A Trenton kind of Christmas...

It's a holiday tradition...which has become the highlight of my Christmas.

When our kids were little we would take them to the dollar store at Town East each Christmas and let them pick out Christmas gifts for Grannie and Papaw, Uncle Bob and Cassandra and Ronnie and me. Ronnie would take in one child to shop and then I would take in the other child to shop. After that we would switch and take the other child in to shop for the other parent. Sounds confusing, I know, but we had it down to a science and the kids left the store with bags full of gifts for less than $20. They loved shopping for their own personal gift-giving and we always got a kick out of the gift we received. Many of mine remain on display in my curio cabinet to this day.

Kristin has continued that tradition with Trenton. Each holiday season she takes him to a dollar store and allows him to pick out a gift for each of us. In the past gifts have ranged everywhere from birdseed to puzzle books. He always has a rationale for his gifts...that's what makes them so funny. This year I joined in on the other end and took him shopping for mommy since he can't buy for her when she is with him.

For some reason, my gifts always seem to make sense. He really knows me and the things that I do/enjoy. In the past I have gotten things like a crossword puzzle book (he's seen me working sudoku puzzles), Christmas decorations (I love for each room of the house to have at least a little Christmas decoration) and a stuffed Christmas reindeer that worked its way into hanging from a lamp this year. One year I got cereal bowls with built in straws that we still use to this day. Yes, my gifts seem to always make sense. Others, not so much.

Ryan has been the recipient of a bag of birdseed and reindeer antlers. Ronnie once received a ceramic Indian style vase that could easily serve as a bong. Kristin gets to enjoy his rationale when he is making his purchases but then neither can remember what he had in mind at the time so it makes it that much funnier.

This year was no exception...except that most of the gifts...most...made more sense. I offer the following into evidence...

Uncle Ryan, a new home owner, received gardening gloves.


Papaw, who writes everything down, received a spiral notebook.


Scott,who knows why, received a bag of fish shaped chip clips.


Richard received a pair of silver sunglasses. His sunglasses from Trenton last year were blue. What is it with Richard needing sunglasses?


I received a green nylon waterproof bag with an outside pocket that is a perfect fit for my new Kindle reader.

Kristin received a plastic wineglass with a Christmas tree decoration (because she likes Christmas trees) and a ceramic dog with a blue Christmas hat (because blue is her favorite color).


Ronnie received a plastic ax. The Viking kind of ax that you would use if you pillage and plunder. Not sure he's going to be pillaging and plundering any time soon but he is certainly prepared if he decides to do so.


As Trenton grows older and his gifts begin to make more sense I am left to wonder how Carter will see us when he goes Christmas shopping????

Where the broken heart still beats...

I got my heart broken tonight...again.

I am 55 years old. I should have known better. Maybe I'm just a slow learner. Maybe I trust too much. Any way you look at it, I feel disappointed to the very center of my soul.

As I write this my 81 year old father is sitting out in his trailer drunk. Yes, he's started drinking again. He left home yesterday to run some errands and when he came back he went to his trailer rather than coming inside. He called later in the evening to say that he was just going to spend the night in his trailer rather than come inside. I should have known then. I didn't. I trusted.

After going all day without seeing or hearing from him I called him. No answer. I called again. No answer. I went out there. When I knocked on the door he said, "Let me get some clothes on." I stood outside in the cold another 5 minutes before I just opened the door and went in. There on the table was the tell-tell plastic cup with the straw in it. When I said, "What are you drinking?" he said it was beer. Could have been. I suspect it was really wine. That's the way he drinks it...in a plastic cup with a straw. I don't really care what he was drinking. He was drunk. When I said, "You're drunk" he just looked at me...that stupid drunken stare when they are trying to process what you said and can't quite get a handle on it or how to respond. It makes you want to slap the crap out of them. He went on to start crying saying, "I've got things on my mind." That's what he always says but he never quite tells you what these things are. Needless to say, I am not feeling as sympathetic about this after then tenth time of hearing it. When I said, "Who doesn't? We all have things on our mind but you don't see us sitting around drinking ourselves to death" his response was, "I'm ready to blow my fuckin' brains out." I said, "I'm not listening to this" and I turned and walked out.

I don't know what else to do. I understand his need for his own "space." We have that need as well. I do all his laundry. I literally wash the shit out of his underwear because he doesn't have good bowel control. I change his sheets and keep his room neat. I fix his meals and make sure that he eats to keep his strength up. Ronnie takes care of all his trailer needs such as water, emptying the tank, waterproofing it, etc. We have done everything we can to make him feel that our home is his home. I have even helped the man take his shower when his arm was in a cast from his last drunken episode. We have included him in our social circle to make sure that he has activities and friends. We have even booked a cruise to be taken in January because he has never been on one and we want to share that experience with him. In essence, we have done everything we can think of to let him know that we love him, we want him with us, and we enjoy having him around. Ronnie lost his dad when he was 9. While his stepdad has always been good to him, he didn't "do things" with him. Ronnie has enjoyed doing things with Daddy. I have enjoyed getting up and having coffee with him in the mornings. It gives us a special private time to visit.

I know that the holidays were somewhat sad for Daddy. My mom has been gone five years now and my brother has been gone almost three years. Trust me, I know that he misses them. I lost them, too. I miss them, too. But I am not about to let something that I can't change ruin the time that I have with the people I still have with me. I'm not going to alienate the people who care the most about me.

So, what now? What do I do? I am totally at a loss and my heart hurts. I'm a fixer and I can't fix this.

Home for the Holidaze...

Okay...I don't normally let people know the things that get to me...because often family members are guilty of at least some of the "infractions." It's not always family...more often than not it is complete strangers that figure out a way to push my buttons. However, this Christmas season I am patting myself on the back because I have experienced each of the following issues and have yet to kill anyone. Call it the Christmas spirit, if you will, or tolerance or whatever PC term you wish to use.

You may not give a damn one way or another, but if you wish to be in my presence and live to see another holiday season, you might want to know my "Top Ten List of Things That Make Me Go Postal."

