It's a Wonderful Life!!

The Saturday Evening Post

I love this weather. The nights are cold and the days pleasant. Long sleeves are appropriate. This is the only time of the year I get to wear my jackets. Here in South Mississippi you hardly have a need for a coat. I own one, but seldom wear it, not even once this year.

Yesterday was just full of action. My engine light came on in my car so I took it by the Buick dealership (they are all my buds), I needed an oil change anyway, and they checked it. It needed an "ozidizer" or some mechanical term I didn't understand. My poor checkbook didn't understand the $321.00 check I wrote either. But at least the damn thing is paid for. I will keep this car till it falls apart. I just hope it is not too many "ozidizers" that go out......

When I picked Mr. Man up from school he had a bundle of beads. They had a Mardi Gras parade at his school and he scooped up some. We will never get all the knots out of the mess, but he was so proud toting them home. We ran into his friend Sloan walking home and he came home with us. They were playing outside with the nerf guns - now bear in mind they were supposed to be outside in the back of Walthall - when all of a sudden I hear pitter patter of little feet in the condo above me that is vacant. It happens to have a deck that had easy access to the roof. I knew that and I knew Mr. Man knew that - he's done it before - gotten onto the roof. So I get my butt off the couch and run upstairs to find them running all over the roof (that has no railings) - so I do my freak out mom thing and tell them to never to that again, made them pinky promise and tell them the dangers of roof running.....with nerf guns. It's like Sloan's parents said "boys will be boys".

I was with my favorite girls in the world last night, my Bunko Babes. Tina was the hostess with the mostess. She must have had 3 appetizers which we inhaled (don't look for that at my house!) - they were yummy, along with the red beans and rice. I thought I needed a sub, so I asked Jennifer, then found out I didn't need a sub, but told her to come anyway - she caught on quickly and had fun - she probably thought we were wild. That damn strawberry cake was to die for, I just love it!! Why is it that Paige's table is always the loudest??? I love being around her, she makes me laugh my head off. And how do you say Ladynasty????????? It was a wonderful way to spend a Friday night.

Life has been good to me lately. I am too blessed to be stressed. I know little things in life make me happy. I got a new c-pap mask, and I am just tickled pink about it!! I went into the medical supply place and they showed me all the mask, heck, I didn't even know they had all those to choose from, but I feel like I just got a new car!! I have got to get a life!!

It's A Wonderful Life!

Peace!

Happy 2009!!

I haven't written in a month of Sundays, but what the heck, things have been a stir around here and the last thing I have thought about doing is blogging. Sorry my fellow bloggers. Christmas was uneventful, it passed by without too much fanfare. It was my first year downtown.

The second weekend in December was the annual candlelighting in downtown Swan City. It was truly magical. There were bagged candles everywhere and horsedrawn carriage rides. They had tours thru my condo, which was fun. Mr. Man was quite the host and offered our guests hot apple cider and showed them around. The second night I did not open because it was a Sunday night and I wanted to take Mr. Man on a carriage ride, which was fabulous.

But the best time I had was after candlelight there was a party at the Ware's and it was the party of the year. There was a cool band playing and lots of interesting folks to visit with and lots of good food and beverages. The M.U. kept Mr. Man and I told her I'd be home around 11:30 or so, well I came stumbling home at 2am. The good doctor that just moved into my condo kept making me Crown Royals and I just couldn't say no and the time slipped away from me. And when I say stumble, I mean Stumble, with a capital S. The M.U. was not impressed. I was horizontal the the better part of the day the next day, not to mention I did not make it to church during the holiday season, which is very unusual for me.

The Absent Father got Mr. Man for a week the day after Christmas and me and Mom headed to Dallas for an adult trip. We did nothing but shop and cook and relax and sleep. It was wonderful!!! I needed a reprieve like that and came home refreshed and ready to take on the world again. New Years Eve was barrels of fun. Lee had some friends over. The thing I love about gay guys is they love to have fun. They are not snippy or talk bad about people, they love to laugh and joke around with each other, plus they love sisters and mothers. The M.U. slipped away about 11PM to go to bed. They wanted to go wake her up by jumping on her bed. I put a stop to that quick enough......Remi had to work, but got there just in time for a New Years toast.

On the way home from Dallas, we stopped in Clinton to get Mr. Man. Of course, if he had the choice, he would have gone with us to Dallas. But it is more important for him to have a relationship with his father at this juncture. The day we drove home, Friday, the 2nd was my birthday and I can think of no better was to spend my birthday than driving and spending time with my mom, she is my best bud!!!!

