A Night Without Internet

I survived a night without the internet and I'm here to tell you it was a piece of cake. I came in from work, went straight to my laptop, and hit the power button. With mounting anticipation, I clicked on Explorer once the hourglass finally disappeared. Nothing happened. No big deal. I can't get online. I asked Robin to check his laptop. Same story. I calmly walked to the office to check the desk computer. It, too, wasn't responding. The storm we'd had did somethng to the computer connection and our provider would have it working in no time.


It didn't happen. It still wasn't working when I awoke this morning. So how did I get through the night? I cooked dinner and occasionally checked my conection. I did a load of wash and checked the connection. I ironed, heart racing and my body breaking a sweat, and folded the clothes for my trip to Georgia. One swipe of the iron, check the computer, one swipe of the iron
. . .

I washed dishes and thought about how I couldn't check mail or the blogs. I'd wring the dishcloth, then wring my hands. My face was flushed. Horrible tremors assailed me as I kept going to my beloved laptop and discovering how it was letting me down again.

But I survived. It was really no big deal. I accomplished many things instead of wasting precious time staring at the monitor. Logic told me I would have internet at work and delaying that experience for a few hours wouldn't kill me. I gulped down my coffee, picked up all the paper sacks I'd breathed into since I'd been home, and anxiously drove myself to work. No big deal at all.

Gecko Invasion

Sorry, no pictures of the three visitors we had this evening, uninvited into our home. Robin came through with cupped hands and told me he had a baby gecko that he found in the hallway. OK, it's not that unusual. We have found them on occasion. But he came through again in a few minutes with another one, also in the hallway. The third one was in the den.

Now I know these baby-bottom pink newborns can't hurt me, but I have an aversion for anything reptilian in appearance. Also, I fear that if a baby lizard can find its way into my home, a baby snake could, too. That's also happened before.

Just a few weeks ago I found a toddler-size gecko in the kitchen, screamed for Robin, and he came to my rescue. Another time recently, Robin got one out of our bathtub. Maybe it's the rainy season we've had, but they seem to prefer being indoors.

I'm on my laptop in the evenings at the kitchen table. The bright lights in there draw the moths to the window, and shortly after, the grown-up geckos. I sit here and watch them dine on moths or just scurry across the glass. There's always two, sometimes three.

I think my aversion to lizards occurred when I was pregnant with Angela and was in the backyard watching the other two kids play. I felt something go up my leg and down went my pants. I doubt anyone has come out of maternity clothes as quickly as I did that day. As my pants went down, a lizard untangled itself from my clothes and hurried off. You are probably thinking he was just as afraid of me as I was of him. I don't think so.

On top of the gecko infestation, we still have a mouse on the loose in the pantry. It has helped itself to many bags of chips and brown gravy mix. Robin set two mouse traps in there (you might remember that one caught my foot recently) and we awake every morning to missing cheese and no mouse. Puny traps. Robin worked on them tonight and now they seem to pack a punch. Geckos might not be the only thing we catch tonight.

Moral of this story: Men come in handy sometimes.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Baylee!

On August twenty-seventh,

In the year two thousand and four;

We welcomed little Baylee

With smiles and love galore.

She's as sweet as cotton candy,

As fresh as the morning dew;

Her silky, curly crown of hair

Is a rich milk chocolate hue.

Her Mom and Dad rejoiced

At their first little girl.

Her presence is as sunshine,

She's brightened up our world.

She has such a tender heart

For animals large and small.

Cats, dogs and ponies,

Baylee loves them all.

What could be more precious

Than a heart to match that face?

With her big dancing eyes,

And arms ready to embrace.

She's such a priceless treasure,

One created from above.

Thank you, Lord, for giving us

This blessed girl to love.

Baylee, Memaw loves you so much. You are a little doll.

Good-bye Vegas, Hello Beach

Robin and I decided to cancel our Vegas trip for September. Actually, our businesses decided for us. His is going through a slump, too, and mine has stayed in one lately. I called my vacation club and changed the week for August 29 in Galveston. I had to pay another trade fee, but it was better than losing the week altogether.

We'll be staying at Silverleaf''s Seaside Resort. We have reserved a two bedroom, two bath condo. That's a lot of room for two people but we are hoping Donna and James will go with us. Robin wants to get in some deep-sea fishing and James enjoys that sport as well. As for us Sissies, Donna and I will love being lazy poolside. We've got a year to work on them and convince them that they need sun and sand.

Since we were able to roll over that week to next year, that leaves another week to reserve. Hmmm, wonder where that will be? Well, Bandera, of course! Cheryl and I won't give up that paradise for anything. My Sissy and her friend are welcome, too. Fair warning: we are boring that week. It's total rest, games, and food. Join us if you enjoy a week of non-activity. We do, however, exercise our jaws.

