a Sweet Life Saga

Life with Jake......Firing up Ol' Betsy!

2011-08-17T17:43:00.000-05:00

Jake, my dad, is a rebel and refuses to purchase DSL internet service. He tried it once and didn’t like it. Jake said it didn’t work properly. I told him it was an operator error. I explained that the service did work properly but the computer he was using couldn’t handle the new technology (their computer is about 10 years old with a 50 MB hard drive). So, they live in the Stone Age and use dial-up internet service. He says that DSL is a waste of money and that the providers of such services are thieves. **Note: Jake believes that everyone who doesn't give him something for free is a thief! I explain to Jake he should upgrade to this service if for no other reason than to make my life comfortable when I’m visiting. Do you know what it is like not having internet access for days on end??!!! The withdrawals are painful – very, very painful. I am forced to spend considerable amounts of time squinting and killing the battery on my Droid. This is not healthy for me. Jake tells me that if I need to use the internet he will be happy to fire up Ol’ Betsy. Ol’ Betsy is the pet name he has assigned to his archaic computer and dial-up internet service. I tell him I would prefer to drive 100 miles and smoke a Camel rather than deal with that mess.

One morning, as we are standing in the kitchen chatting, he said he wanted me to look up the telephone number for Dial-A-Nurse on my phone. I wanted to suggest he fire up Ol’ Betsy and look the number up himself, but I complied. In less than 60 seconds (after using my handy dandy Droid), I was writing the number down for him. I took this opportunity to once again tell him that if he had a modern computer and DSL, he would have been able to acquire the number that quickly himself. He said that it would have only taken him half a day and that he could do other things while waiting on Ol’ Betsy to get going, therefore it would be a waste of money to get DSL. I shook my head, sighed deeply and walked out of the kitchen. After all, who can compete with Ol’ Betsy!

I’m just sayin’,

Life with Jake....Stop Wasting My Water!

2011-08-07T21:06:00.000-05:00

For those of you who are keeping up, this is the third installment of my little blog series on Life with Jake. Jake is my dad. He will be 77 years old next month. I would like to say that his actions in the stories I’ve been relating are due to his older age, but sadly, they are not. He has always been this way. While growing up, common phrases around our house were, “don’t touch my walls, you’ll leave fingerprints and scuff marks”; “don’t lean back in my chair, you’ll break the legs (not our legs, the chair legs)”; “close the refrigerator door – your cooling the whole house” (you know, the swapping of air syndrome – doesn’t every parent have this?); “no you can’t have new shoes those still have part of a sole, put newspaper in the bottom like we did”; “turn off the lights you are wasting electricity”; and so forth and so on. My dad was one of those kids who walked to school in the middle of a snowstorm, uphill, coming and going. Because snowstorms were so frequent in Birmingham, Alabama when he was growing up!

When we were kids we were not allowed to take showers, we had to take tub baths. According to Jake, if you took a shower you were wasting water. The only time I got to take a shower was when I went to camp or slept over at a friend’s house. So, being the rebellious child that I was, when I moved out of the house, I vowed to never take another bath – and I haven’t. Showers only for this chick! And now, when I visit my parents’ house, I take showers. And what is Jake’s response? To beat on the door and tell me to hurry up - I’m wasting his water! Seriously! If you don’t comply with his request, he will turn off the water to the house to force you out of the shower.

The other night my son decided to get a shower after my dad had gone to bed. Ahhh, that’s using the old ‘noggin. If Jake is asleep then he won’t know how long you are in the shower and you don’t have to hurry along. This would be the logical thought process. However, with Jake, this would not be the case. About 3 minutes into Jared’s shower, Jake comes out of his bedroom, groggy from sleep, in his 80 degree sleep attire (see previous blog), to tell me to tell Jared to hurry up, he is taking too long in the shower, thus wasting his water. My mother looks at me (as we were in the middle of a conversation) and tells me she is going to kill him. I tell her I will provide the weapon. I relay the message to Jared who quickly finishes his shower as he doesn’t want to get caught covered in soap and no way to rinse it off.

While my parents do take showers, if you live with Jake, showers should take 2 minutes or less. We explain that it takes us at least 3 or more minutes to shampoo and rinse our hair. He says it doesn’t take him that long. Of course not, he’s practically bald!

I would love to talk to my grandparents to find out if Jake practiced military maneuvers in the front yard while he was growing up.

I’m just sayin’,

Life with Jake….You’re Letting the Cold Air Out!

2011-08-07T09:00:00.002-05:00

I recently decided to write a few blogs about Jake, my dad. The stories are unusual (or not) and sometimes, mildly entertaining, at least to our family members. We don’t always call him by his name, we do call him Dad. But when we want to make a point about his behavior, we call him Jake.

In my previous post I explained how fanatical my dad is about swapping air of varying temperatures, specifically the mixing of outdoor air with indoor air. I made reference to his comment about letting the cold air inside the house escape when we opened the door.

I feel at this point I must define “cold air” in my parents’ house. “Cold air” in their house is relative. The analogy I like to use here is similar to one of my favorite lines in the movie “A Christmas Story”. Ralphie was narrating the scene where his dad was changing a flat tire. He stated that his dad’s idea of a tire was "one that was round and had previously been made of rubber". I laugh heartily every time I hear that line, but I digress. So, keeping that in mind, we can move back to the cold air in my parents’ house. Cold air in their house means the air inside the house is slightly cooler than the air outside the house by let’s say, 5 degrees. My dad has become very cold natured as he has aged; therefore, he keeps the temperature in the house warm, even in the summer. Jake’s all year round sleep attire usually includes a scarf, toboggan and earmuffs. To those of us who are no longer cold natured (due to an ugly phase of life called men-o-pause), it is extremely warm in the house.

As we prepared for bed on the first night of our recent visit, Jake stated he was going to turn the air down, which means he was going to allow it to get colder in the house. I was excited! It meant that I didn’t have to strip to the bare minimum in order to sleep that night. To be polite, I stated that it was unnecessary. Jake’s rebuff, “I’ll turn it down to 80 at least”. At that point, I fainted and remember little else until I awoke later in the night. It was hot; I was hot. Actually, I was melting. I opened my bedroom door, located the thermostat in the hallway and moved the lever lower down the line….to an icy 77 degrees.

The next morning, my dad emerges from his bedroom dressed for a visit to Santa at the North Pole. We looked at him as though he had corn growing from his ears. He looked ridiculous dressed that way in the middle of summer, when the temperatures are soaring to the 100 degree mark on a daily basis. He stated he was freezing and wanted to know who turned down the thermostat. Fearful of swift retribution, everyone quickly stated that it was not them. I knew I had to confess and suffer the consequences of violating the house rule of never touching Jake’s thermostat. I raised a sweaty palm and told him I had moved the thermostat. I received the outdoor/indoor - cooling/heating lecture and watched as he inched the thermostat dangerously close to 85 degrees.

Tonight, I will sleep in the company of the 7 fans I purchased at Wal-Mart; he will sleep in his earmuffs, and all will be right with the world!

I’m just sayin’,

Cha Cha......

2011-08-06T14:50:00.000-05:00

Well, just like you can no longer get a "hickie from Kenickie", you won't be able to do the Hand Jive along side the best dancer (with the worst reputation) from St. Bernadette's. Cha Cha (Annette Charles), from one of the best movies EVER - Grease, recently died due to complications from cancer. Seems all of our best-loved and worst-hated characters are moving on from Rydell High!

"But you will always have the glorious memories of Rydell High. Rydell forever. Bon voyage."

I'm just sayin',

Life with Jake....

2011-08-04T16:34:00.000-05:00

My dad's name is Jake. He is Italian. He likes perfect world order and is so tight with money, pennies scream in anguish.

I haven't lived with my parents since I was 18 years old, yet I remember it vividly, the way all kids remember their childhood. I remember my dad being very strict and money conscious (which translates to tight-wad or thrifty - depending on your point of view and terminology). Since my move to Texas, I've been traveling back and forth between Alabama and Texas quite a bit, which warrants frequent stays with my parents.

When I was a child, we were not allowed to paint our room a color. To Jake, white was a color and was the only color necessary on walls. We lived in something similar to a cave. On the outside, it resembled a house, but inside it was always dark. Drapes covered our windows. You know, the ones that look like curtains but are lined with some cancer-causing agent that blocks light? We were never allowed to leave them open to allow light into the house. If we opened them during the winter, we were releasing heat into the outdoors. If we opened them in the summer, we were cooling everything from our front porch to the first layer of ozone. He was the same way with the doors -- we weren't allowed to open them. You had to remain ultra-thin in our house so you could slink through the cracks in the door rather than open it for coming and going. Every time it was opened or closed, it cost him money. He took it as a personal affront to his wallet. (Side note: My dad was the youngest of six kids, all born during the depression. I am going to blame his money issues on the fact that his family suffered through that nasty part of history and not the fact that he was an auditor.)

I had hoped that in my dad's "older age" he had mellowed somewhat. I was wrong. As my son and I opened the door to enter his house, he yelled out from the den "close the door, you are letting the cold air out"!!! I guess some things never change!

I'm just sayin',

Comforter or Conscience

2011-07-31T14:26:00.000-05:00

So the question posed at church this morning was this: is the church of today viewed as more of a comforter in the community or the conscience of the community?

I'm just sayin',

Pearls.....

2011-07-22T13:56:00.000-05:00

I saw this posted on a friend's Facebook page today. I liked it and wanted to post it for others to read:

PEARLS OF WISDOM TO REMEMBER

1. Money cannot buy happiness but it’s more comfortable to cry in a Mercedes than it is on a bicycle.
2. Forgive your enemy but remember his name and where he lives.
3. Help a man when he is in trouble and he will remember you when he is in trouble again.
4. Many people are alive only because it’s illegal to shoot them.
5. Alcohol does not solve any problem, but then neither does milk.

I'm just sayin',

Lady Gaga....GAG

2011-07-15T14:21:00.000-05:00

I can't speak for the rest of the free world, but personally, I'm sick of Lady Gaga and her freak show. Apparently, so are the residents in Sydney, Australia. I'm impressed that they purchased tickets for the explicit purpose of throwing eggs at her while she was on stage. I have to think this is the case as it is not a common practice for one to carry raw eggs to a concert. ;-) Gotta love the Aussie mindset!

I'm just sayin',

Ain't that a kick in the head......

2011-07-07T10:21:00.000-05:00

My husband and I were having lunch on Tuesday when we saw the news stating Casey Anthony had been found not guilty of murdering her daughter. Two things immediately popped into my brain..."if the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit" and this song...

I'm just sayin',

Lindsay is.....

2011-06-23T14:17:00.000-05:00

I heard on the radio this morning that Lindsay Lohan would, once again, be appearing in court today. My question is this....who cares? All she has going for her is a drug habit, repeated trips to rehab and shoplifting skills. I, for one, am tired of hearing about her drama that is not newsworthy. If this is the best the media has to offer for "news", then maybe they should be out looking for a new line of work!

I'm just sayin',

The Rat Pack....

2011-06-22T12:00:00.000-05:00

While we were in Las Vegas last month, we had the opportunity to see a great show. It was a group of men impersonating The Rat Pack. I do hate it was impersonators but since the original members are no longer with us, I suppose that is the only way to be able to see them in person, so to speak.

