And It Just Keeps Going and Going....

When I say "it" just keeps going and going.....I am referring to life in general.

Last weekend, we received a call early Saturday morning that Chef Ed's mom had fallen in the middle of the night and broke her hip. It was that dreaded phone call that we had anticipated we would received. My initial thoughts went back to my old hospital days of working with elderly patients (Chef Ed's mom is 85) and how slow their recovery was after traumatic injuries such as this one.

We have been trying to decided when to travel back home because it's 8 hours away and we have business commitments tieing us down here. A roller coaster of emotion was in place. Over the last week, her surgically repaired broken hip has had to take the back seat at a heart issue has surfaced and needs immediate attention. Without the heart working; we won't have a hip to worry about. First things first. A heart cath is scheduled for this morning and we are packing our stuff and planning to leave on Saturday.

That ole' feeling in the pit of my stomach is there. Sad. Sad for the thought that this is a beautiful lady that has always loved me and welcomed me into her family since day one. She kisses me and hugs me like the rest of her children and she never ever fails to say "thank you" when we part. Things don't look well and I have a bad feeling that this is the beginning of the end. The last time I saw her, we rocked in rocking chairs on the porch at the beach and she reminded me, again, of what a wonderful life she had experienced. I think that helps me crack a smile in knowing that she really puts the meaning into "living life to the fullest."

In the meantime, around Thanksgiving, I always try to look upon the good in life. Even though life doesn't always go as planned, I have always felt strongly in knowing that I have been blessed beyond belief.

I pray for Chef Ed and his family. I pray for peace that surpasses all understanding.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself." Matthew 6:34.

The Perfect Lunch

It's pouring down rain outside so I decided to take advantage of the lunch hour by diving into some of my favorite things:

Chicken Noodle Soup for a cold, rainy day!

And, my new book, Fish!

I might add that I have a Spirit Spa CD playing in the background.

Boy, this seems really cozy!!

Sick, Sick, and MORE Sick

I regret to inform you that I have been sick for the past two and a half days. I mean REALLY sick. Fever, chills, runny nose, stuffy nose, cough - and everything else you can think of.

Though through it all, let me be the one to tell you that I was able to drag my weary body off to my hair appointment yesterday evening. I am woman - hear me ROAR! That was the one thing I was concerned most about. Not the fact that I may have flu symptoms - but my HAIR! I was freaking out over the thought of having to wait another 2 weeks until Trish could fit me back in to her schedule.

Thank God for Alka Seltzer Plus Cold!

Oh yeah-and I don't have the flu. It's just a nasty head cold. It's nothing that a little red wine won't cure!

Happy Birthday, Richard

I am blogging today with a humble heart.

Today is my brother's birthday. He would have been 45 years old.

Birthday's were always a big deal around my house. My mother did elaborate parties and really went out of her way to make our day feel special.

Richard was a bright and wonderful person; intelligent with a special spirit.

I felt very connected to him. Actually, I have felt that way right after he passed away. I would talk to him, sense his presence. There were many times that I have felt as if he was watching over me. I felt looked after. Protected.

Certain things have fallen into place so smoothly that it's not even logical.

At different times, I've had different understandings of what is spiritual. I believe sometimes that souls can connect. Reality is weird. Time and defense mechanisms can blur and protect but when you're standing at a grave, it's very, very real.

I have a strong sense that there is a greater plan, that all of this couldn't have been prevented. But, why him? Why someone with such potential to the world and to those around him? It's hard to fathom. You just don't know -- can't understand.

The whole experience changed my life. I know that I'm a completely different person than I would otherwise have been. I don't focus on trivial things.

The separation of body and soul are so strong. It reminds me of why I don't like to take flowers to his grave site. I don't want to try to beautify it because it's not him that I am visiting. His spirit was who he was.

What I know now is that I feel farthest away from him when I'm living my life superficially. My focus is to now keep the things that are REALLY important alive and in order.

May your sweet face shine down upon our lives here and cause us all to strive to be a better person.

I know you are having a wonderful day rejoicing!

Wow!

As I look at the date below, which states October 6th, 2009, I now hang my head even lower than before for being soooo negligent. Especially being that it is now, uh......well....October 29th, 2009!!

Life has just taken me by surprise and my calendar has been slap full! (That's a Southern term for those of you that don't know.) Somehow I manage to always bite off more than I can chew with civic volunteering, home life, work, family dynamics, and a part time business. What in the ham-sandwich was I thinking when I shook my head "yes" to all of these things?

Some things never change, though. I am still managing to sneak in time for a monthly root touch-up and a bi-weekly nail fill in . Man, it's tough being the Princess in the Pea. But, somebody's gotta do it. Might as well be me.

For now, we are coming up on the celebration of what would have been my brother's 45th birthday. It's tough and I am really having a much harder time dealing with his loss than I ever thought I would. Following Thanksgiving, it will be the one year anniversary of his death. I REALLY miss him just BEING HERE! I don't miss the sickness and all of the baggage that came along with his illness and I truly believe that grieving is out of the flesh. He's much better off now and I am sure he is patiently waiting until the day that we can both enjoy the scenery up there.