So, Robin has to wait a year for a vacation. As for me, I will spend a week in Georgia with Angela and family, then Bandera early next year. Sorry, Robin! But not sorry enough to stay home.

A Date With Baylee

Baylee was the center of attention while on a birthday date with Memaw and Papa. She will be three on Monday and we thought we'd do lunch and shop in honor of it. When we got to my house, Papa gave her a horse on a keyring that he'd picked up for her. It's a "mad horse" who brays, then goes into a very annoying laugh. Allison is really going to appreciate this one!

For lunch, Baylee chose Steak & Shake due to her love for their grilled cheese sandwiches and fries. Papa thought her choice sounded good, so he ordered one too. I stuck with my favorite, their single burger with fries. Baylee wanted to sit with Papa and they colored while waiting for our food. After we finished eating, the excitement began to mount: it was time to stroll through Toys R Us and choose the perfect gifts.

I fully expected Baylee to run through the store, as any child would in such a well-stocked paradise, and point to everything in sight. It wasn't that way at all. She wanted to ride (confined!) in the basket and go straight to where the ponies were kept. I'd show her things on the way, but she was focused. "No, I want other ponies." Either she is a well trained and behaved young lady - and as Memaw, I'd have to agree - or her Mom told her to stop wanting when I drew the line.

We finally found the aisle where My Little Ponies were stabled, and Baylee's eyes glazed over as they darted from shelf to shelf. I saw a big pink pony on the lower shelf and pointed to it. Yes, she wanted to inspect it closer. It has a long pink mane, with lighted buttons at her hoof that animate her into song and movements. I looked at the price on the shelf and noted she was under her limit, even though she had fallen in love and was ready to go and free her pony from its box. So in my desire to be fair, I told her she could have something else. No, she was fine with what she had. I know she likes mama and baby animals so I suggested a box with three smaller ponies so the big pink pony could be the mother of three. She relented and accepted my offer.

We selected a transformer for Jude and a stuffed pink and white cow for Sophia, then paid for our treasures. I thought the purchase total was a little higher than I expected and later looked at my receipt and discovered the big pink pony with all the animation was actually $30 more than I thought it was. Oh well, Baylee is worth it.

On the way to her house, Papa had the job of untying all the horses from their box so she could hold them. We heard big pony's many songs and voices during the drive. Fortunately, we'd hid the mad horse until we got her home, then proudly asked her to show it to her family.

Baylee and her tender heart couldn't wait to hug Jude and Sophia and present them with their little gifts. She even gave Jude the "floppy" money I'd put in her card, a dollar for each year. In time I'm sure she will learn that floppy money goes so much farther than those hard coins.

We had a great time with the youngest of our grandchildren that we have taken out for a birthday treat. She did marvelous! And she's been anticipating this day since March when we took Jude out for his special day.

Baylee was recognized in her Sabbath School class today for turning three. We sang to her and the kids ate banana cake. Then, she had special music with her Mom in front of the big church. Allison began singing along with her to make sure she wasn't timid. Twice Baylee stopped singing, put her hand to her Mom's mouth and said, "I don't need your help". She sang part of the song then decided she was finished. Too cute.

Thank you for a wonderful day, Baylee! We love you!

New Family of 5

I'm having to steal pictures off Angela's blog since I'm not there in person to take a hundred pictures of this new family of five. I love the smile on Juliet's face as she holds her baby brother. I also love the picture of Angela's three men. And, of course, the picture of my baby daughter with her three babies thrills me and reminds me how quickly time escapes our grasp. What a precious little family that I love very much.

More On Callan

Little Callan has very happy parents (and grandparents) right now. I talked with Angela this evening and she is totally in love with the newest man in her life. She nursed him for the first time and he acted like he knew what it was all about. He latched on and had to be physically removed 40 minutes later. As Angela told him, here's your first introduction to a lifelong obsession.

Angela's tears of joy when describing her little son really warmed my heart. She and Clayton have had some painful disappointments and losses and I'm thankful they now have their third child, one they wanted so badly. He's a lucky little guy.

Tonight Ashton and Juliet will be meeting their little brother. They are anticipating it very much. I get to meet him late on September 2, when I fly there to spend a week with them. I'm looking forward to meeting the "caboose" of my family.

Angela thinks he favors Juliet and Clayton is leaning more towards Ashton. Both agree he has the family look, which looks fantastic on Ashton and Juliet.
My love and heart-felt congratulations to this sweet little family. They are truly counting their blessings tonight, as we all are.

Callan's Here!!!

Clayton called about 4: 35 and announced they have a perfectly healthy baby boy! Callan weighed in at seven pounds, seven ounces. No information yet on his length, but we all know he will be a tall, strapping young man someday.

Clayton and Angela are very happy right now and Angela was holding Callan for the first time when Clayton called. They will keep us informed.

