"I believe in Auburn and love it!"

Just to think of all the events these trees have witnessed boggles the mind. They are monsters, after all. 130+ year old trees adorning an intersection in what some might call an old “college cow town”. But, they don't understand it. Or maybe they just don't appreciate it. Either way, if you're not a part of the Auburn family, you're not expected to understand. It's okay....you're not faulted.

I've heard/read so many comments: “It's not like they poisoned the Sequoyas!” “There are greater things to worry about.” “I'm sure those over in Afghanistan fighting for our freedom don't give a hoot about those trees.” “It's not like 9-11!” “Shouldn't the Homeland Security be protecting us from terrorists...not herbicides?”

All are valid statements. For most, these trees are an emotional attachment to a thriving time in their lives. Many have made the trip to the campus to ceremoniously roll the trees in toilet paper to celebrate Auburn victories. Many have continued this tradition with their children. Many have probably consumed too much and had the misfortune of using them as a leaning post, pallet or worse...a trash can.

Just to think of the number of students passing by, near or under these massive structures of nature is overwhelming. On their way to higher education. On their way to social engagements. On their way to work. On their way to get some lemonade. :) On their way into town for the week and on their way out of town for the weekend.

There's some of us that spent countless hours beneath those tress on warm spring or cool fall days with our books spread out like a Thanksgiving feast. Many of us located just south of the trees and gazed at their beauty during a game of frizbee or football. Countless used them as shelter from the rain during our commutes to and from class...they have amazing coverage! And a select few of us were asked for our hand in marriage with those 130 year old branches towering above us. ;)

No, the trees down in Auburn, Alabama on the campus of the Loveliest Village on the Plains aren't national monuments. They do happen to be monuments to the current National Champions, though. So, with victory comes great price.

The troops are still overseas, the national debt is still out of control and there are much more important things to take precedence over “some trees that would've died one day anyway”, as one Facebook user so eloquently put it. But their place in so many individual histories has not diminished over time. In fact, this event will most likely resurrect those memories.

For the individual that thought this was a good idea. I feel sorry for you. I, as an Auburn fan, don't expect anyone to adopt my thinking. I chose Auburn long ago as my team, my school and my family. And as everyone can agree, you protect your family with fierceness (some may say...that of a Tiger).

Rivalry is great. It's great for the fans, the players, the schools and the conference. This won't be the first time it's been taken too far. I recall more than one instance of family disputes where individuals are shot, stabbed, robbed or even killed. Rest assured, the Auburn family agrees that those are all greater crimes than the poisoning of trees at a University. Nevertheless, the act itself shouldn't go unpunished. And the punishment won't replace the trees, if they do succumb to the poisonous cocktail they've been fed.

But, in due time, regardless of the outcome, the memories will still remain for those that have had the pleasure of making them. And for those that haven't...a new tradition will emerge, if necessary. It's who we are. It's what we do. War Eagle!

Look who fell off the turnip truck...

It's me. I admit it. I've got a few things to get off my chest. I know I've been absent for a bit, but I feel it's time to get back to it. As time permits, of course.

Have you heard about the new gimmick by SunChips? Crazy... essentially, they've decided to get on the "green" bandwagon in the hopes that folks will ignore their 'un-nutritious-ness' and instead "BUY CHIPS WITH A DISPOSABLE BAG! - IT'S THE GREEN THING TO DO". They've created a biodegradable chip bag. That's right....over 12 weeks (as the commercial says) it becomes compost for the plants and looooovvvvvveeeely tulips will rise forth from whence said bag was tossed. Exhilirating, right?

My guess...and that's all it is, a guess...is that they haven't factored in the lazy folks that will toss this bag, just like all the rest of the stuff they toss out the window - cigarette butts, tissues, Capri-Sun straw wrappers, yogurt cup lids, etc. - and until the aforementioned 12 weeks lapses we ain't gonna have nothin' but a freakin mess out there!

