Blah, blah blah

So, I'm still alive and how are you? :)

We went to NYC and let me just tell you - I will be going back. What a fabulous city! The architecture, diversity, subways, food, people... AMAZING! My daughter is even trying to talk me into a "girls" only weekend trip - she's 9 and realizes how great it was!

The day we got back I had to start the backdrop for our church children's choir Christmas special. It was only 8' x 24' and had to be done 4 days before originally scheduled! No worries, it got done and the show was great.

Christmas came and went, the kids got iPod Touches from Santa, Moosie had hers stolen from the store within a week of getting it. Papa & I went in together to buy her a replacement. The perpetrator is still out there and the law knows where they are, but no action has been taken yet as they are wanting to get them on other charges too.

New Years came and went, we've had snow and cold weather. Unusual for our area. We also survived indoor kart racing with both kids winning their classes. We start up the regular races later this month.

I think that about hits the "what we've been up to" blah. Now, here's some tidbits that may or may not interest you.

Recently, I stopped to help someone who was having car trouble. Back road, middle of nowhere, on my way to work and kids in the truck. Told kids to stay in there, locked the doors, dude was out of gas, a friend of mine stopped by and offered to get the gas for him. Went on to work, found out later broke down dude was arrested later that day and would be extradited to Florida on child porn charges and alleged child murder.

I really haven't felt like blogging. I don't want this to be a rant and rave reading area and that's what I feel like it was becoming. Yes, I still miss Mother. It's still hard and there are times when the grief takes my breath away. Do you really want to hear about that? I know of one friend that really doesn't. He really doesn't get the depth of grief when losing someone you love that much. So I don't post it.

Speaking of that friend, he likes to rant about the Republican party and it's evils. That's fine, his opinion-his blog. Personally, I think they're all evil. Republican, Democrat, Independent - doesn't matter. They are after their own personal wealth and advancement. Noone is perfect and it certainly doesn't make me feel any better to tear someone down that I know or don't know personally. I'm not into that. I have really been trying to do that whole treat others how you want to be treated. I cannot teach my children that if I'm not living it. So, I'm trying to live it.

Speaking of teaching - we are still homeschooling. I think we're doing pretty good considering we all still have our hair and are still alive. ;) Actually, lately, it's been going very well. I think we've settled into it and are enjoying the learning process together. I like having the kids around and seeing them learn new things and think of new ideas.

Here's some links I've found recently and think are interesting:

Stupid Votes

Daily Howler

The Non Sequitur

The Stopped Clock

NYC Photos:

Take care - Me

Holy Cats!

I cannot believe it's been so long! Since I've joined the Facebook world, I guess I've just forgotten about the blogland.

We've been pretty busy, but things are going pretty good.

Last month found us in South Carolina for the Maxxis National Championship kart races. Rokimus made the show both days as did Moosie. (Moosie was in the beginner class, so all those karters were allowed to race the feature.) Moosie did not race Sunday as she felt it was not worth it if they weren't going to put transponders on the karts. (Transponders keep track of speed and racing positions.) Rokimus had some rough luck on both days of racing, but he kept on driving! It amazes me that he has such drive and heart for this sport. As soon as his jacket, gloves and helmet go on, he is one focused person! We have two more races on the schedule for this year. This weekend will find us in Brandon, MS at our first attempt for indoor kart racing. Both kids will race, with Rokimus racing in at least two classes, probably three. The following weekend will be a local track make up race for points. After that, I'll be racing to get the house work done that doesn't seem to get done during racing season.

I'm also planning for a trip next month to NEW YORK CITY!! :) I'm very excited and very nervous. As one who does not care for people invading my personal space, I feel it will be a very "learning" experience. We'll be there for about a week and plan to take in the Sony Wonder Lab, the Rockettes at Radio City, Lady Liberty (including the crown), not to mention the art museums and of course, the window displays! We're staying at the Hotel Beacon for most of the trip, so I'm thinking of getting us tickets to a show at the Beacon Theatre for one of those nights. Actually, just now, linking the Theatre, I've found a Cirque du Soleil performance at the WaMu that looks great!

I did have my hand doc appointment last month. He's released me. They are thinking that it's becoming an arthritic situation. Right now, there's not enough pain for me to see a specialist. Last week, I did have to get one finger sliced open due to an infection around my nail that puffed up and looked horrendous! It felt even worse. I'm on antibiotics for a few more days and the finger is much better!