Thank you, Lord, for a healthy baby and a Mommy who went through it like a pro!

Baby Update - 5

Ready to push! Clayton just called me (it's 4:10 Texas time) and Angela is getting ready to start pushing. She wanted me to know it was TIME! Hopefully, there won't be a #6 update, but a grand announcement!

Baby Update - 4

Angela just phoned again with a progress report. She's been at a four for two hours now, and the epidural is wearing off. She is contacting them for another fix. It appears that Callan is on his own schedule. It's almost 3:00 pm in Georgia. Stay tuned . . .

Baby Update - 3

I just spoke with Angela. They were able to get her epidural working properly and she's finally in a comfort zone. I'm happy she's no longer feeling those strong contractions, but only the pressure from them. So now, they are playing the waiting game - not that childbirth can be considered fun and games. More to come as events unfold.

Baby Update - 2

Angela left for the hospital this morning at 5:40. The latest news is that the contractions are two minutes apart and she has the epidural, which she says isn't helping her too much. The doctor said it could still be a few more hours.

Please keep her and Callan in your prayers.

Baby Update

Angela didn't go into the hospital this evening as planned. She called there to make sure a room was available for her, and Nursezilla informed her that plans couldn't be rearranged for Angela's convenience. Angela explained that her doctor asked her to call and see if she could get in, and still, Nursezilla told her there were women in real labor, women with emergency C-sections, and they were more important than someone who wanted to induce labor two weeks ahead of schedule.

So, there was no room at the inn, and she was told to call back at 5:00 in the morning. Yeah, we're all up by then, just planning our day and whistling as we go. We're all disappointed. We thought Mom and Baby would be sharing their first kiss by the time my own alarm goes off in the morning. Of course, Nursezilla told Angela that regardless of how her last two inductions went, she "has no way of knowing" that she would be ready to give birth by the morning off-to-work traffic jam. No room to even speculate. My third one - Angela - arrived one hour and fifteen minutes after I arrived at the hospital. But, of course, we can't go on past performances.

I hope by tomorrow morning I will be able to report that Angela has a hospital bed and labor is progressing as planned. I hope, too, that Nursezilla is home recovering from her mean shift and learns later that Mother and Baby also had a health concern that needed attention. She wasn't being induced for her own convenience. I'd report her. Angela probably will. You go, Girl!

The Last Belly Day

The basketball belly that Angela is sporting in this picture is on its last day. She enters the hospital this evening to begin inducing labor. Chances are our little Callan John will arrive tomorrow on the 23rd.

Angela is on medication to control the amount of bile acid her system is producing. Still, she and her doctor feel better knowing the baby is ready to be delivered into the loving arms of his family. Stay tuned, adorable pictures of my 9th grandbaby are forthcoming!

BOGO!

Patty and I had to make a run to two Payless Shoe Stores for the advertised BOGO. Patty found a cute pair of black shoes for herself and a pair of pink house slippers for her granddaughter, Eden. Unfortunately, I didn't find anything I needed or wanted. Robin had given me shoe money (he knows some of the ways to my heart) so I was anxious to take advantage of BOGO and come home with at least two new pairs.

I didn't think to bring my camera, but Patty did. She, at least, was thinking of my blog. I was so embarrassed when she had me to stand in front of the BOGO sign outside of the store. I, in turn, insisted that I take her picture, too. Then the fun began, in spite of our embarrassment. We began trying on ridiculous looking shoes for the sake of my blog. Yes, we received some curious stares, but we snapped away.

Enjoy as we model some of the latest fashions at Payless. It doesn't take much to make us happy!

Update on Cheryl

Cheryl's husband, Sid, called me a few minutes ago and told me no blockages were found in Cheryl's heart. That's great news! Her heart seems to be fine. However, there is still some reason why she is having problems and further tests may be in the works. It could be that her asthma needs more attention. Your continued prayers are appreciated, and we can praise God that Cheryl's heart is good. But then, I knew that!!!

Celebrating 14 Years of BBs

It was 14 years ago today that God sent Cheryl and I to the grief recovery seminar so that He could fill part of the void in our lives. I won't repeat "Our Story", but I do want to recognize the date and the occasion.

Thank you, Cheryl, for being my anchor. That pretty much sums up all you mean to me. An anchor holds and keeps one rooted. You have been my anchor in good and bad times, through an incredible friendship, as a confidante, as a leader and instructor, and as one who doesn't judge, but accepts me as I am. That in itself, is a major feat. Thank you for listening, for encouraging, for laughing with me, and crying with me. Thank you for sharing your beautiful life and character with me. You have been so instrumental in my growth and stability. And thank you for the touching e-card you sent to celebrate this wonderful day. I greatly cherish your presence in my life.

