First Post of 2013

BELATED HAPPY NEW YEAR!

So much has happened to me since Sept '12. Sept 28th I went to the emergency room so sick and with  such low blood pressure I was out of it. Turns out I was septic from a diabetic wound. I was near death at one point. I had to have surgery on my foot. Long story short, it didn't work. I became septic again in November and was worse off than before. It was taking forever for the wounds from the surgery to heal. All the sudden in December the infection took over with a vengeance again & had spread into the bones. The DR immediately said there was no saving that foot. So they slapped me in the hosp on Dec 21 & my amputation of my right foot and a portion of my lower leg was amputated on Christmas day. The healing process has gone smoothly and I am already in the process of getting my prosthetic foot made. All's been going great. I spent 3 weeks in a nursing home/rehab. Home for 2 weeks and here's the bad news for THIS month.

 I had a blood blister on the 2nd toe of my foot. It broke. I was taking care of it I thought and here it is abt 10 days later and over night it turned bright red & swelled like a small sausage. My leg is swollen too. Got in to see my DR yesterday. He put me on antibiotics & told me if it isn't a lot better by Friday I will have to go into the hospital again. I can't lose this foot too. I haven't even adjusted to losing the right one.

I went to the prosthetic place today to get a cast made of my  leg for the cup (*socket) that the stump goes into and should have a foot in one to 2 more weeks. Nervous but anxious. I may end up with 2 of these things so I need to prepare myself. I am a diabetic and very susceptible to infection.
So Autumn and winter were not the best for me. We had planned a big Christmas day with all of our kids and grandchildren here. I think at the time I was more devastated about not having Christmas than I was having my foot amputated.  I guess that is about all about us for now. I say "us"  because it effects us all. I am in a wheelchair for now. If I fall for some reason, I can't get up. If I need to get to the restroom (in a hurry-I know TMI) I need someone to push me beause the house is carpeted. Someone has to drive me, shop for me all the things I haven't been able to do since I first got sick last Sept. That somebody is usually my dear husband (Richard). He's been a saint. He's learned how to do laundry. Cook, shop, babysit the grandkids, etc, etc, etc. So I pray every night and day and thank God for the man He brought into my life nearly 41 years ago. Thanks for reading. That's all for now.

Frankly Friday

Today I had a crummy afternoon. I may as well write about it and get it off my chest. I have 2 teeth that need to be extracted. I don't know why...they aren't bothering me. But the 2 sets of Xrays show decay all around the root. Okay, I'm resolved that has to happen. I just don't want to be left with a gaping hole in my mouth. So I went to the Oral Surgeon who will be extracting them. He gave me bad news, really bad news then a little more to top it off. The extraction with be done under IV Sedation and sinee the teeth are on top they are right up next to my sinus cavity. I'll need a bone graft. The bad news: Cost $1400.oo. OK. Then the REALLY Bad news. He can do an implant to semi hide the hole left by the two missing teeth. One implant done under sedation....$2900.oo!! The rest of the bad news, is that the crown that screws onto the implant costs $1057.oo. Sigh.Nearly $5400.oo. Oh my god. I could get two sets of dentures for that much money. What kills me is how well I take care of my teeth. I brush them at least twice a day. I floss. I get cleanings every 6 months. And it seems like I'm always needing a crown, a filling or replacing a crown. Soon there shouldn't be anymore teeth to fix. LOL Then he'll start on the old ones again. The orthopedic surgeon has chopped 2 toes off. My feet are shot too. What is going to fall apart next. I 've already had everything taken out surgically that I don't HAVE to have. Oh wait, I can still donate a kidney.
    My 58th birthday was July 29th. I had an extraordinary day. It was so great. Tom and the girls were around. Rich got me a beautiful cake and and Ipad. I love it. Tommy got me a beautiful house plant which I will probably kill. I will try hard not to. The other kids were busy but did call.
    I am especially looking forward to the 18th of this month. It will be our 40th wedding anniversary! I am so proud we have made it to this milestone. Sure we had our shares of ups and downs, but we always managed to  pull through them. Nothing special planned. We talked about going to a Casino in OK. Depends on whether Tommy could make arrangements for his girls to get their Mom to help out if we leave for a day or 2. Otherwise we'll just go out to a nice restaurant to eat dinner. Doesn't matter. I'm happy just to be with Richard.
   Well it is getting late. I feel better getting this off of my chest. Thanks for listening.

Wonderul Wed

Good Morning world! Thought I would do a quick entry even though I don't think I have much to write about. It's quiet right now. The girls (Shelby & Kenzie) are sleeping in.
      Richard is at the dentist. Talk about $$$$. He has pretty bad teeth. He grew up in a town witih terrible water, way too much flouride in it (I think that's the deal). Anyway it stained his teeth and nothing you can do about that. He had a couple teeth that were really bothering him and we talked about him getting dentures but of course the dentist said no, you don't need them. His bottom teeth are in pretty good shape. So they are doing some crowns and capping his front teeth and bleaching his bottom teeth. Our dental ins. isn't the best ever. And has  a $1500.oo cap per year. Our out of pocket will be a lot.. Gulp. I went for my cleaning  last week, MY dentist said I need two more crowns then my teeth should be in great shape. I just got a bridge on the bottom and he told me I MAY need an extraction. Sigh. I only have $500 left in benefits and I know that 2 crowns OR a bridge is going to be way more. Oh well. Guess I'll do what I have to do. Could be a lot worse.
     I'll be over at oldest son, Chad's house later this afternoon keeping his kids until 9 pm. Ashley who is 15 will be a lot of help. Hailey is 5 and of course there's the twins, Skylan & Caleb who are 2 now. If Tom doesn't make it home from work I will also still have Shelby & Kenzie. 6 of our 7 grands in one place!  I need to get all 7 of them at a photo studio and have their pictures made all together. Of course they are 7 of the best lookin kids you'll ever see. :) 
     I haven't been able to swim since the last time I was in the pool. I spent 4 hours in t he pool and even with sunscreen I got a sunburn. It was pretty bad on m face..I thought my daily moisturizer which has sunscreen in it would be fine. Apparently not. I'm ready to get back in the water.
    I just want to say...I am grateful for all the many blessings in our lives. So many people out there, friends, facebook friends, faamily members are going through SO  much right now. Illnesses, problems with family, money problems etc. I probably complain too much, but I know how blessed our family is. I want you to know, if you are reading this, that I pray for you and your familes. My heart is broken for the families and victims of the Aurora, CO mass shooting.
      That's all for today. Told  you I didn't have much to write about. Have a wonderful day.Hug your family tight if you can.

Hot Fun in the Summertime...

Well, I personally cannot believe that we are already halfway through July. School starts August 27th, I believe. Sheesh where does the time go?

I was out of commission for a couple of weeks in June. I had a toe where infection got into the bone. So oothe result of that: amputation. The dr didn't have to take the complete toe. It was a simple surgery. I was hardly in any pain. It had to be done. I had to use a walker for a couple weeks and couldn't go swimming of course.

I have been doing a LOT of babysitting. I keep our son Tom's daughters, Shelby and Kenzie when he works. And he's been working a lot. And our oldest son, Chad who also works for the railroad, works many odd hours. I babysat 5 of our 7 kids one day for 9 1/2 hours, That's a 10 yr old, 9 yr old, 5 yr old and the twins...2 urs old. OMG that was aa LONG day, but I love it. The next day it was just the twins and Hailey ( 5). Shelby and Kenzie spend a lot of nights here. This is their home away from home I would say.

When I'm not babysitting it seems the kids are all over here anyway swimming. Tom threw a swim party here for Mackenzie last Tues. There 18 kids and adults here. It's a lot of work when you are cooking and supervising that many people, but the adults watch their kids and Tom did all the work as far as cooking and cleaning up. Chad and his family are on their way over to swim right now. I love it when all the grands are here.