So, really, besides the homeschooling, racing, trip-planning, working and minor health issues, life is good here. :)

Take care - Me

Life lately...

I know it's been a while since my last real update on here, but really, when life gets as strange as it's been - it's just hard to actually put it all into words. And it really does seem surreal. And it doesn't seem to be letting off either.

Grab some coffee - iced if you're down south and temps are setting records.

About mid-May, my newest girl dog (named incredibly, creatively Girl) jumped the backyard fence via some left over brick stacks and got hit by our music minister in our driveway. She disappeared for a couple of days but upon arrival I knew something was drastically wrong. Her back leg would not work at all. It simply hung and was incredibly swollen. Several hundred dollars later, no less than 2 surgeries involving pins and screws, 5 weeks in the house, one remote, 2 CDs, 1 book, 2 notebooks, 1/2 bottle of GermX and 2 knitting projects later and she's doing just fine having been returned to the backyard. Where she wants to be. Where my hubby wants her to be. What kind is she you ask? What special breed is this worthy canine? She is a mutt, the best kind in my opinion. She wandered up last winter and we've kept her. I even had her trained. So, she is a very very expensive mutt that prefers to be in the backyard and doesn't want to come out of that yard. And all those trips back and forth to the vet? She shits. Profusely. In the Honda. Consistently. Even if no one feeds her. Even if we walk her for an hour before the trip. Profuse. Stinky. Shit.

Here's Girl on her recovery pillow.

Mother's stone on a beautiful hill in Wisconsin.

About the time Girl got done with the 2nd surgery, I received a call from my aunt telling me that Mother's stone was set. Crooked. Very unleveled. As in, she noticed it before she got out of her car. One cousin stated that Ray Charles could have set it straighter. So, I call the memorial company (18 hours away from here) and arrange for them to meet my aunt/cousins, etc. to have it straightened. She calls after that. Yes, it's beautiful. It's straight. Unfortunately, it's not over Mother. Huh? Mother is not in the plot she should be in. You see, my mother always had a terrible sense of direction and apparently, something carried through even after death. She was buried (last year, the first time) in one of my aunt's plots. Even though my sister and I went back and forth with the cemetery folks for 2 months or more before burying her urn. Now, they've put her in the wrong plot. I mean, what exactly do you call that? Reburial? Replanting? Transplanting? F!&$ up? That's what I call it. Especially when they have the audacity to give us 2 options: 1) We can come up and move her ourselves; 2) We can pay them AGAIN to move her. WTF?! Do they honestly think that I'm going to pay them one more cent, much less let them place a finger on her urn?! Incredible! And when speaking to my sister about this on the phone, they made a comment about what they had done when this had happened previously. So, needless to say, my sister and I flew up to Wisconsin to take care of Mother (we did) and to settle some land deed issues. I can actually say that after 37 years I was finally able to put my mother in her place! (I never would have done that while she was alive!) :)

Mother's stone, with Mother's urn in the midst of the reburial, replanting, putting in place, etc.

Also, I finally returned to the hand specialist for the surgery follow up. (delay much, me?) One spot was an osteochondroma and is now gone from all images. The other spot (on top of the knuckle) was removed, and is growing back. ARGH! This week I returned to try another round of cortisone in that area. My goal is to delay yet another surgery for as long as possible. If you're keeping count, it will be the third surgery.

So, while all that was going on, racing is still happening. We've learned that sometimes races can last onward of 12 hours. And sometimes they race in outdoor, concrete surrounded horse arenas.

The kids finished school in the top of their class. They also got to study counting money for 3.5 weeks and then moved on to measurements - on a ruler. So, after much consideration, prayer and research, I am going to be homeschooling them next year. I'm scared shitless.

That's about it. I'm sure I've forgotten somethings. As you can see, I've had a bit of bizarre going on, so it's hard to remember all of it. Oh yeah, I just remembered something. Today I got a letter informing me that there has been suspicious activity under a credit card. A credit card in Mother's name. Now, I remember calling all of her credit card companies last year and canceling them and shredding the cards. I remember having to repeat over and over less than two weeks after her death that she was dead to every single company. Sometimes more than once to more than one person. So, yes, I would say that it's suspicious activity! Now, I've got to get all of that straightened out. I really do wonder when all of that will be at peace. 'Cause really? I'm so done with strange shit that happens after someone dies. How much are we expected to deal with? Isn't it bad enough we had to watch our mother suffer and live with the knowledge she was going to die soon? Isn't it bad enough that she's gone way too early? When is it enough?

