Wednesday, November 30, 2011

How did this happen?

Do you ever look in the mirror and wonder how did this happen? Where did this grey hair come from?  When did that wrinkle get there? I never really did until this year when I hit the big 40.  Honestly being forty doesn't really bother me. It's the actual aging process that stinks!

Once when I was little, I was staying with my great grandma Richards.  (she was my mom's, mom) I don't recall what it was we were doing but, I do recall lifting her arm up. Kind of like she was showing me her muscle.  Except, well, when you are a great grandma things are not firm.  Grandma Richards was no exception.  So I take her arm and lift it up and tap the bottom and laugh because it starts swinging back and forth. I got the biggest kick out of it and would do it over and over. She would laugh and tell me, you just wait.  It will happen to you one day too. Sadly, that day has arrived.  No, I have not had any punk kid mess with my saggy arms but, I know it will happen when I have grand kids of my own.

When you are in your twenties you don't think anything of it.  Your skin is always nice and firm.  You don't have grey hair and you just don't get what all the fuss is about.  You hit thirty and start to wonder what the heck is happening to your body.  Why is there hairs growing out of places it never did before. About the time you finally get over that, grey hair starts to show up.  Honestly, all of that is nothing that a pair of tweezers and a bottle of loving care won't take care of.  As you start to get up in your thirties you notice that things aren't in the same spot when you lay down. You try to put your arm down and you find a breast in your arm pit and your nipples are starting to face down south. Gravity is NOT kind. When you hit forty you start to notice that your skin isn't quite as firm as it once was.  You can play ham bone on your under arm, you have more grey in your hair and you have so much hair on your upper lip and chin that if you aren't careful you will have a goatee thinker than your husbands. Okay, okay, some of that was a slight exaggeration for laughs but, it's not far from the truth.

My point, if you are under the age of forty enjoy it.  Don't take your firm skin for granted.  Don't start coloring your hair for fun because before you know it you will HAVE to do it.  Kind of like when you were little and were dieing to shave your legs. As soon as you did shave then you had to shave frequently.  Then you wish you never started to shave in the first place. You only live once and this is the only body you will ever get so take care of it. 

If you are forty and none of the things I mentioned are happening to you, well, I don't like you.  Just kidding.  Consider yourself blessed and let the rest of us know how you did it in the comments.

The best advice I could ever give you is forgive quickly, love unconditionally and be the kind of friend that you would like to have.

Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!
Jackie 

PS: Happy Birthday Whitney!

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Thanksgiving 2011 and the Weekend After

Thanksgiving was very mellow this year.  Michael picked up the meats from Dickeys BBQ the night before so we just had to warm it up.  We went the quick route on everything.  Boxed stuffing, mac and cheese  (both Kraft and Velveeta.  Blake likes the Kraft, dad likes the Velveeta) among other things.  You know all of the easy, breezy stuff.  We ate our meal by 11:45 AM because Blake was going to the Cowboy game with one of his best friends since first grade. After we ate and cleaned up our dishes we just relaxed the rest of the day. Michael watching football, Blake at the game and dad napping and watching TV.  I just relaxed in my room and watched girl stuff. 

Friday I went in to work.  I think maybe 6 people showed up.  The phones were so quiet. Everyone was out of the office by 1PM except me.  I held out until around 4:30 to leave. I made dad something to eat when I got home and then Michael, Blake and I went to dinner.  We watched a couple of shows together then Blake went over to a friends hows for a few hours.

Saturday morning I got up and watched True Grit with my dad.  It was the original film with John Wayne.  It is one of my favorite films because I remember watching it with my dad when I was little.  It was nice getting to watch it with him again.  Later that afternoon Blake and I went and finished up Christmas shopping for my husband.  I think.  It just depends on if I find anything else I don't think he could do without.

Sunday we got up and I made dad something to eat and watched a movie with him.  The boys got up and got lunch for us. We put up the little bit of Christmas decorations we are putting up this year.  We literally have a Charlie Brown Christmas tree.  We just don't have any room left in our living room since my dad has been living in there.  Since last year we have added a hospital bed.  What little room we had is gone.  After we put up the decorations Blake hit the showers because he needed to get on the road.  Before he left we gave him his birthday presents.  My baby boy turns 20 on Friday. I'm excited for him but am sad that he is grown up at the same time. It wasn't a crazy holiday which is nice.  I'm enjoying staying at home the older I get.  I know when Blake has a family we will be rushing around to all the games like we did with Blake was little.  So I'm going to enjoy the down time that I have while I have it.

I hope your Thanksgiving was nice.  Now it's time to gear up for Christmas.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!
Jackie

PS: Happy Birthday Aunt Linda!  I love you. :-)

Monday, November 28, 2011

Girls Gone Child

I don't know if any of you read Girls Gone Child.  If you haven't you should.  She is an incredible writer and mother.  I started reading her when Archer her oldest was just a baby.  I can recall her being so afraid of being a mom.  Then the scare of Archer and his speech issues.  I think I have figured out why he didn't speak or didn't speak well for so long.  When you have that much genius in you at such a young age it's hard to articulate. 

