my world as i see it

The Devil Facebook

2011-07-17T11:46:00.002-04:00

Well, I have been pulled back into the devil=Facebook because apparently either my nine year old nephew has severe problems with his mother, or my ex brother-in-law has severe problems period.

Riley posted a video on his facebook page that said "This is why I love you dad." It was a video from a Dr. Phil episode where a child confronts his mother and eventually slaps her.

Needless to say at this point in time, I have created a Facebook account only to monitor what my crazy ass family does.

Please do not friend me.

I beg you.

The Great Riley Roo Adventure

2011-07-16T19:51:00.002-04:00

We're taking Riley to Charlotte this coming week. A whirlwind adventure with one of our nephews. He wants to see the NASCAR museum thing and I want to go to IKEA - so who wouldn't want to go on that trip right?

Will let you know how it goes and all. And expect pictures from this as well . . .

Mary's Wedding

2011-07-16T19:45:00.002-04:00

Well I keep talking about a dress, so I suppose I need to write a little here on my sister's wedding.

Not much to tell. She and Keenan are getting married August 13th. Originally it was going to happen at a friends house on the river, but now we don't' know WHERE it will take place. And occasionally she waivers on the date. We have to work around Keenan being in off the boat. The seasons got pushed back on him, so we're a little nervous about the groom actually being here for the event.

There were early attempts to get Mary and Keenan to elope, but all attempts failed, so we're going to have a ceremony and a party.

Will let you know how it goes - and expect pictures for sure . . .

You say it's your birthday . . .

2011-07-16T19:41:00.002-04:00

It was my birthday too . . .

That just never really works does it?

Okay, so it was a quiet day. Ended up at the parent's for cake. Had a delicious birthday dinner the night before at Crabby Patty's in Havelock - omg - OMG - they deep fry twinkies, cheesecake, AND oreos there!! Brent had the cheesecake and said it was delicious.

My favorite gift of all was from Brent. He got me a second monitor, and I am now like a computing nut. I can do all kinds of things at once. It's fabulous!

But other than that it was quiet. I got cards and messages from all of my friends and it came and went. To be quite honest with you - I was never 41. I think I spent most of last year thinking I was 42, so I guess I have just caught up with myself. Is this the point where we begin to just forget what age we are? lol

July 4th

2011-07-16T19:39:00.001-04:00

This year's July 4th went about like it normally does. Bought a bunch of fireworks and went to the Baker's in Franklinton. Charlie had put in an order for fireworks, so we had twice as many as we normally do, which really made it better.

We watched while the boys put on the show. Had shrimp for lunch and steak for dinner. Brent and I got back around one a.m., but not a problem.

It's not my party, so I won't cry like I'd want to . . .

2011-07-16T18:47:00.003-04:00

The best that can be said is that at least I am not wearing orange. It is the least flattering - well one of the least - styles a plus plus plus person could wear, and if I am not mistaken, all of the bridesmaids are plus sizes, so anywho.

See this is the part where I say - it's the bride's choice. It's her thing. And you just smile and say "Mmhmm." So that's what I did.

The shoes - oooo - they are terrible too -

But as Mary said - I can change as soon as I get to the reception. Right - i'm wearing that thing all night - lol

Twitter

2011-07-03T01:51:00.002-04:00

o and yes - please check the top tweet on the side over there *points to the right edge of the page* and see the dress I am wearing in Mary's wedding - although mine shall be fuchsia :)

To Do List

2011-07-03T01:44:00.002-04:00

Okay - things to talk about soon - send me emails or messages if you can come up with ideas -

July 4th
Mary's new pool
summer plans with Riley
Mary's wedding
My birthday

ooo so much to look forward to

The GALL of that Bladder

2011-07-03T01:09:00.002-04:00

HUH?

Yeah - back in January I had a gall bladder attack, then another in like March or April, and I had been having like middle of the night sick feelings and sometimes vomiting, so I finally went to the doctor and said - we have to figure this out. So I had an ultrasound of my gall bladder to see if there was anything there. And guess what!?!?! There was something - gall stones - so then I saw a surgeon and he said - it has to come out - and I said - ok. So the nurse comes in and says let's go schedule you, and all I could think was - JUNE 30TH!

So I got my gall bladder removed on the 27th of June. Brent and I spent the week before doing stuff like whirl wind trips to Myrtle Beach and Wilmington. Check up at the dentist. Went swimming in my sister's new pool - ooo - i need to get a picture of it for you guys - and had a quiet Sunday afternoon before the surgery.

It was quick and easy - at least compared to everything else I've had done. Woke up and felt alright - left the hospital a little after three I guess - most of it was a blur. The doctor found a hernia near my belly button and fixed it while he was in there, but other than that everything went fine.

Brent has been like the best little helper ever. Keeping me in water and lunches and meds. He's like the gall bladder expert with his people now too, which is funny. Last night I was finally able to lay down and sleep in my bed. I have plans to ask my doctor if that's unusual. Trust me.

So, one more week and I should be able to go swimming again, and hopefully drive some tomorrow or Monday. We went riding for like four hours today, and I did good through all of that.

SO - to sum up - I lost a couple of pounds - in gall - lool

☼JUNE☼

2011-07-03T01:01:00.002-04:00

And then if you think MAY is a blur, well then you're like socked in the gut with a week of NOTHING where you have to convince classrooms of kids that YES we are STILL going to do stuff - like LEARN - like MATH and WRITING - and YES this is for a grade . . .

I helped make like a million certificates for school - we had a separate awards ceremony for each grade level - that went really well, and I think it was nice for the kids and parents.

Managed to get through 8th grade Moving Up - you know there are times when you are like so pissed about someone or something that happens - and you gripe about it and just get all tore up - and like looking back now - I remember a couple of things and I'm like - pfft - nvm - too much work - BUT - I have just remembered - mental note - remember that teacher - lol

Anywho - we got through most of the workdays painlessly, and I missed my NCSLMA meeting (NC School Library Media Association). And I have emailed people and no one has answered me - -

AND I will say that during the end of the month of May and June I was getting ready for something. The insurance the state gives us for free had to be changed because this year they threw in the BMI rider or whatever you call it - and I of course didn't meet their requirements, so my coverage will be changing - no wait - changed yesterday - or rather Friday - anyway July 1. So because of that - well - check the next post.

:P

M☺A☻Y

2011-07-03T00:57:00.002-04:00

May -

May for a school teacher - or anyone that works at a public school I should say - is a freaking blur if you have to deal with EOG testing.

It's meetings to get ready for EOG's - it's meetings about how to administer the EOG - it's dinners out to fuss about EOG's - and then at the end of the month - it's EOG's - and for those of you that are trying to figure out what EOG stands for - or are maybe googling it - let me save you a step - END OF GRADE - which is short for NC End of Grade Test - at my school given in Reading, Math, and Science. It's like the end all and be all of the month.

We also gave out yearbooks and had a SIOP thingie at school.

Happy Birthday Sally!

A♥P♦R♣I♠L

2011-07-03T00:55:00.001-04:00

April -

Book Fair
Softball/Baseball
Easter Week - trip to the Outer Banks with Brent which was a great day of driving and looking at stuff

And that's about it -

Happy Birthday to Christie!

Dear Todd . . .

2011-07-03T00:50:00.003-04:00

Okay, so I have no excuses, but I do have Todd, who reminds me regularly that this sad collection of ramblings is way out of date. "I just open the page and immediately close it cause I can see it isn't updated . . . " Sound right Mr. Horton??

So, since I have the freaking summer off, I see no reason not to do something here.

I even just sent a REAL tweet - from like - the web site - AND read an article to find out what a HASH TAG is - *shakes my head sadly*

Anywho - I'll go back and update what I can, but you may just have to NOT hear about April, May, and NOW JUNEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

:)

Much love :)

breathes a sigh of relief

2011-03-05T22:24:00.003-05:00

So that brings us up to date, sorta. I am so sure I left some things out - like the fact that I have a new principal - the same one that DIDN'T hire me for the job I interviewed for last summer. So far he's working out :)

And there was a visit to Todd's house in January for Brent to fish in a tournament on the pier at Wrightsville Beach.

And there was a girls only trip to Myrtle Beach during which September, Sally, and I laid around suite and shopped - very nice.

But that's about it. Not so busy, just blissfully existing.

Which brings us to this weekend, and tomorrow - which will be the big birthday day for us here in Washington.

Tomorrow Frances turns SEVENTY! She is still here, outliving ones we thought would live forever. And we're all going out to lunch, so say a little prayer for us - I am sure I will have stories to tell about all that once it is done - and FYI we will be at the Mayflower Restaurant in Washington at two - so stay clear! LOL

AND if it is MOM'S Birthday, well then it has to be TODD'S Birthday as well, so Happy early Birthday to him. I'm going down to Wilmington next weekend to see him and hang out and celebrate him being older than me - ha ha not by much - and Rob may be there too from what I hear so it's gonna be a PAHHHHHTEEEEEEE. LOOOL

And that my dear friends
is that
here's hoping I don't get six months behind again

LOL

More Catching Up

2011-03-05T22:21:00.003-05:00

Okay, so then came Mary's Birthday - Keenan cooked for her and had family and friends over.

Then January disappeared.