So, that's all that's going on here. Hope all is well with you. I'll try to do better about updating. :)

Take care - Me

Warning... Warning...

This is to the Fairhope constituents:

In just under 36 hours I will be invading your space. As you well know, I have not been there for one year. That's right, 8,784 hours or 366 days or 12 months - however you choose to look at it. I thought I should give proper notice as you may not remember what my vehicle or my person looks like in your driveway. I do not want you sending the cat out to attack me.

Let it be known, you have been warned in advance of my upcoming arrival.

Thank you - Me.

Not really home...

We are back. We got back Thursday night. We got back to my house covered in drywall dust, all the furniture covered with sheets (my modals), no kitchen counters or stove and the central unit still not complete. The house is uninhabitibal. We are now living in a camper up at the shop. Thank goodness my inlaws have one and will allow us to live in it for what looks like a couple/few weeks. I cannot get to my computer to post the pictures, so those "vacation" pictures will have to wait.

Take care - Me

Wisconsin Trip 2008, ver1

Well, we've made it 11 hours north to Lincoln, IL. We'll travel another 7 hours tomorrow. So far so good. :) Of course, we've not dealt with any family yet. Also, I'm updating now, as most likely tomorrow we will not have any cell phone service, much less high-speed internet access. Here's a sample of a few pics taken today on the way up. Unfortunately, I'm having to use a pc and it's not mac user friendly!

Take care - Me

Just a few days ago?

It's hard for me to think that this was a year ago.

I am doing better, I think. At least right now, as in right this moment. One thing I've found, that could change. One year ago, Mother was doing well, just a bit tired. Now, I've got financial advisors knocking on the door. At least I still have her voice inside my head reminding me that if I can't say something nice - shut up. I haven't talked to them much. 

I know that ya'll have prayed for us. Thank you. Please don't think that they didn't work for Mother or that they're not working for us. They did & they are. And we need them. Desperately. There's another family we know that is going through the exact same thing we did almost one year ago, down to the type, location and doctors that have/are working on him. He is only 44. If you've got extra prayer in you - they need it. 

I still haven't forgotten about the gumbo pictures. They will be posted. Probably not this week. Maybe next. I'm leaving on a jet plane/Honda Thursday. Right after I cut payroll and make sure that I fax the MS State Tax Commission the appropriate paperwork. 

For those of you who have called or emailed, thank you. I'm almost ready to talk to folks again. Please don't give up on me. I'll get there. Eventually.

Take care - Me

Coming soon to a blog near you...

I've actually down loaded the photos taken this past weekend with my camera phone. I do believe that, due to the sheer size of the item I was shooting, it's numbed my brain and all blogging abilities.

I'm trying to get what little intelligent facilities I had to warm back up to the idea of actually working. Perhaps this afternoon/evening, I will have better luck putting it all in perspective.

Until then,

Take care - Me

Reservation for Sanity Retention/Regeneration

Hello,

I am writing to confirm my reservation at the MarLo House in Fairhope, AL for the nights of August 23rd - August 24th. I will be checking in around lunch on the 23rd and checking out around lunch on the 25th. From our previous negotiations, the payment of at least one jar of cranberry fig preserves will be due in full at time of check-in. Should this payment deem unacceptable, please notify me as early as possible. I do plan on visiting the Mathis facility before departure should you require any additional forms of payment. Also, if you could obtain any orders from the locals that know of the Mathis offerings, I would gladly procure additional items.

If there should be a cancellation of my reservation, notification is due at least 24 hours in advance, though you will probably know ahead of time when the news broadcasts about the freezing temperatures in hell.

I appreciate the opportunity to experience your facility and look forward to the experience.

Thank you,
me

Not going on about the trip...

OK, so you've seen some of the pictures. I still have 4 rolls of film to be sent off and I've only posted about 1/4 of the images shot. Wisconsin is absolutely amazing to me. The landscape is truly God's country. The "hills"(mountains) and valleys that nestle farms in their arms are breathtaking. And if it didn't get so dang cold in the winter time, we would probably be living there. I was offered a job at Organic Valley about 5 years ago, but we turned it down.

