Facebook

I don't blog much anymore (or at all really) nor do I read blogs that much anymore. I have found facebook is quicker and more fun. I still plan to keep my blog for posts that are longer than would be appropriate on fb. There are some things that are flying around in my head, but I simply don't have the time to put them down in a coherent way just now. Maybe this summer.

I'm still here......

Well, I'm sure the few people who did read my blog have long given up on me by now. But, blogging just takes so much time and I'm finding I much prefer Facebook for a quick update. Since my last post in September, lots has happened in the world and I have strong opinions on all of it.....but that would take waaaaay too long. Suffice it to say that I agree w/ George W. Bush when he says that it will be a "stirring sight" to see the first black man assume the presidency. Even though I disagree w/ Mr. Obama on just about everything, I will still respect him as my President. (I really resent those who say that just because I didn't vote for him that makes me a racist.......whatever) Anyway, Christmas was great. We have been very blessed this year. God has shown me that when I lean on Him, He is always there. He never fails. I hope that in 2009, things settle down a bit in our country and our economy, but if they don't, it does not matter, because I have learned that to put my faith and hope in anything or anyone other than the giver of faith and hope is seriously misguided, at best. If there is still anyone reading this blog, I wish you all of God's blessings in 2009.

Michael Moore is an idiot!

This post has been brewing for a few days. I usually try to stay away from politics, but I can't get this out of my head. I realize that politics has become very polarized in the last few years, on both sides. You can't just disagree w/ someone, you have to hate/destroy them. But what i saw a few days ago takes the prize for being the most disgusting. I was channel surfing and came across Michael Moore on Keith Olbermann's show, not sure what channel......CNBC or MSNBC, whatever. Normally I would keep surfing when I see his face, but for some reason, this time I paused, right as he was saying that with hurricane Gustav barrelling down on the coast at the same time as the Republican convention was about to start, that was proof to him that there is a God in heaven, as he laughed at the hilarity and cleverness of his remark! Even the despicable Keith Olbermann was at a loss for words. I mean, seriously, this guy was rubbing his hairy paws together with glee at the thought of a major destructive hurricane taking attention away from the Republicans! Never mind the fact that the last time it happened, hundreds of people lost their lives, not to mention the thousands upon thousands whose lives were ruined. But hey, what a small price to pay to get a dig on the Republicans, right!!! Give me a break, this guy makes me sick. OK.....I feel better now after getting that off my chest.

Go REBELS!!!

This is Barrett's 9th grade football pic. It kind of brought a tear to his old dad's eye to see him in the Rebel colors. Me?.....well, it brought tears to my eyes for different reasons, not the least of which is that some of those boys on his team easily weigh 200+ lbs! and Barrett weighs 135 dripping wet. Don't get me wrong, he's not a runt, in fact, he's about average size, not tiny at all. And, the way he eats, you would think he was a lineman. But still, he's already had one broken arm from football and.....I'm just sayin'. Oh, and don't be fooled by his low #. He's not a quarterback. On picture day, they just threw them any old jersey for the picture. He actually plays on defense, a position he calls "ghost".....never heard of it. Maybe its because he's really scary or something :-)
I know you can't tell in the picture, but his legs are really hairy. He's turned into a hairy-legged teenager!! When did that happen? One minute he was a precious little kid that wouldn't let me out of his sight, and now? a hairy-legged football player? I don't think so! (but he's still precious.....to his momma anyway.)

Summer reading list....