Then February came, and Brent got me a card for Valentine's Day from the Dogs - you will not believe this, but he got me the exact same card from them that they gave me last year - NO JOKE!!

http://leaseuhd.blogspot.com/2010/02/happy-valentines-day.html

Gotta love my man.
Or the dogs - hard to say which -

Then came Christmas . . .

2011-03-05T22:14:00.004-05:00

Okay, so then came Christmas.

Best part - being off work -

Worst part - Brent's mom broke her foot falling out the door at our house Christmas Eve Night. She was walking out - carrying something to car, and fell. Then spent the next day in the hospital in Raleigh only to refuse to let them put a real cast on her foot. She's better now, but Lord that was crazy.

Christmas Day we went to Mary's house, and it was nice. The boys were there and Keenan and Mary. All of the boys had been dealing with viruses and such, but it was really nice. Slightly low key, which was good too.

More Catch Up

2011-03-05T21:45:00.003-05:00

Okay so then there was Thanksgiving. I haven't really written anything, because it's a very very long story and most of you have heard it, but here it goes . . .

So like the weekend before Thanksgiving, Brent and I went out on the boat on the Roanoke River up out of Williamston.

It was GORGEOUS. Chilly, no fish biting, but gorgeous.

On Monday, Brent took the boat out in Washington, and put out at Haven's Gardens and was heading up river and the motor died. He had to row back about two miles - maybe - to get back to the ramp - all of this happening of course while I was in school. He came home and figured out that it was a wiring connection, and the motor worked great after that.

Then on Tuesday he went out and decided he'd go up Tranter's Creek as far as he could. And I worked. And I was tired when I got home so I tried to take a nap. TRIED . . .

Because as soon as I got in the bed, ring ring ring. And of course I didn't have the phone. I decided to just let the machine get it, but as soon as the machine started it was Brent talking into the phone about how I had to get up and come get him cause he was tied up somewhere because the boat stopped working - blah blah blah

Called him back on my cell - which I DID have in the bed with me. Found out where he was. Got dressed. Went and got him. Luckily this time he had engine problems on the backside of a campground, so he could tie up on the bulkhead.

Now. You may be shaking your head sadly at my plight now - or at his - or you may be quickly coming up with the same question I did - How in the HELL are we going to get that boat back to the ramp to get it out of the water.

WELL . . .

Brent has this other boat he's been sorta working on to sell. And it was sorta ready to be tested out, so his plan was to take boat number 2 out to pick up boat number 1.

mmhmmm

mhmmmmX2

Needless to say boat number two never made it. We were actually lucky to be able to get it tied to boat number one. And then I about died trying to figure out how we were going to get any of these things out of the water. Luckily it was winter, and the campers weren't all there, so no one was complaining about two derelict boats tied to their bulkhead. So . . . (these three dots represent me getting all pissed about the whole situation and contemplating filing for divorce on the grounds of broken ass boats - breathe in - breathe out)

SOOOOOOO - SeaTow said we'll come get you for $300. I said UM NO. Then magically I remembered CHRISTIE AND CHARLES ARE BOAT PEOPLE! THEY WILL SAVE MY MARRIAGE! and you know what? I called Christie, she called Charles, he came with a boat, and we got the boats back to the dock and on trailers.

Worst part - When I was climbing from one boat to another and one foot was going out left and one foot was going out right and I told Brent I hated him at that moment.

Best part - walking back from loading boat number one, I was walking down a hill and Charles - and Latham - were sitting on their boat waiting for me - and Charles looked at me and said "Are we having fun yet?" and I said "You know what . . ." and slipped and fell and got muddy as hell, and laughed my ass off, stood up, cussed like I am sure Latham has never heard, and then looked at Charles and said, "If this boat sinks under me, we're going to let that SOB stay there."

So both boats came home and as the weather is warming up, Brent's getting the chapparal (i am so sure that is not correctly spelled) ready to go back out. Little does he know the only boat I will ever get on again with him is a cruise ship - MAYBE - - - -

And that was our intro to Thanksgiving. Needless to say I spent the rest of my holiday RESTING.

Help Me, Ninja Librarian!

2011-02-19T09:38:00.000-05:00

This is hilarious. At least to me. Be sure to watch the bagman's facial expressions change!

November . . .

2011-01-22T23:50:00.003-05:00

Well, November came in, I should take a few moments now to introduce you all to Keenan.

Mary has a new man in her life. His name is Keenan, and he meets the seal of approval from the family. He's really nice, and they seem to care a lot about each other, and he's good to the boys, so he's alright by Brent and me.

Here's a shot of him and Mary from Daddy's birthday -

October

2011-01-22T23:45:00.004-05:00

Well after Hunter's Birthday, October went by fairly quietly. ECU football began to suck terribly, and we had some guys come over and fix the roof where our intrepid roofers from last spring did not fix the chimney which resulted in a leak. Needless to say we have learned a lesson there.

Halloween was pretty cool - the nephews all dressed up - Hunter didn't trick or treat but he had a cool costume - Brent helped Mary put Riley's together - and Colin, well he LOVES Mario . . .

My sincerest apologies. . .

2011-01-22T21:19:00.002-05:00

After being fussed at last weekend by both Rob and Todd, I am going to make an effort over the next twenty-four hours to update this blog.

I shall be posting some pics and stories about Thanksgiving and Christmas and I suppose NYE, and if I don't hurry, Valentine's Day as well. :\

So here we go . . .

OMG when did I get this old?

2010-10-07T20:22:00.002-04:00

Well, Hunter turned 14 on Monday. Yes. FOURTEEN. Mmmhmm. He's been on this Earth fourteen years. I have been an Aunt for fourteen years. GEEZUS.

He's as tall as I am now. His fingers are longer, which means he's still got lots of growing to do. AND his voice is dropping - *clutches heart* - I'm just not ready. LOL

(Side note to my mother - glad you could make it this long - I know you never thought you'd see him go to kindergarten . . .*rolls eyes*)

So here we are - albeit sideways - singing to him at his party Mary had on Sunday at her house.

When I said I wanted to see the water for the weekend . . .

2010-10-07T20:19:00.002-04:00

Well, for our anniversary, I had this whole trip planned for last weekend to go to Ocracoke and stay a night and then to Hatteras for Saturday and drive up to Manteo and then back in or spend the night in Nags Head.

Well . . .

Not so much. The rain fell . . . and fell . . . and fell . . .

And the water rose . . . and rose . . .

You get the drift.

Well here is a short video of what we figured out was water in the AC vents under our house. Sounds like lapping waves, so I guess we sorta got to hear the ocean.

The insurance man (thank GOD I have flood insurance) isn't sure if it is covered or not - the whole - replacing of the AC vents, etc. So we're in limbo waiting for an answer - meanwhile on my to do list - call and lower our deductibles on home insurance.

OMG and THIS is funny too . . .

2010-09-25T08:57:00.001-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WD_QMWba-A

FYI - I am becoming a YouTube Junkie!

(getting ready to go sleep in the woods tonight - say a prayer folks!)

Why I find these things funny, I do not know.

2010-09-21T21:51:00.001-04:00

LOVE IT!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ArIj236UHs

Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow

2010-09-14T23:23:00.002-04:00

Well tomorrow I have my annual Dr. Kronke visit. Good old Dr. K gets to check my girlie parts out to be sure that what is there is SUPPOSED to be there. Always an interesting visit, but we're gonna hope nothing comes of it.

Can't leave his office without worrying til I get the card - but anywho - Brent and I will be off to Rocky Mount in the afternoon and then heading to the movies after to hopefully see "The Expendables" in GVegas.

Will let you know how it all comes out . . .

And the old man adds another candle to the cake . . .

2010-09-14T22:55:00.003-04:00

A lovely party was held last Wednesday at the Big House for Daddy (remember - pronounced Dead-eeeee). Gary turned 69, which is the same number as the year I was born, just a neat side note for me.

Griswold family photo time . . .
The guests included my sister and nephews and her new "friend" who seems to be alright - I mean, anyone that can keep up with all of us and not run screaming from the house has to be alright - right? Brent says that he can't wait to actually get to talk to him - apparently there wasn't much of a chance for them to chat with Daddy around.

So here are a few pics of the event. And if I can get blogger to work - some fabulous video footage - lol - -

and now for some HORRIBLE singing - (don't say I didn't warn you)

[What I would like for you to REALLY notice is that my FOURTEEN YEAR OLD nephew is as tall as his grandpaw in this video. GEEZUS]

Football Season Begins

2010-09-05T11:56:00.001-04:00

Today, yes Sunday, is the first ECU game. Getting ready to go. Gonna sit in the new purple seats that aren't wide enough for my behind - but we'll see how it goes.

They play Tulsa at 2 pm, and it's being televised on ESPN2.

Go PIRATES!

Southern customs and funerals . . .

2010-08-18T07:26:00.003-04:00

Well, I guess something big has happened. My Aunt Jo Ann, my mother's sister, who turned 71 in July, died on Saturday the 14th. I hadn't seen her in a couple of years, not since the last funeral, and it was not an expected death, so the family is taking it hard as can be expected.

They had only a graveside service, and it was short and nice, which is good as it was at 11 on a 90 degree day. They did not have a visitation, and that leads me to what I really wanted to talk about.

