Storms

Today was a good day all around. Lot's and lot's of paper work caught up. A little more to do tomorrow and hopefully it will be done. Plan to do field work tomorrow afternoon and most of Thursday. We are getting busy again, imagine that!!! Just think back three months and there we go. Off and running like a herd of turtles. LOL. That's the way it goes within the world of STD.

With me working yesterday which is normally my day off, I've been all messed up on what today is and missed my bible study. Oh well, I am sure all is well with that. I was tired because I set behind a desk all day typing away and all I wanted to do was come home. Brandon called and asked what I was doing for supper but I already had gone through the drive thru and grabbed something. I didn't want to cook and also didn't want to get out of the car. Probably should have ran to the grocery store but really wasn't into that either.

You know as I sit here and look at the internet and get spring fever hotter than ever, I am like I cannot wait to be home all the time so I can work in the yard, except when I get home for the weekends I am tired and don't want to do anything!!! When better weather comes though I am sure I will get out in it and love every second. It is time to plant new potatoes right now and also other cold weather crops like peas, onions and lettuce. Not to crazy about lettuce except I remember when I was growing up there was a lady that lived across the street from mom and I, her name was Mrs. Gardner. Her name was Viola but growing up I learned to speak of my elders with their name as Mrs. Anyway she always had a large garden and she would give mom and I produce out of it. She had to be the nicest lady around. She had a son William that was a year younger than I and a daughter Patty that was mentally challenged. She also had an older son but he didn't live with her, he was already away from home and his name was Darrell. It's funny how you think about people from your past and when you think about them it is like you are there. Anyway I can remember her giving us lettuce and mom wilting it. I can do the same thing as mom but it never tastes as good as mom fixed it. I think all she used was bacon grease and that was about it.

It sounds like it is going to storm up in Harrisonville tonight and maybe strong at times. Not sure what is going to happen down here. I missed the news because it was about the time Brandon got home and he usually talks to me about his day. Anyway I missed the weather but heard on the radio this morning that it was suppose to get possibility of hail and strong winds. And THAT is why I hate Springtime in Missouri. Storms and tornadoes!!! Yuck.

Well, better go. Local news is going to be on in a few and I would like to catch some of it. Don't like that parts that is about crime and such but have turned into a weather watcher. Goes along with age, but really I like to see what kind of day tomorrow brings so I can figure out what to wear. :o)

Talk to you guys tomorrow.

Drive

Was in Jefferson City today all day for meetings. We found out who our Bureau Chief is and I am really happy. He is a past co-worker of ours and he will be a refreshing change that we desperately need. He use to do field work the same as I what I have been doing and then he moved on and became a Health Educator, educating health care providers. Very smart, very professional and as I said, something that we have been needing in that position.

Our meeting today made me think in a different avenue in my job. What do we need to make our jobs easier. What kind of training would we like to see to give us other skills that would make us marketable and able to advance within our Bureau. There were seven of us meeting today, all at the same grade level, and we came up with some pretty good ideas but then again it made me think. What has happened to my drive??? I use to take any training to help me with my job skills I could and have lost that drive. When it is something for myself, I am all over it. I'm switching gears this year and looking at learning more things to make an investment into my career. I have 16 years, which isn't alot compared to some out there, but is the longest I have ever worked in one job, and it is time to learn more. I am now in a relationship where my husband is proud of me and proud of what I do in the Public Health field. Something I haven't had in like forever. Anyway, I'll try and keep you guys posted on stuff.

Today was a beautiful day but guess we are to be getting some rain tomorrow. That is okay because I have a ton load of office work to do. That dreaded paperwork, that stuff that I love to procrastinate but it bites me in the butt when I do. Oh well, that's the way it is.

Going to sign off. As always it is late and I wait until almost bedtime to write this stuff. Talk to you guys later.

Love you guys.

Butterflies

Last night I got home fairly early but was so tired I couldn't write anything if I wanted to. I went to bed by 10pm and this morning when I got up was so tired I didn't want to go to church, but decided that I needed to buck up and go and am so glad I did. It was good. One of our members was in a terrible wreck a couple months ago that left him paralyzed and he was there today. We had a special welcome service for him. He had just gotten out of the rehabilitation center yesterday. He talked about what happened in the wreck and his story of how his faith has grown through all this. It was awesome.

The get together last night was really good too. We had 25 ladies there and the food was fabulous. Stephanie did an awesome job and I have learned some stuff through her teachings. Number one, thickening for sauces and gravies should not be milk and flour or water and flour but roux, which is an equal part of butter and flour cooked on the stove. I can't wait to make a gravy and do this. Also she told us about different gravies and sauces. The one I am going to try next time I have a roast is espano or however you spell it. you puree carrots and such together. i'll have to find out how to spell it and what it consists of before I talk anymore about it but her daughter Ashley said it was fabulous!!! I had such a good time last night. I got to know people that I didnt' know from our church plus some came that I had invited here on Facebook.

Terry got him a computer this weekend, we went to eat at Famous Dave's and we both love the BBQ there. The sweet pickles ROCKED!!! They were a little spicy but alot your bread and butter pickle. Next time I go I am going to get the same thing Terry did because it was fabulous. The burnt ends with the Memphis rub on them. Yum. I love a good rub on ribs!!! Or any BBQ.

Well, I am going to sign off. There are going to be alot of changes at work on the horizon so I will have alot to write about in the next few weeks I am sure. Of course it won't make a drastic change but it will change. Not sure what they are going to be and am sure some will be good and some will be bad. Oh well. You know what they say, "If there were no changes there would be no butterflies."~Walt Disney

Love you guys.

Bonus

Thank goodness the weekend is here but had a good day. It was cold but was a nice day. Not as cold as it could be at the end of February. Mild, mild winter is all I can say.

Worked on my bible study again. We are into week four and only have three more to go. :o( I hope they think about getting into another bible study. BJ, my friend, said that they have regular bible study every Wednesday evening and I may go to that one. I really enjoy studying this Book. One of my friends said something like we should have a study group of our own on Facebook and pick a book to study. Meet once a week on Facebook and talk amongest ourselves what we feel and what we have read. I liked that idea but wasn't sure how well it would be taken. I think it would be fun and a fun way to get everyone involved. Let me know what you think if you want to. I have a friend that is studying Esther, one of Beth Moore's bible studies too. I'd like it. I know Patsey wants to do it too.

Have been working on a reference tonight for our Women's Ministry and decided to use Rahab from last nights study, pin pointing her faith and how she used that faith to help the spies and send them the opposite way. And how God recognizes our faith and our works and knows where we've been, what we are and what we are to become!!! I think it will be good and will let you know. Not sure if I am going to be able to blog tomorrow night or not. I plan to be at the church early to help Stephanie set up and then our get together will probably be over by 9, don't know though and then will clean up the church afterwards. Then I am going to come home and get ready for a report Sunday morning in church so everyone can see what we are doing and join us. I can't wait.

