A Word From Your Long Lost Friend

So I would love to say that I haven't posted anything because I have been busy traveling the world on an adventure of a life time. But that wouldn't be true.

It wouldn't be true either if I said that I have been absent due to a tremendous project I have been diligently working to complete. You know, something like organizing 32 years of photos. I started that back in the fall, had to take them off the dining room table for
Thanksgiving and they haven't moved out of the closet since.

Another falsehood would be to say that I have been wrapped up in a ministry to the poor and needy and have not had time for the frivolity of the blog. I wish that were true, but it's not.

Nope....I have just been pooped...lazy...or uninspired.

Sorry.

I have thought of so many humorous tidbits to share, but by the time I get home and sit down, I just don't have the energy to type it. Sad isn't it?

I wanted to tell you about how I was flashed by a cop on my way to work. I suppose I could just give you the quick version. I was driving to work on the new three lane interstate and as on any normal day there was a car in the left lane and the car in the middle lane and a car in the right lane all going the same speed. Silly me didn't know that was why the third lane was added so that now we can have traffic backed up on three lanes instead of two because three people choose to drive the exact same speed. Well on this particular morning the driver in the left lane was one of Illinois' finest. I was able to stare a hole in the back of the middle lane's driver's head and scared him enough to speed up and move over to the right lane. As I made my move to break the bottle neck the car in the left speeds up to my speed. I slow down...he slows down. I speed up...he speeds up and then....then he has the nerve to speed up just enough to get just far enough ahead and flash his cherry and berry lights. (I hope your mind wasn't wondering else where with a different kind of "flashing") I had to drive the stinking speed limit the rest of the way.

Anyway, please accept my apologies. And stick with me. I hope to find a little more energy and inspiration soon!!

So Much To Talk About ....

The Kentucky Wildcats lost in the Elite Eight. I was so mad I could've cussed. Some say I might have, but don't believe it. I was mad enough to though.

Spent last weekend with my girls in Nashville. What a busy, busy weekend.

I got there on Thursday and we met up with my Sister-in-law and niece and had a yummy dinner at Mafiaoza's. Loved the fried ravioli.

Friday we spent a leisurely day in downtown Franklin. Ate at Pucketts and had my favorite meal of the entire trip, a fried bologna sandwich. Oh my word. It was a thick cut of bologna, so I wasn't sure if I would like it. I usually like my FBS thin slice of bologna slit in four places and fried up crispy. But this was bologna-icious.I bought the cutest little scarf to tie on my purse. I am so glad I got it early in the trip because I think every where we went people noticed me and thought I must be a famous country singer or something because having a purse with a cute little scarf tied on to it is so trendy.

We then yearned for something educational. So we jumped into Steph's Patriot Missile and landed smack dab in the middle of the Civil War. We gazed upon the Carnton Plantation. (We weren't going to pay the $10 a head to actually through it.) We learned that the Battle of Franklin had swept right through the very spot we were standing and many a confederate soldier died on the veranda of which we were observing. John and Carrie McGavock buried those soldiers right there on their land. As we strolled through the final resting place of these soldiers, Steph got a call on her Blackberry.....but no one was on the other line. Coincidence? I don't think so. I think it was an attempt from someone on the other side asking her to please get off his headstone.



We piled back into the Patriot and visited a war memorial and then back to Steph's place to think about all we had seen.....and to admired my scarf embellished purse.


Elizabeth showed up just in the nick of time to join us for yet another meal. We feasted on steak at JAlexanders. We were going to need all the nourishment we could get for the night that lay ahead of us. With our belly's full, we bolted for the dark side of Nashville to a little karaoke place called Wanna Be's. Oh if those walls could talk. I'm not going to say too much except....I Go Out Walking..After Midnight..Out In The Moonlight. I am so sorry Patsy....so very, very sorry. It was a wild and crazy night I tell you. I didn't get to bed until TWELVE THIRTY.



