidell, Louisiana to see the first performance of Nutcracker put on by Delta Festival Ballet Co. It was a trip down memory lane for me to see Joshua up on the stage again with his old ballet company. I was thrilled to note that he dances better than ever and that once again I have had the opportunity to see him perform in a professional venue.

Okay I have to address this issue. I have tried being modest.....but I HAVE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN. There, it's out in the open I have said it and I meant it , every single word. I wish I could say that they look like me but they really do take after their daddies. I am not crazy about the shade of blush Joshua is wearing but hey it looks good on stage!!!
This is a pic of he and his partner for the soldier dolls in the beginning. They did a marvelous job!


The most exciting for me to see was the Arabian dance. I leaned over to Shane to tell him "see that's Josh!" To which Shane replied..... laughing.. I see that. I am rather dim-witted when I have had no sleep. This last pic is of Josh and three of the talented ballerinas with Delta. Thanks again to Joseph and Maria Giacobbe for puting on a Magical show

Retirement Home Part 2

Hi again, I promised more pictures of our retirement home and its surroundings. It actually is beautiful up in that neck of the woods(woods being the important word here....did I mention my fear of spiders?)at any rate the following are a continuation of our place in Eden.

When you start to feel overproud about your home then sure enough someone else moves in and does their place up nice like yours.( I think they must have some envy going on) The community of hunters mostly live in vacation homes like the one below. Stan got me on his 4 wheeler and took me for a ride. I really had a good time. My only dissappointment was that I didn't get a picture of me on the back. He has several deer stands and 2 of them needed repair. The picture below is one that he repaired the top cover on. Apparently someone else was using his stand while he wasn't there and shot a hole in the canvas... can you say 'drunk'... poor ole' boy got excited when he saw the deer and missfired or else that big ole' buck sprouted wings and was flying overhead!
The next picture is looking down the road from where his stand is located. This really is pretty country all joking aside. Stan hunts from a stand but alot of the hunters use dogs. They drop their dogs in at one section of the woods and the dogs chase the deer thru past the deer stands of the other hunters. Stan doesn't do that, he creates a feed plot and when Bambi et al come to eat, he shoots them. I am pretty much teasing Stanley here because if I didn't have deer sausage in my freezer I wouldn't be very happy and he does keep me supplied in sausage. Now we take our dogs hunting as evidenced below. They have never seen a deer unless you count the leftover sauage that they get as a treat. I would pretty much guess that they would bark alot prior to fainting if they came in contact with something big with horns.... what my babies are doing in this picture is slowly riding around the center of the camp ground with Stanley going about 2 miles a hour... they are hunting, hunting for leftovers.

Last but not least is a picture of Stanley with his 'baby'. Words cannot express how spoiled this dog is for Stan. She weighs 55 lbs now but will always be known as "the baby".
I hope you enjoyed the visit to our home away from home. If you get a chance read Retirement home part 1 to fully appreciate what we have here. Honestly Stan has done an incredible amount of work on his camper and it is comfortable... the spiders are few but still there and I am always on the hunt for one. I have yet to see a roach and no mice. Folks you haven't really lived until you go to sleep wrapped up in bulldogs on a bed slightly bigger than a single. Have a lovely day.

Retirement Home Part One

For those of you who have trouble with coveting what your neighbor has maybe you should just pass on by to another blog. I sure do not want to be the cause of you having the 'I-wish-I-had-what-she-has' coveting bug.... It is ugly to be jealous. For those of you pure of heart feast your eyes on this.....MY NEW RETIREMENT HOME IN MISSISSIPPI. Stan is a member of a hunting club and picked up this little white beauty for a SONG!!!!! He wanted to make it more roomy so he added the addition(the black part) this summer so that we could have a more formal area to entertain.(I do so love to entertain)
You enter in the white door and find yourself in the den then go thru another door to the kitchen. It has hot running water, a gas stove(the burners work...woohooo) and take a quick right into the refrigerator.
Now between the stove and the refrigerator is the bed. Its a pretty tight squeeze when you count on me, Stanley and the dogs but is is really really cozy. The guest Bedroom is directly above the bed in the loft... if you look close you can see it.