When did people stop doing "what's right"? I suppose they didn't have a visitation because of the cost, or they didn't think anyone would show up, I don't know. But it's like a southern tradition that when someone dies, you give em an hour or two the night before the funeral to celebrate them. Give everyone that wants to a chance to come in, hug the family, tell em how sorry you are for their loss, and then talk with friends and family about the person who has died and his or her life. My aunt lived a long life, retired from one job and then worked another. She had friends, heck she had a rather large extended family. And people can come to a 6 o'clock visitation that can't come to an 11 am funeral.

I'm not saying draw something out or anything, but a little respect for a long life, please. *shrugs* I don't know. Something. I don't know. Just reminds me that I belong to a different time. Should've been born in the 40's I think.

And a month later . . .

2010-08-15T20:52:00.000-04:00

Sorry - nothing really big to report - went to the beach - spent money right and left on things - lots of stuff to report - more to come soon -

Good Wednesday Morning from [DOOK]

2010-07-14T08:51:00.003-04:00

Sorry - actually was too busy yesterday to post. ALICE is very interesting, and the assignment we had yesterday took most of my free time.

This campus is really covered with beautiful stone work - buildings, retaining walls, steps, etc. It's like twenty million different levels. I'm taking lots of pictures for no reason at all with my phone, just to get ideas of architectural elements. May be doing some building in Second Life similar to these structures.

Now for the people in my class. They all seem very dedicated to education. There are about eighteen of us in here, and miraculously there appears to only be like five younger than I am. That has to be like the biggest surprise of all. I really expected to walk in here and find a room full of young teachers excited about learning this new program to share with their students. (Which makes me wonder what all those young'uns are doing.)

AND two people drove in from NEW YORK. NEW YORK (just felt like it was worthy of being repeated, let alone in all capitals). AND two people flew in from St. Louis. ST. LOUIS. And finally - one professor from NCCU. So it's really fascinating to listen to them talk about stuff. Different aspects, different ways schools are managed.

Of course I am the only librarian in the bunch, excuse me, media coordinator. Everyone else teaches computers. Or science.

And there are several student helpers here too. Some college, some high school. The thing about this is that it's very well planned out. The instructors (some of the helpers are teaching as well) all are very good at what they do, and should someone have a question, the person with the question raises their hand or calls out and one of the other helpers comes over to help instead of the instructor stopping. Wouldn't it be nice if this was how we could run stuff in real schools. Have a helper in each class to step in when the teacher was instructing to have continuous instruction and have students get help at the same time.

My biggest fear for this class was that I would be the slowest one - but not a problem. I'm middle of the pack I think.

Okay, so that's enough for now. More tomorrow.

Duke Bathrooms

2010-07-12T12:56:00.002-04:00

Dear God - what a move for the University to make - FABULOUS -

Coated to protect against germs!

And so enters JULY

2010-07-12T12:49:00.002-04:00

July began with a very nice Sunday spent on Baker Hill in Franklinton. Brent and I had "procured" fireworks, and he and Charlie put on an excellent show for us that night. We ate shrimp, steaks, salads, ice cream, brownies, ooo my belly hurts thinking about all the food we ate. LOL

Then I went to the beach for a day - finally - got a little burnt in spots the sunscreen didn't apparently REACH - but all in all a good day. I had forgotten how much I love swimming in the ocean. Which reminds me - if you ever go to Ft. Macon at Atlantic Beach - DO take advantage of the shower house - it's free - and you can go in, change, take a cold shower, and use the bathrooms. It makes the ride home so much more pleasant - REALLY.

That brings us up to my birthday. \o/ YAY - Who isn't excited to have survived 41 years on this planet? Very quiet birthday - lots of friends wished me a happy one, went to the big house so that my nephews, sister, parents, and old Brent could eat ice cream with me. (will post pictures of this tomorrow) Then Brent and I went out to eat and came home and that was about that - lol.

And so now I am here - at Duke University - taking a week long course in a program called Alice - and THAT is going to hopefully give me lots of fuel for posts - I already have a lovely picture (well two) to share next - and of course more info on what this whole ALICE thing is - :)

Looking sooooooooo forward to sharing.

Where did June go?

2010-07-12T12:45:00.003-04:00

Well, sadly, I have no idea where June went. There was the end of school which took until the freaking 16th - YES - the 16th -

And then there was Mary and Neil for a little bit to distract me - call me for details . . .

Then Brent and I went to Myrtle Beach at the end of June for two days so that Brent could help Sally find a car. Toyota Camry - excellent deal - and we got to stay for free thanks to Jim and Caroline, so WOOT! (Although, and Brent will whole heartedly support me on this, we have not lost a THING in MB. Too much traffic, too much noise, too many people. We are old grumps, aren't we?)

We did stop on the way back from MB to see Todd. Brent got to see the house, and I got to see the improvements Todd has done so far - and my bathroom so far looks FABULOUS. Todd is an excellent interior decorator and contractor. LOL

So that brought us to the end of June. Sounds really easy and simple, and guess what, it was - woot.

Updates are COMING!

2010-07-12T12:43:00.001-04:00

Well, I will have time this week to do some updates for those of you that keep checking and are tired of the calla lilies.

Tired of calla lilies? OMG! No way!?!? Who could ever get tired of GORGEOUS callas?

Okay Okay -

So expect some updates this week . . .

Calla Time

2010-05-30T13:00:00.004-04:00

"The calla lilies are in bloom again. Such a strange flower, suitable to any occasion."

Saddness for you all that do not recognize that line. Katherine Hepburn in "Stage Door" says this line. It is an excellent old black and white movie. So many stars in it - Katherine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, Lucille Ball, to name a few.

But here is a picture of a couple of ladies that were just recently starring in my front yard.

Enjoy.

The Roof - the complete story

2010-05-19T22:09:00.002-04:00

So, roofer dudes show up Thursday morning - it's slighty drizzly, but that's good cause they have to rip stuff off - and it's going to clear by the afternoon - they worked and worked and made the mess you see in the last post.

Friday, they roll felt paper. And need more of that. Wife number one shows up. They nail shingles until everytime they step on one, it leaves a swirl on it - they leave.

Saturday, they nail shingles all day - like 6:30 am until mid afternoon - go home - take naps - come back and nail shingles until dark. By this time the dogs believe there is a constant thunderstorm occuring over our house and are about over it all. Wife number two with child shows up.

OH BUT WAIT - Saturday morning - Brent comes into my office and sits and says "I am about to throw up." Apparently, we will be needing $1000 more in shingles.

$1000 more

Okay. So for those of you that do not know, I HATE dealing with money - loans, large amounts, whatever - just hate it - and voila - i am sitting there going - well Brent - give me a minute, and I will go crap a couple of gold bars.

Needless to say we found the money and got the shingles. which going on with the story brings us to SUNDAY.

Sunday - nailing shingles at 6:30 in the morning - yes our neighbors were probably pissed, but at this point, a two day job has become a four day job. A 43 bundle of shingle job has become a 95 bundle of shingle job - a 3400 square feet of shingle job. . .

Wife number one from the time she arrived has been helping the guys - cleaning up stuff - sweeping, orgazinig - she's got OCD or something - but hey - she didn't mind it -

Wife number two brings the baby and sits out in front of the house. They are super nice and all, and eventually everyone leaves. Two o'clock Sunday. Quiet - naptime.

So that night we celebrate - the main guy didn't take as much as we thought he would cause he was so upset about underestimating the number of shingles, so we celebrated with Chinese for dinner. Of course we didn't eat until like eight. And while I was out picking it up, the rain started. Just in time to test out our new roof.

MMMHMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

So I am eating my delicious General Tso's chicken with my chopsticks of course, and we're watching something on TV, and I hear it. PLOP PLOP PLOP. That's right. Water dripping into the attic. So I freak and jump up and then it comes down right next to my chair - so i put a bowl under it. By this time we are both up on our feet trying to decide what to do and are scrambling.

I have to climb up in the attic - THE ATTIC - I don't climb that ladder - it has a weight limit - plus - I don't climb that ladder - but anyway - water is coming in by the chimney and running down a rafter to where it is dripping. So we have to cover the chimney.

So I go out and the neighbor is not home - he has ladders - of course he's not home. Then I call Dad. WELLLL, that brought on him fussing and of course i wasn't to go on the roof in the rain and what was I going to do and let's think about this - and this conversation ended abruptly when I said "I'm coming to get the ladder." CLICK

So we got the ladder, I got up on the roof and covered the chimney with a tarp tied on with a rope. By the time I get back down, we find out that Mike has called and is actually on his way (a two hour drive) to find out what the problem is.

He gets here at ten. Goes up top. Finds out that his brother and helper did not caulk the FOURTH SIDE OF THE CHIMNEY. So he does - covers it back up to let the caulk cure, and goes home.

Last night I climbed back up on the roof. I took the tarp off. It has rained off and on since - no leaks - fingers crossed.

And that - she says with a sigh - is the story of Lisa and Brent's roof . . .

Late, but as promised, pictures of the destruction . . .

2010-05-19T22:03:00.003-04:00

Here are lovely pictures of flowers covered with shingles . . .

Brent - Bird Lover Extraordinaire

2010-05-12T22:04:00.003-04:00

Okay - Brent loves birds, but it's not an obsession - LOL - BUTT - he has given home to a mama and four (maybe five) babies -

It's very hard to tell but in the straw there are little baby birds - the light color on the black lumps is their beaks. When I moved in to take their pictures, they froze, but Brent says they are all fine.