1. People who ask dumbass questions. I am on crutches. Don't stop me in the middle of my struggle to hobble through a store and ask me, "Are you hurt?" or "Are you okay?" I am on crutches you frickin' moron. Hell, no. I am not okay and yes, I am hurt. What kind of mental giant are you that you have to ask?

2. Women who are too good to sit down on a toilet seat so they "hover" and pee all over the seat...and don't wipe it off. Seriously? Have you ever known anyone who got a toilet seat disease? What makes you think that I want to sit in your pee? By the very nature of it being a public toilet that means your bacteria-laden DNA covers and then dries on my butt until I can get to my shower to wash away your yuck. You disgust me!

3. Self-appointed experts who have to loudly share their unique genius and perspective with everyone within a 25 foot hearing range. Recently I attended a hockey game. I love my Dallas Stars. I have been to literally hundreds of games and watched even more on television. I understand the game. I do NOT wish to hear Mr. Expert give a play by play of the entire game to his novice friend who has never attended, seen on television, or even heard of hockey before this particular night.

4. Companion to #3...Don't try to pretend that you have a personal relationship with each and every player. Just because you know their name, have watched them play, maybe even gotten their autograph...that doesn't mean you are new best friends. Hell, I have ridden in a golf cart with Nicholas Grossman and hugged and had my photo taken with Marty Turco, but neither of them would recognize me if we walked past each other on the street. Yelling out, "Come on Grossi" or get "Get on that puck , Otter," does not presume intimacy. Give it up you celebrity wannabe.

5. Malfunctioning coffee machines. I love my flavored coffee. My favorite is English Toffee. However, it pisses me off to pay $3 for a large cup of English Toffee coffee and when it cools down enough to take a sip it is watered down sludge. Get the mixture of powder to water right, Mr. Middle Eastern convenience store man! (Was that too harsh?) How hard can it be to read the label and put the appropriate amount of powder in with the water. The machine just mixes it so don't blame it on the machine.

6. Companion to #5: Seriously, who drinks boiling water? Why would you think that I would want my coffee at a temperature that immediately scorches every taste bud and leaves gianormous blisters on the surface of my tongue. I actually like to enjoy the TASTE of my coffee. Call me crazy, but that's just the way I am.

7. A-hole drivers who own the road and can't be bothered to extend common courtesy to other drivers. Just because you are in the lane doesn't mean you own it. Change lanes if you can while others are trying to enter the freeway. Don't speed up so they have to either floor it or slam on the brakes. Does it matter that you get there 2 1/2 seconds later because you allowed another driver to safely enter the roadway? Call it an act of Christian kindness if you must...just get the hell out of the way.

8. People who want me to see something so they lean across me and point at it...thus sticking their obnoxious arm and/or hand in my face right in my eyes. Do it again and I will bite you. I'm just saying...

9.People who can't say "Please" or "Thank You." My son-in-law is one of the most respectful young people I have ever met. Though he hates to ask for anything, when he does ask for something he always uses the nicest manners. He also says "yes, mam" and "no, mam" to me EVERY time. Old-fashioned manners, I know, but speaks to the integrity of the man.

10. People who presume to know my taste in movies/food/books, etc. You are not me. Don't tell me that I will like or dislike something just because you do. I may think you are a blithering idiot and just be too kind to make you aware of that fact. I am gracious that way. I am not you and you are not me. I am an adult who is perfectly capable of deciding for myself whether or not I like or dislike something. Even if my reasoning is flawed (in your opinion), I have the right to my opinion and it is not stupid just because it differs from yours. So, spread your propaganda somewhere else. This chick has a brain and she knows how to use it.

Well, I guess that just about sums it up. I'm really not hard to get along with if you just steer clear of the "danger zones." Is that asking too much. In this season of togetherness with family and friends, I thought it would be a good idea to just put this out there in the interest of peace and harmony.

Merry Christmas everyone!~carol

Pass the tape, please...

Well, it's official. I am done. All the shopping is complete and the gifts are wrapped. The stockings are stuffed. Now, I think that I will just sit back with a glass of wine and enjoy the lights! Sheer bliss!

Worries....

I must admit...I am worried. Yesterday, I lost my balance and fell back on my left foot. Ordinarily...not a problem. But, since I am in a fracture boot and am supposed to keep all weight off my foot for four more weeks...this kinda presents a problem. Ever since that little incident my foot has been "burning." It's a really strange sensation where my toes feel like there is an electrical current attached to them. I'm thinking that is not a good thing. Especially since when I went to the orthopedist after experiencing this same sensation for a couple of weeks he told me that a couple more bones had fractured. I'm really hoping to be out of this fracture boot when I return to Dr. Burney on Jan. 5th. We have a cruise to the Honduras and Costa Maya planned that begins on Jan. 23rd. It's hard to snorkel in a fracture boot. It's also hard to do all that walking. I'm getting the distinct feeling that my foot is continuing to degrade rather than heal and I will be in this stinkin' boot, or worse, by the time the cruise rolls around. After Dec. 18th I won't be working for 2 1/2 weeks so maybe I can stay off my foot more and give it a chance to heal. Who knows? As of now...I am officially worried.

Merry Christmas to All...

This Christmas has been significantly different than Christmases past. For one thing, it has been less stressful in terms of shopping. The ideas just came to me this year and I made my purchases. I am finished with all shopping except stockings and almost everything for Carter. I really need Kristin to go with me to buy for him. I don't want to duplicate...

This holiday season I have my dad with me. That's different...and nice. I don't know how many more Christmases I will have him so I purpose to enjoy every one that I do have.

Ronnie and I are both "retired" this Christmas, though he is the only one not working. I don't have the stress of work piling up on me to worry about. Also, the McMahen Christmas Eve isn't at my house this year so that makes it extra nice.

Most of all, I have had time to enjoy the season, listen to my Christmas music, watch the lights on the tree, and work in an occasional Christmas program. That is probably the biggest difference. I have made a deliberate effort to enjoy the Christmas holidays and remember the reason that I choose to participate in this celebration of the birth of my Savior.

