Wow.......It has been way too long!

I think I will take a quick lesson from my dear friend Christie and be a little bit random with this one....

SO much has been going on and SO much is changing and will continue to change.  Gosh, if there was no change sure would be a boring world though.

First off let me just say.....in looking at my FB news feed these days I am just totally amused at the different attitudes and opinions of this "Fifty Shades of Grey"  I mean really if it isn't someone acting like a school aged kid who just got a peek of their friends parent's VHS Porn in the basement while the parents were asleep it is the complete opposite with the entire "You can't be Christian and watch this movie or read the book, it will destroy your marriage"  OH BS on both counts.  My mother-in-law I just know is looking down on this crazy world saying "Ahhh for F@#*& Sake Give Over Already" (ha ha the English can say that btw)  I swear I can hear her in my ear at this moment!  It makes me laugh.  People really do need to get over it and get over themselves.  I could honestly care less one way or the other, watch it, don't watch it,  but dang live your life, make your choices and quit trying to preach to everyone else.  I am 1000% positive you are all flawed in some way just like the rest of us.  Get off your high horses and stop acting like you are so amazingly wonderful and insightful.  Not to mention.......it isn't porn either, so before you start throwing that word out maybe you should educate yourself a bit. In the mean time stop being so stinking judgmental of everyone who is different from you.   Just sayin'

My friends are as eclectic as my musical tastes which most find to be all over the place LOL  This is something I find when reading my news feed.  If you are on my page there is a reason and I assure it is not because we are just alike. How BLAH would that be! Accept that everyone of us is different in some way.  Stop judging and embrace it.  Learn from it, grow from it. 

Our house is so upside down right now and it is driving me mad.  Every time someone says "Oh you don't have long"  "That little baby of yours is going to be here sooner than you think"  I go into complete stress mode!  Yes I WANT him here all safe and sound but I also want this house right side up again before he makes his arrival.  My Husband "We have time"  Me "OMG....this house is never going to be ready on time"  LOL  Good thing we balance one another out.

I have some chores to do here at home so this isn't a long post but it is a start at getting back to this blog......lol

On a final note.....My eclectic music tastes also have a little to do with my desire to understand what one writes/sings about.  Rob Thomas, like many, writes about what he knows.  There is a song called Her Diamonds  The song is about his wife Marisol who suffers from an Auto-Immune disease.  If you aren't familiar with Auto-Immune diseases ( there are a lot ) you should really read up.  You should stop and think in the future before you pass judgement or before you open your mouth saying something you can't take back that will affect another human to the core.  I know several who suffer from various types of Auto-Immune diseases.  Heck I have 2 myself one of which I only learned of a few years ago and the other I only learned of 6 months ago.  Man, it sure did explain some things I had wondered about for sure.  My sweet niece Starla battles one daily!  None the less.....You never really know what is going on with someone at first glance. 

I always like to share a quote.  I just reminded someone of this quote.  I learn more and more that it is SO true!  Quote by:  Theodor Seuss Geisel aka Dr Seuss (although there seems to be some uncertainty out there as to who really came up with this quote)

"Those Who Mind Don’t Matter, and Those Who Matter Don’t Mind"

Meet my niece Starla and my brother-in-law Joshua

MEET Starla

Starla is a bright 15 year old that has been diagnosed with Meniere's Disease.  Starla was a normal young lady until the symptoms of Meniere's started showing themselves about 9 months ago.  Most young people at this age are excited about hanging out with friends, high school, getting their drivers licenses, dating, sports, part-time jobs, but Meniere's has robbed this special young lady of all these things.

Starla has constant ringing in her ears, her balance is very unstable, the room is constantly spinning which makes her physically ill, reading her school books is nearly impossible due to her eyes bouncing so much and the lack of being able to focus on the words.  Starla's hearing is not so good in her left ear; she could become deaf in her left ear (possibly both ears) over time.  She is in need of constant supervision and at times can't even shower without someone with her.  She has fallen so many times and gotten hurt because her balance is so bad.  Her days are long, painful and exhausting; she tries so hard to be symptoms free and does everything the doctors tell her.  There is no cure for Meniere's Disease, the only thing they an do is try to manage the symptoms and pray for a period of time that she may go into remission.

Starla has been working with doctors in her hometown as well as Knoxville, TN.  She has been referred to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in Nashville TN.  These trips are very long and difficult on Starla and her family.

