What a Weekend

This weekend I hosted 10 (counting myself) wonderful ladies at a little retreat-getaway at our cabin. Wow! Some are elementary teachers, lawyers, and accountants. All of the ladies really needed this time away from their respective worlds and our place was the perfect place for that.

Friday afternoon I arrived around 3pm and began unloading and preparing the place for their arrival. I had picked up Olive Garden lasagna and salad so we didn't have to cook which is so very easy. I made a pinion wood fire in the chiminea and set up the hammock and waited for them to arrive. All but one had never been to our place and so they were in for a surprise as to how wonderful their experience would be. It is very relaxing and great for recharging batteries. They began to arrive around 5 pm and the fun began. It was laughter and jokes and snacks and more laughter. We soon piled 10 of us into two golf carts to take a tour and hopefully catch sight of some deer. We were lucky to find only one this time. Back at the cabin we chowed down on lasagna and wine and margaritas and homemade cheesecake. Then we started a big fire for the somores (boy was I full.) I didn't make it too long in the evening as we had all been up since about 5 am. I headed for bed but continued to hear laughter till about midnight. That is what this place is for.

Saturday started out a little cool as fall is trying to start up but was perfect for walking and taking more golf cart rides. We had breakfast of bacon and homemade coffeecake then began to explore. We all ended up by the waterfall watching the turtles bobbing up and down and an occasional snake swim by (yuck). Of the ten of us, six had to go back to town but the remaining four spent the evening getting really deep in conversation about everything that women talk about.

Sunday I was up at 7am and made pumpkin spice coffee and tried to write some in my journal before the other three made it up. I knew we were going back about 10 so time was running short. I won't be back to our cabin till about three weeks since we are leaving for our trip in a week. YIKES! Better get packing.

Thought Jumping

I just re-read my previous post and when I started the post I was going for writing about the Europe trip. My thoughts just seem to jump all over the place lately, even more so than usual. I just can't seem to follow through on a thought process and I used to be so very organized in my head. I used to keep lists and was very, very organized but I just can't seem to get it together. I think it has to do with the hormones and the change and whatever. Well, whatever just sucks because I feel like I can't hold onto a thought long enough to process it. I either want to sit and blank my mind out or just let the thoughts just go crashing through my mind. Man, I can't even seem to get the thoughts out here because my hands can't even communicate with my brain. I'm a very fast typist but I can't even coordinate that. I feel like I'm in a fog sometimes and even the other day I was pulling into a parking spot (thank GOD there wasn't a car in front of me) and instead of hitting the brake I hit the gas and jumped forward into the other spot. I don't even know what I was thinking at the time but this has got to stop. It's getting annoying all the jumbles in my head. ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

The Countdown

I just looked closely at my calendar and realized that the countdown is on. We (The Hubby and I) are leaving in a week for our Europe trip. I'm not really nervous because I haven't really had time to get nervous, but I will be by next week. I have never been in a foreign country, unless you count the Bahamas, and the farthest I've been is Hawaii. The Hubby has traveled to Africa and Prague. We are going to Paris, Normandy and then the last 3 days to London. I am really excited about this excursion. My lists are mounting and I plan on semi-packing next week. #1, who has traveled to England, Germany, France, Prague, and India has given me some tips on her travel experiences. She gets a journal and starts pages on what to pack, dates, addresses for postcards, exchange rates for money, and she even gets travel guides and cuts and pastes maps in the journal. Then when she travels she will fill in the rest of the book with her journaling. Sounded like a great idea and so I followed her lead. Finding a new journal was no problem because I have a stack of them I haven't even cracked open. I have a small obsessive compulsion to buy new ones all the time. Not only do I blog here online but I do journal handwritten at least every weekend. I don't seem to find the time during the week but every Saturday morning at the cabin I fill several pages of my weekday happenings.

I am a writer although it is not really good writing, I love to write. I try to write fiction but sometimes I just can't get what is in my brain to the clean white paper. It is a struggle. I have written a teenage mystery, of course unpublished, and it is bad, really bad, but I have a beginning and an end to it so I call that an accomplishment. I've written several short stories and started others but I just can't sit long enough to finish. I'm always interrupted by people and my inability to sit for long periods. I love to write letters too. I opt to hand write very long letters so know if you are my friend and move away expect letters. It may be only a couple a year but they can be 10-15 pages long. Long hand written letters are really a thing of the past and I think it should not be lost. I remember in high school in the 12th grade sitting in a classroom with a substitute teacher that I thought was 150 years old, and probably was. He as a distinguished looking older man with snow white hair sitting at the teachers desk while we did busy work. When he entered the room he was carrying a leather folder and while we did our work he opened the folder, pulled a fountain pen out of his shirt pocket, and then on unlined paper began to write a letter. His penmanship on that paper was absolutely beautiful and flowing. I was sitting at the front and I couldn't take my eyes off of his hand as the pen swirled across the paper. Absolutely amazing. See, a lost art.

The Engaged Couple

If I had done that...

Uh Oh! The Hubby has a major problem with little poles that are stuck in the ground. He came into the office after lunch and looked like a little boy that had broken his favorite toy. I don't know if anyone remembers, but he bought a brand new Avalanche in I think March. Well, he was in a parking lot backing into a space and WHAM!!!! He crunched the passenger side door and running board into that itty-bitty white pole that was in the ground. He said it sounded like someone running over crunching garbage cans. You think. He immediately went to get an estimate at the body shop we seem to have a standing account at, and decided to get the windshield estimate too that was damaged on the drive to Dallas. The window is about $300 but the other part of the estimate is not in yet. Now, if I had done that, he would have yelled and screeched and had a hissy fit, but I have NEVER, in any shape, form or fashion. I have only been in one little fender bender and I was rear-ended, not my fault and not much damage. So I hope I'm not jinxing myself by writing this down but if ever it happens I hope that he is not mean because I don't rag on him for all his little mishaps.

My Weekend (read till the end it's good)

Friday after work I waited for The Hubby to finally come home so we could go to the cabin. I sat twiddling my thumbs as I can hardly wait to go and enjoy the peace and quiet AND the friends I/we have made there. He rolled in the garage and immediately went to his computer to check his emails and his Ebay finds. Still I sat and waited and dozed off. I would have taken off without him but I wanted to wait. Finally, he strode into the living room and announced he was ready. YES! I jumped and grabbed the ice chest and my bag and piled into the truck (yes I would have loved to drive the Miata with the top down but...).

I was so relieved as the gates came into view and we passed into our little slice of heaven in Northeastern Oklahoma. We pulled into the gravel driveway of Flash Pointe and I hurried into the cabin lugging my stuff. I was anxious to see my friend next door. Our cabin is very close to the neighbor, and in fact, our back door has a stone walkway that leads right to their front door. My friend H asked me to bring a half gallon of milk so I grabbed it out of the ice chest and yelled at The Hubby that I was going next door. He mumbled something about cutting the grass before it rained. Out the door I went and as I rounded the walkway to her patio there she sat with two other neighbors laughing. H immediately jumped up and poured me a glass of wine. A little later three more ladies joined the hen party and more wine was poured and the conversation went from chin hair to sex. WooHoo! What an evening.

The next morning I awoke around 7 am before the sun was up. That is the most perfect time of day at Flash Pointe for me. I quietly put my clothes on and crept out of the bedroom grabbing my book, journal and pen. I made the coffee and then went out to the wonderful screened porch and my favorite chair. It was so quiet as I sat there and watched the sun come up. In the fall the most common sound you hear are the crows cawing. It reminded me of my GreatGranny's in Jay when I was a little girl. The sun began to come up and I could see to write in my journal. Coffee was ready and I was set for the day, or so I thought. Later in the morning I heard a kind of hysterical ladies laugh that was the call of the piliated woodpecker, like Woody Woodpecker, there were two of them talking in the trees. So very cool.

I could have sat there all day in my chair reading, writing and watching the birds but I knew I had to clean the cabin for the guests I was having next weekend. So my day of bliss was cut short with the vacuum cleaner, dusting, and scrubbing toilets...YUCK! This is where I regret having such a large 2nd home, but only briefly. We had to get back to town so it wasn't a true weekend at the lake as we had to get back for a surprise 50th birthday party for a friend. I FORGOT the Okie Blog thing that I had planned on going to. I'm sad I missed it but I just couldn't cram that in.

Sunday...This day has been WONDERFUL!!! The Hubby has decided that we need a new mattress. Yes he is getting insistent about the subject. He says that I wiggle the bed too much and it makes him nauseous. Uh Ok. So we went mattress shopping and found one we really like but the stupid thing was nearly $8000, yes I said $8000. We found the knock off brand for a third of the cost. Now that is more like it. I told him that if we get a new mattress I want a head board. We have been married for nearly 32 years and have never had head board and I want a head board. He has decided that since he knows a custom furniture maker we will have one made to match our antique bedroom armoire and dresser. Sounds good to me.