I do hate that I never had the opportunity to see the originals....Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. Their music is exceptional and they left such a wonderful legacy -- their voices. While the "look alikes" did an outstanding job and were very entertaining, you just can't beat the Real Thing! So, as I sit hear listening to their wonderful music on my computer, I lift my Coke and salute you....Frank, Dino and Sammy! You are missed!

I'm just sayin',

PS...I don't count Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford...they can't sing! :-))

What If....

2011-06-21T16:07:00.000-05:00

We've all stated many times “if I knew then what I know now” or “if I had it to do all over again, things would be different”.

We make these statements thinking that if we truly could go back, our lives would be so much better than they are now. We have grandiose visions of wealth and all that it brings as well as eliminating suffering through those bad relationships. But what if you could go back, knowing what you now know, and change things. What would you change? Would you go to college or possibly a different college? Would you have a different spouse? Different job? Would you choose to live somewhere else?

Has it ever occurred to you (me) that nothing would be different? Those poor or different choices we made helped shape us into the person we've become. We wouldn't have the knowledge we think we now have because those people or experiences would not be around to give it to us.

So tell me; if you could go back, what would YOU change? As for me, I think I would have tried my best to become one of Bill Gates' best friends! :-)

I'm just sayin',

Random Blatherings.....

2011-06-20T09:30:00.000-05:00

It has been quite some time since I've posted a blog. Given that fact, I bet you are thinking this blog will be something profound or insightful. Well, you are going to be very disappointed, as it is neither of those things.

Blathering #1:

I found out this weekend that Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll (author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland), was a photographer and Anglican deacon. Additionally, he was most probably a pedophile, by today's standards. He photographed lots of young girls, some of them in the nude, and was fascinated with children. While there is quite a bit more information to substantiate this line of thinking, I will not bore you with the details.

Blathering #2:

It was 106 degrees here in Midlothian, TX on Saturday.

Blathering #3:

I have lived in Texas for almost 5 months.

I'm just sayin',

What About those Bluebonnets....

2011-04-12T12:03:00.000-05:00

As most everyone knows, I've recently moved from Alabama to Texas. My husband has been trying to acquaint me with all things Texas. I've been trying to adjust. One thing he mentioned was how beautiful the bluebonnets were and how great they look in portraits. He said every parent wants a photo of their child sitting in a field of bluebonnets. Naturally, I envisioned this large flower whose beauty was beyond any flower that I have ever seen. I purposely never looked it up on the internet because I didn't want to ruin my first impression of the bluebonnet. For those of you who don't know, the bluebonnet is the state flower of Texas. Please keep this in mind.

So, when spring began, I earnestly looked for bluebonnets. I asked Edward when I would see them. He said that hopefully they would begin blooming soon, but with the weather being as dry as it had, they may not bloom as well. There were even newspaper articles attesting to this fact.

The day finally arrived when I saw the ever popular and much talked about Texas bluebonnet. Our conversation went something like this:

Edward: Look, there's some bluebonnets.

Benita: Where?

Edward (pointing): Right over there. See that blue flower?

Benita: Are you talking about that patch of weedy flowers?

Edward: Yes.

Benita: You mean to tell me the state flower and all this fuss is about a patch of weeds??

Edward: Well, it is the only flower that is hardy enough to endure the weather here.

So, there you have it folks. Bluebonnets are much like dandelions that grow in the State of Alabama. They are weeds with flowers. Since then, they have sprouted everywhere. I have actually seen mothers pull over on the side of the road and drag their children up an embankment to a patch of bluebonnets just to take their picture - risking their lives to get one photo before the flowers die off for the season. Our youngest son thinks you are the next best thing to satan if you dare to step on one.

Needless to say, I've had a great time ribbing my husband about the state flower of Texas. But I will say, when you look upon an open field covered with these flowers, it is breathtaking. They are gorgeous!! And Texans take them seriously. There are bluebonnet festivals to attend and many trails to drive. Individually, the flower is not large at all, breaking the rule of "everything's bigger in Texas". However, they make a large statement when they put their little heads together!

This weekend is the annual drive on the bluebonnet trails. I'm looking forward to going and capturing some beautiful photos.

I'm just sayin',

The Return....

2011-03-01T22:01:00.002-06:00

It has been a couple of crazy weeks and I haven't written a blog since Valentine's Day. Well, I'm not writing one now either. But I will return by the middle of March and hopefully have some tales to tell.

I'm just sayin',

Happy Valentine's Day.....

2011-02-14T21:37:00.000-06:00

I hope everyone has had a wonderful Valentine's Day!

I'm just sayin',

I HEART you!

Bloom Where You Are Planted....

2011-02-13T18:36:00.000-06:00

I now know my purpose for being transplanted to the state of Texas. God wants me to show Texans how to grow cucumbers. I don't know exactly what it was I purchased from the store today. They labeled them cucumbers but they are far from looking anything like one. I'm an Alabama chick on a mission!

I'm just sayin',

Day 11.....

2011-02-11T18:39:00.000-06:00

I found Walmart today! My life in Texas is now complete!

I'm just sayin',

One Other Thing.....Or Two.....

2011-02-10T22:01:00.000-06:00

Something else I've noticed while living in Texas - it is still dark at 7:00 a.m. Back home in Bama, it starts to get daylight around 6:00 a.m. Guess it just takes a little while longer for the daylight to roll this way... :-)

I'm just sayin',

It's Been One Week.....

2011-02-09T18:47:00.000-06:00

This was a great song by Bare Naked Ladies....and it describes how long we've been living in Texas. It is hard for me to think of living here as it still feels like we are on vacation. We have experienced our second snow event and are working through the kinks of finding a place for all of our stuff.....that is, all of the stuff that is not in a storage unit. We are also working on internet and computer issues. I suppose that is just part of the moving process. Everyone has asked "how do you like it so far?" I really don't know. We haven't had an opportunity to really experience anything Texas due to the weather (except the weather and the wind) and haven't been able to do the things one does when one moves...whatever that might be. We did make it out to see about changing our driver's licenses from Alabama to Texas. I wasn't able to get a Texas driver's license at this time because we weren't in my car. Your car has to be registered before you can be a registered driver in the state of Texas. Who knew? We didn't, but now we do. :-) Edward was able to get his driver's license because he told them his car was still in Alabama.....they let him get away with this. I, however, didn't think that was fair that he was allowed to get his license on a technicality.

I will take the car back another day to make it official here but I will not remove my University of Alabama tag off the front of my vehicle. Don't know if that will keep me from getting a tag or not, but hey, if it does, so be it. Right? I will just move quietly between two states and know that I can live and drive in either place.

In previous blogs I've mentioned that the state of Texas is flat. One thing I forgot to mention is that I am taller than most trees!

I'm just sayin',

The Honeymoon is Soooo Over.....

2011-02-05T22:53:00.000-06:00

I love winter. I love snow. But for now, I'm done with it. I've got things to do, places to go and definitely people to see! Unfortunately, I can't go with all this snow. I'm ready to hit the pavement but it seems to be covered with ice! What's a girl to do??!!

I'm just sayin',

Snowfall.....

2011-02-04T18:25:00.000-06:00

Falling snow. I'm amazed at how quiet it sounds. To me, there is nothing more peaceful than the sound of falling snow. It blankets the ground, leaving everything clean and crisp looking. I know that people in the north no longer think of it this way, but in the south, it is so rare that we get snow, we have a different view and appreciation of the white stuff.

I love winter. For me, the season is a renewal and cleansing period. Everything old is cleared away. Life will bloom anew in the spring.

We've had a tremendous amount of snow in the south lately, either at my home in Birmingham or my new temporary home in Dallas. The photo I've included is the home of my in-laws; where we are staying while we look for a home. I love snow!

I'm just sayin',

Day 3.....

2011-02-03T08:25:00.000-06:00

My husband tricked me. We did not move to Dallas as he stated. We moved to Antarctica.

It is Thursday. We are still trapped in the house. We have yet to see another human being. We can't send the children outdoors to play in the "snow" because it is primarily ice with a thin layer of snow on top of it. The wind chill was 10 degrees below zero yesterday. I walked outdoors and my eyelashes froze.

We are down to the last of our food and caffeine provisions. I've not had a Mt. Dew in three days. The forecast for tomorrow is more snow. The forecast for Monday and Wednesday of next week is more snow. We will decide today which child will be thrown on the BBQ pit.

I am delirious. I am a survivor.

I'm just sayin',

Day 2....

2011-02-02T22:46:00.000-06:00

Snow. Ice. Fireplace. Dallas, TX.

Phil said spring would arrive early this year. I predict it will arrive the same day as always....March 21.

I'm just sayin',

Well, Here We Are.....

2011-02-01T22:46:00.000-06:00

We made it to Texas. Arriving immediately behind us was a winter storm. It was kind enough to bring enough snow and ice for everyone to enjoy. For some reason, it never occurred to us to stop at a store on the way in to purchase the traditional "milk and bread" fare for the next few days. Temperatures will not be above 30 degrees until some time on Saturday. Guess I will have to hold off on exploring my new home city until the weather improves. Thankfully, we have plenty of food and fireplaces to keep us comfortable for the next few days. I'm betting 10 to 1 odds that Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow tomorrow to give us 6 more weeks of winter!

I'm just sayin',

"baby it's cold outside"

Texas Bound!!!

2011-01-31T22:30:00.000-06:00

Hopefully, it won't be too much longer before we can get back to Living Intentionally!!

I'm just sayin',

We're Still in the Process of Regrouping....

2011-01-30T21:48:00.000-06:00

....and moving!!!

I'm just sayin',

We're Traveling......

2011-01-29T21:40:00.000-06:00

But I will be back soon!

I'm just sayin',

On the Road Again.....

2011-01-28T00:24:00.000-06:00

Well, we aren't actually on the road again yet, but we will be in a couple of days. As much as I want to continue my posts about Living Intentionally, I'm going to have to postpone those posts until next week, when we are settled in Texas. I would really love to post a few things over the next few days but it will be difficult to do so because we are having a large moving sale this weekend, we will be completing our packing and loading, and our internet is being turned off later today.

I would like to wish you all a wonderful weekend -- enjoy the sunshine and the bit of warmth it brings. If you happen to be out and about, drop by the sale. You can contact me via by leaving a message here regarding your interest and I will send you my address. I can access e-mail via my "snerd" phone (as my hubby calls it)!

I'm just sayin',

Living Intentionally...Faking it and Learning to Scrap Your Priorities.....

2011-01-27T11:50:00.000-06:00

I told you yesterday about one of the Christmas gifts I received...the gift that keeps on giving. Why? Because it is a devotional which means I get a new gift every day of the year! I also explained about the author's counterintuitive principles. The first two on her list were: Fake It and Scrap Your Priorities. Craziness, right? Let's see....

The only normal people are the ones you don't know very well. ~ Joe Ancis

We always seem to think that everyone else has it all together while we are falling apart. That is just not the case. Everyone, and I do mean EVERYONE, has issues in their life. It is just how life is. No one escapes with everything all put together all the time. I knew of someone who I perceived had it all together. One day, we found out everything wasn't as it appeared on the outside. The sleek, seemingly put together woman with the perfect life that we saw on the outside, wasn't so put together after all. She was normal just like the rest of us.