Going to head off here. Not much going on with me. Seems like only thing right now is the church event. I was talking to a friend tonight that brought a prespective to me that I hadn't thought. We were talking about step children since Terry and I both have them and my friend said that some call them "bonus children". I like that term alot better than step children. They are a bonus to a wonderful marriage. Does that mean I'm a "bonus" mom and Terry is a "bonus" dad??? LOL. Maybe not since our children are grown.

See you guys tomorrow maybe. If not I'll write Sunday. I will try and write a little tomorrow night though!!!

Faith

You know, with these last few days of my life there has been those that will no longer be here. Last night a young couple, she was 26, he was 32 were riding their motorcycle down 2 highway outside of Harrisonville. It is a very hilly road and there is no shoulder on either side. There is a hill that has been named "Thrill Hill" where if you go fast over the hill it will tickle your tummy. When Josh was a little boy he use to love going over it where it would tickle his tummy. You cannot see anyone from either side of the hill and this young couple was passing a pickup at the crest of the hill. Not seeing the Chevy Suburban coming straight to them, they hit her head on. Killing them and she is in serious condition as she swerved and hit a utility pole. The gentleman that they were passing was not injured, or anyway that is what the MO Highway Patrol accident report said. The young lady that was killed has a little boy that is probably around 2 years old. His grandpa and grandma are good friends of Terry's. They are not the parents of they young lady but of the little boy's daddy. He will be well loved and taking care of because his grandparents and Aunts are good people and loving, caring people but that little boy will never know his mama. I didn't know the young man's parents that well but had seen them around. They are good people too. The young lady was not from this area but lots of people knew her and I met her last summer at a birthday party. I am so sad for the families involved and it has brought me to realizing how important life is.

Terry's cousin's husband passed away at 59 years old. I took some time off so I could go to the funeral. The preacher did an excellent job of the services. He was the nephew of the deceased and made some wonderful comments during his service. I guess it is because of all that has happened that I am very melancholy tonight.

I studied my lesson tonight and it is on James 2:20-26. Faith without works is useless. James brings Abraham and Rahab in on this part of his book as two that if it had not been their faith and their works would we have had the lineage of Jesus come out as it did??? With Rahab, the prostitute that took the spies in and sent them a different direction out of harm's way shows you that God can change what people do. He can change behavioral patterns that have been in play for decades. He can change what we do to cope, to find comfort, to survive conflict, to count. Rahab had done the same old thing for years...and then she did something new. She believed God and acted on it. I read this and realized, there is hope and it is okay. FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS USELESS.

A little bit that cracked me up that Beth Moore wrote is "The actual Greek word translated "prostitute" is porne. Rahab could have been the porn star of Jericho, and God still called her to faith." Wow.

Well, I feel a little better after typing this then I did when I started. I had such a heavy heart. As I start this Women's Ministry in our church I ask that you pray that I have the wisdom and knowledge to listen to God and be able to put the enthusiasm into these women's hearts as He has placed in my heart. We have our first meeting Saturday night and there is probably going to be around 30 there. WOW. We have a member that is going to cook for us and teach us how to do Chicken Alfredo and give us the recipe. I can't remember if I told you guys that in the past or not. Anyway I am so excited. I love my church. Anyone that needs a church home, I've said it once and I'll say it again. Let me know because you are more than welcome to come with me.

Love you guys and talk to you later.

Today has got to be a better than perfect day. Yesterday was beautiful but today topped off at like 66* and it was so nice. Tomorrow is suppose to be nice too, we'll just have to wait and see. I have got to get out there into the flowers and seperate them and move them. Probably should have done it a while back but oh well. I have plans and know where I am going to put everything so that is all good. I love spring and the warming of the earth.

My friend Patsey lives in Arkansas and she travels all over the State. Today she took some fabulous pictures of two men fishing at a lake. We talked about it for a while because in Facebook you can instant message and I love that feature. Anyway she said she is thinking about getting a better camera and her daughter told her you can learn how to use it via internet. I told her she should check Pawn Shops out because they probably would have them. She said she never thought about Pawn Shops but her daughter got one at a Thrift Store and absolutely loves it. I am thinking about checking into one for me too. I love to take pictures and post them. Especially when it is nature and the woods. Nothing is more beautiful than God's art work in my eyes. He paints a beautiful picture, whether it be sunsets or just nature. Gotta love it.

I'm going to be doing a bunch of travel again in the next three days. I found out that my coworker and I have picked up 6 more counties to cover which means we are going to be doing a bunch more work. Oh well, it all pays the same and you can only do what you can do. We already go all the way over to Steelville MO which is Crawford County, close to St. Louis all the way back over to Kansas side of MO and Arkansas line too. Now, instead of 29 counties we are covering like 35, just her and I. We're a team though and get the work done. I always tell her not to freak out, it will be fine. We;ll get it done. Of course diseases are starting to increase right now and will more so. We just got done with Valentine's Day and it takes 3-6 months incubation period for Syphilis and HIV and 2 months for Gonorrhea and Chlamydia. We're just now getting the New Year's and Christmas exposures. We have Spring Break coming up too. That's always a fun one to follow up on. Whenever we have a spike in something we usually count back to figure out why and there is somekind of event. World Series was fun!!! And still is. Job security.

Well anyway, I am going to be up North tomorrow because I am helping out up there also and then Friday in Columbia and then Monday in Jefferson City. Terry was telling me with all the miles I put on the car we need to be thinking about getting me another one. My car is a 2011 and when I bought it I had 11 miles on it, it now has almost 40,000. Glad it gets 35mpg. State reimburses gas mileage but still. Oh well, just glad I have a job and at this point in my life I would be hard pressed to find another one that pays me what I am getting now. Not that I can buy the farm or anything with what they pay me but still. They do spoil you in alot of ways. I complain alot but who doesn't. LOL

Talked to Josh tonight. He is really such a good kid, just a nutball at times. Talked to Brandon too. He is stressed about his class that he is taking this semester but he always stresses. He is doing so good with a 4.0 that he's wigged out that he might get a B in this class. He's gotten all A's in all his others. I wish that was all I had to worry about, LOL. He's another good kid.

Well, I'm going to sign off. Going to read my bible lesson and hopefully will not mess up and not read it all. I got confussed last week. LOL. Anyway. Good night all and talk to you later.

Well, just got home from the bible study tonight. I goofed up and thought I'd caught up on my reading and I was a week behind. Oh well, still got alot out of the review tonight and it was really good. Hit close to home. We studied James 1:19-27 and then James 2:1-9. Really good study and lots of stuff I need to work on for myself. Basically walk the walk, talk the talk and don't become a forgetful listener, change within the word. Welcome every person that God puts in front of us with open arms and don't choose favoritism. "The one who peers into the perfect law of liberty and fixes his attention there, and does not become a forgetful listener but one who live it out--he will be blessed in what he does." James 1:25

Today was a beautiful day and the next two days are even going to be prettier. Upper 60's, doesn't seem like we just had snow last week does it??? I know we are going to pay with the big bugs and all but I sure do like this weather. Springtime is awesome.