But for now, I have more work to do here. Gotta run.

Peace.

Hanging My Head Low

..........I know.......I've been gone for quite some time, now. Life has been extremely busy since our return from Cancun. I won't bother to go there because the scenery and weather were beautiful but we have had much better vacations in the past. In short, we have decided that all-inclusive vacations are not our style. Enough said.

P.S. We are going back to Holbox - our TRUE paradise - in February.

Chef Ed's business has gotten busy and we are already planning holiday events, my new VP has arrived at my company and I have taken on a new role as a consultant for Scentsy - yes, the company that I told you about a few months ago. I just L O V E their products!

There really has been LOTS going on.

I have a ton of catching up to do with my fellow bloggers. I haven't been here in body, but I have been here in spirit.

I'll jot it down to be more faithful in keeping up.

Love ya - mean it!

Way Back Wednesday - With A Twist

When I think of something "way back," I think of things that bring memories - good and back to mind.

My Way Back Wednesday post is going to take a little turn today. It's going to consist of some negative thoughts with a dash of pleasant in the mix.

I'm going to tell you about my best friend. Yes, I love her and would do anything in the world for her but she is the poster child for a 'fair weather friend."

Rhonda and I have grown up together and have shared lots of valuable moments together. We had our first boyfriends at the same time, we drank beer together for the first time, and some of the best moments of my teenage and college years were spent with her. She became really more like a sister to me than a best friend.

Unfortunately, I have seen a change in behavior over the last few years. Depression is pronounced in her family. Her mother committed suicide when Rhonda and I were in our early 20's and I really think that she has never gotten over that. Rhonda went on to get married to someone I approved of, went to nursing school, had two children (my Godchildren) and she does very well, financially, for herself and her family. On the outside, they resemble the All American Family, but on the inside, they are nothing sort of a train wreck.

Through the years, our lives have taken different roads. I had my girls early on and my days of raising babies were through by the time her little ones came along. I began to see some reclusiveness in her social life and she never had anything positive to say about anything during our brief conversations. I am ashamed to admit that I can hardly stand talking to her because she is such a negative vibe at times. Is that wrong of me to feel that way??

I have tried to talk to her with honesty. She decided to take medication some time ago but I am not seeing a great improvement. For the most part, I am really concerned because depression is a serious illness and should not be taken lightly. It's even worse when the person that you love doesn't recognize it to be that way.

The point of my post today is this: It's a growing concern to me that people are always seeing the cup of live half empty. Is it society's fault that so many people are falling victim to mental health issues. Or....are they not seeking help and fulfilment in the right areas?

At the end of the day, if you don't value yourself; you violate yourself.

I have decided that I will remove myself from negative energies that support behavior of this kind. You can't fix it if you don't recognize that it's broken.

Hey, Ya'll -

......don't expect anything good out of me this week. I am in full-on vacation mode.

I'll give you a tiny glimpse of one corner of my desk and by the looks of things, it screams of disorganization.

Here, I'll compare it to something very similar to Mary Poppin's bag.

Holbox Lamp for reading? check

Bath and Body Works Aromatherapy Energy Lotion for dry, ashy skin? check

Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Fish Oil to keep me healthy for my trip? check

Publix Fruit on the Bottom Tropical Yogurt when my tum-tum growls? check

Glasses so I can see the Mexico forum that I read daily? check

ipod for taking myself to a more tropical place than my desk? check

And last, JC Penny sale ad so I can do some last minute power shopping for my trip? check

Thank you all for bearing with me through this difficult time. I promise that I will be a better person when I return with a sun tan and relaxed state of mind.

Crying The Blues

A part of me has been out of sorts lately. It's not hormones, as one would think. I really miss my daughter. My oldest, that is. The one that is exactly like me - the hardest head in the whole wide world, independent, sassy, smart mouthed- and the list goes on and on.



She is still living with her dad. I am still applying "tough love." And, my well is running dry when it comes to hope that she will bow down and ask for my forgiveness. The ONLY thing that I hold on to is the promise that the good Lord has given me and that is the promise that this will all turn out right in the end. I truly do believe that but I simply just miss her.



She's in school and doing fine but she needs to be under MY roof. Maybe it's a control thing? Maybe that is what got us in trouble to begin with?



So, for you, Chelsea. I love you. Unconditionally. And you will always be my sunshine.

The Book of Questions

I have been waiting on our mail lady, Crazy Mary, for the last few days in hopes that she would be delivering my Amazon order. Hallelujah! She came bearing gifts this afternoon!

I have been in search of a book to take with me on our vacation and through a Facebook friend, I found one that struck a cord with me.

Although I don't know anything about the author, Gregory Stock, I was willing to buy this book that seemed to exercise my mind beginning at question #1.

I don't consider myself a book worm, but when reading time is up for grabs, self-help is what I lean towards. I have actually learned a lot from other people's experiences and respect a difference of opinion in certain situations.

