It's Complicated

I love, love, love girl movie day. (Of course our "body guard" is a male.) He He!
Lanell, Billy, and I went to see, It's Complicated.
Absolutely funny!!! You might have to be divorced or have been divorced to appreciate it fully. I'm not sure, I forgot to ask Lanell and Billy who are the perfect couple and never divorced. I heard them laughing though so, it must have been funny.
And, I have a confession. I already fessed up to my movie buds. I saw the movie twice. Yep, on Christmas Day I saw it the first time and then I went with them today. Both viewings were...HILARIOUS.
The only bad news?
Lanell says I am no longer allowed to pick our seats. sniff, cough, hack, wheeze, snort, blow. Sorry Lanell...I hope it was nothing airborne or contagious. LOL!
Love ya!!!

Merry Christmas! (i love letters)

Merry Christmas!
I want to share with you one of my favorite things I received this year for Christmas.
It was a letter emailed to my sisters and myself written by my Daddy.
Do you think people have lost the knack for writing a letter? I suppose with the invention of the computer, pen and paper are too much trouble. But, my Daddy can write a good letter!!! Whether it be pen to paper or fingers to keyboard, my Daddy can write!!!
He doesn't read my blog, but my mother does. So, mother, please tell Daddy how much I loved his Dear Santa letter. Can't wait for more.

I hope he doesn't mind. I have posted the letter below.


Dear Santa,

I have been a good boy all year long. Well, maybe a couple of times I have fallen short. For example, just this week I've commented to myself how well I have avoided spilling coffee on the carpet. Due to my early morning rising and a very good spot remover, I have been able to keep my tiny tiny, and I mean little spills to myself. Somehow, I think she knows but she is too good to fuss at me.

Santa, all I wish for is the ability to be even more thankful for such a wonderful wife, four lovely daughters and a passel of grandchildren and great... (Oh well, I can be thankful in anticipation, can't I?)

I sincerely hope all is well with you all and that you and your family enjoy all of the Lord's blessings during this holiday season and every day of the year.

Motto for today: In all of life's journeys, go as far as you can and then you can see further.

More to come....
Love from
Daddy.

Mark Ingram

Alabama's Mark Ingram won the Heisman this weekend. Wow! Alabama has had such a great season and this is like the icing on the cake. Congrats Mark! Alabama fans are proud of you!

Something Else "Good" About WiNtEr.....

Still working on things that I like about Winter. So, here is one more thing I thought of. Old movies, a blanket, and an afternoon on the couch. If it's cold outstide, it feels "legal" to be curled up on the couch with a blanket and watch old classic movies. It's guilt free because it's too cold to be outside.

Alabama Crimson Tide 13-0

Roll Tide Roll !!! I can't believe I have not blogged about my Tide winning the SEC Championship Game AND we are 13-0!!! We have had an incredible year!!! I knew you guys could do it. I love you Nick Saban!!!

Seasonal Depression

Sometimes I wonder if I have that Seasonal Depression they talk about. I can't stand cold, rainy, overcast, snowy, dark, dreary days. So, I was thinking on my way to work today and thought I needed to come up with some ideas of what I like about Winter.
Today, I have to say, I like boots. Yep, I love wearing skirts and dresses with tights and boots. It's a nice change from sandles and bare legs of the summer.

Blind Side

My very good friend LaNell, her husband Ross (aka: Billy), and I went to see the Blind Side over the weekend. Some might say, "three is a crowd" but not true. "Billy" is a man of few words but he is a good egg! Lanell is a very lucky lady to have him. And in case Billy reads this, he is a very lucky man to have her!
Thanks Lanell and Billy for letting me tag along to the movies!!!

Ok, so on to the movie review. Absolutely a GREAT movie!!! It made me think about how you can be changing someone else's life and in return they are changing yours.
I loved it!

New Moon

Girl Movie Date...Lanell, Mollie, and I went to see New Moon, the second movie in the Twilight Saga. It was AMAZING! I think we all agreed it was better than the first movie. They used a different director on the second movie and it was a great decision.
Now, let me ask all of those who have either seen both movies or read the books. Are you Team Edward or Team Jacob?

