Tell me what you're thankful for.......

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!!!!!

I am most thankful for my daughter and her good health. Three years ago she scared me to death with her new diagnosis, but we learned to take it day by day, and she's doing great now!!! I'm also thankful for the rest of my hillbilly family and I guess I'd better be thankful for my job too.....

'Tis the Season

I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR!!!!

I love the cold weather, I love the beautiful white stuff that floats from the atmosphere, I love the Christmas season, the trees, the lights hanging in windows and off gutters(no matter if some of my peeps think they're cheesy - SCROOGES!!), I love the fantasy that children have of "Santa Claus" dropping from the sky and falling down their chimney. I love everything there is about the Winter season - EXCEPT shopping!!

I went to the Florence Y'all Mall yesterday with Danielle and her friend to start my Christmas shopping and do my part to help with our dwindling economy. I knew exactly what I wanted and exactly where to go to get it, but when I got there, there were hoards of people. I thought the economy was so bad that there would be NOONE out there spending their hard earned money. Gee, was I wrong. Everywhere you turn, there's people, waiting to catch the glimpse of the person behind the counter for help with video games, waiting to check out, babies crying from being strapped in their stroller for hours on end, Moms fussing at Dad's because she KNOWS the kid really needs one more set of Lego's or one more Barbie. All I wanted was to purchase 4 small items for young cousins, and it took me 5.5 hours to get out of that stupid mall. Is all this frustration really worth ruining this wonderful season?????

Next year (as with all years past), I hope I remember this and start my shopping in July!!!!!!!

Regular Unleaded

$2.85/gallon!!!!!!!

WOOOHOOO, but I had to drive to Ohio to get it!!!

Why is it that I have to drive 10 miles from my house to find a $.35 difference in gas prices???? Beats me...I would much RATHER stay in my comfort zone than drive in Ohio and risk my life as well as others!!

October 6, 1994

Yes, at 1 a.m., you were ready...but I wasn't. I was trying to get a good nights sleep, but you were not going for that....By 1:30a.m., we were heading to the hospital, watch in hand, timing the contractions, 5 minutes apart and 30 miles away from the hospital, just great.......The fun had already begun. Upon arrival at the hospital, contractions were 4 minutes apart and my nerves were already SHOT!! Nurses rushing around me telling me to "breathe" and all I wanted to do was hold my breath and PUSH!!!! After a shot of demerol and what seemed like a 20" needle shoved in my spine, all was good (for ME at the time anyway) Then after relaxing a bit and thinking this was going to be a breeze, the pushing began..... 3 hours later, you were finally here with me, all red and wrinkly.



That day, my dear Danielle, was the first day of the best part of my life. You have brought me sooo much joy and happiness (the grief and grey hair goes along with this, but well worth it!). I am so glad that you are my daughter and I am very proud of the person that you are becoming!



I love you very much, Danielle!!!
HAPPY 14th BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!

What a Difference a Year Makes

How she's changed in 1 year. She's growing into a beautiful young woman!!!

The House Next Door

"The Notebook"

What a wonderful choice in movies when you're alone. NOT!
WHAT WAS I THINKING??????

I often wonder if there's that kind of love out there for me....I thought I'd found it the last time I tried, but it just didn't end up the way I'd dreamed it would.

Anyway, enough reflecting on the things I can not change...and focus on the things that I can....

Granny

This woman has been a great influence in my life. If it weren't for her, I don't know where I'd be right now. This is the woman who ultimately raised me from an infant to the person that I am now. She taught me to cook (or tried to), to take care of myself and also to crochet. She always said that I needed to learn to do a little bit of everything, 'cause you never know when you'll need to know it. She's a wise woman. She's a woman who has endured more than any one person should ever have to; she's lost her parents, her husband, and most tragically, all four of her children, and she's still the strongest person I know.

Granny was always there for me when my mom wasn't and still to this day, IS MY ROCK!!! She's never judged me nor my actions, maybe not always agreed with them, but never once has she distanced herself from me because of something stupid that I've done.

I try to call her everyday so that she knows someone is thinking of her -
I love her so much and I never want to loose her. My life would never be the same without her in it!!!!!

THANKS, GRAN, FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE FOR ME!!

I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!!!!

Hangin' Out - with ghosts

Check out the blob in the upper right corner of this pic....Could it be a spirit? I've always heard that spirits can be caught with a camera.
EEEEEEK, MY HOUSE IS HAUNTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOTE: to self

Please remember to invite BMO and kids to swim, this season preferably.

MY STRATEGY:

[you need to bring Asa and Carlee, and Gran, of course up here to enjoy my company, for a change!!!!!!! It's the same distance from here to there, no matter which direction you are traveling and it's downhill from here back home - so maybe you can coast all the way back :-)]

Yard Sale FANATIC!!

