So what is it about Christmas and all the work I need to be doing that makes me want to blog? I think some would call it procrastination! But I'll call it the season to share. This will be a quiet Christmas, only the Jackson kids will be here on Christmas day. The St Louis family will be down the day before so we'll celebrate Christmas on the 24th. We had puppies at the house today so freakin cute. I'll show pictures. Merry Christmas to anyone out there reading this. Although I'm pretty sure this is for my eyes only.  

A joyous New Year to all

Yes we know  bigger rug and wall art.  Just playing now. Also I have a topper for the top of the curtains to bring them up to the crown molding.  

Kitchen with new backsplash and granite countertop. We were going to paint white, but now we're thinking let the next owners do that if they so desire. And sure we'll put the doors back on, what do you think we are? Savages?     What would you do, white or not?

So much time has passed by since I've written. We are still here.  The sons are still two in Missouri and two out of state.
We now are a two home owner. Hopefully not for too much longer.  We are busy fixing up both houses.  Mark is soooo busy. The house will be great when we are through and then we will put it on the market.  That is when we will really work on the new house.   I guess we are gluttons for punishment.

New House-   will have grass this spring!

Its almost Christmas again.  Makes me miss the two men that are States away.  Love to Brian & family on Long Island and Zach and family in Texas.  So that is what makes Christmas so melancholy for many people.  I am grateful we still have two Missouri sons, and savor the holidays we can all spend together. 

We had puppies at the house today!  I would love one but not the work that comes along with them.  I guess it's like Grandchildren, I can play with them and love on them but not have work.  Just the same they are awfully cute.  Did I lie?   Mix miniature cocker spaniel and shiatsu.

Aud loved them.  She especially loved the one named angel but mom and dad liked Tipper.

Tipper is on her lap.

that's my DIL who is five months pregnant with her 3rd child.   Just started showing.  Mark and I think it's another girl.  Time will tell.

Christie does Audrey's hair

Wedding in the Grand Cayman's

Zach and Elizabeth----Best Wedding Ever!

http://www.thecreativeconnectionevent.com/

THE ADVENTURES OF ELIZABETH

There is a blog I enjoy called The Adventures of Elizabeth.  She lives in St Louis and had a store I went to with my daughter-in-law.  I loved it.  Went back there and it was gone.  I hated that.   But she has gone on to be in magazines so I guess it was a good move on her part.  The button on the sidebar came from her blog.

February is for Thinking

And I'm thinking of making two dresses for Grandgirls to wear at Z's wedding in the Grand Caymans this June.  I'm thinking something in white with blue embrodery on the yolk.  Now I need to get in gear to try this out on my soon to be DIL.  I'm going white cause I like it on little girls but mostly because so does /Elizabeth and it's her wedding.  We are all looking forward to it so much.  How much weight can be lost in the following months?   I'm thinking if I only started now I could drop 20.  That would be sweet.  I will post the dresses when they are finished.  I will have to make my own pattern cause I can't find any I really like. And I want french seams cause the girls are so sensitive about rough tags and anything scratchy.  And I just like them better.    I will start on this tomorrow, cause tonight is GLEE with Audrey.

January is flying by, What the hell?

normally January is slow going. Crap that means I'm old and it doesn't matter all months have been shortened to what the hell happened to the time. I thought I had more time. Now do I cut my hair? buy a sweat suit, trade in my sports car?  Naaaaaaaaaah, not yet.  I'm leaving middle age kicking and screaming. I don't mind the digits, it is all that goes with it.  I'm sore, tired, cranky, and that's a good day!   No just kidding, I'm having a great time.  I did hurt my siatic nerve and that seems old. But I refuse to give up.  Now let me tell you about the grandkids.............   Did I tell you how slow January is going? ............  ha!

New Year

2011, who would have thought it?  I am kind of disappointed at the lack of progress we've made in that time. I don't mean me personally, I think I mean you.  No jet packs, flying cars, traveling to different planets, and pictures phones a la Jetsons. Oh wait, we totally have picture phones, we skyped to our Grands on Long Island last night. Now we just need the masks like..what was George Jetson's wife's name?  Meet George Jetson, Jane his wife, daughter Judy, his son Elroy, and crap, now I can't remember the dogs name. Anyway Jane put on this mask that she had with makeup on and hair done to talk on the phone.  If I could figure out a way to do that, I could make a fortune! Oh yea, and we haven't gotten rid of greed.