So, I'm not going to go on and on about this trip. I'm just not. I'm so not going to tell you about the canoe trip down the Kickapoo River. Like how we went in at Bridge 8 and were told to get off the river at Bridge 12. Or how Hubby & I have never canoed in our lives. Or how the kids really enjoyed riding in between the two of us in the canoe. I'm also quite certain that you don't want to hear about the beautiful flowers that lined the banks in areas, or how you could canoe under a cliff side of wonderful rock that had trees growing from the edge 30 feet above in other areas. Or how there were about 12 canoes of my relatives also on the river at the same time. Only not with us. There were a couple canoes near us, but you probably won't care anything about hearing that they gave us wrong directions. THERE IS NO BRIDGE 12. NONE. Here's where, if I were going to go on & on about our trip, I would tell you about the realization that we are too far past to go back, there is NO turning around in a river and that the reason everyone (but us) gets off at 12 is due to the amount of debris south of there. I also wouldn't tell you about me paddling for all I was worth, come branch or high water, to get us the hell out of that river! Even if my power paddling would run us into rocks, trees, branches, etc. Even if Hubby's paddle wouldn't reach quite far enough to knock some sense into me.

So, if I were going to tell you about the Kickapoo River, I would probably tell you that there is no Bridge 12 so if you miss it, don't expect to get off at 13 either. You'll need to go on down to 14 where the canoe rental guys will be waiting for you along with about 40 of your closest relatives.

St. Louis

Marcus has asked if we went to the top of the Arch. Yes, we did. Even I, who on the worst day, has trouble with a step ladder, went to the top. The timing couldn't have worked out better as we were up there for the sunset. However, there were many people up there and these days I'm very conscience about germs. We really enjoyed it & here's some pictures for your viewing pleasure. I also have more WI pictures to upload, but have not taken the time to downsize them for this.

Take care - Me

Inside the Arch ~ This was a relief carving. Amazing.

Inside the Arch, while waiting to get onto the "pod."~ This shows how the final piece was put into place at the top.

Inside the Arch at the top ~ Looking down from the top of the Arch.

The Arch ~ I could photograph this structure all day long.

Blah, blah... oh yeah, and some pictures

I thought of writing about my daily life. You know, the regular old grindstone. The in & outs of a person on the brink of a breakdown due to Mother's illness, kids not getting the teacher for 1st grade they wanted, decisions to be made about my becoming a business owner, running said business, running already-established personal design business, son about to start racing, etc. You know, daily life. And instead of some boring blog about my trip to Wisconsin, I give you random pictures mostly taken while in the Honda. Enjoy - Me

We're off to see the wizard... oh wait, just Wisconsin

That's right folks, in under 24 hours my immediate family will be traveling north. North into the wild yonder. The land of hills (read mountains) and dairy cattle (read stinky stretches of roadway). I've even wrangled hubby into accompanying my children and me. Amazingly he's taken off work & is going. I'm quite certain that I will owe him BIG when this trip is said & done. After all, it's my mother's family that we'll be visiting. And they will be there in droves. Droves, I say. In fact, my mother has the smallest amount of children of the 5 daughters. Her oldest sister had 6 children and two of those have six children. And that's just two of my cousins from that one aunt. They obviously have not considered heating blankets vs. sex for getting warm in the winter. The whole north family procreates like you wouldn't believe!

Anywho - it's off to pack, wrangle car activities for the 18 hour drive, freeze bottles of water and find my Xanax. Oh, that's right, I don't have any. Well, it's off to pack all the boxes of Stress Mints, Moon Drops and Calms Forte that I can find.

Take care - Me

206 miles+Sand and Salt Water=Many Great Memories

Contemplation

So, it's been awhile since my last update and this one will probably be pretty short.

Last week my sister, the kids & I took Mother to the beach at Perdido Key, FL. While we had a couple of days of thunderstorms, the beach was fantastic. Not too crowded, clear water and light breezes. I don't feel like talking about this trip much at this point, but maybe in the near future I'll be able to put down what all this trip meant to us. I will say that back in April, when we were sitting in the hospital after her surgery, one of the first things Mother wanted was to go to the beach. I do think that was one of the things that got her out of that hospital so quick. Knowing that if it was within our power, we would get her to the beach. We did, and I am so thankful that the time spent there was as good as it was. I am also thankful for the MarLo house for coming down to help me do the family portraits. I don't think any of us had dry eyes after viewing them.

