Not a single blog in 2011! I'm pathetic!

What a year this has been! Jimmy had knee replacement surgery, I had rotator cuff surgery, and things have been super crazy. The year is half over and this is the first time I've been here. Mmmm. I don't quite know where to begin. Perhaps it would be better if I just skipped over the first 6+ months and started now. I'll just highlight some things, then move on.

Jimmy's daddy passed away suddenly, which was quite a blow to the family, but everyone took it well. We were so glad that he didn't suffer that it kind of overshadowed the horrible loss. And, being Christians, we all know we're going to see him again, and Ray is having a blast up there with Pat, baby Paul, his parents and siblings who got there first!

I spent a weekend in Nashville with friends seeing Bo Bice do his thing at Mercy Lounge on Friday night, The Grand Ole Opry Saturday night, and at Rockin' Through the Rain on Sunday. It was a fabulous weekend.

On the tail of that weekend, I was working late on Monday, heading home to celebrate Jimmy's birthday. When I arrived at home, I found out that Rachel's adopted dog (which she has now returned to the shelter) had murdered my little tiny chihuahua Lulu. I was heartbroken, devastated, inconsolable and I'm still not over it.

CMA week has come and gone. Six nights in Nashville, lots of great music, lots of good times with friends. The week involved everything from a celebrity fishing tournament to a parade to writer's rounds to full out concerts. Oh, and we got a private soundcheck with LoCash Cowboys totally by chance!

Our yard has grown in lush and green this year and Jimmy is so proud. It was redone last year after the tornado.

This year we experienced something we've never seen in our lifetime- April 27 and multiple devastating tornadoes. We dodged a bullet this year, but our city did get some damage, including my road north of where we live. So many lives were lost that it's hard for my mind to wrap around the enormity of the events of the day. I've never been as terrified in all of my life. After last year's tornado hit our home while we were there, I am fully aware of the mighty power of those storms and just how helpless we are. We are in the planning stages of installing a storm shelter underneath the floor of our new garage. Why we didn't think of it last year while they were building it is beyond me. All I can figure is that we were so addled that we just couldn't think straight.

The group Alabama from Ft. Payne organized a show in Birmingham to benefit the tornado victims. It was held on June 14 and I was fortunate enough to attend it. I had pretty good seats, too! The music began at 7:30 and flowed seamlessly for 5 1/2 hours. I laid my head down in bed at 3:50 the next morning and was up at 7 to go to work. Totally, completely worth the lack of sleep! Alabama, Rodney Atkins, The Commodores, Dierks Bentley, Bo Bice, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Luke Bryan, Sheryl Crow, Sara Evans, Taylor Hicks, Little Big Town, Montgomery Gentry, Martina McBride, David Nail, Jake Owen, Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, Darius Rucker and Ashton Sheperd- now how's that for a lineup? It was fabulous. Just fabulous!

Jimmy and I celebrated our 32nd wedding anniversary June 16th. It doesn't seem possible that so much time has passed. We've weathered some storms throughout the years, but we've made it through together. I look forward to growing old(er) with him!

Rachel, Layke and Seth are all doing well. So is mother. They are all busy with their lives and things are good.

Jimmy is playing music every chance he can. I go listen to live music every chance I can. My next quick trip is July 27 to Nashville.  I also have a couple of weekends to TN planned in August and one to GA in September. This year I made a promise to myself that I would try my best not to fly anywhere. So far I've kept that promise, although it gets tempting at times. For example, a girl from Brazil has come to the U.S. this month to catch some Bo shows. She's been a fan since 2005 at age 14. Unfortunately, I'm not going to get to go to any of the shows she's attending in OH and MI, so I won't get to meet her. :( That makes me sad.

Well, that's my life in a nutshell for 2011. I'll try my best to start blogging regularly. Oh, and I'm starting back with my couponing! I was big into that before the tornado in 2010. I'm excited at the prospect of the bargains I'm going to get! 