Apparently if you leave something sitting for FOREVER - like a boat motor - well - birds will build nests - Needless to say Mama Bird is not happy that Brent is working under the carport on the ugly A green boat from the previous entry - - - -

Updates on the new babies as they come in . . .

The sound of mighty hammers . . .

2010-05-12T21:54:00.004-04:00

Well the massive destruction begins tomorrow. Two friends of Brent's will be here at the crack of dawn to start tearing the roof off of the house. Big kids gotta take care of their house. What a pain in the butt.

So today Brent went to Lowe's and ordered everything and then at 5, we went out to pick it up. Lord God, thank you for Brent's truck, but poor thing almost broke under the weight of just the shingles. Needless to say the Honda was used to pick up the rest of the order. Here's hoping his truck can recover tomorrow once it is unloaded.

(SEPTEMBER - Much love girl - that little trailer is stillllll rolling!)

So what I thought I would post here with the picture of Brent's sagging truck are pictures of my flowers, because no matter how carefully these guys are going to work I just know my beautiful flower beds are going to not be so beautiful tomorrow.

So enjoy - and Todd - I hope you are happy - - -

Oh and THIS is what makes Brent and my Daddy alike - Brent is "fixing" the motor on this boat as part of the payment to the guys for doing the roof - mmhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm . . .

Property Taxes

2010-04-06T15:37:00.003-04:00

For years I have lived in Washington and listened to people fuss about property taxes, re-evaluations, and such. When I bought my house, I didn't think much of it, because the tax value really didn't seem odd to me - it came in under where the estimate did when I bought the house.

Background for those of you that don't know - I live in a block house (like a school) built in the early 50's, with old raggedy windows that needs a new roof (yeah for tax returns).

So this year is a re-evaluation year.

And shock of shocks - my house is now worth $30K more than it was last year - NO JOKE.

So needless to say - thank GOD for spring break - so I can go down to the tax office to find out what I have to do to have this REDONE.

People - if I could get $100,000 for my house - I'd sell today - NO JOKE AGAIN.

More info as it becomes available.

Hoppy Easter

2010-04-05T15:40:00.004-04:00

Whew - well that brings us up to this past weekend. Another event at the big house (as Todd calls it) in Washington for Easter. Ham, potato salad, all the fixings and eggs hidden in the back yard. At least now Daddy can mow. lol

It was a gorgeous day - a little warmer than I thought it would be in fact. The boys all looked for eggs, and the dogs got some before the boys got outside.

March was also Pinewood Derby Month

2010-04-05T14:18:00.003-04:00

Well, for those of you that don't know, Riley and Hunter are both in Boy Scouts. And the Boy Scouts do this whole Pinewood Derby thing where you build cars out of these kits and then race them against other Boy Scouts.

So, one beautiful day in March, Brent and I drove down to the county to watch Riley and Hunter race their cars. (A couple of weeks earlier Neil and the boys had come up to the house so Brent could help Neil shape up the cars. Ended up with Neil and Brent out on the back porch working on cars and Hunter and Riley inside watching TV. MMHMMM)

We got there a little early, and it took the guys in charge a little while to get the software working - but finally things got going. Neither Riley nor Hunter did very well in the races. Won't say they finished last, but they didn't finish in the top three in their divisions, but they both seemed to be sorta happy with just being there, so that was nice. Of course Neil, Brent and Daddy all were discussing what you have to do to make the cars work right and this needs to be different, blah blah blah. LOL I think they are all three going to get kits for Christmas so they can build their cars way ahead of time. And I mean Brent, Neil, and Daddy, not Hunter and Riley. LOLOL

Anywho - here are a few shots from that even - very interesting way to spend a morning . . .

March is a month of birthdays - did you know?

2010-04-05T14:00:00.004-04:00

Well, first of all, I totally effed up Todd's birthday. I got the card in the mail late, and haven't gotten to see him yet, but on March 6th, he got a lovely call from me, my mother, my sister, and my husband. LOL! I thought it would be funny to have Mama wish him a happy birthday as they both have the same birthday, and while she was on the phone with him, she said something about some place in Wilmington you can eat, so that set everyone off wanting to tell him something odd about a place in Wilmington. So the phone got passed around. I just hope he thought it was as funny as those in the room did.

So that was Todd - Happy 41st Birthday!

Also in March, is of course, Mama. This year marked her turning 69. OMG right - 69 - SIXTY-NINE. So we all rolled up into her house with a cake, ice cream, and lots of little boys, and partied! Here's a couple pic's from that awesome event.

The hats really made the event, dontcha think?

Then came Riley's 8th Birthday - March 20, the first day of Spring! (And he KNOWS that his birthday is the first day of spring - this I totally love about my middle nephew.)

Riley's party featured little kids running around and a cake decorated with Mario -of all things - so here are a few shots from that event.

And that was about it for birthdays in March! Happy Birthday to everyone! (What I also love is that Mama the other day just out of the blue goes - YOUR birthday is next - and I'm like yeah - in July - lolololol.)

Catch up time . . .

2010-04-05T13:58:00.001-04:00

No excuses, I hate excuses. Lots of birthdays and things to get through, so expect several posts from me over the next few days with links to pictures.

I'm off this week - THANK GOD - and will MAKE myself sit down and share all the gorey details with you all.

Yummy, I know, so let's go-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o . . .

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-15T20:07:00.003-05:00

Just so you know - Sassy is a kisser -

And the inside of the card says . . .

We LOVE Bandits strike when we're least expected . . .

SNOW . . .

2010-02-13T00:15:00.002-05:00

It's snowing - started a little earlier - you won't believe this, but Pete heard it and barked so I got up and looked and ta freaking da - snow falling - that dog has finally shown he is good for SOMETHING.

Of course we have already planned to go out tomorrow to take pictures - so I will promise to upload this weekend.

SNOW I say SNOW!

At long last . . . Christmas

2010-01-22T20:16:00.002-05:00

Okay, so a quick peek at fotos from Christmas.

The beginning ones are of Todd and me making sugar cookies in my tiny kitchen. Thanks to Brent who took these while watching the action.

Then we move to Mama and Daddy's where three nephews did very well this year opening one gift at a time.

Next the day after Christmas when Brent's parents came down for the day to open presents, eat ham, and visit.

And finally, some pics of the decorations we had out this year. for those of you that don't know - years ago, September gave me the Bumble from "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" and Todd said you should put him at the top of the tree. Well, I don't know how many years ago that was - probably over ten, but the Bumble sits on top of the tree at our house, alone, or with a star, and should the branch he sits on give way, and he fall - it's okay - and you know why?

Because Bumbles Bounce!

LOL

http://picasaweb.google.com/leaseuhd/Christmas2009?authkey=Gv1sRgCLHNxtHEydqNSg&feat=directlink

Bathroom redux

2009-12-23T22:39:00.006-05:00

I am sooo far behind on posting this. Charlie finally came to help Brent put in the new flooring and the new toilet (pronounced twa-lett). It looks fabulous!

The new commode (pronounced KA mode) lol - is a water saver whatever one with two flushes - we are sooooooooo green - LOL

Droid part 2

2009-12-23T22:35:00.001-05:00

A big shout out to my dear friend Rob who brought his Droid up to Washington to meet me. And thank GOD for him, because he is my tech support.

Thanks Rob!

The DROID

2009-12-13T23:07:00.002-05:00

Verizon has come out with a new phone - you've probably seen ads for it - the Droid.

I got one.

I love it.

My life will never be the same.

And let me tell you - I KNEW it would come in handy when I went to visit the inlaws and was able to connect to the Internet right then and there to answer questions about movies and weather and such and so forth - MAHVELOUS!

It is a phone, it is a web browser, it is a gps thingie, mp3 player, camera, video camera, lifelong friend and companion - need I say more?

And just for fun - here's a picture -

i <3 my Droid - lolololol

It's beginning to look a lot like . . .

2009-12-13T22:34:00.003-05:00

yes yes yes - Todd took it all down over Thanksgiving and finally it's about time we got things decorated.

Brent and I went to Lowe's and decided that this year we would go with a cheaper tree - so we bought one of the $20 ones, which looked plenty big enough at the store. Once we got it home, it was a pee wee.

THEN - while I was watching ECU beat Houston - go PIRATES - Brent put Shortie in its stand and on a BOX in the living room - omg - not so sure about that - but then on Sunday he fixed it and we covered the box with a sheet - white snow - think white snow - and then sat down and decorated it. And you know what? Shortie looks good - Here - you look and tell me what you think.

Next of course there was discussion of what else to put out. For those of you that don't know - and most all of you do - I have boxes and boxes of Christmas stuff. Tons of Santas in all shapes and forms. Well, Brent and I agreed we HAD to put out the stockings - so that meant something on the mantle - and of course we put out the wreath.

So here's the mantle - I used some star lights I got at IKEA - ah IKEA - *sighs* - and put my ECU Santa and Snowman out along with the Santa and Mrs. Claus I like - you know - as an old married lady - and this is what the mantle looks like (in the dark) -

So then for the final project for Christmas decorating, I wanted to try the whole Southern Living Christmas tree made out of tomato cages. Now, for those of you that don't know what tomato cages are, they are the wire frames you buy to put around your tomato plants so that the plant has some support when it gets big enough to begin bearing fruit. Soooo I borrowed two of these from Daddy (once again a reminder that this word is pronounced DEAD-EE) which Brent spray painted CHROME (yes we tricked out the tomato cages) and then I put these upside down - pointy ends up - into a large flower pot I had bought a year ago probably and never used.. I then proceeded to wrap it with three strings of outdoor lights, tie a bow on the top, run a very very long extension cord from the carport to the pot at the front door. And voila!