Now, I'm pleading with my blog sisters to pray for my BB, my anchor, my lifeline. Cheryl will enter the hospital tomorrow for an arteriogram, a procedure to check for damages in her heart. She's been having some problems and her doctor is concerned that they are related to her heart. I can't vouch for her physical heart, but I can assure you that her emotional heart is as pure as gold. I ask that you lift Cheryl in prayer tomorrow as she faces an unknown. Ask that God will comfort her and bring her peace, knowing He is there through it all. Thank you for your prayers.

And thank you, Cheryl, for being the woman you are, and for all you've done for me. I know God will continue to care for the friendship He started 14 years ago today. You remain in my prayers and heart. I love you, BB, SF, FF.

I Got The Message

It took two experiences, but I finally got the message. A local restaurant chain that serves delicious Mexican food has triggered an ulcer war both times I ate there. There's also another popular home-cooking chain that does the same thing to me. It might be the oil they use.

Patty and I indulged in the Mexican food today and I ate a lot. It was my only meal of the day and I was famished. They serve unique individual bowls of chips with salsa. The chips are different than what most restaurants serve in that the shape is smaller, almost like Fritos, and they are crunchy, greasy and delicious. The grease will get me almost every time.

I'd rather omit a restaurant from my list of places to eat because of a dislike for their food or service. I don't want to scratch one off because the food doesn't like me. Knowing how I reacted when Allison took me there once, I swallowed an acid reducer prior to eating. I took two more when I got home, and two more a little later when the pain wouldn't let up. I'm asking God for a cast iron stomach when I get to heaven.

Before the pain really set in, Patty and I went to a quaint little cafe for coffee, apricot tea, and caramel apple pastries. That didn't help me any. When indulging in instant gratification, we usually pay the consequences later.

Note to self: There are two restaurants who serve food that makes your taste buds rejoice! Stay away! The pain isn't worth the fun. It's kinda like having sex and getting pregnant.

Countdown to # 9

Callan John, my 9th grandchild, is scheduled to arrive next Thursday, August 23. Like her pregnancies before, Angela's labs show too must bile acid in her system so labor will be induced. She will see her doctor again on Monday and if there are no changes, the delivery will be set for the 23rd.

Clayton will take off and help Angela the first week or so after they bring Callan home. I will fly there around Labor Day and take over for Clayton as he returns to work. I'm anxious to meet my newest grandson, and spend some quality time with Ashton and Juliet. And, needless to say, I miss my daughter so bad that I can hardly stand it. It will be a wonderful visit, and a hard visit to end.

Ashton and Juliet are looking forward to my funny face pancakes and the cookies I bake for them. Angela has warned me to be prepared to do a lot of math problems with Ashton. I know he will quickly expose my stupidity, but who better to outshine you than a grandson? He will help me brush up on my Algebra, and I'm not kidding. He even creates his own Algebra problems. He may find Memaw a very dull playmate.

Juliet has always had a fear of me. I hope now that she's older and we will spend more time together (not to mention my laser hair removal), that she will warm up to me and let me love all over her. She talks easily on the phone to me, but face to face might be awkward for her at first. I really believe we will become great pals on this trip. I plan to share some of my perfume with her and that should make us instant friends.

I feel really blessed to have nine grandchildren. Each one is so unique and special. Five girls and four boys is as balanced as it gets with an odd number. Thank you, Lord, for Candice, Camryn, Thomas, Jude, Baylee, Sophia, Ashton, Juliet, and precious little Callan.

More Old Friends

It was wonderful to get a call from Jan today. She and I became friends in high school, so we go way back. She called to invite me to lunch, then treated me to baked lasagna at Angelo's. She even stopped and picked up a bag of peanut M&Ms for me. That token of kindness endears her to me even more.

There was so much construction going on that we were taking detours left and right to the restaurant. That gave us the opportunity to relive some of our childhood as we passed by places from our youth and the home Jan's grandmother used to live in. We discussed books, family, and old times. It was such a fun time and a needed diversion for me.

Jan is such an "UP" person that one can't stay down very long in her presence. She always has a smile on her face and a kind word on her lips. She never meets a stranger and loves everyone she meets. And she laughs a lot. Laughter is so good for the soul.

Jan is also a great promoter for Simon Says, Books One and Two. She's told all her friends and family about them - and that includes a lot of people. I've tried to hire her as an agent, but she just retired and assuming another position isn't too appealing, and I don't blame her. Instead, she is dedicated to spreading the word and hoping I will get rich because of it. As you've read before, Jan once typed one of my stories for me in high school. This was before I got my hunt and peck down pat.

She's a wonderful blessing in my life and I love seeing her walk into my office at work. Looking up at her wide smile is always refreshing. Thank you, Jan. You're such a dear friend.

Woe Is Me

Fair warning: I'm sitting on my Pity Potty today and it will take a miracle to get me off. But I believe in miracles and witnessed quite a few in my lifetime. Most concerned my business and it is in dire need of another one.