The Love Tree

I have had a complaint that I do not blog as well or as often as my niece Mindy or my sister Joni (cough.... Lanell). So, Lanell this is for you. Today's blog entry is about my parents Christmas Tree. Mother told me they decided to not decorate in their traditional style this year. She always wanted white lights and crystal hearts. So that is exactly what they did. They call it their "Love Tree". I love it!!!

Stereotype Why Don't Ya!!!

I talk to a lot of people from all over the United States daily but, I need to vent!
I just got insulted by a patient in New York. I helped him with his claim and then he asked me if I was a Nascar fan. I said, “No Sir I am not.” He said, "Well, from the sound of your accent I thought you might be!!!!"

Are you kidding me?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Wow!!!

I told him true southern charm has nothing to do with Nascar!!!

Do you think we might get running water and electricity in the south soon???

Saturday Morning Errands

Saturday morning I woke up around 8am and headed to town to do some errands. First, I went to the bank and across from the bank is WalMart. I needed just a few items and as much as I dislike shopping at WalMart it was convenient so in I went. Let me say in warning...if you wear your team logo shirt to WalMart on a Saturday morning, you MUST be prepared. You WILL be expected to be an authority on game time and opposing team. I was stopped and asked more than once, "what time is the game?" as I sported my Alabama sweatshirt. (I also got a few "roll tides".)


After leaving WalMart, I headed to Munford Tire to get my oil changed. As I sat in the small waiting area while they were working on my vehicle, an older woman came in and sat across from me. Her hands were gnarled with arthritis and she had a brace on her leg. She was also a talker. She told me about her strokes, arthritis, Lupus, and osteoporosis.
With great pride she told me about her newest grandchild, Madeline. And I got to see Madeline's picture in the brag book she carried in her purse. And then with tears in her eyes she told me of her 35 year old son that was killed by a drunk driver last year.
After I left, I got to thinking about the lady I had sat with. I thought about her joy and pain that I had learned about in just a few minutes. It made me realize that everyone has a story. Their lives have meaning and purpose. We should all take the time to listen to each other's story.

My Sister, Joni and Niece, Mindy have a Craft Blog

Hey, I just wanted to get you guys to take a look at this blog, Sparkle Factor Designs.
My sister and niece have got the coolest things!!!

This is from my sister's blog below:

Our Craft Blog
Mindy and I have a craft blog! In October we had a Holiday Craft Open House and have added most of the items we had for sale at the Open House. Would love for you to visit our craft blog and take a look. Here's what we're about:

Handmade, affordable tokens of love, appreciation, and thoughtfulness that help add a little sparkle to special days and occasions for those you love and care about. And in all things, glorify God.

Please visit us:
www.sparklefactordesigns.com

Halloween Costume

I love Halloween!! I borrowed my costume this year from Shelly. It was a blast!!

Pictured are Me, Amy, Jennifer and Susan

And the Rain Came Down...

In West Tennessee we've definately had our share of rain lately. In September, the official weather "persons" recorded 8.59 inches of rain and reported it was one of the wettest Septembers had in about nine years. So far, we've seen 11 days with rain during the month of October and we still have a few days to go.

So, since everyone seems sick and tired of all the rain....

Today, I decided I would compile a top 10 list of why we should be happy to have the rain.

1. FREE car wash

2. Great oppotunity to wear the new cool rain boots that are in style.



3. Helps the fall leaves to change brilliant beautiful colors.

4. Sounds great on the roof thus promotes good sleep.

5. No worries about a drought.

6. Romantic setting for a walk in the rain. ;-)

7. You can fulfill your dream to walk barefoot in the rain or splash in puddles.

8. If you have a big hole in your yard...you can take a swim.

9. You can grab your umbrella and recreate the scene from Singing In the Rain.



10. You don't have to water your yard.

Cody!!!