I can recall when Rebbecca told us about being pregnant for the second time. Then when she found out she was having her first daughter.  Her name is Fable.  She is a cutie pie and has a fashion sense of her own.

Two months ago Rebbecca and Hal had twin girls.  The twins look nothing alike. Bo come to find out looks just like her mama did at her age.  Rev looks like her other two siblings.  The love the four of these kids have for one another is awe inspiring.  Please go read Girls Gone Child Wednesday, November 23rds post.  Archer will inspire you.  The pictures are adorable and Rebbecca explains perfectly how a big family works.

I adore their little family and I've never met them.  But, the love is palatable. Her words are perfect.  She has written one book.  It was back when Archer was a baby. She was so scared when he was little.  But now you look at her and she is a strong capable woman and mother.  She will do anything for her husband and babes.

Bec,  I wish you and your family nothing but the best. I hope the kids stay as close as they are now.  If I know Archer, he will make sure it is so.  He sure is a blessing.  The things Archer says amazes me. He is so wise for someone so young.  He as been wise since his words finally stated to come.  First through music then words. What a precious, precious boy.  The girls are lucky to have them.  The world is lucky to have him.

If you have time please take a moment to read her blog. It's not that she needs the reads, she has tons, it's just such an incredible blog I hate not to share such an wonderful family.



Hope you have a wonderful Monday!
Jackie

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

I am starting to get in the Thanksgiving mood. Ready or not it's here! haha

Do you remember the Youtube site I was talking about the other day that shows you how to make holiday treats?  If not  log onto Youtube and type in HeyKayli or  click on one of the words in purple.

You will need:

 1 package of Fudge Striped cookies. 

 1 package of Reese's peanut butter cups. You will need the individually wrapped candies.
I suggest putting the candy in the refrigerator or freezer to firm the candy up. 
  NOTE: You can use a candy kiss to make a witches hat for Halloween. Also from HeyKayli. 

One tube of frosting and 1 package of tips if you do not already have them.  Kayli bought regular frosting and put yellow and red dye in it and mixed it until it was orange then put it in sandwich bags cutting of a corner as a make shift pastry bag.  I was lazy and thought that this would be easier.  The tube of frosting and the can of frosting were the same price.

Setting things out so it's easier to work with.

First Step: Make a fairly large ring of frosting around the hole in the cooking.

Second Step: Place the Reece's cup on top of the cookie with the larger side touching the cookie.


Third Step: Draw a line of frosting around the Reece's cup then draw a square for the buckle.


Fourth Step: Put the pilgrim hat's on a pretty tray.  Serve and enjoy!


 I tried to give one of the pilgrim hats to Michael and Blake on Wednesday night but, Blake wanted to wait until Thanksgiving day.  He said that they looked cool.  I was kind of surprised he said that.

I might make a couple of more things that Kayli made.  If I do I will take pictures of it and let you know how it went.

I hope your Thanksgiving day turns out better then expected.

Jackie

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

It's Getting Closer to Thanksgiving

As it gets closer to Thanksgiving my heart hurts more and more. I am missing my mom, brother and my grandparents as well as other family members that have passed away on my side and on Michael’s side. As you grow older life happens and things change. It would be awesome if the good things stayed the same. I guess that just isn't realistic.


I miss my granny Yoho's stuffing. That is my favorite food.  For desert it is Pecan Pie.   I miss all of our aunts, mom, granny and my sister and I getting in the kitchen and cooking.  Getting ready for the madness that was about to take place. Talking, laughing and working. We were exhausted by the day’s end but, it was so much fun just being around everyone. After we ate the girls would be in the "fancy room" and the guys would be in the den. It was a privilege for us kids to get to go in the fancy room. It was granny's formal living room and formal dining room.

When we were little my brother, sister and I would watch my uncle Danny make out with his girl friend in the fancy room. We would tease him after she left. Our Aunts and Uncles on my mom's side were more like siblings. The twins, who were the youngest of my mom's siblings, were only 8 when my brother was born and 11 when I was born.


I've been fine for years just having our little family or 3 doing our own thing on Thanksgiving Day. We would normally go down to visit both sides of the family for Thanksgiving at some point.  It just depended on everyone's schedule.   For some reason it's hitting hard this year with all the people missing in our lives. Both of Michael’s parents are gone. All of his grandparents are gone. The only grandparent we have left is my Granny Howard. She is in her 90's. With dad so sick and her not doing that great we don't get to see her. I called and asked my Uncle Leon if Granny would be able to Skype and he didn't think it would work. Granny Howard has been def since she was two. She had hearing aids for years. Then she could only hear out of her left ear. From what Uncle Leon said she is just able to read lips. This makes me sad. I wish we could go down to see everyone but, that just isn't possible with dad living with us.