The machine that was down for two months, then up again at the expense of $22,000, is down again. It over-heated last week and shut down. We let it cool off - for days now - and it still refuses to run. Then, we blew a hose on another machine. Our punching abilities are now at a standstill.

This latest problem has happened at a time when I hadn't even begun the recovery from the previous disaster. Our loss in down time is in the thousands of dollars and we weren't in the position to handle such a blow. None of my options are good.

First of all, I don't believe in bankruptcy. My financial problems should remain mine, and not placed on those who put their trust in me and my company to fulfill an obligation. So this option is no option at all.

I could cash in all investments and sell my house and be able to walk away from Hi-Tech debt free. This isn't a good option either. Where would I live? Where would I work? How would I build up for retirement? I would own nothing and still have a big hospital bill.

The final option is to hang on a little longer and see what happens. Will the time come when utilities are turned off and the doors are locked? Will my employees stand there with their hands out and I have no paycheck to give them? Will the bank take my personal CD, equipment, and receivables and call it even? Will it take off and become profitable again, perhaps even able to pay me back all the money it has taken from me? Will God step in and perform another miracle as He's done the past 14 years that I have been saddled with this company?

I never wanted to be the sole owner of a sheet metal company. But I'm here, coddling it along, hoping to preserve something my husband started and loved being a part of. And to be honest, I love it, too. Many of you know that I refer to it as my baby, my handicapped baby that will always need me. As Chezzy was dying, he told me to make the company take care of me, not me taking care of the company. I've failed in that area. I'm the mother, the nurturer, the one feeding it all my personal money, only to have it come back for more. I'm the caretaker and I'm drained, mentally and physically.

I'm making a great effort to listen to God. Looking back, I see all the ways He has helped me along, proving to me that He hasn't given up on Hi-Tech. Our move to Irving and being able to operate rent-free is definitely a miracle. It enabled us to start catching up. I want to be anxious to see how God will handle this latest setback, but I tend to be more overwhelmed than anxious.

Please keep us in your prayers. I want my mind to be clear enough, free from worry and despair, to heed the direction God is pointing toward. I'm so tired of the fight, yet know that trials come along to cleanse us. I want to live again, not hide in my home. That's where I long to be, safe within those walls that I know so well. I've lost interest in so much that should be important to me.

I'm still on my Pity Potty but venting has been therapeutic. For those of you who are still reading this post, I thank you for your support and prayers.

A Card From The Heart

Robin and I received the sweetest card yesterday from Jude and Baylee. They knew they were coming over here to swim and Jude suggested that they get us a card. I so agree with what Allison told him, that a card without a special occasion attached, is special indeed.

It wasn't our birthdays, or grandparent's Day. It was just a sweet note thanking me for making them good pancakes and Papa for watching Sponge Bob Square Pants with them. What they might not know, is I love making pancakes for them and Papa loves any TV show that is geared for pre-schoolers. The note also thanked us for letting them come over to swim.

I was touched that Jude - being of the male gender - would want to give a card for no other reason than to show his love and appreciation. Those are the best cards of all. None of us are surprised by birthday cards, but that rare card that arrives to thank you for being you is really awesome.

I once told a friend, "Jude is so sweet. It's hard to believe he will grow up someday and make some woman's life miserable." I think I was all wrong about this little guy.

Thank you, Jude and Baylee. I love you both!

Fun In The Sun

We had a wonderful day in the pool. Believe it or not, this was my first time in this summer. The pool water has been too cold for this Memaw! But I braved the 87 degree water to enjoy swimming with three of my grandchildren.

One of the big highlights of the day was watching the progress Jude is making with his swimming under water. Each time he did, his distance increased. We were all so proud of him and he realized he'd made a very good accomplishment too. He even suggested letting him be Baylee's swim instructor. And beside his swimming, he jumped off the diving board a few times too!

Randee and I "pooled" our talents and resources and came up with a very delicious meal for the hungry swimmers. She made this wonderful chicken and eggplant parmesan over spaghetti. It was so good! I provided the salad, French bread, and Italian green beans. Also, I'd baked a chocolate cheesecake, using Randee's famous recipe, and whipped up a batch of strawberry cupcakes for the kids. After feasting on all of that, it was back in the pool for more water fun.

Papa Robin bought a blow-up lizard for the kids to play with in the pool. He also got several pool rockets. They shoot across the pool when thrown, or can be chewed on by Sophia, who had fun splashing in her ladybug pool float. Baylee did her fair share of splashing and laughing today, too. All three of them were happy little fish today.

Now, the pool is still and empty, the kitchen is cleaned, laundry is finished, and so are Memaw and Papa! But the active day was good for us and we enjoyed it so much. Thank you, God, for family!

