Updates and Pictures

I had a great Thanksgiving this year. My family and I went over to some friends' house for a day of glutton and oh what fun it was! My hubby was so excited to get to fry a turkey. I must say, it was one of the juiciest birds I've ever had the privilege of devouring! We had all the fixin's as well. I'm still full from that day, but oh was it worth it.

Last Friday, I did what I had never dared to do before - I was at the stores before they opened to grab the good deals on Black Friday. I was up before 4am and was at Kohl's by 4:30 to stand in the freezing cold so I could get in early and buy up every Dora toy they had at half price. I got some good deals, people. I stood in line to check out there after about 15 minutes of power shopping then headed on over to Target where, after standing in line for more than 30 minutes and freezing even more, I got even more good deals. I was very pleased with my accomplishments on this fun early morning. After my shopping escapades, I'm 97% finished with my Christmas shopping. WOOHOO!!!

Tis the season to dress up my child in cutie patootie Christmas clothes and bows! I'm so excited!


Isn't she the cutest?! Her shirt shows a Christmas package with a tag that says "From Grandpa with love". Do you think if she wears that to see "GeePaw" this weekend that he'll give her a dollar? I think so!

We took a photo opportunity yesterday morning before church. It took a while to get Rachel to cooperate with Daddy and the camera, but I think we finally got something.....



Oh and the lovely little scrape on her mouth is where she decided it'd be great fun to whack her face into the stair case. Yeah, not so much fun after all. I thought that was such great timing here right before Christmas picture season and all. Oh well. It will be something we can always remember.

Her Future's So Bright...

...she's gotta wear shades! Rachel wore these most of the morning and Katie has manicure items in hand. Looks to me like Rachel is the diva and Katie is her beauty assistant.... :) It sort of reminds me of Julia Roberts and Catherine Zeta Jones in America's Sweetheart.

Chocolate Gravy

..... one of my all time favorite things for breakfast (next to Krispy Kreme's, of course). Last week when my grandma was here, she showed me her famous method of making Chocolate Gravy. I have had this lovely treat since birth. This is something my granny is famous for among our family. Many have tried and failed to duplicate Gran's recipe. See, Gran doesn't measure anything with the standard measuring devices. This creates a problem for those of us trying to copy her. So, during her visit, I asked her to supervise me and tell me exactly what to do as I made the chocolate (when you are familiar with this dish, all you need to say is "chocolate") and I did it ALL BY MYSELF!!!! And it was GOOD!! I tried again today to make some and I tell you, I think I've got it down! Of course, I have the little pot that my granny has made this stuff in for ever and ever. She gave it to me several months ago and as long as I have that particular pot and the spoon I used when she showed me, I feel confident I can continue to know how to make it. Take the pot and spoon away and, well, I'd just have to give up ever trying to make it again. I think if this pot and spoon hold up, it will be one of those things that I pass down to my grandchildren and say "you know, back when I was a young lady (yeah, y'all don't laugh there) my grandmother taught me how to make chocolate in this very pot...."

Worn Out

This week has been a busy one for me and I'm tired! My mom, step dad, and grandma came over on Tuesday night and spent the night. I cooked a big meal for them, which I enjoy doing, but it wore me out. I fixed a turkey and the fixin's as though it were Thanksgiving, but man, was it all good!! Gran has stayed with me since Tuesday. She hasn't ever been over to spend an extended period of time with me and we've really had a good time. I enjoy her being here and helping her do things. She's really helped me, too. Like today, she helped me clean my house for a Mary Kay party I had this afternoon. I don't know what it is, but to have someone help clean my house just gives me warm fuzzies!! I LOVE IT!!! That, to me, is a true sign that someone cares. The only thing that is about to drive me crazy is that she talks constantly through any TV show I'm trying to watch. Last night, I was into the story on Without A Trace and she was telling me some story of some guy who "got him a bite to eat" and some other stuff I didn't really pay much attention to. For the love of Pete, wait til a COMMERCIAL!! However, we have had fun, so I can't complain too much. I'll take her back home tomorrow and life will get back to almost normal - except I'll have a cleaner house.

Shoes From Hates

I've decided to throw away a certain pair of shoes I have that are most likely out of style now anyway. Why, you ask? Let me tell you why.

Wednesday night, I went to a neighbor's house to drop off a packet to her. When I rang the doorbell, I thought this dude doesn't look familiar, but oh well. I asked him if he could give the packet to Jenni. He looked at me a little funny, but said he could make sure she got it. I thanked him and started back to my car. As I turned to head back to my car, I THOUGHT I was walking on the sidewalk, though I couldn't really tell for the million LEAVES that were all over the place, and I proceeded to step just ever so slightly far enough to twist the crap out of my foot!!! I limped my way back to my car in shame and through the nausea that was setting in due to the excruciating pain, I realized it was the WRONG HOUSE!!! I swalled my pride and limped back up to the door. I sheepishly rang the doorbell again and said "I just dropped off that packet and I think I got the wrong house"..... "Yes, she lives next door" he said. I took the packet from the guy and limped across the yard over to my friend's house and actually got it into the right hands this time. I then limped back to my van and drove the 2 blocks back to my house. I tore my stupid shoes off as quickly as I got into the house and was about to drive myself to the hospital because my foot HURT!!!