I hope you are still reading because this is the really GOOD NEWS. I went wedding dress shopping with #1 daughter and we PURCHASED one. Yes we did and they have set the date of February 23! Yee Haw there is going to be a wedding. I can't believe it. She was so beautiful in the dress. Yesterday The Hubby asked me about how much the wedding might cost and I couldn't answer but sort of guessed. He shocked me by suggesting a rather large sum to use as a budget and asked if that would work. Well yeah it will work. I immediately called #2 and told the news and she about dropped her jaw. This is going to be a great wedding if we can find a place for it. http://www.davidsbridal.com/bridal_gowns_detail.jsp?stid=2836&prodgroup=123

A Conversation

Today as I was getting the gray eradicated at the hair dresser we got into an interesting conversation. Ruth is the exact opposite of me size wise. I'm short and heavy and she is tall and very slender. We began talking about our similarities. Ruth has battled eating disorders all her life (she's about 42 years old) and for most of my adult life I have battled the bulge, yet we have the same thought processes about it all. Ruth has a man in her life who openly has problems with her being skinny and subconciously watches her eating habits and I have the same deliemma with The Hubby who has the same issues, only fat wise. She said that if she chose not to eat her rice at dinner then her guy would become concerned that she was backsliding whereas if I ate the rice and maybe a little more The Hubby would be concerned that I would gain another pound. The problem with all of it is that it is not about the food at all and our problem is with the unintentional attention the men give to us. They really don't mean it but it is there. My guy at one time even accused me of lying to him when we got married. The lie being that I got fat because when I met him I was a size 1, very tiny. It was an irrational idea on his part but he just didn't know how to cope with my increasing waistline (mainly from pregnancy). He's thin, his mother is and his brothers are failry nice sized so he had no reference to deal with. This conversation came on the heals of The Hubby being out of town for a couple of days and my desire to EAT. I can't explain it except that it would be eating without the cloud over my shoulder, eyeing every bite I put into my mouth. It is a strange idea and I've been struggling this week with it.

October 1

Monday morning, October 1, 2007. What a beautiful morning it is. I drove to the office in my little red convertible and thoroughly enjoyed the warming air.

Yesterday The Hubby left for a little camping trip with his bud's for that little male bonding experience. I fully encourage him to take these trips as he has been so stressed with work. First thing I did when I knew he was going to be gone for a couple of days was plan to see a movie. First I had to make the stop to see my Daddy as today he was taking his trip to Laughlin with his sisters to see their half-sister. He told me he had not flown since 1962 and it was a propeller plane. Wow. He was nervous but should be half-way there by now. Good for him.

After the visit with him I met my friend C at the $1.50 movie to see Pirates of the Caribbean-The End of the World. Uh, ick. Hated the end of the movie but as always LOVE Orlando Bloom. Then we decided to have a cup of coffee and that was a very bad move for me as it was 5:30. Should have had decaf. Since The Hubby was gone I was a little anxious being alone in the house and the not being able to get into a deep sleep didn't help at all. I dozed off to sleep about 10:15 but awakened about 1:30 and then was tossing and turning till about 3:30. I knew the alarm was going to go off at 4:45 so that made me more anxious and I heard every little creak in the house. I got up with the alarm and went to Jazzercise but I know fully well that I will be hitting the sheets early tonight. YAWN!

I have a bone to pick!

The big birthday party for the MIL was a huge success. My BIL #2 supplied the FABULOUS spaghetti sauce and garlic bread and I did the salad and pies. Oh, and my peach cobbler and apple pies were the best I have ever made. We all sat at the super long table I set and had wonderful conversation...except for the other BIL that is really grating on me. I have a bone to pick with that one.

Let me clarify the characters of this story...


The BIL #1 - D
The BIL #1's wife - CH
All the characters of the day started assembling for the gathering to celebrate the MIL's 80th birthday. All of a sudden CH comes into the kitchen from the garage and asks if the side gate is open. I look at her and tilt my head like a confused dog and tell her I don't know. She runs out without explanation and I'm still tilting my head. I go to the sliding door and there is D walking around and CH is getting one of the lawn chairs for him to sit. I go out and they tell me that he is sick with some upper respiratory thing and doesn't want to get anybody sick. Hmmm, okay. So as the guests arrive they all take turns going out to the backyard as D holds court there.

Here is where I am miffed. EVERYTIME we have a function at this house of which we have been in almost 2 years D and Char spend nearly all their time here in that damn backyard. Most of the time they corral the one grandson Aiden because he is a tornado through my house. Aiden's parents walk in the door and D and CH grab him and off they go. We've had many family dinners here and they ALWAYS eat outside with Aiden and yesterday was not exception. I set a fabulous table for ALL to sit, squeezed together and there D and CH sat in the backyard eating off my good china while the rest of the family sat inside watching. I know he was sick but there is always an excuse for them not to be in my house. It ticks me off royally. When we finally moved into our house after the remodel and had our first big family deal they couldn't make it and then they started the backyard meals. To top off the day they left early because the mosquitoes were so bad and D couldn't stand it. Well, come in for goodness sake. I would rather get a germ from a family member.

Sorry I'm venting and I know it is silly but I've just about had it with them. It was a lovely day for the MIL and it was EVERYTHING she asked for.

Getting Ready

I woke up this morning as usual at 4:45 am...Dammit, and it wasn't the alarm that woke me. I guess getting up that early for 10 years is habit. I rolled over and tried to sleep a little longer and wished I hadn't. I slept till about 6:15 and was awakened but a NIGHTMARE. I won't go into it but it was absolutely horrible.

I went ahead and got up. I traipsed out to find the newspaper and then back in to fix my coffee. I read the news and then attempted the crossword and Sudoku. I failed miserably at the crossword but was successful with the Sudoku. I knew I had to get going with clean up of the kitchen and set my table for 13...wait a minute...maybe 14. Do you count a 3 year old for a place setting. I don't think I can squeeze another one in but I might ought to try, I guess. ARGHHHH!!! I decided to pull out my very large dining table and then put the game table at the end so we can all eat together, since we are having spaghetti for the MIL. It should be great fun but I'm already tired and it's only 9 am. I have to shower and then go to Sam's Club for flowers for the table. Here's a picture of the table so far...


On another note...I'm not looking forward to the little 3 year old great nephew coming over. He's all over the place and the parents don't disipline very well. Last time I hollered at him when he proceeded to shake my canary cage and parakeet cage sending feathers flying and birds into a state of shock. (I don't think I'm very ready for grandkids and thank goodness there are none on the way.)

Rings and things

This week, as I have stated on Monday, has been very eventful for #1 girl and The Guy. The ring he presented to her was his mother's and they planned on getting another since the whole thing was symbolic anyway (she hates gold). Well, I had a major brainstorm this week. When my mother passed away Sis scarfed up her rings and Granny's rings and scavenged the diamonds out of the mountings and then handed the mountings over to me to have. I know it sounds crappy but I knew she was getting the rings, or should I say diamonds so I'm okay with it (maybe). Anyway, I remembered that I had Granny's platinum mounting, which was very old and perfect for the criteria #1 had in mind for a ring. I showed it to #1 and offered for her to have it. She was absolutely thrilled, especially since she, of the five grandkids was closet to her "Great" Granny. She and The Guy went out and looked for a stone to put in it. Since she does not like diamonds they found a synthetic emerald for it and will pick it up on Tuesday. It makes me feel really good for them.

Tomorrow we are hosting the family dinner for The Hubby's mother's 80th birthday. I'm having 14 over for spaghetti, salad, garlic bread and homemade peach cobbler and apple pie. It was all by request of the MIL and I was happy to oblige. I'm actually only making the spaghetti (pasta), salad and pies, the BIL is making the bread and spaghetti meat sauce. It's funny, my house is messy but I don't seem to be in a rush to pick up. I know it's clean just a little messy. It won't take long to pick up and since The Hubby will gone most of the day at the office. He won't be under my feet to get in the way. I'm sure I won't be able to sleep in anyway so probably will be up and get most of it done by 8 or 9 and then off to Sam's Club with #1 to get fresh flowers and maybe a little cake to put a candle on.

We're not going to go to the cabin for a couple of weeks and I'm going to be in absolute withdrawal. This weekend is the MIL party. Next weekend is a surprise 50th for one of my friends and something else I can't seem to remember (have to find that calendar). Then the next weekend is a girls weekend with some of my Jazzercise girls at the cabin....YEAH!!! Then we will have a free weekend there and then we will be off to Paris, Normandy and London for 11 days. I'm a little nervous as I have never been out of the country but I'm up for it.

Oh, and on the organization of my room (remember the pictures I posted), well it's still a pit just moved stuff around enough to walk through. I don't know if I'm ever going to get it together in there. I know it makes The Hubby crazy, Mr. Clean and all, but it is my room and I will take my sweet time if I want to. Humph!

A Cat Lover

I am a true cat lover but my father's cat is the devil incarnate. Peaches was my mother's cat and she named the cat Peaches, but a peach she is not. The stupid cat turned out to be in love with my father. When my mother passed away my sister had to come home and tell Daddy she was gone, well of course my father broke down and sobbed and sobbed and Sis hugged and consoled Daddy but the stupid cat thought she was hurting Daddy and attacked her. Now the cat HATES Sis.

Today I took the day off (yeah) to run errands like the tag office, grocery, etc. My main objective was to stop by and see Daddy as he is leaving for his trip to Vegas on Monday. I used my key and opened the front door to the television blaring in the living room (he's very hard of hearing) and the television in the bedroom where his computer is blaring. It was deafening. I hollered HELLO but no answer. I stuck my head in the hallway thinking he was sitting at his computer and couldn't hear me and again HELLO. I put my purse and bag down and headed down the hallway and the first thing I saw was Peaches on his bed. I saw that Daddy was not in his chair. Hmmmm, must be outside. I said Hi to Peaches and walked in and petted her head, she usually likes me. She kind of bent her head down and laid her ears flat and I knew she was not to pleased to see me.

