Spring - \o/ - YAY

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

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 . . .

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.

As Promised

K - here is a link to a video which is actually a compilation of clips from Friday night's adventures in Washington.

The clips are hilarious in their own rights - but the best, I think, are the additions by BRENT in the second clip, which is actually footage of a 60+ woman who was defending her 40 year old son - lol -

The third clip is for friends who haven't seen my other clips of Machine Gun - funny thing here - Brent went up late in the night with the video camera and did some close ups of me for posting. Guess what? After about TEN Wild Turkeys and Cokes you can't tell if you're recording or not - LOL - and he stoooooood there for such a long time - giggles -

The BEST part of the whole thing starts around the three minute mark where Brent is video taping the people that adopted us because we had a table. The young man I am talking to was actually a student at PSJ when I was librarian there - which is funny - but watch my face around 3:55. TOO FUNNY!

Enjoy!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4559536537643424508

Seven years ago - well yesterday

Riley, middle nephew, turned SEVEN yesterday! Today, we're going to New Bern to bowl, cause he's still a bowling fool. I've told you, right, that he has his own bowling ball. This is like his second or third one, too. CRAZY!

Anywho - gonna ride south for the afternoon - eat some cake and celebrate his surviving seven years in MY FAMILY!! Hooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!

Here's one of my most FAVORITE pics - it's from his brother Colin's birthday last July - but it's PERFECT!!

MMMM Gorgeous

Machine Gun actually played in WASHINGTON of all things last night, and you know, as their biggest fans, we had to go. Sadly, my biggest fear was encountering "school-mates" but was luckily not bothered with anything like that.

I'm thinking I will start posting my videos to my Google account. Will put links here for that - and yes, INTERNET, you WILL have access. All six of you.

WOOT WOOT

Spring Sprang

OMG - Dare I say it - but I think Spring has finally brought her ass to Washington.

I've been noticing every morning as I leave the house that the pear trees across the street are starting to bloom. That's a great feeling - walking out and seeing those trees. Makes you notice other small changes. Things you might miss until everything is in bloom and it's all around you.

But this morning - this morning I looked out the window into the back yard and there it was - that green - you know - one morning you look out - everything's brown and sleepy. Next morning you look out and everything is green and fuzzy. That happened this morning, and I am so freaking excited.

The forsythia is blooming - the quince has bloomed - oh quince you ask? What is quince? Well, let me tell you - it's like the first blooming bush of the spring in MY yard (pink btw) and guess what else. IT bears fruit. That's right bitches - fruit - lol - I actually had a QUINCE grow on my bush in my backyard last year. WOO HOO!! A far cry from being a quince farmer or whatever, but maybe this year two, who knows? LOL

So anyway, I'm gonna try to get out and get some pics today - but it's raining - to add to the springiness of the day - and I'm gonna have to hit and miss in between showers.

Here's hoping you guys are getting glimpses of spring out there where you are, too.

(BTW - more videos and pictures from last weekend's 40th bday party in Wilmington will be upcoming - gotta kick my Flip video camera in the ass to get it to work right)

Later!

OMG the first to turn 40

Well, faithful readers, the first of the 40's happened yesterday . . .

Todd turned 40 on March 6. This, of course, required me to take a day off to drive down and harass him as much as possible, with the help of Rob, naturally.

Here's a nice shot of Rob and me singing to Todd - and yes - according to the video - I do sing terribly. Enjoy!

September and Keith's Dad

Well, sorry to have to report, but Keith's dad passed away. Sep came down for the visitation and funeral, and it was nice to see her, although it was a terrible way to get to see her.

Brent and I both send our sympathies out to Keith and his family.

As for September -

Well here she is with her newest best friend. (And you just gotta admit that the green walls in the background - hot - very hot)

Valentine's Day

This crap is gonna be all out of order folks - so suck it -

Well, we celebrated Valentine's Day all weekend long. Brent bought me these - which are much prettier in person --

He got some candy and a very nice monkey card - feel free to ask him about it - and we spent some time together - which was nice -

Hope you all have a great Valentine's Day!

Income Taxes

Woo Hoo!! Just finished our taxes. Brent will mail them tomorrow, and soon we'll be rich. LOL - wouldn't that be nice.

I have been doing our taxes for a few years, and I think it's getting easier, or I really messed them up this year. Fingers crossed that it's the first one.