People, especially women, wear so many different masks that sometimes we forget who we are and what we're about. We lose ourselves because we fear ridicule. We want to be accepted and to be admired. We feel that we must create someone who is more engaging and attractive than our true self. The solution, according to the author, is to Fake It....fake being yourself and let others see who you really are...be authentic. She states that being a totally authentic person is frightening for the majority of us because we can't hide our hearts behind a fantasy. She goes on to state that the fictional character we create for others to see is plastic and shallow. She believes the best three tips for faking it are the 3 "Rs":

Reveal - tell others something about yourself that is deprecating but humorous. Other people love to hear that you aren't perfect either and that you can laugh at yourself.

Respond - listen with your heart and respond with your eyes...make eye contact.

Relax - get comfortable...let go of all the pretenses.

Fake it and be yourself!

The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities. ~Stephen Covey

I have a daily planner/organizer/second Bible...we all have our own name for it, but it is the calendar that runs our lives. I can't go anywhere without my planner. I feel totally dysfunctional without it and usually suffer severe withdrawal affects if I discover I've left it behind. If you are like me, when you open it, you find that your schedule is so packed you don't even know where to begin. So what do we do, we prioritize what is on the schedule for that particular day and hope that we get it all accomplished. The result...we spread ourselves too thin. We give so little to each task that none of them are completed successfully...they are all half-done. Unless you are a type A personality like me and crawl into bed at 2:00 a.m. because you just had to complete everything to the best of your ability, and satisfaction, on that list. The next day there is usually not enough left of me to go around, but I push on because it is what I feel I must do. I don't know when to "throw in the towel".

The author explains where the analogy "throw in the towel" originated....from boxing. When the coach feels that his fighter has had enough, he throws a towel into the ring to indicate the fight is over...his guy is finished. We all have spouses or friends who can see when we are done, but we can never see it for ourselves. We need someone there to "throw in the towel" for us. What that means is that the priority to win is scrapped to fulfill the priority to live. In order to Live Intentionally, we must learn when to throw in the towel.

The first step, according to the author, is to assess your situation to determine what self-imposed duties are robbing you of joy. Then develop a plan to get to where you want to go, rather than moving from task to task. She states that life is a destination worth planning for. She lists a few of the priorities she scrapped in order to Live Intentionally:

Dinner - Two nights a week she and her family had take out instead of her rushing home from work trying to get a home-cooked meal put together. She said that while they didn't have an organic vegetable on the table every night, she and her family were able to spend quality time together sitting down to eat...at the table. I love what she said, "Spinach was sacrificed for quality time with the family."

Laundry - The author taught her kids how to do their own laundry so that Saturdays were spent enjoying time together rather than working. If they didn't wash their laundry, they wore dirty clothes. Guess what...they learned how to wash their clothes and no one turned her in to Child Protective Services!

Bible Study - She swapped daily Bible study for Christian CDs and books on tape. She spent her commute time with God and gained 30 minutes of extra sleep every day. She said she was sure Jesus still loved her.

Pretty interesting stuff, huh? So I ask you...are you ready to Fake It and Scrap Your Priorities??

I'm just sayin',

Inspiration for Girlfriends.....

2011-01-26T20:45:00.000-06:00

I received an awesome devotional from my BFF for Christmas. It is entitled Inspiration for Girlfriends. All devotionals have some really good advice on how to live our daily lives. There are always stories that inspire us and give us "food for thought". The devotion for January 23 was "Living Intentionally". The author states that she has found truth in some counterintuitive principles. The first principle she adopted was to get more done - stop working. She found that by shortening her work day, she was more productive and more focused, therefore, accomplishing more of her "to do" list. Makes sense, right? She goes on to say that we should live life on purpose rather than just letting life happen.

Other counterintuitive principles she proposed include:

Fake it
Scrap your priorities
Stay behind
Break a hip
Whine
Be confused
Disappoint someone
Spend it all today

Now, if you are like me, you find these principles very confusing. Even more so for the Type A personalities, like me! :-)

I thought it might be interesting, for the next few days, to share her thoughts on these counterintuitive principles. She does have some thought-provoking insight....

I'm just sayin',

The Most Important Thing...

2011-01-24T23:45:00.000-06:00

Recently I attended the Professional Photographer Association's ImagingUSA conference in San Antonio, TX. My husband and I attended many classes. We opted for the "divide and conquer" approach in an effort to get more bang for our buck. Actually, since I was a new member the conference was free, but that is beside the point! We are cheap and can squeeze some change out of free!

At the end of each session, we compared notes about what we learned and what would be beneficial in my photography business. We actually discovered that the pearls of wisdom could apply to any business. One message that was woven throughout the entire conference was this: know the rules of what you do and develop your own personal style. Translated for photographers: it is wonderful that you love picking up that camera and clicking away until your finger can't press the shutter button any longer. BUT, if you don't know the rules of photography, you and your business will never survive. It is okay to bend and break the rules, but make sure you KNOW the rules first.

Photography has become more than a household word with the affordability of digital cameras and even DSLR cameras. Unfortunately, the art of photography has been lost along the way. What the instructors were trying to get everyone to understand is that it takes more than a DSLR camera, a backdrop thrown against the wall and a current version of Photoshop to become a photographer. There are rules that should be followed to ensure a great photo straight out of the camera -- rules of composition (the Golden Means, rule of thirds, etc.), rules of exposure, copyright rules and rules of running a successful business. While I've only been in business a little over a year, I've been a photographer for many years now. One thing I have learned, the most important thing, is that knowledge of the industry is essential for success.

I'm just sayin',

My Big Redneck Wedding....

2011-01-23T20:37:00.000-06:00

We are not big fans of TV shows....especially when you don't count anything that comes on the Hallmark Channel, Food Network, HGTV and episodes of How I Met Your Mother. However, we do have one horrible TV vice...My Big Redneck Wedding. I know you are asking yourself how can two normal, classy, sophisticated, intelligent people watch such an absurd show. But we can't help ourselves. We are drawn to this show like a moth to a flame. The outrageous lifestyles keep us on the edge of our seats the entire time. We dare not miss one minute of the show lest we miss something that will keep us entertained the entire week.

Friday night was the season premiere. We missed it. Fortunately, we were able to watch the replay of the season premiere tonight on CMT. The redneck wedding showcased was between Jessica and Justin in Deatsville, Alabama. Justin's words had to be subtitled as no one could understand anything he said. Justin explained that Jessica's parents didn't like him very much but since he "knocked her up" they were stuck with him. I love the romantic notions displayed on the show.

Tom Arnold hosts the show. We have never been able to determine whether we like the show because of the content or because we enjoy watching Tom Arnold speak while intoxicated. Either way, it is one of the little sick moments we enjoy. We think you might enjoy it also. Check it out: Justin and Jessica Get Married!

I'm just sayin',

The Best Homemade Chicken Pot Pie....

2011-01-22T17:58:00.000-06:00

Yes, we've been on the road traveling a good bit and preparing for our move to Texas. However, I have tried to prepare as many normal meals as possible for my family. One of their favorites is my homemade Chicken Pot Pie. While I don't eat Chicken Pot Pie, they have told me it is very good. I can only take their word for it and show you a photo of the dish. If you ask me nicely, I will share the recipe when I return to Texas. It is quick and simple and your family will love you for it!

By the way, don't forget about the moving sale January 28-29, 2011. We are raising funds for the trip back! :-)

I'm just sayin',

The Moving Sale....

2011-01-21T23:07:00.000-06:00

As you know, we are moving to Dallas, Texas due to my husband's job change. Last week we moved part of our household, attended a photography conference in San Antonio and returned to Alabama, all within the span of 7 days. You can read about those adventures in my previous blogs.

Today was spent preparing for the last phase of our move and tagging items for our moving sale. The moving sale will take place January 28-29. We primarily have furniture for sale...can't take it all with us, so it has to go to a new home....someone else's home. Some of the items we have for sale include a clawfoot bathtub, desk, bed, chest of drawers, nightstand, deck furniture, garden-type items, a kiddie swimming pool, a decorative yard bike and lot of other odd and end items, including photography props and a studio! If you think you might be interested in anything, let me know. You can also ask and I might have it available!

I'm just sayin',

I've Been Everywhere Man.....

2011-01-20T20:48:00.000-06:00

Johnny Cash recorded a song entitled, I've Been Everywhere Man. The chorus went something like this:

I've been everywhere, man.
I've been everywhere, man.
Crossed the desert's bare, man.
I've breathed the mountain air, man.
Of travel I've had my share, man.
I've been everywhere.

The song goes on to list all of the places he's been. I'm going to replace those lyrics with places we've been over the past week:

Tuscaloosa, Meridian, Jackson, Vicksburg, Monroe, Shreveport,

Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Katy, Beaumont,

Port Arthur, Bridge City, Lake Charles, Hammond,

Ponchatoula, Slidell, Baton Rouge, Hattiesburg,

Laurel and Birmingham.

For the past week, we have done little else but travel. We are tired of being in a moving vehicle is an understatement. We were glad to be back at home. Granted, all we will get to do is pack for the 2nd phase of our move to Texas, but we have a whole 10 days to stay put in one place! We're excited!

Yesterday, I wrote about the things I've learned along the way. Here are a few more:

The only good thing about Mississippi is the classic country radio station 99.3!
Texas has Farm to Market labeled roads instead of County labeled roads. For example, Alabama has County Road 52. Texas has Farm to Market Road 1375.
Texas has alot of "frontage" roads. These run parallel to the interstate and are quite confusing to navigate.
Oil refineries are around every bend in the road in Texas.
Port Arthur, TX has little to nothing to offer the weary traveler.
Lower Louisiana has NO rest stops! We drove from TX to MS with no rest stop in sight (on I-10).
Texas has the lottery.
Texas has the lottery.
Texas has the lottery.
I plan to get rich.
I plan to get rich.
I plan to get rich.

Meanwhile, back in Bama, the adventures never cease. Earlier today we had to pick up my son's prescriptions from the Walgreen's located in Sumiton. While I was waiting at the counter, a customer walked up to purchase cold medications no longer sold on the open shelf. As we all know, certain cold and sinus medications have been used to make meth. This customer asked for a specific cold medication and became somewhat upset when she was told the pharmacy was out. She was offered an alternative but didn't want the alternative. We gathered our prescription and walked out to our car. While walking to the front of the store, my husband and I discussed the other person at the counter and the possibility of her purchasing drugs to make meth. She just had that look, and smell, about her. When we got outside, a police car was preventing us from leaving. They were questioning persons in the vehicle parked next to ours. They told us they would be moving their cars shortly so that we could leave. We watched them search a passenger who had been in the vehicle. We discussed once again how these people were probably involved in some sort of drug action. When we were finally able to leave my husband asked me to follow a police car he saw drive down a side road. We drove a few minutes but were never able to locate him. We turned around to head back home. As we drove past Walgreen's, we saw the customer who had been at the pharmacy counter complaining about the cold medication they did not have in stock, in handcuffs. She was being given the VIP treatment while being shoved into the back of the police car. Seems our hunch was right. She shoulda took the money and run!

I'm just sayin',

I've been everywhere, man.
I've been everywhere, man.
Crossed the desert's bare, man.
I've breathed the mountain air, man.
Of travel I've had my share, man.
I've been everywhere.

What I've Learned.....

2011-01-19T00:15:00.003-06:00

The past 6 days have been hectic and busy. Last Thursday we moved to Dallas, TX. On Friday we unloaded our belongings into a storage unit. On Saturday we drove to San Antonio for a photography conference. On Tuesday we left San Antonio to head back to our home in Corner to finish packing to complete our move. It is about a 15 hour drive from San Antonio, TX to Warrior, AL. We knew we couldn't handle all of that time on the road in one day, so we chose to break it up by staying over in Beaumont with one of my husband's friends.