Of course the funniest part of making the tree was that as I put the third string of lights on, everytime I moved between the tree and the wreath, the wreath went off (motion detector) and sang its song. Needless to say by the time it was over the song was stuck in my head - as Stephen King would say - an ear worm.

So that's about it for holiday decorating - I know - I know - some of you (who will remain nameless) will be very disappointed. Sorry folks - maybe next year - there has already been talk of pulling a boat out into the yard and decorating it - even mention of Frosty on water skis . . .

ECU wins the CHAMPIONSHIP

2009-12-06T19:01:00.003-05:00

Well, they pulled it out of their asses, but they beat Houston for the CUSA Championship and the right to go to the Liberty Bowl.

Here is a short video I shot on my new phone - more on it later - :)

Thanksgiving with the Griswold's

2009-12-04T23:22:00.003-05:00

Nothing much to say about Thanksgiving. No one got mad. So it was a GREAT day.

We took a family picture. Some of you may remember the last one we took out in front of my parents' house two years ago on Daddy's birthday. And then the next day, Mama fell and broke her hip.

Well, like four days after these pictures were taken Mama fell at the top of the steps. Thank GOD she fell left instead of right, because right would have taken her DOWN the stairs.

But anyway - here we are - in all our glory -

Enjoy -

http://picasaweb.google.com/leaseuhd/ThanksgivingAtTheBigHouse?authkey=Gv1sRgCJCN4pGMmo7AMw&feat=directlink

A fitting activity for a gruesome holiday . . .

2009-11-03T19:48:00.004-05:00

For Halloween, Daddy decided to get some crabs. And the good kind. The kind that taste good and cost lots of money - sorta -

What it ends up being is a really big mess that to me is soooo delicious, it's worth all the mess.

Luckily, Daddy pulled the backs off of the crabs, and the claws, so when I got them they were dead. Yes, folks, if you don't know about cleaning blue crabs, well you do it while they are alive.

So, I went over and got a pot full and then had to bring them home and clean them the rest of the way, which consists mainly of scraping a LOT of goooo out of some sea spiders. LOL

AND - as it was Halloween - I thought I would get some GROSS pics - well maybe one GROSS pic for ya - to share the joy. (Many thanks to my handy cameraman Brent who helped with the shots.)

The pile before cleaning

All the orange and gray stuff - well - ewwwwwwwww

Scrape Scrape Scrape Scrape

Just a SMALL sample of "scrapings" - we likes to call em GUTZ . . .

Riley and Colin and Halloween

2009-11-03T19:44:00.006-05:00

Here are a couple of pics. I don't know if it's me or the camera - but everything's getting blurry - let's hope it's something i've "unset" on the camera - lol

Colin was Pinocchio
Riley was Luigi (Hunter - not pictured - was Mario)

And another thing . . .

2009-11-03T19:22:00.002-05:00

I KNOW that many of you are familiar with my crazy ass neighbors and their desires to rid their yard of trees -

Well today they had probably a 50+ year old oak taken down - why I have no idea - but it's sad really - am thinking of taking the long way to EVERYTHING from this point on to avoid having to see where this beautiful big oak used to be . . .

I just know Mrs. Graves is rolling over in her grave . . .

Odds and Ends

2009-11-03T19:14:00.002-05:00

Just a few notes for my loyal readers . . .

Last Friday, Brent went back for another radial ablatement (I have probably misspelled both of those words). What that means is that the treatment he had two years ago wore off, and his doctor decided to do this again. This treatment involves going in and actually burning nerve endings in Brent's back. The funny thing is that it has really helped him feel better. The general ache and pain is still there from the injury, but not the constant nagging, so his prescriptions are working and helping him manage it.

I went back to the doctor last week as well, and am finishing up a series of steroids for my back pain/sciatica. It is more nerve wrecking than anything, because if you know me, you know I'm a terrible worrier, and all I can think is - make it through this Christmas and I've broken the cycle of a surgery every two years - and I laugh as I type that, but still I worry too.

Also, today I went for the first annual smoosh lisa's boobs appointment. And either I am totally numb, or just was totally tired from feeling bad, but the appointment was quick and easy. \o/ yay. Sept had hers done too - yay being forty - and I am HOPING Miss Sally did too - oh the small joys of being a woman and 40.

The boys came over for Halloween. Mary decided to bring Riley and Colin over - Hunter was left on Daddy's computer and Neil sat out front with Mama to hand out candy. It was a nice visit, and I will post a couple of pics here in a little bit.

Travel is geared down now for Brent and me. Our next big event will be Thanksgiving at Mama's with Mary's crew. I'm thinking easy breezy mac and cheezy - so at least we won't have to do too much cooking or worrying. :)

Thursday night - ECU v. VA Tech at home - say a little prayer if ya can . . .

And that's it - be well and prosper . . .

Just a quick shot of Monkey . . .

2009-10-28T20:02:00.003-04:00

OMG - finally used up the disposable camera we bought on the trip to FLORIDA. I forgot to tell you guys what a superb job Monkey did with his part of the driving. You know . . .

Once you get on the Florida Turnpike . . .

Pretty much anyone can handle the driving. Gave Brent a GREAT opportunity to catch up on his naps.

2009-10-28T20:01:00.000-04:00

And she slipped in under the radar . . .

2009-10-11T11:07:00.002-04:00

Sorta Kinda - It's hard to remember EVERYWHERE you have to celebrate somebody turning 40.

September joined the club on the 23rd of well, you know, September. LOL

She had a great birthday from all reports. Had a surprise party with her family and then got to come to the ECU game on Saturday! YAY - and they won! Even better!

So we're all here now. What's next? LOL

Island Time is so Much More Fun

2009-10-11T10:21:00.003-04:00

Okay, okay. Here it is. If nothing else, the link to the pics I took. We took some pics with Brent's camera - no idea what's actually on there. We also ended up taking some pics with a disposable camera, because well, I totally forgot my camera when I went to meet my friend Habibi, so I had to rush and get a disposable one. Those pics have yet to be developed. LOL
Developed. ewwww it's been so long since I've used that word in regards to pictures.

Anyway, here's the link to the pics . . .

http://picasaweb.google.com/leaseuhd/FloridaOctober?authkey=Gv1sRgCO2I4ozwndmYSA&feat=directlink

Enjoy!

Brent gets tagged and not in the good way . . .

2009-09-28T21:41:00.002-04:00

So Brent and I spent a lovely Sunday afternoon in Greenville shopping for things for our upcoming trip to Florida. We had a wonderful time, got some things done, and were coming home to do some stuff around the house.

We pulled up and saw a note on the door. Joking about what the note said, we got out of the car, and I went over to read it. It pretty much said, "Your truck has been spray painted. The police have been by and have filed a report. Call me. David" David is our neighbor on the corner. His family is super nice and they are always sorta on the lookout for things, which really makes things nice.

WELL. I immediately walk around to the other side of the truck and there it was.

NICE right?

Apparently David came out of his house about an hour before we got home because he saw some kids walking down the street with spray paint cans. He hollered at them when he got outside, and they took off. So he walked out into the street and looked down our way and TA DA - he could see it from there - so he called the police.

Welllllll, needless to say BRENT was PISSED. Well so was I, if for no other reason than NOW everyone that walks down the street is a potential criminal. No more feeling comfy with passing kids - you gotta think every time - is that the dumbass that spray painted the truck.

Apparently - at like two freaking o'clock in the afternoon - these kids decided to walk through and just mark up whatever they could - everything else was like marks on the grass in yards and street signs - lucky us. What did we do to make us so special I wonder?

Of course Brent immediately gets his rags and the GOO GONE and goes out and guess what - it wipes right off. THAT'S HOW FRESH IT WAS!! And of course the GOO GONE helped. I feel like writing them a note of thanks.

And for those of you that don't know - I don't live in a bad neighborhood. Unfortunately, I live on a street that connects ONE bad part of town with ANOTHER. MMMhmmmmmmm.

So now another horror story for Brent to tell his parents. And another reason to move to the country . . .

At the Dairy Palace

2009-09-20T09:37:00.003-04:00

Sorry it's been so long. No excuse. So suck it . . .

But seriously, here's a funny story that happened the other evening.

Brent and I had dinner at one of the Mexican restaurants in town and decided to ride around for awhile because it was a gorgeous afternoon/evening kinda time. And I decided we should get ice cream from the Dairy Palace.

For those of you who do not know what the Dairy Palace is, it is a drive up food place here in Washington that is like two blocks from where I grew up. There are always interesting people standing outside and working inside - it's a little country - rednecky (yes I'm pretty sure that IS a word), but they make GREAT egg sandwiches and have twist cones.

When I was young, we'd walk up and buy a cone, you could get vanilla and chocolate twist cones for less than a dollar. And it's the kind of ice cream that melts fast - more like ice milk. But I digress.

Anyway, we pulled up and I got out and went to the ice cream window - cause they like for you to order ice cream from the ONE window - and Brent saw a friend from his small engine repair class so he got out to speak to him.

