Blasting toward a new year...

I can't believe that 2012 is rushing headlong to a conclusion...and so much is happening seemingly all at one time. Since last I posted we had Halloween...a quite night as usual. No one comes out to our world to trick or treat. Apparently not enough houses. Whatever. It was nice to sit at home and enjoy dinner and television but I kinda miss the whole Halloween thing of passing out candy and seeing all the cute costumes. November, thus far, has proven to be quite busy...with no end to the busyness in sight. November 1st I spent the day at Veteran's Hospital with my dad. He finally had the surgery to implant his pacemaker. Actually, most of that time I spent visiting with my Uncle Ed. Daddy was in surgery for two and a half hours so that gave me and Uncle Ed, and my cousin Barbara who dropped by, plenty of time to visit, tell tales, laugh and generally have a good time. Daddy was alert when he went in to surgery and alert when he came out. Seems they used something called conscious sedation. It doesn't knock you out. Daddy actually watched the surgery and interacted with the doctor when needing to. The following day, November 2, I went to Winstar with my son, son-in-law and his sister and boyfriend. Ryan, Yola and Juan went to gamble. They did. Rich and I went to see Olivia Newton John in concert. She was great. I came back home, worked a bit, watched election returns etc. The routine stuff. I had a routine check-up at the doctor's office. Praised for weight loss and blood sugar being down some. Good check-up at the dental office. Love my hygenist. She keeps me laughing with her weird sense of humor. My youngest grandson celebrated his 4th birthday and we attended his party at Bounce U. Great venue and great time!! My birthday on the 15th...no celebration at Bounce U though (LOL!). Actually, my celebration is forthcoming...dinner at Margarita Ranch and tickets to the Gaylord "Merry Madagascar" ice show with my whole family. Attended a baby shower today "opportunities" for December 1st!!! I think I really should consider cloning as an option... ~Cheers!

Falling in love with...fall!

It's truly amazing to me how quickly time is flying by. We are most of the way through October...leaving only weeks until Christmas. In between now and then we have Halloween, Carter's birthday, my birthday, Kristin's baby shower, Thanksgiving and finally we arrive at Christmas. In addition, I have a girlfriend birthday trip to Fredericksburg and a Winstar trip with my boys. Then, of course, there is my dad's heart surgery next week. Geesh! My life is about to get REALLY busy! At least I don't have time to get bored!Lol I absolutely love fall. I love the feel of the change of weather...the beauty of the trees as they change colors, the nip in the air, the smell of campfires (my neighbor burns one almost constantly), the relief from the ridiculous heat in Texas...basically, everything about the season. It triggers some innate "domestic virus" in me and I get this insatiable desire to cook and/or bake. I love the smell of soups in the crock pot, pastries baking in the oven, etc. Couple that with the condensation that forms on windows when the temps outside are colder than the snuggly warmth of the house and I couldn't be more content! My dream day is to awaken to a cold, cloudy dark day, with the house lit by candles, a fire in the fireplace, lounging in my jammies with a good book and a cup of coffee doctored with a bit of Baileys. On this dream day there is a roast in the crock pot and an apple pie in the oven. I read a bit...nap a bit...read a bit more...nap a bit more...well, you get the idea. So, as we approach this holiday season I encourage everyone to slow down and take time to enjoy the fall days and nights. Figure out what you like most about fall (even if it's not your FAVORITE season) and make a point to work that into your life. We're approaching a busy time of year. Make sure that you don't overdo the "busy" and take time for the things...and the people...that are important to you!

Surprise? Only the weather...

