It finally got me!!! Yup, I've been busy taking care of all the sick people and it finally took hold of me. I have been in the bed since Saturday. I talked to my dear friend Bond yesterday and he said that it hurt him to hear me talk.... that it sounded like I was gargling with sand paper... what he doesn't know is that it hurt me more than it hurt him... LOL Matt said last night that when he heard yesterday morning that I couldn't talk that he and Tony jumped for joy... LOL ... He said I could gripe all I wanted to, that he would just walk away and not have to hear me.... I think they kinda like it when I loose my voice... but I reminded him that it does come back..... ;-) Spring is my favorite time of the year, but not when it gets me like this. I finally broke down Sunday and went to the doctor at the walk in clinic and I have a major case of bronchitis and major allergies. Thank goodness Tony and I quit smoking almost a month ago... I couldn't imagine how I would feel if we hadn't. I'm gonna try and go back to work tomorrow. Will know more when I wake up in the morning. I'm going to lay my sore body back down...

WE INTERRUPT THIS POST FOR A VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS TIGERS HAVE DANCED THEIR WAY INTO THE ELITE 8!!!!!!! GO TIGERS GO!!!! And now back to our regularly scheduled post below......

THIS ONE'S FOR THE GIRLS! The Open Toed Shoe Pledge As a member of the Cute Girl Sisterhood, I pledge to follow the Rules when wearing sandals and other open-toe shoes: I promise to always wear sandals that fit. My toes will not hang over and touch the ground, nor will my heels spill over the backs. And the sides and tops of my feet will not pudge out between the straps. I will go polish-free or vow to keep the polish fresh, intact and chip-free. I will not cheat and just touch up my big toe. I will sand down any mounds of skin before they! turn hard and yellow. I will shave the hairs off my big toe. I won't wear pantyhose even if my misinformed girlfriend, coworker, mother, sister tells me the toe seam really will stay under my toes if I tuck it there. If a strap breaks, I won't duct-tape, pin, glue or tuck it back into place hoping it will stay put. I will get my shoe fixed or toss it. I will not live in corn denial; rather I will lean on my good friend Dr. Scholl's if my feet need him. I will resist the urge to buy jelly shoes at Payless for the low, low price of $4.99 even if my feet are small enough to fit into the kids' sizes ( I guess this applies to Crocs nowadays). This is out of concern for my safety, and the safety of others. No one can walk properly when standing in a pool of sweat and I would hate to take someone down with me as I fall and break my ankle. I will take my toe ring off toward the end of the day if my toes swell and begin to look like Vienna sausages. I will be brutally honest with my girlfriend/sister/coworker when she asks me if her feet are too ugly to wear sandals. Someone has to tell her that her toes are as long as my fingers and no sandal makes creepy feet look good. I will promise if I wear flip flops that I will ensure that they actually flip and flop, making the correct noise while walking and I will swear NOT to slide or drag my feet while wearing them. I will promise to go to my local nail salon at least once per season and have a real pedicure (they are about $15 or 20 and worth EVERY penny). I will promise to throw away any white/off-white sandals that show signs of wear... nothing is tackier than dirty white sandals. THIS ONE'S FOR THE MEN SPRING CLASSES FOR MEN AT THE LEARNING CENTER FOR ADULTS REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED BY MARCH 31, 2007. CLASSES BEGIN APRIL 5, 2007 NOTE: DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY AND DIFFICULTY LEVEL OF THEIR CONTENTS, CLASS SIZES WILL BE LIMITED TO 8 PARTICIPANTS MAXIMUM. Class 1 How To Fill Up The Ice Cube Trays --- Step by Step, with Slide Presentation. Meets 4 weeks, Monday and Wednesday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM Class 2 The Toilet Paper Roll --- Does It Change Itself? Round Table Discussion. Meets 2 weeks, Saturday 12:00 for 2 hours. Class 3 Is It Possible To Urinate Using The Technique Of Lifting The Seat and Avoiding The Floor, Walls and Nearby Bathtub? --- Group Practice. Meets 4 weeks, Saturday 10: 00 PM for 2 hours. Class 4 Fundamental Differences Between The Laundry Hamper and The Floor --- Pictures and Explanatory Graphics. Meets Saturdays at 2:00 PM for 3 weeks. Class 5 After Dinner Dishes --- Can They Levitate and Fly Into The Kitchen Sink? Examples on Video. Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM Class 6 Loss Of Identity --- Losing The Remote To Your Significant Other. Help Line Support and Support Groups. Meets 4 Weeks, Friday and Sunday 7:00 PM Class 7 Learning How To Find Things --- Starting With Looking In The Right Places And Not Turning The House Upside Down While Screaming. Open Forum . Monday at 8:00 PM, 2 hours. Class 8 Health Watch --- Bringing Her Flowers Is Not Harmful To Your Health. Graphics and Audio Tapes. Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours. Class 9 Real Men Ask For Directions When Lost --- Real Life Testimonials. Tuesdays at 6:00 PM Location to be determined. Class 10 Is It Genetically Impossible To Sit Quietly While She Parallel Parks? Driving Simulations. < /B> 4 weeks, Saturday's noon , 2 hours. Class 11 Learning to Live --- Basic Differences Between Mother and Wife. Online Classes and role-playing . Tuesdays at 7:00 PM, location to be determined Class 12 How to be the Ideal Shopping Companion Relaxation Exercises, Meditation and Breathing Techniques Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM . Class 13 How to Fight Cerebral Atrophy --- Remembering Birthdays, Anniversaries and Other Important Dates and Calling When You're Going To Be Late. Cerebral Shock Therapy Sessions and Full Lobotomies Offered. Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours. Class 14 The Stove/Oven --- What It Is and How It Is Used. Live Demonstration. Tuesdays at 6:00 PM, location to be determined. Upon completion of any of the above courses, diplomas will be issued to the survivors. Have a good weekend! SMOOCHES!

SOMETHING I MUST SAY ... Something that I have on my mind and it seems to be more frequent... I want to apologize if this seems to get boring to you but July 23 is approaching rather quickly. I will be doing more post like these as time gets closer. Once he has gone, I am going to post my feelings... so please bear with me. In 4 short months, my son will leave home and to become a lean mean fighting machine. He will become one of the few and the proud. After 8 weeks of having someone break you down only to build you right back up, he will be proud to be called a United States Marine. He has made this selfless decision and for that I am so very proud. In November a dear friend of ours, a Marine currently stationed in Hawaii was home on leave, came over and talked to Matt regarding the Marines. I had asked him to and not to sugar coat anything.... and believe me, he didn’t sugar coat it at all. He told him the worst of everything and even after hearing what Gene had to say, he still made the selfless decision to join. I am humbled by those willing, able, and ready to serve their country. If I were able I would do all in my power to protect them as they protect me. All I can offer to any service man or woman are my truly heartfelt thank you, my thoughts, and my prayers. I believe we should simply respect the choices each of us make with our lives, and if by chance you are that type of man or woman that wants to dedicate a period of time for the benefit of others and improvement of our world, then better still. I look at entering the Marines as a brave and exciting choice, a selfless choice. As long as Matt stays the course of honor and courage, he will never have to hang his head about the decision he made. Matt has gotten a lot of advice regarding the Marines but I have given him some motherly advice, for what it’s worth … I said to him “Son, when you get older and are out of the Marines, the last thing you will want is to look back at boot camp and know you didn't give 100% of yourself, so make sure that everyday you give everything you have and you will have no regrets"... Make sure you give everything you have. When you are in the pit and you feel like saying screw all this, just dig deeper and push harder. Don't ever quit... ever and you will be able to look back and know you did your very best. Here are a few tips that Gene gave to Matt before he left that night. 1. Don't touch your face... ever...don't scratch, don't pick, don't rub... 2. Learn how to say "Aye Aye, Sir" really fast... he recommend saying "icer" it is what he was saying by the end of boot camp 3. Ask for people to write you before you go. Letters will be your savior in a couple of weeks. Make sure nobody sends you candy or anything... this is not a good thing. 4. Salute with your right hand, not your left, not both... 5. Never let another Drill Instructor tell you what to do when your Drill Instructor is standing right there. ONLY LISTEN TO YOUR DI WHEN HE IS PRESENT... you may get yelled at at first, but you will get his respect at the same time. 6. The Drill Instructors are playing games with you all the time. They don't hate you and they don't want you to fail. They do want you to think that, but they really do want you to succeed. 7. If they throw the guidon on the ground... dive to try and save it if you have to. They will do this to see who gets what it stands for... it stands for your platoon and it stands for everyone of the recruits in that platoon, so treat it like the American flag... don't ever let anyone outside of your platoon touch it... be mean if you have to while protecting it. 8. Keep a journal of your experiences. 9. Be proud that you made a tough decision in your life. You picked the best and the hardest and that is something to be proud of. You will never regret your decision. 