After I ordered I walked over to be introduced to Mr. Jessie, who is actually the instructor of the class, BUT on my way past the "hot food" window, a boy stuck his head out and say "Hey GIRL, I haven't seen you in forever." I of course said something along the lines of "Well, HEY!" because he was soooo excited to see me. He even leaned out of the window to give me one of those half hugs.

Now for a side note. I've been teaching in and around Washington for almost 18 years, so I've known a LOT of kids. Well he LOOKED familiar, but I really didn't remember his name, which is happening to me more and more lately. But he sure did remember me. Even went on to tell me about his Mama and how she was working full time at Craven now and how they wouldn't pay her what she wanted at Beaufort, so she left and how she would be off on Thursday, and I should come by the house to see her. He also said, "That is if you can remember the way - it's been so long since you've been by to visit."

Now understand that the whole time this reunion is going on, I'm being introduced to Mr. Jessie, walking back to the ice cream window for two ice cream cones, and wildly going through all the faces and names in my head to TRY to remember this boy who is sooo happy to see me.

Finally, Brent and I head back to the car, with me leaving that unnamed boy with the promise that I will try to get by to see his Mama on Thursday. Needless to say I did NOT visit her as I HAVE forgotten the way to her house. LOL Brent and I talked about this for an hour - I'm still wondering who I am SUPPOSED to be. Brent says there is a woman here in Washington that looks so much like me he almost went up and pinched her on the ass in Wal-Mart, so I guess she needs to go by and see her friend. LOL

So there ya go - just another day in the life of me . . . LOL

And Birthday Wishes Go Out to . . .

2009-09-09T19:38:00.003-04:00

I am TOTALLY going to blame the BAHston trip on me forgetting to welcome ROB to the 40's. ROB turned FORTY on August 29th (while I was trapped in a four story mall with my father). Welcome to the club ROB!!!!!!

Yesterday - September 8th - was Daddy's 68th BDAY - damn, and I drug his butt to BAHston (and yes I WILL be spelling it like that FOREVAH). Yesterday was also Keith's BDAY, so Happy Birthday to both of them.

That only leaves us ONE MORE TO TURN FORTY - AND YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE - if you do not know who has yet to turn 40, well here's one hint - this is SEPTEMBER RIGHT?

*evil laugh*

And still he improves . . .

2009-09-09T19:33:00.002-04:00

Well, after a trip to the local Urgent Care yesterday, and another prescription, more blood taken and such, Brent is still recuperating.

The pain is pretty much gone - except that he has muscle spasms in his legs and feet and toes - that come and go and hurt. What is worrying us now is a severe burning and itching in his lower right leg. The medicine from Urgent Care is working on it, but so far there has been no relief.

Because we live in BFE, and there is apparently only one machine in all of Beaufort County that can do the blood work he was supposed to have done, we have to wait another day for results as THAT ONE MACHINE broke down. The ONE MACHINE at the hospital broke DOWN. So if you were say - IN THE HOSPITAL depending on TEST RESULTS - SUCK IT -

So it's a waiting game now until tomorrow . . .

On a lighter note - NOT - tomorrow is my annual visit with my favorite gynecologist Dr. Kroncke. *Rolls Eyes* Wish me luck . . . LOL

Brent on the Mend

2009-09-07T23:13:00.002-04:00

Well he's doing better today - still sleeping a lot - but I blame the pills. The pain is not totally gone, but he's feeling better.

Working on the tiredness now, but doing better.

Thanks to everyone who has called or emailed.

:)

Another ACTION PACKED Saturday Night at the Bakers

2009-09-06T21:14:00.002-04:00

Well Brent didn't go to the ECU game because he was out fishing with a buddy. Around 2:30 Sunday morning I got a call from Brent who was on his way to the ER in Morehead City. Apparently he had a very very bad pain come up in the lower half of his body - the ENTIRE lower half of his body.

I got there around 3:30. Thank GOD his friend Tony was with him and took him to the ER. Tony stayed with us until 6:30 at which time the nurses had shot Brent up with enough medicine to at least give him about an hour's rest.

I got a friend of Mama's to pick me up and take me to Brent's truck so that I could bring him home in it.

The doctor seems to think Brent just over did himself and has over-stressed his legs and joints. Brent is afraid it's much worse as the pain is still there. He's resting for like twenty minutes at a time - on the bed - in his chair - in a chair in the living room - back to the bed - and so forth and so on - he says it's not getting any better, but I am hoping it is.

If it's not better tomorrow, we're gonna have to go to the ER here in Washington or something.

On the BRIGHT SIDE - Frances actually went with Daddy to Morehead to get my truck and drove one of the vehicles back. Soooo her strength is obviously returning.

More news tomorrow - fingers crossed that he'll get some rest eventually.

ECU Wins

2009-09-06T21:06:00.002-04:00

Saturday was my first football game at ECU in like seven years, and it was a blast.

ECU played Appalachian State University. The game was sold out. The temps ranged around 95 degrees. AND IT WAS A BLAST. ECU did as usual and only played one half, but luckily ASU made a couple of bad plays in the last quarter to actually let us keep our lead and win.

I went with Rob and Todd and sat with Todd's family, and I am sooooo looking forward to the rest of the home games this year. Hopefully in cooler weather - LOL. The worst part of the whole experience was the walk back to the car which almost killed me, but was actually probably good for me.

Let's hope that they do well next weekend against, I think, West Virginia.

GO PIRATES!

Back from BAHston

2009-09-01T20:07:00.006-04:00

OMG - it was a good trip - Daddy and I only got on each other's nerves a little bit - LOL - but seeing Uncle Von's family, meeting Kim's family, and seeing a very very SMALL part of Boston was great.

Pictures can be seen at this link -

http://picasaweb.google.com/leaseuhd/BAHston?authkey=Gv1sRgCIjT7vKYyrDFxQE&feat=directlink

For Monkey's fans - he had a GREAT time - although he stayed in the room more than he would have liked to -

And I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane. . .

2009-08-27T20:09:00.002-04:00

Me, Daddy, and MONKEY will be leaving Washington tomorrow morning around 8 for BAHston where my cousin Jason will be marrying his woman of a million years Kim.

And now with the big to do over Ted Kennedy - well we're really excited. lol

I think Monkey is the most excited - he's never flown - and Daddy - well he's traveled more recently than I have - remember he went to Australia a few years back - so o o o o

Say a little prayer for me . . . .

:)

OMG She's ALIVE

2009-08-20T21:20:00.002-04:00

no - seriously . . .

I called Daddy at the house yesterday to check on our patient's condition. The question "How's Mama today?" was answered with "Frances - get the phone."

Yes - she's home - and yes - she's doing well. I will go over after school tomorrow -we had open house tonight and i just couldn't do it today - and will be able to get a visual on her.

Thanks to everyone that called and emailed. Really. :)

Day Five and She's a Little Disoriented

2009-08-16T16:00:00.002-04:00

I would like to say, first of all, thank GOD for nice nurses. Mama has had some nice ones, that have dealt with lots of stuffffffffff . . .

So at 4:30 Saturday morning the nurse called Daddy and asked him to come sit and talk to Mama as she had refused to lie still (she had to be prone while the balloon pump was still inside and then four hours after it was removed). They actually had to put restraints on her. Shocking, yes, but it reminds me that my Grandmama, Mama's Mama, had to be restrained, too, and actually pulled her catheter (pee tube LOL) out herself in a drug induced craze. So this isn't too surprising, cause if you think I'm hard headed, you haven't talked to Fran recently.

Today she says she is going home tomorrow, which of course the doctor will get straight with her tomorrow morning. LOL. Daddy came in and got a little upset at first, but he calmed down and we talked about how it was just the time spent in the hospital and the drugs working themselves out of her system.

I did not make it up there yesterday - Mary and Daddy bore the brunt of that - but the nurse said she was MUCH WORSE YESTERDAY - so I am actually glad I wasn't there to see that.

She is doing better physically - although she probably needs to eat and drink more, but they are pumping the fluids to her and tomorrow may move her out of cardiac intensive care. So, hopefully we're pretty close to getting her back home.

We can rebuild her. We have the technology . . .

2009-08-14T19:19:00.002-04:00

For those of you that do not recognize the title - here is the entire quote -

Steve Austin, astronaut. A man barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to build the world's first bionic man. Steve Austin will be that man. Better than he was before. Better, stronger, faster.

-Oscar Goldman

Of course Mama is not the six million dollar man, but her heart is now well on it's way to being a million dollar heart I am so sure.

She is doing well today - she made it through the night. Dr. Carlson lowered the pressure in the balloon pump, and her heart took over on its own without any attacks, so that's good. They will take the balloon pump out tomorrow and then she'll be on her own. They will start her on coumadin - a blood thinner - after the pump goes and will need to keep her for two or three days to monitor her platelet levels (or something). Coumadin is something Daddy is on - and Brent's dad is on it now too. If it's not monitored - you could BRUISE yourself and bleed out - so we're hoping they'll get Mama's stuff straight before letting her leave the hospital.

She was awake and happy to see us - I think - lol - and a little out of it - good pain medications can do that to you - and of course she was craving a cigarette - but Mary talked to the nurses and they were ordering her a nicotine patch, so hopefully that is going to help out with that for a bit.