I guess Southeast MO had a small earthquake last night. Terry and I felt a little tremor last night and it wasn't us. LOL. When I read it we both were like, we felt something. It was crazy.

Well, I am going to go to bed. I am tired and have to go to work in the morning after 5 days off. Maybe wrote a little more than last night but don't know for sure. Will try and write more tomorrow night. Love all of you.

Gotta go to work Wednesday. Had a nice 5 days off but back at it. Bummer but gotta work since we haven't won the lottery yet. Maybe one of these days.

Nothing much going on. Supposedly we are to be having storms tonight but not sure when. We got some winds and rain earlier but it sounds pretty quiet out right now. I like Spring but hate the springtime storms.

Can't really think of anything to write. this week is going to be a little crazy. going to sign off. Have bible study tomorrow night over James, going to get back into my exercise regime and have a funeral to attend. May take Thursday off, not sure what to do yet.

Will talk to you guys tomorrow.

Family

Okay, between the addiction of Pinerest, Facebook and Words with Friends I'm pretty worthless in the evening. Just looked and thought, crap it's after 9 and I haven't even started a post on my blog. Another addiction but I really need to kick it up one notch. My friend that was going to let me use some WebDesign resources has never came through so guess I am going to have to go out there and find it on my own. The software I'm wanting though is quite expensive but oh well. It will be fine.

Went to church this morning and really enjoyed the series we are going through, family. Between Church family, our own family and whatever other family that you belong to we must...

Build each other up. Edify.

Have spirit of Unity for each other

Accept one another

Instruct and challenge one another

Support one another

Pray for one another

Refresh one another

We were studying Romans 15:1-33 and it was an outstanding lesson.

Came home from church and fixed lunch. David came by with his friend and little girl. That Olivia is a sweetie pie. She is almost 4 and loves her daddy alot. She was just a grinning big time and being a cutie. Had a good lunch and they all left afterwards along with Josh. Terry and I just sat around and rested all afternoon and then he ran to the grocery store to stock up on some more Sugar Free Ice Cream and yes, we did. We had a banana milk shake and it was so good. It was our supper. Then Mr. Josh called me and asked what we were doing. I told him to come on up if he was hungry and we would find something for him to eat. I knew that was what he was wanting because that is the way he rolls. Anyway once he got up here he wasn't that hungry. I said what about a chocolate ice cream shake. He was all over that like a duck on a june bug. He stuck around for a while and just left a little while ago.

Well, I'm going to sign off. We're sitting here watching Frazier reruns. Love that show. Well, talk to you tomorrow.

As I have been sitting here watching Whitney Houston's funeral I was like, why such publicity. Of course we are hungry to watch the rich and famous. If it is through their struggles or through their happiness, we are there "belly up to the bar." There is alot of negitivity speaking in the public about the way the news media has been covering and I was getting a little discourgaed too until a true friend and my favorite Christian singer brought the prespective to my level. "I think those who have only negative to say about Whitney seem to forget that we ALL have a past.... and we all have a future..... Her past was just aired for the entire to world to see and judge." I am like, so true. I have struggled with the same demons that Whitney has struggled with but I was able to break away because of the love of my family, friends and God. Do I still deal with these demons, hell yeah!!! Do I let them take me down, I have before and not that long ago. When your life is going crazy that is when they come around and suck you under but then God brings someone in your life to help you deal with them. Do I pray dailey that God gives me the wisdom and strength to stay away from the demons, let's hear another hell yeah!!! My friend then posted on her Facebook wall as I did too and I am going to use as my statement for the rest of my life

"Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future."

"Everyone may not be good, but there’s always something good in everyone. Never judge anyone shortly because every saint has a past and every sinner has a future. It took me a long time not to judge myself through someone else's eyes. If you find it necessary to judge me by my past, don't be surprised when I find it necessary to put you there." ...taken from Positive Inspirational Quotes

We are human everyone. Don't be so heavenly good you are no earthly account!!!

Mandisa then posted something on her wall that truly touched me too. "On my tour bus w/ my band in Omaha watching Whitney Houston's funeral on CNN.

Will you join me in praying for the millions of people watching Whitney's funeral? Many words will be said & songs will be sung w/ the promise & hope of eternal life in Jesus. May our Father prick their hearts & draw them to Him.

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13 NIV)"

This message that is being sent throughout the world is touching so many right now and bringing some closer to the Lord. There is hope out there for whatever your demons are.

Getting ready for lunch tomorrow. My Great Nephew, David Carver or as I call him David Lee. Love that boy, but anyway him, his daughter and a special friend of his are coming by tomorrow to have Sunday dinner with us. We are having taco's and enchilada's and I will be making a homemade Chocolate Cream Pie for him since I am thinking it is one of his favorites. If not then it is going to end up the joke of the Pistasico (Watergate) Salad we have every Christmas because his Grandma thinks it's his favorite and he hates it!!! LOL. Of course his Grandma is my sister and you know the acorn doesn't fall far from the tree. I am looking forward to meeting this new addition into his life. David, along with all my great nieces and nephew, hold a special place in my heart. I love all them with my heart. Especially Christie and Pat's children because they were around my entire life. My nephew Paul, his children weren't as much a part of our life growing up as the others were. Matt, Sarah and Seth did live across the driveway from my mom and Josh is really close to them because they are his age. My family is a little crazy when it comes to the family tier. Oh well, we're all good though.

Josh came up today and picked up his guitar out of the back of my car. Him and I had ran up to Guitar Center in Independence to see if they could put his strings on. It was going to take a couple of days so he decided to have the older gentleman in Holden do it for him. He picked up a Gibson and started playing it at the store. It was a $2500 piece and I couldn't believe the sound. It was beautiful. I am niave on guitars and figured a guitar was a guitar. Nope, just like piano's. No two are the same. I love going into their piano/keyboard room and play them. I also go in and mess with the synthesisers and all. Makes me think I'm a rockstar!!! LOL. The room where the drums are is extremely impressive too. It's a neat store. Springfield has one too and one of these days I am going to go over there to them. Haven't yet because I always wish I had so many different items. Oh well.

When Josh came over he brought his buddy Justin Courtney. I love that kid, he grew up with us just like Josh's other buddy Trevor. They all were in daycare together when they were little bitty guys and then went to school together. Justin is a tad bit honery but he cracks me up. He is so funny but of course they all are in their own little way. Justin's mom Lisa brought all three of the boys up to the hospital to see Josh when he was in the bus wreck his Junior year. I always liked his mom too. Anyway, it was good seeing him today.