Anyone who knows the "real" me, knows that I LOVE YARD SALES!!! So imagine my surprise when I woke this a.m. to find just 30 feet from my front door, Heaven!! The worst thing was there was NOT one thing that I wanted!!!! But for the computer geeks, the place was packed with anything from wireless routers, keyboards, monitors, laptops - I'm guessing just about anything you could imagine!!! Anyway, this mans' trash was NOT this womans' treasure.....better luck tomorrow!!!!!!

VACATION

What do you mean, my vacations over already? Why does a week absolutely FLY by when you are on vacation, and when you're at work, a week seems like an eternity? Oh, well, we've made the best of it!!!

We've definately had to endure the HEAT of the summer this week!!!!!
THANK GOODNESS for the pool!!

Vacation

Danielle just arrived in Panama City, Fla today. What a trip!!
They spent the night last night in Alabama, she tells me the motel
had the BEST continental breakfast ever!! Hopefully I will get a pic
to post soon.

The BEST Mothers' Day

Today was MY day, the one day set aside for Moms and their children to spend together, relax and enjoy each other. Danielle & I did just that with a rather quick trip to Kings Island, lunch @ O'Charlie's and a couple chic flicks. She remembered the one thing that I had mentioned months ago that I wanted, wind chimes. I was so touched to realize that she actually listens to me (sometimes)!!! We talked about stuff that has been going on at school and her friends, she really opened up to me today.

I am very proud to be her MOM. She undoubtedly will grow up to be a wonderful adult and mother someday.

Thanks, Danielle and I love you very much.

Mothers Day

I went to Eastern KY last weekend with huge intentions of visiting my moms gravesite for 3 reasons:

1. Saturday, May 3 would have been her 63rd birthday
2. The following Sunday would be Mothers' Day and
3. I JUST PLAIN MISS HER!!


Those intentions were demolished with fear, anxiety, and frustration because I can't seem to make myself deal with the fact of never being able to ask the advice of my mom, or tell her about the latest and greatest love that's gone wrong (and hear that he wasn't worthy anyway), or about the bad day at work or the wonderful day that I had with her granddaughter. I would never wish upon anyone that they loose their mom. I get so angry when I hear others disrespecting their mom - sometimes I speak my mind and remind them that someday their "Best Friend" will not be with them any longer and to cherish the time that they have with their mother.

I guess I had the same BAD attitude when Mom made me mad or wouldn't let me do what I wanted to do, but now I long to have just one more day or hour or minute with my mom.

It's now been 6 years, and it just hasn't gotten any easier...I don't imagine it ever will..

The reason for this post is to remind you all to love your mom while you can, because you never know when the last time you gave her a hug or a kiss or told her you loved her will be the last time...

HELP WANTED / Lawn/Pool "Man"

Permanent / Part-time
Hours flexible, but preferably late evenings/weekends
Applicant musts:
TALL
DARK
Blue eyes
Be at least 21 YOA
and a "6-pack" would be nice as well.

Please fax resumes to:
1-800-Desperate Housewife

Electronics

I AM SOOOOOO FRUSTRATED!!!!!

I'm trying to move my surround sound from one TV to another and
have so many wires lying around, that I could just hang myself with one of them!!!! Why does this have to be so complicated - or why am I making it so complicated???? This has been an afternoon project that will ultimately drag into a weekend project...NO DOUBT!!!... I'm going to bed before I do something STUPID!#?*@

BitterSweet

I took Danielle to BMO today. Actually left her without crying - it was a very strange feeling leaving my baby with someone else. She tells me she didn't cry either, but I'm not so sure about that (that's what I'm telling myself anyway, so don't ruin it for me!!!!) She's growing up on me, proving she doesn't need her mom like she used to - just one more trial of motherhood, I suppose. Anyway, she seems to be having a blast with her younger cousins - that's all that matters, that she's happy. I miss you, Danielle!!!

REALITY

It's finally happened!!! Everything that is NOT mine, is out of the house and in its NEW home!!! I told you to take this one to the bank, BMO. ;-)

1 MORE DAY!!

At 12a.m., 3/21/08 - 1 more day!!!!!!!!!!! This will be my last entry on this subject, I'm sure Bobbi will be thrilled with that...... As I said before, "Take it to the bank!!!" It's becoming REALITY at last!

5 MORE DAYS!!!!

You can take this one to the bank, Bobbi ;-)

6 more days!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Countdown IS on

8 more days!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good News

For all who know what I've been going through at home, I finally see light at the end of the tunnel. The moving date has been set with a moving company, boxes are everywhere and a PARTIAL weight has been lifted off my shoulders! Good News for me anyway!!!!!

Civic Duty

Well, I've just finished "orientation" for my first Jury Duty session EVER in my life!!! What a bore!!! It takes all kinds to make up a jury, I guess - there was definately a GREAT mix of people there today.