MEET JOSHUA

Joshua is Starla's step-father, he is a hard working man that is the main supporter for their family.  Nearly 2 months ago Joshua had an accident that left him with a Traumatic Brain Injury.  Joshua is 38 years old and due to the accident he has no memories of the past 38 years of his life.  He is having to relearn who "HE" is, who the people around him are (including his wife and kids), he has no memory of his job or what he does, is learning basic things all over again.

Joshua has started having seizures now due to the Traumatic Brain Injury, this has been a very scary thing for him and his family to go through.  He has been working with a specialist and working on recovery.  It is very upsetting for Joshua knowing that he was always a hard working man with a "family first and most important" attitude and now due to the accident he is unable to work and support his family and feeling so lost inside his own mind.  Imagine, if you will, waking up one day and everything about who you are is gone in an instant.

The family has always been the typed of family that reaches out to help others no questions asked.  The family has always been there to help family, friends, a neighbor or community as a whole.  Now their world has been turned upside down to say the least.  There are three other children in this family, two of which have just graduated high school and starting college and one that is a "special needs' and a junior in high school. - 

See ➡ http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/angels-needed-for-starla-and-joshua/82589

Every $1 helps and donations are tax deductible. Please feel free to ask questions and share with others you know. 

YIKES!

I figure when John informs me it has been too long since I have updated my blog it has clearly been WAY TOO LONG.  ha ha ha  I am not real sure where to start.  So much has been going on since March.  Things are moving along.  I go to Atlanta the 14th to pick up my dress.  Nervous and excited all at the same time.  Haven't seen it since January not to mention the one I tried on wasn't even white so its going to be interesting.  It took a little more effort than we would have liked but we did find a photographer for the wedding and got that all booked and sorted.  They did a 2nd engagement shoot for us (we were not so pleased with the first guy) and we were very happy with them.  They knew what they were doing, where the best shots were and best of all they shoot at Biltmore several times a month so they are very familiar with the layout there and what works.  There are some photos on my FB page for those of you on there and if not here are a couple.

Our little family begins......
(Photos by Two Ring Studios Asheville, NC)

We are quickly checking items off of the "To-Do" list that has been haunting me in my sleep!  lol  Ceremony, Cake, Photographer, Dinner after, Bouquets, Makeup for myself, the girls and my mother, favors (purchased but not put together) are all complete and marked off the list.  Still more to do but I feel much better seeing things marked off.   I wanted to do the nice custom hangers but just refused to pay $20-$40 each for them online.  So I started investigating, went to Hobby Lobby and put John to work!  I think so far he has done a great job!

LOL - For real, I have tried like 20 times and this keeps posting upside down!
Hopefully you can still see he did a WONDERFUL job!!

Work is going GREAT!  I absolutely love my job.  I think about everything going on in my life and everything going on around me.  I think about those around me, where they are and  where I was a year ago.  I can honestly say that everyday I sit down to work I realize how completely BLESSED I am to have the job I have now.  The ways this job has blessed my life are just endless.  I am SO THANKFUL!  A couple weeks ago I went to Nashville for some training with 35 members of my team and then we went to Nurses for Newborns for a Community Outreach Project.  I love that UHC works so hard throughout the entire company to encourage these sorts of projects all over the US.  They also work very hard to promote healthy living for their customers as well as every employee.  My team is wonderful and every one is so nice and so helpful.  There is never a concern when needing to reach out as you are always met with one or more willing to help you however they can.  I said on the way home from that long work day to those in the van I was riding in - I have worked in small offices with a few people and I have worked in an office with 100+ office employees sitting all around you and I have never felt such a sense of TEAM as I do now.  Odd since we each work from home and don't see one another daily but it is the truth.  It truly is a wonderful blessing I am forever grateful for.


I am positive there are a million more things I could write about and update on but I am thinking for the sake of everyone's time I will simply try and do a better job of keeping up.


Hope everyone has a wonderful remainder of the week!

The way to gain a good reputation, 

is to endeavor to be

what you desire to appear. 

~Socrates

From yesterday's blog.     http://rens2011dailysnapshot.blogspot.com/
I can't believe I haven't missed a photo post since I stated 1/1/2011!

Oh my goodness......It has been way too long!