I went through the house and proceeded to the backyard where I was sure he was. Well, he was not there but the back door was open so I guessed he was across the alley or next door. I went back in the house and decided to check my emails and wanted to go back down the hall. Well, looky here, there is Peaches at the entry of the hallway. I took a step towards the hallway and the DAMN cat attacked me, and I don't mean jumped a little, she attacked my leg, grabbing and slapping and hissing and YIKES!!!! I hollered at her and she cowered back and hissed and slapped the ground and I tried to take a step again and was attacked again. Now I don't like to jump at animals but that stupid cat is crazy. I jumped back at her and she jumped at me. God, she scares me too death and I am a CAT PERSON. I love cats. I used to have four at one time with one sort of like her, but she is awful. I'm so glad she loves my Daddy and was essentially guarding him since I was an intruder but man-o-man. Damn Cat!

NEWS NEWS NEWS

I have NEWS!!!!

I am going to be a Mother-in-Law! Yup, yesterday The Guy got down on one knee and held out his mother's ring (she passed away this spring) and asked #1 to marry him. She of course cried and said yes. It was also the eve of her 28th birthday. She is actually excited and anticipating planning the thing. I am so very excited and I cried when she told me. YEE HAW!!!

#2 girl

I've had phone calls two days in a row concerning #2 and her "health" and life. She is driving me absolutely crazy. She was concerned because she just got up and her eyes were fuzzy and she had a little ache in the back of her head so she thought that it was the end of her life. This phone call came while I was in the middle of the grocery store. I proceeded to tell her that she was fine. She does nothing but worry about her health. She has it in her mind that she is dying and that doctors know nothing, yet she wants to go to the doctor. She is driving me nuts. I told her she needs to get out of bed, get a job, find a group of people (women) to bond with. She needs to get connected with the outside world and quit thinking about herself and nothing else. I told her that her father doesn't know she's having these issues and that if he finds out he will want to come out there (Californina) and bring her home and she went off. Then get plugged in with your surroundings honey and be a part of the world. I'm at my wit end with her about this. She says she has looked for a job but I don't think so. I asked her what she wanted to do and then asked about her music. She told me she didn't know and that she wasn't good enough. She has always thought little about her talent and now she has hit bottom. I was afraid that this would happen. I think she has realized that having a college education was probably the better option but she is still not ready to do that and may never be but she has to do something with her life. She has her audio engineer certificate but is not using it. I just don't know what to do with her. She is talented but she is not driven, that is her downfall here. She has to want it bad enough and that may happen because there is only $138 in her checking account. Hmmm, we'll see.

Lots of stuff

Friday my brother-in-law, The Hubby and I and the boys mother paid the deposit for her to move into a retirement community, a really nice one. She is ready but very tentative about the move. Last night we met with the realtor to put her house on the market and boy was that fun and funny. She has come to the age of fretfulness and worry and just plain fear. She will be 80 at the end of the month but you would never really guess it. My MIL is a very classy lady who has it goin' on and I love her dearly. Even her handwriting is perfect still.

Well, last night while talking to the realtor and filling out the mountains of paperwork, when asked if she was in a flood plain we all said no. Then he asked if she had flood insurance (forms you know), she said, "Well yes!"

I thought The Hubby's face was going to fall off. He said, "Well, Mom why do you have flood insurance if you are not in the flood plain."

She turned to him and said, "I live so close to the river." OK, now mind you my MIL lives probably three to four miles from the river which has NEVER risen to her area of town. She has a terrible fear of flooding.

I had to turn and leave the room so I could laugh. I didn't mean to laugh at her but she sometimes can be so funny with her little idiosyncrasies that I can't help it, especially as she has gotten older.

Then she didn't want to put a sign in her yard, or have the realtor send out fliers to the neighbors or advertise anything like that. She doesn't want her friends or neighbors to know her business. We couldn't figure out the reasoning behind this but we told her that was the only way to push the sale ASAP.

We kind of think she is afraid of her stepson finding out she is selling or where she is moving. See, she is the trustee of her husbands estate/trust and the stepson will inherit only at her death. Get my meaning. She is a little afraid of him as well as the three boys and myself. He is not happy that a trust company is handling the thing and not doleing out any funds to him. He just doesn't get it that most of it goes to charity anyway. He's just greedy and that is the reason why we are very wary of him.

On another note. I mentioned that I love my MIL but sometimes I have to grit my teeth at what comes out of her mouth. I know she loves me dearly and means well but...while touring her new condo on Friday she was talking to the sales manager and told the lady about The Hubby working five days a week and look how trim he is and how I/me work(s) out five days a week and how different out bodies are...!!! Well, I knew perfectly well what she was getting at as she has made mention about my body type before over the years and even has sent me diets and newspaper clippings. I know she means well but sometimes I have to ARGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!@##$DU*UYUT#(**#&%^&@. Okay, now I'm done. I love her too. I'm a good daughter-in-law!

A Day Off

After my grumbling yesterday about The Hubby and WORK it turned out OK. I ended up getting to leave when I wanted to and run my errands. I was even able to buy that elusive bowling bag I wanted. To top off the day I killed it at bowling which will just make my average go up, again.

Today is Thursday and I'm taking the day off. The Hubby is out of the office all day long so there won't be the urgent phone calls that he NEEDS me immediately, at least for the morning. #1 daughter is handling the office and phones and besides I have almost no voice today except for the 1-900 kind...Hey baby!

So far this morning I tried to workout at Jazzercise but this thing I am fighting off was aggravated by getting hot so I sat it out. I finished my crossword and Sudoku and came home to watch my usual two episodes of Charmed (I'm obsessed)and have my bowl of oatmeal. Then I did the dishes and took The Hubby's shirts (he ran them this morning)out of the drier. I don't do his laundry but will help him out occassionally. When he does the dishes he calls it foreplay (as he told my mother) and I guess doing his laundry is my form of it.

It is 9 am, the television is off and now I will attempt to tackle my room. I have always wanted my own room so when we moved into this house and did the remodel I got my own room. I shared a room and bed with my sister for 19 years and then I married and shared another room and bed with The Hubby. That has been 31 years now, so it was time for my own space. I don't sleep in it, except for the occassional nap in my chair, but I want to write, paint, read and just have my own space. Here are pictures of what I am facing today on my DAY OFF!

Anger and Frustration

The story goes...The Hubby and I have been in business for 28 years now and sometimes he can really TICK ME OFF! There are days that there is absolutely NOTHING to do except blog, play Club POGO and wait for the phone to ring. Today is one of those days. #1 daughter is now working here 3 days a week which gives me someone to chat with in this windowless office. The girls are grown and gone and so we are empty nesters. I have dropped out of all of my volunteering stuff and now my book club is probably going to crater. I have a couple of other small group things but my social life is just about nil. As stated in a previous post, I joined a bowling league and I need to leave the office at 4 pm on Wednesdays to get there and am through at 6:30. (Just wait this gets better.)

Well, today as I sit and do NOTHING ALL DAY LONG and the time creeps up to 2:26 pm The Hubby comes in and says, "What time do you need to leave." Hold on, I know where this is going. I told him 3:45, because I was going to the bank and then to buy a new bowling bag. He made that awful face and explained that so-in-so needed an invoice TODAY and one of the guys is coming in early to give him the rest of the info to finish billing it, which would be 3:30. So, I told The Hubby I would need to leave at least by 4. That means the bank will have to wait till tomorrow and no new bowling bag today.

What is the deal. It seems that every time I try to get a social life or something fun to do he subconsciously sabotages it....hold on...updated info...


I had to stop and go with him to pick up on of the vans that had to have new tires on it. While driving there I asked him why the so-in-so contractor had to call at the end of the day and insist on having the invoice today. He informed me that the contractor didn't call that he told him we would get it to him this afternoon. SEE WHAT I MEAN. I just made an exasperated sound. I started to say why couldn't it wait till first thing in the morning but stopped myself because that was the first day I was going to actually take a day off WITHOUT feeling guilty since #1 was going to be here. Crap, Crap, Crap!!!!!

Cough

Cough, cough, wheeze. I'm sick, at least I think I am. I really don't feel bad and I don't even have a headache but cough, cough, wheeze. It's probably those damn allergies that happen to us here Okies. I'm even on prescription Allegra but you never know. #1 daughter started work for us in the office last Tuesday and by Friday she was feeling horrible and coughing and sniffling. Stuck in a windowless office next to a sick person, who knows maybe that is it too. I take vitamins EVERYDAY and eat right and excercise, maybe I'm just having an abbreviated version of the contaigin. The customers should enjoy my deep sexy voice today, as this "thing" has settled in my chest and throat. Cough, cough, wheeze!

Last night The Hubby and I attended an auction to try to find some old rugs for our new house. (That sounded funny didn't it.) Anyway, he loves old middle eastern rugs. It's a place called Brandon's Auction and I think every week or so or every week they have auctions. There can be some really cool antiques there but last night was filled with tons of new furniture, some still with new tags on them. Dining room sets including hutches, bedroom furniture sets, living room chairs and couches, you name it it was there and the prices were dirt cheap, so was probably the quality of the stuff but I wouldn't know for sure because I didn't look too closely. We were able to bid on 3 of 4 rugs, a very old brass lamp and of all things a ukelele in a case for $20. Don't quite understand the meaning of that one. In all we spent around $650 on the stuff.