Went to the grocery store today to get stuff for lunch tomorrow and of course the grocery store was busy. We only have two in Harrisonville and I refuse to go to the super Wal-Mart. That place is always nuts. Anyway I have a list of all the stuff I want to get and I pass this man and his wife. Probably in their 40's and he is yelling at her to where everyone else can hear. Making himself look like a doofus but you can tell by the way he is talking he is pretty full of himself. He was like, NO that isn't the way you figure that out....blah, blah, blah. Anyway I move on out of that department to get away from that and when I enter into the meat department I speak to a lady that was looking at fish. I was telling her I really like Swai, and it is really good baked with butter and seasoning. We spoke and then moved on our merry little way. She was a nice lady, looked to be in her 60's or so and you could tell had a hard life. Either bar or just life in general. Anyway, I am moving on and she is in the juice aisle and I hear this doofus talking to her going "Can I help you reach anything lady???" She was like, no. He has a real smug on his face like he's something else and goes back to where his wife and son were. I'm like, I know God has made everyone differently but seriously??? What was the lesson to see that jerk today demean his wife and probably embarass their son and her too. Or maybe not, they may be so use to that that they thought nothing of it. Brought back a memory of when Josh was a little guy and we were somewhere, either Dr's office or store and there was this lady yelling at her children. Josh was watching it and leaned over kissed me and I said "I love you mama". Then he told me he was glad I didn't talk like that to him in public. Never for anyone to hear but I would lean over to that little ear and whisper. Or pinch those little cheeks together and pull him close to my face so he could hear me. LOL. He was a handful.

Been updating all day as happenings happen. Just finished two pies, one fresh strawberry and the other homemade chocolate cream. Terry has been checking in on me all evening. LOL. I fixed supper too and am tired so am going to sign off. Going to church tomorrow and then lunch. Will update all tomorrow. Love you guys and remember....very saint has a past and every sinner has a future. If you need a church home hit me up, I've got an awesome one!!!

Had a wonderful day off. Terry and I went to Blue Springs to the Colonial Nursery to find out what we need to do to our yard. We figured but just to make sure. We are going to need to rent a verti-cutter and run it over the dead places and reseed and put some starter fertilizer on it. Water, water, water. Put straw over it and it should take hold pretty good. We have some dead spots in our grass and I wasn't sure if it was grub worms or what. I am going to do a sales pitch for Colonial Nursery but they are fantastic and so helpful. They are open all year round and there staff are very knowledgeable. In the spring and summer when drive to their nursery the houses along the road have beautiful landscaping. I don't know if it is the owners of the nursery or if the nursery landscapes their homes for advertisement but it is well worth the drive. The nursery is right off 7 highway before you get to the busy part of Blue Springs if you are going north and coming up from Harrisonville.

Before we went to the nursery we were going to go to Golden Corral to eat because my husband LOVES volume food. LOL. Anyway, I wasn't aware that the one in Blue Springs had closed down and they moved to Independence right off Blue Parkway. Anyway, we ran up there because I told him I would buy lunch this go around. It was good as it always is but I'm not real crazy about smorgasboard but as I said, my husband loves it and it was his treat. :o)

Finished up my bible study and really enjoyed it. Well, not finished it but finished the week I was behind. Our church is having a Women's Ministry meeting the 25th of this month at 6:30 and anybody and everybody is invited. We have a member of our church that is going to culinary school and needs to get in some crazy amount of time like 600 hours or something of cooking and internship. Anyway she is going to prepare a wonderful dinner for the women of the church. She is fixing Chicken Alfredo, garlic bread, salad and dessert. She will show us how to make the Alfredo sauce from scatch and also give us the recipe. There will be lots of fellowship and fun had by all. If anyone would like to come please feel free to either email me at hastig1_@hotmail.com or on Facebook we have a open group and just click join and it will count you in. We need a count of people ASAP. The 25th is coming up faster then I thought. :o(

Also I am going to get a group together to go see Beth Moore. She is going to be at the Municipal Auditorium April 13, 14 and will be well worth the experience. It will be an event where you bring your bible and a notebook. Let me know if you would like to be included in this too.

Well, I am going to sign off. It was a good day. I like days like this.

Much better

Feeling alot better today and feeling blessed, so there you go. The demons tried to take me down but just couldn't quite do it!!! Bah-ha-ha-ha!!! I'm back stronger and a better person for it all. Legend in my own mind!!! :o)

Today is my Friday and I don't have to be back to work until next Wednesday. The hubby and Lamar are going to get tired of me but I really don't think so.

I had some stuff to run up here in this area because I am helping the Northwest District (my old office) since they are so short staffed, so I came home yesterday from Columbia. If you remember a few blogs ago I told you Terry saw a bobcat in the field behind the house a few weeks ago. Well last night we heard it. We were in bed and it was late but when they say it sounds like a woman screaming, that is exactly what it sounds like. Lamar heard it but he didn't bark like he usually does, he got under the covers. The cats didn't even make a sound like they do when they know the stray mama cat is outside. It was freaky sounding and makes us concerned about letting Lamar out to potty at night when it is dark. He'd just be an appetizer.

Well, I am going to sign off. Not to much happening and as usual, I need to catch up on my bible study but will this weekend. Anyway before I have to go to the reading this week. :o) Well, goodnight all.

Not Good

Really wierd mood going on tonight. Not sure why unless it is because I was in training all day and drove 3 hours after I got done. Weather has been crazier than crazy around here, rain and thunderstorms today. Oh well.

While I was in Columbia last night and today I realized why I am glad I live in a small town. I work in a larger town but am content as all get out to work in Springfield. I know it is because I am not use to Columbia but am glad I don't have to work there all the time. I had to run a couple of HIV cases there and it was crazy. Not really crazy but like I said earlier, I am in a wierd mood and am tired of working. :o) I know, cry baby, cry baby, cry, cry, cry!!!

Not much happening so am going to make this short. Am going to go to bed early and maybe will wake up in the morning in a better mood. Good night all.

Happy Valentine's Day

Well, today was a prettier day than yesterday was and most of the snow has melted. It reached around 42* today with the sun, as I said. It was cold though and you needed a coat. They are saying that there is a 100% chance of rain and thunderstorms tomorrow. Snow yesterday and storms tomorrow. Only in the Midwest can this be a fact.

Had to work today, should have been my day off but that is okay because I am taking Friday off for the switch. Busy morning and busy afternoon. Am running a couple of cases in Columbia. My co-worker told me to call Kansas City Health Department to find out about one of my cases. When I worked in the Independence office I had several friends there but one in particular has always been a good friend, no matter what. Tynisha has always been my buddy and I found out she is a stalker on here too. I'm getting quite a few of those. Maybe I should get a stalker club going on. LOL. Everytime I turn around someone says, I read your blogs. I'm like cool, I didn't have a clue. Glad they don't take anything I say personal because it isn't directed to any one person. As my mom always said "That's one man's opinion." My opinion is not anything to take to the heart. It's just the way I feel about something, don't take it personal. Not that Tynisha does, she blows off half the stuff I write and say. LOL. She's cool, you guys would like her!!!

Anyway, spent the evening tonight with a fellow co-worker that I use to work with in Independence. Him and his spouse have a new grandbaby and the baby has alot of problems. Right now as we speak the baby is in The Children's Hospital in Arkansas. The baby's name is Matthew Meadors. Please remember him along with his brothers, sisters, mama, daddy and grandparents. The little guy is going to need alot of prayers.