Saturday was to be a 100 proof kind of day! The Patriot Missile took us straight to Lynchburg, TN and the Jack Daniels Distillery. If people knew how much work goes into making that stuff they would drink it with a little more respect and not guzzle it down like it was water! Did you know that Lynchburg is a dry county. They can make it there, but never a drop is to be tasted.


In the words of Elizabeth, we were all Jacked up and now it was time to wine down. We stopped by a vineyard on the way home to enjoy some of Nashville's famous Calypso music in the vineyard.


Now, it is about an hour to Lynchburg and and hour back so we kept ourselves entertained on the road by getting to know....da turdle man.

By then it was time to eat again. Who cares none of us were a bit hungry, but the clock said it was time to eat and ate we did. After a filling dinner of Mexican we were all wore out from our whirl wind tour of middle Tennessee so we called it a night. Hugs and kisses to Brenda and Andrea as they were leaving first thing in the morning.

Sunday morning we met Steph's room mate and her Mother for a delightful lunch at The Brick Cafe'. Good food and good friends. Elizabeth had to get back home so that left Steph and myself to fill a Sunday afternoon until it was time for me to catch my flight home.

I got home around 10:30 Sunday evening and now a week later I think I have finally caught up on my sleep.

But my scarf is still tied to my purse and looks marvelous.

March Madness Makes Me Merry

The madness has begun!

I love this time of year almost better than Christmas!!
The fact that it does not require any shopping, wrapping, cooking or cleaning is just a bonus.

Here are some very important dates to highlight on your calendar so you won't miss a minute of this years Hoops Hysteria.

Selection Sunday: March 14, 2010

Opening Round Game: March 16, 2010

First Round: March 18-19, 2010

Second Round: March 20-21, 2010

Third Round: March 25-26, 2010

Fourth Round: March 27-28, 2010

Final Four: April 3 & 5, 2010 at Lucas Oil Stadium
Indianapolis, Indiana.

Need a bracket? You can get one here.

GO CATS!!

Grandma's Little Sweet-E

Grocery Shopping Brings Out the Worst In Me

Before you go any further, please don't think me as cold-hearted and uncaring. Don't call me insensitive. Just hear the frustration in my voice for what it is.

I am of the firm belief that there should be some type of rules for grocery shopping. I think that you should have to show a current check stub or an employee badge of some sort in order to prove that you have no other time to shop to be allowed in the grocery between the hours of 4:00 and 6:30 p.m.

I believe that if you are retired, you can turn the DVR on and record the current showing of Deal or No Deal to be watched later in the day. There is no need for someone who has ALL STINKING DAY to grocery shop to be in the mix during peak hours. I mean come on Elmer and Avis Oldfolks, if you need to study the saltine boxes that long, you need to get an earlier start. Just grab a box and get on with it for crying out loud. I understand that on nice days that Elmer and Avis just need some fresh air. But don't you think the air is fresher at say 1:30?


I believe if the only form of mobility you have at your disposal is a little rascal, you MUST obey the rules of road at all times. Riding in a motorized shopping cart does not give you license to barrel up the produce aisle at break neck speed chasing all of rest of us out of the way just so you can have your pick of the apples and mangoes.

I only have one thing to say to those who have a passel of kids.....GET A BABY SITTER! For real, if you have 5 kids under the age of 4 and are wearing pink sweat pants that you obviously purchased prior to birthin' all them babies, then you can either come first thing in the morning before boredom and over-stimulation has set in. Or you can get a baby sitter. I can get you some names if you need them. I really don't want to purchase a bag of chips after Penny the Pooper has carried them through out the store while whining "Mooooooommmmmm....I neeeeeeddddd theeeeeesssse." Only to have you put them back on the shelf just before you head to the check out.

Now I am fully aware that there are circumstances that may require those who are not at work the previous 8 hours to have to be shopping during prime time. I was blessed to see the cute little old man in the race cart being helped by what very well may have been his grand-daughter. I admired her security as she shouted to her hard of hearing friend the multiple varieties of frozen vegetables. I panicked with her as the driver of said race cart announced "I THINK THIS THING IS RUNNING OUT OF GAS....IT IS GETTING SLOWER."