After the auction we hurried home and arrived around 10:15. I was anxious because our DVR was messed up earlier and I didn't want to miss Big Brother. Whew, it worked and we stayed up to watch it and The Hubby watched me scream at the television at Evil Dick.....his name is so appropriate. I so detest that man.

This morning I opted to stay in bed and not go to Jazzercise. I could have because I really felt OK but that extra 30 minutes sleep was heaven. I'll get some exercise tonight bowling.

I'm so torn

This weekend I left for the cabin early as I now have office help and can get away. I arrived at the cabin and planned on spending the night by myself as The Hubby was not due till Saturday. Of course, it was raining but I didn't mind as I spent the afternoon reading on my glorious back porch. I was soon joined by a sweet golden retriever. She was around last weekend and now her companions are two huskies, all a very young. Sadly the trio have dumped. Dumped by idiot people who just assume that since there are people here we will take care of them. Hold on people, do the right thing and either find a home, find a rescue or last resorts the pound but DON'T DUMP THE POUR DEFENSLESS ANIMALS. I don't want another dog but the golden is absolutely so sweet and gentle it just breaks my heart. In fact she still has a collor on, but no tag. She bacame my friend this weekend not leaving my side while I was outside. It helps I guess that I fed her. I couldn't help it. Unfortunatly I found out she is quite talented and smart. I went inside to take a shower on Saturday and left her on the covered front porch waiting for me. When I got out she was gone. Well, I went back out into the screened porch and there she was asleep by the inside door waiting for me. How did she get in there. I took her outside and went back in and watched from the kitchen. She went up to the screen door and stuck her claw in the fairly new screen and pulled it open wide enough to get her head in and slowly she slid her skinny body through the door. WHAT! I went out the front door to see if she could get out and she just pushes the door open and runs out slamming the door behind her. I don't know what will happen as we are home now and she is there. I don't want a dog, especially a large dog but I'm so torn and very sad by the stupidity of people doing that to a precious innocent animal. Oh and as I was leaving the grounds I passed the trash area and there were the two huskies munching on leftovers. So very, very sad. Know anyone in the market for some good dogs.

Kegler

Last week I began a new bowling league. I have not bowled in about 5 years so I was so very excited to be asked to join the league. If you are wandering what a kegler is it is a bowler. I took a bowling class several years ago to finish part of my degree so there you have it. Anyway, I will keep a running total of my bowling games to show my progress or downfall in trying to help my team, 2 C's and a K. My purple ball will now be rolling down the alleys once a week as I hope my knees and back hold up.

A Beautiful Wedding

Oh, what a beautiful wedding we attended last night. It was an outside wedding at the Dresser Mansion ( http://www.dressermansion.com ). Luckily the temperature was nice and the evening beautiful as our daughters dear friends tied the knot. They had non traditional music like DePeche Mode and ambient music that was just perfect for them. They had four bridesmaids and 5 groomsmen which translates that they have TONS of friends. The flowers were beautiful calla lillies with yellowy-orange centers and the bridesmaids dresses a wonderful muted grass green. To top off the evening the officiant was the girls old youth minister Ginger. Her husband was there too. I cried as I hugged her and Anthony so glad to see them after 9 years. The sweet couple are now off on their honeymoon but might have to change their plans as they are apparantely planning to spend it with Hurricane Felix!

A Glorious Weekend

What A glorious weekend this is. The weather has been beautiful. I spent the whole day yesterday floating in my hammock under a crystal blue sky. The air was perfect, with a tiny breeze that allowed me to doze and read in my green and white checkered swing. Once while I dozed, my book laying in my lap, I was aroused by a low hum above my stomach where my book lay. I had taken the dust jacket off and so exposed the red binding. The low hum just above the book was tiny beautiful hummingbird checking out the red. When I opened my eyes he took off in a split second. Wow, what an incredible sight. My day was often marred during the drifting in and out of sleep by the incessant barking of dogs and people screaming at the barking dogs. That is the one downfall of our little slice of heaven at the lake is is the holiday weekends brings out everyone and their dogs and dogs there are aplenty. Still it was quite perfect.

I finished the Paula Deen biography and really enjoyed it and this morning I started one called Salt Dancers by Ursula Hegi. Wow, I think I will finish it today, maybe. It is about a 41 year old woman, pregnant, single going home to confront her father about her childhood. I will leave it at that cause I think it should be read. I believe it would be a good book club read (hint). It is written going back and forth between the present and the past but Hegi does it quite nicely and the read is written poetically for a nice read.

We had to come back from the lake and my hammock today for a wedding at 7 tonight. I wouldn't bother but it is a friend of #1's from church and we've known April since she was about 7 years old. And, the officiant is their old youth minister, Ginger, who now lives in Washington D.C. with her husband. I can't wait to see them as we just love them to death. It should be a grand time.

Tuesday will begin with #1 daughter starting work for us and I'm very excited as it will eventually give me some time off. YEAH!!! Also, The Hubby has offered her guy a job to learn a trade and possibly, if they get hitched, they can take over the business, but we'll just have to wait and see.

Pirate Master

YEAH! I finally got to the end of Pirate Master. CBS canceled with 5 weeks left and left EVERYONE hanging. I'm sure that was an awful lot of viewers but I had invested a Little time watching it and wanted to know who won. They had it on the website so every Tuesday there I sat trying to catch it. Today I started watching it and it was a 2 hour episode. I watched the first hour and then my Internet connection hiccuped and it STARTED OVER again. I had to let it run through and managed to do something else while it did. What a total waste of time. What can I say I'm a reality show addict.

The Weekend

The weekend was full of laughs and fun at the cabin. We had several neighbors over Friday night for an impromptu dinner of ribs and fried okra. I drank an entire bottle of wine by myself but it was over a 5 hour period so I felt no pain. It was quite yummy. The evening was a bit marred by one of the guests, Ms.L who seems to ALWAYS have too much wine and ends up crumpled down in a chair in a drunken sleep. She drank a lot of wine and then proceeded to steal a persons martini's that was seated next to her an finish 3 of them on top of the wine. This is not an unusual happening and seems to happen every weekend. Ms.L is usually so bad that she has to be escorted home by two gentlemen, most of the time NOT her husband. Luckily for us he didn't have time to sneak out before we suggested that he take her home. He is avoiding the problem, his and hers about the drinking and leaving it to others. Now there is talk with her friends about an intervention but I do not want to be a part of that. Our little "resort" area is very small and I'm not sure that would work for us up there. Ms.L lives there full time with her husband and her parents also have a cabin and lives there full time. It is a very sticky situation but it is really getting out of hand. Apparently there is also problem in the bedroom as Ms.L let us girls know that it was NOT happening in the bedroom for them. Which explains the talk about her at the 4th of July party where she was grinding around on another woman's husband (the other woman was not there), AND Ms.L doesn't care about which sex the person is. A few weeks ago I was in the kitchen at the sink hulling strawberries while another of our friends was helping me. Well, Ms.L came behind me and starting smooching my neck and grinding me from the backside.!!!!!!!YIKES!!!!! My eyes were bugging out of their eye sockets as I looked at the other friend and she was gasping. Ms.L then went to the living room and I just was in shock. Later that evening she grabbed me and started slow dancing and trying to do the grind. This is really a problem and if her husband doesn't start taking care of it I guess we girls will have too. Wow...

Update on #1 Girl

A little news on #1 girl is she has picked up another class to teach ESL Intermediate Reading class as an adjunct instructor at the local junior college. This means that even thought she will be coming to work for us next week she won't be there all day Monday and Wednesday. But that is OK as long as I can have a couple of days off that is just fine. I just hope she doesn't want to be paid full-time because that is NOT going to happen. It will definitely be interesting having her there.

Oh Big Brother!

Oh Big Brother! It was very interesting tonight. I have the live feed but have not watched it for a few days and boy did I miss some stuff. DO NOT READ FURTHER IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED THURSDAY NIGHT!!!!

Evil Dick and Jen went head to head and it was not very pretty. Jen started by hiding her clothes with the pretext of packing to leave but she was getting ready to go after ED. She went in and took his stash of cigarettes and DESTROYED them. She then went and ate even though she was supposed to be on slop till the end. That cost her an extra vote to be OUT! Then when Dick found out the cancer sticks were gone he went nuts. While she was eating he blew smoke in her face and then it started to physical. Jen ended up with a little burn on her hand. I thought that one was going to go right then since there was not supposed to be THAT kind of contact. WOW! It was an exciting episode and I'm going to have to pay closer attention.