Just got back from grocery shopping. It was nice to just get out of the house. I am SO readdy for a road trip. OH! I forgot the big news. My DH, Richard retired from the BNSF Railroad. He retired 41 years to the day that hee started working for them! June 28. I am out of my mind happy to have him around all the time! We plan to travel some.He is building a tear drop trailer. He has the 55 tbird and will undoubtedly be working on it...not that it really needss anything right now. But if you know anything about "car guys" they are always tinkering with their cars. I'm glad he has hobbies.

Well I have rambled on enough for today. The kids will be here any minute to swim. Hope you have a lovely day.

Loving Life in Spring in Lubbock....mostly

Loving life this spring so far. It's been since the dead of winter since I posted. I never really feel like I have much to say. I should try to post more often. We're well into Spring and until the past week it was looking pretty dismal as far as "greening up." We're in the middle of a drought. There's been a burn ban and watering restrictions for months. Last week it rained. Finally that wonderful wet stuff falling from the sky. Gently for days. You could almost hear the earth sucking it up! It washed the dust off of everything and everything that was green just popped. Wilting flowers perked up. Yards turned deeper green. The burn ban has been lifted, but not watering restrictions. I just hope we continue to get the occasional rain now. It certainly lifted my spirits ... somewhat.
    I spent 4 days in the hospital at the end of February. I had lymphedema (swelling) in both legs and cellulitis in the left leg. I had have IV medications and bed rest. I hated it. It did the trick as far as the extreme swelling goes, but I've had to be on antibiotics twice again since. I have a huge wound on the bottom of my right foot .It's been there for months and very slow healing. (Diabetes is a curse.) I also got a blister on one of my toes and it got infected. Sigh. I just need to heal. If you pray...I could use a prayer or 2. Thanks.
     I am enjoying Spring. New life and all that. Looking forward to summer. I really am. I hopefully will be done with the dreaded dental work I've been having done a  bit at a time.  Hubby is supposed to retire. I sure hope he goes through with it. He is slowly but surely getting started on his teardrop trailer.  I'll post pics when there is something to post. He has the frame built and the wheels on it. He is working on the wooden pattern for the sides. I am anxioius to see how it comes along. Also, the girls (granddaughters) are ready to go swimming, so it is time for him to get the pool is swimming shape. Really all he needs to do is get the solar blanket on. With the temps we have been having, the water will be warm enough to swim in no time.
   I've been babysitting Tommy's girls a lot. He is working a lot so they're here. Love having them. On the day after Mother's Day, Rich smoked a brisket & some sausage. All our kids, with the exception of our DIL, Malizza were able to come over for dinner. All 7 of the grandkids were here and it was absolutely great. Ashley, our oldest granddaughter just finished Driver's Ed. She will be 16 in Oct. In TX the kid has to have their learner's permit for 6 mos before they can get their reg. license, so she won't get hers till the end of Oct.  I just can't belive I have a granddaughter old enough to be driving!!!
    Better end this for now. I have to get up in 6 hours to go to the Retina specialist for a checkup. Just another thing that goes along with the diabetes.
     Have a good one!!

Enjoying Winter

Enjoying Winter
Hi everyone. Just sitting here, a little bored. Thought I would take a few minutes and write a short entry. I am really enjoying the winter we are having. We have had a lot of cold days and a lot more snow than some parts of the North of us. We have also had a lot of MILD days. Like yesterday and today it got up to the mid 70s. Can't complain about that. I personally like the cooler weather, but hate ice, so I will take it as it comes and try not to complain. We had a great Christmas. It was white! All my kids and grandkids were here. Don't get to have them all over at once very often. The twins are ADORABLE....18 months and running all over the place. All the grands are beautiful. It was a great day.

Just finished a crocheting the 2nd of 2 baby afghans that I started this fall. I love to crochet,give most everything away that I make. And now need a new project. I will go to buy some yarn and inspiration will strike me there. I love having something started that I can pick up and put down as I see fit. DH is at work of course. It's dinner time. Can't decide on what to have. I'll figure out something. God, my life is exciting isn't it?

This week, I had two appointments. One for a dental cleaning and one with the Retina Eye Dr. I have diabetes and have thickening in the back of the eye. He keeps and eye on these little veins to make sure they don't start leaking or bleeding-in which case I'd have to have surgery. Plus I have small cataracts in both eyes. They are not ready to be removed. DH is thinking about retiring. I'm 6 1/2 yrs younger than him, so I won't be eligible for retirement yet. Then there is the health insurance to consider. With all my problems, we have to have GOOD insurance and now we do. So we're sit down and put pencil to paper to see how feasible it is this yeear. He wants to retire while he can still enjoy it. And I can't blame him for that at all. He is building a tear drop trailer to pull behind the 55 Tbird. Mostly it's just forcamping sort of. It's pretty small. He is also working on the Mustang. It has some kind of leak in it, I think the intake manifold. I don't know. I don't remember mechanical things very well at all. I'm sure glad he is handy. We save a lot of money on repairmen.

If you know Missie (her blog is What Comes Next), she is in the hospital with pneumonia and the possibility that she may have had a light stroke. She has had many many health concerns in the past year and I hope you will remember her in your prayers. I hope she has a speedy recovery. And keep our friend, Linda (Linda's world) in your thoughts. She lives up in the Seattle area and they have had a lot of snow and ice. Think I'll close this for now. Not a very interesting update, but update it is. Hope you all are staying safe wherever you are. I'm thinking of you!

Fun with Kids

Well, fall is here I think. A cold front came in last night along with wind & rain. The high is only supposed to be 45º today. I love it!! I do hope it warms up just a tad by Halloween for the trick or treaters' sake.
Which brings me to the fun we had yesterday evening witih my son Tom's 3 girls-Addi, Shelby & Kenzie. They went "Trunk or Treating." It was a church sponsored event where they have a large section of a parking lot marked off & people back their cars into their specified rows decorate their open trunks or wear costumes & kids go up & down the rows "trunk or treating." The kids have a safe fun place to trick or treat. Plus they have games, bounce houses & refreshments. We didn't get to stay as long as the girls would have liked as i had to pick up Chad's oldest Ashley, from band practice at her igh school. She's in marching band. She'll be marching in the Rose Parade Bowl next year. Ash plays the French horn.
Rain's picked up again. I just talked to Tom who's north of here near Amarillo. He said there was about 2'' of snow on the ground up there, I just checked the 5 day forecast for here. We are going to warm up to 70º over the next 5 days, I should have known fall wasn't here to stay. I just looked out & it's snowing! Big fat flakes, mixed with rain. But it's definitely snow.
That's about it for today. Hope you're warm & safe & dry where you are.