OMG

Almost a freaking month? I really need to get my head out of Second Life. Seriously, Brent and I are addicted, and so my Real Life/First Life/whatever you wanna call it life has taken back seat.

So here are a couple of posts.

Enjoy!

From the mouths of babes - or maybe dead presidents

For those of you that like to keep up with what my crazy family is doing - lol - my middle nephew, Riley, now has his own BLOG. YES folks, the seven-year-old is out there on the Internet.

Please visit his site - do NOT leave anonymous rants - lol - not that I think you can -

http://eagle306riley.blogspot.com/

Guys don't make passes at girls that wear glasses . . . thank GOD I'm married

Well, some of you already know, but now you must all be told - I have decided that the year of the 40 year olds should be celebrated with me getting my first pair of glasses. I went today to pick them up and have them fitted to my big ass nose, and here are a couple of pics -

Well, some of you are saying - it's about time - and I say - it's not really that bad - lol - at least not yet - and I've already been able to tell how much better I can really see printed words and such - gonna be up for a while on the computer, so let's hope this helps with that kind of eye strain as well.

Ta Ta - my fellow almost 40's - oh my - that reminds me - the first person to leave us to cross over is TODD - drum roll please - 35 days and counting . . .

Carrie

I talked very briefly to Leslie yesterday on the phone.

Carrie is still on oxygen, but she is home. Things are semi-normal for them. They were supposed to have a doctor's appointment today in an attempt to figure out what they need to do to ween Carrie off of the oxygen.

More news as it becomes available.

Snow!

Well, finally, after four years of waiting, we get snow. Lots of it, too. Well, at least lots of it for us here in eastern NC.

This picture below is one of my favorites. Brent and I went out during the storm on Tuesday and took pics. Since he bought me a replacement camera when mine was stolen, and then the stolen one was returned, we have competing cameras - which was funny driving and trying to get angles without getting out of the car. LOL

Carrie and the air in Boone

Apparently Carrie did not take well to the altitude in Boone, and she has had to go into the Boone hospital for oxygen - here are emails from a friend of Mark's and Leslie's -

Hi folks,
Leslie left a message on my phone asking that I send out a note telling people that they left the hospital in Winston Salem but are back in the hospital in Boone because Carrie’s oxygen levels were low, probably due to the change in altitude. They didn’t think it was a big deal, but Leslie wanted people to know what’s up, since they don’t have email access where they are in Boone. I know some of you may know about this already, but I wanted to send out the note to everyone who has been getting emails periodically so we can all be sending them our good thoughts.

Jeff

and then today


Hi folks,

I just talked to Leslie again and she asked me to pass on an update. Carrie is still in the hospital in Boone on a very low flow of oxygen to keep her levels up. She seems fine, but they want to keep her to make sure she’ll be okay on just room air at Boone altitude. They may go home tomorrow, but it’s still a bit up in the air right now. I know they are appreciating all our thoughts and prayers.

Jeff

Carrie Update

YEAH!!

Hi.

Today we got the news we have been waiting for--as long as Carrie continues to do well for the next couple of hours, we will be able to go home later today!!!!! They completely removed her oxygen in the middle of the night and so far her oxygen level is staying high enough that they are comfortable to let us go. We are so excited we can hardly stand it.

Thanks again for all of your good wishes!

Leslie

Carrie Update

From Leslie -

Hi,

Carrie is continuing to do well today. They have completely removed her feeding tube since she is eating so well. According to the report from the doctor just a few minutes ago, her X-Ray for today looks better than the one yesterday. She has been through most of today with no supplemental oxygen, but a couple of times has needed to have some through her nose at low levels. If she continues being able to support herself this way we should be able to go home in the next couple of days. YEAH !!!!!!!!!

Thanks again for all of your good wishes.

Leslie

Carrie Update

HI,

We are continuing to have good news about Carrie. She still has the oxygen tube, but they are working to wean her off of the oxygen support. That is the plan for today. She has also started nursing again and is doing really well with that. She has lost about a pound since she arrived, so hopefully she can now start gaining some of that back. We have been cleared to move to a regular room, but right now the hospital is too full and there are no regular rooms with the type of monitoring that she needs, so we are just waiting.

The most recent guess is between 3-5 more days before we can go home, but the fact that they are even making predictions is a good sign. I will send more news as we have it.

Leslie