She's Gone

We've had a very nice visit with #2 this past week but she is at this moment landing in LA ready to continue her new life there. The week has been filled with lots of laughter, lots of her old friends and lots of family. She was staying with us so our little routine at home was a little disrupted but not like she used to be. She even made her bed this morning before she left. That is a real biggy. You can tell she has matured and it was a pleasure having having her home. Last night all four of us went out to dinner at a place in downtown called McNellies. After a few beers and dinner we ventured next door to a place called The Continental. What a nice place and it was totally empty. There was a stage and the bartender said it was open Jazz night. While we sampled a few drinks in walked part of the band Harmonious Monk and I forgot that #2 knew some of the band mates. She ran over to hug one of the guys and had a nice visit. I could hear her telling him about her living in LA and on an on. As the bewitching hour came for The Hubby and we decided to go home so I could catch the last of Big Brother. The girls decided to stay, I'm sure to catch the band that was not going to start till 10, WAY past my bedtime. God I'm old. This morning as I made sure #2 was rolled out of bed to catch her plane I was hit with a sadness that she was going away again. It had been 8 months since we had set eyes on my little girl. I was actually nervous for her traveling and right now waiting for her call to say she is safe and sound there. Her Dad took her to the airport as her bag would not fit into my new little car. When I made it into the office he leaned over my desk to ask how our little visit went last night when she came in from the club. I said it was nice but my eyes saw a real sadness in him too. He is very worried about our little girl. He wanted me to grill her about work, if she really loved this new guy in her life, you know pry. I was not comfortable with that and have had my butt bit by delving into my girls lives when I shouldn't. They are adults and they will tell me when they want to although last night was a nice opening for the discussion and so we talked. We actually talked about babies (ARGHHHHH!) She's not ready but she's trying to get her sister off the kick of being scared to death about "having" a baby. Well, that's another discussion. All in all it was a wonderful visit with my lovely daughter.

Hosting the Fam

We're getting ready to have the family over for a party/dinner for #2 daughter on her visit home. That means The Hubby's and my side of the family so 19 in total (actually should be 22 but the others couldn't make it). I talked The Hubby into cooking his award winning smoked ribs and one chicken for the occasion. I made that Fresh Corn Salad again - YUM and will heat up some green beans. I just told everyone to bring something that would go with ribs and chicken and we'll see what they come up with. I just get tired of doing the email thing back and forth of what everyone is bringing and coordinating and stuff. Usually if you set the meat and say potluck with the rest it can be very interesting. Of course The Mother-In-Law is bringing a birthday cake 'cause The Hubby will be 52 on the 23rd so she has to have a birthday cake for the occasion. That is fine and lets me know the dessert is taken care of.

It has been nice having #2 home this week. She leaves I think Tuesday. Yesterday she and I went to her friends wedding, the reason for her visit. The downside of this little excursion home was that she was going to have to deal with her former roommate and high school friend. Both girls can be very stubborn but the roommate is a little wacky. #2 came home from work one day and there in the apartment were 7 guys (one the roommates boyfriend) to stay for a week. Some of them were also former high school friends. #2 was absolutely furious. Another day after work #2 opened the door of the apartment and there was a new puppy that had christened the place royally. The friend just had no respect for the feelings of #2, she only thought about what she wanted. So the girls lost any deposit they had especially since the friend didn't pay a pet deposit. It was a huge mess and the roommate moved out one month before the lease was up (her name was on it too). The utilities were in her name and she threatened to shut them off. That meant #2 would have had to have them turned on for one month and possibly pay deposits again...yuck. They made a compromise but the electric has got to be paid back to the roommate and she is not talking to #2 to settle the amount, until yesterday at the wedding. They talked amicably and hopefully their friendship is not totally ruined. I love this "little" girl and when she was leaving she came over and hugged me and told me she missed me and started crying which started me crying and then another mother of one of the other friends started crying and it just snowballed from there. I hope it all works out for them eventually. Living together can sure mess up a friendship, it's hard enough on husbands and wives and kiddos.

One thing I had forgotten about #2 being around is the non-stop talking. Her father and I took her out to the new restaurant downtown called El Guapos (we wired it) and her chatter about her life in LA was absolutely NON-STOP. We finished out meal and she hadn't even started eating hers. It is amazing how she can go on and on and on and on and on.....I love her!

I've Got News!

I've got news! The #1 daughter has given her notice at work where she has worked for 5 years and is coming to work for us. Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!!! The Hubby was very hesitant about this but I am all for it. First of all we need someone to man the phones while we are in Europe in October, that is reliable. Second, she is quite a organizationl guru and I so need it here in the office. Third, I NEED A BREAK, and this will give me the opportunity to come and go and go and go if I want to. I'm so ready to have some time at the house to organize my little room/office that is still in boxes after a year and a half. I'm very excited.

Other good news is that #2 daughter is home from California for a week. One of her friends is getting married and another friend had a baby in January or something like that and she has never seen the baby. So, our little girl is home. She looks great and I sure missed her. She seems very happy with her life and can't wait to go back. We're having a huge family dinner on Sunday to celebrate her visit.

This week has been filled with a lot of ups and downs - the funeral/memorial, my baby home, my **$$###??//^^#@@@ period that appeared on Saturday, #1 girl working for us. So you see the emotional roller coaster has been at my home this week.

A Most Tragic Event

I was sent an email last night informing me of a terrible tragic event. An old, old friend of mine lost her niece in a terrible car accident this past weekend as she was apartment hunting in Dallas beginning her new life. The young girl was only 26 years old and was starting out the most promising part of her journey in this world. She had achieved her graduate degree in Printmaking and was to start her internship at the Dallas Museum of Art. She had just returned from a trip to Africa working with Masai children at a boarding school. She was very gifted in art but also in her love and love of teaching children. The even more terrible tragedy was that Sarah was the only niece, child and grandchild of her family. How absolutely devastating for this family I know so well. I cannot imagine the loss they are feeling at this time. It is truly unimaginable the pain they must be going through.

Mother Nature has a cruel streak

Mother Nature is truly cruel. I have not been visited by her for 11 months and who should make an appearance Saturday night but Her Majesty. I can't believe it. I thought I was finally over all that crap. I am so very bummed that I have to start that whole year waiting all over again. WAAAAAAA!!!

This weekend #1 daughter and I hosted a bridal shower and it was a huge success. The food we made was terrific and everyone had a great time. They stayed for 3 hours. I made a fabulous tiny bacon and tomato sandwich with a parmesan mayo and fresh basil leaves for lettuce. YUMMY!

After the shower The Hubby and I drove up to the cabin for night of peace and quiet and so he could watch the meteor shower. I hit the bed at 9:30 since I was exhausted and recouperating from the monthly drag. I spent this morning reading on the book club selection and I think I am going to finish it by next week. I'm not enjoying it much. It is called The Queen of the South (see Books I'm Reading).

I am rambling I see. Not much has really happened in my life this week so i don't have much to talk about. You know since we are empty nesters, it is just us in the house in the evenings and I'm getting a little bored with the routine. You know, come home every night, turn on the TV, read the paper, check the mail, cook dinner and then watch TV till about 9 o'clock and then turn in - EVERY NIGHT! It is getting to be like my parents and I'M NOT MY PARENTS. I don't want to turn into that old foggy couple that has no life. I REFUSE! That is why I have my girlfriends to hang with, at least occasionally.

A Harried Friday

Even though today was not a payroll day I was still very busy, just not in the office. #1 daughter and I are hosting a bridal shower for her childhood friend tomorrow so today was numerous shopping errands to prepare. Luckily the house stays pretty clean since no kiddo's live here anymore and I have a girl that cleans every couple of weeks. Whew, that chore was done. Man, it was so hot geting in and out of the car running the errands around town. Well, over 100 today. So tomorrow I will hit the ground running as we, #1 and I are preparing the food for the shindig. I'm really looking forward to it as I love to throw parties. The only thing is that we are AGAIN missing a weekend at the lake place. This summer has been just shot what with trips and weddings. In fact, I have a wedding next weekend, one in September and one in October. I've spent a fortune on wedding gifts this year. Then in October we are going to Europe for 13 days and so fall will be half gone too and that is the best time of year for the lake and the peace and quiet.

The week in review...so far

Well, there is some good news for a change. #2 daughter is coming home for a visit. It has been 8 months since we have laid eyes on her and I'm pretty excited although I'm not ready for The Hubby to start growling about her messes in the house. One of her friends is getting married and so she is coming home for the wedding. She has quit her job and living with the boyfriend. She spent most of the $600 she made on the Tears For Fears tour on a cell phone so....(I hang my head and sigh).

#1 daughter has gotten good news. She will be teaching ESL at the junior college part-time and she is very excited. She has been working on her masters in Teaching English as a Second Language for awhile now and should be through next spring, hopefully. Did I say she is very excited.

Finally, yesterday I went to the GYN for my yearly and she said that I was pretty much through the menopause thing. You've got to be kidding. This has been a breeze, at least so far. I've had a few night sweats and personal summers but all in all it's been pretty easy. It has been 11 months since my last period and my luck I'll have one next month. LOL!!! I have mixed feelings about this. I've always thought it would wonderful if I was through with the monthly stuff but I am a little sad. It's not that I would want another child, heaven forbid but you just realize that part of your life has stopped, ended, finished. I love to watch the birthing shows and sometimes envision myself going through it all again. I loved being pregnant and having the babies but I don't miss the sleepless nights, the diapers, the spit up, the screaming, and the exhaustion. I miss the smiling till you face felt like it was going to break, the coos, the baby smells. Maybe I'll have to live it through my daughters, but wait, they don't want to have kids. Oh well, we'll just have to wait to see what the future holds.

A Shopping we will go, a shopping we will go!