While on the road from San Antonio to Beaumont, I started thinking about all the changes that have taken place in my life in the past few days. This is what I've learned:

Texas is flat.

Texas has a speed limit for daytime driving and a speed limit for night-time driving.

Texas is flat.
Texas charges you to drive on some of their roads, known as toll roads (I do not like this idea at all).

Texas is flat.

You can reach exit number 850 and still not be out of the state of Texas.

Texas is flat.

People wearing a white ball cap with an orange "T" on it are not for Tennessee.

Texas is flat.

Texans are really not well-informed on the Southeastern Football Conference.

Texas is flat.

Texas fans still carry a bit of a grudge over losing the National Championship to Alabama.
Texas is flat.
Waiters in Dick's Last Resort throw many napkins at you when you ask for ONE.
Texas is flat.
There are alot of Mexican restaurants in Texas.

And finally, Texas is flat!

I'm just sayin',

New Adventures in Photography.....

2011-01-18T00:15:00.002-06:00

I have thoroughly enjoyed being at the PPA ImagingUSA conference in San Antonio, TX. I have learned so much in the classes and have had the opportunity to find some interesting vendors. I think I've learned just as much on the exhibit floor as I have in the classes.

New adventures are on the horizon as I will be applying all I've learned here to my new business in Dallas, TX. I will probably change the name of my studio and streamline my photography to find my "niche". Finding your niche, your inner self and what you life to photograph are vital to your photography business. There are probably around 10,000 photographers here, which is a bit intimidating. But everyone brings something to the table and we can all learn from each other.

I've decided to become a part of Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep photography. NILMDTS is a non-profit organization that offers portrait sessions to parents of terminally ill or stillborn babies. Photographers join on a volunteer basis only. There is no compensation for this service. One of my friends on FB stated one of these photographers came to her when her little girl died and that those portraits were very special to her. I'm looking forward to beginning this new venture as well.

Well, it is back to the drawing board for the day! Tonight will end with a Bayou Bash previewing the location for next year's conference in New Orleans. Should be quite an experience.

I'm just sayin',

All Things Photo.....and the "Wooo" Girls

2011-01-17T13:55:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I wrote about our experience with the "wooo" girls in the lobby of our hotel. It turns out Kallie and the "wooo" girls stayed in the room next door to us and were up "wooo"-ing until about 4:00 a.m. Needless to say we didn't get alot of sleep. And when the alarm clock went off at 5:00 a.m. for us to get up and get ready for our 7:00 a.m. photo classes, we didn't make it. Unfortunately, we didn't make it to our 9:00 a.m. photo classes either. When we finally woke up we decided it was time for a hotel change, not only because of the "wooo" girls, but also because I couldn't get to sleep worrying about having to shower in the dirty bathtub.

After getting dressed, we immediately asked the parking attendant for our vehicle and drove to another hotel, checked in, returned to the previous hotel, checked out, grabbed our belongings and made a run for the border. We are now happy in a different hotel, which happens to be right across the street from the convention center where all things photo are being held. Once again, we are in the hotel lobby using the free wi-fi service (which we can use for more than an hour, I might add). While we are not listening to the "wooo" girls, we are listening to an entertaining story from one of the guys from the print lab I use. It involves strippers and alot of profanity. I wonder if I should find a different print lab for my printing services? I am praying they are NOT staying in the room next to us as there are only so many stripper stories one can hear during the course of an evening!

I'm just sayin',

From the Windows to the Wall....

2011-01-16T00:38:00.000-06:00

There is nothing like staying at a hotel and being away from home. I'm being sarcastic of course as I hate staying in hotels. I'm a germ-a-phobe and hotel life just doesn't work for me. But, it is the price I have to pay to attend the Imaging USA photography conference here in San Antonio. I have to block certain things out of my brain so that I'm not curled in the fetal position on the dirty floor crying like a baby and sucking my thumb. As it is we are having to get the cleaning service to come and clean the bathtub just so that I can get in the shower. I'm in the hotel lobby accessing the one hour of "free wi-fi" on my laptop. I can't stand being in the room until the shower is cleaned and if I don't stay out of it for a bit, I will find myself pacing the worn carpets until they are worn completely through. We germ-a-phobes worry about the germs that are breeding in our environment. I have to sleep in this environment therefore, I need relief.

Apparently, there is a bar right above the lobby as I hear loud music and "wooooo" girls. Now for those of you who don't know what "woooo" girls are, they are the chicks who, when something they like happens, hold their arms up in the air and scream "wooooo". I think at some point in our lives all women have been "woooo" girls. It's just the way it is. I'm not one. Not now at least. I may have been at one time, but I honestly can't remember. The TV Show How I Met Your Mother had a great episode about "woooo" girls. I think they explained it pretty well. :-)

These particular "woooo" girls, must be having one big party up there. A few minutes ago the DJ played "Get Low" by Lil' Jon and the East Side Boyz. Now if you have ever heard this song you know it is pretty nasty....hmmm, not pretty nasty, alot nasty. The "woooo" girls were singing the lyrics loud and clear, as most "wooo" girls usually do. "Wooo" girls are not shy. Immediately following the "Get Low" sing-a-long, the chanting began..."go Kallie, go Kallie, go Kallie". For men, this usually signifies encouraging the chugging of some alcoholic beverage. Kallie was probably doing the same. Kallie and her "woooo" girl friends will not feel good tomorrow morning.

I'm just sayin',

San Antonio, Here We Come....

2011-01-15T00:14:00.000-06:00

We have finally arrived in Dallas and are settling in. The drive took a little under 12 hours and it took less than 5 to unload most of our belongings and throw them into a storage facility! Tomorrow, we are off to San Antonio for the ImagingUSA photographer's conference. I hope to learn new and exciting things and receive lots of free gifts!! I've never been to a conference as an attendee, only as a worker bee. It will be a new and exciting experience. When we are not in classes, we will be enjoying the sites San Antonio has to offer, specifically, the Alamo!

Catch you on the flip side!

I'm just sayin'

This Really Has Nothing To Do with Anything....

2011-01-13T00:06:00.000-06:00

As I've stated previously, one of my New Year's Resolutions was to have a blog post every day. It is January 13th and I've missed 2 days. Not good. So, in keeping with the Resolution, I have to post something...doesn't really matter what it is. Today's post has nothing to do with anything. I just needed to post something under the date January 13, 2011! Hopefully tomorrow's post will be less disappointing!

And for good measure, I'm throwing in a cool picture of Marilyn Monroe....remember, diamonds are a girl's best friend!

I'm just sayin',

My Quest to Become a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader.....

2011-01-12T23:54:00.000-06:00

Our life has suddenly become very harried and frenzied! We decided to relocate to the Big D within the next few weeks. Why??!! Because I decided I want to become a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader! It is has always been a dream of mine and before I turn 30, er, uh, I mean, 40....oh, crap, 50 later this year, I want to give it a go. So off we go!! The Dallas Cowboys definitely won't know what hit them when I take the field!!

While I'm on my life's quest to become a 50 year old cheerleader, I decided I would try to list the other things commonly associated with Texas. This is what I have so far:

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
The Lone Star State
The Alamo
Texas Hold'em (a poker game for those of you who might not know what this is)
Texas Longhorn Cattle

Now, there are probably so many other things, but since it is nearing midnight and my brain has reached the limits of its ability for the day, I just can't think of any others to add to the list. However, if you know of a few things, please feel free to add them in the comments section.

Oh, one other thing I thought of. Texas had some team that tried to beat Alabama in the National Championship last year. Guess that counts for something! :-)

I'm just sayin',

There's Snow on the Ground.....

2011-01-10T17:04:00.000-06:00

As promised, I am posting some photos (most of which you can see on my Facebook page)from the first southern snow of 2011. Albeit, it is more ice than snow....the forecasters always get it wrong! However, it is enough to keep everyone, well, most everyone, off the streets of Birmingham. Ice is something we take very seriously here in the south because our cities are not properly equipped to deal with such things.

Additionally, while you folks in the north have nice sleds and such to use over hill and dale when it snows, down here, we usually just make do with a garbage can lid or anything else we have laying around the house that we think will glide well over icy streets.

Hope everyone has had a great Monday/Snow/Ice Day!

I'm just sayin',

Snowing in Dixie.....

2011-01-09T21:18:00.000-06:00

I know, I know, you are going to say this is a pretty lame post. And you would be right. However, I did place an item on my New Year's Resolution list that stated I would post a blog every day. Yes, I've already missed one day but I'm trying not to miss another one. Therefore, I will post something, even if it is lame. :-)

The big snow of '11 has arrived. The version of the storm in our area began with ice pellets, which is usually an excellent foundation for snow. It means it is definitely gonna stick! I can't wait to get outdoors to start taking some photos tomorrow, not only with my Canon 5D but also with my new Diana Lomography camera that I received for Christmas. Those will be some awesome photos. Lomography cameras take some really cool photos! Since it is a film camera, it will take a while to post the final results, but post them I will!

Until tomorrow, and the ultimate snow day,

I'm just sayin',

Snow in Dixie....Again

2011-01-08T13:31:00.000-06:00

Who knew that the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011 would find the south enveloped in snow!! North Alabama experienced the first white Christmas in quite a few years and we figured that would be the end of it. However, once again, we are gearing up for snow here in the south, which means frantic visits to the local grocer for bread and milk. I don't understand the bread and milk thing. Water is free. And I would rather have something tastier than a PB&J, even if I have to roast wieners over the fire pit outside. A tasty hot dog beats a plain PB&J any day of the week! Our trip to the store includes the fixings for chili cheese dogs! And lots of Coke and Mt. Dew. Gotta have that sugar high to play out in the snow! And don't forget the ingredients for snow ice cream! YUM!!

The Sunday and Monday prediction is for 6-10 inches of the white powder. While it may only snow 1-2 inches, in south-speak that is 1-2 feet of the white stuff covering the ground, as well as alot of dirt covered snowmen!! We'll see what happens tomorrow!

I'm just sayin',

And the Winner Is......

2011-01-07T12:06:00.000-06:00

We have been entering daily for a chance to win the HGTV's Dream Home 2011 in Stowe, VT. If you are entering as well, STOP RIGHT NOW. You are not going to win because it is my house. I LOVE snow! I LOVE Vermont! I want to sit in front of that beautiful fireplace in the den (with the fabulous windows) and gaze out over the slopes! I want to relax in the pedestal tub while reading a good book and look out occasionally to watch skiers swoosh down the mountain.

If you feel you MUST enter, please be sure to enter my contact information correctly. I don't want my new house, car and all that cash mistakenly given to someone less deserving than myself! I feel I've suffered through too many humid Alabama summers already and spending the summer (as well as the winter) in Vermont would be pretty close to heaven for me!

I'm just sayin,'

Mark Tremonti...maybe.....

2011-01-05T21:33:00.000-06:00

While this particular memory may not be entertaining to those of you who were not involved, it was and still is entertaining to the Real Magnolias. It is not particularly funny, just entertaining. And a special memory for us girlfriends.

