Bless It

When you are from the South, you will use the phrase "bless your heart" more times than you realize. Occasionally, we say this and actually mean that we understand, we feel your pain, and/or we just get it. However the majority of the time, we are really saying,  "That fool is so screwed.", or "Yes, screw you very much too."

This is me and July. We have a complicated relationship. If you are in any kind of proximity to me in the month of July, I apologize. More often than not, I do a little happy dance when August 1st rolls around.

July has its fair share of good. We've got births. Both of my daughters were born in July. My friend, Cam, gave birth to a little girl in July. Another old friend had a son in July. Hell, the birth of our nation took place in July.

But we also have deaths.

Remember my friend, Cam? Her daughter, Brooklyn, also passed in July, the 23rd, her birthday. My grandmother passed on July 6th, 2007. One day (and a few years) away from my youngest's birthday of July 7th, 2011. My grandmother loved to go to the casino riverboats so when she passed on 7/6/07, we kind of joked that she almost got that jackpot. Then my youngest was born on 7/7/11 at 11:17am. I knew my grandmother was there. Both of my husband's grandmother's passed in July. One on the 10th, one on the 25th, which happens to be my oldest daughter's birthday too. Most recently, my niece, Kiana, took her own life. On July 23rd. The day my best friend gave birth to and lost her first daughter. Two days later, on my oldest daughter's birthday, my brother lost his childhood best friend to liver cancer.

My niece, Kiana.

I swear I can't make this shit up. And it doesn't get better...

This one time, my friend and her husband and son decided to pack up and move to the peachy state of Georgia. They were back in less than 24 hours because when they arrived at the new rental home, it was falling apart. To the point that there was no way they could stay even one night.

We went camping last year and squirrels ate a hole through our tent to get hot cocoa mix. There was squirrel shit everywhere. Not to mention, it was also 100F in the shade the entire week and we had severe storms. Every day!

Last week, my dad packed up a small bag and headed to Florida. It's about a 15 hour drive from our place to where my brothers live. He originally thought he would leave around 3 or 4 o'clock because it's easier to drive straight through at night. He was ready to go by 11am though so he left out around 11:30am. At almost 4pm, my phone rang. He was stuck. In Chattanooga. Still 10+ hours from his destination. So after my husband had been at work for 10 hours, he got home, did a quick clothing change, and we headed back out. We borrowed a trailer big enough to load up my dad's vehicle, but realized after looking for 30+ minutes and several phone calls, that the ramps my husband just made specifically for the work trailer last week... had been sold by the office manager. So we had to track down ramps before we could leave. We get to Chattanooga and the truck is running fine. He thinks getting caught in a many miles long traffic jam must have messed up some sensor... yada, yada. He follows us home because we failed to realize this trailer HAS NO LIGHTS.

Eight-ish hours later we roll back into Bowling Green. It's 2am. My dad is about to pass out. So we stop at Waffle House, Chris goes home. My dad and I have breakfast and coffee at 2am at a Waffle House that is surprisingly hoppin' for the hour. There were even a couple of guys playing guitars and banjos singing Johnny Cash songs.

Are you still here? Still following along? Bless you. No, seriously.

I hate to even talk about this because it may be embarrassing for her later, but... I had to take my youngest to the pediatrician on Monday because she had what is called a labial adhesion. I'm not going to explain it, but you can gather that the procedure was painful. Moments after leaving the doctor's office with a little girl that just want to go home, Mother Nature let loose a deluge of rain. Flash flooding amounts of rain. I had to stop several times on the way back home because I couldn't see even a foot in front of me. Now she is holding her pee in because it hurts to go to the bathroom and she cries in pain every time. *sigh*

Monsoon season...