So, I just don't know where to start.  I haven't written since December, shame on me!  Anyway as always there has been A LOT going on.  The new job is still going well.  I enjoy being home, I enjoy sleeping better and less stress!!  YAY!!  I have learned lately from questions from various people that there is a huge misconception about my job.  Yes, I work at home.  Yes, I can work in my pjs.  BUT I do way more work!  I am busy all day long.  I don't get much free time at all.  It is OK though, I enjoy it.  I would rather be sitting here at 3:45 and realize that I should have quit working at 3:30 rather than to be sitting there at 1:45 watching the clock and waiting for the day to end.  The job is very detail oriented.  You are dealing with claims, medical coverage and all so everything has to be entered in correctly.  I work for a great organization and one that has this telecommuter thing down to a science.  Everyone assumes that you can just do as you wish and nobody will know....HA!  No, they monitor everything (Wouldn't you?  I would!)  Of course, I have the mind set that if you are doing your job and doing what you are supposed to do then who cares?  I don't.  Of course after explaining all of this to my nephew yesterday he decided it was a bit too much for him that he was not cut out for working from home.  Truth.....not everyone can work from home.  You can't be distracted by everything else around you.  It takes a lot of self discipline and self motivating.  It works great for me but again, no, it isn't for everyone.  I am very happy with it though.


The kids are doing well.  Starla starts high school next year and JD will be a senior......CRAZY!  They are both so amazing though!  


Wedding plans are moving along.  We will be getting married on the hill at Diana at Biltmore on October 7th.  My dress was ordered in Jan.....good lord, I can't believe it takes 4-6 months to get a dress....craziness.  Working with a photographer on our Engagement photos and so long as all goes well we will have him booked for the wedding as well.  So location - booked, music - booked, Cake - tasting is the 21st...YUM, Shoes - purchased and are safely packed away, I am doing my own flowers and have started working on those.  Mom and I are going in the morning to choose fabric for the bridesmaid dresses.  I am working on favor bags and looking at some different options.  So......it is still a work in progress but things are moving along and a decent pace.

I went to school with this designer, check her out!
http://annrothshoes.com/

Gracie is GREAT and spoiled as ever!  How can you not love a face like that.....she is my baby!  John is like her little buddy which is HILARIOUS since everyone knew him to "not be a dog person".  They go on little hikes together and everything.  Ha ha see.....you can't help by love her.

SNAPSHOTS......Well I am still doing this.  Can you believe it?  Since Jan 1, 2011 I haven't missed a single day. I have posted a picture every day.  I am working on my 2011 coffee table book but some of my photos were not uploading the other day....gotta figure out what is up with that.

JEEP!  Yep, got a new Jeep.  Well John traded the C7 and got the Jeep so he could "play" on weekends and I could drive it and he drive my car to work now.  I am good with that because I LOVE the Jeep!

So.......I guess there is a quick run down.  LOL  I will have to get better at this updating for sure!

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the spring weather!

" People are often unreasonable and self-centered.

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. 

If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. 

If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway. 

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. 

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. 

Give your best anyway. 

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. 

It was never between you and them anyway.” 

~ Mother Teresa

Ok.....I have been SO busy!

So, so much has happened so I will try and do a decent but not too long update! Let's see.....The end of October I started a new job!  I am now a Clinical Administrative Coordinator for United HealthCare.  I have a home office which is a big change.  All learning has been virtual but I must say, they have a good set up.  So far it has been a great experience.  Everyone has been very kind and welcoming.  We got a power point today of the veteran staff so that was great to put faces with names and voices.  We have a Christmas party coming up in Nashville so I will soon get to meet a number of them which I am looking forward to. Thankful for the new direction!

Mom says the picture doesn't do it
justice but this is the best I can do.
It's BEAUTIFUL

If you are on FB then you likely already know but if not......I became engaged Thanksgiving Day!  I am sure you have heard me talk before about John and of course he is on FB.  He is from England.  We seem to balance one another well.  Knowing I am a bit of a traditional person he arranged to get my mom and dad bother together the night before for dinner and asked them both.  I love that he did that.  So many just don't do it these days.  We are planning for fall 2012.  Having some issues with the location we originally wanted so not 100% sure on that yet.  I know, I myself never thought I would agree to get married after some of what I have been through.  I feel good about it though.  