On November 8, 2002 (you should be impressed I know the date), we held our monthly party, er, uh, meeting. Remember, we always had a theme. The theme for this particular month was NERD ALERT. We, that is most of us, came decked out in our best nerd clothing. Some, who shall remain nameless, thought they were much too attractive to dress in such a way, so they didn't. Sam, you were the only one!! Given that you brought very entertaining photos and some really good gossip, we eventually forgave you!

Paige hosted this austere event and prepared a delicious dinner of pasta and garlic bread. Naturally, Mike was there. Fortunately, he never missed a meeting. As I mentioned earlier, Sam (who refused to dress appropriately for this event), pulled out the photos she had been bragging about and proceeded to tell us the story behind the photos. The most important was a photo of Mark Tremonti, who was a guitarist for Creed and later AlterBridge. In the photo with Mark was our very own Sam. Creed had been in town for a concert and Sam just happened to have a meeting at the hotel where they were staying (not likely, but we gave her the benefit of the doubt. You see, several of us Real Magnolias had been groupies in another life -- I have my own story of my son and I spending some quality time with Bon Jovi, but that will have to be another day)! Anyway, Sam enlisted the help of another co-worker and posed for the photo laying before us on the table (oh yeah, it is in The Book). While posing for said photo, she let Mark know that she and some others (not me) referred to him as Mark Tre-mount-me. While Mark found it amusing, Sam's husband did not. Thus, an argument ensued between the two (Sam and her husband, not Mark and Sam's husband). Side note: When Sam and the hubs have an argument, physical intimacy ceases to exist. Sam is a little overactive in this department and this is never a good thing. So, since there was an argument which led to no physical intimacy, Sam felt she had no choice but to sleep on the sofa. And you know how one thing leads to another. Because of her choice to sleep on the sofa, the argument with the hubs and no physical intimacy, Sam had nightmares about being intimate with men she would never, ever, ever, ever in a million years be intimate with. I suppose you would have to know Sam and her story-telling abilities to be amused OR repulsed, whatever your choice would be. Since we had just finished eating, we asked her not to tell anymore details so that our food would remain where it belonged.

Now, for you men, here's another side note: we do talk about you and your talents, or lack thereof. We compare notes and determine who is in the lead in the contest of the most qualified husband. Which is why our conversation transitioned from that story to a revelation about Lauren's husband and her nickname for him.....

I'm just sayin',

Dear Diary.....

2011-01-04T05:33:00.000-06:00

Blogging is a term that hasn't been around that long, but the concept has become very popular. It seems as if everyone has a blog these days, including yours truly. After reading many blogs, I've come to the conclusion that blogs have taken the place of those old-fashioned diaries we used to have as kids. It is also very similar to "journaling", with everyone making their thoughts available for the world to read. Thoughts, dreams, goals, fears, inhibitions, loves, hates...you name it, are no longer held in a small book clutched tightly to our chests. We open ourselves up for ridicule by the entire world!

I can't recall ever being one of those kids who wrote in a diary, but I can remember journaling on occasion and still have the bizarre ramblings to prove it. But, if I were going to write in a diary, my entry for today would look something like this:

January 4, 2011

Dear Diary,

It is 4:30 in the morning. I was awakened by a peculiar dream. I am sure all dreams are peculiar in some form or another. Alot of people can't recall their dreams and don't know if they dream in black and white or in living color. I dream in living color. How do I know? Because my dream was filled with images waiting to be taken (as they usually are), to be captured on film. A girl that I know was wearing an orange ballet tutu, sitting on a suitcase in front of a brown trailer, her slippered feet immersed in mud. She is looking at me and the camera as if it is our fault or that we should be able to do something to help her. The next image was her brother in the orange ballet tutu, standing beside her. I walked down a street lined with pink and purple trailers. A young girl was sitting by a fence in front of one of the trailers asking me if I had seen her mother. She was holding an old brownie camera. Just as I passed, an old woman drove up in a blue Chevrolet from the 60s. Her face was lined with age and the cigarette smoke curled from the car window.

Prior to that, I dreamed of a row of young men, probably a football team, sitting at a long picnic-type table. I was coaching them on their diet prior to games and how to avoid stomach aches. There were bowls of pasta on the table. The edge of the table was splintered and I had to warn them not to get too close lest they snag their uniforms.

Other images involved old sofas, chairs and coats for photo shoots. Flowers grew wildly among dead weeds and signs of poverty were all around. A place that I've never seen before was suddenly quite familiar to me. Clothing items were hanging on hangers across the bathroom doors of stalls located in the dollar store. Everyone knows the dollar stores have no public restrooms, but I was hanging clothing displays there nonetheless. And washing my hands. I suppose even in our dreams we cannot escape our OCD tendencies.

People that I've known in the past swirled through my head, as did people from the present. Places that I will go in the future did also. I can remember wondering why people who used to blog on a regular basis have not blogged in months and I recall worrying about what had happened to them.

Diary, am I insane to have all these things rolling around in my head? Or is it the suppression of my creativity -- the things that I keep bottled up because I know at this point in my life, I have no way to make some of these things happen? Could it be something I ate before I went to bed? I had some white cheddar popcorn, Maybe I shouldn't eat it before bedtime in the future?

Well, I'm going to try to get back to sleep. Maybe now that I've written all of this down my brain will relax and let the peace envelop me. Until another day diary.

Love,

Aren't you glad I really don't keep a personal diary? Aren't you glad I don't record my dreams more often? I feel if I did, someone would be bringing one of those pretty white coats by for me to wear!

I'm just sayin',

Hollywood Glamour with the Real Magnolias......

2011-01-03T17:18:00.000-06:00

I cannot tell you how many stories there are that involve the Real Magnolias. I've been going back through The Book and laughing at some of the things we said and did. I have been struggling with which story to tell next because they are all so memorable. I've chosen a rather tame one for this blog. In January, 2002, we decided we wanted to do glamour portraits. Remember when those were popular?? Yeah, about 100 years ago, right??!! One of our friends had her own photography studio at the time, so we held the event there. Everyone seemed to be quite excited about getting their hair and makeup done by professionals (we had a bonafide makeup consultant and a not-so-bonafide hair stylist in our group - she shoulda been bonafide though because she did an awesome job). Everyone looked stunning for their photo shoot. I chose to not have a portrait made. I HATE getting my picture taken. But I did help in the wardrobe department. My job was to be the "official boob taper". I did such a good job I was able to add that all important skill to my professional resume! Back in the day, I could tape a set a boobs for maximum cleavage in 4.3 seconds...flat! No pun intended. Men envy me and my abilities (and my good fortune)! :-)

Since I worked in the wardrobe department AND I was the official record keeper AND holder of The Book, it was my sworn duty to report any and all comments from the Real Magnolias while they were preparing for their photo shoot. While eavesdropping among the up and coming starlets, I overheard these remarks:

"what are you laughing at"

"mine look like playtex nursers"

"where's the tape, I need more tape"

"at least you don't look like a 10-year-old boy"

"they aren't much, but they fed my children"

Now, while I will reveal the comments, the owners of the comments will never be revealed. Nor will their bra size!

As I'm writing this, I'm looking back over all the photos of those beautiful women on that special night. They truly looked glamorous, sexy, seductive, beautiful and unforgettable. Unfortunately, I can't scan the photos as the page from The Book is too large for my tiny scanner to handle. You will all just have to use your imaginations.

I'm just sayin',

PS....the Real Magnolia photographer refused to give each Magnolia a copy of her photo. They saw the proofs but never received the final product. So, in the true nature of a Real Magnolia (if you don't give us what we want, we take it), they stole their portraits from her a couple of years later!

Increasing the Blog Traffic and Hopefully New Followers......

2011-01-02T21:39:00.000-06:00

Recently, my husband posted one of his controversial blogs. Nothing new about that. However, since posting this particular controversial blog, his blog traffic has increased 10,000%! He has been trying to figure out why his blog traffic increased so dramatically. Tonight, whilst performing his daily research on why the large increase, he stumbled across the reason....Taylor Lautner! In this particular blog, he posted a photo of Taylor Lautner....shirtless! And, given the way Google's search engine works, the shirtless Taylor was traced right to the hubby's website!

Now, I must admit, I have no idea who Taylor Lautner is or what he does. He just doesn't fall across my radar...ever. However, since we have come upon this little gem, I'm going to give him a try it and see what happens!! While you're at it, please feel free to become a "follower". When the Taylor Lautner hoopla dies down, you might find some entertaining stories throughout the blog.

I'm just sayin',

Monica, the Czar

2011-01-02T12:35:00.000-06:00

I hope most of you are keeping up. The Real Magnolias stories are not going to be consecutive posts as I do have other things going on in my life that I feel the need to write about. Not alot mind you, but other things nonetheless. :-)

In the previous post, I mentioned Monica, the Czar. Monica had a nasty habit of being the mom and trying to keep the rest of us from ever having any fun. Thank goodness she was never successful! However, one thing she was quite successful at was making new friends. I use this term loosely as it was usually people she would pass on the street. Monica felt it was her place to not only be the Czar in our lives, but also in lives of strangers. For Monica never met a person she didn't take the opportunity to talk to. When she would see someone that she thought she would be able to strike up a conversation with, she would stop them to talk. Said conversation went something like this:

Monica, the Czar: "Hey, do you have the internet?"

Stranger on the Street: "Why, yes I do."

Monica, the Czar: "Well, good. When you get a chance check out this website, www.mulletsgalore.com.* I bet you will find a picture of yourself there."

HOW she never got shot is beyond me. That is not the sort of thing you just blurt out to anyone, especially people you will never see again. Hmmm, come to think of it, maybe that is the perfect thing to say to someone you will never see again!

I'm just sayin',

*I was going to post a link to this website because I know all of you are just dying to see if your picture is there....er, uh, I mean, to see the photos of other people on this website. However, it has been discontinued.

Christmas - Past, Present and Future.....

2011-01-01T13:00:00.000-06:00

Let me preface by saying Happy New Year -- 2011. Eleven years since the dreaded Y2K brouhaha. The technological world as we know it did not collapse, it improved. And we are all the better for it. So, on to the current blog post. By the way, one of my New Year's Resolutions, well the only one really as I didn't bother to sit down and make a list, although I suppose I should have and still might, is to post a blog on a daily basis. I give it a week, tops. But at least I'm going to give it my best shot! :-)

Last Christmas

Last Christmas I gave you my heart and the very next day, you gave it away....yeah, I know, a sad Wham Christmas song from the 80s. Fortunately, that is not what this blog is about. Last Christmas we traveled to Texas to spend the holiday with my in-laws. En route, we ran into a pretty heavy snow storm. That's right, in Texas. I was surprised as well. While I love snow and cannot figure out how I ended up in a state (Alabama) that experiences snow so rarely, I do not like being trapped on an interstate in a snow storm, on Christmas Eve, which is exactly what happened. It took us quite a while to reach our destination but we made it, safe and sound. I suppose I should back track a bit by telling you we have horses. And horses have to be taken care of, much like cats and dogs, when you are out of town. While we were all involved in the regalia of Christmas morning, we received a phone call from one of our neighbors. Jet, our gelding, was lying dead in the pasture. He had been ill for quite some time and had finally succumbed. We asked the neighbors to cover him up and we buried him when we returned home a few days later.