10. Forget the word "can't"... it won't be in your vocabulary in a couple of months. 11. Semper Fidelis - Always Faithful 12. Even if you don't go to church in the civilian world, go on Sunday morning. This will at least give you a small time to yourself. The DI's won't bother you in there.... so go. 13. Don't wear Marine Corps shirts around Marine Corps bases... everyone knows you are a Marine. However, Do wear the shirts at home... chicks dig Marines.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!!! Welcome to the first day of Spring. It doesn't feel like spring here in Tennessee it feels more like summer... 9:20 pm and it's 73... that's just too hot for us this time of year. I'm sitting here tonight thinking about what to write. I've watched American Idol... Melinda Doolittle just absolutely stole the show... in my opinion she is the next American Idol... A girl from work sent me this e-mail today... and I ask you.. WHO PACKS YOUR PARACHUTE? Charles Plumb was a US Navy jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent 6 years in a communist Vietnamese prison. He survived the ordeal and now lectures on lessons learned from that experience! One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came up and said, "You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!" "How in the world did you know that?" asked Plumb. "I packed your parachute," the man replied. Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said, "I guess it worked!" Plumb assured him, "It sure did. If your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today." Plumb couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb says, "I kept wondering what he had looked like in a Navy uniform: a white hat; a bib in the back; and bell-bottom trousers. I wonder how many times I might have seen him and not even said 'Good morning, how are you?' or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a sailor." Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent at a long wooden table in the bowels of the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he didn't know. Now, Plumb asks his audience, "Who's packing your parachute?" Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day. He also points out that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane was shot down over enemy territory -- he needed his physical parachute, his mental parachute, his emotional parachute, and his spiritual parachute. He called on all these supports before reaching safety. Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important. We may fail to say hello, please, or thank you, congratulate someone on something wonderful that has happened to them, give a compliment, or just do something nice for no reason. As you go through this week, this month, this year, recognize people who pack your parachutes. I am sending you this as my way of thanking you for your part in packing my parachute. Sometimes, we wonder why friends keep forwarding jokes to us without writing a word. Maybe this could explain it: When you are very busy, but still want to keep in touch, guess what you do -- you forward jokes. And to let you know that you are still remembered, you are still important, you are still loved, you are still cared for, guess what you get? A forwarded joke. So my friends, next time when you get a joke, don't think that you've been sent just another forwarded joke, but that you've been thought of today and your friend on the other end of your computer wanted to send you a smile, just helping you pack your parachute.......

SWEET 16 … HERE COMES THE TIGERS!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOO … Yup, my University of Memphis Tigers danced their way into the Sweet 16 this weekend… they will play Texas A & M this weekend. They continue their winning streak… 24… longest in the nation!!!! GO TIGERS GO!!!! Congratulations to the University of Tennessee Volunteers and Vanderbilt Commodores… they also danced their way into the Sweet 16… UPDATE: As y’all know, the sickness germies have been running rampant in my house. Tony was diagnosed with pneumonia almost a month ago. The week that I was to go to B’ham my mother became sick with Type A flu as well as Kaitlin. Then last Wednesday Matt come home from school…. at 4:00, goes to bed and goes to sleep… sleeps all night… wakes up Thursday morning with 101 fever… Friday same scenario… I come home from work Friday afternoon and find him with 103.5 fever… yup… it was time to go to the doctor…. took him and he was diagnosed with Type B flu. I’ve been fighting those nasty germies all weekend long…I would be willing to bet that I’ve used a case of Lysol… but I’m working on getting those nasty creatures out of here…. Today, I had to send Tony back to the doctor… slight relapse … GRRRRRRRRR is this EVER going to end???? It will be very safe to say that I've used almost a case of Lysol... very safe... maybe I should buy stock in the