Holiday Weekend

It's almost over, unfortunately! Friday was a nice day. We got up, had breakfast and cleaned up things a bit. Then we grilled some burgers and hotdogs and played Rook all afternoon and evening on the patio. We made some delicious margaritas. I have finally found a mixer I like! That might not be a good thing...!

Yesterday we went to Jimmy's aunt & uncle's house and I stayed in the pool. Jimmy, Layke and Seth were poops because they didn't swim. That water sure did feel good! It wasn't really that hot here, which is surprising. The 4th of July is usually so hot that it's miserable. We stayed until the middle of the afternoon, then came home, napped, and then last night we had the ribs and such that Jimmy had smoked. He's really good with that smoker!

Today it is raining. It hasn't rained here in a while. I have started cleaning in my room. Where does all the dirt and dust come from?? And the stuff. I have more stuff! I've thrown away quite a bit and I'm not halfway finished. I want to clean out the bookcase, which will be a major undertaking. I took down my curtains because I hate them. To me it's better to not have anything but blinds up instead of curtains I hate! I'm going to look for a new bedroom suite. Not sure I can afford one right now, but I'm going to look.

This blog is about as interesting as wet cardboard. Nothing to say much and I'm in a blah mood. I'll do better the next time.

Happy Father's Day!

Me and my "baby daddy", Jimmy! LOL!!!

Today I celebrate my wonderful husband, Jimmy. He is an excellent father to our three kids, who are now young adults. I hope he has a most enjoyable and relaxing day!

I never knew my father. He passed away when I was four months old. Everyone who knew him said he was a fine man. He was 36 years old, had been married to my mother for 15 months, and was principal of the local elementary school. He had been in WWII, serving in Patton's Third Army. He attended and graduated from the University of Alabama after returning from the war. He minored in Spanish and mother said that when they went on a vacation to Mexico he was jabbering to everyone. My daughter Rachel has a propensity for foreign languages. She must get it from him!

Even though I didn't have a father in my life, I had two grandfathers who loved me and stood in the gap. My Paw Paw Smith was a farmer and a county road crew worker. He and my Maw Maw lived on a farm and I spent countless hours there when I was young. My Grandpaw Thrasher was a retired police chief and was a contractor. He and my Grandmaw lavished me with love. My daddy was their youngest child. Just one example of how they spoiled me...I was living in Jacksonville for the summer while my mother finished up her graduate degree. I DESPISED going to summer school. I was an A student and repeating all the work I had done the previous school year was boring me to tears! I remember my grandfathers both told me that if I would go and stay just one more week, I would have a surprise waiting when I got home.

The next week I arrived home and what did I have? A shetland pony! Not just any shetland pony, but one that was brown with a white mane and tail, just like I had always wanted! Grandpaw Thrasher had bought him and my Paw Paw Smith was housing him on his farm. I remember how I loved that pony, whose name was Thunder.

Well, that's just a little bit of a blog for Father's Day. I'm going to go and spend some time with my kids' daddy now!

Tuesday Morning and All's Well

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All's Well, Thank God. Monday was a bitch. I don't know if I have some sort of psychological problem or what, but Mondays absolutely kill me. Yesterday was no exception. The day started off with me in a terrible mood at work. Then Jimmy's espresso machine came in and it doesn't work. Talk about a dejected man! We are going to send it back to be repaired. I really felt sorry for him.

I went to buy my mascara that was on sale at CVS, thinking I had a dollar coupon. Duh, I had a coupon all right, but it was for another brand of mascara. Got home and ate some wonderful leftovers, but my boys acted like I was offering them hog slop so they went out to Burger King, the nastiest fast food establishment in exisitence. At around 8:30 it dawned on me that it was the day to make Amish bread. I had gotten some starter and the first go around I had thrown it away. This was my second batch and I just couldn't do that again, so I sent Jimmy to the store for pudding mix and I baked bread. It came out of the oven at 10:00.

Hopefully today will be a good one. It is so far. And I just realized that I put up my Mother's Day blog without putting up a picture of my mother. Nice, huh? I'll put one up on today's post. I need to take her a loaf of that Amish Friendship bread that I made last night. I guess I can get the boys to drop it off to her today sometime.

This blog is totally boring. Sorry, folks.

Layke just called. He's having friends over tonight for chicken wings. Big bonus for me...he's cleaning up the house today! Whoo Hoo! LOL~

All right, I've held you poor readers hostage long enough without providing one entertaining tidbit. I'll do better tomorrow. I hope. ;)

Happy Mother's Day!!

View from the balcony of The Lodge. Pretty, isn't it?

The Rowell Grandchildren, minus Tyler and Layke (who was working.) L to R: Jordan, his girlfriend, Kindra, Ryan (fiance') and Tisha, Seth, Jordan, Chelsea (fiancee')and Justin. Matt (fiance') and Riannon are missing, too! And Rachel. And here I was thinking I had them all in one spot! LOL

Jimmy and me. Doesn't he look thrilled? He hates to have his picture taken.

My daughter Rachel and me.

These are the pictures of the wedding that was taking place at The Lodge while we were there.

This is such a wonderful day to me. I always get such sweet attention from my kids, and I get to prepare lunch for my mother. When I stumbled over to the computer this morning, propped on my keyboard was a card and a silk rose from Layke. Now how do you suppose he knew I'd find it there first thing? LOL, my boy knows me! Jimmy had a card for me also. I laughed because he said he started to get a funny one, then opted for the romantic one. Atta boy.