I keep trying to think of all of the things I am thankful for like, dad still being alive for another holiday season, Blake being home for a week and shortly for a month, having a loving husband and wonderful home, and having a fantastic job with increasable bosses.

Maybe with us putting up the Christmas tree it will put me in a better place.  How can you listen to Christmas music and not get in the Christmas spirit?


Wishing you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Jackie

P.S. Be sure to let me know what you are thankful for this year.


Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Sad News

I'm completely bummed out.  I just found out after work that Dara has decided to move back home. I understand how it is moving away from all of your friends and family.  I did it at a young age but, I was married to the love of my life.  Dara's boyfriend got a job back down by where she lives so it would be silly for her to stay up here when she moved up here to be closer to him in the first place.  Oh well, so much for girls movie nights.  Her last day at her job up here is Wednesday. She will be with her mama on Thanksgiving Day.  I'm so thankful she is doing her college courses on-line so she didn't have to skip  a semester of school.

The upside is I still have my baby boy at home.  Blake goes back to Oklahoma on Sunday.  He will be gone for two weeks then he will be home for a month.  This makes me very happy.  I love having him home. When he is away a piece of me feels the like it is missing.  I guess I better get used to him being gone. I'm sure he will want a place of his own by the time he graduates from college.  Heck, by then he could be engaged or even married.  You just never know.

I am hoping we can figure out a place for our Christmas tree between now and this weekend.  We always put our Christmas tree up with Blake. I sure don't want to break that tradition before we have to.

One of the Youtubers I watch had some really cute Thanksgiving treat ideas.  If you would like some cute treats that are quick and easy you should check her out on Youtube under HeyKayli .  I'm thinking about doing the Pilgrim hat.  I think that would be the easiest one to do. If I make anything I will be sure to either video it or take pictures of each step so you can follow along.

Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday!
Jackie





Monday, November 21, 2011

Over the Weekend

My weekend actually started a little earlier last week.  I took Friday off because I had to take my dad to Scott and White in Temple in order for him to spend the day getting poked and prodded and waiting for Dr.'s and blood work.  We left up here around 7:30 Friday morning for his blood work appointment at 10:30.  My sister met us up at the hospital as she always does so she will be in the loop as well.  And it just nice to get to spend the day with her.  We got to the hospital about a half hour early and they got us in and out early. Dad had to fast before his blood work so he was starving.  Dad's next appointment wasn't until 1:30 so we had a lot of time to kill so we headed to the cafeteria. We talked about getting him a hair cut since he was out and about but it really hard on him to get up to move from the wheel chair to the truck. 

Our Aunt Linda came up to the hospital to visit with us.   We all laughed and picked on each other the entire time.  She is so funny and sweet and just a joy to be around. My parents gave me her middle name as my middle name. We have always been very close. We finally wrap up our lunch and visit and try to see if we can get in to the heart Dr. early.  Surprisingly we did.  He was told he has a happy heart right now.  This is great news for some one with congestive heart failure.

The pulmonary Dr. appointment wasn't until 3:30. After the heart Dr. appointment we went ahead and headed up to the pulmonary department.  We were hoping we might get in early since we have had such good luck all day.  Dad was called the get his vitals checked right after we checked him in.  Then we were taken to the room and were told we would be seen early.  What ended up was the little lady that took us back didn't really know what she was doing.  The upside is we actually got seen at 3:30.  The last time we went to see the pulmonary Dr. he was more than 45 minutes late to the appointment.  So being seen on time was  fine with us.  We didn't get home until around 6:30 ish. It was quit a long day.  Dad had something to eat on the way home and all he wanted to do was sleep as soon as we hit the door.  It really takes it out of him.  But, the good news ins there was not change in the pulmonary/lung department so that was good news.  All in all he is doing as good as he can with congestive heart failure and COPD.

By the time I got dad settled in I called Blake and he was almost home.  He had planned on surprising me at the office on Friday but when he found out we were in Temple he went on and visited some of his friends from Texas Wesleyan.  We just hung out at the house on Friday evening.

Saturday the boys went to the TCU football game.  Someone gave me a fee tickets because they couldn't make the game.  The boys said they were great seats!  Michael met a new friend.




When the boys got back from the game it was time for us to go to Hyena's comedy club.  Michael's step mom Pam her husband Frank, Michael, Blake and I went.  We had a great time.  All of the comics were funny.  Pam and Frank got put off by some of the things the comics said. I understand.  They pushed the envelope pretty far.  After the show we all went to IHop.  it was yummy.


Sunday morning we woke up and Michael and I watched Dexter. Then when we got up and I made everyone grilled cheese sandwiches.,  Michael, dad and Blake watched the game.  The Cowboys won so all is well with their world.  Dara and I were in Michael and my room and were watching Son in Law until Dara had to go do home work.  They then left to go to the record store and go pick up a few groceries and dinner.

It was a nice weekend. I love when we can just relax on Sunday and just enjoy each other.  I've become a home body in my old age.


Hope you had a wonderful weekend and a great Monday.