Lysol company.... LOL A lot of y’all have been asking about the kitchen…. well the project that should have only took a weekend to complete took 3 weeks… but THANK GOD it’s finished… We have decided to make sure all the germies are out before the next project is started… well, I say we.. I actually mean I MADE THE EXECUTIVE DECISION TO WAIT... and all agreed. No persuasion whatsoever... I promise... Sexy Foreign Hoochie, from over at Anndi Luggage, http://anndisluggage.blogspot.com/ , sent this e-mail to me today. Now if anybody knows anything about Tennessee this could possibly happen in some parts. Wouldn’t surprise me whatsoever if it happened in my part of the world. I’m from Buford Pusser land… Walking Tall country… you know where some carry baseball bats, swing first and ask questions later… of course, that’s not me… I would never resort to such violence… I’d just call Bruno or Guido… A big city corporate lawyer runs a stop sign in a small town in Tennessee, and gets pulled over by a sheriff's deputy. He thinks that he is smarter than this hick town deputy because he is a lawyer and is certain that he has a better education. He decides to prove this to himself and have some fun at the deputy's expense. Deputy says, 'License and registration, please.' Lawyer says, 'What for?' Deputy says, 'Y'all didn't come to a complete stop at the stop sign.' Lawyer says, 'I slowed down, and no one was coming.' Deputy says, 'You still didn't come to a complete stop. License and registration, please.' Lawyer says, 'What's the difference?' Deputy says, 'The difference is, y'all have to come to complete stop, that's the law. License and registration, please!' Lawyer says, 'If you can show me the legal difference between slow down and stop, I'll give you my license and registration; and you give me the ticket. If not, you let me go and don't give me the ticket.' Deputy says, 'Sounds fair. Exit your vehicle, sir.' At this point, the deputy takes out his nightstick and starts beating the ever-lovingcrap out of the lawyer and says, 'Do y'all want me to stop or just slowdown?'

HAPPY 12TH BIRTHDAY KAITLIN

WOOOOOOOOOO…. GO TIGERS GO…. Win 22 straight games and something is good is definitely bound to happen. Sunday afternoon we sat an anxiously awaited to hear where our University of Memphis Tigers would play and who. The 5th ranked Tigers (30-3), and who by the way has the longest winning streak in the nation, drew a #2 seed in the South Region of the 2007 NCAA tournament. The Tigers will play North Texas in New Orleans Friday. GO TIGERS GO!!! I have a question... what do you think... Is Underwear Important??? Always wear clean underwear in public, especially when working under your vehicle. From the Northwest Florida Daily News comes this story of a Crestview couple who drove their car to Wal Mart only to have their car break down in the parking lot. The man told his wife to carry on with the shopping while he fixed the car in the lot. The wife returned later to see a small group of people near the car. On closer inspection, she saw a pair of male legs protruding from under the chassy. Although the man was in shorts, his lack of underpants turned private parts into glaringly public ones. Unable to stand the embarrassment, she dutifully stepped forward, quickly put her hand UP his shorts, and tucked everything back into place. On regaining her feet, she looked across the hood and found herself staring at her husband who was standing idly by. The mechanic, however, had to have three stitches in his forehead. You would think she would know her husbands leg????? The Perfect Dress - Jennifer's wedding day was fast approaching. Nothing could dampen her excitement -- not even her parents' nasty divorce. Her mother had found the PERFECT dress to wear and would be the best dressed mother-of-the-bride ever! A week later, Jennifer was horrified to learn that her father's new young wife had bought the exact same dress as her mother! Jennifer asked her step mom to exchange it, but she refused. "Absolutely not! I look like a million bucks in this dress, and I'm wearing it," she replied. Jennifer told her mother who graciously said, "Never mind sweetheart. I'll get another dress. After all, it's your special day." A few days later, they went shopping and did find another gorgeous dress. When they stopped for lunch, Jennifer asked her mother, "Aren't you going to return the other dress? You really don't have another occasion where you could wear it." Her mother just smiled and replied, "Of course I do dear, I'm wearing it to the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding. "NOW I ASK YOU -IS THERE A WOMAN OUT THERE, ANYWHERE, WHO WOULDN'T ENJOYTHIS STORY? Exactly what I would do! A TRUE SHONEY'S STORY - NO this is NOT me, but I am withholding the person's name to save her from further embarrassment! How many times do you wake up in the mornings and feel great! I mean absolutely great. You know what I’m talking about, those mornings when you wake