Long Time Comin'

Well, here I am over 10 months since my last entry. Blogger has changed so much I don't even know if I'll be able to post this entry. I am still not the most internet savvy person on the block. Not much has been going on really in the past 1o months. We're all a little older. Still have 7 grands and they are all growing like weeds. The youngest, the twins Caleb & Skylan are 1 6 mos. old. Growing up way too fast. Their oldest sister our oldest granddaughter, Ashley is a freshman in High School. Plays the french horn & is in marching band. She will be amrching in the next ROSE PARADE, next yr. We are very excited for her. The middle child, Hailey is 4 now and into gymnastics, dance and soccer.
Our baby, Tom, and 2 of his daughters had been living with us for 5 1/2 yrs. He finall y took the plunge and bought them a nice 3 bedroom house only a couple blocks awayfrom us. He works for the R.R. also so I babysit them when I need tol His girls are Shelby Kenzie & Addi. They are in 4th, 3rd and Kindergartern. It's different not having them here every night, but i am addjusting.
Oh our daughter, Robin took the marital plunge again for the 3rd and hopefully final time. they got married June 5th in Las Vegas. She married a real nice, hard working, wants to care of her, gentleman. A far cry from the first two she was married to, who wanted someone to take care of them. LOL Well, we had just bought a 2011 Ford Edge so we just decided to drive out there instead of fly. They had a real nice little ceremony and AJ's parents and grandmother, Aunt & niece were able to fly out as was our son Ton. It was really nice time for all of us.
In July I had another foot surgery. Another overgrown bone was rubbing a sore on the bottom of my foot so he had to take part of that bone out and voila` the sore has healed. It all has something to do with my diabetes and the peripheral neuropathy in both feet. The Dr had to change up some of my meds and I am happy to report that my blood sugar is well under control. Richard's too.
So that brings us just about up to date. I mostly do my networking on Facebook, where you can find me under the name of Barbara Whisman Miller.I would love to reconnect with more JLanders. Have a Happy Halloween.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A BLESSED 2011!!!
How was yours? Ours was great. We had a wonderful morning with ALL our kids here and 6 of our 7 grandchildren here. We had baked ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, scalloped potatoes, wheat & white dinner rolls, etc. Our oldest, Chad had to be at work at 230pm. They had to leave a little earlier than the rest of them. It was the best holiday in 2 years. Really. Things haven't been the greatest for a couple years. I won't go into in my Merry Christmas entry. I have done some things to make changes in my life to improve things. I hope at some point, feel well enough to expound on those changes. In the meanwhile, I hope you all had a Happy Christmas & we at the Miller household wish you a prosperous, happy & blessed 2011. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! We love you all!
Barb, Rich, Tommy, Shelby, Mackenzie & our pets, Jake, Frodo, Calli, Coral.

Post It Tuesday

I'm doing a new little thing I found over at Missie's Blog "What Comes Next." She got it form ADVENTURES OF A SUPAH MOMMY http://supahmommy.blogspot.com/2009/09/post-it-note-tuesday-what-will-you-say_21.html Her blog IS SUPAH and she sends you to the link to make your own post-its. You just save them to your computer then add them to your blog entry.I have been putting REAL-LIVE post-its all over this house & on computers, iceboxes, tvs, underwear drawers, washers, dryers, microwaves for probably 20 years. YES. In this house if you see a post it you By GOD better read it!!

Have a "SUPAH" Tuesday.

News of the Day

Hi everyone!
Sorry I haven't written in a while. I have the "usual excuses." The Holidays. Kids home. Family meals to prepare & feeling generally like doggie doo most of the time. Sigh. I think it's time for a check up.

We have had a lot more cold weather than usual for West Texas. It rained & rained the day before Christmas Eve then turned into snow and snow and more snow. And stayed COLD. We had about 6" or so. Not so unusual of an amount for here, but for it to hang around a week or so...is unusual. So we had our first really white Christmas in years. It was wonderful. Not so much for the girls when they saw the POGO stick that Santa brought them. LOL My honey got me a watch I wanted & Santa brought us a Keurig Single cup coffee maker. It makes the best coffee & there are SO many varieties. I really love it.

The best Christmas gift we got was before Christmas, in case any of you missed it. We found out that our oldest son Chad & his wife Malizza are having TWINS this summer!! We have five granddaughters now. Chad's daughters-Ashley is 13, Hailey is 2; Tom has Shelby-8, Mackenzie-6, & Addi who is 3. We found out today the twins are A BOY & A GIRL!!!!!! We couldn't be happier. God knows we want healthy babies. But with all granddaughters, we are tickled blue, so to speak to be getting a boy in the family to carry on the Miller name! AND for his Daddy, Uncles and Grampas to get out all the trains, cars, and skateboards for him. Of course some of our granddaughters like all t hat stuff so they shall all have a grand time together. They are due around July 9th, but Malizza thinks she might be a couple weeks further along. That is the due date they gave her by size and weight. Of course twins can often come earlier anyway, so she thinks it will be sometime in June. :)

The weather has started it's roller coaster cycle it was on before the holidays. Warm, then cooler, then COLD, then warming up to almost nice & the descent again. LOL that's fine with me as long as we get some precipitation occasionsally, and as long as THAT isn't ICE.Well that is all for tonight. It's nearly 5am & other than napping on the couch, I haven't been to bed yet, so I'd better hit the hay. I just wanted to say HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all and let you know I'm still around. I'll try to better about getting around to your Blogs. I go on Facebook a lot as it is a bit quicker. Take care & I'll try to keep you updated on "the twins!!" (I just love saying "the twins." LOL ) Love you all!!

Pain Pain go away

I hate to get on my blog and complain. So if you don't want to listen to me cry & whine log off now. LOL



I'm in PAIN. EXCRUCIATING,, DRIVING ME CRAZY, MAKING ME WANT TO FIND A VET WHO WILL PUT ME OUT OF MY MISERY. (They shoot horses don't they??)

I'm USED to pain. There isn't a pain pill in the world that will treat MY peripheral neuropathy in my feet completely. It hasn't been diagnosed, the pain in my hands but every one of my fingers and joints in my hands feel like needles & knife cuts from fingertips to the palms of my hands. I have taken 2 pains (2 hrs early). I WANT A DR WHO CAN HELP ME & WON'T STOP UNTIL HE DOES. I have 10 tiny ulcers on one foot. Not a good sign. One on the other foot that has been open for over a year and 2 that forming on the toes the Ortho Doc was supposed to have straightened last spring. They are more curled under than they were before. On 2 of the toes you cant even see my TOES NAILS. My toe nails touch the freaking ground.

My sleep is erratic and I know that this isn't helping me. I was awake till 6:3AM this morning. Slept till about 11. Napped a little this afternoon. My other son, Chad & his daughters, Ashley & Hailey were here or I wouldn't have gotten up when I did, so I'm glad I got up.


Well for those of you who read me on FB, you've heard the news that we are going to be Grandparents again. Our oldest son, Chad & his wife Malizza are expecting again. They have sweet precious Hailey who is two & will be almost 3 when new baby gets here. They also have 13 yr old beautiful Ashley. Malizza is a wonderful, generous Mother. I love her like one of my own. Sometimes I think she doesn't think that. Well, just last Wednesday, Chad & Malizza stopped by. She'd had an ultrasound. Malizza is a nurse. As the person giving the ultrasound was looking all around & asked if the were "ready for this?" Chad said "Is it a girl." Malizza said "No--there are 2 of them!" Malizza started crying & the ultrasound tech showed them their twins. TWINS. I cannot believe it. I am over the moon. They were shocked but I think they are pretty excited. Ashley looked like she might have been in shock a little herself the next day when I saw her. So we'll go from 5 granddaughters to SEVEN grandchildren & if God chooses, maybe a grandson or 2. LOL I am just praying for healthy babies & mom. Chad is still laid off the Railroad. He is probably going to have to go to another state & work a while (the RR has nationwide seniority), so he can keep up their health insurance. We have really good health ins. thank God.