Jackie

Friday, November 18, 2011

Memories of Mom

My mom passed away on November 18, 2007.  To say we were surprised would be an understatement. Dad has been the one that has been sick since he was a new born baby.

In some ways it seems like mom just passed away in others it feels like she has been gone for a while. I still on occasion will want to pick up the phone and call her about something and then remember I can't. That was probably the hardest part after she first passed away.  We would talk quite often. Some weeks everyday.  So to go from talking to her several times a week to nothing was hard.

My mom was the person I would call if I ever needed to know where something was in the bible I was looking for.  I could tell her the gist of what the Scripture was and she would be able to find it in a flash.  I can still do that with google but, then there is no enter action or conversation about the scripture or how I even came to be looking for it.

Mom loved to go to garage sales. She could find name brand clothes with the tag still on and get them for a dollar or less. I never had the patience to go.  I would suck it up on occasion and go with her but, I don't care for shopping of any kind as a rule. Mom loved it. As many clothes as mom had she would give a way.  It was a constant cycle.  She was always giving something away.  You knew if you bought her something you would have to try and not get your feelings hurt if she gave it to someone.  If she felt they needed it more than she did or even if they admired something she would most likely give it to you.  She just had a very giving heart.

Mom had been in pain for years.  I often wondered if  she had fibromyalgia or some kind of sensitive nerves.  The poor girl was allergic to 90% of medications.  Heck, she was even allergic to band aids.

Mom was worn out before she passed.  She and dad were living behind an elderly couples home.  It was known as the cottage house.  The husband of the elderly couple was diagnosed with cancer and didn't have long to live.  His wife fell and broke her hip right after they found out.  So my mom was working around the clock. She didn't have time to make it to church while she was careing for them.  The elderly couple finally told mom she needed a break.  Mom was so excited because she was going to get to go to church.  The husband told us later she was glowing. 

Mom and dad get to the church and they have the praise and worship service, the sermon and then more music at the end.  My mom hand gone to the ground but my dad didn't really think much about it because she has prayed this way many times out of reverence to our Lord.  It was only when the service was over did he realize something was truly wrong.  They got the ambulance to the church and they were going to get her to the care flight team. But she was gone before they could get her to the helicopter.  She was taken to the place my sister was born.

When I got the call I was cleaning the Dr.'s office.  It was my weekend job.  I had a full time job during the week. I was told that she was rushed to the hospital.  They didn't tell me she had passed at that point. I get home and pack the most random stuff you could think of.  I live 3 hours away so there was a lot of time to sit and thing and wonder.  I call to check on mom and figured out she passed away. I felt like I had been kicked in the gut.  I instantly got sick to my stomach and had to have my husband pull over.  The rest of that time was a blur.

I do pretty good most of the time.  But for the last several weeks I have felt like just sobbing and I couldn't figure out why.  Then it hit me.  I was missing my mom.  The upside is my dad has Dr. appointments today in Temple so we will get to be with my sister.  I will write all about the trip next week.  Until then I hope you have a nice weekend.

Jackie

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Dara is moving in!!!!!!!!

Our niece Dara is finally going to start staying with us.  I am so excited! I've been out numbered by boys for the last 20 years.  That is all fine and good but, it sure is going to be great to be able to watch a chick flick with someone who gets it.

Dara, Justin, Colby (May of 2008)

Dara is my sisters middle child.  Justin is the oldest and Colby is the baby of the family.  Dara is also the only girl in our family. She is my little princess.  Heck, she is all of our little princess. Well, her brothers and other boy cousins probably don't think that.

Her Jr. year I went do and took pictures of her.  From the nail salon to her driving off to prom with her friends.

Look at theses nails before they were cut down.  It was crazy! We had so much fun giggling.

This is Dara and my Aunt Debby before she started on Dara's hair.

 Pop had to get a picture taken with his little angel. For sure she is his princess!

 
Aunt Debby so proud of the outcome.  It was beautiful!

 
 The girls showing off their hair with a little flair before they head out for the evening.

Just before they left it started sprinkling so be bagged their hair
in hopes it would last until they got to their prom.


Here is Dara and I on her graduation day.

Here is Brody and Dara at one of our cousin's baby shower. 
Brody had just turned 1 on Sept. 4th.  Look how little he is. Aww

I'm not sure how long Dara will be living with us.  But as far and we are concerned she can stay for as long as she would like. I'm ready to do a happy dance thinking about having another girl in the house.

Shannon, Dara and Jackie
Dara will be staying in Blake's room when he is at school.  Blake has cable TV in his room so at least it will not go to waste when she is staying there.  When Blake comes in this weekend she will sleep in the office.  It has Blake's old day bed and trundle.  It will be nice for them to get to hang out.  They don't normally get to do that much with us so far away from everyone.

I know I've said it quite a bit but, I have a wonderful husband.  You know it's true when we have two of my extended family members living with us and he doesn't mind. I'm truly blessed beyond measure and I know it.  Thank you honey. I love you!!