Alabama vs Tennessee 10/24/09
The game was sort of a sleeper if you ask me. The first 3 Qtrs were soooo boring. It was a game of field goals.
Then suddenly the game was nail biting and suspensful.
Terrence Cody, who is my new hero, saved the game by blocking a punt by the Tennessee Vols. Roll Tide Roll!!!

Questions...

Why doesn't the food you craved as a kid taste the same now that you are an adult?
I used to LOVE Chef Boyardee Ravioli,Totino's frozen pizza, and McDonald's Double Cheeseburgers.
Have they changed the formulas or recipes? Or is it our adult taste buds are different?

Whip It

Mollie is on fall break and we went to the $5 movie yesterday afternoon, Whip It.
It was really cute. A girl from a small town in Texas gets tired of the beauty pageants her mom makes her enter and happens across a female roller derby team.
She tries out and makes the team.
The game becomes her passion.

5K Girls '09

Remember the 5K I was in? Well, here is a BEFORE the race picture. I will not be sharing the AFTER picture. I was not as fresh and smiling AFTER the race. hahaha!
Left to right are...Lanell, Me, Gina, Nurse Paula and her sister Donna.

The Wednesday Letters

Book #14 of 2009. The Wednesday Letters. Short and Easy Read. Enjoyed it.

Moose the Mastiff Mix

I have a weakness. I LOVE PUPPIES!!!

The Humane Society mobile unit visited my work today. They had an eighteen week old shepherd/mastiff mix baby boy named...MOOSE. That is a picture of Moose above. And YES, I fell in love and NO, I did not adopt him.

My voice of reason knew that Moose was going to eat more than I do at some point in his life. And if you know anything about the Mastiff then you know why they named him Moose. If you don't know anything about the Mastiff breed. The picture below will be self explanatory.

Justus Turned One!

My great nephew, Justus (Buddy Boo) just turned one year old!!!
Happy Birthday Buddy Boo!!!

Happy Birthday Bruce!

Today is the 60th birthday of "The Boss". I fell in love with Bruce Springstein for two reasons. His song, Born to Run, was a love letter written to a girl named...you guessed it...WENDY! I mean what girl wouldn't want this Jersey guy growling..."I want to die with you Wendy on the street tonight in an everlasting kiss"!!!
I just got goose bumps!!
And...the second reason was the kicking song in the 80's...BORN IN THE USA!!!
Gotta Love "The Boss".
Happy Birthday Bruce!!! Rock and Roll!!!

The Orpheum Theatre Haunted

As you know, I just went to the Broadway production of A Chorus Line at the Orpheum last night
.
It's such a beautiful theatre and I have been there numerous times and seen some great productions. The first was when Mollie was about 3 or 4 years old and we went to see Peter Pan. It was AWESOME!!! Since then we have seen, Beauty and the Beast, Annie, RiverDance, The Nutcracker Ballet, and others.

But did you know that the Orpheum Theatre was supposedly HAUNTED?
Yep...So, I am copying you the story from the official Orpheum Memphis web site and also posting pictures.


Historical Orpheum


Orpheum Today


Inside

Mary's Story

Mary the Theatre Ghost
Countless times over the past 50 years performers and employees at the Orpheum have noticed a little girl in a white dress and pigtails sitting in seat C-5, Box 5. Although her blank stare and ethereal appearance have upset some who have seen her, the little girl known as Mary has never disrupted a performance. In fact, it seems as though she adores the theatre.

One version of the story is that Mary was struck by a trolley, and was carried into the theatre where she soon died. An investigation by Dr. Lee Sutter's parapsychology class at University of Memphis alternatively suggested that the little girl actually died during a downtown accident and did not wander into the Orpheum until after her death.

Regardless of how she came to the theatre, she apparently enjoyed her new surroundings and the performances and has stayed as our guest for nearly 80 years!