New experiences this year, new friends, new job, new future.........I truly did set out on a mission this year though.  I set out not with any one particular "resolution" but I set out to CHANGE the way I did things.  I made myself get out and do things I wouldn't normally do, hiking by myself, seeing a movie by myself, I challenged myself to make changes in the people I surround myself with; focusing more on those that have a positive influence in my life and reducing the focus on those that don't.  I challenged myself on my snapshot blog and as of today I have not missed a post for every day this year.....personally that was one I didn't think I would accomplish!  LOL  Maybe those are the resolutions we should be making for ourselves. Not always big things either, sometimes just the simplest changes make such a huge impact.  Make yourself step out of your box.  It really has made such a difference in the past year. 

My little Gracie turned 7 on December 11th!  

We took her to see Santa and then of course took her annual photo. 

I just love her.  She is so rotten!

Well there is my update for now! 

 Hope everyone is getting ready for CHRISTmas 

and has a wonderful time with their loved ones!

"Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time."

  ~Laura Ingalls Wilder

Well, not sure where to start.  The past month has been CRAZY!  Lot's going on, ups and downs.  I guess my last blog was when I went to Cincinnati.  That has been a while.  So I received a call on my birthday with a job offer.  What a gift!  There were a lot of security and background checks in the process so it took a few weeks to get everything in order.  I started the end of October.  So far it is going great.  I have looked for over a year and it has been such a relief to have finally found something that worked for me.  I now work for United HealthCare. I have a home office which I must say I am enjoying so far.  I spend my days by the french doors and with my little Gracie under my feet.  I am looking forward to the first snow for sure!  There has been quite a bit of classes and training and more to come but even with that it has been a very refreshing change which I am very thankful for.  My nephew (my brother's son) passed away a month ago in a tragic accident.  He and his wife are struggling still, very understandably, and can still use LOTS of prayers.  My heart aches for them daily and I so wish I could fix it for them but I just can't.  Starla's birthday was the 2nd as well, she had a wonderful day and I think she got everything she asked for!  After that it was on to new job, new training and getting ready for my sisters wedding. Yes, all of that jam packed into just a few weeks.  My sister got married on 11/11/11 and I think now has a lot of her stress and anxiety relieved so that is great.  She can chill a little now.  Jeramy is doing great, good in school and with friends.  Starla decided (on her own) to start volunteering at Riding High.  A local stable that works with horses and special needs children.  Very proud of her for doing this at her age and she has  really been enjoying it.  We have a program here called TAG (talented and gifted students).  They do these classes each winter at the local college.  Children must be referred by a teach and a counselor so it is not something they can just sign up for.  Jearmy did this both 7th & 8th grade, the only years it is available for them.  Starla hoped to go in 7th grade but didn't.  This year, SHE DID!  She has been so excited about it and has already picked up her classes.  So over winter break she will actually get to go to the local college and take courses.  There are only so may student chosen from the surround areas and they narrow those down so it is a big thing.  Class has been pretty heavy the past 2 weeks so I am looking forward to a 3 day work week and a long weekend!  It has been over a month since I have blogged so this is just a quick summary blog.  I will try and do better as things start to settle down!  Hope everything has a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving with those they love. Enjoy every moment, take nothing for granted.....We are not promised tomorrow.

Misty & Joshua 11-11-11

"If you treat Thanksgiving Day as a mere custom, then you are missing out on the true meaning of the holiday. As much as we enjoy Thanksgiving for the dinner and the festivities, we must also rejoice for our good fortune. So, have fun with your family this thanksgiving, but don't forget to say 'thank you.' And if you are fumbling for meaningful words, read these thanksgiving inspirational quotes for a push in the right direction."

~ Izaak Walton

So, things were very hectic this summer.  It just worked out that I did not get a trip to the beach (Still a little sad over this) Nor did Jearmy or Starla.  So we decided it was time for a weekend road trip!  So, last Friday John and I both left work at lunch, picked the kids up and hit the road!  We drove up through KY and enjoyed the crazy, beautiful fall colors.  BEAUTIFUL!  We arrived at our hotel in plenty of time for dinner so we checked in and headed off to explore a little and find dinner.  We walked below Newport on the Levee and along theOhio River until we picked a place to eat.  Saturday morning we got up early, had breakfast overlooking the Ohio River and the headed out to the zoo.  It was such a gorgeous day for the zoo!  After wearing ourselves out there we decided to have dinner at this little place I came across on the internet.  It was called Maury's Tiny Cove. What an absolute hidden treasure they have there.(Founded in 1949, Maury's is one of the oldest, continuously operated restaurants in Cincinnati ) WOW.....what a find!  I mean a Filet &Chicken Combo for just $24 and it was excellent.  Everyone got bread baked in their own little bowls, (Starla loved that) and the service was great.  We'll go back next time we are in the area for sure. (LOTS More photos to be posted on FB soon!)

