All together..

Two weeks ago we got to have some almost full fam time.. Brad, Rhonda, Misha and I traveled to Melanie, Kyle, Cameron, Kaela and the rest of the fam to spend 4 days all together.

If Don had been there, it would have been perfect. Here are a few of the dozens of pics from our weekend--

My Valentines--

There were kisses

hugs

kisses

lots of kisses ...

A little bedtime story. Mel was the lucky one with all three to cuddle her

Looks like it was a good story

Misha

Ummm...

Go Steelers!!!

New Traditions

We had the first annual progressive dinner in Boiling Springs last night. It was so much fun to get together with coffee shop friends and enjoy and evening of food and good company.

Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres were at our house. It's fun to dress up the house for a party, so we had candles and crystal and lots of Christmas everywhere.

And my first ever Martini experience. They were chocolate, pomegranate or lime (red, green and chocolate... that's Christmas!). Anyway, they were a hit, as was the food.

By the way, I got those fabulous martini glasses at Gabe's 4/$5!!!






Dinner was at Becky and Bob's beautiful house (and no one remembered to take a picture...) and we had real authentic Southwestern YUMMY food. Becky loves to cook...and boy does she do it well!!

Our final stop was at Linda's and we ate some of the best deep dish apple pie I've ever had. And played some pool. And, courtesy of Mark, sang some Christmas carols.

Finally there was a group photo, which I'll post soon.

You know, we get so involved in all the 'things' of Christmas... the gifts and plans. We hurry and we stress. Family and traditions are what it is all about. But I just realized that we need to keep our minds and eyes open for new traditions. This, I think will be one of them. We may not live in Boiling Springs next year, but I hope it happens again. And if it does... we'll be back!!

Carols for the Psychologically Challenged

It's been so long... However, the holidays are coming quickly and I just read this, thought it was funny (and somewhat insensitive) so thought I'd share:


Carols for the Psychologically Challenged


Schizophrenia — Do You Hear What I Hear, the Voices, the Voices?

Amnesia — I Don’t Remember If I’ll be Home for Christmas

Narcissistic Personality Disorder — Hark the Herald Angels Sing About
Me

Bipolar Disorder (Manic Episode) — Deck The Halls And Walls And House
And Lawn And Streets And Stores And Office And Town And Cars And Buses
And Trucks And Trees And Fire Hydrants And…….

Multiple Personality Disorder — We Three Queens Disoriented Are

Paranoid — Santa Claus Is Coming To Get Us

Borderline Personality Disorder — You Better Watch Out, You Better not
Shout, I’m Gonna Cry, and I’ll not Tell You Why

Antisocial Personality Disorder — Thoughts of Roasting You On an Open
Fire

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder — Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells Jingle
Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle
Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

Agoraphobia — I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day But Wouldn’t Leave My
House

Alzheimer’s Disease/Senile Dementia — Walking In a Winter Wonderland
Miles from My House in My Slippers and Robe

Oppositional Defiant Disorder — I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus So I
Burned Down the House

Social Anxiety Disorder — Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas While
I Sit Here and Hyperventilate

Attention Deficit Disorder — We Wish You……Hey Look!! It’s Snowing!

Mr. Obama... just exactly what are you saying?

I've finally come across something that makes me have to talk about politics.. I mean, no skirting the issue, dead on politics. It was July 2, 2008 (you have to wonder why a semi news junky like me is just becoming aware of this) The speech was supposed to be about volunteerism and new social programs that will promote the common good. Then the candidate went off the prepared speech. Here's the quote:

"We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded." (emphasis added)

Umm... What? a civilian security force? Just what does that mean? And what are they going to make secure? My neighborhood? Football games? National security objectives we've set? We've been attack free since 2001, so what other objectives do "we" have? Seriously..why do we need a highly funded powerful group of civilians? Does that mean they are armed? WHAT are they doing? I just can't figure it out. Or maybe I'm afraid to try.

Prayin'

I was trimming the bushes about a month ago, when something flew at me. I looked, but I couldn't see anything, just the bush.

Then it happened again on the other side.

I looked closer.... praying mantises seemed to be inhabiting our bush.

Don and I both agreed we hadn't seen one in a long long time, so it was worthy of a few pictures...

Cool huh?

Sarah Palin on Saturday morning

Today was a good day for politics. We decided to go all out in preparation for the election. Here's an early morning picture....





No, the Obama sign is all coincidence...




We were waiting in line to see Sarah Palin!




The crowd was huge. We waited in line for at least a half mile.


But we got through security and into some seats just in time to see Sarah Palin walk in carrying little Trig.



The crowd went wild.

As she spoke often chants of Drill Baby Drill would break out.



She talked about pulling for the Underdogs


And she talked about our country's need for a leader who could lead, not a lawyer who can speak.



She asked the audience members who have served our country to raise their hands. And she led the rest of us in a grateful round of applause.



She was intelligent and articulate. She was like a breath of fresh air in this season of way too much rhetoric.

I'm hoping for my candidate and his VP choice to win...big or little. I'm afraid of the alternative. But whatever happens, I'm glad we took the opportunity to see a great American-- one who is so like everyone else today