I am busy in the office closing out 2008 files, it is alot of work, so I have been busy as a little bee in the office. I spent $168 at Office Depot just buying supplies to change out everything....Yikes!!!!

So, 2009 will bring about many changes for me and business. Which I will write more about later. I smell change in the air and I smell the sweet aroma of gardenias!

Peace and God Bless!

 

You Can't Fix Stupid....

 This is my new saying, you can't fix stupid, no way, not gonna happen. What is at issue here is the trial I am about to embark on. The date is October 1st and what is the central question is my statements. For some stupid reason the A.F. doesn't understand my statements. He disagrees that he owes me money and also disagrees that he ever received product from me on 2 shipments. There are 2 tickets which are in his handwriting which he says he doesn't owe for. Now isn't that stupid???? All I can say is you can't fix stupid, not gonna happen. I have tons of evidence and a red headed lawyer that is gonna eat his lunch. He will be puffed up like a toad frog and the judgment will be for the Plaintiff - ME. I really can't believe it has gotten this far, but it has, so here we go. I hate that it has gotten this far because I have to call witnesses to trial that I would not otherwise want to call. One of which is my smart and funny bookkeeper Trish and the other is my supplier from Lee's, Greg, that I really don't like so much. But he is a material witness, so my lawyer says he should be there. I will be the main one on the witness stand and that makes me nervous, even though I know I am in the right, it still makes me uneasy.

But you still can't fix stupid, no matter how you look at things. And I will have to hold my tongue from saying that. Pray for me..........

Mr. Man had a scrimmage game last weekend against North Forrest and Sacred Heart won 22-12. Mr. Man made some wonderful plays. He is quite the athlete. He gets that from the Manning side of the family, not mine. We start the regular season this weekend against Sumrall on Saturday. It should be fun. Then we have Walker's birthday party, which I have had to talk Mr. Man into going to. He thinks he is a bully and will end up in Juvie. Walker is on the football team also and Mr. Man says during practice Walker has to sit out almost every practice for breaking some sort of rule. GeeeWizz, that doesn't surprise me one bit. See, you really can't fix stupid. No matter how many times he gets into trouble, his behavior repeats itself.

Mr. Man was in big trouble with me last night. We went to church and he acted sort of wild. Then when we got home he was still on his roll. I had enough. After telling him about 6 times to turn the TV off and get in the shower, I grabbed his hair and drug him into the shower. He spent his shower time crying and saying how he hated me. I may have over-reacted, but he was on my last nerve. He has the tendency lately to lolly-gag and that drives me crazy. I run my life by a finely tuned clock and I like that punctuality in my life. I wanted to tell him "YOU CAN'T FIX STUPID". You would think that after 6 or so times of telling him something, that he would come to the conclusion that he would be in trouble. The ping pong paddle is missing in action, so I used the next best thing - GRABBING HAIR. That generally is just as effective. Then I felt guilty (just a little). But we snuggled in bed and he didn't hate me anymore.

So the moral of the story is no matter what, and no matter the circumstances, you just can't fix stupid folks.

It's a Wonderful Life!

Peace!

Courtin', Etc........

Well the big day is coming up, October 1st. That is the day we go to court. The A.F. owes a huge debt to the business and I am suing him for the unpaid debt. Now bear in mind this has nothing to do with child support, which I have not seen one dime since June 07. This is just business money. I am just trying to collect money owed to the business. It is over 10K......enough to worry about and try and collect. My able attorney says not to worry and I am really not worried. The thing I worry most about is the people that I have to call as witnesses. My ever funny and able bookkeeper Trish has to come to court and the M.U. along with the A/R guru A.J. I just hate dragging those people thru all this.

It would be so much better if the A.F. would just pay what is owed and go on with life as he should. But we all know he ain't gonna do what he is supposed to do. Never has and never will. Why should I be the least bit surprised???? Because I am one that lives life with my glass half full as opposed to half empty. The big shit........

The thing that gets my goat is Mr. Man thinks he hung the moon, and I am certainly not the one to tell him otherwise. That is not my place. He will one day figure it out on his own. But one day when he asks and is of an age of understanding, I just may let him know what a big shit the A.F. is really like. I mean, if a man can leave a family on his son's first birthday, the DAY OF SAM'S FIRST BIRTHDAY, then that should be a big clue that something is just amiss with him. But for now, my lips are sealed as they should be. I will step very lightly around the issue and agree with Mr. Man that his father is the best in the world and go on and bite my lip.