I'm posting some of the shots I took with my digital camera for now. I might post some of the portrait shots later.

Looking Ahead

Ring of Light, Love and Toes

Take care - Me

Dessert Induced Fog, Oh and the Arts Festival...

This one is probably going to be a bit wordy, so go ahead, use that French Press, get a cup'a - I'll wait.

Got it? Good - now, on with the blogging...

I had a great weekend at the MarLo house. The Arts Festival was incredible, as it always is. I actually got to go down on Thursday without the kids in tow. That's something that doesn't happen very often. We hung out at the house on Thursday afternoon & then got to sample some of Pam & Cindy's fantastic Caramel Pound Cake that night. They are such sweet hearts to think of us, sitting there with no cake and offer that goodness to us.

Friday arrived and unfortunately, I was not awake to see the oldest MarLo girl-child dressed up in her 50's outfit. Her school has a wonderful program where the kids who are studying a certain area in history are allowed to dress the part at the end and have some form of party. This day, they attended a sock hop and those girls were just too cute in their poodle skirts and neck scarves. (Of course, I think that ordering the outfit online down to the crinoline is perhaps a bit much for a 6th grader who is only going to wear it once.) Anywho, after I got up & about, Marcus, little MarLo boy, Cindy & I went downtown to scope out the art. I really love the festival on Friday due to the lack of people. We lunched at Panini Pete's Cafe & Bakeshoppe - just wonderful! Homemade potato chips and hamburgers & then went on to buy art. :) My kind of morning! Later that day, Marcus took me to the Mobile Museum of Art for the photography exhibits. They are also running a photography contest using a Kodak Brownie camera they provide. They were out of the cameras, so I'm seeing a trip back in my near future.

After all that viewing, our next logical stop was Carpe Diem. Now, for those of you who have not had the chance to visit this little slice of heaven. SHAME ON YOU! You must go! What's that? You live too far away? No such thing. I don't care if you are sitting in Australia - get on the plane, fly into Mobile & take a taxi. But get to this place! The coffee drinks are out of this world, the atmosphere is sublime and for heaven's sake, do NOT leave without trying the tiramisu. Did you hear me?! Do not leave without trying the tiramisu! I'm thinking of just leaving my house right now & driving the 3 hours to get some. It's an orgasm in a cup. I am quite certain that I made Marcus uncomfortable while I was moaning and eating it in front of those retired Spring Hill ladies that were discussing their latest fashions. The rest of Friday is a blur. I'm sorry, but that tiramisu is all that I can remember from that moment on.

The rest of the weekend is still foggy, but we did have a great time! (see above for the reason of fog) We did the 2-mile walk Saturday morning. While I fully expected to be wheezing and falling out at the 1/2 mile mark, I actually made it the whole way. Not only did I make it the whole way, I channeled some of Speedy's racing savvy to block Marcus with 4 folks ahead of us while edging to the outside for the pass. That's right, I passed him at the last moment and finished ahead! Yea me! It does not matter that he'd been ahead of me the whole way, nor that he was pushing little MarLo boy in the stroller up & down those hills. What matters is that I finished before him. :) (No, I am not in the least bit competitive after being around Speedy for 8 years.) Later that night, we got to sample another pound cake recipe from Pam and Cindy - divine I must say, especially at midnight with a tall glass of milk. You can read more about the art here. I'll post more about activities that took place over the weekend as my tiramisu-induced fog lifts.

Hope ya'll had a great weekend also!

Take care - Me

Leaving on a jet plane...

Well, my jet plane is actually my Honda CRV.
And I do know when I'll be back again - Sunday.
Yes, every place I go, I will think of you.
So, yes, kiss me and smile for me.


My kids have been camping for the past few days with my in-laws. Today I leave for Fairhope to attend the arts festival. Although I am REALLY looking forward to this weekend, I am missing my kids already. Yes, they drive me crazy and yes, they double the amount of gray hairs I have every six months. But, today as I get things together and get ready to drive off, I am filled with a longing to have them with me.

I'm sure this will pass. Just as soon as I try a new Marcus drink recipe. So, Marcus, get the mixer out & have it ready for me please. I'm coming your way & this is your last warning. :)

Take care - me