Sunday morning we got up early and had breakfast again overlooking the Ohio River and watching all of the rowers doing their morning training.  We took off for a little sight seeing, exploring a little of downtown and then on to the Levee where we took a ride on the Ducks.  For those unfamiliar they are WWII Amphibious Vehicles.  They drive you around and then straight into the water where they convert to a boat and then you finish your touch back on land and wheels as you started.  Neat to do if you haven't done before.  I rode them in Branson, MO back in 96.  It gives you a different look at things getting a touch on land and water while learning along the way.  After the Duck tour we headed down to Hooters on the River for lunch and then back down town for a little more exploring.  We checked out the Carew Tower.   Completed in 1930 and standing 49 stories high we took 2 different elevators and a flight of stairs to get to the observation deck.  The views are insane, you can see everything!  We then made our way down and strolled through Tiffany's & Co.  (why not? it was right there! LOL) and then on to Fountain Square where we made a stop at Graeter's Ice Cream (founded in 1870 and loved by Oprah) I am telling you I have never been an ice cream person but good lord, if I lived there I would be HUGE!  The mango ice cream was the most amazing ice cream I have ever had!  LOVE LOVE!  After that we took off to find the Holy Cross-Immaculata Parish.  It is a small church but one with a lot of history.  It was considered to be a beacon/watch tower for this in the underground railroad.  It is also the church that hold the splinter from THE cross.   Once we made our stop there it was back to the interstate.  I guess we dropped the kids in their driveway a little after 10:30 on Sunday night.  We had one very packed but very good weekend!  Road Trips are always great!

(not my photo)

“The world is a book 

and those who do not travel 

read only one page.”

~ St. Augustine

Way too long....

Ok, it has been WAY TOO LONG since I have updated my blog.  Sorry, I have been so busy though!  Not sure where to even start to get caught up so I will just go with the flow.  I will try and post some pictures for you as well.  Starla has knee surgery on the 11th.  It has pretty much ruined her summer but she has been so good about it.  She has been a total trooper.  She will just get a late beach trip this year.  The weather has been crazy here since first of April.  Tornados and everything which generally we do not get here.  Lots of hail!  I have had my car repaired and I am now collecting quotes on the roof.  I hate it had to happen that way but it will nice to have a new roof.   I am thankful I am not dealing which much bigger issues.  We didn't have much of a spring in terms of weather so I am ready for fall.   LOL  I am so not a dead of heat kind of person.  The 70's are for me.  I like comfort and nice breezes.  

I am still keeping up with my Snapshot blog.  We are halfway through the year and I haven't missed a single post.  I am so surprised at myself, I never thought I would be able to keep it up this long without missing a day!

Cades Cove 6.26.11

I started at the Gym June 4th.  I have done well going at least 3 times a week.  I even got up and went yesterday morning on my day off at 8am and I go every Saturday at 8am.  A lot of misconceptions with that place for sure.  I wish I had joined that one last year and I joined Curves.  That was such a waste of money.  Anyway, I am doing it now and determined.  VERY!  I got a "Buddy Membership" so I can always take someone with me which has been great too because when one person can't go with me someone else can meet me there so it helps me to keep it up!

Poor Gracie!  She had like 6 baths in 3 hours!

Let's see, the week of June 14th was rough!  My little Gracie got sprayed in the face by a skunk at 1:30 am!  It was AWFUL!  Oh my gosh, I feel bad for her.  I mean here we are July 5th and she still has a little bit of skunk breathe!  It was an adventure for sure and one I hope to not have to deal with again.  YUCK!  (Only did the gym 2 days that week, had to skip the 15th due to the fact that I smelled like a skunk too!)

Work is still just work.  No major changes.  Still doing the dating thing.  Seems to be going smoothly so far, just taking things a day at a time.  It has been going well though and in a positive direction so I don't suppose I can complain there.

Still getting out and about and everywhere.  Cades Cove is always in there somewhere.  Found a new little local place called Parrot Mountain which was pretty neat.  Some great pics that day.  So many beautiful and bright colors.  This past weekend was sort of a lazy weekend.  Watched movies stayed local.  No day long road trips.  Need those weekends here and there for sure.  Went to the park Sat evening for my "daily snapshot" and ended up getting to watch some fireworks from the over look with just about 15-20 others so it was nice to do that and have no crowds!