Tom's ex (the one who has his 3rd daughter) & their half sister by her 2nd husband have moved back to Texas from Arizona (where HIS family lives). I hope it the correct decision for them. Morgan got a job with an ATT call Center. I don't know what Aaron is doing.The girls enjoying spending time with their sisters. Morgan & Aaron, Addi (Tom's daughter) & Sydbee will be living at Morgan's moms, with her Mother, and Morgan's 4 siblings that are live at home. Morgan is also pregnant with her 5th child. I hope it isn't too stressful for her , being pregnant. But it will be good for the girls to be all in the same town & see their sisters on a regular basis and for Tom to be able to bond with Addison.whom he has not been able to see but once in the past couple of years. She needs to know her Father is Tom & that Aaron, whom I am certain is a perfectly wonderful person is her step father. I hope my feelings don't upset Morgan, but it is the way that I feel. I would never badmouth her OR Aaron to the girls. We all have to get along so they feel loved and not pulled in one direction or another. I am praying this is all a part of God's plan. I know Morgan has always hated being away from her TX family (who doesn't hate being away from their family?). I hope this brings her peace & helps her have a healthy pregnancy.

Maybe all I needed to do was sit & put word to paper. If you can call blogging that. I am beginning to feel better or all the meds are starting to kick in. The only thing that is absolutely killing me is my head. I KNOW in my head that colds only lasts a few days to a week generally. Well, I feel like I am going on week 4 of a cold. I was really thinking I had it beat a few days & I'll be darned if I didn't wake up coughing & sneezing yesterday morning. And it was worse this morning. Kenzie had strep last week. She's on antibiotics. I hope none of the rest come down with anything this week. I just can't get as sick as i did last year. I can't go through THAT again.



My DVR is almost full & that annoys me. People tell me to DVR something for them, then they never come in to watch it. I DVR a lot of the shows I watch, especially in the shank of the evening with the girls getting their baths & getting ready to bed. You'd think they'd be winding down after a hard day at school or at play, but it seems they get this BURST of adreniline about 30 min before time to bed down. Kenzie has lost her first two baby teeth. She looks so precious. They are off a couple weeks for Christmas break. We will do a lot of coloring.
I've found the perfect way to get them brush their teeth appropriately longer. I tell them it's a contest to see who can get their teeth the whitest! Of course one girl wins every other night or so. Maybe even 2 nights in a row.Tonight it was a tie. They thought that was perfectly hilarious. Shelby is going to need braces & probably should be seeing the Orthodontist NOW. Robin (daughter) started going to the Orthodontist when she was 7 yrs old (Shelby is 8) & kept going till we was ohhh, I think 17.

We had all the kids & spouses over & some friends of ours, Friday night. It's been a tradition for years and years. Since our kids were all little. Last year was my year, but I had just gotten out of the hospital & there was no way i could get the house clean & cooking done. My dear friend, Rita said we'd do it at her house & do all the cooking. So this yr was my year. I fried chicken wings & tenders-left one batch plain, one BBQ, & one Buffalo style. Cocktail smokies in a crescent rolls. Tom took a sheet of mozarella cheese, laid it out with pastrami, salami, & re-hydrated sun dried tomatoes. Rolled it up jellyroll fastion this sliced them. Cruiditie tray with ranch dip. Baked a ham & some frozen rolls to make Ham slider sandwiches. Rich made 3 types of babyback ribs. Baked beans. I made a batch of peanut brittle & chex mix & Tom made choc covored pretzels. For dessert we had a Cheesecake factory cheesecake, a red velvet cake. Rita brought this pecan pie type dessert. I have GOT to get the recipe for that. It was a huge hit. WAY too much food. We sent home leftovers with everyone & have been eating ham all week. It was awesome. I got it at Sam's. It was a Member's Mark Boneless Spiral Sliced ham that came with it's own glaze. I cooked it in the crockpot. YUMMY. Best ham I have ever bought I think. I bought one for ham also & have a small turkey. I don't know if I will make both of them. I had enough food for the neighborhood. I honestly should have started knocking on doors & telling people to come eat!!!

I'm mostly done with Christmas shopping. Haven't wrapped a single gift. Helped box them up & my salvation, Tommy wrapped them. I don't know what I would do without him. When he moves out...whatever will I do. Oh I didn't mention...he's enrolled in school since he is still laid off the RR. He'll start next month. I think he is looking forward to it. I am so excited for him.

I got my last Christmas card written about 5a.m. today, then caught the end of a movie called Lakeview Terrace. Samuel L Jackson has an interracial couple move in next door to him and he DOES NOT LIKE IT. He played a divorced cop with a lot of psychosis. It was pretty intense 7 i couldn't go do bed even though it wasn't over till 6:15am!!

Well, it's just a few more days till the Jolly fat man in the red suit arrives. Do you have traditions that are special in your family at this time of year? I'd love it if you'd leave a comment or a link to a blog entry, sharing your tradition. We have a German tradition we learned from my hubby's parents who of German descent. It's hide the pickle on the Christmas tree. The one who finds it gets an extra present!! I have a glass pickle ornament, though in the old days they used a real pickle! Also, we usually have Christmas breakfast of cinnamon rolls, bacon & eggs if anyone wants those, hot cocoa & coffee. If I cook dinner we eat a late lunch/early dinner. Please feel free to leave me a comment or a link to a blog entry & tell me about some of your traditions at Christmas.

I know I haven't been by your blogs lately. I've been uber busy & uber lazy about blogger. I will try to get by your blogs soon. Please don't think I've forgotten any of you.

Also please let's all say a prayer for those less fortunate & those grieving right now. It's an awful thing to be ill or lose a loved one but especially sad we are preparing for a joyful celebration. My dear friend, Sandra in England who had to put down her beautiful lab, Jake from illness. She is grieving so. My son's best friend, who lost his Uncle this week. My son's close friend Lauryn who is going to college here in Texas, who is taking her 5 yr old lab, Bear back to California to put him down during her Christmas break who is also dying of cancer. I know there are many more out there need our prayers. I am thankful that so far this winter I've managed to stay as well as I can. And let's remember the reason for the season as we celebrate Christ's birth.

Thank you for stopping by my blog. I wish you the Merriest of Christmases & a joyful & bountiful 2010! Love you all.



And a very happy New Year!

Surprise! An Entry!

Another day, another dollar. For someone. Since I don't have a paying job. I was a stay at home Mom for most of the past 37 years. I worked a few temporary jobs. Tried my hand at owning a small business with a woman whose sanity I question than my own-and that's really saying something. LOL I think her demons are far more dangerous and damaging to other people.

I do wish I'd gotten a college education. Maybe that would have impressed upon my children how important it CAN be. Not necessarily everyone wants or needs it. I just loved learning & going to school. I wish I had. I know people older than me go back to school everyday. Not people like me.

So what's going on in your world. I haven't written in a while. Same shit, different day. Not really anything newsworthy to write about. It's just Tom & me during the day, most days-Rich is either at work or sleeping.Tom hasn't gotten called back to the Railroad yet. Not many have. Someone told them that Tom's class and the younger in seniority, probably won't be called back before 2013. He's still drawing his railroad unemployment. He is thinking about school. He HAS been painting. He has done some things I think he should put on Ebay. It's contemporary. Takes him no time to knock them out. I mean, you never know. It's exactly WHY the man should be taking more Art courses. And music. I saw one of his videos of him playing guitar & singing on YouTube & he plays at this bar on Sunday nights when they have Open Mic night. Last week he played guitar with the house band on Dire Straits, Sultans of Swing. Then the song he sang was by the Darkness. I don't know what the song was. Our daughter & her boyfriend went out there that night. She said he was like a star. Her eyes glistened as she told me how well he did & how proud of him she was. Rich & I will have to get a sitter & go out & watch him some night.

I'm SO aggravated. I had a lot more written & the "SAVE NOW" wouldn't work. I thought it had saved what I'd written & it was getting late so I went to bed. It only saved what I'd first typed. Typical blogger.

