The *@#&% Flu!

Ok, earlier this year, I had the opportunity to have a flu shot. I didn't take it. My thinking?

"What me? A FLU SHOT? Heck NO! I never get the FLU! I haven't been sick in years!"

Smartie that I was! Aside from my psychotic fear of needles, I don't much care for Doctors either, they HAVE the needles!

I took a nap last Saturday and woke up all out of sorts. I even snapped at Most Handsome! We went to dinner and the steak I was craving tasted like sawdust.

Most Handsome thought it might be a good idea to take my temp. What does he know? He's a (gasp) MAN!!!

Sure enough, Low grade temp (for someone who has a normal temp of 96.8, that is a big deal!). He promptly shuffled me off to bed with two extra strength Tylenol.



I will be starting my new job next week, and since I will be working for a National Corporation, I had a drug test on that Monday. Meaning, I could take NOTHING but Tylenol. Ugh the misery!

I spent Sunday in bed, and Monday morning, first thing, I managed to make it to my drug screening. I told the young lady doing the test that I had the flu. Needless to say (do people our age still use recreational drugs?) my tests were negative except for an abnormal (read higher than normal) glucose level. She eyed me suspiciously over her glasses and asked me if I had been drinking. My eyes misted over, as I sputtered out, OK OK, I CHEATED, I COULDN'T STAND IT ANYMORE I TOOK A NYQUIL.........OK OK, I TOOK TWO!

She took my temp, and for some reason found this very very funny. She gave me the all clear with the very stupid comment, "Drink lots of fluid, take plenty of Advil or Tylenol as you need it, even Nyquil if it helps you feel better, get plenty of rest and come back here if you don't feel better in about three days."

Like I was EVER going back there!

Today I can actually manage to sit up in bed for longer than ten minutes! YAY!!!!!!!!!

Moral of the story: TAKE THE DARNED FLU SHOT!

Julian's Battle

In your prayers today, please include Julian Michael Avery and his parents and siblings.

His little 4 year old body gave up the fight against brain cancer this week. He was with his parents.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Julian's name to:

Cook Children's Medical Center, 801 7th Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76104

Make A Wish Foundation, 1407 Texas St., Fort Worth, TX 76102

Julian's World future foundation, in care of Fellowship Baptist Church, 1600 N. Old Decatur Road, Saginaw, TX 76179.

Please go visit his guest book here.

If you would like to make a personal statement, please wear yellow on Wednesday, January 23, 2008. It was his favorite color.

Mimi, please know all of us out here in the blogging world's hearts are with you today.

New Beginnings ROCK!

For the love of my life Allen, and My Mother, and Mom and Dad, and Shari and Jim and Diana, and Jo, and my new friend Bronie, and John and Diana, and and and.......


I borrowed the headline from Bronie who inspired me this week with this:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)

You..... All of you...........are my inspiration, my friends, my family and my love.

Thank you all for your support. It was a rough time, but it ended well.

I forgot that God's ways are subtle, that He decides what He wants to remind you of, when you need reminding.

It truly is a New Year now. And for all of you, my family and friends, I hope it will be a great New Year, full of promise.


NEW BEGINNINGS...............ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From Childhood to Adulthood via PUBERTY!

Of all of the great events in my life, there are a few that I knew would come, but I wish I could put off like.............FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Feast your eyes on my darling daughter:








She was cute, wasn't she?




Well, as of two days ago, she is now grown. Well, biologically anyway.






I have always been open in speaking with my girls, but I didn't realize I would actually have to give them up to WOMANHOOD (ugh, shudder).



I did all the parental things, I have been open and honest, she is so beautiful, so self possessed, so AMAZING..........





Why couldn't I get to keep her little? Just for a little while longer? I am not ready to give her to this big bad world!




Ah well, like my Super Star would say: "Suck it up Mom, I had to grow up sometime. But I love you, and I will always be your baby".





She's DA BOMB!

Making Peace with the Past

Like most of you know, I went "home" this weekend.

And since this is a New Year, I will be the first to tell you, you may go home again, but don't expect to feel "at home". Let us qualify "home".

You have heard the sayings.....you know the ones.....Home is where the heart is! This is so true. My heart is no longer where I thought my home was. This weekend allowed me to realize that.

This is where my home is:

This is where I grew up:


It's beautiful, isn't it?

It's not home anymore. Let me show you what home means to me.

Home, to me is my Mother:



And My Aunt and Uncle:



And my dearest friend Shari:



And it's about My Most Handsome's Mom and Dad:


And it's about my Babies:




It was so fun to ride in this:



And acting like a tourist (yes, I got up out of the sunroof to take this) like this:



And you know we HAD to do this:


Because we left Harley at home....

But he missed us, so we had to come home and love him and shave him, and love him some more:





You will never know what life brings you, what great thing is just around the corner. Sometimes it kicks you in the teeth, sometimes it sneaks up on you.

In three short days, I made peace with a world I left. A world that was so beautiful, as long as you were either on the water or 6 stories above it. Street level, it just sucked.

I am who I am because of whom I have just shown you, I will always be who I am because I listened to them, instead of the allure of the city I love so much.

I am a tourist in my own home town, because I no longer understand it. I have made peace with my past.

All of you, My friends and my family.
You are my and my children's future.

As beautiful as the past is, it is a past that can only be viewed from 6 stories up.

Happy New Year!~!!!!!!!