up and you are feeling good mentally and physically. Where you look at yourself in the mirror and are proud that you don’t see so many bags under the eye’s or any of those tell-tell signs of aging. You know you are looking good when you leave the house and you are singing…”I feel pretty, I feel pretty, I feel pretty and witty and gay, lalalalalalala”. The morning was great for me that day ...I should have gone to the casino but opted to do the right thing and go to work. My hair was really looking terrific, my make-up went on perfectly…there was a spring in my step and today was going to be a good day! I was feeling so good that I decided to really put on a show at work so I brought out a tan colored linen skirt and a tangerine silk blouse to wear. The clothes were not the unusual part…it was the shoes….it was those brown 3 inch alligator heels that were putting the final touches to my “knock ‘em-out” at work ensemble. To those that know me though, it doesn’t matter what I have on, pantyhose are not part of the wardrobe. I am like a caged mad woman when I wear pantyhose. I scratch, twitch, get big whelps on my skin and have been known at the end of the day to rip them off my body and throw them in the trash. Soooooooooooooo…throughout the years, I’ve worn pants or long skirts and dresses with knee highs. Nobody can see them, right? I had on THE perfect outfit, THE perfect shoes, hair and make-up were perfect and “I” was looking good! Knee highs and all! My friend, Janice and I had decided that every Monday afternoon we were going to stop off at some restaurant, have a cup of coffee, maybe eat a meal and catch up on each other’s lives and families. Janice and I grew up together and with both of us being single and raising children there was ALWAYS something going on that we needed to catch up on with each other. This Monday afternoon we decided that we would stop off at the Shoney’s close to work and it was on the way home for both of us. We chatted, ate supper, drank coffee…it was a good visit. Time was getting away though and we both needed to go to the grocery store. I said that she could go on ahead of me that I needed to run to the restroom so she left and I made a pit stop. By this time, I have to tell you that I was no longer feeling pretty. My feet were killing me and when my dogs are hurtin’, my whole body is hurtin’. I was ready to get home and put on some jeans, some sweats, anything that was comfy but I still had a last show to put on! I needed to hold my head up, strut my stuff one more time through the Shoney’s front counter area, out the door across the parking lot, in front of the glass windows of the restaurant and to my car. Hey…you never know who could be watching…my “Mister Right” could have been in Shoney’s! I did my thing in the restroom, washed my hands, put on more lipstick and out the door I went. My biggest effort to walk like a peacock was in front of the glass windows of the restaurant. It was where most of the people in the restaurant were sitting so I really wanted to make a big impression, you know. WHEW..I made it to the car…one more step and I can take off the $&#*^$ shoes….open door, take hand to swipe my skirt under before I get in…..there was no skirt! Did you hear me….THERE WAS NO SKIRT! One side of my skirt had gotten crumpled up somehow in the waistband of my panties and slip and all I was swiping was SKIN!!!!! I had just walked across the entrance to Shoney’s, out across the entire parking lot, IN FRONT OF THE GLASS WINDOWS, to my car with the right cheek exposed to the world! AND MY KNEE HIGHS. There was nothing to do but get in my car and drive off. I couldn’t. I sat down in my car and threw myself over the steering wheel with hysterical laughter! I was imagining what ALL those people in Shoney’s were thinking about right now! Some were speechless…some were embarrassed for me…some were calling the waitress over because they had just spewed their food all over from laughing so hard. And Mister Right was thinking “not no but HELL NO”! I managed to start my car and drive home but there were times when I thought I was going to have to pull off the side of the road because I was laughing so hard. For whatever reason, the next day I didn’t tell Janice about what happened. And no, it wasn’t because of embarrassment, I just honestly had let it go or so I thought. About three weeks later, Janice said, “Let’s go to Shoney’s”…I instantly said “NO”! She said, “Why not”, I said “No, we can never go to Shoney’s again. I have literally shown my ass in Shoney’s and we cannot ever return.” After telling her the story and almost having to call 911 because I think she stopped breathing because she was laughing so hard, we decided that the Waffle House would be our next stop and Shoney’s would have to wait for another year or two! By that time, the turn over in personnel would surely be new!! I would NEVER EVER show my face in Shoney's again! Would you? Have a great weekend all and Happy St. Patty's Day!!!