My prayer for all families this holiday season is that you make a deliberate effort to reconnect with the reason for the season and take time from the hustle and bustle to celebrate the holy birthday of Christ. May you find the peace and joy of the season and have a delightful time celebrating with your loved ones.

"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

An unbelievable week.....

This has been, without a doubt, the most difficult week I have had in a long time. Don't know why, but it seems that everything just piled up on me.

I worked Monday in pain all day...and most of that in a room without heat so it was like 50 degrees and I was chilled to the bone. Thought I never would get warm! It took a hot bubble bath and a couple hours under a fleece blanket for me to feel human again. Tuesday was no better...in fact, it was worse.

I got off work a little early on Tuesday because I had an appointment with the orthopedic doctor. On the way to my appointment I was rear-ended by another driver. No real damage to my car and neither of us was hurt. His car took a beating. Caved in a large section of his hood where it hit my spare tire. My tire cover got a tiny cut. He offered to pay me for the "damage" but I turned him down. He was driving a company car for a new chocolate candy company in Rockwall. Had he offered to pay me in chocolate I might have taken him up on it! On to the doctor I had to wait 90 minutes past my appointment to see the doctor because he had been called in on an emergency and was backed up. Then when I did see him I didn't like what he had to say..."stay off the foot completely for four more weeks." That means crutches and I HATE CRUTCHES!!! I left in tears. A quick dinner with hubby, Ryan, Richard and JC and then home to find out that I couldn't see my grandson in his parade on Saturday and he wouldn't get to spend the night with us on the weekend because he had gotten in trouble at school. So, I cried again. I'm punished because we are "fun" and he is grounded from fun when he is in trouble. :-(

Working on Wednesday was a beating because I tried really hard to use the crutches correctly and stay off the foot. My arms and wrists are so sore I can barely stand it!

Thursday I didn't work. Instead, I took Ryan and Rich out to the Arboretum and Northpark to take pictures for their Christmas card. The decorations at both places sucked! There were NO Christmas decorations at the Arboretum and Northpark had only lighted trees and a few poinsettias. Disappointment all the way around.

I took a job on Friday as a sub for elementary orchestra. Little did I know that I would have to travel to two schools because she is a floating teacher. The good part is that I only had to cover three of her classes. So, I can't really complain about that. I did come home tired however, and immediately fell asleep on the couch for a two hour nap.

I had just awakened and learned that my son had been stranded on the side of 635 with a blowout, but was now safely at home, when my phone rang. A strange number and a strangers voice said, "Is this Carol? I'm going to put your dad on the phone." Panic poured through me as I became aware of background noises and my dad's shaky voice came on and said, "Sis, I've torn up my little truck. I rear-ended a woman on 460. Horns are going off and the police are on their way." Ronnie and I rushed out to the car and raced to his side. He was so rattled he didn't know who had called me or how they had gotten my number. Physically he is fine, but his truck is a total loss. The hummer he hit had minimal damage but being the kind of car it is, I'm sure his insurance will pay a hefty sum to fix it.



Today, my dad and I went to get his "stuff" out of his car at the wrecking yard. A sad little truck sitting broken and shattered in the rain. Daddy had trouble looking at it and I had trouble watching him hurt. Afterwards, we picked up my desktop which is now fixed (yea!) and finished my Christmas shopping...all except the stockings. So, emotionally it has been a roller coaster this week. I'm just glad that it's over!

Wonder what next week holds in store....?

Decking the halls!!

I literally spent all day today working on Christmas preparations. First, I bought ink and photo paper and began printing the Christmas cards that my creative/genius daughter, Kristin, showed me how to make. Amazing in it's simplicity. And quite cute, too, even if I do have to say so myself. Thank you, Kristin.

Printing the cards was sporadic. In between giving the printer commands to print four or five cards at a time (in case I ran out of ink it wouldn't ruin a ton of paper!), I changed all the bed linens, did numerous loads of laundry, vacuumed, dusted, rearranged the living room furniture, and finally, began carefully and methodically placing the Christmas decorations. Their placement must be precise since I only get to enjoy them for one month out of the year. My policy...Christmas decorations go up the weekend AFTER Thanksgiving and come down New Year's Day. I have a vendetta against those I consider cretins who ignore the symbolism and purpose of Thanksgiving by jumping right in with their Christmas decorations right after Halloween. Though it's not in the true spirit of Christmas, I hope all their bulbs burn out. Maybe next time they will learn to wait. But, I digress...

I'm tired...Tired with a capital "T." Lugging around the extra weight of this fracture boot and the constant throbbing in my heel and toes is taking its toll on me. I don't know how to do things in increments. I think everything must be done at once. I know it's a problem...I just can't help myself. I can't make myself sit down and take it easy when there are things to be done. I think I am paying for it in that I'm not sure that my foot is healing...at all. However, the tree is up (though not yet decorated), the house is decorated, most of my Christmas gifts have been purchased (though not wrapped), the house is clean, the laundry is done...maybe, just maybe, I will sit down tomorrow night and begin my yearly tradition of watching all my Christmas DVDs between December 1st and Christmas! Of course, that will be after work, after dinner is fixed and the kitchen cleaned...

Merry Christmas everyone! I am reminding you, as I remind myself, to take time to enjoy the season and reflect on the reason that we celebrate.

If I could save time in a bottle...

You know, I really do mean to keep up with this blog, but then a day goes by...and then a month...and then...I'm playing catch up again. So, here goes...