On Saturday, October 6, 2012, we saw the fruition of a surprise birthday party that I have been planning since April. My husband, Ronnie, turned 60 this year. That is a milestone that bears recognition. So, recognize it we did. I rented the outdoor pavilion at Harry Myers Park in Rockwall. We had used one of these facilities in June, when it was blistering hot, for my mother's family reunion. It was perfect for our needs so I rented these accommodations knowing that they would be perfect. Then I set to work on the other details...guest list, food, cake, gift, etc. The one thing I guess I should have considered, but didn't, is the weather. Afterall, October is usually a temperate month. Usually is the operative word here. In the week prior to the party the weather was in the 80s and 90s. The sun shone brightly and we continued to use our air conditioning. Then...on Friday evening prior to the next day's party, a cold front blew in. The high on this day was 50 and there were scattered showers and gusting winds. Wouldn't you know it. Regardless of the cold wind being channeled through the pavilion...and the two heaters we brought...and the fire in the grill pit...we partied and had a great time visiting with one another. Good friends and family came out to help us rehash old memories and make new ones. We grilled burgers and had delicious birthday cake. We laughed at Ronnie in his shorts and a jacket and we revealed the special birthday gift...a forthcoming trip to Ireland! Ronnie has always said he would love to go to Ireland...and so he will once we figure out the timing for the trip. Can't wait! In the meantime, a huge HUG to my daughter, Kristin, who took care of designing and mailing the party invitations while I was partying it up on my trip, to my son, Ryan, for figuring out how to get Ronnie to the party (and home again), to my son-in-law, Scott, for his expertise at the grill and to my friend, Brandy for the delightfully Irish themed birthday cake. Hugs, too, to all the friends and family who braved the chill in the air and the threat of rain in order to share in this special day!

Make Mine a Triple...

Last night my phone rang. Not that this is an unusual event, but it is part of my story. Anyway. Phone rang. The screen displayed "Facetime" from Kristin. My daughter. My heart skipped a couple of beats because I knew she was having her "gender determining sonogram" that day. I'm not sure "GDS" is an official term but work with me here. I knew when I saw that display that we were about to find out if Baby Durbin is a boy or girl. Let me digress here a minute and say that IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO ME WHETHER THE BABY IS A BOY OR GIRL. All I want...have ever wanted...is a healthy baby. I will admit that both Trenton and Carter had expressed a desire for a baby sister and I wanted them to get what they want but, in fact, I know that Trenton probably doesn't care what it is and Carter probably doesn't understand the whole thing. I'm not sure he's going to be happy with either since it will usurp his strangle-hold on being the center of attention! Back to my story. Phone rings...When the connection is finally made Kristi asked if Ronnie and I were both home. We were and we moved together so that the phone would show both of us. Kristin then turned to phone on her boys so that they could tell us that their new baby is a...boy! Trenton seemed quite happy with that as did Carter...until Trenton said "it's a brother." At that point Carter said, "No, it's a sister." He actually said it a couple of times. I joked, "So it's twins?" which went unaddressed since Carter started to cry. I think he was more upset about being corrected than he was about it being a boy. Carter likes to be right, but then again, who doesn't? To make a long story short, Trenton and Carter were talking to us while enjoying "blue lollipops and blue "boy" cake. I know that baby Durbin doesn't have a clue how lucky he is. He is being born into a family with the two best brothers in the whole world, with a mommy and daddy who already adore him and a Nana and Popaw who can't wait to spoil him rotten. God bless you, little Durb! Take care, grow nicely and we will see you in late January or early February. We love you!!

Back to School...

School started last week. I had my first assignment on Friday of the first week. I have been subbing in Rockwall for four years and have never subbed at Pullen Elementary until Friday. Oddly, it is one of the schools closest to my house. I had a great day and made a new contact that may provide me with more jobs closer to home. Today, Monday, is Labor Day and I already have jobs for Tuesday and Wednesday. Not bad...work one day and then have a three day holiday...work 9 more days and then have two weeks off for a trip to Vegas and San Diego. I could get used to this!

Fall is...well, falling!