We stayed in town this weekend because The Hubby had to work in the office this weekend. I didn't work and if he thought I would he had another thing coming. Back to the purpose of this blog. A shopping I went with our #1 daughter. We haven't been shopping together for sometime and I mean maybe a year or two. Anyway, she told me of the outlet Dillard's on the east side of town and that they were having a huge sale till about Sept 16, 50% to 75% off and this weekend was no tax weekend. Well, we hightailed it out there first thing when it opened, 11 am and wow. Mostly clothes and they were very name brand clothes. Lots and lots of clothes. We found comforter covers, tablecloths, bedskirts, napkins and lots and lots of clothes for us our lovely guys in our life and even shirts for my Daddy. When we got home we tallied what I actually spent with the original prices on the tags: the original price total was $3,356 and I actually spend $441.46 with only paying $7.52 in tax on the non-clothing items. WOW! Can you believe it. Run do not walk if you are in the Tulsa area and shop, shop, shop till you drop. Go early so to not get caught in the tired and stressed nerves of the shoppers or cashiers. The lines are long so be very patient and try not to get caught up in the ugly talk (almost a fight behind us over a place in line). Wear tennis shoes and be prepared to carry, carry, carry. Take a stroller without the baby to use as a cart. Hubbies there are tons of pants and shirts to choose from, lots of linen and cotten casual shirts for CHEAP! I mean it "A shopping we will go, a shopping we will go, high ho the dario, a shopping we will go."

Time for a nap, I'm exhausted.

Will #2 every get it!

The #2 daughter, as I've previously blogged is living in California, far away from her parents parental reach. She loves it there and last week she got to do what she is certified/trained to do. She is an audio engineer. She loves music and wants to be in the music scene. This past week she got to work with Tears For Fears on their four city tour in California doing marketing for them. #2 was ecstatic that her favorite band and the members are now friends of hers. She was flying high when I talked to her a couple of days ago and was actually paid $600 for her work. YEAH, I say. Well, she told me that she was going to use part of the money to fly home this month for a friends wedding and to see us since it has been 8 months since she has set foot in this city. She is homesick and I miss her. Well, last night she called and was depressed and sad. She was feeling the down side of being up after a very happy previous week. After a little more prodding I find out what she is down about.l First, if I didn't blog before, she has moved in with her boyfriend who is just a tad older than she is (14 years older). Yeah, I know I'm not happy but what do you do. Anyway, in this condo he has she has her own little office space and her own bathroom and I'm a little confused if it is an actual boyfriend/girlfriend thing but I don't ask. Back to the story. She is upset because she can't unpack her boxes and she is talking about buying paint. I know that this little girl can't settle down and be happy unless her surroundings are absolutely PERFECT. She is very obsessed about it. Then she starts talking about not being able to come home because she can't afford it. I was confused since she just make $600 and is not paying rent. She said she had to buy a new phone. Now mind you we bought her other phone, which she still has and we pay for her bill. It's the only thing left that she doesn't pay for. She said that "W" had to get a new phone and they got a plan. I asked her how much the phone was and she told me $300, it's a palm. WHAT!!!!! #2 there was no reason for that. This is where she is still immature in her thinking. It shows that she was a little pampered but she realizes that it was a mistake at this point when she realizes that it affected her chance to come home. I didn't offer to buy her a ticket and she wouldn't accept it anyway. She's trying to make it on her own, so to speak. Then she started crying about a job. She quit her other really good job at a art store but she wants to do "music" and can't seem to wrap her head around being a waitress or salesperson. I told her she will have to do some grunt work since she hasn't got a college education and very little work experience. She has to be hungry and I think that at this point she is hungry for family. I hope #2 finally learns something through all of this. It's so hard for her to be there and us here. She asked for my help with what she should do about finding a job and I told her that I was in Oklahoma and she was in California and I would be absolutely no help. I told her to start knocking on every door she could. Any money at this point is much better than nothing. I think she sees us, her parents, doing very well and assumes that that is the way for her but doesn't realize it takes years and hard work to attain what we have. She has to get off her keister and make it happen. I told her she needed to get her drive in high gear.

Well, I'm on a role. She's not here for me to rag on so I blog.

Insomnia AGAIN

I was very tired yesterday and I only got up one hour earlier to get The Hubby to the hospital for his colonoscopy, but that was 4 am. You would think that I would sleep but Oh No, not happening. We went to bed at 10 pm last night and lo' and behold I was awakened but something, I think a dream, at 2:30 am. I laid in that stupid bed till 4 am knowing full well that the alarm was going to go off at 4:45. I tossed and turned and just couldn't go back to sleep. I was hot too (can we say hot flash). So this morning I'm a little groggy sitting her typing away. If this doesn't make a whole lot of sense well, there is a reason! YAWN!

Can we say colonoscopy!

Tomorrow The Hubby has his first colonoscopy. He has left the office to go home and start drinking the "stuff" that make him not want to leave a particular room! I say, "See ya later." I am left to man...woman the office today. Tomorrow morning we have to BE at the hospital at 6am. That's really no sweat since we get up at 5 every morning. I just need about 30 more minutes to eat my oatmeal and shower. I'm feeling a little guilty because I will be eating in front of him but it can't be helped, I have to have sustance. My colonoscopy will probably be this fall so it will be his turn to be the DD (designated driver).

I finished Harry Potter last night. Stayed up till midnight then up at 5 am for Jazzercise. A little sleepy here! I liked the ending but it was a little slow going in the book. I thought Rowling wrapped it up nicely for the kiddos reading it. It was also, I think, the first time I saw a "bad" word in her books. It was bastard. Curious. Well, anyway now I'm on to The Queen of the South. I've had to put Paula Deen's book on hold while I finished Harry and the bookclub choice. A reading we will go, A reading we will go, Hi Ho the Darrio A Reading we will go! I'm a little sleep deprived......

The Weekend

Finally got a whole weekend at the cabin and I feel refreshed although I don't know if you can feel refreshed when you just hosted a dinner gathering for 16. It was great fun. The Hubby smoked a DAMN good brisket and everyone brought a side dish or dessert or appetizer. I made a couple of great recipes. In the Cooking Light magazine (not sure which month) is a very simple recipe for Fresh Corn Salad. FABULOUS! Run out today and get the copy for that recipe alone. It was fast, simple and delicious. I also found a recipe on the web for a sopapilla cheesecake (the one with 2 pkg of crescent rolls and 3 pkgs of cream cheese). It was very good but you want to eat it warm as it kind of stringy. We had good food and great conversation, at the the guys had some great conversation. They were enamored by a guest of one of our guests. They were pilots together and the guests-guest used to be a Romanian MIG fighter pilot. The men (little boys) were intriqued by his stories. The man was very nice but the instant he sat one foot in our door the stories started and 3 of the men didn't even make into the kitchen to eat they were so wrapped up in the center of attention that was the guests-guest. I was a little perturbed because I could hardly get the eating started with the rest of the guests, but all in all the evening was huge success at the party didn't break up till around 11 and usually the lake parties break up about 9.

On the note of the lake. The water is down on the wigwam but still totally covering the meadows and the swimming area and the dam is still totally under. The vegetation that was under is rotting and absolutely stinks.

Toddles all as I surf the web.

I'm so tired.

I have been so tired this week. So tired that my eyes have been absolutely burning during the day. I get out of bed Monday thru Friday at 5 am without fail and then have the weekends to at least sleep in a couple of hours. Well, with us at the business seminar last weekend we had to get up at 5 am there as well, so my rest-catch-up weekend just didn't happen. So I'm very happy that tomorrow is Friday and I'm heading for the cabin and some rest and relaxation and lots of reading. There will also be a little party time on Saturday night as we're hosting a smoked brisket dinner on Saturday for 16 with the neighbors.

Some very exciting news: The #2 daughter that is in California is really living her dream this weekend. She is officially working for Tears For Fears (temporarily)for their concert in Saratoga, California. This band has been her very favorite for many years and to finally get a chance to work with them is AWESOME! Kudos to #2.

My new Grandbaby

His name is either Louie or Buddy....7-26-07 I was wrong his official name today is Mondo Luis Shepley (the last name a combo of B&B's last names-my daughter and boyfriend)

Nothing to Say

Well, I really don't have anything to blog about tonight as nothing really has happened today AT ALL! It was another boring day at the lonely office. Normally I would be able to break up the day and watch TV through my computer as The Hubby has installed cable and a TV program in my computer but the stupid program crashed and I'm again left alone. The Hubby just doesn't understand about the TV. He thinks that I will just sit and get nothing done but it is the opposite. It is white noise and I mainly listen to it since I only have human voices on the phone IF someone calls.

To St. Louis and Back

Thursday afternoon The Hubby and I took off for St. Louis, Missouri for a business seminar. We left on Thursday because we had to be at the first meeting at 7:30 am Friday morning. We signed up for this seminar because we are toying with the idea of taking our business to a different kind of service business, actually back to how we started it. I was a little apprehensive about all of this and so went into the first meeting a little edgy but with an open mind. We listened for two whole days as a real gung-ho guy talked and talked and talked. Truth be told if he would have been holding a Bible in his hand I would have sworn I was at a revival meeting. But it was definitely not that kind of subject (thank goodness).