Shortly after my losing trip to Winstar my older boys, Ryan and Rich, took me to Vegas. It was an early birthday present...and it was a blast. I had never been to Vegas so all of the sights, sounds and smells of "sin city" were new to me and I wallowed in every minute of it. Apparently my training for the Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk paid off because we took off walking down the strip and I had to stop every so often to let the boys catch up. We gambled, we ate, we walked, we saw the sights, we gambled, we took funny pictures and we gambled some more. I learned how to play Blackjack...not that I am an expert. I won $150 when playing with the guys (they lost) and then I played alone my last night there and lost $200. The highlight of the trip, for me, was being with my boys. I did, however, also enjoy winning $700 on the nickel machine, Lucky Meerkats. We stayed four days and had a fantastic time but then reality reared its ugly head and we had to come home.
The Three Muskateers

Have a drink...or TWO...Ryan

Me and my boy

My boys in Vegas


Back home I began seriously training for the 3-Day 60 mile walk which would be held in November. Then the rains began. It rained every day for 14 days...and I could not train. One day of no rain and then days of more rain. It was ridiculous how much rain we got. During the entire time I continued to work pretty much full time. Still, I snuck in a training walk occasionally when there was a break in the rain. That didn't happen often enough, apparently.

On the morning of November 6th I got up at 3:30 a.m. so that I could be in Plano to begin the Opening Ceremonies and the walk around 7:00 a.m. Bags were packed, loaded and the journey was about to began. As almost an aside, I remarked to my hubby that it was not a good day to wake up with a tender foot. I had an ache in my toes on the left foot when I walked. Didn't think much more about it and went on. That day proved to be absolutely beautiful. After weeks of rain the sun came out and shined down on us and we began our journey. Around 3,000 men and women participated in this walk. Literally thousands more lined the sidewalks cheering us on as we walked through Plano, Richardson, Dallas, Addison and Farmers Branch that first day. In the afternoon it became literally steamy and combined with the car exhaust and an upper respiratory infection that I was still being treated for, I walked "only" 17 miles that first day. I completely forgot about the pain in my foot that day and had an enjoyable time with my team of walkers and all the new friends that I met along the way. Saturday, however, proved to be not so much fun. Every step that I took was agony in my left foot. I walked the entire 20 miles that day, but it was a struggle. I had gianormous blisters on the balls of both feet and my left foot hurt like a demon. Hobbling back to camp I headed to the showers and then dinner and went to bed around 8:00 p.m. after visiting the medics to have my blisters lanced and drained. Phone calls of encouragement from my son and dad and texts of encouragement from my hubby kept me hopeful for the next day. Let me insert here that I was more than a little sad that I had missed my youngest grandson's first birthday party on Saturday to participate in this walk. A good cause, I know he would support it if he understood, but there is a part of me that can't let go of the fact that I wasn't there for his first real celebration. My mood darkened on Sunday morning about 5:00 a.m. when I awoke to get the day started, pack my gear, and begin the third and final day of walking. I could not stand up on my feet. I could not walk on any part of either foot except the heel and outside bone. Nothing involving the balls of the feet or the toes. I was very unsteady on my feet and almost fell several times just trying to make it to the bathroom. I knew that I had to throw in the towel...no choice, but it killed me to do so. The good news in all this is that I DIDN'T walk that third day. Little did I know that I had fractured my left foot (probably injured before the walk and then stress fracture during the walk) and that walking on the third day would have made things much worse. A week on crutches, a week limping around in a crock and finally and MRI disclosed a "nondisplaced stress fracture and edema in the tendons surrounding the injury." In English, that's a couple of fractured bones in the top of my foot and strained and swollen tendons surrounding the injury. Was it worth it...hell, yeah! Even though I have to wear this fracture boot until New Year's Day, my pain and inconvenience is nothing compared to what those who suffer from breast cancer experience. This one's for you, my sisters!
I hate crutches!!!

Designer shoe

Slightly before all the nonsense with my foot, my 81-year-young father took a tumble during the night and broke both bones in his right wrist. He spent a week in the hospital because his pulse ox was too low. During that time they didn't allow him out of bed because he was "a fall hazard." So after a week of lying around it came time for him to be discharged...and he couldn't support his weight with his legs. So, off to the rehab center for physical therapy. Four weeks later we got him home...just in time for Thanksgiving.
Can anyone say, "Handicapped Parking?"


Again, during all this madness, I continued to work full time because as we are all reminded every time we have stepped into a store or turned on the radio since Halloween, "Santa Clause is Coming to Town" and we must make our local retailers happy. The entire state of the economy of the United States is depending on how much money I spend on Christmas. All I can say is, "We are in deep sh*t!"

Flu, Flu...go away!

Flu season has hit...hard. It seems that everywhere I go I am surrounded by that nasty little bugger. Every day for the last two weeks I have been kept busy subbing for either a teacher who had the flu or whose children had the flu. Snotty noses, blowing crud, sneezing, coughing GERMS. It's enough to make you paranoid or germaphobic...or maybe that's the drugs I'm taking.

On Thursday morning I awoke with that ridiculous allergic reaction rash snaking its way around my neck. Woke with it at 3:00 a.m. but was able to go back to sleep only vaguely aware that I was clawing troughs in my skin until my alarm went off at 6:00 a.m. I jumped out of bed and ran to the kitchen to take a Zyrtek...after all, it worked last time. In my haste to defeat this itchy, burn looking crud which insists on manifesting itself at inopportune times and in highly visible places, I neglected to remember that Zyrtek is a nightime medication.

Arriving at the school of the day, I checked in, went to the room, read through the plans and waited to greet the first students of the day. That's when it started. That fuzzy headed feeling. Thirty minutes later I was in full Zyrtek state...dizzy, sluggish, sleepy....feeling like I was swimming in syrup. The biggest problem, as I saw it, was that I had no idea which school I was at or which teacher I was subbing for. I literally went blank for a short period of time. Scary, huh? Not one child appeared to notice. So I think I pulled it off. Even when I went back the next day to the same classroom (without the aide of Zyrtek) no one commented on my "hyperalert" status of the day before. Know how when you're feeling a little tipsy and you don't want anyone to know it? Know how you're ultra cautious with your walk, your speech, every little movement? Not that I would know, of course, but that's the way I was moving about on Thursday...mostly in an effort to keep from sitting down and lapsing into an unconscious sleep. So, like I said, no one appeared to notice. Or, maybe, they were too damned scared to bring it up...afraid that I would turn back into the zombie of the day before and suck out their eyeballs.