A Chorus Line...One Singular Sensation

My company sent out an email and offered FREE tickets to the Broadway production of, A Chorus Line at the Orpheum. My very good friend Whitney (who is nimble and quick fingered) was able to acquire two tickets before they ran out. And so tonight, we had a girls night after work.
We ate at The Blues Cafe and then walked over to The Orpheum Theatre. It was perfect weather.
A Chorus Line started on Broadway in 1975 and is the fourth longest running Broadway production EVER! It also has won 9 Tony awards out of 12 nominations.
I honestly didn't know what A Chorus Line was all about so, I got on line and read a brief synopsis before we went. It's about dancers that are at an audition for a part in a stage production. They all want a part in "the chorus line" but the director wants to know WHY they want the part and who each dancer really is, where they came from, and why they dance. Not just their resume with a name and picture.
We had a great time. Thanks Whitney, I love you!



Chandaliers at the Orpheum.

FA-ROG

Anyone who knows us girls...(Mollie and Myself)....know that we have had our share of creatures and critters to surprise us and keep us on our toes where we live.
We've had wasp, mice, slugs, worms, a mole, spiders, and even a "smouse" to visit our home.
(smouse is another story for another blog)
So, Saturday night we had gone to bed. Mollie was in her room watching TV and I was in my cozy bed about to doze off and my cell phone rings.
It's Mollie from her ROOM!!! I answer the call and Mollie says in a calm voice...."Mom, there is a frog in my room". I said "What"?!
She repeats...FA-ROG...there is a FA-ROG in my room please come and get it.
I'm not a big fan of frogs but being "the mom" I had to go and check out the situation.
Sure enough..it was a FA-ROG. A tiny baby green frog about the size of a cricket but none the less it was a FA-ROG!
So, I get a plastic cup and we trap him and then run a manila folder under the cup and capture him. Then I RUN and throw the cup, folder, and FA-ROG out the front door. (ok, so I'm still a girl....yuck)
Today I was looking for a picture of a baby green FA-ROG on line and saw an article that baby green tree frogs are the new pet craze. Are you serious????

Here are a few sentences about the pet craze....
Green tree frogs have rapidly become a household pet and it is no wonder. These beautiful little creatures require very little room and are easy to care for, although they do require an adequate supply of water and must be monitored on a daily basis. You can find these exotic looking amphibians in nearly any pet store for under $10. Use caution when purchasing a tree frog and look for signs of stress or other health issues.

Under $10??? I had one for FREE and didn't want him!! YUCK!!! The amphibian had to go!!!

I'm a Brunette

I was walking through Walgreens about three or four weeks ago and on a whim purchased a $3.00 box of Medium Brown hair color. The box however has been sitting on my bathroom shelf ever since.
Yesterday afternoon I just decided to go for it. After all it's just hair, right?
So, here I am. A Brunette.

5K

I was encouraged, prodded, and coerced by my good friend Lanell to participate in the Memphis Women 5K Run/Walk and sooooo.....I did it.
First of all, three miles is a long way. But, being there with all these other women doing the exact same thing was pretty cool.
I did however want to share a few of thoughts....

Number one...I learned that the number you wear on your shirt is called a bib.
I did not know that until today.

Number two...Today is the first day I have ever used a Porto Potty...enough said.



And finally, number three...every thing we were ever taught about littering gets thrown out the window at a race. At the mile markers, they hand you a cup of water as you go by and then you THROW THE CUPS ON THE CURB when you're done.
(they have someone designated to clean them up)

It was a great experience and I had fun. On top of that, everyone got a cool t-shirt and medal!

Peter, Paul, and Mary

Mary Travers of the Emmy Award winning musical group, Peter-Paul,and Mary, died yesterday at the age of 72. She was battling Leukemia. I remember the song Leaving On A Jet Plane and many other folk songs from my childhood. Rest in peace Mary.
Oh, and look at her picture above. Didn't she have great lips? Bet those aren't Botox.

Boys Like Girls

My baby girl got her first brush with fame Saturday night. She got to go back stage and meet the band, Boys Like Girls.
Can you tell she was excited?

Patrick Swayze

Actor Patrick Swayze died yesterday of Pancreatic Cancer. My two favorite Swayze movies are Dirty Dancing and Ghost. I am already planning on watching Dirty Dancing this weekend.
May God comfort his wife and family during this time of loss.