Christmas Decorations 2010

I'm hopeless

I finally managed to do something in a timely manner. I made bracelets with the names of the children of my daughter-in-laws.  Then I looked and I misspelled one of the names and made the other bracelet a little too small.  Do over!  In time for Christmas? Probably not. 

One of my husbands employees is retiring this Thursday.  The retiree gave Mark and the other officers a $30 gift certificate to Olive Garden.  Wow, he's leaving and he is giving gifts?  What a guy.  Mark said he will probably take him to lunch.  Maybe Olive Garden!!!!!!   Mark is funny.

PC COORDINATOR

That is me, a pc coordinator.  I feel like with that title I should be arranging and  rearranging pc's to go with other computers.  Instead I supervise two workers that are doing a fantastic job.  Way to make me look good guys!   Just got a call from my boss that a user needs something, he's not sure, it was change something  for an accelerator and do another thing, he wasn't sure.  I called and the guy has dual monitors and wants the number 1 monitor to be number 2 and the number two monitor to be the number 1.  Wow, there is a college degree that is being questioned.

It's December again

so last week it was September and now it's December.  Why does that always happen? Every year it takes me by surprise.  Time please slow down, I'm not ready.  I have to mail off packages to New York, and finish what I need for here, and find something for my guy in Texas.  Oh yea, and there is the job. I think I'll get back to that.

New York, NY

We spent the last week on Long Island and went to NYC on Sunday.  We didn't get too much further than Times Square, Bryant Park area.  Which reminded my son of a TV show where the quote was "there is more to NY than Times Square".  Ok, we will discover it slowly.

Clutter abounds

I was looking at the blog  Adventures in Renovating a Brooklyn Limestone and posted a comment about her table centerpiece.  And it got me thinking about the clutter around my house.  I love my "stuff", but it may be time to clean slate things up a bit.  I took a picture of #4 son who was in from Texas with his lovely girlfriend, and all I can concentrate on is the clutter above the cupboard.  Tomorrow it is gone!!!

GRANDS ARE THE BEST

Four year old Audrey "you never hit"   Me, "no, Grandma's don't hit, but we do say don't do that"
Audrey "grandpa is a hitter"    Me, "no, way!"   Audrey "he keeps spankings in his pocket"   Me "in his pocket?" Has he taken spankings out of his pocket for you?"   Audrey "no, only for the boys,  I think it's just his hands"
 

It's summertime in Missouri. The weather hasn't been so bad, which leaves me to believe bad times are coming. I'm like the abused wife that if things are good, I'm waiting for the punch. But I'm not an abused wife, at all. I knew an abused wife when I was in my twenties. And I was so compassionate, that I think I may have actually said "what is wrong with you that you would put up with that?" Totally understanding, that's me. But still.... Anyway I finally got rid of a coworker that did not. work that is. And I like the replacement, he's great. And I'll get an extra worker in a few weeks and I'm betting right now he'll be a jerk. See, I'm always waiting for the bad. Could he be another good worker, not need his ego feed, cooperative, not a know it all? Probably not.

MAJOR B IS BACK

Good News, the Major has returned to the Continental States. He will spend some time getting paperwork signed and leaving his last... last what? I do not know the military terms, so let's just say location. He is due at the next location May 28th. so that means driving a car from L.A. to Missouri, meeting up with his family here, getting everything moved from here, and driving the three vehicles up to New York. I think Long Island. Ok, one will probably get left here and then maybe we can visit later on this summer and drive it up. I don't know how else they will do it. But I have convinced M to wait until we are asked to do something. I think when volunteering, people assume it's something you want to do for yourself, and not that you are doing it for them. Ok, not visiting the Grandkids, that is something we want to do. Anyway, I'm glad he is back and their family is once again whole.

so I lied about finishing something, but I'm not dead yet! Oh, speaking of dead, there was an obituary in our newspaper that was, well, quite remarkable. Since it was in a public newspaper I can copy it can't I? didn't hear a no. I don't know if I wish I would have known her or kind of glad I did not. But I'm thinking she had fun, and friends, and that is a good life.

Anyway here it is with the names sort of xx'd out.

Debby Lynn xxxx of Cape Girardeau was sent to us Oct. 1, 1964, and danced her way into heaven April 25, 2010.