Ugh...perhaps I should just give it a chance, huh? We'll see who's right in the end. This really all seems like a great story from The Onion. "Biodegradable Chip Bags Replace Roadside Flowers...Until They Bloom, Anyway".

And...if you haven't seen the new "We Are the World" video, you should. I'm intrigued to know your thoughts on it compared to the original from 25 years ago. Go ahead...talk amongst yourselves!

Tweet...Tweet

Got some new babies at my house!

Not sure what type bird they are, but they currently reside in a fern hanging on my back porch! It's funny how this happened...cause we lost Pluto yesterday!

Pluto was our rowdy parakeet, but we had grown to love him! He was Hallie's, a gift from Peepaw for her 4th birthday. We're not sure what happened to him, but this nest of new birdies is right outside the window where we put his cage. So, with death came life, or so it seems.

In other news....my neighbor's are about to have a new baby at their house too. Currently taking it easy, April will be bringing the little guy into the world in the next couple of weeks! We're so excited for her, daddy ~Chris~ and big sister ~Courtnee~!

Grin and Bear It!

As of last night, we have a new guest at our house!

The TOOTH FAIRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hayden lost his first tooth last night. He's seven years old and just now losing it! The permanent tooth had already broken through and I coached him through wiggling the baby tooth until it was almost ready to break free! Finally, as he was brushing his teeth, it turned sideways and I pulled it out for him! Now Hallie has been walking around trying to figure out how to get her teeth to come out...she's never to be outdone!

I've never been bothered by teeth...they're quite fascinating, in fact. So, I was glad the tooth fell out when I was around, instead of at school or somewhere else.

The fairy delivered three gold dollar coins to Hayden under his pillow and he couldn't have been more excited! "You've got to be kidding me!", he said! "Gold coins! Three of 'em! This is awesome!" It was nothing but smiles for quite some time after that! Toothless, mind you, but smiles!

Speaking of teeth...I'll be starting a new journey next week at a local dentist office and I'm too exicted about the new adventure this will most surely become! The office staff are great folks, the doctors are both outstanding and I'll be achieving one of my goals...learning something new and challenging! So, wish me luck...and here's hoping the tooth fairy is as awesome to your kids as she was to mine! ;)

Hissssssssssssss...................

What do you and your neighbors do for fun?

That's my neighbor, Chris, with the rattlesnake he took down in the neighbors yard. Unnervingly so, we're seeing more of these around our neighborhood lately, and I gotta tell ya...not too many warm and fuzzies floating around with them nearby!

I'm sure they serves a purpose in the world - eating mice, etc. - but the stamina this thing had (or possibly it's will to live) was down right scary! Talk about a tough fight! Anyway, glad neighbor Dave's dogs sounded the warning and glad neighbor Chris was able to deliver the final blow...I slept a little easier.

Hayden just went through the RAD Kids program at the Sheriff's office here and he learned how to fight off strangers. I now feel the need to go over snake safety in the yard. Ugh.....

Amy Elaine Edwards (1976-2009)

EDWARDS Anniston - Memorial services for Amy Elaine Edwards, 32, will be 2 p.m. Thursday, June 25, 2009, with Rev. Dwayne Borders officiating at Chapel Hill Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Ms. Edwards passed away Sunday, June 21, 2009. Ms. Edwards is survived by her mother and stepfather, Helen and Terry Scott; sister, Wendy Blissett and children, Savannah, Ellis and Embry. She was preceded in death by her father, Eugene Edwards. Ms. Edwards was a native of Calhoun County who lived in the Saks area. She attended Jacksonville State University majoring in English and the Arts. Chapel Hill Funeral Home will be servicing the Edwards family 256-820-5151

A Fond Farewell

Today is Father's Day. Happy Father's Day to the daddy's out there! I did a fair bit of planning for this year's special day for the father of my children and I'm happy to report that all went well. A day on the lake in a pontoon is good for everyone's soul!

This day has never really had a lot of meaning for me - being as I grew up without a daddy in my life - but it's all the more important that my children understand the importance of it. As my children celebrate this day each year with their daddy, I hope they are grateful for a guy that is so in love with the two of them! That's not to say that my daddy didn't love me, but his non-presence has certainly left me with several bags by the door...if you catch my drift!

