Mood:  lyrical

Another year has almost come and gone; and what a year it’s been.  I cant believe that my life just keeps getting better and better, but it does.  Last year I wrote about all the wonderful times I’d had and the friends I’d made, and this year it’s happening all over again. 

I wake up every morning and pinch myself to make sure I’m really me and this is really my life.  It’s a dream come true … a fairy tale … a made-for-tv movie.  Even my bad days are good. 

The celebrations started early in the week with a card and gift from my very best friend since grammar school. We’ve been like sisters all these years … when my kids were small, they even called her ‘aunt’.   The next day I got a gift in the mail from another ‘sister’ … one that I met about four years ago.  A gift that was as perfect as it gets.  It’s not about the gift (which was absolutely fantastic by anyone’s standards) but the fact that it was something that she knew I’d love … because she knew me.  Because she’d noticed the things I like.  I feel blessed to have such a friend … whom by the way, my daughter also calls ‘aunt’.  Today I got homemade brownies from my coworkers, and two Maxine cards (Maxine and I have a lot in common!)  The celebration will top off tomorrow night when my daughter takes me to the Bluebird.  It’s become a tradition to celebrate in Nashville.  I feel more at home there than I do anywhere. 

I’ve continued friendships this year that I’ve made over the past few years … some have developed from acquaintances into strong friendships, some have remained acquaintances, and some have slowly drifted into a less familiar friendship.  But I certainly wouldn’t trade any one of them away, because each and every person that has crossed my path, this year and in years past, has enriched my life more than they could ever know. 

I wouldn’t ask for a “do-over” of one single minute of the past year.    Even the ‘bad’ moments have helped to make me who I am.  I hope I’ve handled those moments in a way that I can be proud of as the years continue to roll by.

I am blessed with good health, a loving, caring, supportive family, and the best friends a gal could ask for. 

So to all of you I say … thank you for being there for me … and for putting up with me, even on the days I know I was a pain in the behind.  And for letting me rant and ramble and cry on your shoulder, and for being my sounding board when I need to vent. 

I’m already looking forward to next year!!  And I’m glad you will all be along to make the journey with me.  I am so blessed to have you!  I love you all. 

There are no buffalo roaming .... or antelope playing ..... but there is an occasional deer or three .... and there are bunny rabbits galore, and even a little pond with some big fishes. 

It's a lot of work keeping it up, but it's a nice sense of accomplishment when you get done at the end of a long (long) day and look out over it and see what you've done.  Not to mention that riding around all day with the drone of the mower gives you plenty of time to sort out your thoughts and prioritize your life. 

Whew!  I got it done.  The rain didnt last long, so I suited up and headed out.  I mowed for a couple of hours, then the sun came out and it got HOT, so I came in, rested, cooled off, ate some lunch ... rested some more ... LOL .... and then back out I went. 

I got almost all of it done.  Well, I got all I'm gonna do done.  I have about 3/4 acre that is sort of a jungle, with all the rain and sun we've had lately, it's gotten ahead of me.  But .. my neighbor rode over last week and said he'd take care of it with his tractor for me, so I'm gonna let him have at it.  He can probably do in 15-20 minutes what it would take me two hours to do.  And some of it I couldnt get done anyway.  I do have a pretty good sized mower, but he has a tractor and bushhog. 

So, now I've had my shower, and I'm starving and I dont have a dadgum thing in the house to fix for dinner.  So, BabyGurl gets off in half an hour and I'll see if she wants to either pick up a pizza on her way home, or when she gets here we can go to the Chinese buffet.  And since this is one of the rare days when BabyBoy gets off work the same time as BabyGurl, I think I'll call him too and see if he wants to join us. 

Anybody else wanna come along??

Well, maybe not in the truest sense of the word.  I was gonna do it ... today ... but .....

When I got home from work last night, I had the intention of cutting grass.  I have a lot to cut, and as soon as I get done, it's time to start over - especially since we've had adequate rain this year.  But, when I got home I was just so worn out (mentally, more than physically) and it was pretty hot here (90's) so I decided I'd turn in early last night and get up this a.m. when BabyGurl got up to go to work, and I'd mow and mow and mow .....

But, as I was about to crawl out of bed this morning and crawl into my mowing attire ... I heard this sound ..... rain ...... and it poured down for over an hour.  In fact, it's just now letting up.  Which means, that the grass is now too wet to mow.  Maybe there are a few spots that I'll be able to take care of this afternoon (when it's 90 degrees again), IF it doesnt rain any more this afternoon.  However, there is an 80% chance of scattered thunderstorms this afternoon.  Sigh .... now I'll never get caught up. 

On the up side ..... DirecTV is offering a "free-view" of premium channels this weekend, so I'm going to watch the Encore Western channel all day today!  And maybe I'll even do a load of laundry.  Maybe. 

Mood:  quizzical

How stupid can you be?

 http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/automotive/16587141/detail.html

I gotta tell ya, EVERY time I get on my motorcycle I put on a helmet, and I will do so even if it's 120 degrees outside and I'm in a 'no-helmet' state.  I value my health and my life very highly!

When my brother was 14 (26 years ago) he was riding his motorcycle and was struck by a car at a blind intersection.  He was tossed over the car, and when he landed one of his shoes had come off and his helmet was cracked.  I hate to think what would have happened to his head if he'd not been wearing a helmet. 

His upper leg was busted, lower leg was broke - the pins in his lower leg were removed, but he still has a metal plate in his upper leg.  Thankfully, after a month-long hospital stay, other than a little pre-mature authritis in that leg he is none the worse for the wear.

When I bought my first motorcycle (29 years ago) the lady I bought it from kept her helmet because she still rode with her husband on his bike.  So off to the bike shop I went to get a new helmet.  When the salesman showed me the different ones and told me the different prices, I asked "what do you reccomend?"  He said "that depends; what is your head worth?"  I bought the most expensive one they had! 

Mood:  irritated

Some parents (if you can even call them that!) should just be tarred and feathered - no questions asked. 

http://www.kpho.com/news/16585299/detail.html

Mood:  on fire

You ever just wonder “why bother?”  I mean, you get all worked up about something, and maybe you write a letter to the editor, or you speak at a civic meeting, or you send an email, or whatever.  There are multitudes of ways you can express your opinion, offer your ideas; even offer to help change things.  And then when you’ve done all that, and the dust settles and nobody seems to care, or sometimes even notice or acknowledge your efforts – you’re left wondering “why even bother?”

And then you say to yourself …  “oh yeah, now I remember.  It’s because I care.”  So, go ahead, voice your opinion, stand up for what you believe in … even if nobody else does.  

Mood:  incredulous

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/11/italy1

An article from our local paper.  I'll try to post photos when the project is complete.

http://shelbycountyreporter.com/articles/2008/06/06/news/news628.txt

When modern medicine, dedicated doctors, and God's divine hand all come together .... we get wonderful results.

 http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/24999650/