This Christmas

This Christmas, we traveled once again to spend Christmas with my in-laws. Sound familiar. Our family, in the car, traveling on Christmas Eve to spend the holiday with my in-laws? I'm sure you think you know where this story is going...horses, right? You would be wrong. You would also be wrong if you guessed we would be traveling to Texas again. This year, we traveled to the Montgomery, Alabama area to have Christmas at the in-laws' vacation lake house. So, on Christmas Eve, we loaded our suitcases, Christmas gifts and the family dog, Helen, and drove south. We arrived safely with no catastrophic events taking place. Christmas morning we were awakened by a knock on our bedroom door. One of the boys had been looking for Helen. No one had seen her since the previous evening. We all went to bed presuming that someone else had let her back inside from the previous night's bathroom break. We quickly dressed and went in search of our dog. We found her, approximately 1 hour later, on the side of the road, about 1/2 mile from the house. Someone had struck her with their vehicle. They had hit her so hard, her dog collar had been knocked off. We were all devastated. She had belonged to my husband and stepson for 13 years. Helen was carried back to the lake house and buried the next day.

Do you see how this horrible Christmas theme is unfolding??

Next Christmas

Next Christmas, we will be traveling to Alabama to spend the Christmas holidays with my family since we will be living in Texas. We no longer have any animals which means there will be no animal tragedies associated with the Christmas holidays.

I'm just sayin',

The Continuing Saga of the Real Magnolias....

2010-12-30T14:48:00.000-06:00

I know you expected something scandalous as a follow-up to the photo I posted on Tuesday, but if you recall, I mentioned I would start with something small and work up to the really juicy stuff! You know, sort of like an ice cream cone. Hmmm, but the good stuff is never at the end of an ice cream cone, it is always at the beginning. Well, never mind with that analogy. Regardless, I will be starting with the non-juicy stories...you can read it or turn a deaf ear. Another poor analogy, but stick with me. It will be worth it when you finally get the story that goes with the photo. :-)

Below is something Monica wrote about our girlfriend group, the Real Magnolias. No, I don't have written permission to publish the stories the other girlfriends wrote, but they should have known back when they gave them to me that their writings were not for their eyes only. Here's what Monica, aka The Czar, aka Arrington, had to say about us:

"I love that email that goes around where the mother is giving her daughter some valuable advice – “Get you some Girlfriends!” I have always been a “girlfriend” girl. I love my girlfriends. I can be me with them and they love me anyway. And then I can be someone else – say like Monica – and they love me even more! I have girlfriends in all ages. Some I’ve loved my whole life and some I’ve grown to love in just the past few years. I’m known as the Czar (or Mrs. Cravitz) in our little group of girlfriends. I have no idea why other than I’m the one who is the most mature and responsible in the group! Ha! I am the mom of the group who will slap the stupid out of one of my girlfriends to get her back in line! I tell it like it is most of the time – which is sometimes good and sometimes not so good. The one thing I hate about the Real Magnolias is that no matter how much weight I lose, I am still the biggest flower in the bouquet. Drives me crazy. Just once when I’m in my Monica mode, I would like for someone to think of Monica on the TV show “Friends” rather than Monica Lewinsky! I tried to change my name once to Arrington but my boyfriend’s name was Stone Barrington and if we had married, my name would have been Arrington Barrington and my girlfriends would not go for that! Can you tell I read a lot of books – or should I say listen to a lot of books??!!

When we first decided to make our girlfriend group a true “club” we picked the name “Real Magnolias in a Garden of Girlfriends”. It fits us perfectly. The idea was to stop what we were doing at least once a month and get together no matter what. To be there for each other – to pray for each other – to listen to each other – to celebrate things with each other – to cry with each other and to just go through life with each other. We have a whole bunch of girlfriends in our garden but just a few Real Magnolias! We are not perfect – well to us we are but you’re entitled to your own opinion – but we are really good friends through thick and thin. I’m proud to be a Real Magnolia!"

Well, there you have it....the perspective from another Real Magnolia. We are perfect in every way and that is not just our opinion! At our February 2001 party, we had to make valentines to give to the other Real Magnolias. None of that store-bought sissy stuff for us. However, a few of the Real Magnolias cheated (ahem, Monica) by having someone else make their valentines. Now, let me explain. Cheating doesn't take away from our idea of being perfect, we are just perfect cheaters! Right girls??!! Monica did have nice valentines. I have mine in The Book and this is what it said, "Girlfriends worth keeping forever enrich our lives with humor and mischief, regardless of how old we become. We seem to revert back to giggles and allow ourselves unladylike guffaws over matters that only those in the friendship circle seem to appreciate." Very sweet words, but let me tell you, there was a lot of unladylike behavior in the future of the Real Magnolias...more of that to come!

I'm just sayin',

The Saga of the Real Magnolias....

2010-12-28T09:37:00.000-06:00

Now, let me preface this by saying I should be packing! However, it is difficult (closer to pert near impossible -- yes, Southerners can say "pert near" and get away with it) to stay focused when I have so many memories running through my head. It doesn't help that the "O-fficial Real Magnolia Blackmail Book" is laying open beside me begging me to turn each page and have a good laugh or cry, whichever is more convenient for that memory.

I feel that I should start with something slow and easy and then work up to the stuff that will make you fall out of your chair laughing. And if you don't fall out of your chair, that's your own fault and you have no sense of humor. Because every single time one of us discussed any of our Real Magnolia events, we fell out of our chairs and still do!! It just can't be helped! Regardless of your sense of humor, or lack thereof, the most important thing you should remember is that there ARE photos. In order to protect the identify of those involved, I won't be able to post most of the photos. However, there is one photo that we deemed "priceless" and I am posting it below. The face of the Real Magnolia involved has been deleted. Not for her sake mind you, but to prevent embarrassment to the innocent bystanders involved. We considered this photo priceless because it involved Girlfriend Rule Number One - If you don't remember what was going on, it's best not to ask!

If you want to know the story behind this particular photo, you will need to check back another day. The photo is a teaser for the stories to come! ;-)

I'm just sayin,

No Long Farewells or Sad Goodbyes....

2010-12-27T00:52:00.000-06:00

Over the past 7 years, my life has twisted and turned, taking many different paths. In 2001, my oldest son graduated high school. In 2003, he moved 9 hours away from home. In 2004, I buried the man I was married to for almost 25 years. In 2005, my oldest son got married. In 2006, my youngest son had an aortic root transplant. In May 2008, my youngest son graduated high school and in July 2008 I remarried. That was a busy year! :-) In July 2009, my sweet little granddaughter was born. Through all of those major life events, my girlfriends were there.

Many years ago, we formed our little group and called ourselves the Real Magnolias (after a book written by Becky Freemen). We had monthly events where we would meet in our homes for some outrageous theme party or go out to dinner. Dressing up, acting silly and calling major attention to ourselves was always the norm for us. Occasionally, we would take our show on the road and travel on down to the beach (which became an annual event) to entertain those who needed entertaining. We made new friends and lots of memories on those trips. We held our own version of the Miss America pageant. We were all beautiful and all winners. We were the Real Magnolias and those GRITS had nothing on us! We have all been through major life changes and have been there for one another. Not only have we been through personal changes in our own lives, but our Real Magnolias have been through changes as a group. They were subtle changes at first - one moved here and another there. Ballgames, dance recitals, gymnastics and sometimes husbands kept some of us from attending our monthly events. We finally decided to just let them go altogether, but we would attempt to keep in touch with one another and every once in a while find a date for dinner. However, over the past 5 years, we all seem to have drifted our separate ways. And I think that is how it is supposed to be....for some of us anyway.

You see, God brought us all together at a time in our lives when we all needed each other for support. Some of us were younger, some of us were older, but we all had something to teach the other girls, something that would be beneficial to someone else in the group. Alot of times it was nothing more than a gripe session, sometimes we needed to cry on each others' shoulders and sometimes, we just needed to hold hands and sit quietly, knowing that the other one was there for us and no words needed to be spoken.

As our group drifted apart, we each found other friendships and circles in which to be involved. I believe by having been a Real Magnolia, we had something that others needed and that God felt it was time for us to move on, to share those experiences with other women. After all, we had learned so much from each other over the years.

In a few weeks, I will be saying good-bye to the Real Magnolias as I will be moving from Alabama to Texas. Some of the good-byes will be permanent, with others it will be more like "see ya in a few". In honor of those wonderful friends - Monica, Amy, Paige, Lauren, Sam, Carly, Nikki, and Emma Kate (not their real names - we never used our real names) and the others whose pseudo names escape me, I will be posting some of their stories over the next few weeks, as well as a few of my own, of our time spent together. While some of them may vehemently deny their participation in the Real Magnolias, I will kindly remind them I will always carry "the book"! Proof positive, including photos! :-) And as the old saying goes, "a picture is worth a thousand words"!

I love you all and cherish the memories we made and the time spent as a Real Magnolia!

I'm just sayin',

"When the coffee is hot, and the talk is easy, and the feeling is good, and the laughter is light, and the memories are many, but the time is too short....you know you are with a friend."

The New Year's Resolution....

2010-12-26T20:53:00.000-06:00

Well, here we are. It is the day after Christmas. The big finale is over. You're sitting on the sofa looking at all the toys and boxes strewn about. The Christmas tree is waiting to be shot -- to be put out of its misery. Your brain is weary and your eyes hurt. While you are breathing a sigh of relief about having survived yet another Christmas, you suddenly realize the next holiday is right around the corner. You break out in a cold sweat, dread envelops you and tightens it's icy hand around your throat. What are you going to do and when will you have time to do it? Do what you ask?? Why write out your New Year's Resolutions of course!

Ahhh, the loathsome list of New Year's Resolutions! People try to avoid this task almost as much as standing in line at Walmart on Christmas Eve! You try to relax again telling yourself not to worry...that you can skip it this year to give yourself a break. After all, didn't you go all out for Thanksgiving and Christmas?! But your brain is racing, already thinking about all the things you will never accomplish during the following year.

The bad thing about New Year's Resolutions is that we always place unrealistic expectations upon ourselves. When we underachieve, we feel like epic failures. We dismiss the list with a scoff, but it eats away at us that we couldn't quite reach the mark. We try repeatedly to block it from our thoughts and feel successful until one day, while cleaning out the utility drawer, we happen across the grocery receipt that contains the "list". Our hands tremble as we read over the list, with one eye closed I might add. It is at this time we conclude that we are failures and will never amount to anything. But it doesn't have to be this way.

If you feel that you just cannot NOT create a list of New Year's Resolutions, let me give you a pointer that will help you when you decide to sit down and write that list. Be realistic. It is as simple as that. If you decide that you need to participate in an exercise program and/or lose weight in the New Year, don't write that you will lose 20 or 30 pounds and join a gym. Write that you will be more health conscious during the New Year. Doing this will automatically result in weight loss and probably prompt you to take the stairs in lieu of an elevator or escalator. It also might just encourage you to find a good Pilates tape! :-)

Being realistic in our goals will prevent us from having that "epic failure" feeling and attitude. While I aspire to write and publish a blog every day in 2011, realistically I know that will never happen. So my resolution will be to write and publish as many blogs as I am inspired to write or have time to write. In so doing, I am accomplishing an item that I have placed on my resolution list.

The list shouldn't bring on feelings of underachievement or epic failure. New Year's Resolutions should inspire us to set goals for ourselves, to make us better than we were the year before, if we so desire! Go ahead, sit down and make that list. Set achievable, realistic goals. When you do, you will smile with pride and satisfaction as you check off each one in the coming year!

I'm just sayin',

O Holy Night....