My sister-in-law calls on Monday evening and tells my dad he's coming to Florida. She books him a round trip plane ticket. Outbound flight is on Wednesday. Now my two oldest kids are still doing band camp, 8am to 4pm everyday and my son is also doing soccer practices from 7pm to 9pm every night. Rowan has her 4 year vaccines scheduled for Wednesday morning so I call and reschedule those, which works out fine because the new appointment is in AUGUST. Now my friend Pam has an entrance interview type dealio at the school she is starting classes at soon at 8am on Wednesday morning so I tell her it's fine that her daughter stays with us Tuesday. This is ok too because Chris just goes to work an hour later than normal and drops all three kids at band camp. *shoo*

Meanwhile, my dad's flight is scheduled for 9:24am out of Evansville, IN. We get up at 5am. I get myself ready, coax the youngest to please use the bathroom before we leave, fix a cup of coffee, and we are on the road before 6am. Granted it was 5:59am. Still counts as before 6am.

We don't take the shortest route because Google says the road is closed in one section. Google was wrong, but I'll get to that in a minute. Dad is nervous because he hasn't flown in a great many years. He's not sure what to expect anymore. I'm nervous because I don't normally do this kind of driving. The husband usually does all that. We arrived at the airport without incident an hour and a half before scheduled departure. A miracle all by itself. We say our goodbyes and I head back home.

Dad calls about 30 minutes later to let me know they have delayed the flight by an hour. I GOT UP AT 5AM, BUSTED ASS TO GET THERE EARLY AND THEY DELAYED THE FLIGHT. *breathe* I decided I wasn't going to take the long way home and got off the parkway at the next exit. Driving down a skinny, country road in Henderson County, Kentucky between two parkways, I get stopped at some construction where the backhoe is half on my side of the road. The workers help me slowly move between the ditch on one side and the backhoe on the other. Not 10 miles down the road, I run into a farming incident. The entire road is blocked by a "hi-boy" (vehicle with very tall, skinny tires, able to drive through crops without damaging them) that has accidentally fallen off the side of the road and can't get up. So another farm equipment vehicle is there trying to pull it out.

I just want to go home. And drink. At 10am.

Finally get through all of this, make my way to Owensboro, the parkway is not closed (just under constuction), and get myself home. I call my dad to let him know that I've made it safely. His flight doesn't take off until almost 11:30am, two hours after it was scheduled to take off, which means he will miss his connecting flight in Atlanta. They get him on another flight, on a bigger plane, and he is happy.

The roofers finally came, but did not repair the roof correctly (used the brown shingles instead of black ones and only patched areas) and they were supposed to return this week to redo it properly. Haven't seen them. My washing machine stopped working, had to wait a week for the repairman to come, who had to order parts and couldn't return to install them for two weeks. Due to be here tomorrow. Oh and one of our cats got run over.

July. Bless it. One more day.

Letting the Light In

I woke up before my alarm sounded yesterday morning.  Barely slept the night before anyway.  I was too excited.

My bestest friend in the whole wide world (since we were 11) was having a baby!!  Baby day!!

I got the older kids dressed, fed, and put on the bus for school then I woke up the youngest and got her dressed, fed, and out the door to Grandma's house.  Somewhere in all that I dressed myself and grabbed a hot coffee to go!

Induction is never fun.  Even mine wasn't ideal.  As controlled as the process should be, it's still unpredictable.  And stressful.  Especially for a mother who has experienced a significant loss.  One who is unconvinced of anything until she sees the proof for herself.

I took a bunch of photos.  Clocks, charts, IV drips.  I could tell the whole tale.  All the little details.  All the things you see when you just sit back and SEE.  But it is not my tale to tell.  I was merely a bystander.  Trying to take it all in and reassure the worried, laboring mom that she and baby are all good.

And they ARE fine.  More than fine.  Baby girl has ten fingers, ten toes, tall like her father, with her mother's cute little nose.  And mom?  Wow.  She did everything right.  Asked the important questions, survived major contractions like the champ that she is.

I couldn't be more proud of the chance that she took.  Letting the light in.

Kentucky Kicks Ass

There is a link circulating around my Facebook friends that states 25 signs that you grew up in Kentucky.  I noticed a couple of interesting things while snickering my way through the list and comments.