I hope you have a wonderful Thursday!

Jackie


Tuesday, November 15, 2011

My Guys


Normally when we set out to go some place my husband has it all mapped out.  I don't really have to think about it.  He is very detail oriented like that.  Which is fine by me.  This time however, he was not as prepared as he normally is.  He had printed out the Talamena Scenic Drive map. But he did not have directions ready for where we were going to start and finish.  Fortunately we have navigation on our cell phones.  What on earth did people do without this handy little gadget? I know read a map is the obvious reply.  We are such a spoiled society.  So we figure out where we would like to start and enter where we want to go in our system and off we go.


One of my favorite things in this world is spending time with these two guys. T they are best friends and I love that.  They both treat me like a princess.  I couldn't love either of these two more than I already do. I am blessed that they are so close.  It makes me happy that our little family of three is so close.
 

I look at these two and my heart swells. Michael and I are very blessed to have a son like Blake.  It's not very many kids his age that are willing to hang out with his parents as much as he does.


I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!
Jackie

Blake and The Talamena Senic Drive



This weekend went by entirely too fast for this mama.  We ended up not getting on the road until 5:30 PM on Friday evening.  Not exactly the ideal time to start a long road trip. It took us right at 5 1/2 hours to get to Poteau this time.  It normally takes about 4 1/2 if the traffic is cooperating. Between road construction and slow poke drivers I was going stir crazy. 


As we pull into Poteau, I call Blake to let him know to hop in his car as we are passing his college and meet us at the hotel.  The funny thing is apparently he had just sent me a text about picking him up some food right as I was calling him.  I didn't get text until after we got off the phone.  I texted him back telling him his dad hasn't eaten either and when he meets us he can have all the food he wants.  The poor kid looks like he has lost about 20 pounds.  That is frustrating because we spent a fortune this summer with a trainer trying to get him bulked up.  He just doesn't have time to eat 6 meals a day anymore.  So, we get the guys some food and take it back to the hotel room.  It is so late that Blake only stays for about an hour.


We got up the next morning and the boys made me stay at the hotel room to rest my back while they did laundry. I have such thoughtful men in my life.  I am very blessed!


The guys finally get finished with Blakes laundry and we head out to see the Talamena Scenic Drive.  It is very long trail and absolutely beautiful. We only drove about half of it.  It was so windy, cool and it had a slight over cast.  But so worth the drive.  You can also take various trails.  We got out at one place and found a spring.  It looked almost  dried up. I'm sure it's from the drought that happened this past year.  The entire area was beautiful.  With the leaves changing.  We do not get to enjoy that very much here in Texas.




 
After the drive we went to eat somewhere quick then went and rested at the hotel room for a bit.  Later that evening we went to see Tower Heist in Fort Smith, AR.  I kept calling the movie Towering Heights for some reason. When I was posting the movie we had gone to see on FB I put Towering Heights trying to put Tower Heist. DOH!  Anyway, the movie was great.  We were all pleasantly surprised.  With as many good actors that were in the movie you just never know.  But it worked and all of them played their role perfectly.


After the movie we are all starving.  Blake wanted to go to Outback Steak house.  It was so yummy.  I love their green beans. The steak was perfect!  Blake got the Sirloin and shrimp and Michael got the Sirloin and Ribs.  I had a slice of cheese cake.  The guys got these chocolate waffles with a scope of ice cream and chocolate syrup poured all over the waffles and ice cream.  Their desert could have been a meal in itself.  They really enjoyed it. 

On the drive back to from the movie we are on this really remote piece of the highway and Blake is telling us how he and 3 buddies from school had gone to see Paranormal Activity 3 and how freaky it was.  When they guys were on that part of the highway and someone would start to bring up the movie the others would shut him down quick. I was cracking up.  Right after Blake was telling us about this while he was still thinking of the movie and a littel freaked out and grab him and he jumps a mile.  I was cracking up.  He told me, you better be glad your my mom or you might have been punched in the nose. Which only made me laugh more. I'm such a mean mom.


We got back to the hotel room and just hung out and talked and watched TV.  Michael fell asleep around midnight and Blake left around 1AM.

Sunday we all slept in.  We had to be out of the hotel by 11 AM.  We get ready and go get Blake.  We ate at Joe's Place.  It's a whole in the wall breakfast and lunch dinner.  It is very good and the prices are great.  We have eaten there the last three Sundays we have been to see Blake. The last thing we did on the trip was go to Wal-Mart.  Sorry, no shirtless guys or hineys showing stories this time.  Which is fine by me!  We get all Blake needs and head back to his dorm.  Everything gets put up and we just visit for a little bit longer.  We finally get on the road a little before 2.  I tell Michael I'm going to sleep because I was hurting.  Boy did I sleep.  I slept all the way home. Get home get unpacked get dad something to eat and lay on the couch and visit with him a little bit.  Head on to bed and we watched one show we recorded and I was out like a light by the second show.  I don't even recall what the second show we watched was.  Before I fell asleep I did get the pictures uploaded to my laptop.  Hope you enjoy them.