I'm always in awe - and if I'm being honest, often jealous - of the relationship between my daughter and her daddy. It's one that I find foreign and unrelatable. I'm delighted that she knows that relationship all the while pining for a daddy's comfort that I was never privy to nor will I ever have. I struggle to understand the dynamic that is ‘daddy and daughter’!

I have several friends that are having a tough time this father's day adjusting to life without their daddy's. I'm so sad for the loss that they feel and that I'll never quite understand. It's not comparable to the loss of a friend, pet or any other loved one. It's different. While I have experienced losing my father, I never knew him as my daddy. Therefore, this was just a passing in my family to adjust to and go on about my life with. This too, makes me sad.

Today, I was delivered the unfortunate news that my cousin (pictured above - as I like to recall her best) was killed in a car accident early this morning. I wasn't close to her; I had seen her recently. What makes my heart ache for this accident - aside from the unimaginable feeling her mother had to endure in hearing that her daughter was killed - is her life.

Growing up, this girl was everything I wanted to be. I idolized her - inasmuch as you can someone 4 years older than you. I would go out of my way to make sure I was around her. She fascinated me on so many levels. She was gorgeous, outgoing, edgy and pleasant. She had her wild side, but my mom and hers did their fair share of shielding me from that...so as not to taint my perception of her, I'm sure.

I remember staying with her for a few days and she taught me how to feed, saddle and ride a horse. I recall her dressing me up in the most insanely cool clothes, make-up and accessories during this particular stay. I was probably around 8 years old. I still have pictures she took of me once I was all dolled up! (I'll have to dig those up!)

I remember the first time I bumped into her in our high school. I was in the 8th grade and she was a senior. I remember her saying, as we passed each other in the hallway, "Jenny! I can't believe you're in high school now! I am just beside myself!" 'Beside myself'...that was pretty cool! I remember laying next to her in her room while she was studying and straining to read the information in her chemistry book. I would grow tired of trying to understand all that information and I would jump to her yearbook. I can remember running my hands over the signatures and summer well-wishes in that book and longing for a time when I was like her.

I remember when she announced to everyone that she was going to play football. We all thought she was insane...football! She went out for the team. They allowed her to go through spring practice with them. I remember the bruises. They were bad. Who does that? I remember thinking...God, she's crazy and wonderful all at the same time!

When I was 5 years old, I remember her running through our grandmother's house with me on her back. She was tossing me onto pillows in the back bedroom of the house. The last time she did, I bounced from the pillow and hit my face on the window sill. As I came up from wall with the blinding pain in my lip, I hadn't quite processed the sequence of events. All four of my top teeth were now either on the floor or dangling from my gums! She was staring at me with a look of horror. I put my hand to my mouth and saw blood and that's when the terror struck! I remember that night like it was yesterday. My mom rushed me to the hospital where my pediatrician (who is my children's pediatrician today) jerked me from my mother's arms and whisked me away to assess the damage. Imagine a 5 year old with a face covered in blood. There were no questions asked...it was a matter of figuring out what the hell happened!!! After a long evening in the ER, I told my mom that I would like to go by and show Amy so she would know I was okay. She was at her friend, Lori Howell's house and I remember her coming out to the car and I smiled my toothless grin to her! Even then, at that young age, I didn't want her to think I was upset with her.

Later on, she would find herself in a bit of trouble. She'd been in a car accident in Auburn (where I would soon find myself stomping around) and was in the hospital. The details of the accident as well as the other parties involved were about as bad as it could get. I remember my mom and I traveling down to the hospital to visit her and when we arrived, the nurses went to tell her we were there. She informed them that she didn't want to see us. I was confused, devastated and, if I'm honest, a little pissed off. I mean, we drove all the way down to see her. But, my young, teenage mind couldn't have comprehended the massive trauma (both physical and emotional) that she was dealing with at that time.