So, please forgive me. I am not usually this irritable. But I just took 2 and one half hours of my life to complete what should have been a 45 minute trip to the Piggly Wiggly. I didn't even get a good look at ice cream because there was a mob of preschoolers climbing in the freezer case while the moms discussed why Oprah can't keep the weight off.

Next trip I think I will try to get in at 5:oo A.m. on my way In to work and see how that works.

Ode To A Girl Scout

Oh you little sprite, all dressed in green.
You and your badges all sown on with honor and pride.
You are such a Carmel Delight to so many people.

You just Tag-A-Long without any complaint,
Just the Peanut Patter sound of your little feet brings a smile to many a face.
It makes us just want to Do-Si-Do with joy when we see you coming up our walk.

Oh you precious little Brownie Scout.
You are a gift to us all in your beanie.
Your Thin Mint-ens are always on your tiny hands.

You enrich our lives so.
You and Samoa of your friends are always a welcome sight at out lonely door posts.

Oh you little Daisy Scout.
You little Shortbread you!
What a Trefoil treat you bring us.

You are such special young entrepreneurs.
Many have tried to imitate, but none have succeeded.
We love you Girl Scouts.
We love you with all our cookie craving hearts.

Surprise! Surprise! Suprise!

My birthday was on Friday. I turned 5....fif....49 plus 1. Yeppers, I hit the big 5 - 0. I don't mind reaching that mile stone, it just that it seems so weird, so not normal to say that I am fifty. But you know what they say....Fifty is the new Thirty!!

Before I go any further, let me first say THANK YOU to all my friends and family who helped me celebrate my birthday.

As I take inventory of 50 years of my accomplishments, my failures, my experiences both good and bad, I realize how ridiculously blessed I am to have the honor to call so many amazing people my friend. Then, when I look at those that I am fortunate enough to call family, I am so very thankful for each and every one of you.

And I want to say a very special THANK YOU and I LOVE YOU to Danny, Chris, Kelly, Emerson, Elizabeth, Robert and Stephanie. You are far and above the best gifts I could ever hope for or dream of. You make me proud in who you are and your successes are just bonuses!

Here are a few pictures from the Nifty Fifty Surprise Party!! Enjoy.

Is it wrong that I start out with the cake?

I live for cake. Cake and I have been best friends for 50 years now. Cake is the only reason I attend weddings. This cake was amazing. It looks beautiful and it tasted just as good as it looks. The top layer was lemon with raspberry filling...yummy. The middle layer was Red Velvet...my all time favorite. The bottom layer was marble with custard filling. Fantastic. (A shout out to Kirin Hertzner, the cake artist!)

Emerson was the first surprise, then Chris and Kelly....

Then Elizabeth....
Rob came a little later.

Then Stephanie.

My sneaky kids!

Here I get to beat the stuffing out of 50!

And 50 just doesn't want to die!

Here are some of the guests...who by the way are very
good at telling untruths!!


Big Mommy and Emerson
(aka my Mom)

Andrea: Hmm, so that's what 50 looks like.
Stephanie: I will never be 50.
Elizabeth: Poor Mom, won't be long until we have to move her into the home.

I was queen for the day!
Thanks to everyone!!

Emerson, The Great Debater

Emerson has quite a passion for human and cat rights but holds his own very well up against Bill O'Reilly.




Film editing by CDC

The Great Calendar Shortage of Twenty Ten

OMG....(and I mean Oh My Goodness....I wouldn't say Oh My God unless I was praying....that's just me....IDK) any way enough of the text talk...Did you know that there is a severe calendar shortage in the Greater Northern Illinois/Southern Wisconsin area?

Me neither! Somebody should have warned us.