Whatever, it was a good week and, crossing my fingers, that old flu bug is keeping me working and making money and leaving me alone in the process (that could be the gallons of germ-x I'm using). No, Mr. Flu bug, I am not taunting you. I am recognizing your superior status and asking you to kindly stay away. Thank you.

Gambling does NOT equal winning...

When will I learn not to get my hopes up? Yesterday, we got in the car and trekked up to Winstar Casino for a day of gambling/winning topped off by a Frankie Valli concert. Let me just say the concert was fabulous. Even at 77 years old, Frankie Valli can hit the high notes that he hit in the 60s. The music was phenomenal...made all the better by having seen Jersey Boys on Broadway back in May. That said...

Six of us made the trip to okalahoma. Ron and I were accompanied by Glen and Carlene, brother and sister-in-law, my dad and Carlene's longtime friend, Sissy. Carlene and Sissy are hardcore when it comes to gambling. They come to play and they bring the cash to do it with. The rest of us are novices.

A summary of our day....
Carlene lost over $400.
Glen lost over $100 but less than $200.
Ronnie lost $120.
I lost $85.
I don't know how much Sissy lost.
Daddy...won. He finally ended up $160...but had been up $300 at one point...all on video poker.

I went expecting to lose and therefore, my expectations were met. I don't get how some people can be so lucky and others of us couldn't win a piece of chewing gum if we were the only one in a raffle. I played all morning and was up about $30 when we went to lunch. Maybe I shouldn't have eaten lunch...not only did I blow the diet at the buffet, but my streak of "holding my own" ended at lunch. All I did after that was lose.

Hopefully, I will have a different story to tell after my visit to Las Vegas next month.

Keep your fingers crossed. Keep your toes crossed. Hell, keep your eyes crossed if you have to. Just once I would like to come home a winner! Wish me luck!

I've Got Some Catching Up to Do...

August and halfway through September, I find that, once again, I have been busier than ever. When I look at it on paper, it doesn't seem that much. But as I look back through my mind's eye, I see a seemingly endless string of days that, frankly, I wasn't sure would EVER end.

August brought Daddy to live NEAR us...not with us. He wants his independence and, at 81, I think he deserves it. His health, however, made it to where he could no longer live in his home in Mesquite. He can't walk ten feet without stopping for breath so maintaining a home was out of the question. He could no longer mow his own yard so he had to depend on the kindness of neighbors to get that task done. More often than not he had to pay for someone to mow it because, honestly, most of his neighbors were elderly, too...or had busy lives of their own. For a while there I could drive to his house in Mesquite with my eyes closed. We made soooo many trips, sometimes two or three a day. And the cleanup! Sixteen years of clutter needed to be disposed of in three garage sales...one EVERY friggin' weekend for three weeks...in ridiculous heat, no less...during a time when a stomach virus was wreaking it's havoc on us. Seriously? A time that I would just as soon forget. Even after he moved we spent hours upon hours of getting Daddy settled in his new digs...a travel trailer behind our house. It's nestled under the trees and he has his own driveway and can keep his "work tools" in either the garage or the barn. At first I was certain that it just wasn't going to work. Daddy began drinking whiskey like it was the only beverage in town. He was depressed, apparently, at being 81 years old and "everything he had worked for in his life was gone" (i.e. no house to speak of, no neighbors that he was close to, too far from his girlfriend's house to just drive up there and break the monontony). Part of the problem, we discovered, was that he had a raging infection flaring up in his intestines. Diverticulosis. Your intestines can develop small "pockets." His did. Food/waste can get trapped in those pockets rather than passing smoothly through. His did. That trapped waste material can rot. His did. Next thing you know...four days in the hospital on very high doses of antibiotics. The good news is that during those four days he sobered up and realized just what the whiskey (and, oh yeah, the jugs of wine) were doing to him and he said, "No more." And he has been true to his word. The doctor told him he could have a glass of wine at night and he bought a jug...but hasn't bought any more...and no whiskey...and no beer. He has met some of the neighbors and has even been given free access to go fishing at a neighbor's pond. God bless you, Vince Aloi! Daddy's health is still fragile. He has his good days and his bad days. That is to be expected. He is, after all, 81. I realized that I won't have him forever, but I am getting to enjoy him more while I have him and I think my mom is smiling down from heaven that we have this time together.

During Daddy's move we were also involved in helping my son, Ryan, move into Daddy's house. Ryan and his partner, Richard, got the house from Daddy on a lease/purchase contract. They are leasing for two years and will contract to buy the house at that time. They completely redid the house. New carpet throughout. New furniture throughout. New painting throughout. Once they got the carpeting in Ryan was unhappy with the kitchen floor. Not having the money for a professional to install a new one, Ryan bought vinyl squares...the peel and stick kind. Ron and I went over to "help" install the floor. How hard could it be???? Well, the answer is "pretty damned hard...but doable." Ryan had to go to work so he couldn't help. Richard had a migraine and was in bed. We did the perimeter of the room and the area where the refrigerator would be so they could move it in the house and get it hooked up. The next day neither of us could walk. Knee and hip pain. A few days later we went back and finished the job. It looks pretty good, even if I have to pat myself on the back. For novices, we did a really good job.

End of August I went with some girlfriends to Shreveport for an overnight gambling trip. Not going to take up much space discussing it here...almost enough to say I lost and leave it alone. Almost. I will say, however, that my sister-in-law with her ridiculous luck, won $2400. I took $300 and came home with $40. My luck is about to change, however. I went to the Breast Cancer 3 Day Expo in Grand Prairie yesterday with some of my walking team members. Afterwards, we stopped at a Chinese buffet and my fortune cookie said, "You will be traveling and coming into a fortune." That was delightful to hear since Ryan and Richard are taking me to Las Vegas Oct. 6-9 as an early birthday gift! Don't worry...I won't forget the little people in my life...or, maybe I will!