Her father (my uncle) left this world a few years back. She was unable to attend the funeral due to the fact that she was in prison. I remember her voice on the phone to her daddy and how heart wrenching it was. I remember the letter her sister read at the funeral that she had written. I remember how well versed she was in that letter and how impressed I was by her then. Even though she was in prison, I was still her biggest fan. Wow...that's amazing to me.

Her life has been no picnic. She's made some rough decisions. Decisions I don't agree with now and didn't know to disagree with then. She was my girl...the one that could do no wrong! I took heart in the fact that she adored me and I absolutely loved her!

And now she's gone. Some would say that she's at peace now. If I look back now, her life did seem to be this wrecking ball at times. She always seemed to be heading somewhere too quickly or hurriedly. She was a force to be reckoned with and for that I adored her! So, the life she lived, however tragic it may have seemed to some, was filled with nothing but adoration from me for quite some time. She was an original and my heart aches for her that she may never have felt as though she found her place.

Rest, sweet child. You're right where you can feel safe. You're with your daddy today.

(Your earthly one and your eternal one.)

Amy Edwards

1976-2009

My Horizontal Life...pales in comparison!

Woah!

This book was a breath of fresh air! It was super funny and if you love anything about Chelsea Handler it's her quick wit and sarcasm! She's got it going on and I kid you not when I tell you this one kept me laughing all the way through!

It's like the juiciest parts of everyone one of your favorite books all put together in one!

Pick up a copy for yourself! You'll enjoy it and either feel really good or really bad about your sex life...depending on the circumstances! ;)

Enjoy!

Learnin' from kids - Part II

I thoroughly enjoy nights like tonight.

After supper, it was decided that ice cream was in order. So, it's off to Sonic for some frozen treats.

On the way home we were canvassing some lesser travelled roads and telling the kids that they were haunted. You know the drill: going over a bridge you turn the lights off and tell them that you might hear screams, etc. So, once we'd moved on, the discussion turned into the fact that ghosts weren't real. Hallie inquired about aliens.

Hallie: "What about aliens, Hayden? Are they real?"

Hayden: "Yeah, they're real. But, they only live on Uranus."

..............An established silence before the two grown-ups in the car started snickering...............

Hayden: "What are you laughing at? They do live on Uranus!! ALIENS LIVE ON URANUS!!!!"

.............Laughing louder...............

Hayden: "It's the seventh planet."

I swear...he never amazes me at how smart he is. I had to go through the helpful sentence (My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas) before I knew it was the seventh planet! But, that's not saying much, is it? After all, he did stump me with that Blasobian bit last year.

I still can't believe we were both reduced to laughter by something so juvenile.

I mean, geez...it's not like someone pooted.

Looking For Something Stronger Than Calgon?

Then pick up this one! Well, maybe it won't take you away....in fact, it might just immerse you directly in it!

If you are a mom, you've gotta read this one! I picked up my copy at BAM. It's available online there and through Amazon as well. It's derived from truemomconfessions.com and it's a keeper! If you're familiar with the website, then you'll be getting approximately the same thing only in book form. It's an eye opening look into the world of motherhood and what moms feel. The website offers women the opportunity to divulge their deepest, darkest secrets regarding motherhood anonomously! There is no worry of backlash from other readers. Or, like on mommy boards, the sad "looks" and demeaning lectures on why you are or aren't breast feeding. It's an all too true look at what real moms think, feel and say (or don't say)! If you're a mom, you will identify with more than one of the quotes found in this book! And if you're not a mom, then at least you'll have stepped away learning something about the "joys of motherhood"! I read this one out of the deck today and I'm eager to hear your thoughts on it!

