Blog? What blog?

I have not had time, nor the inclination to post in this blog in a looong time.

Just getting a post in here so the avatar isn't displaying first thing on the page.

Not like anyone ever reads it.... can't blame 'em...

Maybe I'll post something real soon.

New Avatar

Yes, it's been a LOOOONG time since I posted. Just kind of got away from the blog for awhile. Been very busy doing a lot of "real" work at home.

Anyway, here's a cute Avatar that I created while I have a few moments to actually play a little bit.

I can't take one more bit of bad news

This has been the year of bad news and terrible things. If you don't want to read a downer post, stop reading now.

1. My Grandma died on March 15. That was the worst of all. My Mother is still crying day and night, and I am struggling to figure out how to comfort her.

2. My "pseudo" sister-in-law's father had a stroke last week. I found out yesterday that his cat scan came back and he has 2/3 of one side of his brain damaged. He won't be speaking again, and he probably won't be with us much longer.

3. Tyler's teacher, Ms. Gina (whom I love and adore) found out about a month ago that she had breast cancer. It was contained in her milk duct. She had surgery this past Monday. They had to take out more than they originally thought they would have to (i.e., she doesn't have much of a boob left). Today, I find out that the test that they run after a surgery such as this, came back saying that they might have to go back in for more surgery, and they are also now recommending chemo. She was supposed to only have to undergo radiation. I heard through the grapevine that Ms. Gina said that she may decide to have them "just take the whole thing" which means mastectomy on one side. Needless to say, I welled up with tears when I heard that this morning.

4. A lady in North Carolina---who is a friend of a very long-time friend, and Mother and I know her via email, and love her to death even though we've never met her---emailed us this morning to tell us that her cat scan came back and she has spots on her liver and spots on her lungs, and they are recommending chemo and radiation. Her family is terrified. She said she is shell-shocked. Here's to praying for her and her family.

5. One of my Mother's good friends that she has worked with for years--her Mother died unexpectedly on Apr. 20. We will attend her memorial tomorrow night.

6. A lady that Robert works with--her brother was killed 2 weeks ago in a freak motorcycle accident. I think something flew off the back of a truck and hit him.

7. Another of our friend's grandmother died 2 days ago.

8. Robert's son tried to commit suicide a couple of weeks ago by ingesting bleach, drano, rat poison, Tylenol PM, and sleep aids.

I don't like very much of 2007 so far. It is all just too painful.

The Blue Sock

Does anyone recognize this blue sock?

The reason I ask is, it's been floating around our house now for well over a year, maybe two years, and Robert and I have never discussed this blue sock until tonight. I had finally had it with "the blue sock" and I went to him, held it up, and asked, "Ok, is this YOUR sock?" and he promptly replied, "No, I thought it was yours." I likewise promptly replied, "No, it is not mine, I thought it was yours."

This sock has been bouncing around from dresser to dresser for a looooong time now, and the poor thing has never had a mate to go with it. He insists it must be mine, but I swear, I don't have a clue about this sock.

George Carlin always said that all those things you lose throughout life go to this big pile in heaven, and when you die, you get all these things back. They include such things as lighters, sunglasses, keys, and of course, SOCKS. Well, what he failed to tell me was that occasionally, a sock drops DOWN from heaven and just appears in your house, desperately searching for a home and a mate.

I'm sorry to say that, even though this sock is in desperate need of a home and a mate, I'm tired of "the blue sock" and I think it's going to get shit-canned.

Gazebo

Last night we had strong thunderstorms, so I told Robert like I always do that he needed to probably take the top off the gazebo. This morning, we woke up to this:









































Surprisingly, I didn't give him too hard a time about it. I just didn't feel like an argument this morning. I did, however, make a smart-ass remark a little while later. I was watching the weather on the tv, and it is supposed to be pretty stormy today too, so I went in and told him, "Honey, I was just watching the news, and it's supposed to be pretty stormy out there today, so before you leave, you might want to take the top off the gazebo---oh---wait---we don't HAVE a gazebo anymore." We got a great laugh out of that one.

Tyler's 3rd Birthday

I tried out this new Photoshow application that comes with my new Roadrunner account (formerly Comcast, now Time-Warner). See what you think! Click here and then click on the link for Tyler's 3rd Birthday, then click the picture of the cupcakes. I have taken the embedded Photoshow off the web site because every time you come to my blog, it plays the song. I don't know of a way to make it just sit there and not play until it's clicked on.

Done until next year!

A great Christmas was had by all, but I’m exhausted. And Tyler started getting sick on Saturday, Dec. 23. He’s worse today. I'm seriously considering getting him into the doctor tomorrow. He is just not well. Won't eat. Runny nose. Coughing constantly when he goes to lay down. Well, not *constantly* but last night, it was 10:30 before he finally fell asleep. I heard him cough a few times during the night, but no telling how much he actually coughed because I might not have woken up. Today for his nap, of course I could hear more, and he coughed and coughed and coughed and finally he'd fall asleep, only to wake up 15 minutes or so later with another bout of coughing, then back to sleep for a little while, then the same thing all over again. I finally went in his room around 4:20 and got him up. I don't think he was sleeping because he sat up pretty quick and said, "Good morning." Sweet Baby. I said "No, good afternoon!" All he's wanted to do since then is lay on the couch and watch tv. He is just not feeling well. I am seriously doubting that it's croup. I think it's bronchitis, which as you know, requires antibiotics, not steroids.... we'll see how he does tonight.

Tyler made out like a bandit this year. A car from Santa (coupe) that you push with your feet. He loves those cars when we’ve seen them elsewhere, and he has always played on them, so I’m glad Santa brought that to him. A race track from Rick, huge train set from Daddy, TJ Bearytales from Santa at Nana and Poppy’s house (he reads him stories), 2 Colorforms (Thomas the Train and Backyardigans), talking robot with alphabet, numbers, and songs, Thomas stickers, Go Diego Go dominos, many books (too many to list), coloring books, crayons, Madagascar DVD, new Numbers puzzle, firetruck, wind-up animals as stocking stuffers, Solarscape floor puzzle (huge!), clothes, new Thomas the Train shoes. The list goes on.

I got a Palm Pilot! I couldn’t believe it. And a Hoover Floormate (I pretty much knew about that one), new lighter, a 6-quart crock pot, underwear, socks, camcorder tapes, soap, sweatsuit from Dad and Carol. My list goes on as well.

All in all, it was a very nice Christmas, but I must say, I’m exhausted. It was almost like having 4 Christmases. One at Robert’s parent’s house 8 days before Christmas, then the Sat. before Christmas, it was celebration with Laura Marie, Sammy, Phil, and Rick. Mother was here too. Then Christmas morning, our celebration, then that afternoon/evening at Mother and Fred’s house for more opening presents! Whew! All done for another year.