We are right on the edge of September. Where has this year gone? I know I shouldn't be surprised because I have been conscious (most of the time) but I am truly amazed that we are on the precipice of fall...the holiday season. Since last I blogged I have been rather sedentary. Enjoying the last days of my summer break because, yes, I am going to sub at least one more year. I actually have found these last few days that I am restless and anxious for some normalcy. Since all I have ever know since I was 16 is working, then that is my normalcy. In the meantime, and to kill time, I have done a few things until I begin working again. First, Ronnie and I went to Choctaw with Ryan and Rich. It was just a quick trip up and back, but it was fun. Especially since I came home a winner. I turned $7 into $265 so I was very happy. That rarely happens for me. I also FINALLY schedule and went to a dental appointment that was previously scheduled in April, 2011, before my car accident. I go tomorrow for the final step...the real crown. Ronnie had surgery to remove a fatty tumor from his back and I took him to that and took care of him for a couple of days after while he was in pain and sore. I followed up with a CT scan and appointment to find out that the lump in my foot is actually a benign cyst that I don't have to do anything with unless it grows or the pain increases. Speaking of lumps, I knew that I had a fluid filled cyst in each breast. Not my first rodeo. I have had SEVERAL needle aspirations since I tend to be prone to this condition. My doctor, however, is concerned that one of the masses doesn't feel like a cyst that he can drain so...off I will go on Wednesday to have another mammogram, followed by a sonogram. They will drain the one large cyst and if the other is, in fact, a cyst they will use the sonogram to guide the needle to the center of the cyst in order to drain it. Must say that I am not looking forward to this procedure though I am not worried about it either. At the same time that I am having my cyst procedure Ronnie will be undergoing a procedure to remove a basal cell carcinoma from his chin. Can I just say that it sucks to get old? But, it beats the hell out of the alternative. Anyhoo...as we step in to September there willl be some R & R. We will be heading out the middle of September for almost 2 weeks in Las Vegas and San Diego. We will be celebrating both Ryan and Rich's birthdays in Vegas. When they fly home we will go to a Hall & Oates concert before packing up and heading on to San Diego. Neither of us has ever been to the Pacific before so we'll stick our toes in the water just to say we did! After we return the crunch begins. It's Ronnie's birthday, Carter's birthday (g'son #2), my birthday, Thanksgiving and then ::insert scarey music:: Christmas! Shortly after Christmas we are expecting the birth of grandchild #3! Life is good!!! Till next time ~ Cheers!!

Summer 2012

Wow! What a summer it has been! Expecially in the good news/bad news department! The good news first... We took a couple of short vacays. It was nice to get away...both by ourselves and with at least one of the grandsons. Summer school was an awesome experience. I was responsible for the computer lab. I worked mostly with 7th graders who needed help in both English and Math, but I also worked with one group of 5 who were math only and one eighth grader who needed help with pre-AP English. The other teachers that I worked with were awesome and some new friendships were formed. I found out that I get to be a Nana again! It was really cute. We went to my daughter's house to pick up her youngest for a weekend trip out of town. While there she asked me if I had my phone with me. When I said "yes" she said she wanted to text something to me. She then texted me a picture of her sonogram. I am just as excited this time as I was the first time...and the second time. We're getting ready for a bigger trip...two weeks...in about a month. We will be going to Las Vegas with Ryan and Rich and when they fly back to Dallas we will continue on to San Diego. Really looking forward to that trip. I bought a health tracker and I love it. It is making me much more conscious of my activity and eating habits and is helping me keep track of significant information like blood pressure, blood sugar, activity, weight, resting and exertive heart rate, etc. that I will need to share with my doctor. It has also resulted in a steady decline...of weight. Because I am paying more attention to my activity level I am being more active and therefore, am losing weight. Yay! I have a Winstar trip planned with Ryan and Rich...actually Rich and I are going to a concert there and Ryan is going to gamble. We don't have the same taste in music! Lol! In the "not so good news" department... Since my doctor made me aware that I need to be monitoring my blood sugar it has gone totally beserk! He wants it to be between 80 and 100. Some mornings it will start at 103. Some mornings it will start at 213. Some days at lunch time it will read 144. Some days it will read 67. Frustrating! That is the reason I bought the aforementioned tracker. I had a CT scan done on my right foot. It was a "growth" that the doctor is baffled by. I'm still waiting to get the results but hopefully there's an answer in my future. I am getting rid of my wine business. Because I make sweet wine...and the whole blood sugar issue...I have determined that it is not in my best interest to have that wine in the house. I have given cases of wine to my children and a couple of friends who hosted tastings for me and I am going to continue making just a couple of wine solely for personal consumption...wines that aren't sweet like a reisling and maybe a zin. Otherwise I am out of the wine-making business. I am currenty trying to decide how I will repurpose the wine room. In the good AND bad news department...AC went out in hubby's car (bad...in case you couldn't figure that out)...BUT...it is still under warranty!! (good!!) So now, as summer 2012 draws to a close, and we're cramming in those last minute medical things that need to get done and getting ready for our trip(s), I am readying my "kit" for subbing next year...getting my calendars and notebook ready...sorting clothes...cleaning closets...etc. You know, the routine and mundane that HAS to get done. So...till next time... ~Cheers!!