Everyone who reads my blog knows that my son will be leaving July 23, 2007 for the United States Marine Corp... he has made a very brave decision... one that I am so very proud of... so when I received this e-mail in my inbox today I couldn't help but cry... Then at lunch yesterday, as we sat down to eat, I looked over to my right and there sat 4 U.S. Army men... behind Tony sat a man eating lunch alone. As the man finished his lunch and got up to leave, he politely walked over to the serviceman and I heard him say "Excuse me, but I just want to say thank you so very much for your service." The look on the 4 servicemen's face was that of pride... one that I hope to see on Matt's face one day when a complete stranger walks up to him and says "Thank You for your service".... The e-mail says to pass this on, but I wanted to do so much better... I wanted to share with all my blog friends... Will You Give This To My Daddy? As a Company, Southwest Airlines is going to support "Red Fridays." Last week I was in Atlanta, Georgia attending a conference. While I was in the airport, returning home, I heard several people behind me beginning to clap and cheer. I immediately turned around and witnessed one of the greatest act's of patriotism I have ever seen. Moving through the terminal was a group of soldiers in their camo's, as they began heading to their gate everyone (well almost everyone) was abruptly to their feet with their hands waving and cheering. When I saw the soldiers, probably 30-40 of them, being applauded and cheered for it hit me. I'm not alone. I'm not the only red blooded American who still loves this country and supports our troops and their families. Of course I immediately stopped and began clapping for these young unsung heroes who are putting their lives on the line everyday for us sowe can go to school, work and home without fear or reprisal. Just when I thought I could not be more proud of my country or of our service men and women a young girl, not more than 6 or 7 years old, ran up to one of the male soldiers. He kneeled down and said "hi," the little girl then she asked him if he would give something to her daddy for her. The young soldier, he didn't look any older than maybe 22 himself, said he would try and asked her what did she want to give to her daddy? Then suddenly the little girl grabbed the neck of this soldier, gave him the biggest hug she could muster and then kissed him on the cheek. The mother of the little girl, who said her daughter's name was Courtney, told the young soldier that her husband was a Marine and had been in Iraq for 11 months now. As the mom was explaining how much her daughter, Courtney, missed her father, the young soldier began to tearup. When this temporarily single mom was done explaining her situation, all of the soldiers huddled together for a brief second. Then one of the other servicemen pulled out a military looking walkie-talkie. They started playing with the device and talking back and orth on it. After about 10-15 seconds of this, the young soldier walked back over to Courtney, bent down and said this to her, "I spoke to your daddy and he told me to give this to you." He then hugged this little girl that he had just met and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He finished by saying "your daddy told me to tell you that he loves you more than anything and he is coming home very soon. "The mom at this point was crying almost uncontrollably and as the young soldier stood to his feet he saluted Courtney and her mom. I was standing no more than 6 feet away from this entire event unfolded. As the soldiers began to leave, heading towards their gate, people resumedtheir applause. As I stood there applauding and looked around, there were very few dry eyes, including my own. That young soldier in one last act of selflessness, turned around and blew a kiss to Courtney with a tear rolling down his cheek. We need to remember everyday all of our soldiers and their families and thank God for them and their sacrifices. At the end of the day, it's good to be an American. RED FRIDAYS ----- Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the "silent majority". We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers.We are not organized, boisterous or over-bearing. We get no liberal media coverage on TV, to reflect our message or our opinions. Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops.Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday - and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that... Every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar will wear something red. By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers.If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, co-workers, friends, and family. It will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know theonce "silent" majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on. The first thing a soldier says when asked "What can we do to make things better for you?" is...We need your support and your prayers. Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example; and wear something red every Friday. IF YOU AGREE -- THEN SEND THIS ONIF YOU COULD CARE LESS THE N HIT THE DELETE BUTTON --- IT IS YOURCHOICE.WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE.THEIR BLOOD RUNS RED---- SO WEAR RED!MAY GOD HELP AMERICA TO BECOME ONE NATION, UNDER GOD