Before school started I got a phone call from Forney ISD asking me to take a longterm sub position for a teacher who had a baby. I would need to attend inservice to get everything set up and then work through September 28. So, in I went. Worked five days and then I was told they had finally found someone with music certification. I was somewhat relieved since I was worried about being able to sing and dance "One Green Jellybean" without it causing permanent damage. The bad side of that is that I was already counting on that money...saving for Vegas and Christmas. But, I have worked almost every day in Forney since then. I worked the first day for a teacher whose grandparent passed away. I worked the second day for a teacher who has a recurring heart condition. I didn't work for a couple of days and then I worked seven and a half straight days for a teacher whose sister was dying (and did) of leukemia. Finished that assignment last Friday...and am scheduled to work Monday through Thursday of next week. I took Friday off for medical appointments. I was asked if I could work...I declined. I need a break and I needed to get some prescriptions renewed.

Labor Day was a big day for us. We invited all the family out for one last summer fling. Worked like dogs getting the pool ready. It looked really good on Sunday. By Monday it was cloudy. Figures. We swam anyway and had a great time. About 20 people swimming, eating hot dogs and all kinds of yummies, and playing games like Testicle Toss and Murder. If you're reading this you probably know what I'm talking about. If not, it's not as gruesome as it sounds (probably). My daughter, Kristin, took dozens of pictures for me. Can't post a single one. It seems that the DVD drive on my laptop is "corrupted in the registry" and I can't install the software to pull the pictures off the camera. Why not use the desktop, you asked? You know you would have asked. Because that one blew up about three weeks ago. No power getting to it. It froze up...I turned it off...I turned it back one...it didn't come back on. Guess I will have to add one more thing I'm saving my work money for.

Happy "Retirement" Carol!

September? Already??

Yeah, back in July I was going to blog once a month and it would be this long, detailed description of the events going on in my life. That lasted for July. It's already midway through September and I haven't even blogged August yet. I will get to it. I WILL! Soon!

July....

July has been one of the busiest months I can remember...and yet it has flown by. We began the month with a fundraiser for my Breast Cancer Team (Tickle Me Pink). We held it at the Purple Cow in Plano...only to be disappointed by the turnout. Only raised $70 but we had a GREAT time. Then, just a few days later, we celebrated July 4th with a minimal crowd. I had invited Ryan and Richard along with Kristin and Scott and the boys. I also invited my dad and his friend, Lila. Trenton couldn't come because he was with his dad that weekend. Kristin and Scott didn't come (and neither did Carter) because...I forget. Daddy and Lila came but didn't stay for fireworks. So, Ryan, Richard, Ronnie and I had a ton of smoked ribs, potato salad, baked beans, veggies and dip, cake...you get the idea. Lots of leftovers.

The week following July 4th my dad and I met with an attorney in order to set his estate up in a trust. Daddy entered into an agreement to sell his house to Ryan and Richard and move to a trailer on our property. Boy, wish I had realized how much work that was going to be ahead of time...or maybe I was better off not knowing! At any rate, Daddy and I met with the attorney to get the ball rolling on his estate planning. Side note here...both Kristin and Scott had been sick with a stomach virus so Ronnie and I went to get the boys to keep so they wouldn't get sick. Too late, Carter got sick...and being the generous spirit he is, he decided to share. Much to my dismay I was sitting in the attorney's office when I suddenly became violently ill and had to rush from the room to avoid throwing up all over the conference table. I did make it to the restroom next door, but....how mortifying! Arriving home I discovered that Trenton was also sick...and by nine o'clock that night...so was Ronnie. The next day Ryan was sick. Talk about a sharing family!!!
It took Ronnie and me several days to recover from that incident and be able to eat again. I lost 9 lbs. in 48 hours. Not to worry, though. I have since FULLY recovered...and gained most of it back ::insert pouty face here::

Three weekends in a row we held garage sales at my dad's house in order to get rid of his stuff...after all, he was moving into a much smaller space. Lord, he had a ton of stuff! We did manage to get rid of most of it and he padded his bank account quite nicely...but the heat and the absolute exhaustion took its toll on all of us. I did not know that it was humanly possible to be that tired. Now I know...and hope I never experience it again.

My new phone finally arrived and I was so busy I didn't have time to even set it up for several hours. Normally I am all over that kind of stuff right away.

Right now the house is quite. My dad is in his home out back and Ronnie and I are taking a much needed night off from packing, moving, cleaning....

I have volunteered to help the boys clean and paint in their house to meet some pretty tight deadlines...what was I thinking? I also volunteered to help my sweet sister-in-law paint her fence. She and Glen were at our side for several hours helping get Daddy's satellite set up, packing boxes, loading trucks, etc. It's the least that I can do.

Carlene told Daddy about a "girl trip" to Shreveport...some down time with the girlfriends to have a good time and gamble a bit. I had told her that I wasn't going to attend. She mentioned it to Daddy and told him she thought he should make sure that I go...so, during the business of the move Daddy walked up to me, said, "Sis, I need you to promise me something." I said, "What?" He then put $300 in my hand and said, "I want you to promise me that you will go to Shreveport with the girls and have a good time." He wouldn't take "no" for an answer...so, it looks like I may have something more to blog about in August. Do you think "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" applies to Shreveport, too? Hopefully I will be such a big winner that I won't be able to keep my mouth shut! Wish me luck and keep all your fingers and toes crossed on Aug. 21st!!!

Family...you gotta love 'em

We had our annual family reunion for my husband's family about 8 months after the last one. I know I said annual, but the organizer decided that June was a better time to have the reunion because there would be less things for it to conflict with. Let me just say that the reunion was on the exact same date as my dad's family reunion in Oklahoma. However, we had already made reservations for the Hare family reunion so...away we went. (Side note here: Thank you, Lord, for that decision since Daddy said that his reunion was a bust...few showed up...no food...people sang and clogged...yes, I said clogged. Need I say more?)

The reunion was held at a lakeside "resort" at Lake Palestine. Resort is one of those words that has different meanings to different people. I think, "Hmmm. Resort. Plush, expensive, catered, pampered." Not so much. Our room had two twin beds with just enough room to walk between them, a decent television on a night stand, a counter with a sink, a toilet that was crammed into a space so small that you got a cramp in your back twisting around to get the toilet paper mounted on the wall behind you because there literally was no other space, and a shower big enough to get wet in. Not exactly plush...but it served the purpose.