This one had personality!

No zoom, you can really get this close!

Great view from Panther Creek Overlook!

Anyway, I will try and do better about updating.  I am SURE I have missed things in this post but hopefully I will pick them up here and there. Hope everyone has a nice short work week!

Hope Everyone Had A Safe & Happy July 4th Weekend!

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same."

~Ronald Reagan

Introspection.........

"...why should we not calmly and patiently review our own thoughts, and thoroughly examine and see what these appearances in us really are?" 

~ Plato

 

Introspection......I feel like my entire year thus far has been filled with it!  I guess I have to take blame for that though.  I set out at the first of the year and decided it was going to be a year of change for me.  I was going to make some big changes, I was going to do things I would have not done in the past and so on.  I have to say, I have done a little better at this than I originally thought I would and we are not even half-way through the year so I am pleased with that.  Of course with all of that introspection comes the good and the bad.  There are light and easy days and there are heavy days.  Days that you just feel a bit like the weight of the world is planted firmly, centered on your chest.  My nephew informed I had been changing quickly....lol  I told him only because I pushed myself to do so.  He said there were things he would like to change about himself and I told him he had to just make it a challenge for himself as I have done.  Approach one thing at a time and most importantly, start before I did!  HA!  

Anyway......More on all of that later.   I took Starla to see Bridesmaids on Sunday.  It was actually pretty funny.  Then we took a ride, had to have a snap shot!  Speaking of, when I got home from the movies I checked my messages to find a message from someone who said:

"I went hiking today and took several pics which had me thinking of your daily post, wow you have some great shots and just want to know that your post were enough to get me out and shooting some."

" I guess I kinda wanted to thank you cause I had a great day shooting and hiking, which I've not done as much as I used to, so thanks for being you"  ~ Bri

Wow, thank you so much for sharing that with me.  It means a lot to me that you took the time to actually tell me.  I know there are a ton of people that read my blogs and check out my daily snapshot blog without ever speaking a word.  I am totally cool with that, don't get me wrong.  My blogs are set up so that anyone, anywhere can read them, comment on them or even just click next if they have no interest.  It is always nice to know though that somewhere they have a positive impact on someone. 

The snapshot blogs was one of my new challenges.  I am happy to say that so far I have done good, there is a post for every day of the year!  I love photography.  I am by no means an expert and I have a lot to learn.  Maybe, just maybe, one day I will save for a more proper camera and maybe even take a class.  Who  knows.  Although I have always been more of one to learn by trial and error.  I know this is not always the best or easiest way but I think that in the end all that you learn, good and bad, tends to stick with you more!  Just my opinion, we all have those ya know.  Either way, it has been good for me and it has allowed me to open my eyes and sometimes see something crazy beautiful in something that just months before I would have driven right past and not taken a second look.  It allows you to appreciate so much more in life, you take more time, you really take things in. Who knows, maybe I will go crazy and continue it through 2012?  We shall see.  I will start working on my book soon.  I think that if I don't start uploading and placing photos now that when I am ready to do my 2011 Coffee Table Book I will be completely overwhelmed!

Well, it is Monday, as much as I truly do not want to I suppose I should get to work! 

So, I have been a bit slack due to the simple fact that I just haven't been home much!  So today I took my nephew to see the new Pirates of the Caribbean IMAX 3D movie.  We made a trip by Dillards so I could pick up a few things and then we headed to lunch at Calhouns.  Food was great as always and our waitress was quite entertaining as well.  My nephew cracks me up.  As most know I sort of swore off dating for some time and well recently I decided to get back into it.  So, my nephew decided it was time he tell me what HE thought was important for me to focus on.  (He is 16 so that makes it that much better)  So listed below are the things he thought were Important:

• He has to be very good to me
• He should be able to get along with him (my nephew - ha ha ha, gotta love him)
• He should make me laugh
• He should take me nice places 
• He should have a good job
• He should enjoy some of the same things that I enjoy doing
• He should not enjoy something that will occupy too much of his time and take attention away from me (this one made me giggle)
• More importantly he says, this guy should NOT hurt me.  If he does he will break his legs and .....Well I just wont repeat the rest of that but I am sure you get the point there.
• Oh, and he said that he needed to be quick and witty.  Since I am...lol
• He said that he can't be easily intimidated.  
• He has to be able to keep up.
• He said in some aspects he needs to counter me.