I had to go to THREE stores to find a 2010 Calendar. For real people, even Hallmark said they were sold out before Christmas. Something about no one giving out free ones this year so everyone had to buy one. Is this Obama's idea of an economic stimulus? Well if it is .... it is working!!!! But really, this should have been the lead news story even before all of the H1N1 vaccine shortages and stuff. Honestly. I am so shook up right now I am shaking.

How did I find out about this lack of calendars you ask? Well let me just tell you.

My employer always gives us two calendars. One is a very nice wire bound one that is a little on the big side, but that just makes it easier for me to spot when my next day off is. It is very professional with no added gobbly gook on each date.

The other one is a Diversity themed one where every child of every employee of the entire corporation is invited to draw a picture of what diversity means to them. Then they are pasted all over this calendar. Very busy...that is all I will say about the design. It also listed every event that every office in all 4 states would sponsor. Really, I don't need to know when the Oklahoma Full Service Unit is having their Red Bandanna Rodeo to help injured Cowboys. Just really don't feel the burden for them.

I would always bring that one home to use in the kitchen. Remember my anal list making issue? Well, that is what I would use this calendar for. I make my weekly menu on the calendar after pouring over my cookbooks, magazines and recipe files. Choosing the meals that just make my mouth water and on what day to have them. Then I would have the recipe at hand for when it was time to make it and I would use the menu to make my grocery list so I didn't end up with 25 pound of ground beef and no chicken breast. It is really a very ingenious method. I may patent it and market a calender just for this use.

But, lo and behold, due to cost saving measures we only received one calendar this year. (Guess which one we got? I will give you a hint.... The Texas Tumbleweed Benefit Garage Sale for Sunburned Ranch Hands is on June 23rd.) So now I am left to my own devices on how to plot my meals. Dan-o suggested I print one off of the computer. HA! Amateur. It has to be compiled on a bound calendar so it can be saved for future reference. I have menu calendars dating back to 2004. I will not be accused of fixing the same meal too many times in a decade.

I hated to spend the money on a calendar, but it was a true necessity and was eager to pick one out and hurry home to begin my planning for February. Imagine the sunken feeling I had when CVS Pharmacy and Hallmark shot me down. I was in a panic. But the nice lady at Hallmark, who also shared my disbelief and disgust in the lack of calendaring needs, told me she thought she saw some at the Kroger. I didn't even say good-bye. Just took out of the store like a scalded cat. Thank God. The Kroger had a few precious calendars left. I was so thankful I fell to my knees and offered up a sacrifice of praise right there. I chose the Monet Garden theme. Not that I am a art aficionado or anything, it was just more my style then the Harley Davidson theme.

So now I am a happy woman. I have my calendar and life is good. If you are in the area stop by and I will show you my rare 2010 calendar. And if you stop in on Tuesday we will be having Potato Crusted Chicken, Steamed Citrus Green Beans, Garlic Mashed Potato's and Glazed Carrots.

Weight....I Have Something To Say!!!

So it has been a while since I have updated the world on the elimination of the extra poundage.

Let me share a little of what tasty morsels have crossed these lips.

First there was Thanksgiving. 'nuff said there.

Then came Christmas. Cookies, cakes, big breakfasts every morning, big dinners every night and lots of snacks in case there would be more than a 45 minute gap between meals.

We had Paula Deen's Red Velvet Cake
Out of this world.

Southern Living's Chocolate Citrus Cake
Amazing!

Praline Pull Apart Bread

It was all so wonderful...so very wonderful. Sigh....like a dream.


So...now here is the final tally.....

Ladies and Gentlemen...

For 14 straight weeks....

The dreaded scale....

Has moved....




DOWN!!! 15.1 POUNDS to be exact!!!

Yes, even with all of the indulgence, I lost weight!!!

I am not bragging mind you, I am just thrilled!!!

I would like to thank the redeco project, the Wii, the long walks in the park!!!

I think I have finally stumbled on the secret to weight loss....exercise. Who knew?

Now I just have to keep the motivation going.

I think I even feel another 100 step photo walk coming on!

Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday dear blo - og.
Happy birthday to you!

It has been one year since I set out on this experience of blogging! I have enjoyed it and am really quite surprised that I have been faithful to it for this long.

I have enjoyed sharing little glimpses of what is bouncing around in the great expanse of my head!

Some of the posts have been about me. Some about others. Some have been sad. Some have been happy. Some have been hysterical. Some of them have been pointless. Some have actually taken some thought to put together. Some have been just a brazen excuse to show you pictures of the cutest little boy on the face of the earth!


But they are all part of my life, as simple as it may be.

I appreciate both of you that read my ramblings and hope you will stick with me as we embark on year two. I am not making any promises that things will be any better than last year, but who knows what lies ahead!

HAPPY 2010!!!!

This year I am resolved to.....

Wait...I am not going to resolve anything. Today is another gift from God just like yesterday was and tomorrow will be, if He so chooses. I should be striving to be and do my very best whether it is January 1st or September 19th.

This is not to say there isn't much I need to improve on. There's more than enough that I need to work on, and I will try and try again to make those improvements. But what I am not going to do is set myself up for failure.

I am a fanatical list maker. This Christmas, as in Christmas's past, I had a list of what we would be eating for breakfast, lunch and dinner and a calendar that listed what needed to be cooked and when.

I do this for a couple reasons.

First, my memory is just not the steel trap that it used to be. I do think this is hereditary though. My Grandma Runyon would come out of the bedroom after dressing and take her both her hands and tap her shoulders (checking to make sure she had a shirt on) tap her breasts (yep, there's the brassiere) tap her waist (check - pants and panties in place) and then off she would go.

Second, it keeps me organized. Without the list, we very well could be enjoying breakfast casserole for Christmas dinner and Red Beans and Rice for breakfast because I didn't read the recipe ahead and know that the beans had to cook for 8 hours. This is not to say that this list making doesn't have it's flaws as evidenced in the multiple runs to Kroger on Dec. 23....or 1:00 in the morning Dec. 24. But hey, the pull-a-part pecan rolls were well worth the trip!!

Third, it gives me a sense of accomplishment. There is no feeling like marking a task off of a to do list. Even if the task you are marking off is making another to do list. It is something that needed to be done and it got done....mark it off.....move on to the next job.

So if I am such an anal list maker why aren't I making any New Years Resolutions? It isn't because the list would be too long (although it would be quite lengthy) it's because those resolutions are what I want accomplished. I want to loose weight. I want to be better with money. I want to exercise more......I want I want I want.

Nothing I want can be accomplished unless it has been ordained by God the Father and until I have completely surrendered my will to His, even if the things I want are good things, they can't be attained without His power. So in 2010, I will continue to seek His will and let Him make my resolution list.

I am looking forward with anticipation to what God will do for my family in the coming year. He has so blessed us in 2009 that it will be almost unimaginable to see what He can do in 2010.

Happy New Year to all of you. I pray that 2010 will bring you blessings untold!

Wait....I think I have found my computer......

Oh my word, have I got lots to tell you about....but, it is just going to have to wait until next year. We have been busy, busy, busy around here.

This is what my living room, family room and dining room has looked like since the Monday after Thanksgiving.











For almost two weeks, my underwear drawer was in the living room. Now, I am sure the neighbors have often thought of me as conservative and modest, but let me tell you, if they happened a glance in the direction of the large picture window in my living room at just the wrong moment.....whoa baby....they have seen a whole new side to me!!!!

So a just a quick recap/explanation as to the silence of the blogs:

Two weeks before Thanksgiving a bedroom was born in our basement. We decided we needed another sleeping space for when all the fam was in town. Soooooo.....we added the bedroom, had the existing drywall resurfaced (can you spell DUST?). Repainted the entire basement and installed new carpeting.