Last weekend I went to Georgia for a Bo show, and my family was meeting me in Oxford. My friend Debbie from Pelham was driving, so that's our meeting spot. We had just passed Six Flags on the way home and I got a phone call from them, telling me to meet them at Best Buy instead of Cracker Barrel. When I asked why, they said that I was getting an iphone for Mother's Day!! Talk about stoked!! I was thrilled to death! When we got there a tornado was passing through Jacksonville, but that didn't dampen my enthusiasm. I have played with the thing all week. I absolutely adore it. The camera is wonderful and I've bought both Scrabble and Jeopardy to play on it. Woo Hoo!

Rachel didn't like the cover I had for the phone. (naturally) I had gotten a shock-absorbing one and a military grade protective covering for the front and I was happy. But now I have a hot pink skin for it. Guess I'll just swap them out! Seth has a Palm Treo and he's quite envious of my phone. His is nice, but the touch phone is much easier than his which requires a stylus.

Anyway, enough about my phone! Yesterday afternoon we met with Jimmy's family and went to the graveyard where his mother is buried. Of course we took pictures of one another. I have got more pictures of myself in graveyards than any other place on earth! Then after we put flowers on her grave, we all went to the State Park Lodge and had dinner on Ray Daddy. We then went over to his house for awhile.

While we were at the lodge, a couple was getting married out on the terrace. It was kind of sprinkling rain, but they got through their vows before they had to move inside. I sneaked a couple of pictures of them. It was a sweet wedding and I hope they'll be very happy, whoever they are!

I hope everyone has a fantastic Mother's Day. Lots of love goes out to my mother, who has always been there for me, strong, loving and supportive.

It's official. I'm a Senior Citizen.

Yeah, mother thought it was hilarious to tell me to stop and get a "senior" drink at McDonald's today. I don't THINK so!

I walked into work this morning and all the girls were hiding and they had decorated my office in black. They had balloons everywhere that said "50...and the party continues..." which I felt was appropriate for me! I ain't quittin' no time soon. They had made a black tombstone and had dead ivy hanging from it. Oh my, it was quite the spectacle. No more lying about my age...not in the library anyway! Or here, where I'm telling the world! Ah, I'm just glad to be here!

This afternoon I took off work and went to Huntsville with Jimmy. Mother and Seth came along for the ride and after Jimmy's doctor visit (which went very well) we went to Ross. Ross is my favorite store in the whole entire world! I find Liz Claiborne clothes, Born shoes, Levi jeans...anything my little heart desires there at fantastic prices! Today I got three Liz shirts, a rocker shirt (it's for my wild side) and two pair of sandals. AWESOME. Jimmy got some nice shirts, too. Mother found an outfit for Easter.

Oh, let me tell you about Mother and her outfits! She wears the craziest things together and today I made sure that everything matched! What is it about older people that make them wear such strange color combinations?? Mother wore socks and open-toed shoes today, but I let it slide because she had a toenail removed last week. But she does look hilarious when she wears her big yellow fleece pullover, navy sweat pants, white socks and black Aerosole shoes. I'm not fashionista, but that is just plain funny!

After shopping we drove back to Guntersville and had dinner at Top of the River. I hadn't been there in a while and I love their slaw, cornbread and catfish. And I love the pickled onions! I love anything and everything pickled! Beets, okra, onions, eggs...pickle 'em and I'll eat 'em!

We walked outside by the lake and I took some pictures. We then went back to Mother's house and had cake. And here again is something hilarious that Mother did...I had said I didn't want 50 on anything, so what did she do? She had them put "59th Girl" on my cake. Huh? Somehow she interpreted that to mean I was born in 1959! I'm sitting here laughing out loud trying not to wake up Jimmy. Mother is a hoot!

Oh me, I can't quit laughing so I've got to find something else to occupy my time and get my mind off of my goofy Mother. Later, folks!

Tomorrow is my Birthday

Oh yes it is. And I'm not too hyped up about it. God, I hate getting older. I should still be 18. It's just not fair!! Nothing I can do about it so I might as well make lemonade, huh?

My mother has been on me to choose a piece of jewelry for my gift. She wants me to have something to keep. Well, after looking at stuff online together, I could see that we have opposite taste in jewelry! So this afternoon she and I went shopping. Mother wanted me to have a cross necklace and I found one I LOVED! It is marcasite with mother of pearl inlay. Gorgeous! I chose a long chain for it and I am already wearing it. Ha- there is no way I was going to wait until tomorrow!

One thing that has driven me batty this week is that Jimmy and Mother and the rest of my family have looked and me and asked what we are doing for my birthday. Why are they asking me? Aren't they supposed to plan something FOR me? I finally just told them where I wanted to go out for dinner. Jeez.

Oh, speaking of eating, if you live in Albertville make sure and go to the Mexican ice cream shop across the street from Whitten's!! Let me tell you, that is some awesome stuff! They had been open last summer, then they closed and I was sad. Then the other day I saw the sign again! Yay! So this afternoon we went by there and I had not one but two scoops of ice cream...coconut and pine nut. It is the best stuff I've ever tasted!

I feel all disjointed writing this blog. Nothing is falling together smoothly. Can't be "on" all the time I don't guess. All this week I've been rather BLAH. I need another B12 shot even though I had one last week. I cannot think and all I want to do is sleep.

I think I'll try and do better tomorrow. Adios. (Must be the Mexican ice cream talking...LOL)