Kentuckians are proud Kentuckians.  We are also fierce haters of other Kentuckians.  Which is strange to me given our state motto.  United We Stand, Divided We Fall.  Apparently this motto doesn't apply if you are either from Louisville or if you are from the rest of the state.  If you don't get this then it's because you aren't from here and don't watch college basketball.  Bless your heart.

Of these supposed 25 signs, I can relate to only a handful of them.  I have lived in Kentucky all of my 34 (almost 35! Yikes!) years.  Let's review these signs, shall we?

1. You know every word to "My Old Kentucky Home".  I have no idea what all the words to "My Old Kentucky Home" are.  In fact, I couldn't even tell you the first word.
2. It's not a shopping cart, it's a buggy.  I have been known to call a shopping cart a buggy before, but I try to avoid it.  The Amish use buggies (with horses), I use a cart.   
3. Big Blue Madness is the single most exciting night of the year.  Err... nope.  Haven't ever watched it, but I do understand that basketball is a religion.  Which brings us to number four...
4. Unless you're from Louisville, University of Kentucky basketball is the only sport that matters.  (If you're from Northern Kentucky, there's also the Bengals and Reds.)  It's just a simple fact that you CAN NOT support both teams.  It's not physically possible.
5. If you see someone wearing camouflage, that doesn't necessarily mean they just came from hunting.  Guilty. 
6. It's not pronounced LOUIS-VILLE, it's LEWA-VUL or Looo-vul.    Not Lewis-ville,  not Looie-ville, it's Lew-a-vul or (all one syllable) Looovul.  For God's sake people... GET IT RIGHT!
7. You may have never taken a sip of it, but you know more facts about bourbon than most avid drinkers.  In Kentucky, there are more barrels of bourbon than there are people.  Also I'm a shamed Kentuckian.  I don't drink bourbon.  Gag.
8. You still talk about the giant snowstorm of '94.  It was like the end of the world, y'all.  All stores were sold out of any milk, bread, or toilet paper for weeks. (Actually it was a couple of days...)  This is nothing compared to the Ice Storm of '09 though.  I wrote about it... here, here, and here. 
9. Christian Laettner is the most hated player in the history of sports.  He's the devil.
10. At least one of your relatives worked in the coal mines and you couldn't be more proud of him.  Nope.  I don't even know a single coal miner.
11. You don't have to say sweet tea.  If you ask for tea, it's going to be sweet.  Who the hell drinks unsweet tea?!  Damn Yankees!!!
12. If it's summer, you're going to be playing corn hole.  Again... nope.  I hate those two words together.  Corn + hole.  Just sounds like you are trying to politically correctly call someone an asshole.  Billy Bob is a real cornhole.  See?!
13. You know that it's not a bunch of weeds, it's actually poke sallet.  Never heard of it. I know what a poke weed is and I guess that you can eat it.  No. Thank. You.  And what the hell is sallet?
14. There's only one kind of potato chip:  BBQ Grippos.  Listen folks... my husband and I just discovered these a few months ago.  They are seriously the best BBQ chips ever made.  Find some immediately.
15. The ingredients may vary, but burgoo is always delicious.  I had no idea what this was.  I had to Google it.
16. You recognize the names of families mentioned on the show Justified.  I've... I've never watched a single episode. *hangs head in shame*
17. You don't say what city you're from, you say what county.  Word.  We don't live in our "native" county and when people here ask me where I am from I always say, "I'm from Logan County!"
18. You can't say from where, but if someone wants moonshine, you know a guy.  I do.
19. When you were younger, someone took you snipe hunting.  Hell no.  Didn't fall for that one.
20. If you had a restaurant, Jamal Mashburn or Kenny Walker could eat there for free whenever they wanted.  Again with the basketball...  C-A-T-S, Cats! Cats! Cats!
21. You know someone who lives "down in the holler".  When my husband and I first started dating, he lived in a place called Hollow Bill.  Because back in the old days, Bill lived down in the holler and people would "holler" for him from the top of the ridge.  Probably to buy moonshine from him. So it was told that you just had to go and "holler Bill".
22. Before 2001, Rick Pitino was a god.  Now... not so much.  Unless you live in Louisville.  Remember people... it's Looo-vul.
23. You know that the Cincinnati airport isn't even in Ohio.  It's in Hebron, KY.  I did not know that. Probably because I've neither flown nor been to Cincinnati.
24. Your mom didn't make dinner, she made supper.  And now I cook supper for my family.  
25. Ale-8 is the greatest drink ever created.  I'm ashamed to say that while I HAVE heard of it, and seen it, I've never had one.  