I'm not one to send out every cartoon, email, prayer, or joke that I receive in my mailbox, but on occasion I do send along a few occasionally. If I've ever send out too many then yes, I hope that you'll let me know. However, last week a got a letter from someone I thought was an Internet friend. She very coldly said she no longer wanted to receive any emails (forwards) from me. That was it. I went to check her blog & found that she shut it down and went private without so much as a fuck you very much. I always felt kind of dumb when I read a lot of her entries. She's obviously well educated & it showe. A tad cool, but I thought it was her manner. Her entries were great & I really enjoyed them. I am just really shocked. I had no idea I had inundated her with so much garbage. Oh well. People come & go. It's not like we were going to high tea every day.

The H1N1 flu is starting to make the rounds here also. My granddaughter sat next to someone in church who had it & was sick in a couple of days. Her (step)Mom, an RN, took her & had her tested to see if she had it & she didn't but DID miss 3 days of school, so she was REALLY sick. I sure wish they'd get more vaccine in. I haven't even gotten my regular flu shot but am afraid to go to the Drs office with all the sickies!

Halloween week is upon us. My son & the girls LOVE it and have already been decorating. Got new costumes. Shelby Kay's 8th birthday is the 30th and they're going to a church lock in that night. Our plans for her birthday was for her to take a friend or 2 & go to Mall, get Shelby's ears pierced, get new outfit & eat pizza at the Mall. However since the lock in is that night and I don't know how much her ears will other her, I may see if we can just do the Mall thing on another day. The next day being Halloween-still not sure about doing it on that day. It would probably be OK. She's going to be a devil-has a sparkly sequined dress...SO cute & Kenzie (6) is going as an angel. They look SO cute.
Not much else of note to write about. Big Texas Tech FB game vs. Texas A & M tomorrow. Wish us luck. Home game sold out & NOT on TV. I am NOT a happy camper. I told Rich it was the one game I wanted to go to & couldn't get him to commit. I guess it'll be on the radio. Just wish I was gonna be there. Oh well. Wreck em TECH!!

Y'all have a GREAT weekend-wherever, whoever you are. LOL

Mad at the Internet

I had been having terrible wireless connection issues. Our Internet connection would drop off just enough to break the connection then come back on. After a several attempts at fixing it, we thought perhaps we would by a new router. That was several days ago & had not lost our connection ONCE in the past few days. Today it has been a holy terror to do ANYTHING. I don't know if it' is a server issue (which I believe it to be) . I have tried to catch up on my face booking and kept getting error after error there. I decided to come over to Blogger to catch up and cannot post any comments. It just cannot be me. I am just venting.
I need to get off the computer and go to bed anyway. I have my days and nights mixed up again.

My poor DH is working his arse off. He's spending all his time on the trains or at the other end of the line. That gets old REAL fast. He needs to keep working as I just realized it is 3 mos. until Christmas.

Today would have been my beautiful late mother in law's 96th birthday. She passed in January. There are not enough words to convey the love, the strength, the wisdom, the inspiration that this beautiful (and she truly was) imparted on her family. She is well loved and missed mightily. I hope she is heaven feeling no pain. Having cake and a party. I feel her love, guidance & protection smiling down on us all. Richard's equally beautiful 72 yr old sister has found love again. She has been a widow for years. Before her husband passed, he'd had a severe stroke & was totally dependent upon her. She cared for him in their home for years. Nearly breaking her back (and her spirit) as she loaded him in and out of the car, the tub , the chair, etc. He passed then she took care of their mother, driving her to DR appointments, making sure she was getting her groc. & meds and being taken care of. She got little help from any one else. All this time working a full time job. Anyway, Mary (my sis in law) has been dating a retired railroader and she is as giddy as a school girl. I've not seen her so happy, well, EVER. I am praying that this man will be good for her and that if this a match that they have many happy years together. They dine out, they go for drives, they go out DANCING! I LOVE it. I am So happy for her.

ht? Also a quick commentary on the Mackenzie Philips book that came out this past week. Love her or hate her, you have to give her her dues. I believe her story. I can't believe that the poor girl coughed up all this crap about an affair with her father. She & her ghost writers could have come up with it, but I tend to believe. I believe if she wanted to sensationalize her life she could have done it some other way.

Well, it's 5am. Guess I'll call it a day. Or should I call it a night.
Have a good week every one.

That Crazy Drive Home

Any of you who read my blog (which is obviously fewer and fewer as time goes by) know that I have wild & crazy dreams and oftentimes horrible violent nightmares. Well, last night was just a crazy dream. It had a little bit of EVERYTHING in it. It started out with Richard & I taking a walk (something we used to do, but rarely do anymore). After we walked about an hour, we decided to stop in the local watering hole for a drink. Now one thing about my dreams, I was raised in a little town in KS. I live in a fairly good size town in Texas now. So some things take place in KS but are here in Lubbock. The two intermingle often. The bar was in Anthony, but it was in Lubbock. I know-hard to make sense of. Back to the dream. Neither one of us was dressed for an evening out & a lot of our friends were there. They wanted us to eat dinner & party with them. Richard offered to walk home, get changed, get the car, come back & I could run home & change & come back. We weren't that far from home. He should have been gone maybe 45 min. He didn't come back. He was gone an hour. Didn't come back. I take off and walk our usual route and back to the bar. Never saw him. Walked back to our house. My brand new Lexus convertible (which is what I want now, but I know I'm not gettin-LOL) was gone, so I knew he'd been there. I changed clothes, walked back to the bar went in looked the whole place over & there he was back at a huge round table with a bunch of people. When I asked him where he hell he'd been, it was apparent he'd had a lot to drink. He laughed & said "I've been here the whole time! Saw you come in 3 times. I just wanted to see how long you'd look for me." Well, I was pissed, but what good does it do to argue with someone who's drunk. I sat down & had a couple drinks. My brother was there. We all had dinner & were having a pretty good time. I suggested we go back to our house. We had a new house too. (Don't know where that came from as I don't want nor need a huge new house. LOL ) So we are paying out & Richard, dear hubby, says, "Don't get mad, but you probably won't want to drive the car home." Of course I storm out to see what is wrong with it. I see a few little bumps and the rear passenger side & think to myself, that's not so bad. He pulled me back to rear and the whole driver's side & back end were crumpled. I was FURIOUS. Of course my drunk hubby is all apologetic. (He is not a drunk in real life. In fact for him ever to have a beer is a rare occasion because of the random drug testing at his job.) He's pretty funny, and for some reason, I can't stay mad at him. We went back in the bar & the waitress says she can't let any of us drive home anyway, we're all too intoxicated. She said for a quarter a piece she has a safe way to get us home. Of course no one but me has any money. For some reason I have a change purse full of dimes. So I pay 30 cents for every one. The waitress comes back with a steering wheel and screws it into the table. She hits a button and the wall where we're sitting opens like a garage door. The barstools attach to the table and she gives it a shove and we're rolling outside. Now, I've never driven a table home, & I'm asking her how I'm supposed to drive this?! She says "There is no reverse so you will have to turn it all the way around to change directions." When you need to stop, everyone has to drag their feet." I am cracking up. It has to be a joke. Next thing I know I'm driving a 6 foot diameter wooden table Flintstone mobile, with crowded barstools filled with friends and relatives down 82nd Street. A 7 lane major street with a speed limit of 45 mph. Probably going about 20 mph. All the while I'm thinking I must be dreaming. (I was. LOL) We get to this huge house. Gorgeous house. WAY out of our real world league. The evening went on and everyone was swimming, having a good time. My brother, who has a full grown son who is severely autistic, was asked how old Matthew is. Larry said he was 16. (Matt can swim but in the dream was swimming & diving like an Olympian.) I said "Larry, he's 33." Of course he argued with me. LOL I told him that his son & my son Chad were 3 yrs & 3 min apart and Chad JUST turned 36 (THAT is a reality fact.LOL)
Larry didn't have anything to say for a change (not a reality based fact.He ALWAYS has some kinda comeback! ) There were other silly things like the dogs we had (3 large black labs) swimming then jumping in the hot tub. A round bar table parked in a driveway from a town in Kansas at house in Texas.