I stand Corrected

Boy, do I have egg on my face. I get so high and mighty about my ability to memorize how a word looks, and then spell it correctly. My kids have at times asked me how to spell certain words and I am constantly correcting Cheryl for words she messes up so badly that she ends up writing "whatever". And I usually know which form of a word to use when dealing with words that sound alike or closely alike. Words like effect and affect, and advice and advise. I've actually made fun of my best friend for asking me for a receipt for a delicious meal I prepared.

So imagine my shock (and pride) when my daughter, Randee, told me I had used the wrong word in one of my posts. It was the "Spam" post where I said "peaked your interest". I remember sitting there, wondering if I should use peaked or peeked. Never did it enter my mind that the correct word is piqued. I realized my mistake when Randee modestly called it to my attention. Of course it is piqued! Where was my brain when I was writing that piece?

"Imagine me finding one of your mistakes," she told me.

I'm very proud of her for catching that embarrassing absence of brain cells on my part, and I do stand corrected. Way to go, Blondie.

Old Friends

I enjoyed being a part of a wonderful girls' night out last night. What an evening of fun! My sister, Donna, and I had dinner with two of our elementary school friends. We caught up on each other, discussed old times, and did a lot of laughing.

Donna and her friend, Deborah, met in the third grade. They have kept in touch through the years, even if they don't see each other often due to living in different states. We hope to solve that problem very soon.

Patty, as you all know, and I met in sixth grade and are in daily contact with each other. Patty and Deborah hadn't seen each other since we were in our teens, so it was a real treat having us all reunited.

When Patty and I arrived, I told the hostess there would be four of us and I didn't know if the other two had arrived. She asked if they were very funny women, I said yes, she pointed in the direction of a table and there they were! They had already let everyone know they were full of laughter and excitement at being together. We enjoyed our Mexican food, but loved the sharing even more.

We've decided to spend a day with my parents in East Texas since they, too, got close to our childhood friends. I can just imagine the laughter when we add my Mother to the mix! She's the only mother left among us and I'm sure she will love adding two more daughters to the fold.

Thank you Donna, Deborah, and Patty for a splendid evening. I don't know when I've had this much fun. Or laughed so much! You are all precious and I love you so much. Sissy, thanks for treating me to dinner. You are a jewel! A jewel as in diamond!

Happy Birthday, Thomas!

Happy 6th Birthday, Thomas

My first precious grandson,

Our little Thomas boy.

How our hearts burst with love

And our lives filled with joy.

How could anyone resist

Those curly locks of hair,

A soft, pure gold that framed

A face so sweet and fair.

Now those curls are cropped

To fit an older guy,

One who's now in school,

Oh, the years so swift go by.

His eyes are like sapphires,

Such a handsome shade of blue.

He's missing one baby tooth

And soon it will be two.

He's an ace on his bike

And knows how to take a curve,

He loves to go repelling,

Our Thomas has some nerve!

Transformers and Hot Wheels,

And action video games;

Muscle cars and hot rods,

He can tell you all their names.

Nails, snails, puppy dog tails,

Any rough and rowdy toy,

Yet, so loving and affectionate,

That's our Thomas boy.

Happy Birthday, Thomas, from Memaw. I love you.

Spam - Don't You Love It?

It's a good thing my Yahoo! mail account has a bulk folder or I'd spend my life sifting through the debris of mail. I expect to hear from stores I've ordered from online. But there are many others who have entered my mailbox uninvited. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Have you received the mail from Nigeria that is jam-packed with great news? Either a distant relative or a complete family have died and you are the one to inherit their millions. Or perhaps they just need an American bank to make a transaction and if you help them, you will get a certain percent of the vast amount of money. All you have to do - and this is so simple - is provide your personal account number. Just a few key strokes and you are on Easy Street.

Are there people out there who actually fall for this? It boggles my mind.

The latest invasion, and one that is reported to be a virus, is the announcement that you've received a greeting card. We all like getting mail and a card is the icing on the cake. I've received them in many forms, as you probably have, too. "You have a greeting card from a partner!" "You have a postcard from a classmate." Doesn't that one peak your interest? Makes you wonder if the captain of the football team actually had a crush on you, as you did him, and has mustered up the nerve to contact you.

Other supposed greetings have come from friends, neighbors, a family member, and my personal favorite - a worshipper. Let's pull God in on this joke. Since He has the power to heal, your computer's virus will be short-lived.

Is there an extreme feeling of accomplishment just knowing you have wrecked someone's computer? I don't catch the logic. I deal with enough frustration every day from a perfectly normal computer. I sure don't need a sick one.

Sending a virus must be akin to egging or toiletpapering a house, defacing property, destroying curb-side mailboxes, and all the other mischief that some people find so fascinating. I don't understand the need to destroy, unless it's a fat picture of myself that no one needs to see. Our computers and our phones, our personal property, have become targets. We pay for those items and yet others believe they have the right to peddle their wares or send worms onto our property, using a means that we own.