New Year's Eve

Can't believe New Year's is here again.  All I can say is that I hope 2011 is better than 2010.  Nope, I'm not in the mood to be cheerful and be all happy and put up a lively uplifting blog.  Today it is what it is. 

Have a safe celebration tonight and I'll catch you all down the road.

Giving Thanks

This is Thanksgiving week, and I have so much to be thankful for this year.  It was rough with the tornado and all, but we have made it.  They finished up the house last week and if I do say so myself, it is beautiful!  I still have to get pictures hung on the walls and the boxes in the garage cleared out, but we are good.

There's been sickness this year, too, but thankfully everyone is on the mend or well.  I am so thankful!

A week ago Saturday we brought our dogs home from Mother's house where they had been staying since the tornado struck.  We took them for their shots and on to the groomer to get all dolled up before they came home to their new digs.  They looked so handsome when we picked them up!  Each of them had a bandana tied around their neck and they smelled wonderful!

I've never seen dogs so proud to be home!  They ran all over the back yard, sniffing and checking out the new fences and their new little covered shed that we had built for them.  They were so happy!  Later on that week we got a new Great Pyrenees.  He's 8 months old and already weighs 85 pounds!  Jimmy named him Toby Dick, the Great White Dog.  Toby is adorable and is adjusting well to his new home and brothers.

Little Pugsley worried me all last week.  He was blind and deaf and when I picked him up from the groomer he just laid his little body up against me, something that little ball of fire has never done.  As the week progressed I realized that he was unhappy.  He just stood around and when he did try to walk, he walked into the fence.  He had no idea where he was going.  My heart was so heavy because I knew something was going to have to be done.  I grieved all week long over that little sweet dog.  Thursday I went out and when I petted him, he curled up his little tail and wagged it at me.  He had not done that in ages; he kept his tail limp and hanging down.  Friday morning I took their food out and he wouldn't eat a bite, which was unusual for him.

I had a doctor's appointment in Huntsville Friday and Jimmy went with me.  The appointment took FOREVER and when I got out I met Debbie to head to Nashville for a quick overnight trip.  We were going up I65 when Jimmy called and told me Pugsley had died.  He said it looked like he had just fallen over.

The Lord works in wondrous ways.  I don't think I could have stood to see Pugs dead.  My last memory is of that little tail curling up and wagging when I petted him.  He knew I loved him.  Friday night I was able to go and see Bo at a benefit.  He was sweet and it always does my heart good to see him and hear him sing. We also met a guy named Mike Farris, who sings gospel songs.  Mike used to be with the Screaming Cheetah Wheelies but he has been singing gospel music for several years now.  He won a Dove award last year.  Just listening to him sing gave my heart comfort when all I wanted to do was cry about Pugsley.  Here is Mike singing Can't No Grave Gonna Hold This Body Down.


I had a good trip and when I got home, Jimmy had already buried Pugsley right inside our fence.  He said that when he was burying him, Ernie, our basset hound, sat and bayed.  He has been missing him something terrible and will not let Toby near the grave.  Animals amaze me.

Well, I went on a rabbit chase, but it all ends up pointing to this thought:  God is good.  God is merciful.  God loves me and for that I am humbled and grateful.

I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I know I am going to!

This is Puglsey on November 13 right after we picked him up at the groomer.  RIP, buddy.

Chilly Wednesday in Albertvegas.

The only thing we have in common with a "Vegas" is that it's a town in the United States of America!!

I’ve been a terrible blogger. Sorry. Just not enough time in the day I suppose.


A lot has been going on as far as work around the house after the tornado. The hardwood is down in 3 bedrooms and the hall and den, and all they lack is our bedroom. They have painted everything except our bedroom and bathroom and they still have to put in the new windows. The privacy fence was put up yesterday and they have constructed the shelter for the dogs. All we need now are the two sections of fencing that will pen them into a corner of the yard. I miss them and I want them to come home. Poor Austin just doesn’t understand why I’ve abandoned them over at Mother’s house.

The library is coming along. Maybe everything will be done here by the end of the year, or if we get lucky, the end of November!

