Have you ever...

had a situation where no matter how you try to explain your point of view, the person just doesn't understand what you're saying? You try to be nice and respectful but honestly tell them how you perceive things and it still doesn't work, they still take offense when no harm or insult was intended. I'm a non-confrontational person. I hate conflict, drama, and all that jazz. To be pulled into it makes me very uncomfortable. It's been one of those kind of days for me today. *Sigh*

I wish I was on that beach in the picture up there. It was Atlantic City, early in the morning, and hardly anyone was around. It was so peaceful and serene.

Well, this is the fourth blog I’ve tried to start since I put up the one about Crow Mountain. I’d write and little, go “EHHHH”, and then quit.

What does that say about my life right now? We’ve been to the Smoky Mountains. I’ve read some good books. I’ve been to a meeting in Huntsville for my work. Exciting stuff.

The Smokies trip was mainly for my youngest son. He loves that place better than any place on earth, so we headed out last Friday afternoon. The traffic was pretty bad when we got there and it rained on us the entire way. It poured all day Saturday and the traffic was bumper-to-bumper. We rode out to the Smoky Mountain Knife Works in Sevierville and it took an hour and a half to get back to Pigeon Forge. I was SO irritated! We went to the Brewery for supper. The food was ok, wasn’t really what I wanted, and our bill was too freaking high!!! That made me ill, plus we got back to the hotel room by around 6:30 and that was that for Saturday. The boys were happy to stay in the room and watch football and the Nascar race. Thank goodness Seth took his laptop so I at least had something to do!

Sunday morning was beautiful and clear. We headed to Gatlinburg where we had breakfast at the Pancake Pantry, another one of Seth’s favorite places. Then we were going to ride through Cade’s Cove. Once again, bumper-to-bumper traffic and a sign that said that going the loop at Cade’s Cove would take 2-3 hours! We turned around and had some other adventures and headed home. Needless to say it wasn’t the most entertaining of all the trips we’ve made to the Smokies, but we did do a lot of shopping and eating!

While we were gone we left Pugsley at the vet’s. He got a bath and his shots and he looked luscious when we picked him up to bring him home. And the vet said to cut back on his food. He’ll think we’re starving him! He’s a little hog! But the most laughable thing is that they told me to walk him. WALK HIM!! A dog that lives outside! No way. He’s 12 ½ and a little old man and his joints hurt. If he wants to walk around he’ll do it himself. I’m not going to make him.

Spunky Bogart was happy to see me when we got back. He’s such a silly bird! I do believe he thinks MY name is Spunky! LOL

We’ve been rearranging all day at work, cleaning out and had a lot of stuff taken to the recycling center. One thing we found was a bag with lots of pretty gemstones in it. It’s been here forever, so I took them and put them in a glass container and they are setting on my desk where I can look at them. There is amythyst, jasper, moonstone, rose quartz, hematite, amber, and I don’t know the names of the rest of them. I don’t believe in any kind of powers from gems and crystals; I just like to look at them.

I’m sad that Hell’s Kitchen is over for the season, but my man Dave won! He beat the others with one arm! I was tickled to death! Tuesday nights aren’t going to be exciting anymore.

Crow Mountain is for the Birds

Well, we made the STUPID trip yesterday to buy apples. Up early, on the road by 7:30. UGH. On a Saturday! Of course I enjoyed the time spent with Jimmy and Seth, but good grief. That's a loooonnnggg way to go to spend less than ten minutes buying apples!

Does anybody besides me ever feel like they are raising another child when it comes to their husband? I'll declare, Jimmy was picking up bags of apples and setting them back down and the uptight-looking lady said, "Sir, where did you get that bag??" I was mortified. He was just putting them back down anywhere and the stupid things were sorted by varieties, but the bags were not labeled. I've never been so glad to get out of that place!

We drove all the way back home, then twenty minutes further to deliver some of those stupid apples to a guy he works with. At least there was a yard sale where we stopped to meet him and I got some Star of David coasters fro $1 each. They had some great deals on the stuff, but I already have plenty. Mother has given me Star of David platters, bowls, etc. over the years.

Nothing exciting happened yesterday except that we got our junk room partially cleaned out. The carpet needs vacuuming but I think Jimmy burned up my vacuum cleaner sucking up flea powder the other day. Oh, the fleas have been horrible. My cat never sets one little toe outside, so somebody has to bring them in. And they don't bite anyone in this household except Jimmy, which provokes lots of bitching and griping from him. I've bought Frontline for my cat, flea powder for the carpet and Raid spray. Plus we have a bug man who comes every month. What else can I do???

Last night I wanted to go see Jake Owen at a nearby concert. But nooooo. I tell him about this a month ago and he knew full well it was last night. At almost show time I said something about it and he said that we'd go, all the while moaning and groaning and acting like he was about to die of exhaustion. Yeah, right. You wait and see if I do something HE wants to do the next time. Apples be damned. I'm not going back to Crow Mountain!!!!

Friday Night and all's quiet

Friday night has rolled around again. Last week I was having a girls weekend. This weekend, who knows! Tonight we haven't done anything to speak of, unless you consider going through the drive-thru at Wendy's a big deal!