The real purpose of a family reunion is to spend time with family...and that we did. On Friday night we each took care of our own meal but we gathered outside the travel trailers for homemade milkshakes...::snicker::...it was supposed to be ice cream! We sat outside with our glow necklaces on and chatted about anything and everything. It was relaxing.

On Saturday we gathered together at lunch as more family came in for the day. We had a giant fish fry (and chicken strips for those of us that detest eating bottom dwellers)followed by more sitting around rehashing old stories and general conversation about who is doing what now. Some of us napped in preparation for another late night. As we gathered together that evening for a hotdog cookout we broke out the light-up glasses to go with the glow necklaces. We sat around again, eating, drinking margaritas and just being comfortable with each other. It was a great night.

Sunday morning we slept in...gathered our belongings and headed for home...comfortable in the fact that we had spent quality time with the people who mean the most to us.

What did we do besides eat, drink and talk? Well,....some of the kids went fishing (as did some of the bigger kids, Keith)...some went swimming in the lake...the teens seemed to sit around comparing their cell phones and what each would do...that's pretty much it. An entire weekend of not having anything that you had to do...relaxation!

I've included some pics so that anyone not there can see what they missed. I know, you'll be jealous, but I can live with that!

"Ice Cream"


Beautiful Lakeside Sunsets


Trailer Talk





Koby's fishing prep


Sandy's "baby", Puggles


The Fish Fry




Hot Dog Fun


Serene Sunday Morning

I've been busy, okay?

Okay...the best you can expect from me is a blog entry about every 4 to 6 weeks unless something phenomenal happens (like I get kidnapped by extraterrestrials, I win the lottery, etc.). So, without further ado, let me bring you up to date...

On May 2nd we left for a 12 day train trip to the northeast. Our first stop was Chicago..after an extended stay on the train. It was only supposed to take a little over 21 hours to travel from Dallas to Chicago. However, just the other side of Mineola we were delayed for over 6 hours because thunderstorms and tornadoes had moved through in front of us and deposited large amounts of debris on the tracks. We arrived in Chicago a full 8 hours after our scheduled arrival. Starving to death (because they hadn't planned on or stocked up on supplies for dinner) we threw our luggage in our room and left in search of food. ANY food. We stumbled upon a little pizza joint called Pizzaria Due. They claim that the real Chicago deep-dish pizza originated in their establishment. Can't swear to that...but I can tell you it was, without a doubt, the best pizza I have ever eaten...and not because we were soooo hungry. I might mention here that their margaritas were quite good as well...and they kept coming to the table.

In Chicago we were able to visit the Navy Yard (a boardwalk), take a trip to the top of the Sears Tower (which now has another name which nobody can remember), take an architectural tour down the river, and visit Millenium Park (a cool little area where they have concerts and cool stuff).

After Chicago we got back on the train and headed to New York. All the things you hear about New York...they're true. It truly is the city that never sleeps. Times Square was hopping at all hours of the day and night. If you can't walk fast you'd better get out of the way here because they will run over you...literally. In New York we went to see Jersey Boys on Broadway. Wow! It was incredible. The actor who plays Frankie Valli sounds like the real deal. They were awesome!! We also went, of course, to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. While still incredible, Lady Liberty wasn't as big as I had pictured her to be. She is still a sight to behold, though. We took a open deck bus tour through Chinatown, Harlem, Manhattan, etc., and we got a peek at the Brooklyn Bridge and Central Park. We went to the observation deck at the top of Rockefeller Center and we were on the evening weather report. The weatherwoman was broadcasting from the Top of the Rock and she asked us to stand behind her to look like a crowd. When we started to leave we ran into (almost literally) Leonard Nimoy (Spock from Star Trek), Zachary Quinto (bad guy on Heroes who plays Spock in the new movie), Joan Rivers (who had just won Celebrity Apprentice and was there filming Jimmy Kimmell) and Rachel Ray (also on Kimmell's show). Of course, there were dozens of pictures taken and we felt like we were paparazzi.

After three days of New York we got back on the train and headed to Washington, DC. We did the typical tourist thing in DC and visited all of the main monuments. The problem in DC was that we were there on Mother's Day and everything was shut down for the holiday. We did however, make it the the Smithsonian American History Museum and got to see the new display for Old Glory. I keep saying "incredible" because it was.

This trip, which we took with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, was a double anniversary trip. Ronnie and I celebrated our 30th anniversary on May 4th at the Capitol Grille in Chicago. Glen and Carlene celebrated their 13th anniversary on the same date with us. Somehow, the train trip home didn't seem quite so long as the trip up.

Enjoy the few pics I have posted.
Chicago:
Pizzaria Due


Millenium Park


New York:
Lady Liberty


Ellis Island with NY in the background


Top of the Rock with Empire State Bldg. in background


Weatherwoman


Leonard Nimoy


Zachary Quinto


Joan Rivers


Rachel Ray



Washington, DC
Our reflection in the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Wall


The White House


Changing of the Guard at Arlington National Cemetary


Arlington National Cemetary


Jefferson Memorial (always my favorite)


Ronnie & Glen in the soup line at FDR's memorial

Catching Up....

Well, let's see. It's been over a month since I last posted a comment so obviously nothing has been going on in my life...right?? WRONG! There have been so many events taking place this last month that I don't know where to begin. Let me list things for you:

1. My husband retired. After 30+ years in law enforcement Ronnie decided to hang it up and retire. I'm so very proud of him. His job in Addison was taking its toll on him...physically and mentally. I know how difficult it is to say "goodbye" when there are people there that you still care a great deal about. But we have to do what is right for us and Ronnie finally made that decision. In the four weeks since he has retired there is an obvious sense of relief and relaxation about him. He smiles and jokes more. He has already undertaken several projects that he "just didn't have time for" before his retirement. It was a good decision and one that I am happy he made.