That is a far cry better than some of the dreams I have been having. Some very disturbing and scary dreams. What I remember most about this dream is that I felt happy and lighthearted...something I am not most of the time. Inside anyway. I can put on a good face.

This cat is driving us nuts. When I got up this morning, all the doors in the house were shut except mine. I heard Calli outside crying to get in. A cold front blew through last night. I think it was about 55 degrees. I guess she thought it was cold. LOL It was a little chilly, but felt SO good. I let her in & she runs straight down the hall to WHAT? Yes. This wasn't a gift. It was what was left of a meal. A massacre. A sparrow....or something that had feathers. UGH. I don't know if she ate all of it or drug in part of it. All that was left was a part & a lot of feathers. OMG. I'm so sick of this. I am afraid she is going to bring in a disease or catch something. It's just too disgusting. Tom is sick of it. I know the girls like the cat, but she won't let you like her. Maybe she should just be a farm cat. Get the girls a kitten they can raise that will love them like they would love her. I don't know.

No pics. Just wishing you a good night/good morning.

Sunday

Just a quiet, cloudy calm day. Tom's been doing some laundry & cleaned his room, the girls cleaaned theirs. I've got roast, carrot & potatoes in the oven. Can't wait till it's ready.

Seems Tom has a secret admirerer. Last night someone left a long stemmed yellow rose & a card on the windshield of his car. He thinks he knows who it is.

It's mostly cloudy. You can feel the seasons changing. Even in the daytime, but especially at night. The wind rusting through the elms and maple leaves that are dying. It'll take an especially cool night to get the rest of the trees turning. That won't be long though. I'm ready for autumn. It's my favorite time of year.

When I was 4 and my mom went to work in the local Rexall Drugstore, I needed a sitter of course. There was a mexican family, friends of my parents. I was raised in a very small town. I believe there were 3 hispanic families, and 2 black families. It was a time when prejudices ran very high in this country. But not in our little town. There was no segregation (that I can recall) and we all played together. The Durans, Jo(sephine) specifically & Ab(elino) the parents the family that took me in after school. A lot of weekends. They have 5 kids Lola, Linda & Lydia (twins) Cecilia (my age) & Tony-the only boy 2 yrs younger. They became my 2nd family. My home away from home. My 5 siblings I had other than my only brother. Jo was my sitter from age 4 till 3rd grade. They were Catholic & back then they didn't eat meat on Friday. We were stictly beef & chicken & a little pork people. LOL So Mama Jo would fix ME a piece of fried chicken on Friday, or a sandwich. Cecilia would be SO mad because she had to eat fish and she did NOT like fish either. Poor Sis. Our big "sisters" taught us dance. To jitterbug. To do the dances of the day. They had wooden floors. I LOVED sliding around the floors in our stocking feet. Mama Jo would push the dining room table to the windows so we'd have the whole dining room to dance. Some train tracks ran behind their house. Cece & I would walk for hours down the tracks. Walking sticks in hand. Hunting turtles and horned toads. Jo always told us to get very far away from any passing trains as the train would suck us under them. LOL I had some of the very best times of my lives with my mexican family. Daddy Ab would always talk to Jo & the older girls in spanish. He wanted us younger kids to learn. Cece & Tony could understand a lot, but didn't speak much at all. We probably all know about the same about of Spanish that we had to take in school. Well, Jo passed away some years ago. When I went back to KS after I married in 1972, I often went to their house, as Cecilia & her young son (she married while we were in HS) were usually there. When she moved away and her Mom got so sick-I kind of stopped going to their house. It killed me to see that vital, strong energetic woman so sick. I always saw Ab "uptown". Either at the drugstore having coffee. Or if I had to go to the post office, I'd stop in the Gas Office if his truck was there and say hello. After Jo died, he rarely stayed home. Too lonely I guess. I'd see him somewhere. He never stopped sending us a Christmas card. I never lost the love or closeness I felt for them. Ab's health has been failing for years. But he fought it. The last time I saw him was in Vegas in 2oo6 when a bunch of people from Anthony went out on a charter & Rich & I went out because my brother & sisterinlaw were going and I knew Cece & her hubby from WA and Tony would be there. I never dreamed that Ab would be there and he saw me in the hall of our hotel first!! BARBARELLA!! He had called me Barbarella long before the movie came out. I was thrilled beyond thrilled that he was able to make that trip. I was so happy to spend time with my second family. Well I dont know how I never got informed that Ab had taken a turn for the worse in July. He passed at the end of last month. I didn't find out until the day before the funeral. I was totally devastated. It was like losing my father again. Cecilia and her husband have been inundated all summer as they made the move from Washington state to Texas and had a house built and had to move again. I just wish I had known. Living 500 miles from your hometown and having only my brother & brother inlaw that I stay in touch with basically, kinda sucks. I found Tony on facebook, so maybe I can catch up with the goings on up there a little more.

I'm sure you all are wondering what our huntress Calli has been up to? I can't remember if she had brought in the dead mouse that was in full rigor in my last entry. Since then she hadn't brought anything in. Tom caught her with a dove, but stopped her before she got it in the house. Well, she never came in this evening. She comes home usually about 8:30-9:00pm. I called her several times, Rich called her several times. We looked in the house in the places she usually sleeps. I never found her. She has bells on her collar (unless she's lost yet another one.) I never heard her come in. About 10 or so, I thought I heard her collar bells so I went back into the girls room. She sometimes hides under the bed. Sure enough, there was Calli. Curled up at the head of the bed on Shelby's pillow. I had a flashlight. THANK GOD, because right in the middle of the floor was a small decapitated rat. And some other"stuff" I won't describep- too graphic. I took photo to show Tom, but I'll be damned I cannot find my camera now. I guess someone didn't want me posting that picture on my blog!!! Poor Rich he had to clean it up and he is not good with bloody animals, vomit, and poopy diapers....things of that nature. LOL You never saw a man who could change a poopy diaper SO fast because he was holding his breath the whole time. LOL

Why can't I have an entry full of flowers and happy thin Gs-instead of blood and gore. And Halloween is coming. Tom's favorite time of the year to decorate. Maybe I should start hanging Calli's kills from the front porch. EWWWW!

Getting late, as usual. Started this entry on Sunday evening & finish it on Monday mnorning. Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and are enjoying the movement into Autumn.
Love you all.

Just an entry because I haven't done one in a while.

Typical night(Fri night/Sat a.m) in our household. Me, sitting alone in my little corner. Trying to find a crime show on TV since none of my regular shows are on or they are in rereuns. I'm not TOTALLY alone. DH is in HIS little corner of the house on HIS computer watching yet another movie that he's already seen a dozen times. The dogs are asleep in their cave (under my bed), where they spend most of their lives. Jake is doing better since his surgery but still walking slowly & with a limp. Doesn't act like he is in pain. Glad for that.


The girls (Shelby & Mackenzie are here also, but sound asleep.) Tom & one of his good frineds have gone out to one of the local clubs to watch one of their favorite local bands play. Tom is such a music fan. He plays the guitar well. He likes a lot of different kinds of music too. I think that makes a musician better at what he does. He had a birthday Wednesday, the 2ND. My "baby" is 28. We took him out to eat the night before his birthday, because we figured he would have plans with his friends the next night.


Oh and we have a new "pet". Tommy bought Shelby & Kenzie a Betta fish. His name is Charlie. Tom is such a good Dad. Tom takes them to park often. Swims with them. Both the girls are already doing front and back flips into the pool. He always makes sure he has plenty of time for them.