The Book of Questions is not a book of trivia questions. There are no correct or incorrect answers. It was written to stretch your mind and place you in hypothetical situations, uninhibited, living through predicaments described, so that you care about the choices you make.

Gregory Stock challenges you to resist the temptations to escape from a question by denying it's reality or by coming up with some complication that obscures the basic issues. He wants you to ignore the paradoxes of time travel and the impossibility of various magical powers. Accept the conditions as describe, that odds are accurate, that promises will be fulfilled, and furthermore, that you know this when you are making your decisions when answering the questions.

Don't simply answer "yes" or "no" to these questions - probe and explain your responses. I have tried not to read many because I want to save it for our trip. These are thought provoking questions that I assume will require me to do a little self discovery and relationship enhancement. Chef Ed will hate to see this coming because I am such a deep thinker.

If anyone else has read this, or knows someone who has; I am interested in your thoughts.

Excess Baggage

I have debated long and hard about posting anything related to excess baggage in life for some time. Today, I am going to write from the heart and speak openly and honestly -because that is what blogging is all about, right?

Everyone one of us has a skeleton in our closet. I don't care who you are or how good of a life you have lived, there is always that one tiny little thing that is tucked away. Sometimes it rears it's ugly head; sometimes it doesn't. It only causes a problem most of the time when it interferes with the normalcy of your life.

I am going to dedicate this post to all of those ex-wives that don't give up. You see, we have one of those that we deal with on a semi-regular basis. We laugh and relate her to a hemorrhoid because she never really goes away; she just hides out temporarily. She sends messages of sorrow. She says the SAME EXACT WORDS repeatedly and she is really an emotional train wreck. In Chef Ed's defense, he has tried on NUMEROUS occasions to be very firm in letting her know that her communications are not welcome but she just can't get it.

What amazes me is how folks continue to set themselves up for hurt feelings by putting themselves in a situation for rejection. I can only speak for myself but if someone told me that they had no desire to communicate with me ever again, you would never see the whites of my eyes because I would be history. Why do you want to talk to someone that doesn't want to talk to you?

So, the saga continues. We had another great laugh about it. And until the Loch Ness Monster returns, we will keep the Preparation H pads tucked away in our closet.

Sleep Deprived

I swear, this is what I need to be wearing on my forehead today.

You see, somehow, I have managed to adopt another kitten into my home. It's a 12 week old hissing baby of the Einstein Feral Kitty at my office that has been impossible to catch because she is so freakin' smart. She's healthy and is gonna require a little bit of TLC, but DAMN........can she just sleep at night!?!

I have been up most of the night with her as she cried her fool head off and I am so beat down this morning. Ohhhhhh, how I long for a Dunkin' Doughnut and a cup of girly coffee.

So, if you see me sleeping at my desk throughout the day, please, fortheloveofGod, just quietly pass me by!

The Countdown Is On

I deserve to be praised a little today. I have deliberately held my tongue when it comes to gloating about my upcoming trip to Mexico. I really have been excited but nothing compares to the euphoria I felt before we went to Holbox back in January.

However, I have held back and spared everyone long enough.

Officially, as of today, I have 13 days left before we depart for a week at an all-inclusive resort in Cancun, Mexico.

Unlimited drinks. Unlimited sun. Unlimited relaxation. Life will be good.

One of the things that I am looking forward to the most is the Couples Moonlight Massage on the beach using hot lava shells! Holy crap! That is gonna be like heaven on earth!

Here is a sneak peak at our resort.

Please. Don't be a hater.

Dirty Little Secret

I am confessing this morning. I have been sucked into a new obsession. No, it's not shoes, make up or purses this time. It's coupon clipping!

I feel like I have been in a cave all of my life now that I have seen how much money you can actually save. Remember, I am Greek and we looooove a good deal.

There really isn't much to it. It's primarily all about knowing when to use your coupons. My long time friend, Amy, from Facebook actually turned me on to this when she posted that she purchased $194.61 of product from CVS and Walgreen's and only paid $14.92 for it all. Who's eye wouldn't that catch? I immediately wanted to know her secret. Amy actually attended a workshop from a lady that goes around and teaches others the basics of it all.

Even if you aren't in the south, you can get lots of information on how to get started from the Southern Savers website.

After a few days of thinking about my typical grocery shopping process, I decided that the coupon binder may work the best for me. I'll try it and keep everyone posted as to how it is working for me in addition to some of the savings that I intend on having.

Here is a preliminary view of how I will get it all organized. I still have to make the tab dividers, but ya'll get the big picture.

Way Back Wednesday

For those who love me and put up with hearing the stories of my family every day; you will understand and relate to this show.

I am simply exhaused from the visit to the doctor with my dad today and this was the picture that came to mind.

Let Your Voice Be Heard

Happy Monday.

I was unsure of what to post about today. I had several small events occur over the weekend but decided that I would try to remain uplifting for the entire week. Those small things are really trivial in the big scheme of things.