2010-12-26T16:28:00.000-06:00

O Holy Night is one of my most favorite traditional Christmas songs. It just gives me chills. However, not just anyone can sing this song. Charlotte Church gives it a good shot, but the best rendition, hands down....Luciano Pavarotti. Since I couldn't find a good Pavarotti performance of the song on YouTube, my readers will have to settle for a version recorded by Josh Groban.

Take a look at the lyrics:

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
'Til He appear'd and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! O hear the angels' voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born;
O night divine, O night, O night Divine.
Noël, Noël, O Night, O Night Divine.

I'm just sayin',

Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus.....

2010-12-24T08:02:00.000-06:00

In honor of the old man in the famous red suit, I decided to post the letter and response from The New York Sun, 1897:

We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun:

Dear Editor—

I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?

Virginia O’Hanlon

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe unless they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men or children, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The external light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus? You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus? Thank God he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

___________________________________

I'm just sayin',

I'm Not a Fan of.....

2010-12-23T00:05:00.001-06:00

....Martha Stewart. I used to love her, subscribe to her magazine and watch her show as often as I could. Now, she nor her current show appeals to me. And no, it has nothing to do with her stint in jail. I like lots of people who have been in jail; unfortunately, I just can't think of their names right now.

I don't like her because she is rude and obnoxious to the guests on her show. On her previous show, she wasn't in front of a studio audience and she treated her guests kindly, or at least it appeared that way. But now, she interrupts them mid-sentence, talks over them while they are talking or just takes over their spot altogether. Recently, and I use this term loosely as it could have been 4 months ago, she had Johnny Knoxville as a guest. She told him since he took the city where he was born as his last name (Knoxville), she wanted to quiz him to see exactly how much he knew about Knoxville. Well, he wasn't able to answer most of the questions. They were absurd questions (specifically, what was the most recent type of panda rattlesnake born in the zoo or some other such nonsense) that no one would be able to answer. She wouldn't have known either had she not looked it up on the internet. Later in the show, she bragged to another guest how much Johnny Knoxville didn't know about Knoxville. What a mean person!! Now, I only bring up Johnny Knoxville because she read an e-mail from him on Monday and submitted a photo of himself (taken by his wife) in front of some store display in New York. The display had Martha Stewart's photo in the background. He was being funny and sent this to her. Johnny, hon', she's mean and was rude to you on her show. Don't send her anything else!!

While I realize it appears that I watch her show regularly, I don't. I only tune in occasionally so that I may inform my readers, who might consider watching her show, to not do so as it is a waste of time. Don't buy her products either...they are too expensive and break easily! It is not a good thing!! Buy Pampered Chef, you will be happier in the end!

I'm just sayin',

Sweet Home Alabama.....

2010-12-22T00:06:00.000-06:00

So, last night we decided to take the boys to see Elf at the Alabama Theatre. For those of you who have never been to the Alabama Theatre, you are missing a treat! The Alabama Theatre was built in 1927 by Paramount Studios to showcase Paramount films. In 1987 the owners declared bankruptcy. Fortunately, it was purchased by Birmingham Landmarks, Inc. and was lovingly restored to its original grandeur. I was telling my husband that the last time I was at the Alabama Theatre was to see the movie Animal House (when it was originally released). I had a date with a college guy and after the movie we went to a party, Toga at that, held at his fraternity house. The main thing I remember was (1) the boy -- he was popular, cute and drove an awesome car and (2) everything was so filthy in that house I wouldn't touch a thing (have I mentioned I'm a bit obsessive/compulsive and a neat-freak??). I didn't really remember much about the movie or the theater...guess the filthy house blocked out everything else. But I digress...

The Alabama is one of the most beautiful pieces of history I've ever seen. The red velvet curtains, the gold painted ornate decor everywhere you turn, the marble floors, the ticket booth....just gorgeous! And there are no words to describe the Mighty Wurlitzer Pipe Organ! Everyone claps and sits on the edge of their seats as it rises from beneath the stage. In original old school style, we saw an old Chip and Dale cartoon prior to the movie and were given the opportunity to participate in several Christmas carol sing-a-longs. While there, I had the honor of sitting next to two of the most wonderful elderly women, who had such great memories of the Alabama. I was so thankful they were willing to share a few of their stories. I hope to be able to meet with them again to acquire some additional stories and a few photos. They were so sweet and loving. However, they didn't seem to be that enamored with Elf, but I wouldn't have expected them to be. While we enjoy watching the movie over the holidays it was a bit crass for the grand ladies sitting beside me. If you've ever seen the movie, you know the scenes of which I speak!

Surprisingly, the boys were almost speechless and wondered why we had never taken them to such a cool place before! It is awesome and you just have to see it, as words will never do it justice. When you have a chance, take the time to visit the Alabama Theatre. While everyone thinks the sign outside is awesome, the inside is spectacular!!

I'm just sayin',

Christmas Memories....

2010-12-21T08:25:00.000-06:00

While I have many wonderful memories of Christmas past, one of my favorites is the year we held our extended family Christmas party at the bake shop where my grandmother worked. My grandmother could bake like nobody's business. One year, I was running for Homecoming Queen (I was in 5th grade) and sold her lemon meringue pies to everyone in the neighborhood. She baked them all at our house and I delivered them fresh out of the oven. Lemon meringue pie....I can still smell those pies baking. You might say "there's nothing special about that", but anyone who bakes knows that making a killer meringue is something that takes years to perfect....soft peaks, browned ever so lightly...but I digress.

So, this particular year we held the party at the bake shop, well I didn't, but the family did...you get what I mean. Me and my sisters sported our new "midi dresses" (something wildly popular in the late sixties) and white boots....yes, that is what I said, we wore white shoes AFTER Labor Day!! We were fashionistas back in the day, so don't even think about rolling your eyes!! Additionally, my sister Annette was wearing the new winter line from Bandaid across the bridge of her nose, as she had split it open on a large cauldron in our yard. We were playing Crack the Whip and it wasn't my fault she couldn't hold on and landed face first on the pot (see my halo shining??).

Anywho, my grandmother baked the best goodies for everyone...there was so much food and so many people. I had no idea where they all came from as I was just a kid and couldn't remember who had shown up with whom. While the food was spectacular and the music couldn't be beat, the crowning moment is when Santa Claus made a personal appearance just for us. He walked through the front door of that bake shop and I thought I would wet my pants I was so excited. He was laughing and jolly (as he should be) and knew us all by name!! Needless to say, when he looked around the room to start handing out the gifts, I sat up straight as I could so he would see me. I knew I had been good all year (remember, my sister busting her nose while playing Crack the Whip with me was an accident). And Santa surely knew this as he pulled out several gifts just for me...proof that it was an accident! :-))

We were all so excited! Santa had paid a personal visit to us...in the bake shop. We talked amongst ourselves and decided it was because we were dressed so fashionably that he just had to see it for himself!! He made his rounds passing out the rest of the gifts and even gave a few to the adults! That's right, the grown-ups even got presents from Santa! Even though some of my family is no longer with us, I will never forget that Christmas. My grandmother has been gone for many years. My grandfather died just a few years ago. Santa (my cousin Junior) has been gone for many years as well. However, those memories are cherished in this little girl's heart, never to be forgotten.

I'm just sayin',

Birmingham, Birmingham...

2010-12-20T18:51:00.000-06:00

Birmingham is known for many things. Unfortunately, most of those things are not positive aspects of the city. Last week, we were able to add another smudge to the already tarnished name of the Magic City. The headlines read "Copper Thieves Burn Down City of Birmingham's Christmas Tree". Whoever you are, was that really necessary??? I know the holidays tend to make everyone desperate for money (or for drugs - depending on how you celebrate), but to burn down the city's Christmas tree!!!!???!!! Unbelievable!!!

I'm just sayin',

Engaged....

2010-12-16T11:19:00.000-06:00

Engaged - A Wedding Library is a great business in the Homewood area. They help brides prepare for their BIG day! Preparing for a wedding is a massive undertaking, so why not let the professionals assist you and eliminate some of your stress.

On Monday, my husband and I attended a holiday Professional Wedding Guild Luncheon held to benefit Pathways (a United Way agency that aids homeless women and children).

I've provided links to both businesses above. Please take a moment to follow those links and read about them. Find out if there is a way you can help Pathways continue providing the services they offer to women and children in need.

I'm just sayin',

The Headlines....

2010-12-13T20:50:00.001-06:00

A headline I read this evening said, "Experts say watch out for cold temps." Really??!! Like it hasn't been cold for the past few days. What different temperature do I need to watch out for? These "experts" go on to advise us to wear a hat and warm shoes out in the cold. As opposed to what, no hat and cold shoes? Bermuda shorts and a tube top? Baby, it's cold outside. I'm going to bundle up like I live on the tip of an iceberg at all times. I think all people with a little common sense will do the same!

Who writes this stuff??!!

I'm just sayin',

The First Snowfall...

2010-12-12T12:24:00.000-06:00

It is officially the first snowfall of the season!! I've always wanted to say that but living in Alabama, there aren't many "seasons" of snow here. And, given that I do live in Alabama, by the time I finish typing this short blog, the first official snowfall of the season will be over! :-(

Enjoy it while it's here folks. It may be the only one this winter!!

I'm just sayin',

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year....

2010-12-12T10:07:00.000-06:00

While we all want to believe this is true, it really isn't the most wonderful time of the year for some. Yes, everyone's heart seems to be a bit lighter and most days, there seems to be a general happiness in the air. However, if you look into the faces of those you see while out and about, you won't see alot of happiness there. Sadness and despair cloud the eyes of many.

The other night, while picking up a few things at the store, an incident took place that I'm still unable to get out of my mind. My husband and I were going through the aisles selecting what we needed. I saw a man who looked a bit scruffy and dirty, as if he just got off work, not from the cushy desk job but from a job where he gets dirty on a regular basis. With him was a little girl who appeared to be about 4 years old. Instead of placing things in his hand-held basket, he was putting food items back on the shelf. Now there were very few items in his basket to begin with, some tuna, crackers, etc., so putting things back on the shelf told me funds were very limited. He looked up and saw me watching him. Our eyes met for a brief second. What I saw in his eyes was not happiness, but a haunting sadness and probably a little bit of embarrassment. As we made our way to the front to pay for our items, he was in line in front of us. After paying, he grabbed his bag and headed for the door. While the cashier was totaling up his purchase, his daughter had been admiring one of the dolls in the special Christmas display at the front of the store. She would reach out to touch it and then pull her little hand back. She would look around, reach out to touch it again and pull her hand back. She did this several times. As they were leaving, she told her dad she wanted the doll. He told her she couldn't have it that maybe "Santy Claus" would bring it to her. The cashier rang us up, we paid for our items and left the store. When we got outside I looked around for them, but didn't see them. They were gone and so was my opportunity to help someone. I wanted to buy that doll and give it to him to give to his daughter for Christmas. I also wanted to buy some additional food for them. I knew there was no way he could afford the doll, even though it wasn't very expensive. When someone is putting necessities, like food, back on the shelf because they can't pay for it, you know luxury items, such as toys for Christmas, won't be purchased. I cried on the way home and have been crying off and on for days about their situation.

The holidays are not always happy times for people. Statistics show that suicide rates increase during the holidays. Financial burdens become heavier because of the pressure to buy extras when there is no money to buy the necessities. The economy has not rebounded as quickly as hoped or anticipated and those without jobs or a regular income are barely scraping by. Some are no longer able to battle the mortgage companies for their homes and are finding themselves homeless for the holidays. Many are depressed because loved ones have passed on and are no longer around to share what used to be joyous occasions. Others have lost all hope.