We also have a new member on my side of the family. My nephew, Mark (my brother's son) and Juliana have a new baby boy born Aug 31. His name Ian and he came into the world weighing 9lb 7 oz. 20 1/2" long. He is a beautiful baby (they live about, oh 700 mi. north of us. So of course I have only seen photos. Ian has a big brother Isaac. I think he's going to be 2 on Oct 31st. They are really going to have their hands full.



For those who don't follow along on Facebook I'll fill you in on what our "kitty" Callie has been up to. Last week one night she brought in a big freakin RAT. Yes, I said it- R A T! Thank GOD it was dead. I was the only one at home/awake at the tine. I put it in a shoe box and put rubberbands around it and put it in the outside garbage. She also brought in a young (very ) blue jay. I aso got to pick it up & get rid of it. A couple of nights after the rat, it was a small, not yet quite dead mouse. She took it straight into the girls' room & it got loose under their bed. The girls were asleep but I wasn't about to lose that mouse. Calli captured it again & it got loose & managed to escap under a beach towel. Luckily I have an expandable lightstick (like an antenna) with a maagnet on top of it. I'm whispering (loud & panicky for Tom to grab the beach towel. Which he did & caught le` mouse. LOL It was nearly dead by then, so he had to put it out of it's misery. This morning after the girls were gone to school-everyone went back to sleep for a nap. Rich was zonked out in the bed. Tom was crashed in his. I had JUST drifted off on the couch I'm so tired lately but afraid to sleep too much during the day. Anyway I hear Calli coming in; a whole lot of commotion and BANG something hitting the back door. Well, dear huntress had brought in an un-dead dove. It flew down the hall, hit the wall and turned and flew back into the "BAM" back storm door. There was dove blood on the wall in the hall and about a bushel of feathers strewn from one end of the house to other. Rich got up & disposed of half dead bird. I don't know what he did with, but told me it wouldn't be escaping again. Is there ANY way sure way of stopping a cat from hunting--other than keeping her held hostage, please let me know. I am personally tired of being the one that has to uhm, dispense her "gifts." LOL

We have no "Labor Day" weekend plans. Rich cooked some awesome babyback ribs the other night. So we won't be having ribs. Texas Tech is playing some non conference nobody (to me)school and it looks like rain, so we probably won't be going to that & it's not on TV. We're invited to a big party at a friend's house--the problem in that is he lives in California and we live in Texas...but ONE of these days we'll make it. His parties are "epic" I hear.

We had glorious rains Thursday night and Friday morning one HECK of a thunderstorm. It was raining, thundering and lightning like the end of the world. The girls were waiting on the front porch for Tom to pull the van into the drive and one of those instant over head thunders BOOMED so loud it shook the windows. Kenz was so startled she started to cry. It WAS a pretty awesome sound. We needed the rain so desperately though. One of the thunders at the beginning of the storm sent Calli across the backyard like a blur. LOL No problem getting her to come in the house the first time Shelby called her then!!

If you're having a big barbecue/party this weekend...please be safe.
Love you all. Enjoy this last weekend of summer.

Vacation-Otherwise known as a week away from home.

Well, I pissed & moaned till I got a vacation-well, a week away from home. Yes, it was my idea to take Tom & the girls. I wanted to go to San Diego to Sea World. We DO have one in San Antonio but the humidity down there is killer. SO it was decided we'd go west. Problem was, Jake's (our dog)surgery. He didn't do as well as we had thought he would do. The 2 main things were, he wasn't coming out of his hiding place and he was not eating (or pooping). It had been 3 days. Finally Rich made steak on the grill that 3rd night & he sure came out & sat at the table with us then. We waited a few more days until was sure he would be able to get in & out of the doggie door & he would eat something other than steak or can dog food. I guess we left last Tuesday.

We drove to Flagstaff, AZ and spent the night there. From there we drove to the Grand Canyon. It was my 2nd time there. OMG, if that isn't proof there is a God, then nothing is. We saw so much more there than the landscape too. On the way in we saw mule deer on the side of the road. Birds, insects, chipmunks and this cool squirrel. Like no other I'ver ever seen. I haven't uploaded his pic. I hope it comes out. I wasn't sure how the girls would react to the whole "grand scheme" of things. Shelby was especially taken by it. Poor Kenzie had a pretty bad foot blister & we all know how distracting foot pain can be. Shelby loved pointing out things & showing us ALL things we might not have seen. We got to see some Native American dancing. I did well walking in sneakers, but I have TERRIBLE balance & nearly fell on my ass a few times. LOL I even scared EVERYONE around me and that is when I decided to stay far back from the edge. I had more hands grabbing for me than at a Brittney concert. LOLOL Back on the road again to drive back down towards the Phoenix area. I wasn't feeling good that night. It wasn't that warm at the Canyon. I don't think it was the heat.

To tell ya the truth I don't even know where we were at. Some suburb of Phoenix. Tom called his ex-wife, Morgan to tell here we were AZ and when did she want to get together & see Shelby & Kenzie. And let Tom spend some Time with Addison (Addi). We told her we would be in Phoenix the next day & they recommended a hotel near her husband's parents'. As soon as we pulled in and checked in, Morgan, her hubby Aaron, Addi & their baby Sydnee (Shelby & Kenzie's half sister whom they hadn't met yet) were there in about 5 minutes!! It was a nice reunion for them right there. Morgan was emotional. Happy to see her girls all together-bittersweet for her, as she had suffered a miscarriage. I was happy that we were able to get them together as I know how hard it was for her. They all went on to Morgan & Aaron's and Rich & I stayed in & cooled off, as it was 116 that day!

Shelby & Kenzie got to spend the night with them then Mogan brought them back to the hotel the next day around 11am. They went swimming a while then all of us went to a Mall. It was a a very nice mall & we had fun shopping, eating lunch & the girls had an absolute blast playing in the Children's playground area. I teared up once while we were eating. It was Morgan, Tommy, their 3 daughters and Rich & I and I thought...this is how it should have been. I know, I know. That is selfish of me. But I still wish things could have worked out. Yes she broke Tommy's heart but she gave us 3 beautiful girls that are extensions of our family. How can we not still have feelings for her. I still feel the same for Chad's wife. Ashley's mother. Yes, I love Chad's wife now and I adore their daughter Hailey but his first wife gave us our first grandchild. She will always have a little corner in my heart too. Anyway, it is what it is. They were over 21. I still think it's too damned easy in this country to get a divorce.

That 2nd night, Richard & Tom went to the Cheesecake Factory & got me a slice of "Stefani's special Red Velvet Cheesecake" since I didn't have a birthday cake (the 29th). If you haven't had it (and it was first experience) it was 2 layers of cheesecake layered with 2 of regular red velvet cake. The top & sides were iced with buttercream icing & the sides were coated with small white chocolate curls. O M G. It was HUGE. WHY there isn't a Cheesecake Factory in this town is beyond me. There was NO way I could eat it all so I had the rest for breakfast. Not very good for a diabetic, but I was being good most of the time. LOL

The next day it was on to Las Vegas. At that point....I was feeling like doggie doo. We got to Vegas on a Friday of course. Hotels being higher then than any other time, but it was just how the timing of the trip turned out. I also hate Vegas on the weekend because there always seems to be twice as many people there. Rich, Tom & the girls went running around a little then brought them back. I stayed in the room with a VERY VERY upset stomach and they went to gamble. Rich came back and Tom came in late. The next day we all took turns going out and about. We all went over to the Mandalay Bay to their Aqaurium. We had lunch at a very nice Mexican Restaurant. The girls loved the Aquarium and especially touching the sting rays and horseshoe crabs. It was truly fun. It was too hot though. I did some gambling while the guys and girls went downtown. We were staying at the Excalibur on the south end of the Strip. I went back up to the room and waited on them to come down. Tom & I gambled some a little later. None of us did very good. Rich came out ahead I think. I had been stashing some cash for gambling and came home with some of it. While Tom, Rich & the girls were out and about Richard bought me a white leather purse and I love it. He hadn't gotten me anything really for my birthday, but I told him I didn't expect him too since we were on the trip. He knows I have been shopping for a white leather purse and for him to take the time to go into a hotel and go shopping for me...well that was pretty darn special. AND I LIKE IT! LOL He wanted to stay another day or two, but I was just worn out & ready to go home. Usually he has to drag me outta Vegas. I have to admit I was a little worried about Jake (Frodo too) but my daughter & her boyfriend were coming to the house at least twice a day. We got home and the doggies were SO happy to see us. The cat, Calli, not so much. It was SO funny. She was in the front yard & she would not let ANYONE touch her--except Tommy. Not knowing a lot about cats, I think that is pretty understandable. She IS HIS cat.