29 Down...and Many More to Go!

Today is my 29th birthday! It's hard to believe...mainly because of all that has taken place in that time. I look at my two precious angels (7 and 4 years old) and try to imagine their 29th birthdays...and it's going to be here before I know it. The past few months since I've blogged have been quite a ride...but that's not my excuse for not blogging. I admit that I forgot my login and password and just never got around to figuring it out until a few days ago. Now that I have it, I'll be back on the blogging bandwagon, I suppose! There's much to tell, that's for sure! But, for today, I'll simply leave it at this: birthdays, after a certain point, don't bear a whole lot of excitement. I make a huge deal out of my kids' parties...more than some would, I suppose...but you only get excited about them for a short period (maybe only a 1/4 of your lifespan) so you better live 'em up, right!? But, over the past few months I've had my share of humbling experiences. My best friend's daughter has leukemia...every birthday to her (and her family and friends) is like the breath of life. A local name here, Megan Brittain, died this past week. She was a bright, vibrant, beautiful 12 year old girl that died from a form of Cancer. Her mother died only six months prior to her diagnoses..also from Cancer. That family knows all to well the importance of birthdays and what they represent. A young woman was in a car accident the other day and is now in critical condition with the possibility that she won't make it...won't make it home to her family! That seems so inconceivable! I don't mean to rain on the birthday parade, but just a little bit of info. to let you in on a little secret - I don't take my days for granted anymore! They aren't guaranteed to me for any specific length of time, so I'm choosing to spend them more wisely, more humbly, EVEN MORE HONESTLY and FREE of any undo stress that should arise! It's good to be back in the blogging world...see you soon!

Who Knew?

The cows are depleting the ozone. Who knew? I mean, cows have only been on the planet for how many years?

Now, folks want to tax those farmers tending thier herds for....what? What's the motive here? What will the money from the tax on superfluous cows go toward? Will it be earmarked for education? Global warming research funding? Will it go to improve roads? WHAT? I'm just not buying the fact that it's all to save the world. Sorry.

This seems so absurd to me. I mean, these farmers are making a living providing the public with the items they need to have strong healthy bones and teeth. Holy cow!!!! How is this going to affect the "Got Milk" campaigns if the farmers are forced to "off" part of their herd for affordability? I'll tell you how...the price of products derived from moo-cows is going to skyrocket! Milk will go up. Cheese. Butter. Meat. The list goes on, I'm sure. I imagine goats aren't polluting the ozone with their gaseous nature, so we should all switch to goat cheese and milk. Or maybe, someone will come up with a milk product that looks, tastes and drinks like milk with the same nutritional value that isn't actually milk. Ha! Doubtful.

I wonder how this happens. How does it come that we blame cows and their farts and belches for the depleting ozone? I feel certain we as a people are doing a pretty good job of depleting the ozone on our own. Cows are just defenseless and easy to blame I guess.

It just seems so nonsensical...especially when the world is going to end December 21, 2012 anyway - according to Nostradamus.

(What? If you believe cows are the reason we're all going to die from the ozone opening up then you probably believe that too.)

Me, personally, I'm not sure what to believe about it all. I just know that I'm not buying into the cow theory just yet. I feel certain there are greater factors at risk here and the farmers out there shouldn't be penalized for owning livestock that may be contributing to the deterioration of the Earth's ozone with their flatulence.

Try this theory on for size: There are certainly more people on the planet than cows, right? Therefore, the amount of gaseous effect depleting the ozone would be larger coming from humans than cows, right? So, on your next income tax return don't forget to check the box marked 'Human'. That way, the federal government can hit you with a "Flatulence Tax". They'll probably base it on the size of your household. The more folks in your house, the more gas being emitted from said house. Oh...but wait! For those with acid reflux present in the confines of your home, you'll be taxed additionally for you being more likely to introduce these toxins into the air - due to your condition and all.

I foresee there being some contraption designed that we can wear over our faces (and posteriors) that will catch the erroneous odors emitted and change them into plant thriving elements. (Something like a water filter for your faucet.) There will have to be different designs for animals and humans alike. Maybe, someone else could design cool covers or faceplates to allow you to personalize your very own ozone replenishing mask! I can hear Billy Mays now - "Make your Fart Filter the envy of all your friends with these crazy covers! They'll be saying Wow! Call now and get not one, not two but three covers! One for church, one for work and one for the night on the town with that special someone. And if you call within the next ten minutes, you’ll get a set of our matching covers for your Fart Filter! One for you and one to gift to a friend!”