Well, since the old bedroom furniture is now in the basement boudoir we need a new one upstairs, but we can't put new furniture on that nasty 1980's green carpet....and if we get new carpet in there, we need carpet in the other spare room. And if those two bedrooms get new carpet, then MY bedroom needs it too. Soooooo......we took all the furniture from the three bedrooms and stacked it nicely in the above mentioned living spaces. Painted, re carpeted and replaced all the furniture.

It looks so nice....I can't show you pictures of the results just yet, but I will when I have got everything just like I want it.

Oh yeah, in between all this redeco work, I fixed Thanksgiving dinner for around 30 people, Christmas shopped, baked and holiday partied it all out.

I am pooped.....15 pounds lighter....and pooped!!!

Well, I hope you all are sticking with me, because I will be back to my routine in January and we will have lots of stories to share then!!!

Until then Merry Christmas Santa!!!

Wishing All A Blessed Thanksgiving.

With Love and Thankfulness,
Dee

Just Some Pictures of My Favorite Little Guy...

Start Up the Band, We Are Gettin' Ready to Dance!!!

The regular season opened up tonight for the Big Blue with a W.
UK 75 Morehead State 59
Thirty one more games until March Madness.
I can not wait. I haven't been this excited since Christmas!!

Movie Night!

I have been thinking about this while I lay in bed waiting to fall asleep. It doesn't take me too long to nod off so it has taken quite some time to put this list together!

I have been trying to decide what my top 5 favorite movies of all times are.
And in answer to the question you are thinking, but do not want to ask out loud because you are alone and looking at a computer screen ... No, I don't have better things to think about.

Well, after much deliberation here is the much anticipated list.

Drum Roll Please........


Number 5:
"Cheaper By the Dozen" I am talking about the old one with Myrna Loy and Clifton Webb. Tied with "Meet Me In St. Louis"
It's my list so I can have a tie if I want to.

The original "Cheaper By the Dozen" is so cute and fun. It is also very interesting to see how the role of an intelligent woman is handled as a submissive wife. Lillian Gilbreth maintains her dignity and does not discredit her intelligence in any way while showing respect and submission to her character of a husband.

"Meet Me In St. Louis" is really just one of the movies that I enjoy of Judy Garland's. I love the time period this movie is set in and the music it classic.





Number 4:

"Lonesome Dove"

I know this is technically not a movie, but is a mini-series, but again...it is my list.

I also know this movie seems very out of place on this list, but I just really like Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duvall and I enjoy a good western every now and again. So what's the big deal?



Number 3:

"Steal Magnolias"

What an example of true friendship. Six totally different personalities yet they are loyal, dependable, honest friends. There is never a hint of jealousy, judgment or uneasiness, just pure friendship between all of them. And the story line, ahhh....I cry every time I see Sally Field have her fit of rage at the end of the funeral. I'm a little teary eyed right now. sniff sniff



Number 2:

"Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House"

I love black and white movies and this is another movie with Myrna Loy. This movie just takes you right out of the days problems and puts you in a fantasy where money is no object and women always looked glamorous and everyone lives happily ever after.



And The Number One All Time Favorite Movie of Mine Is..........




What can you say about "Gone With The Wind"? It is spectacular. Four hours of pure southern belle drama. The movie is outstanding in spite of and because of it's 1939 special effects. In fact, that adds to the charm of the movie. The burning of Atlanta is a sight to behold.

I am deeply saddened and hang my head in shame when I say that my daughters have never seen this epic film. I am sorry girls, I have failed you as a mother. I hope that some day soon, they will take an afternoon and watch this movie.

Honorable Mention:
**Edited to spell Anne Shirley's name correctly...what was I thinking? It is Ann with an e. Duh!**
"Elf", "Anne of Green Gables", "A Christmas Story", "Driving Miss Daisy", and anything with Myrna Loy or Cary Grant.

So there you have it. Don't ask me why I felt burdened to share this with you. I guess now if they should have an open mic night at my funeral and you can't think of anything nice to say about me, you can always sigh and say "She really liked old movies...and who the heck is Myrna Loy anyway?"