While there are many movies I enjoy watching over the Christmas holidays, I always watch one in particular to remind me that not all holidays are happy and that I can make a difference if I look around. One Magic Christmas is about a woman who is tired of all the hassle and haggle of the holidays. Her life is chaotic and stressed. Her husband lost his job and they are forced to move out of the company home in which they live. But she is given an opportunity to see how things could be different, for her and for others, when she takes the time to reach out to someone else in need.

If you see someone in need take a moment and reach out to them. That moment may be the one that saves them from making a drastic decision.

I'm just sayin',

Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Silent Night and the First Noel

2010-12-03T13:02:00.002-06:00

I am not a traditional person. My husband is not a traditional person. Therefore, it would stand to reason that Christmas decor and celebrations around our house are not traditional. Our Christmas tree this year is white with black ornaments. Gifts (actually empty boxes right now) are wrapped in black and white polka dot paper. White boxes are tied with black tuille and ribbons. The mantel is decorated with white garland, white twinkle lights, white and off-white candles/candlesticks and a few black ornaments scattered here and there. You can see some of both in this Lipstick Legend portrait.

Our favorite Christmas movie of all time is not the traditional White Christmas or It's a Wonderful Life. Nope, not for us. Our favorite Christmas movie of all time, A Christmas Story...the wonderful tale of Ralphie and his quest for an "Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing which tells time" aka the Red Ryder BB Gun. Every time we watch this movie we laugh as though we've never seen it before. We're sick that way. AND, if you spend Christmas Eve or Christmas Day with us, you are required to watch the 24-hours of A Christmas Story. It's a tradition. Hmmm, wait, does that make us "traditional" after all?

So, given that we are a non-traditional Christmas type of family, would you really expect us to have a favorite "traditional" Christmas song? If you are a bettin' person, I bet you would bet that we would have a very non-traditional Christmas song as one our favorites. After all, it would only be natural. And, you would win your bet. Not sure how much, as that would depend on how much you bet for or against the fact that we, as a family, would have a very non-traditional Christmas song as one of our favorites. Now that I've drawn this out as long as possible, here it is, without further adieu, the video for one of our favorite Christmas songs...

I'm just sayin',

It's Gone,....All Gone!!

2010-12-02T14:52:00.000-06:00

The turkey that is! To quote a line from my most favorite Christmas movie of all time, A Christmas Story, "the heavenly aroma still hung heavy in the house, but it was gone, all gone! No turkey! No turkey sandwiches, no turkey salad, no turkey gravy, turkey hash, turkey a la king, or gallons of turkey soup! Gone, all gone!" You have to watch the clip to appreciate the meaning behind No Turkey!! Start at the 6:20 mark!!

The Thanksgiving turkey is officially gone, gone, gone!!

I'm just sayin',

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow....

2010-11-27T10:41:00.000-06:00

Now that the Iron Bowl has officially been laid to rest (as crazy as it sounds, I believe that I am the only person in the country who did NOT watch it -- even though I bleed Crimson), it is time to move on to the sight, sounds, tastes and smells of the winter holidays.

One of the most wonderful things about cold weather, besides snow (which we do not get often living here in the deep south) is hot chocolate! I LOVE hot chocolate. And recently, I found the bestest (yes it IS a word) and most wonderful recipe for homemade hot chocolate. It tastes divine and makes you feel so warm and incredible inside you will want to snuggle with perfect strangers! How's that for some Christmas spirit!! :-)

It is called.....Let It Snow Cocoa in the Homemade Christmas Cookbook from Gooseberry Patch. Before the cold weather goes away (which will probably be next week, again, given that we live in the south and Spring can spring at any given time of the year), you must make some of this wonderful hot chocolate. I made some for my family last night as we kicked off the holiday season....hot chocolate and a Monk marathon....doesn't get any better than that!

Let It Snow Cocoa

2 c. whipped cream (you will need some extra for dolloping on top)
6 c. milk (NOT that low-fat stuff)
1 t. vanilla extract

1 1/2 c. of semi-sweet chocolate chips

Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low setting for 2 1/2 hours. Stir well to blend before serving. Makes 10 servings (only if you use tiny cups -- we used big hearty mugs, therefore, it was safe to say we did not get 10 servings). Garnish with dollops of whipped cream and/or shavings of chocolate.

I'm just sayin',

Sleep Tight and Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite!

2010-11-26T17:26:00.000-06:00

Well, it is Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, the busiest shopping day of the season! Once we get home and unload all the goodies we've acquired during the day, all we want to do is rest and recover....and eat some leftover turkey!

According to the National Sleep Foundation, most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep each night. Not getting enough sleep has been linked to health problems such as obesity, high blood pressure, negative moods and behavior and decreased productivity.

Here are a few tips to help you establish and maintain good sleep habits:

Go to bed and get up at the same time every day. (Sounds good in theory but is quite impossible to do, unless you are a robot)
Establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine, such as soaking in a hot bath or listening to soothing music. (WHO has TIME to soak in a hot bath!!)
Keep work materials, computer, and television out of the sleeping environment. (But how do I entertain myself until I fall asleep if I remove these things??)
Finish eating at least two to three hours before your regular bedtime. (So, eating IN bed is out of the question then, right?)
Exercise regularly, but complete your workout at least three hours before your bedtime. (I do exercise....I raise my arm up and down when I use the remote to change the channel.)

I'm just sayin',

Santa Baby slip a sable under the tree......

2010-11-24T14:10:00.001-06:00

For me....'cause I need it for a Lipstick Legends Santa Baby photo shoot! :-)

I believe the Christmas season has officially kicked in. I have seen more than my fair share of homes sporting Christmas decorations this week. And, to be honest, my home is included. I decorated early to gear up for Christmas portraits! Below is a sneak peek from a Lipstick Legends Santa Baby shoot!

Santa Baby, slip a sable under the tree for me, I've been an awful good girl,

Santa Baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight...

I'm just sayin',

Give Thanks....Even When You Don't Feel Like It!

2010-11-22T14:01:00.001-06:00

Why is it that some of the hardest words for us to say are “thank you”, especially when things aren’t going well in our lives?

Why is it we only tell God thank you when all is right in our lives? It’s easy to tell God thank you when we are sitting on the mountaintop all happy and smiley-faced, but what about when we are in the valley, sad and defeated? We don’t even think about saying thank you to Him.

When our burdens are heavy, we forget about the wonderful blessings He’s given us and are angry about the troubles we face. All we can see is our present darkness. But we should give thanks to God for all of our circumstances, not just the good times. Even though we can’t see it at the time, there is always a positive force in our trials — God. We should make it a habit to say thank you to Him for trying times, as well as good times.

First Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to give thanks in ALL circumstances, not just the good times. Several of the Psalms include the verse “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

As we come into this season of thanksgiving, thank God for the valleys, not just the mountaintops.

I'm just sayin',

Social Media Addiction.....and Murder?

2010-11-19T08:08:00.000-06:00

I love this quote, "When God created man to desire companionship, he didn’t take a rib and turn it into a Wi-fi signal."

This is from an article I read about our addictions to social networking, specifically, Facebook. I've attached the link to Social Media Addict seeks Connection, Escape. Hopefully, it will cause each one of us to take a step back and look at others in a different light and possibly offer them more than a "friend request". While I don't play Farmville or any of the other games offered on Facebook, I do understand how one can lose track of time while on the internet. It seems to be the shiny coin we can't seem to pull ourselves away from.

The story about the 22 year-old mother who killed her baby over a Farmville game is mortifying and shocking. But equally disturbing to me was the photo in the article...our household looks just like that sometimes. Today's quality family time is spent on computers or in front of some gaming system. We used to play board games together, at least once a week. I think we are going to go back to this practice.....starting tonight!

I'm just sayin',

A Little Less Talk and Alot More Action!

2010-11-18T00:53:00.000-06:00

Yeah, yeah, I know the title is a song by Toby Keith, I think. I must confess -- I don't listen to alot of country music. Well, actually, I don't listen to it at all, unless it is Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash or Merle Haggard. :-) But I know most of the performer's names even though I don't know their songs. However, I digress. This blog isn't about Toby Keith or his song...it is about becoming a woman of ACTION!

A re you a woman of talk or action? We all say things we are going to do — pray for someone, take a meal to a friend in need, send a card, make a phone call — and we honestly have good intentions, but most of the time, we never follow through.

I recently read a short story about Bob Dahlgren. Do you recognize the name? I had never heard of him until I read his story. He died quite a few years ago at the age of 52. His death doesn’t affect us in any way, but to James Brady, it was a deep-felt loss. You see, Bob Dahlgren was one of James Brady’s best friends. Mr. Brady, who was Press Secretary of the White House during the Reagan administration, was shot in 1981 during an assassination attempt on President Reagan. During the years following Mr. Brady’s recovery, Bob Dahlgren never left his side. He and his wife took care of the Brady’s young son Scott during the first weeks of his recovery. Bob organized “happy hours” around Mr. Brady’s bedside so that he could visit with his friends. When Mr. Brady was able to get out and about, it was Bob who made all the transportation arrangements and helped his friend in and out of the special vehicle in which he did his traveling. Bob shielded the Brady family from the press and ill-meaning exploiters. For four and 1/2 years, Bob devoted virtually all of his time to his friend — a friend he loved. Bob never complained nor hesitated to offer his services for his friend. One of the surgeons who operated on and treated Mr. Brady once said, “Everyone should have a friend like Bob Dahlgren!”

Are you a “Bob Dahlgren” in someone’s life? Are you a devoted friend — for better or for worse? Are you willing to give your time to someone in need? We’ve always heard “it’s the thought that counts”. But you know what? The thought really doesn’t count. It is the ACTION that counts. It’s the action that makes a difference. It’s the action that makes a lasting impact on someone’s life. Action is what truly matters in friendship. Mere words do not make friendships happen and last through the years ….it’s ACTION! To reverse an old cliché, “You are a friend indeed if you help a friend in need.”

If you know of someone going through a difficult time, I encourage you to exercise a little less talk and a lot more action! Be a woman of your word, be a woman of worth and most importantly, be a woman of ACTION.

“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and truth.” — 1 John 3:18

I'm just sayin',

An Apple a Day...

2010-11-17T09:13:00.000-06:00

We’ve all heard the old saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”…..but here are some additional facts about APPLES:

During 7th century BC, they were so rare and valuable couples were required to share one on their wedding night.
They are second only to bananas in popularity.
They contain 2.8 grams of fiber.
Apples should be eaten unpeeled as most of the nutrients are in the skin.
They are easy to digest and help reduce fermentation in the digestive tract.
Apples are an excellent way to help reduce blood cholesterol.
New Zealand is a large source of apples for the US during the spring.
They are a natural breath freshener.

There are over 100 types of apples, although we very rarely eat more than 1 or 2 types. Step out and try a type you’ve never tasted before — they are affordable and will definitely contribute to a healthy living lifestyle!

While apples are great tasting and good for you ( by the way, so is chocolate :-) ), we do use the word apple when referring to something else besides fruit. The next time you decide to look for something on the World Wide Web, you can do a little research on these common phrases...The Big Apple and The Apple of My Eye!

I'm just sayin',