I've just recovered from a long bout of bronchitis or something like it. My mitral valve doctor made me get a chest X-ray Tuesday, but thankfully it was clear and I've continued to improve.

A new fiscal year has begun at work and that has brought budget plans and statistical reports. I'm pretty much caught up, thank goodness!

In the morning Jimmy wants me to ride with him to Crow Mountain to buy apples. Jimmy is an apple freak. Me? Meh. Take 'em or leave 'em. But he's willing to drive over an hour each way in order to go to that orchard. I personally think it's stupid. STUPID. But whatever rings his bell.

The Harvest Festival is this weekend in Boaz, but I doubt we'll go. We haven't been for years. Tomorrow night there is a show by Jake Owen that I'd love to see. I doubt I can get anyone to go with me even though it's right here!

I'll report back after tomorrow and let you know how exciting Crow Mountain was and if we did anything else exciting! Adios!

That's Southern, Ya'll.

I survived the weekend by staying in the bed. I also stayed in the bed Monday and I would have yesterday and today but I'm OUT of sick leave. Being sick sucks. Being sick at work sucks even more.

The main thing is that I've got to get better by Friday. I have a weekend planned in Birmingham with my friends from all over the U.S. and I want to feel good so I can enjoy it thoroughly! I know we'll be running around and staying up to the wee hours. I'm so far behind in getting ready. Do I know what I'm wearing? Nahhh. Shoes chosen? Nahhh. Hair colored? Nahh. Suitcase even halfway packed? Nahh. I may end up going looking like a haint.

Know what a "haint" is? It is a common expression here in the south for a ghost or something scary. I suppose the word comes from "haunt". Being from the south with all of our colloquialisms is so much fun. I can't think of anywhere else in this country where there are so many sayings!

Full as a tick.

Mad as an old wet hen.

Mean as a dirt road lizard.

Shut my mouth!

Richer than Cooter Brown.

Tighter than Dick's hatband.

I'm fixin' to.

I reckon so.

It's over yonder.

He's all laid up.

And one I heard a kid from Texas say last night on Hell's Kitchen..."Whistlebritches"! I laughed out loud when he called John-Phillipe that! It's been a while, but I've heard that expression all of my life.

Those are just a few that came to mind. There are literally dozens more but my mind is blank right now. That's just a taste of what southern talk is, ya'll.

I'm so proud to be American by birth, Southern by the grace of God!!

Words of Comfort

2:54 a.m. and I'm in the den in the recliner. Jimmy's "allergies" sure were contagious. My head is all stopped up, my ears itch and I feel yucky. So, here I sit, cat by my side, on Seth's laptop. Other things are weighing heavily on my mind and I just can't sleep. What little sleep I did get was fitful and I had to have James Taylor singing to me via my ipod and ear buds so that I could relax.

Sometimes I wish I could wave a magic wand and make everything great. Nobody would be sick, there would be no kind of stressors in my life at all. What I'm babbling makes no sense to anyone but me. This blog is a source of therapy so I'm just going to babble on. Forgive me.

At times like this I find comfort in certain Bible passages.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Psalm 91:1-2

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. John 14:18

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:2

And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:29-32

Lastly for tonight (this morning?), here is my favorite hymn, which kind of goes along with my favorite Bible passage, Psalm 91.

He hideth My soul

A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
A wonderful Savior to me;
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,
Where rivers of pleasure I see.

Refrain:
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
That shadows a dry, thirsty land;
He hideth my life with the depths of His love,
And covers me there with His hand,
And covers me there with His hand.

A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
He taketh my burden away;
He holdeth me up, and I shall not be moved,
He giveth me strength as my day.

Refrain

With numberless blessings each moment He crowns,
And filled with His fullness divine,
I sing in my rapture, oh, glory to God
For such a Redeemer as mine!

Refrain

When clothed in His brightness, transported I rise
To meet Him in clouds of the sky,
His perfect salvation, His wonderful love
I’ll shout with the millions on high.

Refrain

Teary Eyes and Rainy Days

*

This morning I woke up, realizing that once again I had overslept. It is raining outside and I seem to be able to sleep on and on and on when it is. Somehow I made it to work on time and I even had my makeup on, including mascara!

These days it seems that I'm quite melancholy. Simple things make me tear up. I despise to be this way because I'm not a weepy sort of person typically. Maybe it's a seasonal thing. Time is flying by so quickly! September is half over! And before I can turn around Christmas will be here again. As much as I love Christmas, a part of me is always sad. I miss the people who aren't here anymore. I've always been sad that Jesus had to come to earth to live and die for stuff I have done. Yes, yes, it's a good thing, a happy thing, an humbling thing, but it still makes me sort of sad. Am I crazy? Am I the only person who has ever looked at it this way?

Thankfully I do have several trips planned for this fall which should take my mind off being melancholy. These trips always make me laugh until my sides hurt and make memories that I treasure. Hopefully I'll snap out of this funk soon.

*Artwork is by http://strawberry-ike.deviantart.com/art/Crying-Eye-118422623