We would like to thank the staff at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, where she received extraordinary care from her medical team. We adore each of them and will remain forever grateful for their kindness.

She was preceded in death by maternal grandparents, Bill and Ella xxx of Olive Branch, Ill., and her father, Jim xxx of Fort Worth, Texas.

The remainder of her story is written with the irreverent affinity and mischievous zest she had for life. She loved to laugh and wasn't afraid to pepper a salty word to elicit a desired response. If you don't share her appreciation of laughter at the expense of etiquette and decorum, read no further. She made no apologies, and neither will we.

Debby Lynn packed many loves and tragedies into her short 45 years. During her life she excelled at mediocrity. She could do anything she wanted ... she just chose not to! She was wickedly funny with a penchant for storytelling. Her vivid and imaginative tall tales were usually combined pieces of personal experience with outlandish redneck wisdom. She was a living contradiction; part truth and part fiction. Most stories, both real and humorous, began with "You ain't gonna believe this s---."

Debby Lynn loved the limelight and was a master communicator via phone, e-mail, even broadcast radio. Her redneck character-driven calls earned her a recurring radio role in Cape Girardeau as "Hilda the Hen" and the voice of Circle S Saddle. She also worked with Apple Orthodontics in Fort Worth.

She loved to be "in the know" at the center of gossip, conflict or tragedy. One of her favorite lines was "If you don't have anything nice to say ... come sit by me!" She had a knack for "stirring the pot" for comedic effect or choosing to escalate a tense situation to get a reaction. She was equally clever at extinguishing a fire she helped to stoke. We believe Debby Lynn delighted in the resolution and redemption that comes after a "knock down drag out fight" with the ones you love.

Debby Lynn's story would be incomplete without the mention of her husband of 20 years, Joe. He was her reserved counterpart to her over the top "bossy" personality but his commitment was unwavering. Debby Lynn's physical deterioration did not effect her ability to throw verbal jabs. Joe maintained courage under verbal fire, exercising saintly restraint. His patience and selflessness is truly appreciated by the entire family.

Debby Lynn loved the Lord; husband, Joe xx; daughter, Ashley Nicole XXXXX; granddaughter, Kaysen Ashley; mother, Carole XXXX; sisters, Toni Kay XXX, Lisa Dianne XXX, Becky Ann XXX, Shelly Pooh XXX; and her sisters many boyfriends; ex-husbands; current brothers-in-law; two nephews, Brandon XX and Garrett OOO (they were both born in a manger and swaddled at birth); a niece, Kaci Jo XX; great-nephew, Colter James Dean XX; great-niece, Ella XXX; family; friends; dogs; cats; music and life.

Debby Lynn's wishes ...
1. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to an educational fund for her granddaughter, Kaysen Ashley. Send to Debby Lynn Gross Memorial Fund, Frost Bank, Fort Worth, Texas.

2. Forgo the bad organ music and somber routine. Let's raise a glass, deliver our best jokes, tell some stories, stir it up and laugh. She expects old-fashioned home cookin' funeral food! If you try to sneak Boston Market brown gravy or KFC powdered potatoes into the party, we will hurt you.

Also, please don't ask us when you can pick up your covered dishes. We're keeping them! Dates are encouraged as long as you are not too closely related. Two drink minimum, smoke 'em if ya got 'em ...

3. Never miss the chance to dance.

so that's it, pretty great, right? I especially like her sisters boyfriends and exhusbands!

I'm over it

I will be better today, I won't be resentful, even though I am. It is time for projects at my house, I should pledge not to buy any more supplies until I finish one thing. Anything, just one. Starting today. I swear.

What's the date? How much more March?

Weekend is almost over, another one shot. Friday Mark and I went to St Louis to Aaron's place. Mark is working on his shower. We took little Ian with us to play with Abbey and they played together really well. It wasn't pretty out but they played in the backyard, swinging, running, and just playing. A two year old and a three year old, and they were so great together. But we made the mistake of commenting on that, and immediately Ian ran by me with a book in his hands, and Abby followed crying.