That said reminds me of an earlier post I have done, don't feel sorry for yourself and how bad you have it because so many have it so much worse then you do. I know I am guilty of doing that and then I am like, thank goodness I don't have the worries of all the others. Please remember this baby.

It's getting late and I am going to go to bed. I didn't get a thing done tonight because of going out and eating supper and then messing around on this dang thing. I don't know when I think I will get my reading done when I am messing on here half the night. LOL. Talk to you guys later.

VD is around the corner

We got the weather today that they were talking about. I woke up this morning, looked out the living room window towards the field behind us and it was beautiful. The snow was falling and everything was a lovely white. Of course it was lovely because I didn't have to get out in it and neither did Terry. As a mom I was concerned about Josh because I knew he would have to be out in it but was hoping he didn't have to drive. He called me today to make sure I didn't have to go back to Springfield today and said that he didn't drive. I was glad. We got out in it this afternoon though and it was a very wet, cold snow and slushy. Suppose to warm up tomorrow though and be pretty much gone.

Terry and I ended up exchanging our Valentine's tonight and I got a chocolate/carmel candy apple from Russell Stovers. It was fantastic or as Terry says, "Outstanding". :o) I also got the cutest little card with a Yorkie on it and he hand wrote after the verse in it "Will you be my Valentine?" It makes me smile when I see it. It's cool. I gave him a card along with earphones for his radio I bought him. I had bought him a radio a couple of weeks ago because he loves to listen to talk radio after his ball games. Whether it be football or baseball. It sits right next to his chair and I have been thinking about getting him some earphones and figured that would be the best VD gift for right now. Especially since he is Type 2 Diabetes and does not need sweets. He loves them, he is sitting over in his recliner right now with his earphones on listening to YouTube songs. LOL. I told him I was getting him set up for the baseball season. He cracks me up!!!

Read some of my bible study today while Terry went to the coffee shop. I go to Columbia tomorrow, spend the night, go to a class and then come home. I plan to catch up on the Book of James then. Today was a really good read though. Basically it was saying be good to the poor and do what you can for them. We will always have the poor around and if you mock them or do them ill health God will condemn you for your actions. I have always tried to give them money when I see them if I have money to give. People tell me that I shouldn't because they are making more money then us. How do you know that??? How do you know that they have tried to find a job but haven't been able to. Are they generational or situational homeless??? Who are you to judge???

Like I said, I am going to Columbia tomorrow. Hope the roads will be good but think they will. It all pays the same and I am one day closer to retirement. :o) It will all be good. We are watching the KU/K State game, well I am Terry is on the comuter. That Jeff Withey from KU must be about 6'5", he's one tall kid. I don't like the way that K State coach was talking to the boys. He was yelling at them in their face. Oh well, that's a mother talking. I never pay much attention through the game to know enough about the players and such. I have a friend that can talk sports better than some men I know. She's impressive. Course she's pretty cool in my book too.

Going to sign off from here guys. I will talk to you later and love you all.

Grammys Rocked

Welp, no blogging tonight. Had to watch the Grammy's and loved them. Some wierd, some outstanding and am glad Adele made a clean sweep. I really like her. Bless the Beach Boys hearts, they are back at the "home" sound asleep. Poor Brian Wilson, he kept forgetting to sing and stuff. He looked pitiful. Glen Campbell rocked, Jennifer Hudson did an outstanding job with Whitney's song. LL Cool J said a prayer before the show that was fabulous. There was a really wierd gal that sang Exorcist Roman crap that gave me the creeps. Lady Gaga had a fruit net over her face all night long but liked the homeless lady look better than the satanic wierd lady. Sir Paul McCartney out did himself but one more time.

Snow may be coming tonight and then again it may not. Said it was going to be slick in the morning but who knows about that. I am tired. Josh came today and we had a lunch that rocked. Went to church and so many were gone today because of sickness.

Going to go to bed. Goodnight everyone.

RIP Whitney

Had another great day. Had breakfast with a dear, dear friend and visited with her into the afternoon. Then messed around the house all day and went this evening and had coffee with some other dear, dear friends. Gots me alot of dear, dear friends. LOL. You all are dear, dear friends so there ya go!!! Had a very, very nice day.

So sad about Whitney Houston, what a talent to have had lost at such an early age. Drugs have taken so many lives and we don't know at this point if that was what took her, but it's pretty much what everyone figures. Those demons are with you for the rest of your life. It is a daily warfare and I don't know what those that don't have God in their lives do when they try to quit. They say when you join AA or NA to fake it until you make it. God is your strength. The saddest part about all this is Bobby Brown alive/Whitney Houston dead. :'o( It's not fair and makes me so sad.

Another cold night outside. Supposedly 4* tonight. 100% chance of snow on Monday so we may still get snow before it's all over. I don't care as long as we don't get any ice. Hate that ice BIGTIME.

Well, I am not going to write much again tonight. Plan to read my lesson after I post and if not in the morning I am going to be reading 3 lessons. :o) It's all good. I will talk to you guys tomorrow. Stay warm for those of you that need to. Good night, SNL is on and gotta watch it.

It's Cold

The wind is blowing 90 to nothing and the temperature is to get down to 7*. I can honestly say it is bone chilling. Man. We have been so lucky and not gotten this cold weather or snow that some parts have gotten but just between you and I, I still like the hot summer time. I wasn't one of those complaining about it being hot, I'd weather have summer than winter but am so glad we do have the changing of the seasons. It's nice.

Sorry but I am probably not going to get my lesson read tonight. I was so tired driving home today that I had to stop and get out twice. Once in Osceola and then again in Clinton. I made it without a problem but was not sure how things were going to turn out. Not sure why I was so tired this morning but it could be because the last few evenings I have been up until 11-1130 and that is late for me. I get up at 5 and I need at least 8 hours of sleep.

Terry and I went out and had supper at my all time favorite restaurant in the whole wide world. Donna's Diner with the grilled tenderloin. Coming home Terry stopped off and bought a couple of powerball tickets. He said that the powerball was up to $310 million. I can't imagine. By the time everything is taken out you would be left with $100 million. Yeah, I could live off that!!!

Well, I am tired and am going to go to bed and snooze away. Talk to you guys tomorrow. Goodnight.

Just Ask!!!

Laura, my co-worker and I did a presentation today at an alternative school for court appointed girls. It was WAY out in the hills and the hollars of Christian County. Just past the town of Chadwick MO. If that town sounds familiar that is where the story Winter's Bone was filmed and let me tell you. There were a few homes along that long, winding road that I wouldn't want to have to knock on their doors and I can only imagine the homes off the beaten path. The Alternative School sits in the middle of Mark Twain National Forest and it is beautiful in the middle of this forest but I would not want to have to get there in the winter when there is snow and ice.