The funniest part of the trip to the hospital was Daddy telling us about where he was when we got there. He had gone to the cafe in the lobby for a piece of apple pie, and the lady said it came with ice cream, so he got two small balls of something he says was not ice cream, which only put him in the mood for real ice cream, so he went to Baskin and Robbins. AND since the best deal was on a quart, well, he got a quart. And since there wasn't anyone there to help him eat it - YES, folks, he ate THE WHOLE QUART! LOL - you just gotta love the man!

Anywho - more updates as things happen. But know that we're doing better now and are hopefully out of the woods.

Update on my last Tweet - Fran in Pitt Memorial

2009-08-13T22:31:00.002-04:00

Yesterday around four in the afternoon Daddy called and said that he was taking Mama to the emergency room. She was having chest pains and pains in her back. They evaluated her and talked to her cardiologist in Greenville at Pitt Memorial, and she was transported last night to Pitt. They scheduled her for a catheterization today.

This is not too off the wall for Mama. She had the quadruple bypass in 2001 and since then has had around eight stints put in. So I was not too overly concerned.

This morning blood work reports indicated that she had had a heart attack sometime on Wednesday, and she was scheduled with the cath lab sometime between 1 and 5. They took her in at 4:15 and she did not get out officially until after nine.

They placed eight stints - yes - double now what she had before - two of which were placed in the graphs from 2001. Apparently those two were giving the doctors trouble, so it took longer to place those. Also something happened and they ripped a vein going to her left arm, and a vascular surgeon had to be called in, but this vein - which is somehow tied to the choroidic artery - is either repaired now or patched or something. As they placed one stint, another would shut down. When she came out of the lab, her stints began shutting down and more than likely that's when she started having heart attacks.

They then put her back on the table and put a balloon pump in her heart to give the muscle a break. She'll have the balloon pump over the next day or two. And as of now, she's having chest pain and will probably have small heart attacks through the night.

I was not there when the doctor spoke to Mary and Daddy, so I'm not sure what the next step is, but I AM sure it involves A LOT of waiting.

So, I'll keep you guys updated - my cell will be on if you need me - but keep checking back for tweets in the side bar.

Meet Carrie

2009-08-06T09:26:00.002-04:00

I had the best day on Wednesday with Leslie and her family down at Kitty Hawk! Leslie and the kids were down at the beach for a few days to visit with her folks and to enjoy the beach a little before school starts back up in Boone.

I have now actually met little miss Carrie face to face - Will was over a year old when I first met him. I have forgotten how cute babies are, and this one exceptionally so.

So - as promised - loyal readers - a couple of pics -

Leslie and Carrie

Carrie Yawning (even that is cute)

Leslie and Will

Colin Dale Turns 5

2009-08-02T11:32:00.004-04:00

Colin turned five on Thursday, July 30. Mary had us over for cake and ice cream and the kids went swimming. Here are a few pics from the event -

Colin with Nanny -

Colin ready to open some presents - who cares about cake -

Our Trip to the Aquarium

2009-08-02T11:27:00.002-04:00

I took Brent to the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores in July. I had gone with school trips at the end of the year, and I thought he would like seeing what they had down there.

We had a lovely day, got to look around at some stuff besides the Aquarium, and all in all had a good time.

Here's my favorite picture from the day -

And here's the happy couple -

Todd's New House

2009-08-02T11:20:00.004-04:00

For those of you that do not know, Todd has bought a house in Wilmington. It's nice, needs some work, but if you know Todd, then you know that's right up his alley.

I went down this past week for a brief viewing. There are pictures on the Internet - here's hoping this link will work for you if you are interested -

http://jth0306.myphotoalbum.com/slideshow.php?set_albumName=album01&utm_source=share&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=slideshow

I took like four pics while i was there - and the best two are of his roomies - his yard - which is heavily wooded with little grass - is currently the home of several - dare i say MANY - large spiders. Now, I'm not afraid of spiders, but DEAR GOD these things make my skin crawl - and of course - here are pics . . .

Needless to say our fearless friend Todd will eradicate them and their offspring with bug spray. All in all I'm looking forward to seeing what he does with the house. :)

Brent's Big Fish

2009-07-30T10:38:00.002-04:00

Last weekend Brent, Carol (his mom), and Charlie Brown went deep sea fishing out of Morehead. This is a trip that has been five years in the making - Brent and his mom went out five years ago this October, but the boat had mechanical problems, so they came in and got rain checks for their tickets. On that first trip Carol also won the free ticket drawing. So, finally, five years later, the planets aligned and they got to go back out. And this time it was an almost perfect trip.

Brent won the big fish pot - that's where you put like $20 in and if you bring in the biggest fish, you win all the money. He won $140 with a 29 pound Amberjack. Now I'd never even really heard of amberjacks - but this fish - ooo - big. He also brought in a 19 pound grouper - which - for those of you that eat fish - is some good eating - and 19 pounds makes a lot of fish steaks - yummy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2yMAQN45vw

But the best was that Carol had fun, Brent and fun, and Charlie had fun. They caught fish, didn't get sunburned, and caught fish. :)

So when you're answering that question about who would you want to be stranded on a desert island with -remember my man - lol - cause if nothing else - you'll never starve!

For My Birthday

2009-07-22T05:42:00.007-04:00

A warning - never just casually mention a homerepair project to Todd. Brent did this at dinner on my birthday and the next day we had this going on at my house . . .

God bless Todd's heart - he's a non- stop little wrecking machine. We had hard wood floor in like five hours. Now to get used to all the creaking!

Thanks Todd!

The Tolling of the Bell

2009-07-10T11:22:00.003-04:00

Well - today is the day - and Ernest Hemingway said it best -

"Do not ask for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee."

So tonight is the night - dinner out and then Machine Gun is playing in G-Vegas!

And between now and then - WHATEVER THE HELL I WANT!!!! LOL

=D

Link to Pics from Tennessee Trip

2009-07-02T13:02:00.000-04:00

Here's hoping this works . . .

http://picasaweb.google.com/leaseuhd/TennesseeTripWithTheFamily?authkey=Gv1sRgCP7H0KLJod4d&feat=directlink

Good Luck!

LOL

Pictures

2009-06-29T10:58:00.003-04:00

I am going to try to set up something for web access to ALL of the wonderful pics and videos - but for now you must settle for these few pics . . .

Monkey was our videographer in the truck.

Mama with ELVIS - LOL!

At the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum - she's giving the thumbs up!

The family - about to drive home - still smiling . . .

Home again, home again, jiggity jig . . .

2009-06-26T21:03:00.001-04:00

Well, I survived. It wasn't HALF as bad as I thought it would be. We all actually had a good time, got to see some interesting things, and got to spend some time together. So it was a success.

I have TONS of video footage. Lots of pictures. And some interesting stories. I will work on ALL of that TOMORROW.

Thank you to everyone that kept me in their PRAYERS - it worked!!

Summer Vacation Begins

2009-06-23T19:31:00.002-04:00

Well, I know it's Summer Vacation - and yes I CAN capitalize it because it's THAT important - because I have already "lost" days, where I have just sat around enjoying just sitting around. BUT - yard work is done - plants are planted - things are progressing - and tomorrow is the first official trip of the summer.

So - if you could all send me some strength and love and sympathy over the next three days, I would really appreciate it, because tomorrow morning around 9:00, I'll be leaving Washington in a truck with Mama, Daddy, and Mary on our way to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, TN, to take Mama to the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum in Gatlinburg.

Now, I know many of you are already laughing at what it's gonna be like to put the four of us in a car together for almost eight hours (plus stops). But add to it my incredible fear of heights and you've got a freaking Williams story that should last for-ev-ah . . .

Now - a few updates -

Spoke to Leslie today - everyone there is doing very well it seems. She's working half days now going back full days in the fall. Mark is doing well - teaching summer school. Will turned two in April and Carrie is now almost six months old and is doing very well.

Todd called this morning - A-HOLE - from Key West where his family's cruise ship had stopped for the day. He wanted directions to the Mile Post O Marker - needless to say I didn't call him back - was tied up with Mama this morning into the afternoon - and just truly - he can suck it . . .
(My sympathies go out to Rob who is also on this cruise with the ENTIRE Horton clan!!! Just kidding - sorta)

Keith is doing well - his family is down at the beach this week - he's still in Charleston and still teaching.

Sally is still in Myrtle Beach working at the library. Haven't heard from her recently, so I'll try to get in touch with her soon for more updates.

Sep is expecting two more to add to her family - bringing nephew and niece count up to 15 (I think).

Mary has lost over 100 pounds, with very few problems, so she's really doing well. The boys are all growing like weeds. Hunter will be 13 in OCTOBER. OMG - we ARE old. Riley is sassy according to my mother, so I think it's time for Brent and me to "get ahold" of him for a night or two - after this trip. Colin "graduated" from preK and is going to Kindergarten then year - wooooo - he'll be five in July.

Mama and Daddy are doing fairly well. Mama's condition changes daily - one day good - one day we're wondering what she's "on." But she's making it.

Brent's working on projects around the house. Pain all the time, but some days he can do small things for spurts at a time. I still have a yard full of boats, but I have learned to look around them LOL

I'm doing well. Can't wait to get the driving part of this trip over. Looking forward to sitting by the pool in Pigeon Forge.

(And FYI the next "40" is Leiza Manning - although no one has been in contact with her in forever. So on the 28th - please a moment of silence if you can. LOL)

AND BTW - Be watching for tweets in the bar from the trip tomorrow and the rest of the time we are gone - they will be my chance to reach out for help - LOL

Okay Okay - Finally!