Ian wasn't giving up that book cause it had Elmo on it, but Abby wanted it back. Aaron solved the crisis by reading the book to both of them. He is very patient and very good with the kids. Ian will go to him without a problem. We didn't get home till eleven, so Ian stayed over. Christie called in the morning for his return, Mom wasn't use to being without all her babies. So home he went around 10, I think. Audrey and Graham came over at 1:30 or so. We had a great day with them, and Ian came back over around 5, I think. audrey and I were shopping so I'm not sure. The kids played outside till dark.

I wish they would remember these times, cause they are not coming again. I don't think Christie and Brian and family will be living here in Cape again anytime soon. I really do treasure these days.

Last we heard Brian may be stationed in Garden City, New York. That is nothing like Garden City NJ. by the way.

Last week my office worker and I were visited by my boss whom informed us we need to email him if we wish to be considered for pc lead which would be a supervisor position. It seems HR requires both of us to be considered, but not Tom that has worked in the department for 18 years or so. But this other guy who has been here two years, sleeps at his desk, disappears for hours and says he was at one call, who pulls pc's without consideration of the po's, or who it really belongs to, works on his homework for at least two days straight, and does work for the navy during hospital time, and is really a lazy SOB. He will only go on certain calls, if he thinks the people are important enough for him, and I use to think, well at least he does the calls he does go on fairly well. Oh think again, I've been hearing complaints he screws up things when he goes on calls, doesn't finish the calls, and does the installs incorrectly. Holy Crap, this guy is working on his freakin doctorate and cannot install a pc without forgetting to put everything on that needs to be included.

I really think he is one of those guys that keeps going to school, as an excuse not to be doing anything. So my boss calls him in for a interview, for a job that will pay him probably more money than I'm making, and in a better supervisory position. Unfreakinbelieveable!

This asshole comes back into the office and tells me "well congratulations, you get the lead job" Cause I'm getting the job of supervisor to the physician something or other. So I get it by default, not because I've been actually doing the job for 20 years, set up this office and keep all the records? I am so glad I won't be in the same office as this guy anymore, but what the hell. I know I shouldn't care as long as he is gone. But I really hope he stays true to himself and is as horrible doing his new, important job, as he is doing this one. And hey boss, you are really a great judge of character, really. You couldn't do worse.

I copied stuff from my old blog. That one got hacked and I couldn't get into it after a while. But this is my journal of a sort so I'm saving it.

Its Thursday, and it should be Friday

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Well Christie, I did it. Another DIL just painted her living room this color and had leftover paint. So since the exactly what color decision was moot, ta, da. I like it, but that may just be that I painted until after midnight and had to get up at 6:30 for work. I don't know what I'll think after I get some sleep.

This is Mark, standing on a branch using an extended saw to cut limbs on a tree that isn't even in our yard!! The guy who owns this house, is inside watching TV. But tht's safe isn't it?

Monday, September 29, 2008

September is almost gone. We are moving our office at work, yet again. There are two of us working here and they keep moving us around this dang hospital, like we were puppets. No more like they don't care about us at all, which is true. I wouldn't mind moving but we have to move all the equipment ourselves, and there is a lot of equipment. Right now we have mountains of pc's and monitors in the office. Not Fun!

I took pictures of my yard which I am just now happy with the layout. Mark put edging around the flower bed which has made all the difference. I will have to put in more plants but the best thing about the Fall is that it can all wait till the spring. I know if I was putting in bushes that would be better now so I guess I'll look into that. How many azeala's can you put in one yard anyway before it is too many? I will post the pictures maybe this afternoon.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

A walk on Main Street, St Charles MO

Anyway I tried to copy the arrangement and this was the result.

So I tried to get the pictures below to be side by side but it didn't work. I have got to preview when I want something exact.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Its Thursday, and it should be Friday

So this picture was quite a while ago.

I have soooo many PC's to set up and install. How can we keep getting all these pc's? I think we now have three for every employee. This is not the most creative job in the world, but luckily I can listen to the music I want and play on the internet while still setting up pc's. There is always a wait time for the pc's to connect to everything. I love looking at Rate my Space, and have even taken pictures of my house for them. But I don't ever post them cause I don't want people I don't even know to rag on me. I know I have clutter, it is a disease I have not been able to overcome as yet.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Well, twice I visited a blog and they visited back. Very Cool. I can see where this would be fun. Hi Christie!!!! I wish you guys lived closer, we could hang out more. Guess what, Zach was shot at today. For anyone reading this my son is with the border patrol. And he is not hurt and I'm pretty sure he'll want to tell his brothers all about it.