We discussed marriage and kids and all that stuff.  I also discovered that there are "bonus points" added for the one that actually asked if my nephew approved!  LMAO!  He was not too keen on the idea of me possibly getting married in the future.  He said that when people are not as good as they should be that Divorce ends up causing a lot of hurt and that he does not want me to be hurt that this would really, really upset him.  He is an insightful little thing isn't he?  So, even though he is in this stage of "I want to be a BA"  (bad ass, of course the fact that he doesn't even say it says a lot)  lol  It is very clear that he is a smart and loving young man.

IMAX was good as always - Can you go wrong with a 60' screen?

So tomorrow will be Starla's day.  We have plans to go see Bridesmaids.  I hear it is pretty funny.  She is a little in "girly" mode and decided that POTC 3 was just of no interest to her at this time.  LOL  No biggie, I haven't seen a lot of movies in the theatre lately so I am happy to take her.

I am way behind on house cleaning so I am hoping this next week to get caught up on that for sure!!  I can't stand that my house is so dirty!  Good lord, I have become my parents!  EEEKKKK

So, anyway there is a quick little update on things.  I will try and write more later!!

When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than youever dreamed yourself to be.

~ Patanjali – the author of Yoga Sutra

So....I have been OK about updating but not great.  I will continue to improve on that.  There has been SO much going on lately.  Let's see, the weekend of April 9th Starla and I took off on another one of our mini road trips.  We always make it home before the day ends but often get lost a number of times along the way.  That is part of what makes it so fun.  We venture off somewhere new and always see something a little scary and something amazingly beautiful it seems.  We have a good time though rain or shine.  We ended up making a huge day of it and went all sorts of places and found all sorts of "new" places.  New to us at least.  We finished off in Johnson City with dinner and then started our drive home.  It was supposed to have stormed all day but ended up being sunny and beautiful.  Just as we were headed out the rain started.  Just as we entered the Green Co line on I81 there was a tornado warning over the radio and about that same moment we started getting pounded by hail the size of golf balls and even bigger.  Needless to say it made the almost full hour that we sat there, moving no further than maybe a quarter mile if that - VERY LONG!  Let me just say, the abrupt Tornado Warnings is not something that happens around here.  When it does, it usually doesn't end well.  I guess we can say that is one down fall of living in these beautiful mountains!  It was not fun for sure!  When all was said and done and when the reports from Green Co residents and officials were coming over the radio before we even made it home I was just THANKFUL.  My sister said that mom called her and told her when she spoke with me (while I was sitting in the storm with nowhere to go) that I was handling this all quite well.  I was.  I just kept reminding myself (even though I just had my car repainted!) that this is why I have insurance and that Starla and I were OK.  We even got out of it without any broken car windows unlike a lot of other people.  We were safe and in the end that was really all that mattered.  They had a tornado come through when my mom was little and one of her sisters (my aunt) actually got picked up by one and is still with us today!  I will try and remember to upload the video we took on the interstate later, don't have it with me at the moment.

April 27th-28th - This event already has a Wikipedia page!  That is just crazy!  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornadoes_of_2011  Of course, this page is not fully updated and will continue to change.  That last streak we had like this I believe the news said was 1974 and even that when did not create the death toll that this past week did.  Over 342 was the last count released over 6 states.  Alabama, they were absolutely pounded by the fury of mother nature.  Greene Co, Tennessee (mind you, where Starla and I sat on the interstate just on the 8th) was hard hit in our area.  They are still cleaning up.  Everyone is still cleaning up in all 6 states and several are still doing "Recovery" and there are news posts of tons of "missing".  It has all just been crazy.  It catches everyone off guard here because Like I said, especially in the area I live in, this sort of thing just doesn't happen every season!  Lots of thoughts and prayers still going on in my heart and mind for ALL who are dealing with this.

His daddy doesn't allow his face on the internet but he is a doll!

April 30th started off with a beautiful morning at the park taking pictures of one of my most favorite little guys ever and with one of my most favorite people!  Good morning with Julie and Dawson and he did pretty good for a 2 year old at the park. He is a joy though.  I just adore him. The only kids I like more are Starla and Jeramy....LOL  After that I headed towards NC with John.  We ended up walking the gardens and trail at Biltmore, exploring a little of the old neighborhood and then decided to take the long drive home over the Blue Ridge Parkway.  It was nice.  Had not done that in ages and I grew up doing it every weekend with mom and dad so it was a nice day.