And there you have it.  A little edjamacation (that's education for those not "from 'round here")  about this great state and a little about me too!  Honestly though, Kentucky is pretty awesome.  We have the longest cave system in the world!  You should come visit some time.

The Unofficial slogan of Kentucky!

Nineteen Ninety Three

Recently, an old classmate began teaching at our old elementary/middle school.  She has the daughter of another classmate in her class this year.  He decided to send in one of our old year books so she could laugh at us in all our adolescent glory.  It was through these photos of herself that she posted to Facebook that I found out she had lost her home years ago to a fire and subsequently all her yearbooks.

I have all of mine.  Kindergarten through Senior year.  I mentioned I could scan them all.  Just our class of course.  There were several, "Oh no, you betta not!" and several, "Do it! Do it!".

So I did.

My class.  Every year.  From Kindergarten through 8th grade.  I scanned and then posted them on Facebook.  To be tagged by all!  It was so great to look back at how we had all grown up from year to year.

But then...

1993. Eighth grade graduation.  Theme = Under the Sea 

Here I am (bottom left) with my friends. Amanda, Chris (back right), and Robert (behind me).

I had known Robert practically my entire life. We both stayed with the same babysitter before we were even in Kindergarten. I'd known Chris since the 1st grade. He was my first "boyfriend". He even passed me a "check yes or no" note to see if I liked him. When Amanda started attending our school in the 5th grade, we hit it off immediately.

I sat and stared at the image. I hadn't seen it some time. Forgotten I had uploaded it. Every time I look at it, I feel a crushing weight. The tears begin to flow and I can't stop them.

I am the only living person left from that photograph. I'm only 34 years old.

Amanda was murdered in her home on April 6th, 1999. Leaving behind a 4 month old daughter who would never know her. Her killer was tried, but never convicted. She was 20 years old.

Chris was killed in an ATV accident in Florida on April 16th, 2007. I hadn't seen him in many years. The thought that my first crush was gone, really gone, was a lot to take in. He left behind a son and daughter. He was 28.

Robert. I saw him at least once a year at the annual Tobacco Festival. The big event that always brings everyone back to their roots. He never failed to give me the hug that meant we'd known each other forever. He never failed to smile. He killed himself on June 24th, 2012. He was 33 years old. There was no funeral. No burial. He was just gone.

His loss hit me harder than I ever thought it would. Maybe it was the feeling that I had lost a friend, maybe it was the way he left us.

Maybe it was that I felt like a lost a piece of my childhood forever.

Since rediscovering that old photo, I haven't stopped thinking about them. About moments we shared, funny stories. Twenty years it has been since we stood in the cafeteria and posed for our parents.

And I will never forget them.

Growing: Babies and Gardens

I took the weekend off, but only from the computer.  Actually some of my time was spent on the computer, but I was up to my eyeballs in Ancestry.com.  I'm still hitting a bit of a road block on my father's side, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  It's almost overwhelming the amount of information out there though.  Just a little advice, if your grandparents are still with you, ask them to tell you all they know about the family.  It can be extremely helpful if you ever want to research your tree.  Also, Ancestry.com claimed a two-week free trial, but they have already billed me.

I was so excited about going to my best friend's sisters baby shower on Saturday!  I have been friends with her since we were around 11 years old.  I remember when the sister that is having a baby was just a baby herself!

The shower was at the historic Shaker Tavern. I grew up a few miles away and had never been there! It was awesome!  I could just imagine the people of 1869 walking around and getting on and off the train.

Saturday morning before the baby shower, we got some mulch-y, manure-y dirt for the raised garden bed that we built last weekend.  We based our beds off of this blog post from Alicia of Project Alicia.  All our supplies cost about $150 and it was fairly easy to make.  So on Sunday, I planted seeds!