The girls we spoke with first had been learning about STDs and reproductive system and they were awesome. I had them make posters and present to the class. They did great and had great questions. The second group hadn't been studying STDs and didn't know as much as the first group did and had alot of questions. Remember, I said these girls were all teenagers and the courts have appointed them to be at this school. They get their GEDs and learn skills that they would never learn at home, if they even have a home. One girl her adopted parents were giving up custody of her and she was just waiting for a foster family to take her. How sad is that??? I can't imagine, these girls by just seeing them on the streets you would think that they were just normal teenagers with a loving home. Statistics say that 1 out of 3 girls will not end up in the justice system. How terrible.

I don't know what the answer is but if people like Laura and I come out and talk to them and they talk to us, maybe it would give them something to think about. We could do a job like that. One homeless teen boy came up to Laura and I and asked how he could learn to draw blood, he wanted to be a phlebotomist. He was with an organization in Springfield that help homeless youth get off the streets, get a job, get their GED and stop the cycle they are in. He was working a McDonald's and we told him what he needed to do. Get his GED, apply at the Technical School in Springfield and he could do anything he wants. I am not sure if this young man did it or not but we planted the seed in his head, you can do it if you want.

Today, one young lady. She was cute as all get out asked "If my dad has an STD can I get it too." My heart sank. She was being sincere. There was one in there that was just trying to get attention and was asking some of the craziest questions but this little girl was serious. I told her yes, if you are having unprotected sex anyone can be exposed to an STD. Wow. Tore me up.

All I can do is pray for wisdom for when I go back in 4 months and talk to a new set of girls, that I have the right thing to say to help these girls protect themselves out in the world from STDs. Weather they sell their bodies for money, get into drugs and that scene or whatever they do once they leave. If I can plant a seed in just one person, that is good. Protect yourself!!! Spread the word, not the infection.

Well, with that all said, I just read my Day Two, Week Two study of James. We studied James 1:5-8. Wisdom, Just Ask!!! We reviewed verse 4..."Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." With that said we jumped into 5-8...

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him. 6)But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt because he who doubts is like a wave of the Sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7)That man should not think he will recieve anything from the Lord, 8)he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."

Basically, what I got out of this is ask for wisdom from the bottom of your heart. Whether you are having problems with your children, step children, parents, step parents, in laws, problems in relationships, your business is going belly up or even your neighborhoods aren't safe anymore. What ever your problem is you need God's wisdom NOW, not man's. You need to ask God. I bolded the parts of the verse that struck out to me. The one in verse 8 where it says if the man asks and then has doubts he is a double-minded man. She mentions in the study that that is someone that is indecisive and can't make up his mind. He is unstable and that made me smile. I am not as bad as I use to be but I can be extremely indecisive. Basically, you just have to Believe and be patient. God will answer our prayers.

Well, I've written another book. I had a good day today and it was different. Tomorrow I get to go home to my husband and I can't wait. I love going home to him and Lamar and Tux and Pouncer. I talk to Josh every day just about as well as Brandon but when I see my husband....I'm all happy.

Talk to you guys tomorrow night. Remember, Just Ask.

Put some Spunk in your Trunk.

Reading day one of week two in the Book of James or as Beth Moore says "The Book of Jimmy". That girl cracks me up. Anyway we studied James 1:1 last week and this week James 1:2-4. How the heck we are going to finish this study in 7 weeks is beyond me. But I am sure we will. Thank goodness there are only 5 chapters in that book.

2)Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds. 3)because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4)Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Pretty powerful stuff when you disect it out where it makes since. I learned to do that when I worked in the Tax Office and was reading the new laws. It was like reading Greek but when I thought about each word and what that word means it made alot more sense to me.

Basically what James is saying is be thankful for all your trials and tribulations. Instead of using the word consider, replace that with "Feel". "Feel pure joy my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds." Consider is more of a thought, not an emotion like feel. I know with myself I relate to emotions better than I do words or thoughts. I like that transition in the phrase and it brings it home more so to me.

Our trials and tribulations can strip us, beat us up, abandon us and leave us half dead. Just exhausted and feeling bruised and bloody. At times we feel so exhausted and demoralized by a dark difficulty, whatever it is, that we can't imagine going on. Trials are robbers, takers, thieves if we allow them to be. They can steal your security, dignity, dreams and sometimes your spouse or friends. If you're with Christ though, trials don't get to steal unless we let them.

Then we get into perseverance. What is that??? I looked up on dictionary.com and clicked on thesaurus and some of the words were backbone, determination, drive, endurance, guts, persistence, spunk. Yep, that about sums it up to me. Put a little spunk in your trunk and you can get through this. LOL.

One part at the end of the study asked 3 things I could do to make my trials that I deal with better. This was my response. 1)Obey James 1:2. 2)Give it to God. 3)Rejoice in what I am going through and thank God for all my Trials and Tribulations with the same feeling and rejoice in my heart as when I have an answered prayer.

Just remember in Romans5:1-5. I'm not going to write it, you have to read it but basically what it says is no one is righteous and we all need help. God has provided that help in his son Jesus and with that makes peace with us. God does not condemn those who are in Christ. AMEN!!!

Good night everybody. I've kinda switched gears because my life is so boring. Get up, go to work, come home, sometimes fix supper, sometimes don't and then go to bed. Of course stay on this dang thing all night. TV is boring me BIG TIME. It's stupid so I decided to join this group and now I am going to talk about my readings. There ya go. Put that one in your pipe and smoke it. LOL.

Love you guys!!! Here's another of my favorite singers and I had an opportunity to hear her at the Women of Faith Conference last fall. Miss Mandisa!!!

Mercy Triumphs

Went to the bible study tonight and the leader definately has the gift to teach!!! She was so good. The study is on the Book of James and is led by Beth Moore. If you have never heard of her or heard her teachings, she is fantastic. So funny and real. Read about her at Beth Moore

I missed the first week which was last week but it was okay because they went over what they read. One of the statements in our book that truly hit home was "The power of the resurrection trumps the power of the past if we're willing to let it." One of the tools Satan uses to keep us from following God and doing His work, is our sins of the past. You can't do that because you aren't worthy, you don't know what you are talking about half the time, you know they are going to only laugh and ridicule you if you do that. Philippians 3:13-14 is a verse that I have highlighted in my bible in the past and tonight our leader told us to use this sripture to fight Satan. It goes as such,
13)Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. 14)I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Amen. Forget about your past, your Sins, God has forgiven them and he wants nothing more then to have you fulfill his plan for you because God protects His plan and His will in your life so you will carry out his plan for you.

I am really going to like this book of James. James was Jesus' half brother and he parroted the teachings of his older brother. James draws straight from Jesus' teaching more so than any other New Testament author. I will keep you guys updated weekly of the study. I love it.

I am going to bed. It is past 11 and I am tired. I will write more tomorrow night, maybe. I may go to the family night in Osceola for my past teacher, Mrs. Jones that passed away. If I do it will be another short one tomorrow too. Oh well. Talk to you guys later.