Crazy! What are your thoughts?

The Wonderfully Written Word...

Oh my I'm a new found reader! Whoo-hoo! I started a book club - online at www.betweenthepages.ning.com - and we've only had one meeting....but I have plans to change the way we were going to do it. Here's my new philosophy on the thing: You come to the meetings, if you're in the vicinity and you bring along a book with you. It should be a book that you're okay parting with. In exchange, you will take home a book that someone else brings to swap. I have also joined SwapTree, which is what gave me the idea for changing the way we do it! This way, everyone takes home a book that haven't read!! Whatta ya think? Neat, huh? Additionally, I'm interested in feedback on what works best for everyone as far as meeting dates, times, etc. Anyway, I'm hoping to beef up our member list and get lots of books! Some of the one's I've read recently are A Million Little Pieces by James Frey, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, Marley and Me by John Grogan and Among the Heroes - The Passengers and Crew of Flight 93 by Jere Longman. I recommend them all for good reads and I have a drawer full of books waiting on me...so I better get busy!

Pocket Change...

I've written about change on more than one occasion on my blog. Shoot, probably more than ten occasions. I'm okay with change. "It suits me just fine - in fact, it's my idea of heaven!" (Name the movie that line is from. Bonus points if you can name the actor or actress being quoted!) I took steps to make another change in my life today. I turned in my two week notice with my employers to mixed reviews. I'm optimistic about my decision and I feel, deep down (in the gut), that I'm making the right decision for me, my family and my future. Why? Because it's an opportunity to learn something new. I might fall flat on my face...but at least I'll have learned soemthing in the process. And who knows about the interesting folk I might meet on the way, huh? How can one not be excited!? So, in two weeks, I'll be headed down a different road, in a different city with a different role to play and I can't wait! I've been with my current employer for eight years (minus a brief stint as a bank teller that could not have ended sooner) and I've learned so much in that time. I have grown up a lot in those eight years there and I feel lucky to have been given the opportunities I have. My only rant here is....why are folks so gossipy? I mean, if you've already heard from somewhere else that I've taken another job, don't pretend you haven't. Especially if you're not a good liar. I mean, c'mon! What's it to ya? Anyway, here's to change and all it inspires us to be!

Idle Time....

Happy New Year everybody!

Whew.....2009 blew in like a blustery day! I can't believe it's already here. My resolution: to not blink and miss '09 like I feel like I did '08. Geez...it seems like just the other day we were in Disney World...and that was Summer of 2007. I don't know how it happens, but Father Time is always zipping past me!

Seriously, as for resolutions, I learned not to make 'em. Saves me the disappointment. As I take a look back at New Year's for 2008 I see what all I didn't get done that I had secretly hoped to do and I'm a bit disappointed. (I didn't learn Spanish fluently.) But there is always 2009. What I did love about 2008 was the number of challenges I faced head on. I may not have succeeded by "industry standards" but I learned so much experiencing it all.

My main objective here is to get back into the swing of things on this blog! From my (way too nice to me) loyal readers, I'm getting hate mail about my absence. While not an excuse, I'd like to mention that there have been a lot of things up in the air on my end. I vow, here and now, to do better.

Lastly, before I dive back into my book, I'd like to draw your attention to a new blog I'm following. Check out Weather Droppings for your complete guide to local weather going on in NE Alabama.

Learnin' from kids...it's great, ain't it!?

It goes without saying that my children are smart. I can only hope they keep up the good work throughout their educational careers. I'd like to bestow upon you a few things they've taught me recently:

Math ain't my strong suit however Southern dialect seems to be, huh?! The kids and I have this routine where we try to put how much we love each other into words. For instance, Hallie will say, "Mommy? I love you all the way to the North Pole!" (Melts my heart every time.) Hayden has learned infinity - the theory that numbers go on and on and on...and on. So, he'll throw that one out there: "Mommy? I love you infinity!" (My little number cruncher...I'm so proud!)