We are taking bets on what day we will see little green sprouts!  We are just experimenting this year.  One bed.  We've got some carrots, tomatoes, green beans and herbs.  If all goes well, we are thinking about building a couple more for next year.

The weekend went too quickly as always!  The kids only have until Thursday before their Summer break begins!  Then it'll be lounging around in our pj's for all!

Public Proclamation

Today's prompt: Publicly profess your love and devotion for one of your blogger friends.

I thought this was going to be super hard, but when I really got to thinking about it, it was a simple choice. I have been reading and following this blogger for years. She's inspirational and just all around awesome.

Alicia, from Project Alicia!

She is a wife, mother of 2, and an awesome photographer!  When I first started reading her blog, she and her family were living in cold, flat Iowa.  No offense to Iowa residents.  I'm sure there are probably warm, hilly sections there too! Now they live in beautiful South Carolina.  

She has the best sense of style.  Even with her tiny little self, she always has the best style.  Ok, I'll admit it.  I'm jealous.  I want to drive to South Carolina and have her shop for me.

I'm not even sure how I began following her blog, but I think it was photography.  I'm still fairly new to digital photography and cameras.  She is a photography master.  Her photos are absolutely beautiful no matter what the subject is.

But the best part about Alicia is that she is also just like you and me.  She has ups and downs.  Good days and bad days.  And she shares them.  It's not always sunshine and puffy clouds.  That's what I love.  I love that all her posts are thought provoking.  Whether they be about something funny, fashionable, kids related, photography related, a yummy recipe, I always enjoy reading!

She's a crafter, photographer, foodie, tutorial sharing, Mom, blogger who I love!  

Find out more about Alicia by clicking here!

What I Did... when I wasn't here.

Saturday was a fun filled day for us.  We traveled to Hopkinsville to visit the annual Trail of Tears Pow Wow at the Trail of Tears Commemorative Park.  Even though the reason behind the park is tragic, it's a wonderful event that is educational as well as enjoyable.

I was worried about Rowan's little ears with the drums and chanting, but she wasn't bothered and quieted right down.  Eventually falling asleep in my wrap.  There were dance competitions and when everyone started to look tired, the MC invited everyone into the circle to dance.  Kaia really wanted to take part, but couldn't get anyone to go with her.  I finally convinced her to go by offering to hold her glasses for her.  She really loved those glasses when she first got them.  Now she doesn't wear them at all. Every morning is a competition to see if she can get out the door without me noticing that she's not wearing them. She was glad to have done it after I encouraged her and I got a kick out of seeing her do it. There were a lot of vendors selling handmade items including arrowheads and dream catchers. In the food court they were serving ginormous smoked turkey legs, but there were a 1,000,000 people in that line. I opted for a Sprite and some popcorn. The line was shorter. Go figure.



After visiting the grave site of Edgar Cayce, we made our way to the benefit for a friend of the family, Josh. Josh was in an auto accident the same morning that Rowan was born.  He has been in the trauma unit and a rehabilitation hospital in Nashville ever since.  The benefit was held at the local Saddle Club.  I should have known better than to take Kaia to a saddle club.  We hadn't even pulled in and she was in awe of all the horses.  Immediately she wanted to ride one, but not just a regular "pony ride".  She wanted to ride in the fenced in muddy area.  Alone.  Um...  no.  First off, she's never ridden a horse alone before.  Second, she's never ridden anything bigger than your average county fair pony.  These were HORSES.  Fully grown, two feet taller than me horses.  She was not afraid.  Thirdly, I didn't know any of these people.




She eventually sweet talked her way onto one of a plethora of horses wandering around. He was a sweetie. No, she didn't get to ride full throttle in the fenced in area, but she was happy to settle for a few hand led laps around the field. *shoo (wiping brow)*  All together the supper and auction went well and lots of money was raised.