Well, my summer reading list was (is) quite long, but I am making headway. In June, I read the latest in the Teashop Mystery Series that I have been following for a couple of years. Though VERY light reading, I have enjoyed them because they are set in Charleston, SC and have alot of historical stuff in them, which I love. However, I decided after this last one, that they are a little too "light" (even for the pool :-) and it is getting hard to distinguish one from the other. So, that is crossed off my list. Next on the list, on my Mother's recommendation, was David Baldacci's "Wish You Well", an excellent uplifting story. Kind of a departure for Baldacci, who usually writes murder mysteries. I loved it. Then, a friend from church & I were discussing Eckhart Tolle's "New Earth", which I had heard some negative things about and she told me that she & her husband had really found it to be very helpful, and that I shouldn't judge it until I had read it. OK.....she had a point. So I read it and, honestly it was the hardest thing to get through. So much psycho-babble, new age crap. Somehow, my friend had gleaned from this book that this man is a Christ follower, which, I guess he is. But, he is also a Buddha follower, a Zen master follower, a Hindhu follower, all of which he puts on the same level as Jesus Christ. And never once does he claim the Deity of Christ, just that he was an enlightened teacher. The sad thing is that so many people are being misled into thinking this is truth. IT IS NOT!!! I hated this book, it disturbed me alot.
The last book I just finished, was just the opposite, I absolutely loved it. It was William Young's "The Shack". I can't quite put into words just yet how it affected me. Very overwhelming. There is so much to digest. I finished it a couple days ago, but it is still running through my mind. I know it is one that I will have to re-read a few times. My friend Arlene was right to advise me that it is not one to be checked out from the library, rather, I need to own this book, in order to be able to go back to it over & over.
So, that is the list so far. I have been meaning to read the "Twilight" series that my daughter loves so much. She owns all 3, has read all of them at least twice and is on the advance list for the next book in the series, which will be released August 2. I feel like a bad mom, because this kind of snuck up on me. By the time I realized she was so hooked on this series, she had already read 2 of the 3. Some moms @ church have said they are not allowing their girls to read them, and looked at me with raised eyebrows when I told them Gracen had read all 3 books (more than once actually). (Every one of my daughter's friends are reading them and it has become quite a phenomenon among that age set.) Basically, from what I gather, its a love story that involves vampires, slightly steamy, but not any overt sex. Definitely targeted for this age of audience. So, even though I'm not one to react to what others think (Gracen read and loved all the Harry Potter books) I still need to read these books, just to know what is going on.

On a slightly different subject, I went to see "Mamma Mia" last night with my mother and sister. LOVED IT!!! Of course, I have loved it ever since Lon & I saw it in Las Vegas several years ago. I was a big ABBA fan back in the day......I had "Dancing Queen" on a 45 and played it over and over, singing into my hairbrush microphone. I was in 7th grade. And of course, who could forget "Supa-pa, Troupa-pa"? I remember me & my friends singing along to that song on the bus going on the church ski trip to Angel Fire. That was probably my jr. year.......great memories>

CAKE!!!

As long as I'm on this "sugar" theme, I want to also mention my neice, Cara Packard. She makes and decorates the most gorgeous cakes.....well, some are gorgeous, some are cute & fun and some actually take your breath away!! (I wish I had a picture of the cake she did of the New York City skyline, it was unbelievable!!)The only down side is, she also lives in NYC....bummer for us, but great for her. She appears to be having a blast living there and has become very successful. We love her alot and are so proud of her for striking out on her own so far from home. But, if you are ever in NYC and find yourself in need of a special cake, well, Caras your girl. You can see her "stuff" @ http://caralinncakes.com/ She's a very talented girl. Way to go "Cawa", we LOVE you!!

COOKIES!!!

My friend Becky has started a "side business" of making & decorating the most beautiful cookies. She has always been very talented and creative, and now she is using those gifts to bless people with delicious cookies. You can see her "stuff" @ http://texascookiejar.blogspot.com, and if you need cookies for any occasion, I highly reccommend her. Way to go Bek!

Father's Day 2008

.....or should I say Father's Weekend. We celebrated both Saturday and Sunday, but Lon totally deserves it. He is the bestest Daddy around. Saturday, Lazy Boy delivered a new "Big Man's Recliner".....granted, I can never top last years gift--the Tiernan Son of Brisket smoker--I didn't even try. However, the huge recliner is definitely second. We had a BMR a few years ago, which he loved, but when it wore out, we cheaped out and replaced it w/ a "regular" recliner, and not a very good one. We always fought over who had to sit in it. It was sooo uncomfortable and cheaply made. So, this year, I spent the big bucks and got the good one. It is so comfy to take naps in, thats how big it is, I can just curl up in it. Love it!! Then on Sunday, we surprised Lon with a chiminea. He has been wanting one for the patio, when he is smoking (meat) and it is cold. So, he got 2 gifts, like I said, totally worth it. Another great Father's Day, but always a little bittersweet as I remember those who have lost their fathers in the last year and the fact that Lon's dad is no longer with us. We miss him alot, especially now that Barrett is playing baseball. It would be so cool to have Grandpa there in the stands watching #22. But, we had a great lunch with my parents....PeiWei, and we gave my Dad a gift card for gas. How sad is that? Anyway, it was a great weekend and I am so thankful to be blessed with a wonderful husband, who happens to also be the greatest Daddy, and also have my own father around for my kids to grow up with.