Mr. Man is in the throws of football. He loves it and is thriving. We have a scrimmage game against North Forrest this Saturday. He is playing either center or guard. Which I have no idea what position either one of those are. I just nod my head and say that is great. I have finally mastered all the gear that goes along with football. It is amazing all the pads and stuff they have to have. I know the coaches had to be laughing at me at first showing up with my pads in one hand and pants on Mr. Man. Lucky for me we have very patient coaches.

We went over the the Motherly Units for lunch on Sunday and Andrew came over with his room mate and we had the big sit down with them. Considering I paid the last month's rent along with the last 3 months electric and water bill. What in the hell are they doing with their money. Well come to find out the room mate doesn't have a job and Andrew must be spending his money on drug fines and other various and sundry things. Well, I laid the law down and said NO MORE. I have my own bills and they need to be responsible for their bills. Enough said.

Allen flipped his Jeep in Montana, so he is without a ride. I told him a bike would sure be nice in that Montana air and he better get one fast. He lost his job because he couldn't get to work. So he has his a rough spot. He has been calling asking me and mom for money. I know he needs money. He spent a couple of nights in the hospital. His jeep flipped over a mountain side and he is lucky to be alive. He moved into an efficiency apartment in downtown Missoula, so he is walking distance to alot of stuff. Bless his heart, I think a black cloud is following his around. I am thankful he is clean, but I think he is on the brown water and I just bet the flipping of the jeep had something to do with a little brown water. The straight and narrow path is sometimes hard to follow. I find that true in my life, but I am such a chicken, that any curve in the road, I tend to stick to the straight and narrow. I like straight and narrow, it keeps me grounded and guilt free.

I have been kicking up my heels a bit. And it has been fun. All in the name of fun. Nothing serious, just some serious fun. That only happens when Mr. Man is with the A.F. and that is only once a month, so fear not, the straight and narrow is the rule rather than the exception.

I had some blood work done at the request of one of my doctors and some of my values came back funky. He recommended I go see my internal medicine doctor - who I consider the best in the world - he diagnosed my West Nile Virus even before the Spinal Tap confirmed the diagnosis. He said since I had lost some 45 lbs that I needed to flush it out with water rather than Diet Cokes (which I drink about 3 a day). He complimented my weight loss and I was proud of that. He just said I was a bit dehydrated and my Hemoglobin A1C was a little high, but nothing to be concerned about. So I left there with a smile that nothing was medically wrong with me. I feel like I have seen enough of doctors for a lifetime.

Mr. Man has had a little trouble with Walker on the football field - imagine that??????? Walker shot Mr. Man the bird a couple of times and it pissed Mr. Man off. Then the next day, after Mr. Man tackled Walker, Walker took a punch at Mr. Man and the coaches saw it. So, the coaches came up to Leisa and told her about what happened. On the way home, Sam announced that Walker would soon be going to "Juvie" I said how do you know about "Juvie"? He said his brother told him about if a boy is bad and his mother can't control him that he goes to Juvenile Detention. I guess kids know more than we think.

I think I will close on that note.

It's a Wonderful Life and I Love Every Minute of It!!

Peace!

It's Football Season

Yes, sports fans, it's football season. And......my son Sam, is playing football for the first year. It's all a little bewildering to me. I can manage being a fan, and a spectator, but being the mom of a player, well, let's just say, I am a wee bit out of my comfort zone.

Let's start with the practice schedule. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 5:30 til 7. That seems a little extreme to me, but what do I know. Plus, they don't want us parents sticking around, they WANT us to leave. Which means they actually don't want me to hang around and spectate and speculate on the goings on. Well, I have gotten over that by running errands and sneaking in about 30 minutes early just to get a peek.

Next is the gear. This is like dressing up for the prom or something. Like you are about to fly off into space and you will be gone for an extended period of time. There is practice pants with these weird pockets. There is shoulder pads. You have to wear a t-shirt under the shoulder pads. So I show up the first day of dress out with Mr. Man in his practice pants and I had a bag in my hand with all the pads in it. A sweet little coach came up to me and said there are pockets inside the pants that those fit in and snaps that the butt pads snap onto. So me and Mr. Man and the sweet little coach go to my car and Mr. Man has to pull off his pants (while he is giving me the look) and the coach gives me a lesson on how to dress my son for football.