I attended a ladies conference on Saturday. This conference was sponsored by our church and the topic was Stand Up & Go Forward. To be honest, this retreat was not at all "gender specific." The topic could really apply to all of our lives at one time or another.

One of our main discussions was about getting rid of the bondage in our lives - past and present. Bondage within us keeps us from moving forward and doing what we were intended to do. It's the ball-n-chain on our spirit.

Even more powerful is the fact that bondage prevents us from holding our head high and using the good of our lives to work in a positive manner with others.

Chef Ed and I have talked a lot about legacy's lately. I expressed to him how important it was for me to leave this world making a mark on someones heart. I want other's to remember me for the love and kindness that I had shown them. I want to be a giving soul willing to do the extreme for someone else even if it meant sacrificing my own needs a wants for a while.

Do you know Mary Sue Merchant? Have you ever heard of her?

Well, neither do I. But, right now, I'm gonna introduce you to her.

Mary Sue Merchant died of natural caused in a tightly locked house on 25 acres in a small community, with only a dog for company. Her small town is now reflecting on why no one noticed for 18 months.

No one knew the reclusive widow was gone - not even when the house was sold for back taxes while her decomposing body lay inside. Sometime later, the lonely dog died of thirst in the same room.

"We didn't know this lady existed," said the Sheriff.

Only after the body of this 72-year old woman was found last week did it occur to neighbors they hadn't seen her in a while.

"We've lost the community," said the Rev. Neil Flowers, who planned to talk about Merchant on Sunday at Beulah United Methodist church, a few miles from where Merchant died. "We do our own thing. We lead busy lives. We go and go and go.....and stay within our comfort zone."

By all means, Merchant and her husband kept to themselves. They had no children. The sheriff and coroner say one neighbor told them David Merchant was once a prison guard who feared retribution from former inmates - but officials couldn't confirm that. David Merchant died in October 1985 at age 53 and his widow apparently lost touch with her own older sister years ago.

Mail should have been a red flag. But Merchant had a post office box, so no mail piled up for neighbors or a carrier to notice. Her electricity was cut off in February 2008 after three months of unpaid bills.

Meanwhile, the brick ranch home sat partly obscured by trees and brush from the road. Merchant's white four-door Chevy parked in front and a faded "Beward of Dog" sign on a telephone pole.

Merchant's unpaid property taxes lead to her discovery.

It's sad to know that this lady had nobody who cared enough to check on her.

She had no voice. She had no encouragement. She had no respect.

I encourage you to reach out. Make your mark and in the end, long to hear the words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

No other words will ever give such pleasure.

I've Been Inspired

Mary, over at Fightin Mad Mary & Q, has inspired me since she joined a boot camp class out in LA. She's pretty neat - go over and see what progress she's made. Her reason for doing this was because she was nominated for the Emmy Creative Arts Award and she wants to be a hottie in a cool dress. I will side note that going to Cancun in three weeks has also been a small factor in getting my fannie to the gym.

I rejoined the gym this week and hit it pretty hard a couple of times. I debated joining Chef Ed's gym but decided that it may not be a good idea if we wanted our relationship to continue to remain strong. His ideas are different than mine and I can foresee a big, huge fight in the works if that were to take place.

Anyway, I will start doing some interval training next week. Interval training is a type of physical training that involves bursts of high intensity work. This high intensity work is alternated with periods of rest or low activity (the intervals in interval training). We will see how it works out.

As for now, I'm tired and I'm glad it's Friday!

Have a great weekend!

Sigh A Deep Sigh

I'm going to post twice today so please forgive me.

I've had a busy morning already. I got up early, came to work, met my mom and dad for my mom's eye surgery, and now I am back at work again.

Man, I feel like I have already worked an 8 hour day.

First, I want to give a shout out to a new blog that I follow - Live from the 205. It's a story about a woman who's world has been turned upside down after the loss of her husband/soul mate. I *shudder* at the thought of losing a spouse but I can relate to the loss of someone that you love in general. I feel her pain and she brings tears to my eyes every time I read her blog. After the loss of my brother, I know how people actually grieve themselves to death.

Second, my mom had eye surgery this morning. She had a cataract removed and had lasik. In two weeks, she will have the other eye done. I was glad I could scoot away from work for a few hours and be with her even though the surgery was noninvasive.

Last, I heard from the my way-ward eldest daughter yesterday. Remember, the one that is living with her dad because she didn't like my rules and I was too strict, and so on and so on??
Well, she started school at another high school yesterday. She had a successful first day with the exception of lunch where she had to sit by herself because she didn't know anyone. Gawd....that broke my heart into pieces and I spent the rest of the night crying my eyes out about it. Poor Chef Ed. That man has taken the brunt of my drama in the last 9 months. I swear I will make it up to you one day when you are old and I decide not to put you in a nursing home. (big smile....)

Today, I feel somewhat emotionally refreshed. I am hitting the gym after work and after leaving from there, I am going straight to church. You got it. Gym shorts and all. The Lord doesn't care what I look like and if the people at church do, then they will have to get over it.