Here is the best part. The john. Its kind of narrow so you sorta have to have your pants down before you go in and if you have larger thighs you have to kinda stand to clean .... if you get my drift. BUT it also is a shower.... you just pull the curtain around and let 'er rip with the hot water. To save time you could go and wash at the same time.I can just imagine what you all are thinking. It's hard not 'git the envy' on but you know what.?!?! You all are KIN, or friends, or kin of friends so ya all can just come on down and visit when we retire. Stan and I are thinking about renting it out for the next few years.... you know put it on one of those time share thingies... maybe I could retire early... but since you all are friends you can come and stay for free!!!!!
watch out for tomorrow and retirement home part 2 will be out with additional pictures

Thanksgiving and Things for which I'm Grateful

It's been awhile since I sat down to blog. I was sick. I couldn't talk...and I know you are thinking that my laryngitis probably didn't affect my hands. It didn't except from the standpoint that I was so dadgum depressed that I was having trouble thinking. Illness seems to do that to me... I am not sick enough to stay home so I go to work and share my wondrous personality with those poor people that I work with. I also cry. A lot. I cry about everything. The low grade fever that I had seemed to settle in my joints particularly my wrists( I have been having tendon trouble in my wrists...whine, whine, whine) The low point was when I couldn't get out of the car because it hurt to damn bad to twist my wrist.... so I sat there and cried.... till I figured out a way to get out of my car. This long intro brings me to my first thing I am thankful for and that is my sisters. I talked ( in a painful whisper) to Barbara and I cried. A lot. She notified Patti and she called and I whispered to her for a while and cried. A lot. Both of them cared about me and I could feel it over the phone. I think they wanted to beat someone or thing up for me to make me better...isn't that great!! They love me and I am so thankful for that love and caring. There is no one who can really make you feel better than your mom... and if your mom is gone like mine is then it's your sisters, and God gave me some really first class, gold star, A #1 sisters. Thanks God!

During this same time I would walk into the house and start to cry for no good reason... maybe the sink was full or there wasn't enough milk for my coffee..WHATEVER .. and this brings me to the #2 thing I am thankful for and that is Stan. Nearly 28 years of marriage has taught this man to make sympathy noises and to stay out of the way AFTER he has done the hug, shoulder patting thing. He really makes an attempt to find out what is wrong and pretty much knows whatever it is is made much worse by the fact that I don't feel well. This time he convinced me to go with him to his hunting lease in Mississippi for my two days off( my next post will be about the hunting lease with pics... not to be missed!!!)AND he sweetened the pot and volunteered to get my 23 boxes of Christmas decorations out of the attic when we got back. This is really huge because just seeing the multiple boxes of Christmas things makes his blood pressure go up! Stanley cooks. Isn't that the best thing. He really cooks well. Not only that but he can hunt for our food if necessary. One of my best Thanksgiving/Christmas time was in Texas and my Mom was staying with us. Stan killed a wild turkey and we stuffed it with wild rice dressing. It was fabulous and mom talked about that meal for years. Stanley loves me too..... and at one point I think he would have beat someone or something up for me just to make me feel better. Thanks God for Stanley.

The next thing I am thankful for is my children. When I was feeling really bad and still at work my daughter came to visit me with Shane. Now the big thing here is that she had gotten off at 11 from her bad night to come and give me a kiss and a hug and to tell me that she loved me. It made me cry. A lot. Joshua had been hugging me a lot the first day or two I was sick and made all the good noises. The day after Becky came to see me, Joshua came upon me sitting eating cereal with the tears rolling down my face.... and he yelled at me. That made me cry more but I listened to what he had to say and it was good. I needed to get off my butt, start exercising, stay on my diet and get enough rest and STOP crying!!!. Sometimes yelling is really good and Joshua picked a good time because I woke up feeling better, and was able to talk again. I know that my kids love me and would go the extra mile if I needed it. I am so grateful that God picked just those kids for me. I look at my children and the people that they have become and I am so happy that I have had part in developing who they are. My 'babies' are my joy. Thanks God!!!

Well let's see.... I am thankful for my sisters, husband, kids... that is a pretty short list(it is the most important) so let me just name a few more items..... I am also thankful that I can still get up and go to work, that I have a job that I enjoy, that I have dogs who make me laugh, that I CAN laugh at most anything especially myself, that I have a house to live in, and that I love holidays. I am thankful for the food at my table, my patio, my new tennis shoes, Gavalia coffee, and my tap shoes and Ebay. I am thankful for my country, my freedom, my health and most of all Jesus.
Thanks God!!