Have a wonderful Tuesday!
Jackie

Monday, November 14, 2011

Sorry No Post... or not much of one anyway

Just letting you know I will write a post tonight about the weekend.  It was a busy one and an enjoyable one.  I promise there will be pictures this time! :-) 

I slept all the way back to Texas.  When we got home I unpacked fed dad and went back to sleep for a bit. Woke up watched one of our shows we had recorded and fell back to sleep during the second one.  I don't even recall what the second show was.  I guess THAT is how you know it was a good weekend with Blake. :-)

Hope your Monday is a great one!

Jackie

Friday, November 11, 2011

Poteau Here We Come

We get to go visit Blake this weekend.  I'm so excited. Michael really wanted to go last weekend for his birthday but, my sister wasn't able to come up here and stay with my dad.  The only thing I need to do now is try and decide I what I want to put in a care package for Blake. I thought it would be a nice surprise for him. The only problem is what to put in it.  I don't have much time to get it together since we leave on Friday evening right after work.

What I'm even more excited about is there will be no baseball this weekend.  We will actually get to see him and visit with him.  Michael is wanting to go on a trail we were told about a few weeks ago.  I bet it will be beautiful with the leaves changing colors.  I'm really looking forward to taking some pictures.  If I get some good shots I will share them with you.

I'm sure we will end up doing Blakes laundry at some point.  It seems we always do when we come for a visit.  I need to remember to bring some cards or a game of some kind to help pass the time while we are doing that fun task.

In the mean time, I need to get my house ready for my niece to move in.  I need to make sure my dad has all he needs before my sister comes up. If I forget anything she will go get it for him.  I just like everythng in order for him so he doesn't stress. I also need to make sure to change the sheets in Blake's room.  I think Dara will be staying in there until Blake comes home for the holidays.  I will be busy for the next couple of nights.  Which is probably good because it will make the time go by faster.

What are you looking forward to this weekend?  Do you have big plans?  Does anyone have any suggestion for something to do in Poteau, OK or the surrounding area?  It's about 20 miles from Arkansas.

Have a wonderful Friday and an increadable weekend!
Jackie


Thursday, November 10, 2011

The Walking Dead

My husband recorded the first season of The Walking Dead when they aired it again before the new season began.  At first I wasn't sure if I wanted to watch this show but, it has sucked me in.  I find myself alternating between covering my face with my hands, covers or pillows. It's like a car accident.  You don't want to look yet, you can't look away. When it's time to watch another episode I cringe.  I want to see what happens next yet, I'm scared to death of what is to come.

We are watching the season 2 premier as I write this.  From the first time I watched this show it has had my nerves on edge.  I got through the first season but the start of this season has me almost peeing my pants. I'm a nervous wreck and my husband is watching it like he is watching The Love Boat.

I think the writers have done a fantastic job with the script. The make up artist are true artists.  I don't know if I've seen better zombies.  This show has plenty of gore as well.  It grosses me out sometimes.  But as I said, I can't seem to stay away.  I almost wish the shows were not DVR'ed.  It would be nice to have the commercials to get my nerves back under control.  I guess I love to torture myself. Oh well, it's good to get your blood pumping now and again.

The only other Zombie type movie I have been able to get through was Zombie Land.  But it was more on the comedy side.  If you have not watched this movie you should.  My husband and son made me watch it and I'm glad they did. If I'm flipping through the channel and find this on I will stop and watch the rest of the movie.

My husband has a calender telling him how to survive the zombie apocalypse.  He says he is prepared if the zombies come.  I guess I'm safe if it ever happens.

Hope you have a wonderful Thursday.
Jackie

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Tech Savvy and Craft sites

I wish I were tech savvy.  I have no idea what I am doing with this blog.  If blogger wasn't so user friendly I wouldn't be able to post anything.  What I would really like to do is learn how to change my template to something other than what is listed on the blogger site.  I see some people have supper creative headers and frames around their posts.  There are so many things I would love to do with this site but can't because I'm to new to blogging. I'm sure I will eventually learn.  It is frustrating being patient.

Have any of you ever looked at a sight called pintrest?  It is a really cool site where people give each other craft, redecorating, and repurpose ideas.  Basically any idea you can come up with someone is bound to have a board made up.  The cool thing is once you are a member you can start making your own boards.  My niece showed me the site a few weeks ago and I've been hooked.  She flagged this really cool looking coffee table.  What it ended up being was two palates put together, painted a really pretty color with casters as the legs.  It didn't even look like ugly old palates.  Other items were window panes made into frames and tons of other fantastic ideas.  If you have a moment you should go check it out.  Especially if you are into decorating or crafts and the like. Let me know if you find anything you fall in love with.

What are some things you would like to learn more about?  Are there any websites you think I should check out?

Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Jackie

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Working Girl

I started baby sitting when I was 8 years old.  I watched my cousins while my aunt and her husband went out.  I can't imagine leaving an 8 year old alone with my baby much less have that young of a child watch a baby.  That shows the difference in this generation and the one I grew up in. I loved every minute of watching my cousinst.  All of our younger cousins were like live baby dolls for my sister and I to play with.  We adored all of them and still do.  Most of them still call us Aunt.

I have had a job since I was 17.  I worked at a day care my Sr. year.  I would go to school from 7 AM until noon then I would work from about 12:15 or 12:30 until 6 PM.  When I got off of work I would then babysit our next door neighbors 2 sons until midnight.  That made for a very long week.  I think the day care job was the one I have liked least out of the jobs I have had.  I got a job bagging groceries for a few months  before I got married that wasn't a picnic either.  Other than those two jobs I have been very blessed with the companies I have worked for.

I think the hardest part was having to have more than one job when in order to make ends meet.  Both my husband I have had two jobs.  I cleaned a Dr.'s office one day every weekend for 12 years and Michael threw a news paper 7 days a week for 7 years these jobs were on top of our regular 40 hour + job. This doesn't even cover the sporting events that were worked in through the week and the weekend for Blake.  Or the concession stands or other booths I had to volunteer to work. 

We would make Blake go with us to our second job on occasion to show him why he needed to go to college.  After Michael quit the paper he came and helped Amy and I with the office.  By then my back was getting so bad lifting anything was out of the question.  We finally quit due to my back in April of 2009. It was awesome to actually have weekends.  Yes, we still had sporting events but that was fun getting to watch Blake play whatever sport he was in and not have to stress about when I could get the office worked in.

I think the most jobs I have worked at one time was  4.  I worked my regular job, then I would work on Monday night until 11 or 12 in the back with another department processing checks, cleaned every weekend and for a while I helped my brother out as well.  Just until he hired my sister.  The upside was I didn't have to process every week.  But I did as often as I could especially around the holidays so we would have the extra money.  I honestly don't think my body could take what I put it through in my 20's. 

Thank the good Lord above that I have a wonderful job that pays me well enough where I don't have to have an additional job. 

What was your least favorite job or your favorite job?

Have a great day!

Jackie

Monday, November 7, 2011

Whirl Wind

Whirl wind.  That is the only thing I can think of when Michael gets in a organizing mood. Michael has been driving me crazy.  Going through things that most likely should have been thrown out or gotten rid of years ago.  Of course I know I shouldn't be complaining.  There are a ton of women that would love for their husbands just to help.  I am thankful for all that Michael does it's just I'm not in the same frame of mind as he is right now.  If I were that would be wonderful. For both our sakes I better get in the mood to organize quick. 

Michael got his office all organized. Including the closet. He isn't much on the cleaning side so I need to go in and dust and vacuum and things like that.  He has made it much easier to do my tasks.  He has moved on to our room now.  The problem is now he is getting in my stuff and as I mentioned I'm not ready to go through it all just yet.  I know if I will just do get it done I will love it.  We are typically very organized kind of people.  But, when dad moved in things got displaced and its finally driving Michael crazy enough to do something about it.  OK I'll admit it will be nice to have my room all nice and organized as well. 

It is going to be interesting when he gets to the living room and try to go through my dad's stuff.  I think I will need to be out of the house when that happens. As I mentioned before, dad and organization do not go hand in hand.  I totally get why mom would get so frustrated.  He loves clean organized stuff but doesn't want to do it him self.  Then if you organize it and he can't find something. Well it's not a good thing.  Oh well.  It needs to be done and if Michael is willing to fight the fight well then good for him and our home.

Have a great day!
Jackie

P.S.  Happy Birthday Trisha!!

Friday, November 4, 2011

Happy Birthday Michael!

Dear Michael,

I just wanted to tell you how much I love you and tell you how thankful I am that you have allowed me to be apart of your life for the last 25 years. 

It is crazy to stop and think about the 17 year old you when we met. To the 43 year old you that you will be tomorrow. It has been one heck of a ride and I wouldn't want to change one thing about it.  It is what has made us who we are today.  

I've been blessed beyond measure with not only marrying my best friend but having a husband that loves me in return. Someone I know I can always depend on to be there for me in the good times and the bad. Not only are you a wonderful husband You are a wonderful dad. I have enjoyed watching you develop into this incredible father.  Blake is one lucky young man to have had such a fantastic dad such as you growing up.

You are:

Magnificent
Incredible
Caring
Honest
Awesome
Exciting
Loving

You are so many more things but above all you are loved more know then you could possibly know.  I'm looking forward to seeing the changes in you over the next 25+ years. Because if they are as good as the first 25 then I know I will have the time of my life.

Happy Birthday Baby, I love you with all of my heart.