The drug smuggling and gang violence isn't reported very much, I guess it is not politically correct, but I think people should be more aware. Anyway, Zach and his partner were on their usual patrol, and they were fired on with six rounds. Thank God neither of them were hit. I don't know much more, the phone connection was pretty bad. What he was complaining about was he had to get a lawyer to go over his paperwork on the incident.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Vintage cloth

the time has come to start using all the material I have been collecting forever. I have stacks. They did not start out as vintage cloth but they now qualify as vintage. I have tried to start working on the many antiques I have in the basement, but that is slow going. I saw a mirror in trash pickup that would have probably worked for one piece. I really meant to go back to get it, but as with most things out of site, out of mind. So I am a little mad at myself, and will try to get together more vintage items to post. Here are some of the pieces we have upstairs now.

who is afraid to ride a camel?

that would be me!

I would like off now!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

It is fair time in Cape Girardeau Mo. Something I usually try to avoid, but things change with Grandkids. Can't believe Grandpa will miss this time with the kids. Maybe he will duck work and come along

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Son's Rotus 7

garden attempt

this is my summer project, its so tacky and yet not. You can get away with tacky in the garden.

I thought the garden was looking better than this post shows. More work needed!

I love elephant ears and impatients.

Monday, September 8, 2008

Monday, need to clean and laundry. The little things that make a mess of your life. I once read where housework was the only job that was noticed only when you did not do it. But I think others fall into that catagory like not fighting that fire. Someone might notice that.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Imagine being killed by a bow and arrow. That would suck. An arrow killed you, they would never solve the crime. "Look at that dead guy. Let's go that way."

I want to hang a map of the world in my house then I’m gonna put pins into all the locations that I’ve travelled to. But first I’m gonna have to travel to the top two corners of the map so it won’t fall down.

order the club sandwich all the time, but I'm not even a member, man. I don't know how I get away with it.

You know, I'm sick of following my dreams, man. I'm just going to ask where they're going and hook up with 'em later

If you drink O'Douls, you don't drink. But if you drink 20 O'Douls in a half hour, then you're a fucking non-alcoholic. Non-alcoholism is a problem too. And there are symptoms, like when you fall down, does it always hurt?

I haven't slept for ten days, because that would be too long.
Mitch Hedberg

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

well that was almost exciting, I put a widjit on the site with live feed, and at first there were people, but they disappeared. I guess they weren't real.

Its back to work today. We moved computers all day long, very boring. Only had one problem which we were able to figure, so no repair work needed. I have to understand a little more of this blog stuff. Why blog? How are things done? Just professional curiosity.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

I'm also working on this cabinet, it started out an ugly wood color. Then I went black and it looked like a big black monster cabinet, so I put crackle white over it and then I didn't like that. Now I'm going for the shabby chic look with white. I've got the inside primed white now, and I'm thinking of decapouge old sheet music inside. Its a thought.

this is the top of a trunk I bought for $10.00 I have to order trunk hinges and pulls.

A marble top dresser I'm working on, very little marble but still it counts. I'm not sure where I'll put it but I know it will fit somewhere in the house.

An old ice box I didn't put in the Antique Booth. I don't know when I would see another one around here.

I started working on furniture in the basement last night. Took a cabinet and arranged my paint & supplies. Just got tired of buying the same thing over and over. I wound up with 6 cans of primer.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

The month of August is flying by quickly. I have to start some projects for Christmas so I have plenty more unfinished projects by December. I do have plans to finish all the UFO's when I'm an old lady, or at least an older lady! I think I will start with my unfinished antiques in the basement. Promise.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Almost all of us have been sick with the flue. Although most have bounced back, I am enjoying not being able to eat very much. Gods answer to not dieting on my own! We went to Shaw's Park in Clayton and such a beautiful day. All of my boys, and Dottie, Lauren, Jackie, Jim, Karen, and Ollie came by and that is the most socializing I've been involved with all summer. Kids were great, so a perfect day not counting most of us getting the start of being sick.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

It is August already! Well close enough. The weather is hot in Southern Missouri but no surprise there. My antique booth is closing this weekend. I am rather relived. I don't want to pay every month for an antique booth anymore. but I have been thinking of signing up and being a vender at an antique fair. One or two days and over for the year. I wonder if that works for anyone else?

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

grandIan