Jimmy, Seth and I went to the Smoky Mountains. It was so gorgeous there with all the fall foliage! We had a really good time, and smack dab in the middle of the vacation was a Bo show. How much better can you get?

The weather is turning colder and I’m making chili for supper. It seems like a good night to hunker down, eat chili and watch Criminal Minds all wrapped up in a blanket.

Boring, boring, boring post. Maybe I’ll get inspired before too long.

Still Hanging On!

I forgot I had written the previous blog back in May. I had never posted it, so I went ahead. Here is where I started my new one. If I repeat myself, just ignore it!

Wow. My life has been chaotic since April 24. I really think I was in some sort of shock. We stayed outside the house for a week. We had no power, so we only came in to sleep. Mother's house provided showers and charges for our cell phones. Although all the library employees were working at the rec center, I stayed home. I was in no shape to help anyone. A TV crew came by and I promise I sound like a war survivor. I'm stuttering, I'm surrounded by destruction and I'm a total mess. Here is a breakdown of what all happened to our property:


My Tahoe was totaled

Layke's Accord was totaled

Jimmy's Element had $4K worth of damage

The truck had $1K worth of damage

The garage's bricks were blown off. It has to be destroyed.

Our little concrete block building had blocks blown out, the roof lifted and windows broken.

Our chain link fence was totally flattened.

The roof of the house over Layke's room was torn away and the water caused the ceiling in his room to collapse.

Numerous windows in our house were blown out.

Five huge trees were uprooted.

All total, we had about $84K worth of damage.


It's been three months. So far we've only got the roof replaced and the vinyl on the eaves of the house replaced. The trees have been removed. But everything else is still the same. This is a long, tedious process. The chaos has become a way of life. My house inside looks like, well, it looks like a tornado hit it!!


But I'm hopeful. When all is said and done we're going to have some really nice improvements. I've been wanting to remodel, but this isn't the ideal way!


On a bright note, I did get to spend a week in Nashville with my friends at the CMA Fest. It was a much-needed respite and I have been in a good state of mind ever since I got back.


The library was damaged and we opened up for the public on June 3 after weeks of working inside to get the glass, dirt and debris removed. Our children's department is still closed and our internet still doesn't work, but we're limping right along. No summer program this year. We had planned to have it in the park. There is no park left! Only one tree is left standing. The playground equipment is destroyed. So, we had to skip this year.


Jimmy has become a music star! He is part of a group called NewSouth. They had a concert in Guntersville Saturday night. They want to play at private parties, corporate events, community events, etc. They got a great reception from the approximately 100 people who came out to hear them Saturday night. They play country and classic rock. Great combo! The members of the band are Jimmy, Lynn and Tony Morgan, David Ogle, T?, and Johnny. Jimmy told me today that they are going to play at the City of Boaz's back to school celebration, whatever that is!

The future is going to be better. The repairs WILL get finished. And I have a trip planned next week with Jimmy to get away for a night. I'm looking forward to it!

Sunday morning after the tornado was a whirlwind of activity. Some dear friends came and tackled the the trees with chainsaws and another was scavenging for loose tin to patch our roof. Jimmy was only a week out from knee surgery, so he and I stood or sat there in a stupor and watched as these folks cut the trees from our vehicles and cut the five downed trees into small pieces.


It's all blurring together for me, but I remember Monday more friends and relatives showed up with machinery and pulled pushed and drug all the trees, downed fence and other trash to the edges of the yard. They also did this for our neighbor and I was amazed at how cheerfully they worked to help us, not expecting one thing in return.


I've never been on the receiving end of any kind of charity before. If you haven't been, you cannot begin to know how much every act of kindness means to a victim. Policemen guarded our neighborhood 24 hours a day, people drove by when the roads were cleared and brought hot meals, water, boxes of food and were always asking, "Do you need anything?" I was in a stupor. I kept my phone charged with a car charger and I got lots of messages from friends with encouraging words. I appreciated every one of them, but I did not have the energy to reply. If you sent one or left a message on voicemail, I got it and it meant so much.