I guess I should at least be grateful that greetings are being sent my way. For awhile there, I was getting ads for penis enhancements and Viagra. I never realized before that Peggy was a unisex name.

Who Would've Thought?

Yes, that's me with a rake in my hand. Believe it or not, this is not the first time I've used a rake. I used to assume some of the yard work duties when the kids were in school and my husband worked long hours. I discovered that it's much like riding a bicycle - once you've mastered it, the technique stays with you.

Robin was thrilled that I offered to help him while trimming the hedge. Me, not so much. Robin is bossy and in the captain's seat, and I've never been good at taking orders. Especially from an equal, a partner, a husband. While he trimmed, it was my job to rake the loose leaves from the bushes, then rake them all in piles. I also did a little extra and raked up the many pine needles that blanket our yard.

Robin was pleased with my raking ability. But when he added a new responsibility, I failed miserably. He was cutting the hedges to make them even with a certain brick line. That's easy enough until a window or door separates that line and estimating comes into play. He kept telling me I had the wrong brick line. I told him to measure it himself, which he did and finally came out to the same spot I had pointed out. Imagine that.

Then, I was told to go to the street and inspect the bushes from there, making sure they were all symetrical. I announced that he did a magnificent job. I was wrong. His inspection from the street proved that he had made some uneven lines.

"I'm not pleased with it," he said.

"It looks fine," I assured him.

"Stay here and watch as I trim a little more off and tell me what you think."

"It looks fine," I told him.

"It needs to look perfect from the street."

"I don't care how it looks from the street."

"Don't you want it to look good?" he asked.

"I have some major problems at work," I told him. "The shape of the hedges isn't even on my list of important concerns."

He finally pronounced the hedge trimming as presentable and the task was over. Gee, I'm glad we don't work together often.

This past week, Robin taught me - again - how to hang his jeans. He doesn't believe in ironing much of anything and assures me the clothes are fine right out of the dryer if folded properly.

"Take the zipper part and fold in to the first belt loops, then follow the crease to the cuff, shake out any wrinkles, lay it on the bed and smooth it, then fold it. You might have to work with it a little, but they will look fine once on the hanger."

I don't want to work with it a little. I want to be done. And who wears creases in jeans any more?

I remember those distant days when Robin and I were dating. We'd go to dinner, or take a ride on his motorcycle. Then, we went our separate ways and his jeans never ended up in my clothes hamper.

I remember, too, those days of having total responsibility for the yard and pool. I'm grateful that Robin enjoys taking care of those things. He may be bossy and in control, but he's kinda nice to have around.

Hints From Jan

Jan: When I read Hints from Heloise this morning, I thought of you. Here it is:

Heloise Column: "When we became empty-nesters, I found that I was using the same two dinner plates, and they were showing wear. Likewise, linens, towels, sheets, etc., so I started removing from the top and putting away on the bottom. It has saved things from being used so often. Sharon, via e-mail "

Jan: Well, DUH.........I've done that forever, just following instructions from my Mother and Gama.

Jan: Another thing I do......when I get the last of something out of the cabinet or pantry (toothpaste, deodorant, coffee, paper towels, toilet paper, etc.) I write it on my list for my next trip to the grocery store. Then you never run out. Maybe I should re-phrase that "I" never run out. You would think after being married 36 years, I would have Ronnie trained right, but some how he sometimes still runs out of his after shave, electric shave or shop towels!!! Oh well, what is a Honey-Do list for anyway! Ha Ha

Thanks, Jan. I keep a grocery list, too. But I've been known to take the list with me and still forget one of the items on it. Maybe it's an age thing. Or maybe it's because I don't want to dig my reading glasses from the bottom of my purse, and the squinting at the list doesn't always work.

Also, I seldom have to rotate dishes and linens. With just the two of us, the stack of plates dwindles by the time the dishwasher is full. And I wash towels once a week so that stack has dwindled too. I'm always ready for a change in pattern when I put clean sheets on the bed, so those get rotated as well. What I'm actually saying is, I don't make a conscious effort to be Suzie Homemaker. I just follow my own routine.

Fortunately, Robin is a believer in lists. Unfortunately, he tells me to put something on the list. I have to remind him that the list is on the refrigerator and he can add to it as easily as I can. Of course when he does write something, I have to decipher it. Cat food is written as cat "phude" and often there is a suggestive remark on it that I discover on the aisles of the grocery store. I just continue shopping and pretend I never saw it.

The Yellow Guy

It's obvious that I have a thing for Peanut M&Ms and the Yellow Guy. He's so goofy looking that he brings a smile to my face and the candy he represents is my absolute favorite. In case you can't read the size on the bag of M&Ms in the picture, it's the XXL that I bought at Sam's Club. It's 56 ounces of heavenly taste and texture. Don't ask me how long a bag that size lasts in my presence.