I can't even list all of the items that were donated for the auction. They ranged from spa visits to grandfather clocks to mums. Green is the color for Brain Trauma victims so there was a virtual sea of green around the place.  Always take time for those you love, anything can happen at any time.

Swimmin' in Ponds and Peeing Your Pants

Grain bins of my childhood | South Union, KY | Nelly Nero's Summer Vintage action (fast becoming my favorite action!)

This weekend was awesome!  It went by way too fast, but I enjoyed very nearly every minute of it!  A few weeks ago an old friend of mine contacted me via Facebook saying that she and her sister were planning to infiltrate her Momma's house.  She lives in Virginia and her sister lives in Arkansas and the whole family hadn't been together in about 15 years.  They needed a paparazzi.  It was supposed to be a surprise that I was coming, but once Momma Lynne found out everyone (brothers, sisters, grandkids, etc.) were coming, she was pretty insistent that they go have portraits made.  So.... no more secret!

Saturday was spent pretty much eating grilled hot dogs, brats, and burgers, swimming and fishing in ponds, doing hourly tick checks, and catching up with my two oldest friends.  Literally, I mean we were trying to decide just how long we had known each other and it turns out that it's before any of us can remember.  Either that means it's been a really long time or we're just getting old.  I'd like to go with the first option, thanks.  Surprisingly, all the kids got along better than expected!  Especially for never meeting each other before.  They hit it off great and were truckin' it through the woods and creeks looking for lizards and frogs before we knew it!  Suddenly Kaia has "cousins" she didn't know about and is planning her own trips back to the farm and to Arkansas.

Sunday I was so tired I didn't really want to get out of bed.  Mind you... I didn't actually DO anything on Saturday, but I had a long day of converting oxygen to carbon dioxide so...  The prospect of getting out of the house without any kids and splurging on some Starbucks coffee got me motivated though!  Another friend and I hit up the matinee to see "Bridesmaids".  It was HILARIOUS!  Everything that I had heard didn't even prepare me.  You've got to go see this.  And bring some Kleenex.  Not because it's a tear jerker, but because you'll be laughin' so hard you'll be crying.  I'd tell you that I laughed so hard that I peed my pants, but coughing/sneezing/giggling/and breathing make me do that at this point.  However, if you aren't like 8 and 3/4 months pregnant, you still might pee your pants!

You have been warned.

**Coffee photo | Nelly Nero's Summer of '69 and I Fake Film actions!

** Can you tell that I'm really LOVING Nelly Nero's actions at this point?!

Wonderful Wednesday!

Christine & Cam on Cam's BIG DAY - April 13th, 2002

It's Cam and Berg's anniversary!  I thought I'd share this beautiful (yet utterly craptastic) shot of us right before she walked down the aisle to marry her hunk-a hunk-a burning love!  I really wanted to scan the shot of her in her undies with the look of a crazy person (because she had just realized what time it was), but I value my life and she would probably have dismembered me.

So HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to my most treasured, valued, and loved friend!  Have fun at Wanee!

I feel...

*...like I've been gone from the interwebs for-like-ever, but really it was just yesterday.  I am woefully behind on my Project 365 photos.  I haven't updated it since last month!  Ok, so it was only 4 days ago, but still...

*Time seems to be moving so quickly around here lately.  Yet today it's s-l-o-w-l-y creeping by.

*It's Book Fair time again at the kids school so being the supa-speshul mom that I am, I'm volunteering my services to be abused by help the little kiddies purchase books.  This week was "Preview" week.  Next week is the actual purchase week.  I'll be eyeball deep in book fair for three of the four days.  I hope I remember to take my camera. Oh and wear comfy shoes.

*We got to take a tour of the Labor & Delivery, nursery, and postpartum areas of the hospital last night.  The rooms seem to have much improved since my son was born there 12 years ago.  Since there is a limit of only 3 people in the L&D room, I get to hand out passes (of which there are only 2) to whomever I want while I'm still in there.  And they are mine all mine!  Bummer that I can't keep them once we go on over to the postpartum room.  Those would be nice.  They now are very encouraging of immediate skin-to-skin contact with your infant, especially if breast feeding.  I told the nurse about my reservations having the kids in the room (they've both expressed interest in being in attendance) and she reassured me that going with my gut was probably the best way to go.  They could be allowed in soon after birth if I chose.