One day some people from Domino's pizza came by and gave us pizzas. A television station was filming and I saw myself on tv a couple of weeks later and I looked shell-shocked. I guess I was. The only time I lost it the entire time was on Monday morning. I received a voicemail from my personnel manager telling me to get the library staff and report to the fire station to work. There is no way I could help anyone in the shape I was in. I left an incoherent message on the mayor's cell phone and Jimmy drove me to the fire station in the truck (our only working vehicle) and I just told them there's no way I could work.

I stayed home all that week and reported back the following Monday. We worked at the recreation center, the operations center for disaster relief. Then we came over to the library and worked both outside and inside the building.

My Bo friends were terribly kind to me during this time. Their generosity still amazes me.

The Albertville Tornado~ Saturday Night

A couple of weeks ago I lived through an EF3 tornado which tore through my city, Albertville, Alabama. To say I've been in shock is an understatement and I'm having a difficult time with the entire experience. Bear with me as a recount the night it happened. Then I'll try to summarize what all has transpired since that night in a blog later on.

Saturday night, April 24th, started out being just like any other Saturday night. We had supper with my mother and daughter and all sat around the living room cutting up and having a good time. Except there were tornado sirens blaring. The front moving through wasn't in our part of the county, so we sat there and watched the television as it passed on by.

A little later, we headed home. The boys, Jimmy, and I were in the den and I had received a message from a friend in Birmingham that said for us to watch out, there was another cell headed up our way. The tornado siren blasted a couple of times, but then quit. We had the television on to Channel 19 in Huntsville, where they were tracking the storm. I looked at their timetable and it said that the tornado would be in White Oak at 10:21. Glancing at our DVR's clock, it read 10:21. Since White Oak is literally right down the road, I told them that we should take cover in the hallway, and Seth and I did immediately. Jimmy and Layke went and looked out the front door, of course.

Suddenly the lights flickered and then went out. Jimmy slammed the door, Layke rushed past Seth and me in the hall, grabbed a blanket and threw it over us as Jimmy came and made a dive for the hallway floor. About that time our front window exploded in and the house began to shake. I have never heard a sound like that before. The tornado roared like a freight train and debris was pelting the house. I sat on the floor, head bowed, holding my little dog and praying fervently for protection.

Suddenly it went quiet. Totally quiet. I kept asking, "Is it gone? Is it gone?" and Jimmy made his way to the front door. He said, "Oh my God, Lisa, come here, our cars are crushed." I rushed in there, looked out, saw the trees down, power lines broken and all the destruction and I said, "I don't care. We are alive." And I've never been so thankful to Jesus in my entire life. I frantically called my daughter and mother to see if they were all right and to tell them that although we had been hit, we were all unharmed. They had no damage at their house, but the power was out.

We made our way outside, me cautioning the boys to beware of the downed power lines. Neighbors were coming into the street and everyone seemed to be physically all right. It was pitch dark and all we could see and hear were the sirens heading over to the trailer park. Trees and powerlines completely obstructed the roads and if someone had been injured, there is no way an ambulance could have made it onto our street.

We came inside, lit some candles, and just sat there. We were worried about the dogs and Jimmy opened the back door and called for them. Ernie and Austin came running in, went to the den, and laid down. They did not move all night long. Pugsley, sweet little half deaf, half blind dog, had slept through the tornado and was still in his doghouse. Seth went and got him and brought him inside, but he wasn't aware of what had gone on even though his doghouse was wedged in between a tree and our patio privacy fence.

The night was long, and we tried to go to sleep, but it was fitful. Around 3 we were wakened by flashing lights and chainsaws. Firemen and policemen had arrived in an ambulance and were sawing their way through the trees and utility poles in the road. Layke and Jimmy took them some bottled water and we watched as they somehow cut a path through the debris.

As strange as it sounds, I thought to myself that there was probably still some hot water in the water heater so I took a shower and washed my hair. I knew that Sunday was going to be a long day, but reality had not yet set in.