For awhile now I have been blogging about my boredom with work and The Hubby has been telling me how bored he is with it too. He is also finding it hard to get up the enthusiasm to continue everyday. He is burned out and so am I. We know we have to continue because it is our bread and butter and it has done quite well for us but to maintain the level we are at is a bitch and to add exhausting too. There are many times we have to work the weekends and evenings to get billing done and that leaves us just dead. We are tired and this new idea of flat rate pricing for us is intriguing. If it is set up right you can leave your people to run the business and you can take time off. Right now we are at taking separate vacations because we can't be gone too long together without the whole thing cratering. We just can't continue for another 10 or 15 years like this. It has been 28 years already and we are just about done.

So the 6 hour drive back home yesterday was almost constant talking about changing our future and the more I think about it I'm in for it. I'm ready. I'm ready to take the next step in our lives.

Can we quit rehashing the subject PLEASE!

Can we quit rehashing the subject PLEASE! The subject, well there are several subjects and they all include money and kids. Tonight The Hubby and I were discussing an old friend that he saw today and I asked how the old friends kids were. Well, the "college" word came up and then The Hubby went off on when #2 daughter comes back home she will go to the junior college and then cheap college for her bachelors, etc. I went off again on him. AGAIN...I told him that first of all #2 daughter is not coming home from California, she loves it there. Second she will not go to college, she hated it when she tried and I barely got her through high school because she hated it so bad. He just can't seem to get that "college" thing out of his mind. We've done quite well for ourselves even though we didn't have college (I got my bachelors AFTER we had kids) but he thinks she won't amount to anything without college. Then he leap-frogged to #1 daughter's college days. He said that #1 should have gone to a cheap college because it cost so much for her to go to the Ivy League school(his words) that she graduated from. He went off on how much we had to pay and I had to correct him. I told him that all but the last semester came out of her college fund that I began for her as a baby. He said I never told him that which is a big fat lie. He then started in about how I never show him the finances and blah, blah, blah. OH MY GOD! He is about it again. Granted I take care of all the finances and always have because he didn't have time to mess with them. I also do all the money stuff for our business. He doesn't have room to gripe because with my handling the finances I have been able to keep us totally out of debt with two houses paid for and a business paid for and our only debt is a car payment so RASPBERRIES!!!!!!!! to him.

I'm Done!

I'm done. Done with what you say. Well, I am officially not a Mary Kay consultant anymore. Don't get me wrong, I will continue to use the products because I truly love it. I just don't want to work at it anymore. So, I now have so much room in my room that I'm LOVING it. I spent all day Sunday cleaning out my stock and creating new space for more "stuff" in my room. It's so very nice to actually see floor.

Now maybe I can start my book I'm always talking about writing although I have a really good idea but just need to find the right starting place. Wish me luck!

Sunday Morning

I am home this morning, not sitting in the wonderful screened porch at the lake which is my favorite thing to do on weekend mornings. So I decide to get up and enjoy my in-town back porch. I gather up my coffee, my journal, my book of the moment and the Sunday paper and head to the porch. I fill my bird feeders so I have something to watch and then unfurl the paper. The sky is blue and the temperture is very pleasant for July. All of a sudden the light dims and the sky starts to rumble and the wind begins to blow sending my paper out of my hands and the bird feeders swaying. Oh No! Not more rain. My goodness I have had enough of the wet stuff for a bit. I really would not mind if I was at the lake in my screened porch but I don't have that luxury here in town, yet. So I gather up my Sunday newspaper, my journal, my coffee, my book and head indoors to my favorite chair to again start the morning.

I'm torn as to what to do today. The Hubby is going into the office to work and if he even half-way thinks that I'm going to accompany him he's got another thing coming. I'm tossing the idea of going to the new Harry Potter movie but I also need to work on my little room and clear out some stuff that I have yet to tackle. Maybe I'll work in the room and then we'll go to the movie tonight, together. That might work. I've got to pack up my Mary Kay stuff because I've decided to quit selling it and it is taking up a lot of room in here. I'm hoping my director will by my stock so I can get it gone. Don't get me wrong, I will still use the stuff, just not be a consultant. Didn't work it well anyway, my heart wasn't in it. In fact my director was supposed to meet me for lunch last Thursday at Olive Garden but didn't show. I waited for 30 minutes but no one so I had lunch all by myself. I found out that her daughter wrecked her car, the rental car that she had a week 'cause she wrecked her other car the week before. YIKES! At least she could have called me since the wreck was the night before and it was a fender bender only...you think! Can you tell I'm a little pissed. I hate to be stood up and it seems to happen to me a lot, even when I was dating - high school, since I married a year out.

Yum, I love coffee! I'm actually going to enjoy having the house to myself without the hubby hanging around. Just his presense seems to get in my way in my mind. I can't seem to get motivated when he is lurking around. I know that sounds crazy but he is a perfectionist and anything I do he critiques, maybe not with words but with actions and especially his eyes. Trust me it is there. You would think after 31 years I would be used to it but sometimes I just can't handle it. He really doesn't realize he does it but he does. Funny thing...Friday night we were at the cabin and the neighbors hollored to come over for dinner and bring whatever we brought to eat, joining forces to speak. I love that about the lake and I LOVE my friends and neighbors there. Anyway, The Hubby rolled his eyes and said he felt guilty that we were always going somewhere else to eat and not reciprocating the offers at our place. I reminded him of a few weeks ago when we hosted 12 people there for dinner and the numerous occasions of us hosting dinners and then I told him we were taking a WHOLE roasted chicken over there for dinner. I called him his mother's name because that would be EXACTLY the response his mother would have. Funny guy. Sometimes he is too nice and tries to be too proper. My God it is the lake and in the country. It's not the WhiteHouse. What a man. Anyway, we had great food and a fabulous time laughing, eating and drinking a lot of wine. Cheers!

Woody Gutherie Festival

The #1 daughter begged and pleaded for The Hubby and I to come to the Woody Guthrie Festival this weekend; 1. To meet her boyfriend's father since the boyfriend is from Woody Guthrie's hometown, and 2. To see her jewelry she makes (see Sheezkrafty)that she sells there. So we left the comfort of the weekend cabin and found our way to Okemah to attend the Woody Guthrie Festival. It was really fun even though we didn't stay for too much of the music. We got to see the Red Dirt Rangers which are very good and enjoyed a few glasses of wine at The Grape Ranch. Leaving the festival we found our way through the towns of Wetumpka and Weleetka on our way home. I have lived my whole life in Oklahoma and had never been to Okemah, Wetumpka or Weleetka so I have to mark the occasion.

Bored Again!

Well, here I sit. It is Friday afternoon about 1:40 pm and I am sitting in our office, ALONE! It has been that way all week long. It wouldn't be so bad but the TV program/hookup The Hubby put in my computer has a bug or something and so I'm alone, really alone this week. I'm going crazy sitting here with absolutely NOTHING to do (did I mention no windows to speak of). I read a book this week but finished it yesterday and forgot to bring a new one with me today. I thought we would be leaving early to go to the cabin but OH NO that is not happening. I know, I know, he's busy bringing in the bread, the moolah, the money, but why do I have to sit here all day long and wait for him to come back in sometime to get an invoice, just one invoice ready for me to type, probably about 3:30 or 4 when I want to go home. He cannot understand why I really don't want to be here anymore or at least not all the time. The #1 daughter has asked if she can come to work for us if she quits her other job (another story about hating where she is right now)and I'm absolutely all for it. (It would be temporary.) First of all, she needs to be able to help either The Hubby out if I'm "gone" or the other way around, or even both of us, so it would be a great learning experience for her. Second, I could use some time off while she gets the place organized. I'm just so depressed and bored out of my mind sitting here that I can not do anything. I have no desire, energy, or just plain interest in it at all right now. The Hubby just doesn't understand my feelings about it all. He wouldn't understand since he goes out all day long running around, checking on the jobsites, giving quotes, visiting with people. I know he sometimes hates it but I envy him and always have, and in return he envies me. I just need a break, and I know the spa trip was supposed to give me that but that was a tease, just a tease. I'M BORED, I'M DEPRESSED, I'M BORED, BORED, BORED...

100 Years

Just some interesting triva about Oklahoma!


Oklahoma Centennial

Oklahoma is celebrating its 100th anniversary of
statehood this year. Because most people think of the
stage play "Oklahoma!" when they hear the state's name
mentioned, citizens are attempting to update the
state's image by sharing interesting state facts with
others as we celebrate our Centennial.

Oklahoma is not only the home of Ado Annie and Aunt
Eller from "Oklahoma!" but of the parking meter
(invented in OKC) and the shopping cart (invented in
Ardmore).

The electric guitar also was invented in Oklahoma, by
a Beggs musician named Bob Dunn. The first "Yield"
sign was installed in Tulsa.

**Environmental Protection Agency recognizes Oklahoma
as having the most diverse terrain of any state in the nation. The state, according to EPA, boasts 11 distinct eco-regions.

The state has more man-made lakes than any other
state, which give us more than a million surface-acres
of water and 2,000 more miles of shoreline than the
Atlantic and Gulf coasts combined.

The Sooner State has produced more astronauts than any
other state in the union. Owen Garriott is an Enid
boy, of course, while Tom Stafford is from
Weatherford, Shannon Lucid from Oklahoma City, William
Pogue from Okemah and the late Gordon Cooper from
Shawnee.

Oklahoma is home to the Amateur Softball Association
and Hall of Fame, a world class zoo in OKC and more F4
and F5 tornadoes than any other state.