*I really do have the greatest friend ever.  No explanations are needed.

*I have absolutely NO PLANS for this weekend and I'm so excited about it!

Why My Best Friend is Da Bomb

Cam LaBelle (Free Spirit Chronicles) is my bestest friend in the whole wide world.  She's been my friend for what seems like forever (back when Kris Kross would make you Jump, Jump!).  Between the two of us we have been through every conceivable issue known to man.

Oh how I love her... let me count the ways!

1. We think alike.
2. We like the same stuff...
3. Except for music and movies, but we'll always have the Sandman.
4. We have secrets.
5. She makes me think about serious stuff.  Don't believe me?  Read this.
6. She is strong.  Not like in a bodybuilder kind of way!  In a 'she has intestinal fortitude' kind of way.
7. She drinks for me 'cause I'm pregnant. 

Image source

        8.  She is kind.

        9.  She is loving and lovable.

      10.  On my very first trip to Savannah, she took me to Starbucks and
             Bonaventure Cemetery.  Two places that were high on my list,
             and I didn't even have to tell her.
      11.  She's a goofball.

    
       12.  She is the Carrots to my Peas.
       13.  I could go on and on, but since this in number 13 and we both
              have the world's BEST LUCK ever *sarcasm* I will stop here!

Please make sure that you stop by her blog and visit her.  She's also a great writer and photographer!

Today's prompt:  Write a post giving your best friend props.

Happy Birthday Tuesday Tunes!

It's Cam's birthday!  Be sure to stop by and tell her to have a great day!  Or leave her some limes...

Sandpaper

Remember how I said that I didn't like soccer anymore?

I woke up yesterday with a very sore throat.  It felt like someone had been scrubbing my throat all night long with sandpaper.  This morning is no better.  In fact, I think it may be worse.

I blame this squarely on sitting in the rain watching that soccer game this past weekend.  What is even better is that it's supposed to rain again during the upcoming weekend.  This means that I'll be sitting in the rain yet again.  Unless there are any lightening strikes or thunder in the area, which they are not forecasting.  Ugh.  That's what I have to say about that.

On a happier note, my best friend (Cam) is visiting and I'm very excited to be able to hang out with her!  If you don't hear from me for a couple of days it's because I'm not being my normal, boring self.  I'm out enjoying time and living life!

Plus... today is my Mom's BIRTHDAY!

Happy birthday, Mom!!!

Flight of the Carrots

Cam on Tybee Island

Today Cam and family are flying in!  I'm excited to see them all.  It's been 9 months since we went to visit them.  I do wish they were coming just for a visit instead of to comfort Cam's sister, Ash.  I feel bad for being excited about their coming when I know that she is going though a tough time.  I know they are being pulled in many different directions while they are here.  I think we may end up kidnapping them to get them to stay longer!

Here's hoping for a safe and uneventful flight! 

Vlog 3.5

Love My Carrots

Today I am thinking of my Cam.  I miss her like crazy.  I'd give anything to be 600 miles from where I am now.  These past few months have been a roller coaster of emotions and I'm pained that I can't be there for her.  Talking on the phone just isn't the same as being able to give a hug or fix a cup of Chai tea for my friend. I love and miss her very much.  I pray that all goes well, that the ride will be over soon.

Little of This, Little of That

I don't like the layout.  I'm not in love with the header. I don't know what I'm going to do about it.  Something is missing.  What is it?  I'll probably be working on it today so if you visit and it's all wonky, I apologize in advance.

When I was waking up this morning, Cam was starting her surgery.  You see she lives in the future (Eastern time zone) and I live in the past (Central time zone).  Her day began long before mine did.  I've been worried about her all day.  It's really just a minor surgery, but her luck is the same as my luck.  It tends to run on the "not gonna happen" end of the scale.  My thoughts are with her this morning.

On the brighter side...