Believe

Today as I was driving down here to Springfield, I wanted to listen to something that was nothing about the negitivity in the world today. Nothing to do with politics, nothing to do with killing, stealing, beating or any of the other sinful natures that the news media seems hard pressed to talk to us about. Friday when I was going home I was trying to find a Christian channel on the radio. My Sirrus radio, I will have to tell you that story later....blond moment there with the radio ordeal. Anyway, my Christian station on Sirrus has either moved is no longer on there and I can't find one. I turned to FM but didn't want to listen to commercials and talk. I wanted to listen to music or nothing so I turned it off and drove in silence. Just me and my thoughts.

Anyway, today as I was driving down here I turned to KLOVE and listened to it and it helped me with my drive. I love to listen to Christian music, it puts me in a good mood and some of the music is fantastic. One of my favorite groups is Third Day. I love that raspy voice of the lead singer, Mac Powell. This is one of my favorite songs of theirs.



Anyway, as I was driving, the DJs were talking about how life is always going to be a trial but the way that you handle the trial is entirely up to you. It is your choice. If you want to wallow in self pity with how terrible you have it or if you want to change it. Made me think about my life in the past and I am so guilty of wallowing in self pity but refuse to do so anymore. My attitude is up to me, not my situation!!! When you let the situation govern your attitude and the way you handle something, you are sitting yourself up for failure. Call upon God, He loves you and wants you to be successful in your walk with Him. Yesterday I posted something on Facebook that was on a friends wall, I loved it so much and am going to try and live by it.
"On this day, God wants you to know... that prayer is not a ritualized mumbling of words but a song of thanksgiving or a dance of praise; it is anguished cries or pleas from a yearning heart. If your prayer has no emotion, it has no power. God wants to know how you feel. God wants to hear what's in your heart!!!" All I can say is AMEN!!!

I talked to an old classmate tonight via e-mail and he told me that the women in his church have just started a women's Bible study on Tuesday nights. It's the new Beth Moore study of the book of James. I'm going to start going tomorrow night, and am excited. Billy Joe (now he goes as Bill but he will always be Billy Joe to me) is a preacher in the church and is an awesome young man. He lived across the creek from us in the country growing up and then he moved into town with his parents. We would play as children and he was honery as all get out. He is an awesome person and I am excited to reunite with him and his wife now that I am down here. She is a special lady in his life and can tell I already love her as much as I do him!!! Anyway I am looking forward to the study.

I was getting my bible Sunday to take to church because I have my study bible down here. As I was pulling out the bulletins I saw where we had a sutdy on John 3:16. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Come to me and I will make you fishers of men. What we need to know to be a good christian is that God loved the world, He gave His son for us. All we need to do is believe and trust in him and we will recieve eternal life. His free gift to us. That's pretty cool, isn't it??? That is what we need to do to have eternal life.

Then before leaving church yesterday there were pages on the table for bible study. Lead as Jesus Led. Week one is Influence. The Memory Verse is 2 Timothy 2:2. Read it, Think it, Pray it, Live it. It speaks of leading. Interesting. One point it makes is a leader is not so much the kind of person who has a particular kind of postion as it is a kind person who has a particular kind of dispostion. Awesome.

I'm heading out guys and will write more tomorrow. I love you all and hope you love me as much as I love you!!! Good night. Blessed Assurance is another of my favorite songs and Third Day does it justice.

The Underdog became the Top Dog!!!

Watching the Super Bowl. Josh was here earlier but he partook in to much pat-tay last night and had to go home. To tired, headache and food wasn't tasting so good. So glad I am past that stage in my life. I remember it well though.

Have loved the commercials just like every year. Clint Eastwood was bad ass!!! Was a great message. In case you missed it,


It rocked as well did the Betty White Commercial along with the Dorito's where the Grandma slinged shot the baby across the yard to steal the Doritos from the brat. Lots of good ones and some not so good.

Madonna kicked it on the half time show too. I was telling Josh that she was the Lady Gaga at the time!!! He goes, Madonna is old, what is she in her 40's??? I'm like probably but had to smile when he said how "old" she was.

An icon from Lowry City has passed away, our history teacher Mrs. Jones. She taught my brother too and he was 18 years older than me so she was there for a while. I remember when she taught us we thought she was old and now that I am thinking she was probably in her late 40's or 50's. She was 93 when she passed away today, I remember at one of our all school reunions she stood up when she turned 90 and said I am finally the age all my students thought I was when I was teaching. She was an icon in our era. RIP Helen Jones, you brought us all into our next generation of life!!!

Well, am going to sign off once again. Nothing much going on. As Josh said tonight, I'm just not feeling it!!!

Way to go Giants!!!

Football

Watching the KU/MU game. It's a real nail biter. They are playing hard, one of the many reasons I love watching college basketball more so than professional. Wish my attention span could stay with sports enough so I could know something about it except just a little here and a little there. Oh well. That's the way I roll and always will. When Terry and I were first together we were watching the Chiefs at his house. I had fallen asleep because football I really don't care for. Anyway, I was wanting to make him think I knew a little about it and in my stooper I heard the announcer say something about royal. I woke up enough to say, "I love them Royals!!! They're playing good." LOL. Wrong team there buckshot and wrong time of year. Terry just laughed and said it is the Chiefs that are playing.

We ran up to the new casino tonight. I lost my wealth real fast. A big $20 and didn't have it long at all. Found $2 in my coat pocket and played it in nothing flat also. Terry didn't win anything either and we left, coming home to a couple of Banana/Strawberry Sugar Free Shakes. A friend told me to try some almond milk next time and I meant to pick some up at the store today and forgot. I'm thinking that will make a pretty good milk shake. Yummm.

All in all I had a pretty good day today. Woke up and went to pick Josh up so he could get some gear oil for his truck. The rear end axle went out and him and friend put it in last night. He needed to put the oil in so I told him I'd take him. We ran to the auto part store in Harrisonville and I saw one of the "girl's night out" girls there. Lisa cracks me up, love her to death. Then when I took Josh back to GC I ran to the grocery store. Spent $150 but saved $50 so feel pretty good about all that. Then came home, made spaghetti and Josh came up to eat. Then got cleaned up and went to the casino and we were home by 7pm. Going to watch Saturday Night Live tonight and will go to church tomorrow. Am planning to have roast pork for lunch tomorrow with a pick the behind salad. I got all kinds of good salad makings. Probably will be a quiet day tomorrow too but of course CANNOT wait for Super Bowl. You are saying, "what??? I thought you didn't like football???" Well I don't and don't really care who wins but I absolutely LOVE the Superbowl commercials. Don't even care about Madonna at halftime either. Oh well.

Well, going to go. Later gaters and hey Steve....Go MIZZOU!!!

Hee, Hee, Hee, Hee, Hee, Haw. Hee Haw!!!