2. I am "un-retired" (if there is such a term). I took a sub position at the alternative school in Rockwall and it has turned into a semi-permanent position. I will finish the year out there. I love being back in the classroom and enjoy the close-knit staff at this campus. I can always retire again next year ::chuckle::

3. We've been "Winstarring." We have developed a newfound interest in traveling to Oklahoma about once a month to play the penny slots. I can play all day on penny slots and have a great time. One time I doubled my money...one time I broke even...and I've only lost about $40 at Winstar on the two other visits (total...not each). Don't get me started on Choctaw. Won't go there again...hated it and lost $150 in less than 3 hours!

4. Concerts by the lake have started up again. Every Thursday night we picnic at the Harbor and listen to the band of the week. Even when the band is bad...which doesn't happen often...we have a great time. Hey, how could you go wrong with light up necklaces and margaritas? Hhhmmm???

5. I cut my hair short again. Don't really understand why I keep letting it grow out when I LOVE it short.



6. We're prepping for an ll day Amtrak trip to the northeast. We leave next Saturday for two nights in Chicago, three nights in New York and two nights in Washington DC. We're going to the Sears tower, a Cubs game, ground zero, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and all the monuments in DC. We're excited to be traveling by train...never done that before.

7. Carlene and I had a rather productive garage sale. I cleared about $500 over the two day period. It amazes me that people will garage sale shop in the rain. Go figure.

8. I am participating in the Breast Cancer 3 Day event in November. I will walk 60 miles over the course of three days in an effort to raise funds for breast cancer research and education. I am so very excited about this. I can hardly wait for the big event. We will camp out for two nights and walk twenty miles each of the three days. I'm walking with a friend who just hit the one year survivor mark. What a truly humbling experience.

9. I gave in and created a facebook account. Enough said.

10. My daughter and I are planning to begin a photography business together where we will photograph special events (weddings, bridals, engagement pics, family reunions, family photos, etc.). Actually, this has been a dream of mine for several years. I even named it "Everybody Smiles" with the idea that everyone gets to be in the picture. So often I photograph family events and if there isn't a video it doesn't look like I was even there because I am always behind the lens. Thus the name. Kristin has way more contacts than I do to bring in the business and together I think we will make a great team. I have even schedule the first wedding for this summer! A new path...

So, if you thought that I was sitting on my duff doing nothing...think again. I swear that I was way less busy before I retired! Still...I am loving my life.

Feet are FUN!

Oh, for the simple joys in life...a lesson from Carter.

Carter has found his feet and apparently they are quite amusing. He loves to complicate diaper changes by throwing his legs up in the air and grabbing on to his feet. It makes him giggle.

I think the next time I begin to fret over life's complications...aka "adult responsibilities"...I should take a lesson learned from Carter and throw my legs up in the air, grab my feet and giggle. Oh, if only...

Tampons...the only thing that should be in a tube

I had a CAT scan this morning. My first. I pray it will be my last.

I knew what to expect going in to the test. You lie on a table, they slip you into a giant tortilla, you drift gently to sleep due to the inactivity and boredom and then you're done. Only problem is...it didn't quite go like I expected. Who knew that once they rolled me into the tube (only as far as my waist) that I would suddenly develop a severe case of claustrophobia and freak out?? Did the technicians know what they were doing?? What were those fine print warnings about not having the test done if you're on certain meds?? Why didn't anyone ask what meds I'm on?? What if this thing blows up with me inside?? What if I get stuck?? Why do I have this sudden urge to scream, cry, jump off the table and run away?? When will this end??

In truth, the test only took about 3 minutes. Try holding your breath for 3 minutes and you'll realize just how long that is! It was, without a doubt, the longest 3 minutes of my life. Sorta like being buried alive...I guess. Not that I've ever been buried alive...but you get the point. In a nutshell...I did not have a good time and no, thank you, I don't wish to EVER do it again!

Oh, G....

On February 27th we drove to the Winstar Casino to see Kenny G. We'd had the tickets for about a month and we (Virgil, Carlene and I) were eagerly looking forward to the concert. Ronnie...not so much. He thought it would be boring. Well...suffice it to say that it was an incredible concert...very high energy and featuring solos by an awesome Swedish bassist and an indescribable percussion man. It was magic. Kenny...Mr. G...the Gster...whatever...KG began the concert at the back of the auditorium in the "cheap seats." He then worked his way toward the front. Our seats were on the back row of the front section and he stopped right behind our seats, looked at us and continued to play for a half minute or so. To see his fingers flying across that instrument was truly amazing!

Of course, knowing where we were going, we decided to drive up early and play a few slots. Good decision. Ronnie was the first to "hit big" if you can call turning $20 into $216 "big." I call it big. He took $100 bucks with him and ended up coming home with $200. Nice profit. I played a slot machine called Fortune Teller. I was blindly hitting the "repeat bet" button having no clue what to watch for. I don't take time to read the pay tables. At any rate, I hit a bonus spin which gave me six opportunities to ask the fortune teller questions (pick cards). As long as you get "good fortune" as a response you keep picking for the maximum six times. I was lucky...rather, I had good fortune. I got to move on to the "golden card" which is a multiplier. I was sitting there watching the screen when it popped up the number 14,563. I thought, "Awesome. I won 14 bucks." Then it hit me...there had to be a decimal in there somewhere...like between the 5 and the 6. So I got REALLY excited when I realized that it was $145 and change. All that from $20. Now, I realize that in the big scheme of things this is chump change...but it felt good to be a winner. I took $100 and came home with $210. Woo-hoo!

Carlene is another story. We figured her profit to be around $300. She plays with wild abandon. She bets on poker machines and maxes her bet...and wins. The problem...she can't quit. She can't walk away. At one point we saw her physically struggle with herself to cash out of a slot at $300. She truly enjoys gambling and is fun to watch. Virgil, on the other hand, is not a gambler/game player. He views it as a very expensive form of entertainment. Even he walked away breaking even.

This was my second trip to Winstar. The first time I broke even. This time I won a bit. CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK!!!!! Can anyone get me the number for Gambler's Anonymous???