So, Hayden comes home from school and hits me with this:

"Mommy? Did you know there is a number bigger than infinity?

(I'm instantly nervous - like he just asked me how to solve a word problem or something!)

"No there's not! Infinity is the biggest number...even I know that!", I reply.

"Yes there is!", he answers back.

"Okay, fine! What is it?", I ask.

"Blasobian."

(Pronounced Blah-so-bee-in)

"Where'd you hear that?" I question.

"I just learned it." he informs me.

So...I think I'm right in this equation (pun intended) but I feel it necessary to confirm my correctness over a six year old. Give me a break! We're talking about math here...I'm uneasy around numbers!

So, later that night as they're all tucked away safely in bed, I ask their daddy if there is a number bigger than infinity known as blasobian. His dead serious response -

"Jenn? Are you letting Hayden trick you with math again?"

The answer - Yes.

Finally, Hallie threw one out the other day that had us all laughing. Every morning as Hallie and I are headed to school we see our neighbor, John, out walking Molly and Roxy - his two dogs - and we always wave at him. Hallie loves it when he waves back. (It's the little things, right?) Anyway, she asked me the other day why John wasn't going to work. My answer was that John was retired. She didn't question it. Simply went along.

Later in the week, her daddy had to carry her to school one morning and she asked him,

"Daddy? What's retired mean?"

(Keep in mind daddy knows nothing about how she heard the word.)

He responded, "It's someone that doesn't have to work."

"Oooohhhhhh. John and Bev are retired."

This morning...she asked me if Courtnee's daddy was retired. (Courtnee is their friend in the cul-de-sac who comes with a set of great parents.)

I said, "No. What makes you ask that?"

"Well, he doesn't go to work, so he's retired like John and Bev." she responded.

(Courtnee's daddy - Chris - works from home.) I should have told her he's only retired on Friday's when you can most often find him on the golf course!

It's funnier coming out of her mouth, but I'm hopeful the humor translates.

Seasons of Change...

It's been a while since I've posted. No reason in particular other than trying to keep up with everyday life. What's been going on with me? Well...where should I start? We're really looking forward to Turkey Day at our house! We get to travel to Atlanta to celebrate at Uncle Derek's house! It's always good to go visit them and the kids absolutely love their cousins Nick and Chris! They are just too cool for school!

I'm crazy addicted to this Swaptree site! It's a sickness...for real! I'm mailing books and getting books at least once a week and it's awesome! I wonder if it will be a fad that will fade like MySpace was for me. We'll see.

I'm trying really hard (and doing pretty good) to remember to take my new Thyroid medicine the Dr. put me on. I have noticed a difference, so that's good. Are you officially 'gettin' on up in the years' when you have to start taking maintenance medication? Oh well...like it matters. Better now than when it's too late.

The kids and I are reading Harry Potter. We read a chapter each night and Hallie is loving it! She's way more into it than Hayden, but he'll come around. The first book is a struggle to get through anyway, but you gotta read it to know what's going on! The two of them amaze me everyday with their knowledge! (Hayden did manage to stump me with some math...but that's for a different blog. I'll try to get that one up tomorrow or the day after!)

We have four puppies left from Jacee's litter! They are adorable! I have three black girls and one black boy left. Any takers? They're cuties! So sweet, huge paws and short hair like a lab. The daddy dog is quite a story too...I'll elaborate more in another blog.

And today, I went through the roughest day at work I've ever had. We went through some layoffs at work this afternoon and when I tell you it was hard, I'm not even scratching the surface on describing it. It was heart wrenching to watch your friends and co-workers pack up their stuff, walk out and know that they won't be back tomorrow. I was lucky to not be among them, but I'm one of the many left behind to make sense of it all. It's hard not to question management in situations like this because you don't have all the pieces to the puzzle. You might think you could have done a better job at this or handled things more professionally or in a better manner, but no matter how you deliver it....it's still the same bad news. I struggle like anyone else to make sense of the decisions, but I hope for everyone's sake that they were decisions made that will benefit everyone in the long run. I'm hopeful that the company will learn to be more efficient through this; I'm confident that some of these folks got a kick start into retirement and perhaps they'll learn how to relax all over again; I'm optimistic that a situation like this can throttle people into something they might never have tried otherwise; and I'm also painfully aware of the economy and how much worry and stress everyone of those individuals is feeling. I feel sad that they're gone...very sad. But, what is life if not a roller coaster, right?