Hubby wasn't too far from coming home and when he got here I told him I was pretty sure I'd broken my foot and he needed to fix it. Yeah, by that time, I wasn't really in my right mind. He got a bag of frozen peas from the freezer (these make great ice packs, btw) and tried putting that on my foot. Well, I just about came flying off the couch! The pressure of anything touching my foot, much less something that was about a thousand degrees below zero nearly sent me through the roof! I decided I should call my orthopedic friend and see what he advised. I told him my symptoms and he said it didn't sound broken and as long as I could stand the pain, it would probably be ok to wait until the next morning to go to the doctor.

Yesterday morning, I visited the doctor's office that I never go to. When someone even asks me who my family doctor is, I don't know what to tell them because I never have to go! So I get there and wait........and wait........and wait......... and Mike is with me about to go NUTS and finally 45 minutes after my scheduled appointment time, they take me to another place to WAIT! Mike was about to blow a gasket and without him having to say anything, I could tell his wheels were turning on how he could figure out a way to run this office more efficiently. About an hour and a half after my scheduled appointment time, they get me in to x-ray. From that point, it seemed to go a little quicker. The doctor I had was wearing a bow-tie. He was probably in his late 30's and very friendly. I liked him and instantly trusted him. He did say I didn't have a broken foot and that the only broken thing I would need to mend was my pride.

So, I came home yesterday, put my foot up, and got to rest and watch my soap opera. That was nice. Although, if you remember in a previous post I talked about how much I love Thursdays. Yeah, well, yesterday was NOT one of those Thursdays that I loved. I hope next week is better.

In case you wondered, I'll no longer be wearing those shoes. They have thick soles and I've tripped more than a few times because of them. Therefore, they are now being designated for the trash man.

Customer Service?

In my last post, I talked about the 'extra' friendly guy behind the microphone at Taco Bell. Well, last night, I had the opposite experience at McDonald's.
I pulled up to the mic and the guy says,

"Order when your ready".

No "Welcome to McDonald's." No nothing. I thought it a bit strange, but whatever. So I ordered my coke and fries (yes, I know - another nutritious snack).

"Three ten" says the mic guy.

He didn't say "Will that be all for you?" "Please pull forward" "...at the first window". Nothing.

So, I go from almost uncomfortable, overzealous friendliness at Taco Bell to Mr. No Personality and Zero Customer Service at McDonald's. I think I should see what happens at Wendy's or Sonic. Or maybe I just need to knock out fast food all together? My waistline would appreciate that for sure.

"How you doin'?"

Sunday after church, we headed for the drive through at Taco Bell. Yes, I know. Nutritious Sunday lunch, huh? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Anyway... here's the exchange between us and the guy on the other side of the microphone:

Guy: "Hey. Welcome to Taco Bell. How you doin'?"

Us: huh? "Um, we'd like to order now?"

Guy: "Cool."

Us: "Ok, we'd like a taco salad, two meat and cheese soft tacos, and a Nachos Bell Grande."

Guy: "Sweet. Ok, that's a taco salad, two meat and cheese soft tacos, and a Nachos Bell Grande. Do you want any cokes or anything to go with that?"

Us: "no thanks."

Guy: "Ok, well that'll be (insert total). Just pull up to the window. See ya later."

I don't think I've ever had anyone at the drive thru ask me how I was, nor has anyone ever said "see ya later" or anything more chatty than "Please pull forward". It just seemed strange.

Sad Little Lunch

Today for lunch, I ate a mini Chick 'o Stick, a mini Kit Kat, and a chocolate chip cookie. Oh, and I'm drinking a glass of iced tea. Sad isn't it? I actually was somewhat healthy for breakfast and ate some Honey Nut Shredded Wheat, which was very yummy. I'm just not that hungry for lunch and there's not a darn thing in this house that looks good. So, I succumb to my sweet tooth desires. I'll make it up at dinner at Uncle Gaylord's!! YUM!!!!!

Goin' To The Chapel...

Tomorrow, my girl April is getting married!! I'm so excited for her! This is a day that is an answer to prayer. It will be a precious ceremony, I know, and a fabulous blast of a party at the reception!

April, I love you girl and pray God blesses you in your marriage tomorrow and every day of your future! Thanks for letting me be a part of it all!

Heeeeeere's RED!!

Mike took this picture last night of my new do. I almost blend in too much with the brick and mantle behind me. I'm beginning to like the color a little more and now that I've actually broken through the hair color barrier, I think I might just go crazy! This could get REALLY fun!!!

On the Halloween front, Rachel did really well during the Trick or Treat process. At the first house, she was VERY unsure about what was going on, but once the candy was dropped in her bucket, it was amazing to see the reaction of coolness come over her. She thought that was just the greatest thing ever! From that point on, it was all about going to the doors and smiling that cute little smile and sometimes getting out "Trick or Treat" and maybe a Thank You every so often. Mostly she would sit her bucket down and reach her hand out for the candy she knew the homeowners were going to inevitably give her. :) I do have to say, though, that I have the cutest cat in the world!!

Here are Katie & Rachel looking as cute as two little kitties can be!!!