Anyway, I will leave you with my Words of Wisdom for the day:

Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men. Think BIG!

Have a great day!

Way Back Wednesday

Sorry I bailed out on Way Back Wednesday last week but my life was crazy busy. I will resume entertainment today.

Tin Lunch Boxes: ...and I had a thermos to match. You know, the kind that had the glass lining inside? More times than once, I can remember getting to school and during lunch, opening my thermos to find the glass had shattered with my drink inside. Those lunches that my mom made were the best ever!

Under Protest

(I'm gonna miss those days.)

Well, the time has come. The "little girl" in my house now has an opinion of her own.

Yesterday, I was informed by a reliable source (my mother - her MeMe) that she no longer wanted to wear a ribbon in her hair. Stab. Me. In. The. Gut.

Yes, my girls were always the little smocked dress - hair bow wearing little darlings. But no more. It almost hurts me to see the end of a time period where she was so innocent and child-like. In a way, I felt like those bows or ribbons would ward of the voodoo of middle school madness.

It saddens me to know that I will never again have a little child to dress in those cute little outfits of gingham check with some sweet Sam and Libby's to match.

For now, I'll close the book on babyhood and try to manage to enjoy her growth into her own individuality.

My, How Times Have Changed

I did a little reminiscing last night. While I was cooking homemade Chicken-N- Dumplin's, I decided to venture through my grandmother's antique Lane hope chest to ponder over some old pictures that I had tossed in there. Honestly, I missed my 20th high school reunion this weekend so I wanted some revenge on old classmates. Instead, I became side-tracked with a picture of me when I was close to my youngest daughter's age. My, how times have changed! We have paper pom-pom's and hand made uniforms! Nonetheless, WTH was my mother thinking when she allowed my picture to be taken with my hair looking like a fried Q-tip??


Most importantly, I had a great few moments when I stumbled across this picture of my brother when he was healthy. This was taken on Christmas Day, 2006. He LOVED Christmas and the look on his face is how I remember him the most - always happy.

And Mexico Thought They Had It Bad?

Sorry that I have been MIA for the last week. Turmoil was full swing with one heck of a bat in hand.

My baby girl and her dad returned home from Ohio (said while gagging) and my previous post spoke of the eversofamous "viral syndrome" that had reared it's ugly head.

On Tuesday morning, my mind lit up like a Christmas Tree on December 25th and I realized that she still had a recurring fever and really was not getting much better. My dad and his dry humor teased coyly about bringing back the "Yankee Swine Flu" and I realized that it certainly could be a possibility.

I got to work and called her pediatrician first thing and explained the whole situation about them traveling through the airports - blah, blah, blah....and said that I was really concerned that this was more flu-like symptoms that I was noticing. She suggest that I come in. All the while, her super-dad was coming down with a low grade temperature as well.

I'll cut to the chase here: The final outcome was a confirmed diagnosis of Swine Flu and every single one of us was put on Tamaflu.

By Thursday afternoon, I was ready to jump off of a bridge! Only two words are associated with Tamaflu in my book.

Nausea.

Diarrhea.

One full can of Lysol later, losing 3 pounds due to the nausea and diarrhea, and my skin smelling lof bleach from all of the disinfecting, everyone is better.

Newsflash: There has been over 6500 people in the state of South Carolina that have been diagnosed with Swine Flu.

So, when I remind you that I am leaving for week in Mexico on September 13th, please don't fret. I think I have my bases already covered.

Plane Germs

Notice the spelling, would ya?

My baby girl (who's 11 years old) will be returning home today. Her father had the bright idea of taking her to Ohio to see his family for a few days last week. Those folks are some strange birds up there.

They flew. I felt better about that because she gets motion sickness very easy like her momma. Riding 12 hours in a car would not do her any justice. All seemed to be going well until I received an alarming phone call at 7:30am on Saturday morning. She had been running a high fever all night and he was carrying her to the emergency room. Please note that I am in the medical field and I am VERY critical of any medical care given to any of my family members - especially my children. I am positive that she picked up some cooties from the airports she traveled through. That place is a breeding ground for stuff which explains why I chug Airborne about a week prior to traveling anywhere that requires my presence at an airport.

I had the diagnosis all figured out before he even left the house to take her there. I had it pegged that she had strep throat. WRONG! It's viral syndrome and as a mother, that is WORSE than strep. At least they can give an antibiotic for strep and within 24 hours, they are well on their way to recovery. Viral syndrome is something that you are at the mercy of and you can only sit and wait that booger out.

She continued to run a low grade fever yesterday and they will be flying in at 2:00 this afternoon. Poor baby has to travel feeling yucky. That just breaks my heart and she needs some "Mommy Love."

I will be resuming my responsibilities with the Junior Service League this year as I went "inactive" last year due to my brother's illness. Wouldn't ya know that tonight is the first kick-off meeting of the league year. And, yes, it's mandatory.