We have finally got the rain we have been needing. Of course driving home I really didn't want to drive in such torrential rains. In Clinton it was thunder and lightening and there were times that I could hardly see where I was driving. Didn't start until I got about Humansville. We got a little shower this morning in Springfield but nothing like this rain I was driving in. Once I got home though, it had slowed down considerably. Terry said that it had poured all day though so I was probably driving through that storm. Brandon called me once I got home and he said it was raining hard now in Springfield. We truly have been needing it and it is a blessing. Just glad it was in the 40's and not the 20's. Would rather have rain then ice. Snow would be okay as long as it wasn't sticking to the road. One of those cold days that the show blows right off the road and doesn't stick to the car.

As some of you know, that have been following these blogs, I have been making banana smoothies and my husband has loved them. Well, tonight he bought some banana's, milk and sugar free vanilla ice cream. Yep, that's right. He's upping the ante a little. He said, I thought you might want to whip up some dessert sometime this weekend. Since he brought it home tonight I figured he wanted a milkshake so I made him one. Man, it was good. He kept saying, "Man this is outstanding." :o) Him and Brandon appreciate whenever I make anything for them. Josh does too but I'm mom and with him he always says, "You've done it but one more time mom. You've outdone yourself!!!"

Lamar got his haircut today and looks so cute when he is all manicured. Smells good too. They had put a little scarf around him with hearts on it. He was so glad to get that thing off and his collar back on. Terry said once he was home Lamar just shook his fur rubbing up against the furniture and rug. He's such a goof troop.

Welp, I'm signing off. Talk to you tomorrow.

Justa Rambling

Not to much to talk about tonight. Just sitting around and relaxing or chillaxing as some would say. I haven't exercised as much as I wanted to this week. After the two weeks of being so sick, it's kinda slowed down. I should have gone tonight but didn't.

Ticked off at Susan G. Komen for not giving Planned Parenthood any funding. Planned Parenthood is a wonderful organization and not all of them do abortions. For those of you that think that, really need to educate yourself further. They are a well women clinic for the underinsured. Not only do they have lifesaving breast cancer screenings and breast health education for low-income women, many located in rural and underserved communities, they also test and treat STD's, they do pap smears, test for cervical cancer, check for chlorestrol, blood pressure, i could go on and on. Do I believe in abortion, no. Do I think they should make abortions illegal, no. I believe that a woman should be educated on the emotional and scaring effect that abortions have on them but I believe it should be her choice.

I'm watching the Public Television down here in Springfield called Ozark Public Television (OPT) and they are doing a show on Ozark Bluegrass Music and there is nothing like it. I love learning about our culture, listening to the music and seeing the beautiful scenery of the Ozarks. I have lived many places in my life but there is nowhere like here in MO in my eyes. I love Arkansas' scenery also. You know, I talk about what a wonderful era I grew up in. The small town life and growing up in a small school but I wonder what it was like growing up in the hills of the Ozarks during our era. I wonder if it was a simpler life then what we lived??? I can't imagine it was but maybe it was.

The Darlings on the Andy Griffith show was a Missouri born group, the Dillards from Salem MO. Thats cool. I didn't realize that at all. I always loved that show and still love the reruns. That Barney Fife was a mess, wasn't he??? And Otis. What was the name of the guy that was nuttier then a fruit cake. Ernest T Webb. Was that his name??? I can't remember but like I said, I loved that show with a passion. Good memories. My dad loved that show and the Beverly Hillbillies also. Of course that makes me think of Gomer Pyle USMC and Petticoat Junction. "There's Uncle Joe, He's a moving kinda slow, at the Junction....Petticoat Junction."

While I'm watching this show on OPT it reminds me of a movie I watched a few years back, "The Song Catcher". I loved that movie and it still is one of my favorites about a young lady that went into the hills of the Appalachian Mountains to study the music. The era was in the early 1900's. If you ever get a chance to watch the movie I highly recommend it if you like mountain music. There is something about that music that makes me feel good. I remember my Grandma Thompson sitting in her living room infront of her radio listening to this music in the early 60's. She would be well into her 100's if she was still alive today so this is the music she grew up with.

Well, I'm going to sign off and finish watching this show. I will talk to you guys tomorrow.

Technology Ticks Me Off

I really don't know which is ticking me off more, my phone or my computer!!! Sometimes it doesn't pay for me to try to be up to date on this technology stuff because once I feel like I have learned it, it is time for an upgrade. I am trying to cripple with my phone until this December so I can get my free upgrade which is dangerously close to being obsolete itself. Then I was talking to some of the girls at work and I am almost sold on getting a Kindle Fire. It sounds like a fun toy but not sure if it is what I need in a computer though. I am thinking though that my next computer is going to be a desktop instead of a laptop, but of course I would love to have one of those fancy dancy IPad's. Those are awesome but dang, not sure if I want to drop a house payment for one!!! Oh well, if I want to stay up to date guess I should just keep dreaming and looking. Anyway, my phone is making me mad tonight because it freezes up all the time and this dang computer has been doing the same. Was playing Words with Friends and couldn't get it to do what I want it to do so decided to go off into the blogging world.

Went to Barnes and Noble tonight because I have a gift certificate from Christmas there. I love, love, love bookstores. Border's use to be my favorite but since they went 10 toes up and closed all their stores I am stuck with BN. They are fine, I just liked Borders better. Anyway I went waddling into the computer section and was looking at WebDesign and blogging books. Have decided I need to go the next step up and get the DreamWeaver software and play around with that. I have some close, close friends that do WebDesign and they will answer any questions I should have, just wish they lived closer to me, like next door. LOL. Anyway, I'm moving up a notch. Of course there is a chunk of change for that software. Why isn't anything cheap???

Speaking of why isn't anything cheap I ran to KMart tonight and picked up a bottle of Tide, box of Bounce, toothpaste, tweezers and a mirror along with those dental floss toothpicks and rang up $54.00. Sure glad I didn't buy anything that wasn't necessary but of course now I'm wishing I hadn't bought the mirror and tweezers. Nothing like splurging on yourself there. Crap.

Got my new glasses today. I love them and can see once again without eye strain. Gave Brandon a hard time tonight at supper and asked if he noticed them, of course with him being a male he didn't but he tried to cover up real fast. Said they really looked good on me. LOL.

Terry and I are planning on running up and checking out the new casino this weekend at the NASCAR track. It's called the Hollywood Casino. I'm a real high roller, got my $20 that I will play and an extra $10 if I'm feeling real froggy. Terry enjoys gambling and he is one of the luckiest people I have ever set my eyes on. When we were in Tunica, Brandon and Josh kept walking past him and rubbing their hands on his back for luck. LOL. Needless to say it didn't work for either one of them.

Today's weather was absolutely beautiful. Still needed a jacket because the wind was cool but it was like 64*. I love that weather but we are going to pay for it one way or the other and I would truly rather have the correct season for the correct time of year. Even though I do not want ice, I hate ice with a passion!!!

Well, going to sign off. Laura, my co-worker and I are heading to Rolla tomorrow so may have something to write about then. Talk to you guys later.