Swap What Yo Mama Gave Ya...

....or something someone else might have given you! Have you heard about Swap Tree? Oh my gosh! You have to check it out! I've been a swapping fool (With books, people! Minds out of the gutter!) (It's simple...set up your account, key in the books, dvd's, cd's or video games you have that you'd be willing to trade for some you don't have and you're all set! All you do is pay the postage to get your item to the party that wants to trade. It's like crack...or at least what I think crack would be like!

The Great Debaters....

In true spirit of all the debates going on...I laughed until I cried here. Whether you're a righty or a lefty; Palin hater or despise Biden...this is funny stuff! SNL rarely disappoints, though!

Movie Theater Etiquette...

I don't appear to be that great at it. Allow me to explain:

I love the movies. If I'm asked "What would you like to do tonight?" my response will always be (both internally and vocally) THE MOVIES!!! They are the ultimate escape. Even if a movie turns out to be a dud, it still took a lot to get it to the big screen on which you so enjoy it.

Today, I was invited to the movies with my sister-in-law and mother-in-law.

The movie of choice: Nights in Rodanthe. Stop laughing............

When I told my husband that I was going to see it, he said with his eyes rolling,

"Oh my gosh, just the name of that movie makes my stomach hurt!"

He's a guy.

The movie, in case you didn't know, is based on a book of the same name by Nicholas Sparks. It's every bit as much of a chick flick as it sounds. I love the shows on VH1 - I Love the 80's! - and the one where Steel Magnolias is highlighted is great!

Gilbert Gottfried, the comedian, actually says about that movie,

"This movie is so full of estrogen that if you watch it for 10 minutes, you'll grow a vagina!"

I love the fact that I can watch a movie like Steel Magnolias and be brought to sobbing tears everytime - even though I know Shelby dies, the graveside scene where Sally Fields loses it kills me; more so now that I'm a mother. I couldn't imagine watching it and not feeling what the actors/actresses are trying to make me feel. How empty that must be. But, I digress.

This time of year finds me well on my way to a sinus infection anyway, so breathing through my nose wasn't exactly a 'piece of cake'. But, the horrid sounds coming from my nasal cavity throughout the duration of this film were unacceptable to movie-goers everywhere, I'm guessing. You know that sound that you make when you've been crying for a while and you try to inhale through your nose and nothing happens - well, nothing except for that clogged up vacuum hose sound!? You know the one I'm referring to! It was terrible! So, after the first encounter with this noise, I decided it was best to breathe from my mouth. I won't lie...there were a few times I thought I was going to choke to death in the theater.

Another thing about me and crying...it shows. Some folks can cry all day and come away without the puffy eyes, red cheeks and fat lips. Not me. Sigh...it's terrible for my reputation as a hard ass. So, heed the warning about this film now - it had me crying about 20 minutes in. The only movie ever to have gotten me earlier would be P.S. I Love You.

As the credits started rolling, I gathered what I was sure was my composure and we exited the theater. We were joined by 30 or more attendees stopping by the potty to check our make up and overall appearance. So, as we were in line, it became a joke that we were all in rough shape from the tear jerker we just sat through. I'm looking at my SIL and MIL and they don't look too bad. I mean, watery eyes, sure, but they don't look like they've been hit by a truck or anything. So, I made mention that I bet we probably felt worse than we looked and my lovely SIL responded, "Nahhhhh...you look pretty bad."

So, to all those that were in attendance at the 2pm showing of Nights in Rodanthe at the local theater, I apologize. I will bring my humidifier and nose spray next time.

P.S. GREAT MOVIE!