I'm certain that it will all work out. It always does. I hope she enjoyed herself this time...because she won't be going again!

Have a great week!

For Fun

What is your salad dressing of choice?
Catalina but they never have that so I like French, too.

What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?
Upscale - Rossi's in Myrtle Beach

What food could you eat for 2 weeks straight and not get sick of?
Honey Nut Cheerios

What are your pizza toppings of choice?
beef and mushrooms

What do you like to put on your toast?
good ole' fashioned butter with strawberry jam

How many televisions are in your home?
4

What color cell phone do you have?
hot pink

Are you right- handed or left- handed?
right

Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
tonsils, 2 children, gallbladder and a mole

What is the last heavy item you lifted?
A rug at the beach house.

Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
No

If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
Yes, because I am a organizational freak

If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
Wyn - I just LOVE that name!!

Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000?
No way! I hate spicy. I would make Chef Ed do it. He could do it hands down!

Last run-in with a cop?
I don't think that I have ever had one.

Last person you talked to?
Chef Ed

Last person you hugged?
Anna Catherine

Favorite Season?
Summer

Holiday?
Used to be Christmas but since my brother is no longer here, it's really hard to enjoy any holiday.

Day of the week?
Saturday....it's usually something fun unless there's softball involved.

Month?
April....it's a nice time of year in the Carolina's.

First place you went this morning?
shower

What's the last movie you saw?
Madea goes to jail

Do you smile often?
yes, a lot

Do you always remember your phone?
Nnever leave home without it.

It's four in the morning and you get a text message. Who is it?
wrong number

If you could change your eye color, what would it be?
Hazel and they would change according to what color I was wearing.

What flavor drink do you get at Sonic?
Unsweet Tea

Do you own a digital camera?
yes

Have you ever had a pet fish?
no and never will

Favorite Christmas Song?
Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer

What's on your wish list for your birthday?
A Pandora bracelet.

Can you do push up?
Yep

Can you do a chin up?
Uh...nope again

Does the future make you more nervous or excited?
very excited

Do you have any saved texts?
yes

Ever been in a car wreck?
yes

Do you have an accent?
yes, southern - more lowcountry-ish

What is the last song to make you cry?
How Great Thou Art

Plans tonight?
Not really.

Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom?
Sort of. I have been very blessed, though.

Name 3 things you bought yesterday?
Sushi, veg all, cream cheese

Have you ever been given roses?
yes

Current worry?
That my oldest daughter will straighten her life out and behave correctly.

Current hate right now?
My oldest daughter's boyfriend and his low life family. Was that too harsh??

Met someone who changed your life?
most certainly

How did you bring in the New Year?
asleep on the couch

What were you doing at 12am last night?
spooning

What was the first thing you thought when you woke up?
I miss my baby girl.

Now you know a few more things about me.....

Sad Face

I have my sad face on today. My little girl is traveling with her dad to Ohio for 5 days. Although I have been away from her, she has never been away from me out of her element.

I did better than I thought this morning when we were saying our goodbye's. I truly hope she has a great time.

Her plane hasn't left the ground and I already miss her sweet face.

Chef Ed is working all week so he won't be much company but he has the best shoulder to cry on. (Speaking of which- he went to the dermatologist yesterday and they removed a suspicious mole on his back. WTH?? I have looked over that back a ga-zillion times and I have never seen anything of interest.)

Anyway, it's gonna be a long 5 days.

Maybe I'll get a massage or something.

Way Back Wednesday

First, today is the anniversary of myself and Chef Ed's existence. Happy Anniversary, Honey!

He never ceases to amaze me. He bought me the most beautiful pearl and silver starfish necklace. I should have taken a picture but yesterday was kind of hectic. In return, I bought him a swimsuit, a pair of shorts, and 2 shirts. Yes, I do buy most of his clothing because it leaves less margin for error that way. Somehow, I think he got the short end of the stick.

We didn't plan a big celebration but did manage to go out to dinner last night while Sister Sue and Roc were in town visiting. We went to Queen Anne's Revenge and it did not disappoint. We will definitely return there.

Sister Sue will leave to go home on Friday and Chef Ed and I will spend a few days at the beach. I guess that will be our "formal" anniversary celebration. We have some friends that play in a band called Crowfield and they are playing at the Windjammer on Friday night. Ohhhh, the memories the Jammer brings to mind. That takes me to my Way Back Wednesday post.

Do you remember Birdwell's? They were those vinyl swimsuits that the boys used to wear. What a classic! Nothing was better to view than a nice tanned boy holding a surf board with a pair of brightly colored Birdwell's on. Simple, yet so appealing. They should have kept those things around!

Blog Slackers

If you are like the majority of the 6,158,715,207 people in the world, you posses an inherent slacker ability. You are able to do absolutely nothing for hours and hours and extend days into weeks without accomplishing one single thing. You think that lazy is a good word. You think responsibility is a bad word. You are a slacker, and that is okay. I can deal with that for now.

