Online contest

Yes, I know. It's been over three months since my last post, and here I am asking for something. But this is such a cool thing! Several months ago, I entered an online contest at Bausch & Lomb, where I wrote a small bit about switching to multi-focal contacts. Hey, I'm over 50 here - just you wait!

So, anyway, I got an email today informing me that I was a finalist. NO JOKE - I'm one of five finalists! Go here and read my post, then vote for me. Please. Don't vote for any of the others. I'd really like a trip out west - plus, I'd get a makeover, and Heaven knows I need one!

Go to Bausch & Lomb & vote for me. I'd really appreciate it. Plus, you can share it on your own personal blog, if you'd be so kind, and really get the word out. (considering the fact that I have all of five followers!)

Happy Summer Solstice & have a great week! Oh, and vote for me. (I know, I'm shameless) Vote for Elaine Pool, by the way!

Fill in the Blank Friday

Lauren at The Little Things We Do is hosting this blog hop - and I'm more than thrilled to join in! Visit her site to read other fill in the blanks as well as participate in this fun tradition!

1. The best day ever was my wedding day - There we were on a small river boat (NOT to be confused with a gambling casino boat!!), saying our vows in front of family and a few friends. It was pouring down rain, and was TONS of fun!

2. My favorite meal of the day is dinner, because I've started off with a glass of wine or Scotch, spent an hour or so cooking, and now we get to eat!

3. This weekend has been long-awaited. It begins our Spring Break - not that we have any fun trips planned, but my house desperately needs a good scrubbing; I've got some window "treatments" to put up; and a lot of sewing to catch up on. Plus sleeping late & drinking tea in bed while I read the paper.

4. Never in my life have I hang-glided. I used to want to, but since having kids, it's not worth the risk. Plus, there's my fear of heights.....

5. The only thing better than dark chocolate, is dark chocolate with a really good glass of single-malt Scotch! There's something about that combo...

6. I could really do with some naps in my future - I've been working WAY too hard lately.

7. The most recent thing I bought myself was this dress. It's cute & sassy, & I can't wait to throw a jacket over it & wear it to work!

A Brief History Lesson, with Pictures!

Fifty-two years ago today, this little baby with a ton of black hair came into the world. She was the third of what turned out to be nine kids. Here she is at 3, getting her picture made of her "all by herself."

After a while, she met a certain someone & finally decided that he was the man of her dreams...

They married, had FOUR KIDS, and lived to tell about it. And to be happy about it.(objects in the camera are older than they appear)

This little baby celebrated her 20th wedding anniversary with her one and only, by flying across the country to San Francisco for a long weekend, a trip to the wine country, a rented Jaguar that broke at THE worst possible moment, and a sunset over the Pacific Ocean.

(We kept wondering why so many people on that beach were building fires, until the sun went down. It was COLD! In June!!!)

More time passing, and there's a milestone birthday that arrives (think semi-centurian), which was celebrated with another milestone/first:

Yes, I cried. It was one of the prettiest things I'd ever seen. I cried when I saw the Pacific, too. I cry. Adjust. But I didn't cry too much - we did enjoy the weather a lot:

Then we had to come back home :(

But life goes on, & it's good We have a new puppy (55 pounds & growing)

to fill the void left by our 14-year old dog's leaving us right before Christmas

Gracie, we'll love you forever.

And, now, we're all getting fat, we're all happy, and God has blessed us beyond measure. All I need now is a little snow (school closing tomorrow wouldn't hurt) and this will be the best birthday ever!

The Rest of My Story

Yes, I've neglected my blog. Yes, it's been a month since my last post. Yes, I still love you. Forgive me & let's move on. There's a blog by Holley, and she's getting us all to focus on the rest of our stories. The point being, so far, to turn over control to God, & accept who we are.

Problem #1: I can't. I can't "let go & let God" right now. Things STILL aren't going well in several areas of my life (yes, still very married w/ 4 kids & staying that way), and I'm finding myself unable to turn loose of the control of those "issues."

Problem #2: I'm a destination person. Holley says to start with one step - nope, doesn't work for me. I want to BE THERE! NOW!!!!

So, I can clearly see that there's a lot of work left to be done on me - and I'm in my 50's. EEEK! I need help!

The Year That Was

See, it's like this: I'd love to do a deeply philosophical, intro-spective, and moving post about the end of 2009, but I CAN'T! I'm just TIRED of 2009! I've got kids in college, kid graduating high school, kid in the workforce, kid moving back home, my dog dying on me just before Christmas, and I STILL haven't made any Christmas cookies!!!!

Right now, I'm sitting in the lobby of a very old (think Art Deco) Hotel in Hot Springs, Arkansas, sipping my very own drink, feeling very happy (the first 2 things are not un-related), and waiting to get dolled up for a New Year's Eve Gala Dinner-Dance. Which should, if all goes well, get me into 2010. With champagne, I might add.

All this to say, it has been a year to put behind us. Let's have new beginnings (NOT "change!!!!") and a new outlook. We're driving home tomorrow afternoon, possibly with a new dog(s), and life begins again.

Then I'm making those cookies. Enjoy your year. (be nice to me, & I might send you some cookies)

Christmas Eve

It's Christmas Eve! WHY are you reading blogs????? Go celebrate the Reason for the Season!!!!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

It's beginning to smell a lot like Christmas at my house. Why, do you ask? A simple reason: on Monday, we made 32 (that's thirty-two) pounds of fudge. Don't believe me? Here are the numbers: 30 cups of sugar (which worked out to about 13 pounds), 5 large jars of marshmallow cream, 4 pounds of real butter, 7 1/2 pounds of chocolate, and over 6 1/2 cups of evaporated milk. Plus, the required 30 minutes of cooking on the stove, and the seemingly interminable stirring at various times to incorporate everything.

The end result is the aforementioned 32 pounds, somewhat evenly spaced between 5 rimmed baking sheets. The kids all got a very soft square while it was still warm, and we're giving most of the rest away to friends. It's what we do - I love to make it, but there's no way on God's not-so-green earth that I'd leave that much chocolate hanging around. Hey, I'm trying to LOSE weight here.

Add to that the Christmas cookies I hope to start making REAL soon now, along with the white chocolate-dipped Oreos & Oreo truffles I made on Monday. Hey, Santa's gotta have cookies, right?

So, all this to say, nest with your loved ones, make treats this week, and celebrate Jesus!

Happy Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night!