The photoblog, Peas, Carrots, & Company, has received it's first photo submission!  We started it on January 1st and are hoping it will take off soon and that we'll start to get photos from all over the world.  If you haven't been there yet, what are you waiting for?  Go check out how you can become a contributor and start sharing today!  I was feeling a bit optimistic so now you can also become a fan on Facebook. 

I also have my own photography site.  I worked extra hard on getting it set up and it took me two days to get the format the way I liked it.  Of course, that is always subject to change, but as long as it took me to do it the first time I doubt I'll be changing it up anytime soon.  You can find the link at the top of the page.  Just click on -Photography-.

We're having a bit of a heat wave around here.  It's 45 degrees F.  Bummer that it's still overcast and not very fun looking outdoors.  Meanwhile, I'm browsing the internet, listening to Pandora ( I love it!!), while drinking some soy milk and feeling rather good.

Random Funny

What cha doin'?

This year we'll be doing Thanksgiving dinner at our house on "Black Friday". Usually we reserve this day for just lounging around the house letting all the food from the day before digest in it's own time.

I didn't really know what this thing called "Black Friday" was until I began to work in retail back in 2000. I did 5 years worth of working the jewelry counter at Wal-Mart on that fateful day and I vowed to never, EVER, actually do any shopping on this day. For some reason, maybe it's all the turkey eaten the day before, the day after Thanksgiving turns people into crazies. Flat insane is what they get. I've seen people do some seriously strange things for a $5 toaster, okay?

Last year Cam talked me into going out into the craziness. I mean it was Friday after all and we couldn't pass up on our "Fun Friday". We didn't really have a certain plan of action. We were just going to be going. This is what we ended up doing...

Yes, it turned into an interesting day. I missed her so much this week!! I can't believe she is so far away!

I hope that everyone had a safe and happy holiday yesterday. If you are/were out and about on the "busiest shopping day of the year", then I hope that you make it through unscathed! Have a great weekend!!!

Old School

I'm feeling all deep and intellectual today. Why, you ask? Because yesterday my Mom brought me a blast from the past. She had discovered a VHS tape of my 8th grade graduation and dance. Circa 1993. First thought was "Oh my gawd... this is going to be funny!" Second thought was "Oh my gawd... Amanda is on this tape." Some of you who know me in the real world, know the who's, what's, why's, and how's about Amanda, for others who don't know the story, Amanda was a friend who was murdered in 1999. She is the sole reason for my friendship with Cam. I will forever be grateful to her.

For the rest of the day, I tried to remember where in the world we had put that VCR. I knew that even if I did find it I'd still have to wait for Chris to get home so he could hook it up. He's the master of all things electronic in the livingroom. I dare not touch a thing for fear of royally screwing it all up.




After he took about two steps inside the door, I walked up to him, tape in hand, big grin on my face and asked him if he could pretty please with sugar on top find the VCR and hook it up so I could watch this video. Being the greatest of all husband, he obliged. We got the VCR all hooked up and ready to go. I put the tape in. Pushed rewind. Waited..... Finally it stopped and I pushed play. The tape ejected. Huh? So I put the tape back in. Pushed play again. The tape ejected again. I took the tape out and pushed the little button on the side to slide open the end. AHHHHHH!!!!! NO TAPE!!!!! The tape had broken. I am not ashamed to admit that I was devastated. Chris gingerly took apart the case and found the ends of the broken tape. This thing is super old so I should have thought about the fact that it might possibly break. Apparently a section of the tape had become sticky and stuck together. He took a pair of tweezers and pulled out the sticky part, snipped the ends, and with the expertise of someone who had obviously done this before, taped the two ends back together.

Guess what? It worked. For the next hour or so, I sat and watched while laughing, crying and saying things like, "What were we thinking? That outfit is horrible!! How were silk shirts ever popular?? Oooo...look at her hair!!" This weekend Chris said he would hook everything up so I can copy the tape to a DVD. The sound quality is junk, but it's the images that are the most important.

I didn't find it too ironic when I woke this morning to hear this song on the radio...

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe-Eosmk6oE]