I'm sorry to say that I am high maintenance and I require entertainment and because my social life is so over-developed (ha!) There are a few people that I am gonna "loud out" today.

I need updated stuff, girls! I depend on you and you are letting me down!!!!

Uuhhemm.........

Block Slacker #1
What's On My Brain

Blog Slacker #2
Stethoscopes and Stilettos

Happy Friday! - now, can we talk about ME for a moment?

Lordhavemercy. I never realized just how versatile I really was until this past week. Maybe it's the age thing catching up with me. I dunno. Maybe I am becoming somewhat relaxed as I approach my 40's in the next 2 years (yikes!-you have no idea how much that hurt me to say that.) IMO, I do work both ends of the spectrum pretty well. Chef Ed always says that one of the beauties of having a woman like me is that you can "dress you up for a black tie affair or dress you down with flip flops and a beer." In my mother's words, she calls that "Nice Nasty."

When the Lord gave me 2 daughters, he knew just what he was dealing with. My oldest has never played in the dirt in her entire life and my youngest is a tom boy who plays softball. The Big Man has taught me patience, that's for sure.

As for me, I am a girly-girl. I enjoy being this way. I like the fact that I don't like dirt or going barefoot and I don't see anything wrong with quality products and the willingness to pay for them. Some call it spoiled but I call it class. It's funny how other women who share the same opinions are drawn to each other like magnets. It's that underlying connection that binds us.

Don't get me wrong, I am the poster child for TJ Maxx. I feel like I hit the jackpot at the casino every time I go there. I don't know a woman in this world that does not appreciate a good bargain. In all honesty, I could probably be driving that BMW if I would make less trips there each month. But, it's that retail therapy that keeps me sane.

You understand. Don't you?? (batting my eyelashes)

Don't Sweep It Under The Rug

Words of wisdom:

Deal with any relationship/marital problems that you have constantly. Never let little problems just sit. I recently read a story about “What's that smell?" Have you ever gone into your refrigerator and said “What's that smell?” You could not figure out what was stinking inside? Usually it's some left- overs that you forgot about etc., etc..

It's the same with relationships. You must not push problems to the back. Your problems will not get better! On the contrary, they'll ALWAYS start stinking! (word to the wise) Deal with your issues quickly everyone!

Remember, whatever you leave behind you, you'll always find right in front of you. :-)

Way Back Wednesday (I almost forgot!)

1960's - Ocean Plaza was opened with 1700 feet of boardwalk, pier, amusement rides, shops, roller skating and concessions. This was the Golden Era of Folly Beach. The first surfboard on the Island was introduced by Pat Thomas.

1964 - Palm reading was banned on Folly.

1967 - Horseback riding was banned on the Island.

1977 - The Pier burned again, arson was suspected.

1985 - The beach front Holiday Inn was built.

1989 - Hurricane Hugo hit Folly Beach and neighboring communities, destroying many homes and devastating the beaches.

Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy

Boy, those lyrics make me wanna jump out of my chair behind my desk, grab my co-worker and shag the day away...............mmm mmm mmm......those lazy days of summer take me back to a place in time.

Unlike other musical-dependant social developments primarily associated with the sixties, Shag music (often called "beach music") didn't have a scene to spring from, no primary city of development. Of course, the easygoing beach dances that used the name had a point of origin - the beaches of South Carolina, where white kids had broken the color barrier as early as the 1930s by convincing local DJs to add rhythm and blues to their lists. However, there were no bands dedicated to shag music during the movement's zenith in the mid-60s. Shag was one of those rare cultural events that picked its own music after the fact.

That doesn't mean there's no distinct sound or feel to the music. The shag dance is sort of a lazy jitterbug, done on beaches at night, always with someone of the opposite sex. Therefore, the music shaggers picked for their soundtrack had to be sunny, sexy, fun, and lazy. Depending on who you talk to, shagging can be done to songs as diverse as Elvis' "Return To Sender" and Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing," but the general consensus is that there should be a slow shuffle at the bottom and some sort of southern soul on top. The big hits of shag are almost all one-hit wonders, cherry-picked for their utility - Willie Tee's "Teasin' You," the O-Kaysions' "Girl Watcher" - but that also gives the scene room to breathe. And, as has been proven by its continuing popularity, room to expand.

We decided to dine at Folly Beach last Saturday night amidst the shag scene. Chef Ed is an Isle of Palms fan but there is something about the feel of Folly Beach that sucks me in. I enjoy the retro atmosphere and in my high school days, I treasured going to the "wash out" to watch the surfers. My, how time flies......(sigh).........

The Sandbar was a simple shanty along the intracoastal waterway with views of the marina. It was originally open in my childhood years and although I was too young to truly enjoy what Folly Beach had to offer back then, I decided to haul the birthday boy along for a simple fried seafood dinner. They have since remodeled and we were pleasantly surprised with our meal and service. Somehow, the location would serve as a bandaid to anything that could possibly go wrong.

I recently purchased a t-shirt that says, "Carolina Girls Wear Flip Flops With Pearls." How true, how true. It's during times like these that I know why I chose to remain rooted in the South.