Jackie

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Celebrities

Is it driving you crazy hearing about Kim Kardashian getting divorced?  Everywhere I turn I hear about it.  It is on the TV, radio, blogs and YouTube just to name a few.  Isn't there any real news out there? It makes me angry that people like Kim do not take the sanctity of marriage more seriously. Heck the girl has already been married and divorced one time before.  Her current husband didn't know this until they were all at a family dinner and one of the sisters made a comment about it the night before they were married. I don't normally watch their show but I was flipping through channels and happened to catch that part.  Don't you think it might be a little important to let the person you are going to marry know you have been married in the past?  Or maybe that is just me. 

I think I liked it better when we didn't know every time someone from Hollywood sneezed. Do we really need to know about all of the things going on with them?  Like for instance when Paris or was it Lindsey was going to jail and the rest of the new in the world stopped until the little darling ended up getting to serve her time at home.  I guess what they say is true about even bad publicity being good publicity.  People eat it up.

I don't think I could live in such a fake world.  How would you know who your real friends are or who was just sucking up to you because of who you are or what you have.  I have a hard enough time trusting people in my life now much less if I were in a rich perosns shoes. I'm not saying that people of wealth have it easy. Money comes with it's owen problems.  But,  I would think it would make life a little easier if you didn't have to worry about making a car payment or making sure your child could go to college.

What are your thoughts on celebrities or in the Kardashian realm reality TV stars? Do you get tired of hearing all about every move they make?  Or are you one of the people that eat it up with a spoon?

Have a great Thursday!
Jackie

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

The story of us Part 2

I was 18 years old when we got married.  Two weeks later I turned 19. Young dumb and in love.  Those first years of marriage were no walk in the park.  We no sooner got married went on our honey moon weekend and the next week we moved away from all of our friends and family.  Neither of us had a job. I have no idea what we expected to live on. The only thing we knew was Michael was going to move to Dallas to go to school and neither of us wanted to be that far apart from one another. Michael asked me to marry him on December 9, 1989.  We got our marriage licence on January 9, 1990 and were married by January 20, 1990. Twenty one years of marriage.  By today's standards that is a long time.

When we moved to Dallas I found a job working for Kirby trying to sale vacuum cleaners.  I hated it.  I'm not a sales person in the least.  I couldn't justify selling a vacuum that cost $1,200.00.  I'm way to practical minded for that.  No matter how good the product.  One weekend they sent all of the new sales people off to make 10 presentations to either friends or family.  The only problem was all of our family and friends were three hours away.  On our drive back from Belton our Ford Taurus broke down on the side of the road.  We had to literally walk 5 miles back to a small Texas town call West. We got the car running the next day. I ended up quiting that awful job.  I was working 7 AM until 11 PM and not getting anything out of it. 

My cousin got me an interview for a bank that was called First Gibraltars.  Since I had what I thought was such a fantastic paying job I told Michael I wanted him to concentrate on school and when he finished he could get a job as well.  After all he had paid for everything for the last four years and his schooling was only going to be a year. We were scraping by.  It was so bad at times we had noddles with ground turkey meat.  If we were lucky we would get to add cheese to the mix.  Try working when you only have one car.  We would have to get up supper early so Micahel could drive me to my cousins house. One of us would drive her car in to down town Dallas.  So I would drive from Buckner blvd. in Dallas to Roulette back to Dallas and then do the same thing in reverse every evening.  When the Taurus finally gave out we had to buy a new car. It was a Hyundai Excel. It cost us $5,000.00 it was brand new and we thought we were on top of the world.  Let me also note this car didn't have a radio or air conditioning in it. Yep, young and dumb.

On our first anniversary I made spaghetti and we danced to Frank Sinatra.  We ended up giving each other the same exact anniversary card.  I didn't get him anything else.  he surprised me with pearl ear rings with gold around them. I wore them every day until the pearl broke off.  That was a sad day.

Michael graduated mortuary school and got a job working every other night going in at 5 PM and getting off work at 8 AM and working every other weekend.  He would go in on Friday night at 5 PM and work until 8 AM on Monday. We were in heaven.  One problem.  We only had one car.  So we rushed out when we found out he had a job and got a  second car. It was a brand new Chevy Cavalier. It actually had air conditioning and a radio.  We were moving up in the world.

To be continued.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Truck Problems

What is it with finally getting caught up on some bills, getting a little ahead when BAM! something else hits you unexpectedly.  So obviously from the title of this post it was my truck that gave us the headache this time.  I had it at the shop before 7:30 AM and they had me dropped off back at my house by 8:30.  They called at noon to say it was ready.  It ended up being the altinator.  I asked for the auto place to come pick me up because I didn't have a ride and they said they would be here as soon as they could get someone shaken loose to do so.  Four hours later they still had not shown up.  My husband finally got off work and took me up to the shop to pick up my truck. So I missed another day of work.  Fortunately for me the company I work for is really great.  But still, if the would have come and picked me up when they said they would have I could have gone in for at least half the day.  Oh well, I guess it was nice to spend time with my dad.

Hope your Halloween was better than mine.

Have a great Tuesday!

Jackie