So really football practice is from 5 till 7:30 because you have all this damn gear to get together and tear apart.

But Mr. Man loves it, there is not a dry thread on him when he comes running off the field and he is STARVING TO DEATH. He is already eating me out of house and home.

It occurred to me the other day that it will be my responsibility to feed this creature for another 12 years or so and that scares me to death. So long as they keep making Ravioli and Doritoes, we are in business. The problem is Mr. Man likes good ole home cooking and I don't particularly love to cook.

Life is good at the Condo. I had a wonderful weekend. We had a benefit for the American Cancer Society and raised $2500, which I thought was awesome. We hope to do it annually and let that be Walthall's cause. It especially means alot to me since my dad died of cancer. We had some 250 people come through. I drank a little too much, but hey, I had me some fun. Brian Blair played beautifully, as usually, and my gracious, my great friend Sallie, she is the bomb at her music, but Tina definitely gets the dance award, that sexy thang........

It was a good night indeed all around!

Life is good, my friends = I WILL FIGURE THIS FOOTBALL THING OUT!

Peace and Blessings!

The Swingers

I have been watching this new series on CBS called "The Swingers". It follows about 5 couples and their latest ventures and adventures. It is quite amusing to me.

Last Thursday the episode was about this couple that had decided to "re-think" their faithfulness to each other and "explore" other avenues. Another couple were true "swingers" in the purest sense of the word. She was all sexy and was always scantily clad and the husband was handsome and engaging. So, the four go to a cabin retreat to do whatever swingers do on the weekend getaways. Then, much to the amazement of the couple that owned the cabin, their lifelong friends showed up to "join" them. Well this 3rd couple were stick in the muds - kind of like us ordinary folks (I mean that don't swing).

The first thing that I found hilarious was the swinging couple decided to lace the brownies that the stick in the mud couple were making. So it showed the swingers emptying a baggie full of pot in the brownie mix. Nothing like a little pot to get you loosened up......

So the brownies were baking and the meal was set on the table. By the way the stick in the mud couple dislikes the swingers........and the women go at it like cats in a mice fight. So the soon to be swingers (owners of the cabin) didn't like the way the evening was progressing and the woman asked the stick in the mud man to come outside to talk to her. But before she did that, she told stick in the mud couple that the brownies were laced and to eat some. So, they all start eating brownies........

Then they play the game Twister.

Then they all get naked and run outside to go skinny dipping.

Then they all come back in exhausted and wondering where everyone was going to sleep in a 2 bedroom cabin.

The "soon to be swingers" suggested that the girls sleep in one room and the boys sleep in another. Novel idea for swingers........

Now I have done some crazy things in my life, sportsfans, but swinging has never occurred to me as being within the norm. I like to stay with in "norm", I know I push the edge of norm on some occasions, but you have to live a little dangerously to keep life interesting, or I do at least. It makes me wonder who really does swing because these folks just seem like they like to have a good time, you know a little drinky, a little dancing, alot of talking and just plain acting like we all do. Do folks really swing these days??

I figure that is why I like these shows, like the Sopranos, Big Love, Sex and the City - because these folks really live outside the box, so to speak. It is fascinating to me the different colors of people, the different lifestyles folks live.

So here goes, and answer honestly - my answers are included.....

Would you ever play twister with you friends? YES

Would you ever go skinny dipping with a bunch of your couple friends? NO

and last but not least:

Would you ever eat pot brownies? YES

Let me know what you think, OK!!!!!

Love to all and Peace Out.........

The Saturday Evening Post that Turned Into Sunday

At long last I have a contract on my house that is to close on July 2 - that date is right around the corner and I am thankful. This business of paying 2 house notes will break the bank quickly and my bank is about broke......but all is well with the world and whatever happens is in the stars.

I think God sits on one of those stars out there. Have you ever had to explain where God is to a child. Mr. Man is asking all sorts of questions these days, and he is wearing my pea brain out. He seems to think that the Blessed Mother Mary is sitting on the other side of God, but Jesus is on His right side. You know how those Catholics feel about the Blessed Mother Mary?? Well let me tell you she is way up there on the sainthood list. Then out of nowhere he asks stupid shit like, "Mama, can you still live if you don't have a head??" That kind of thing makes me crazy. You wonder where in the world they get this stuff (i.e. TV, video games??).