Cut me and my blood runnuth sand and salt water!

Have a great day and reminisce about the good ole' days. It does a heart good!

"X" Marks The Spot

I wanted to post about some of our weekend happenings yesterday but I didn't want to take away from the birthday post for Chef Ed. So, today, I will spill the beans.

First, let me explain that I AM NOT A TATTOO KIND OF GIRL - one that likes the attention drawn to her while someone admires her ink'd up body. I have seen some really impressive jobs on other folks and I have never really had a longing to inflict pain upon myself. The thought of pain in itself was enough to keep me steered far away from any tattoo parlor.

Over the last year or so, Chef Ed and I talked about him getting something significant to mark his 50th birthday. We did tons of online searching geared toward something that piqued his interest. We finally came to an agreement on what and where we thought it should go.

Moving on to me. As most of you know, my brother suffered 6 longs years of colon cancer before finally losing his life to it last November. During that 6 year time period, he had 4 bouts of recurrences. After the second recurrence, we talked about getting a tattoo of the Greek Evil Eye. Sadly enough, we were never able to make that happen.

The Greek Evil Eye is something of significance to folks of Greek decent and it's meaning comes from old legends stating that it keeps you safe from harm and it wards off evil spirits. I actually have one hanging in my window at my house as do my parents. My brother was strong in our heritage and we actually buried him with a Greek Eye placed in his hand. It was something that meant a lot to him.

I knew that if getting a permanent mark on my body was to ever take place, it would have to be small, unnoticeable by anyone else but me, and something that was sentimental in value. The Greek Eye it was. I spent hours online and could not find anyone that had ever had this done and had it posted on the internet. I finally made an appointment with House of Ink near our home and consulted with the owner. I told him my story and he arranged a meeting with Traci, an artist, to discuss details.

Saturday morning was the day. I made an appointment for Traci to work her magic on myself and Chef Ed. I was VERY nervous and really felt like I stuck out like a sore thumb in that place. They really went out of their way to make me feel comfortable and assured me that everything would be clean and sterile (my OCD was at it's finest).

I will end by saying that the placement of the evil eye was over my heart, covered by my bra strap. It was placed there knowing that my brother, even though unleashed from his earthly bonds and rejoicing in heaven, will always remain in my heart. It serves as a constant reminder that that my 15 minutes of minimal discomfort was really a small sacrifice. I have no regrets.

We thought this may be true so we tipped well!

Chef Ed in the tattoo chair. Cuteasabutton. (I may have been throwing up some where because my nerves were out of control! I'm such a girly girl - waaayyy beyond my control and he let Traci know that while I was out of the room.)

The cross with the crown of thorns surrounding it was a perfect choice for him. It looked so neat and clean as if she took a sharpie marker and drew it on there. Amazing!

And finally, the Greek Evil Eye. Sorry for the graphics. I was kind of bloody for some reason. This picture actually looks much larger than it really is. It's only the size of a quarter.

Please note: I was able to keep my dignity by wearing my pearls that day. I can assure you that I was the only one wearing a pearl necklace and earrings in a tattoo parlor.

Happy 50th Birthday, Chef Ed!

Here's to Chef Ed:

25 Things That I Love About Him

1. He accepts the fact that he's with the most neurotic woman in the world. Plus, he can (almost) always calm me down. That is not an easy feat.

2. He cries at a sad movie and he's not embarrassed.

3. The way he looks at me.

4. Because he has the most beautiful blue eyes.

5. He is never afraid to try new things.

6. He makes me laugh - at least twice a day.

7. He sings off tune.

8. I am never far from his thoughts. I know this because he tells me all the time.

9. He cooks for me.

10.He gives me cards for no reason.

11. He packs my lunch.

12. He's the last one to turn out the light before we go to bed.

13. He has never complained when I asked him to do something.

14. He calls me just to say, "I love you."

15. He always opens the car door for me.

16. He is a hand holder and hug giver.

17. He tolerates my girliness very well. He accepts that a 45 minute drive one way to buy lipstick is a necessity.

18. He's good with finances.

19. He accepts my love of Vera Bradley (and other brands).

20. He wears boxer briefs.

21. He takes care of me when I am sick.

22. He has raised two kittens since birth and has done an exceptionally good job.

23. He doesn't count up past wrongs.

24. He can drink a bottle water in about 3 gulps.

25. He's mine, all mine!

.........and one more for good luck: He's not perfect and he doesn't claim to be. But, neither am I.

On a more serious note, here's my birthday card to Chef Ed.

Dear Chef Ed,

If I had three requests that I could turn into gifts for you, they would include: love, strength and hope. We celebrate a love deepened with maturity; one that is sacrificial, forgiving and eternal. You find strength to endure whatever trials and challenges life has to offer, and to know that in those times, it is God who carries you through them.

So, on this day of celebration, I realize I too am blessed for having been with you for the last three years. Happy Birthday.

Love,

Me