Oh my gosh, my hibiscus' bloomed while we were gone. I guess we had some wild weather & quite a bit of rain while we were gone. I have had many hibiscus and they have always been beautiful. I ordered these from QVC....5 of them. Only 3 of them survived-they were approximately 4" high when we got them about 3 months ago. Now they are between 3 and 4 FEET high. In the past my biggest blooms were over 6". The SMALLEST of these blooms are about 8 1/2" and the largest was 10". I was FLOORED. I have never seen ANY flower that large.

Richard had extended our privacy fence from the back of the house to the front on the west side. For more strorage & probably putting one of his classic cars there to store and/or work on. He had been putting an aluminum roof on it and 2 of the pieces blew off during one of the storms while we were gone. Heard we had 80 mph winds that night. I'm surprised it didn't rip the tomatoes clear out of the ground. But they are doing great. In fact we had some in our salads last night.
Well it's good to be home. I'm feeling better. I got on some prilosec. I used to take it and when I ran out of it a while back, I just never took anymore. I have been getting increasing heartburn so I am back on it and it has helped so much. I've gotten some good sleep and am glad to be sleeping in my own bed. However the first place we stayed in only had a 2 bedroom suite with a living room, kitchen/dining room and that place had the most awesome mattresses and nicest sheets I've slept on in years. I believe I could have a spent a week in that bed. LOL

Getting late & I want to try to get some photos on here & on facebook.
Glad to be home. I'll try to get round to your blogs as I go alone.
Love you all. (Can't find the squirrel pic. Will try to find it. LOL) Hugs & Goodnight!!

Update on Jake, our Maltipoo

I'm so sad tonight for our little guy. He had his knee surgery this morning (Wed). He is hurting SO much. The inscision is about 8 inches long. So much longer than I thought it would be. The Vet said he should be up walking around tomorrow (Thurs). He did limp around a couple times. Richard carried outside & it was raining very lightly. After a while, Jake just laid down in the grass. I don't know if the damp,cool grass felt good or if he was just too worn out to get up and go back to the house. Rich had to carry him in. I had to bring his water dish to him. Bless his heart he was SO thirsty. I'm praying so hard for a speedy recovery for him. He also has been put on diet. I KNOW that feeling. And he is NOT going to like it. He lost 3 lbs since he hurt his knee, so I have a feeling he will lose some more in the next week, easily. He hasn't touched his food bowl. He wouldn't even take his pills with bits of hot dog.
Speaking of cool and rainy days. The past 3 days have been hot, then at night thunderstorms with nice rain. Last night it started raining in the middle of the night and it has been raining off and on all day. Wonderful slow 70 day with gentle, steady rains that this part of the country needs oh so desperately. Thank you God. Please get well, little buddy.

July Birthdays & Summer Fun

Well, July is well over half gone. We've had a few birthdays to celebrate and wish Happy Ones to. Let's see, our nephew Andy (Richard's sister's son) had a birthday on the 4th!! What a day to have a birthday to celebrate!

Richard's other sister, Pauline (Polly) had her birthday on the 6th. HAPPY BIRTHDAY POLLY! She lives in Missouri but she will be out her (TX) in August. We're anxious to see her.

Our #3 granddaugher (Tom's middle girl) turned 6 on the 11th. Our little 7-11 girl born at 1:11p.m. They were living in Colorado when she was born. They called about 6am to let us know that Morgan (ex daughter in law) was in labor. We drove like crazy people hoping to get there in time. I think we missed it by about an hour & 1/2. I was just getting over a foot surgery of course. But I got to stay a week with the kids. Shelby was just about 22 mos at the time. I was thrilled to be there that week. Though I think I drove Morgan nuts. We had a luau this year for Kenzie's birthday. Tommy did all the work. I did make her tiki hut cake (but I had to let him try out making some of the icing "leaves" on the roof. He did fantastic! I believe he'd be a natural at cake decorating! He made chicken & beef kabobs on the grill. There was fruit kabobs along with the other food, cake & ice cream. He even saved sparklers for the kids to do after dark. On a sad note, our almost 6 yr old maltipoo, Jake jumped off our daughter's lap that night & injured his left hind leg. It was a weekend & our vet refers weekend patients to the Emergency Animal Clinic. One of the very reasons that I am thinking seriously about changings Vets. They didn't even xray Jake's leg. I didn't go, but I should have. Rich should have insisted they xray the leg. They diagnosed it as a bad pull or tear of a ligament. Said there is an expensive operation to repair it but was only 50/50 that it would be a success. So what, he is supposed to limp all his life. We delayed taking him to the regular Vet as he seemed to really be iproving over the next couple of days. Then Wed. the trash truck came down the alley. HIS alley (he thinks-LOL). Jake HAS to run out and bark at him, which he did & I KNOW aggrivated his leg again. He is putting weight on it when he walks now & you can touch the leg without him crying or jerking away, so he is better. I still want to take him to Vet though for a REAL diagnosis.

Our #5 granddaughter, Hailey Rae (Chad & Malizza's daughter) had her 2nd birthday, July 17th. They had her birthday at Chuck E Cheese Pizza. The kids had a blast. Hailey seemed to really enjoy herself. We got her a tricycle, though I haven't gotten to see it in action. LOL I also got her an outfit & 2 pair of earrings. I love the pizza there & I don't know why I never think to get one from there. So the only time I get it is at a birthday party! LOL Her birthday party theme was Blues Clues and her cake (from a bakery) was a very cute one with "Blue" (a dog for those of you who don't watch Blues Clues) on it. And tasted SO good. Malizza, if you're reading this---Have Chad send me some birthday party pics. I know the ones I took with my phone aren't the greatest. I'm not even sure I know how to get them on the computer, though I'm sure one of my kids does. LOL

Last of the birthdays this month, will be mine. Big Whoop. I'll be (cough cough) 55 on the 29th. Rich will be on vacation and I hope the hell we'll be out this town. I haven't had a vacation in 3 years and I BETTER get one. I want to go to San Diego. He wants to go to Vegas. I HATE Vegas in the summer. The LAST time we were there was one of the hottest summers on record - of COURSE! I got so sick from the heat, walking around. I told him, a stopover in Vegas wouldn't be out of the question as long as I get to park my ass in front of a slot machine or Pai Gow poker table. LOL There's some show going on out there he wants to see. IF we can even get tix. I don't know.

That's about all I know for now. I'll try to add some photos to this entry. My computer crahsed while I was uploading the ones from my camera. Ahhhh technology. LOL Have a good week!!

(I think if you hold your cursor over the photo it tells who or what's in the photo)