Most of my Yellow Guy stuff came from Patty who knows my passion for M&Ms very well. Included in this assortment is a Yellow Guy radio, a phone, several candy containers, a mug and a plush Yellow Guy toy. She also gave me a M&M Halloween ceramic house that lights up. I'd show it too but it's packed away for Spook Day.

While in Vegas visiting the M&M store, Robin bought me the other Yellow Guy plush toy. Also, he gave me the one of Yellow sitting in a recliner. When you raise the handle on his chair, M&Ms drop onto his rug in front of him. Since the rug isn't dusted three times a day, I usually don't keep candy in it.

Randee gave me the M&M car and the large gold M&M. Angela has sent me scrapbooking embellishments from the M&M store in Vegas. Cheryl, Patty, and my kids usually have a good supply of M&Ms for my Christmas stocking. On one birthday, Cheryl used packages of M&Ms as a filler around the gifts she sent to me. I don't remember my age on that particular birthday, but I do know she enclosed the exact number for my age.

Although I love this sinfully delicious candy, I'm not addicted. Not even if I buy the 56 ounce. The fact that I lather my hands with sanitizer when I get in the car after grocery shopping and tear into the bag of candy and chomp away until I get home, is no indication of a serious addiction. It's merely an appreciation for the finer things in life. And I'm not one to indulge in a plain piece of chocolate. If it doesn't have nuts of some kind, it's a waste of calories to me. M&Ms need peanuts and fudge needs pecans or walnuts, and peanut clusters aren't bad either.

Okay, denial is a symptom of dependency. I'll fess up. "Hello, I'm Peggy, and I'm a M&Mholic."

Vanity Lost

Okay, the last post wasn't fair to Robin and Thomas, who had failed to smile. In this picture they are smiling and my eyes are closed. I decided to ignore how I look and print the best picture of my guys. We women need to get over ourselves.

A Date With Thomas

Thomas will turn 6 years old next week so we scheduled our birthday shopping and eating out for after work today. Needless to say, he was bouncing off the walls with excitement. What child doesn't love going to Toys R Us, knowing they get to pick out toys?

I took off from work early and drove him to my house. He played awhile in the toy room/guest room, and on the slot machines. When Robin and I finished our coffee, we all got in the car to begin our shopping spree. Thomas had his heart set on Transformers and I told him I know right where they are. I've taken grandchildren shopping many times before. He picked out three of them (don't ask me what kind) and wanted to carry them himself to the check-out counter. I even gave him the money so he could pay for them.

Thomas is not a shy boy and seldom meets a stranger, so everyone we came in contact with now knows that in six days he will turn six. People at Toy R Us are aware, as are the greeters at Chili's where we ate our birthday dinner, our waitress, and anyone else who happened by.

Thomas ordered macaroni and cheese but was too excited to eat much of it so we carried the rest of it home for him. He didn't want to eat. He wanted to get home and play with his new toys. Even in the picture his Dad took, you can tell he didn't want to waste time with a picture when three new toys were waiting to be ripped from their packages. Thank you to Ron for taking this picture when absent-minded Memaw forgot her camera.

We had fun with our boy, even though we faded into the background when he got home and put his focus on playing. We always enjoy our birthday outings with the grandchildren. We love you, Thomas! Enjoy the Transformers!

Ulcers Are No Fun

When I left work yesterday I had the beginnings of a nice ulcer attack. It eased some as I drove so I went on to the grocery store as planned. Then the pain got worse. Never full blown, but even a little ulcer pain is uncomfortable. Doing payroll and closing out a lousy month in sales is what triggered it. It took four acid reducers during the evening to help me get comfortable enough to fall asleep.

One reason I am mentioning this is because Angela has a similar personality to me, meaning she gets the nervous stomach and uptight when things aren't going well. So, a word of caution to my baby girl: Being strict about meeting self-induced deadlines is not worth the pain. You don't want to end up like this. There are many days ahead to get things done, but only one YOU. Take very good care of my daughter and my grandchildren's mother so we can all have a happy life. Your plate is full right now, but it's temporary, and no one is holding you to a completion date. Take time to smell the roses. I love you, Punkin!

Our New Door Mat

We found the perfect door mat! Ours was so faded that we couldn't read the words "welcome". We were out to dinner tonight and decided to stop in at Bed, Bath & Beyond. We looked at several varieties but kept coming back to this one. As we laughed, we both said, "let's get it!".

When we got home, Robin placed it at the front door and I heard him chuckle as he came back inside. Our friends and family will ignore the words, and know they are welcome. As for the rest of the door-knockers, "Leave".

It reminds me of the door mat Allison has: "We love our vacuum cleaner, we gave at the office,

we believe in God."