Yup, I'm still alive. I've been very busy the past week and a half. As y'all know, we started remodeling the kitchen then Tony came sick with pneumonia. As of today, he still hasn't gone back to work... off for 2 weeks... hoping he will feel like going back tomorrow, and my kitchen is STILL NOT FINISHED. I was suppose to go to B'ham over the weekend with the other hoochies and hottie but my mother became sick with the flu and had to take care of her. Now Kaitlin came home from church yesterday, sick.... yup, you got it... flu.... GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.... is this EVER going to be over with..... This is just a short post to let y'all know I'm okay... tired... but okay.... didn't want y'all to think that I had fell off the face of the earth..... I received this in e-mail and just loved it. So for all you wonderful women out there..... MAYA ANGELOU'S BEST POEM EVER A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .... enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own even if she never wants to or needs to... A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .... something perfect to wear if the employer or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour... A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... a youth she's content to leave behind.... A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .... a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age.... A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..... a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra... A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .... one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry... A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .... a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family... A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .... eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal that will make her guests feel honored... A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .... a feeling of control over her destiny... EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... how to fall in love without losing herself.. EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... How to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without ruining the friendship ... EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY... EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... that she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents.. EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... that her childhood may not have been perfect...but its over... EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... what she would and wouldn't do for love or more... EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it... EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... whom she can trust, whom she can't, and why she shouldn't take it personally... EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... where to go... be it to her best friend's kitchen table... or a charming inn in the woods... when her soul needs soothing... EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... what she can and can't accomplish in a day... a month...and a year...

I'm still alive. I've been off work since Tuesday afternoon. What have I been doing you may ask? Well, we started Saturday "flipping" the kitchen. In the process of completing the project. Since Tony went to the doctor on Monday and was diagnosed with pneumonia, I've been doing alot of the project myself. I haven't had much time to think of what I would write on my blog, so for this Friday I'm sharing something from my e-mail files. NATURAL HIGHS It Does Make You Feel Good, especially the thought at the end of #45 1. Falling in love. 2. Laughing so hard your face hurts. 3. A hot shower. 4. No lines at the supermarket. 5. A special glance. 6. Getting mail. 7. Taking a drive on a pretty road. 8. Hearing your favorite song on the radio. 9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside. 10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer. 11. Chocolate milkshake (vanilla or strawberry). 12. A bubble bath. 13. Giggling. 14. A good conversation. 15. The beach 16. Finding a 20 dollar bill in your coat from last winter. 17. Laughing at yourself. 18. Looking into their eyes and knowing they Love you 19. Midnight phone calls that last for hours. 20. Running through sprinklers. 21. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all. 22. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful. 23. Laughing at an inside joke 24. Friends. 25. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you. 26. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep. 27. Your first kiss (either the very first or with a new partner). 28. Making new friends or spending time with old ones. 29. Playing with a new puppy. 30. Having someone play with your hair. 31. Sweet dreams. 32. Hot chocolate. 33. Road trips with friends. 34. Swinging on swings. 35. Making eye contact with a cute stranger. 36. Making chocolate chip cookies. 37. Having your friends send you homemade cookies. 38 Holding hands with someone you care about. 39. Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change. 40. Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a much desired present from you. 41. Watching the sunrise. 42. Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful for another beautiful day. 43. Knowing that somebody misses you. 44. Getting a hug from someone you care about deeply. 45. Knowing you've done the right thing, no matter what other people think. SMOOCHES.... have a great weekend!

Edition #12 (I think) 13 things favorite things as a kid … in no random order and of course this isn’t a complete list. 1. Eating a PG & J sandwich with a big glass of cold milk 2. Hugging my dad. Especially after he had shaved and the smell of his Old Spice Aftershave 3. Watching fireflies light up inside a jar. 4. Cuddling with my dog and hearing her heart beat 5. Petting caterpillars 6. Reading the comics on bazooka bubble gum wrappers 7. Running barefoot through fresh cut grass still wet with the morning dew 8. Staying in a really fancy hotel 9. Peeling the muffin paper off of a warm blueberry muffin 10. The smell of the air on a fall day when the Cotton Gin was in operation 11. The smell of my grandmother baking fresh chocolate chip cookies 12. The smell of bacon and eggs being cooked early in the morning 13. Being outdoors in the warm sunshine