My Saturday post has now lingered into Sunday. Mr. Man is with the A.F. this weekend. I really wish he would get on a more regular visitation. As it is now, Mr. Man sees the A.F. once a month. There was some talk about Mr. Man going to Binghamton, NY to see Grandma Manning and Aunt Ruth and the other multitudes of Aunts, Uncles and cousins that live there. The problem herewith, is we go to court the end of July and the A.F. is so freaked out that he won't commit to going to New York - or at least taking Mr. Man. I can't figure the whole scenario out, but let's just leave it in the mysterious phenomenon category.

I went on a shopping spree yesterday to Kohl's. I swear they have the cutest clothes. Since moving downtown, I have lost a little weight and my current clothes are about 2 sizes too big - not a bad problem to have, but that means I have to go shopping, and I HATE to shop. I realize that is unusual for a female, but clothes shopping is just not my gig. I found this really hot dress I just had to have. Plus a few other things. I even bought a bra and underware - OMG!! I used to refuse to wear either one, but the more I think about it, maybe I should start, just a little at a time. Now don't get me wrong, you wouldn't catch me hanging out around the house wearing a bra, but going out, I think the twins need a little shape and uplift, and that is all I think a bra is worth.

I am in withdrawls. I have no pool to go to this summer. I usually go to Allen's to swim, but his house is rented (thank you God). I could go to Andrew's apartment pool, but my vision of that is lots of lanky, curvy young USM girls walking around sipping Shaefer Beer (that's the cheap stuff!) I don't even know if they make Shaefer Beer anymore, but that is what we did around a apartment complex pool. We used to pronounce is SHA - FE - A, just to make it sound more glamorous.

Our July is busy, what with VBS, trip to Gulf Shores and then to Dallas. July will be my travel month. I need a vacation so it comes at a most wonderful time.

Life is Good these days. Life has calmed down for me. Allen is happy in Missoula, Andrew is settled in a job and apartment, the M.U. is relatively healthy with the exception of a knee replacement looming for the fall. Allen's house is rented, mine has a contract to close July 2, I am settled in the Condo and we are happy to be here.

It's a Wonderful Life!

Peace

The Christmas and Baseball Blues.....

I had baby SISTERS here last night, it was a small group, but sometimes that works best. You really get to know each other well in groups of 5 or 6. We've been reading Anne Lamont's book Traveling Mercies. If you haven't read it, you should - it is a little rough and raw around the edges, but you know, that is how children of God are sometimes. Then He comes into our lives and softens and consols us back to sanity! I don't think there is a promise that life would be roses and rhinestones.......

Mr. Man is out of school and we are enjoying the liberties that come with summer. He went to day camp today - the theme was "Christmas". He was to come dressed in a Christmas outfit or something along that order. I told him we should find a nice Christmas something, he said "no way, it is summer - I have my shorts and t-shirt". He is not one to stand on ceremony and sometimes I think he marches to a beat of his own drummer. But really, how could I argue with that.......????????

Backtrack a little......baseball season this year was great. The year started out with a bang with our team winning the first 6 games. We thought we were in contention for the City Championship. Then the losing streak swooped down and descended upon us much like the Isrealites wandering the desert following a cloud. But it did not go to the promised land, we went to double elimination tournament play. AND we lost both games! I could have cried, but speaking of crying, my Lord have mercy, my child wailed the whole way home. He kept saying "they cheated". I calmly told him that a baseball team doesn't cheat, it was the way the umpires saw a play that determined safe or out. That did not matter - THEY CHEATED!

Well, all this is a little disheartening to me, I mean I can play Scrabble and try to get the highest score and be pissed if someone scores higher, but my Mr. Man was really taking this baseball thing too seriously. He went straight to bed and all he asked for was a bowl of ice cream with chocolate syrup on top. So, being the kind mother I am, I gave him an extra scoop and he ate, then went straight to sleep - IN HIS BASEBALL UNIFORM. He awoke in a much better mood the next morning. Thank goodness that afterall, tomorrow is another day...........

Now he can't wait till Fall Ball........

It's a Wonderful Life and other sundry things.....

Peace

A Month of Sundays

I am fully aware it has been a month of Sundays since I have posted. I was out of the groove, and when I am out of my groove, the normalcy of life suddenly is interrupted. Sometimes I like those interruptions, sometimes it is because life is just too hectic and there are only 24 hours in a day. God gives us all the same amount of time and it is how we choose to use it.