Oklahoma is the third-largest gas-producing state in
the nation and ranks fourth in the production of
wheat, cattle and calves, fifth in the production of
pecans, sixth in peanuts and eighth in peaches.

The state's colors are neither OU's crimson and cream
nor the orange and black of OSU but green and white.

Oklahomans practice 73 major religions. The largest is
the Southern Baptist Convention, with nearly 1,600
church and more than 960,000 members.

Oklahoma gave birth to Dick Tracy (cartoonist Chester
Gould is a native of Pawnee) and Donald Duck (Clarence
"Ducky" Nash, the original voice of Walt Disney's
Donald, grew up in Watonga).

Oklahomans have survived the Dust Bowl, any number of
killer tornadoes, the 1995 bombing of Oklahoma City's
Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building and various oil
booms and busts. Oklahoma is populated by people who
are caring, giving, hard-working, patriotic and
fiercely independent. Oklahoma is a good place to
live, work and play.

The challenge in this, our centennial year, is to make
the rest of America aware of what Oklahoma has to
offer, besides "beautiful mornings," "fringe-laden
surreys" and "a girl who cain't say no."

The official statehood celebration will be in
November. In the meantime, individual cities are
restaging various events associated with statehood and
the settling of Indian Territory which eventually
became our state. It's a great time to be an Oklahoman
and I wanted to share this with you!

Pass this on to friends who might not know anything
about our state. Especially, since the quarter design
won't show anything informative about OKLAHOMA other
than we have scissor-tailed flycatchers and
sunflowers.

The Pensacola Dam, built in 1940 is still the World's Longest Multiple Arch Dam. At 6,565 feet in length, the dam is located on the south shores of Grand Lake O' the Cherokees between Langley and Disney.

Originally, the state of Oklahoma was set aside for the exclusive use of the Indians and was called Indian Territory . However, in 1889, the land was opened to settlers in what became known as the " Oklahoma Land Rush." On the first opening day on April 22, 1889, 50,000 people swarmed into the area. Those who tried to beat the noon starting gun were called Sooners. Hence the state's nickname

The official State Meal of Oklahoma is chicken fried steak, fried okra, squash, cornbread, barbecue pork, biscuits, sausage and gravy, grits, corn, strawberries, black eyed peas and pecan pie.

FAMOUS PEOPLE OF OKLAHOMA
(this is not a complete list but just naming a few)
*Garth Brooks was born in Tulsa and grew up in Yukon, Oklahoma .
*Gene Autry,Sapulpa, Actor, musician
*Johnny Bench,Baseball great
*William "Hopalong Cassidy" Boyd,Tulsa, Actor
*Paul and Thomas Braniff, Okla. City, Aviation pioneers
*Anita Bryant, Tulsa, Entertainer
*Lon Chaney
*Roy Clark, Tulsa, Musician, Actor
*Bart Conner, Olympic gold medal winner, gymnastics
*Leroy Gordon Cooper, Of Shawnee, was among the original seven US astronauts. He orbited the earth 22 times in 1963

*Joan Crawford, Lawton, Actress
*Admiral William Crowe, Former Head of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff.
*Dizzy Dean, Baseball great
*John Denver, Born, Clinton, Musician
*Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd Akins, Sallisaw, Outlaw
*Owen K. Gariott, Of Enid, US astronaut
*James Garner, Actor
*Geronimo, Fort Sill, Apache Warrior
*Vince Gill, Country singer
*Woody Guthrie, Considered by most to be the father of American Folk music, was born Woodrow Wilson Guthrie in Okemah, OK, July 14, 1912

*Mary Hart, Okla. City, TV anchorwoman
*Paul Harvey, Tulsa, Broadcast journalist
*Ron Howard, Duncan, Actor/Director
*Toby Keith, Moore, Musician
*Jean Kirkpatrick, Ambassador to the United Nations
*Gordon William "Pawnee Bill" Lillie, Pawnee, Wild West Show
*Dr. Shannon Lucid, Of Oklahoma City, a US astronaut. She was on board the space shuttle Atlantis during its flight in October of 1989

*Reba McEntire, Country and western music entertainer, actor
*Phillip C McGraw "Dr. Phil", Oklahoma City, TV Host
*Mickey Mantle, Baseball great.
*Pepper Martin, Baseball great
*Shannon Miller, Edmond, Gymnast
*Kenny Monday, Great wrestler and athlete
*Bobby Murcer, Oklahoma City, Baseball great.
*Carry Nation, Of Guthrie, led the fight for prohibition
*Bill Pickett, Ponca City, Invented bulldogging
*Brad Pitt, Shawnee, Actor
*William R. Pogue,of Okemah, among the original seven US astronauts. He returned to earth on February 8, 1974 after 84 days in space.

*Wiley Post, A Native Oklahoman and a pioneer in the field of aviation. He was the first to discover the jet stream and the first ever to design and wear a space suit

*Lynn Riggs, Author, writer "Green Grow The Lilacs" from which script Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote the Broadway musical hit "Oklahoma!"

*Will Rogers, Humorist, entertainer, ambassador-at-large
*John Smith, Great wrestler and athlete
*Thomas P Stafford, Of Weatherford, US astronaut who commanded the joint United States-Soviet

*Belle Starr, Outlaw 1846-1889, was called the "Queen of the Outlaws" , "a female Jesse James"

*Willie Stargell, Baseball great

*Bill Tilghman, Bat Masterson called him "The greatest of us all." Bill Tilghman was a fearless gunfighter who rode with a badge throughout Indian Territory in the 1890's as one of the "Three Guardsmen." He was responsible of arresting dozens of hardened outlaws and criminals during his life and participated in many gunfights. After retiring from law enforcement, he was coaxed into wearing his badge one more time in 1924 at the age of 70 in a wild and woolly oil boom town of Cromwell, Oklahoma where a young drunk shot and killed him without provocation

*Bob Tway, Of Edmond, he won the PGA Championship in 1986

*Jim Thorpe, One of Oklahoma's greatest athletes. At the 1912 Olympics, the King of Sweden declared that Thorpe was "the greatest athlete in the world."

*Wayman Tisdale, Great basketball player and athlete
*Carrie Underwood, Of Checotah. American Idol winner 2005.

*Paul and Lloyd Waner, Outfielders from Harrah, OK. The only brothers in the National Baseball Hall of Fame

*JC Watts, Sooner quarterback, U.S. congressman
*Bud Wilkerson, Norman, Football

The Hubby sitting on the old caretakers fireplace July 4

The old caretakers fireplace underwater July 7



Canoe racks under water



The meadow underwater

...and the water should crest, according to the Corp of Engineers THIS Thursday... OH MY

Flooding pictures

Well, Blogger is giving me fits with uploading pictures so I only have one here today. It is the wigwam at the lake underwater. Hopefully I will have more if this site cooperates.

Finally

I finally found a picture for my profile that I kind of like. The other one I was stuffing my face with sushi for my 51st birthday at In The Raw. Yummy, but it was a terrible picture. Anyway, this weekend we stayed in town, or least part of the weekend to attend the 1st birthday of a little girl named Abigail. She is the granddaughter of one of my/our best friends, Gail, that passed away one year ago March. It should be a quick little party and then we will be off to the lake to see how the water rises. We got a call Friday that there was over 2' of water in the wigwam (community house) and can't wait to check it out and hopefully have pictures. All this water though has another BIG downside, snakes. Yup, the copperheads and water moccasions are on the move to dryer ground and that means with us humans that are quite vunerable. Last Saturday night in the meadow there was a family shooting off fireworks and their college age daughter was bit by a copperhead. YIKES!!!! I DO NOT LIKE THAT! My greatgrandmother was bit twice on the ankle when she stepped out her back door when I was a child. Very scary stuff. Can't wait till fall and winter when they go back in their little holes and leave us humans ALONE!

My World is Complete

Today at lunch The Hubby asked if I minded running an errand with him. "Sure" I tell him. We make our way through lunch hour traffic and pull up in front of, wait for it.....Hubcap Kingdom. My world is now complete. I've seen it all. Wow, a whole store of hubcaps. Funny don't you think.

Last night was the beginning of the new Big Brother 8 and this season should be full of fireworks. It actually made me feel a little uncomfortable sitting and watching ex's, old hated friends and the father daughter thing start to unfold. I wouldn't be surprised if there was some physical altercations that happen, mark my word on that, at least between the ex's.

Going up!

The water is still rising at the lake place and by last night there was about 2' of water in the wigwam. Will have more pictures this weekend.

Your Taste in Music:

80's Pop: Highest Influence 90's Pop: High Influence 90's Rock: High Influence Alternative Rock: High Influence 80's Rock: Medium Influence

How's Your Taste in Music?

Fireworks

Last night I was coerced into going to the Riverparks to watch the fireworks. This is not something I like to do and I have successfully avoided being among the crowds for a number of years, up until now. My excuse before was because our little dog was scared and I didn't want to leave her home alone while the boom-boom-boom's went off, but since our little one passed away last year I have no excuses left. Our oldest daughter works in a building close by the river and they always have a huge party and BBQ cookout and she has begged for me to join them. The Hubby has been every year. It wasn't that bad and the fireworks show was great fun and since it was our Centennial it was extra special.

Water, Water Everywhere

Here are the latest pictures of our lake getaway. The water is a rising very fast and should be in the wigwam tonight...one picture is the wigwam and the water approaching and the other is of the dam that is completely underwater.