2009-05-17T12:37:00.003-04:00

It's not done yet - almost - and i wanted the flower bed to be done before I took any pics - but I took these to show to my inlaws, so I thought I'd go ahead and post them here -

yes - highlighter yellow - but i love it

Ooooops . . . .

2009-05-14T07:06:00.003-04:00

I cannot believe that I am such a slacker that I let one of the 40's slip by on us with no fanfare or celebration . . .

YESTERDAY - yes - YESTERDAY - MAY 13, SALLY SLIPPED INTO THE 40'S ON US.

Perhaps I was trying to give her a break - as she is my elder.

Happy Birthday girl!!

NICKELBACK ROCKED 3

2009-04-26T15:20:00.002-04:00

And finally - the one I mentioned in the first entry - the Kings of Leon song -

NICKELBACK ROCKED 2

2009-04-26T13:52:00.002-04:00

Okay - so here they are doing one of my most favoritest songs -

NICKELBACK ROCKED

2009-04-26T13:24:00.003-04:00

OMG - If you like Nickelback, you MUST go and see them in concert.

Will be posting videos now - pics from the trip later -

Just to warn you - you, of course, are not allowed to take NICE equipment in, so my big camera stayed at the hotel room with Monkey. The videos here were shot with my FLIP video camera, and the bass freaking knocked it out - but they are pretty good.

I loved the concert, but I think my favorite part of the whole thing was when Nickelback came out and did the Kings of Leon song "Need Somebody" as part of their encore.

ENJOY!

Little YELLOW houses for you and me . . .

2009-04-22T22:00:00.002-04:00

The time has finally come my friends. Work has begun. Right now, even as I type this, half of my house is primed yellow, LOL, and half is still green. It's a little bright, but the PAINT will tone it down.

Pictures after the trip - yes, that's right - I'm such a tease.

And just so you know - the neighbors on the corner that like to cut down trees had theirs painted yellow at the same time - of course they can afford a real crew, so theirs is already done.

Okay - that's enough for one night - geezus - the pressure to keep putting stuff out here -

Easter

2009-04-22T21:26:00.004-04:00

Well, Mama cooked and Mary's family came up for the afternoon. Thank GOD it was nice outside. We ate, hid eggs, and got to watch the boys try to beat Honey and Precious to the eggs. LOL

Here are some of the better pictures from the day.

Mary and Neil

Daddy (remember - pronounced Dead-ee)

Riley and Colin - PRE-hunt

Riley(what I love about this picture is that he is in a tire swing that came from my Grandmama's house - one that Mary and I actually had there when we were little.)

Hunter - the only one so far to even show interest in climbing trees. Made Mary so proud!

And the littlest one Colin -

Shots of the WYSTERIA by the back porch - bigger and bigger every year.

Trip South Part Two

2009-04-22T20:57:00.004-04:00

Much love to Sally for bitching at me about posting the second part of my trip.

[Would like to preface this entry with the statement that not all of my trip revolves around eating - lol - but when I go south - there are specific places I wanna go - so they are mentioned here.]

Went to Beaufort on Wednesday, just because I could. I love South Carolina - the way everything looks and feels, just a totally different place. You wouldn't think there would be that much of a difference, but there is.

I love Beaufort, just cause it's still small town. BUT they're building a four lane to it, and that will totally mess it up. I've decided that not all roads need to be four lanes. Leave us some two lane roads, please.

The best part about the trip to Beaufort is always the getting lost on the way back and discovering a new place. This time, instead of finding the Forrest Gump fence, I found a really cool historical marker at the remnants of a church. It's surrounded by oak trees with moss, of course, and is on a back road between Beaufort and Yemassee, and it was gorgeous.

Along with the trip to Beaufort on Wednesday, I had dinner with Rob at - of course - the Mustard Seed - my favorite restaurant in the Charleston area.

Thursday I was sooo ready to get home I called Todd and told him I'd meet him for lunch and then drive home.

Monkey loved going with me so much that he has requested to travel with me on this next trip to Atlanta - so people - be prepared for more monkey pics. Brent is calling this the "Summer of the Monkey," and you don't know how funny I think that is.

A new business I'm thinking of starting . . .

2009-04-15T08:36:00.002-04:00

Funny thing is - if you know me - you know I've got plenty to spare - LOL

Lisa's Trip South

2009-04-14T21:35:00.004-04:00

SPRING BREAK - I decided to tour the state of South Carolina with stops in Myrtle Beach, Mt. Pleasant, Beaufort, Daniel's Island, and Charleston (oh and in NC - Wilmington). I am alone - no wait - I am not alone -

I am traveling with . . . . . . .

MONKEY - bwahahahahaaa

He's a great traveling companion - goes where I want to go - doesn't mind me singing to him the whole time - and is always a blast -

Here are some pics of our trip so far -

Dinner at Mama Fu's

Downtown Charleston
Monkey and my newest additions to the ride - the WOLVERINES - HOTness!!

Monkey wanted to eat McDonald's for lunch, but I made him go to East Bay Deli with me -yummy - He loved the trees in the park at the Battery -

Colin's Spring Debut

2009-04-11T08:33:00.005-04:00

Well, finally, the youngest nephew has reached the age where we will be able to go and see him in school productions. Colin is 4 - will be 5 in July, and his Pre-K class (along with others) had a spring program on Tuesday.

Colin did very well. He danced, he sang some, and he behaved. What more could you ask for from a four-year-old?

Here are a couple of pictures from his debut. What is sadly most remarkable about the production is not my nephew, but the young man on the front row who during the first song dropped his gum OUT OF HIS MOUTH and PICKED IT BACK UP and POPPED IT BACK IN HIS MOUTH. From that moment on, I was much more interested in seeing what he would do next. I have much better pictures of him than I do of Colin, and I plan to include one here.

Will add a link to the video after I have uploaded it.

Enjoy!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6752917388418767523

The video quality is not that great - lost something in the upload!

Spring - \o/ - YAY

2009-03-30T18:13:00.005-04:00

Finally, a day I could come home and actually get out in the yard to take a couple of lame pictures of the stuff that is flowering. It's still not the same as when I leave in the mornings. Everything then is so wet and fresh and new seeming, and the light is JUST right - hmmm - reminder to self to get up earlier tomorrow to take advantage of that light.

Anyway, first a picture of our redbud tree. I love redbud trees, and since we had to take down the pine tree out front, we decided to put another tree back in, so here it is . . . .

Then I snapped a shot of the tree that a very nice parent gave me last year. Willows are Brent's favorites, and she has sprouted and turned green again, so there's hope . . .

And now, a couple of some schtuff from the back yard -

And last but not least - as sure sign that spring is here - hope you can see what I'm referring to - LOL

Riley's Birthday

2009-03-30T17:59:00.004-04:00

Okay - I know - half a month - but here is a link to at least one video - still having trouble getting the other to upload. I would LOVE to upload the one of Daddy (remember, pronounced deady) showing everyone my FLIP video camera, but Brent and I got seasick, and Mama looks so damn old, so I left that one out.

Instead, here is a short video of Riley, 7 year old, professional bowler.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3583995669881939333

And, yes, that is MARY in the pink.

And HERE are a few pics -

Say hello to my little friends . . .

2009-03-29T11:01:00.006-04:00

Well, I think the time has finally come to introduce you guys to some of my friends from Second Life. You've heard me talk about that crazy game Brent and I play on the Internet - I say game, but it's really more of an online community. Some of you have actually witnessed it FIRST HAND of all things. A couple of you - who will remain nameless (Todd and Rob) - are still wondering what someone needs a second life for if they have a first life.

It's been a great opportunity to do things you normally couldn't do, to meet people, and to just kill hours upon hours of time. LOL -- The nice thing is that Brent, like lots of other folks with injuries, has been able to make friends and entertain himself when he'd otherwise be miserable on a couch. It's also given me the chance to shop like crazy, flirt with strangers - woot woot, and make some interesting friendships.

First, though, I need to introduce myself I guess, cause I'm gonna use some pics of me with my friends Habibi and Jason.

This is me -

So -Internet - here are a few of my SL friends -

This is Habibi. One of the best things about SL is that age doesn't matter so much, so I can totally hang out with a soon-to-be 22-year-old and have the best time sometimes. She's a hoot. When Brent and I get down to Florida (hopefully this fall), you can be sure we will be looking her up.

This is Jason. I met him through work - that's right - I have a job in SL. He's funny and kind and helps out all us "girls" at the club. Jason is from Alabama, and if Brent and I have time in April after our NICKELBACK CONCERT, we're gonna go over and meet him -

Last, but most assuredly not least, is Kili, short for Kilikopela. He's my landlord, and honestly, one of the friends I have had longest in this game. Odd thing about SL, people come and go rather quickly in your life, so hanging onto someone for any length of time is a feat. Kili is an absolute ass sometimes, but aren't we all? He gives me total hell A LOT, but then again, that reminds me at least one of my loyal readers (and you know who you are).

Thing is, there are lots of things about SL that to an outsider are absolute craziness, and me looking at this pics, well, yeah, we all have ears - LOL - but to us - that's normal. I suppose this means I'm gonna have to start a damn series of posts about SL, and what a NEKO is or what I think a NEKO is.

Yay! \o/ Something for you guys to look forward to.