Life has slowed a bit and I am grateful for the reprieve. Things on all fronts are settling down. Now I dare not boast and brag too much, because I have seen my time of troubles friends and I am ready for a break. It comes at such a lovely time of the year. Things slow down in the summer, our calanders are not so jammed and we have time to relax and choose what we want to do, not what we really should do. Stuff like going thru backpacks, making Mr. Man go to bed at a certain hour, getting up at a certain time.

You see, I am not a big fan of time. I don't particularly like clocks. They are a necessary evil in my opinion. I don't like to be late or anything like that, I just like to take life at a more leisurly pace. I really believe no business or school should be conducted before 10am. It's just too early...

This is why I love this time of year. We can stay up till 11pm if we choose and sleep till 8:30 - heck, let the phone go to the answering machine. A phone is a necessary evil as well. I let my phone go to the machine all the time.

So anyway, I am blogging again. It feels good to ramble. I am on my way to La Fiesta Brava for SISTERS and a margarita.

My Blog friends, I love you so.......

It's a Wonderful Life - and other lovely things.

Peace!

A Lovely End of the Week

Mr. Man had a basketball game Friday night. He scored zip and I swear he just about cried. Mr. Man is a competitor and wants to excel, but his shooting was off, bless his heart. The coach was sympathetic and told him he played a good team game, which he did. The Absent Father showed up middle way thru the 3rd quarter. Bear in mind that the quarters are all of 5 minutes, with a 5 minute halftime. Not much game play, but plenty for 1st graders. So the A.F. enjoyed about 7 minutes of play, and I am being generous. Unbelievable. What else can a mom say.

It crossed my mind, a mere fleeting thought, of going out on the town. I did make myself presentable and felt like having a cocktail - so it would have been the perfect opportunity, but decided to go home and pack a few boxes and have a bottle of wine to myself. I enjoyed the whole thing, it was simply marvelous. I am not one of those that HAS to enjoy an adult beverage with anyone, I am not shy, I can do that alone. I even slept late, real late on Saturday morning. With about one million things to do, but opted to let the clock tick away till 10:57 - thinking I could not dare sleep till 11:00.

The Nephew had a friends spend the night, Gentry, who is a nice young man. We all got up and I made coffee and we sat out on the back porch and talked about THEIR night - which was much more entertaining than my own. But they still showed interest and asked - what gentlemen......they agreed to help me move some things today. So the big mission was to move the piano - which we had to recruit 2 more big burly boys for help. Where I was sitting, it wasn't a bad view, if you know what I mean. But I was nervous as a jackrabbit. Speaking of nervous:

Don't you like the segway - I just about had a nervous breakdown this week. I am a lucky, girl my doctor thinks I need help with anxiety and I had some medication. The drama between AT&T and Comcast just about sent me over the edge. The upshot is I am getting phone service with Comcast March 11th, because AT&T had to dig a trench under Walthall, under the sidewalk, and under the street for me to have service and "we are looking at a time frame of about 3 weeks". I responded that was impossible. I could have a damn ditch dug in one week - tops. Now understand that I have no business without a phone. I don't meet these contacts face to face, I talk to them on the phone and they fax orders and bills to me. I can't operate without a phone, it is the lifeblood of my business. My nervous breakdown came after 1 hour on the phone with AT&T and another 45 minutes with Comcast. This was just after spending 2 hours at our local drivers license bureau getting a replacement license since mine was stolen - again.

Holding on the phone is not my gig, furthermore it takes 15 minutes to talk to a real person, who is actually quite nice and you hate to be a real bitch. And I wasn't, oh no, I am much too nice for all that nonsense - I just prefer to have nervous breakdowns.

Saturday I spent at the condo cleaning up and wiping out shelves and moving and organizing the boxes I have already brought over. The dining room is set up along with about 1/10th of the kitchen. The piano and the buffet are in. There is still much more, but it will come.

My plans are to have a House Blessing for my close friends! I am excited about getting in. I have alot of stuff to get rid of - out with the old and in with the new. I am selling most of my stuff - taking some furniture. But I am having to scale down considerably!

I've been thinking about Alex, my 15 year old dachshund. He will be going to dog heaven very soon. He has been with me for so long I can hardly remember a time when I didn't have Alex. But I know it is for the best, and probably overdue, but it is hard. I will go and hold him like a baby, just like he likes for me to do. I have been buying his favorite canned food - Fillet Minion by Alpo. He only has 4 teeth, so he has to eat canned food.

I have been lazy again today, I have been happy, in my little bliss. I only packed 3 boxes and that was enough today...

It's a Wonderful Life, and other great and sundry things...

Peace!