I love having this park so close to me!

Biltmore Gardens

May 1, 2011 (US)

US forces kill Osama bin Laden in Pakistan

'Justice has been done,' Obama says; 9/11 mastermind is buried at sea after deadly gunbattle"

Well now, this has clearly been a long time coming.  From the moment it was announced I have watched the posts on FB and read peoples comments, not saying too much on the matter.  I have a friend currently in the Middle East who will be leaving in another week or so headed for India.  I have another friend, hopefully, on their way here now.  They were in Dubai and headed this way but by the 20th will be heading straight back to the Middle East (using this loosely, I know, can't really give out a specific location).  I hope they both along with everyone else are safe as they travel.  There has been a lot of talk in regards to the US respecting the Religion of this man.  Without getting into religion it can be simply put that we are taught from a young age that "Two wrongs do not make a right".  I think that for us to stoop down to the level of our enemies does nothing but show we are no better than they are.  This is a pretty clear rule that we have learned at one time or another in our lives.  It is also a good thing to point out that in being respectful of that we are not out to enrage others just so we can behave like a bunch of jerks!  If you want to get all religious about it.  As Christians we are taught to love all of God's children.  That does not discriminate between race, sex, religion, region or anything else.  It is a simple and clear rule.  We are taught that it is not our place to judge others, that is God's place.  If we choose to be disrespectful of someone elses beliefs then you are not being very "Christian".  It goes to the whole being a hypocrite thing.  It is like "selective hearing", so many people chose to be "Christian" but only when it suits their current needs.  They have created "Selective Christianity". I would like to say that everyone's disrespectful outbursts will have no role in what the future now holds given this recent and long awaited news but I feel that more than ever it will not go as planned.  I guess only time will tell.  I have saw a few people that have spoken well in their response.  I will share what my friend Rita Davis posted with you as it is the one that resonates with me.

Freedom rings true! Hypocrisy.... sounds about the same. God bless the brave men and women who put their lives on the line for all of us, and may God bring true justice to light. I do not rejoice in someone's death, but in justice being served. I pray that in this instance - we will be thankful and somber at the events unfolding. None of us can correctly judge this man, situation or these people for eternity... let's keep that in mind - we will all stand before God at some point. But by Grace We Will Be Saved! Let's not be self righteous.

 I think that everyone truly needs to make more of an effort to be respectful of others.  I have a lot of friends with very different views in life.  Some are straight, some are gay, they are of all nationalities, some are true Christians and some don't believe.  I DO NOT Judge them based on these things.  It is simply not my place to.  I need to live my life within the boundaries I set for myself, not someone else.  I embrace all of my friends and all of their differences.  If I don't want someone telling me that I can't believe in GOD and I can't believe in loving whom ever it may be that I choose to love then I clearly have no right telling someone else.  They have the same right I have and if I expect them to respect mine I have to respect theirs as well.  In the end, for me, we are ALL children of GOD and it is his place, not ours.  I appreciate the eclectic group of people I have in my life and I learn something from all of them and in the end if they can learn something positive from me, I am happy with that.  If they were all just like me, well I would venture to say my back yard would be filled with holes 6' deep....LOL

My  mom just LOVES the word HYPOCRITE!  Ha ha ha.  I remember one day my brother using that word and mom turned and immediately asked for the definition of Hypocrite, when Brandon could not tell her he ended up writing the definition until he could never forget it!  LOL  Trust me, there is an upside to being the baby in the family.  The first time I told my mom that she "irked" me, I damn well knew the spelling and definition.  I knew better!  Gotta love my mom!

By the way mom, thanks for waking me up!  I call and check on mom every morning as I am driving to work so when I had not called and it was later than my normal time she called me.

I hear this wonderful song in my ear, I keep turning it down though because I am sleeping!  Finally I hear more lovely music in my ear and I pick up the phone and see mom's smiling face:

me:  grrrrr Hello!

mom:  what are you doing?

me:  I am laying here!

mom: Are you still asleep?!?

me: No, I am waking up....geeesh.....

mom: You are supposed to be at work! You overslept!

me: OH CRAP!

mom: You better call work!

bawhahahahahahahaha......Happy Monday Morning!

It is not sufficient to be worthy of respect 

in order to be respected. 

~ Alfred Nobel

Respect for ourselves guides our morals; 

respect for others guides our manners. 

~ Laurence Sterne