I hope everyone has a safe and happy new year's eve. Enjoy your festivities, however you choose to celebrate.
I haven't blogged in a long time! I know! I've been away from internet access for a very long time. I will try to catch you up on things.
Visitation is at 10 a.m. tomorrow with the funeral following at 11 a.m. Dad wanted it on Saturday, but the funeral home could not do it then. So Dad decided to do it on Friday.
First of all, I would like to thank all of you who for your prayers and concern.
My dad called me today and told me Granny was awake (she had been out for several days). I got to talk to her for a few minutes. She tried to talk back but only grunts were coming out. But she could hear me and understand me. My mom told me that Granny's organs are starting to shut down. I just can't believe this is really happening.
My Granny is still hanging on. Now they don't know how long it will be. They were so certain she wouldn't last through Monday night. She's still the same as Monday. Every time a hospice nurse comes in, they comment she won't make it through the hour they will be there, but she still keeps hanging on. I talked to Dad this morning and he told me to go to work and that he would keep me posted throughout the day.
I come to you with a request for prayer. My grandmother is not doing well and the doctors do not expect her to make it through the night. I am asking that you pray for:
Who knew it would take all day to wrap gifts?! I started wrapping at 4:30 p.m. and I am just now finishing at 9:00 p.m. I did have to take a break to glaze my rum cake but that didn't take too long. Wow! Wrapping really takes a while.
Last night, I went to Ashley's to her "Trim the Tree" party. She invited her friends over for "big girl" drinks, snacks, and to decorate her tree. I am so doing this next year! The tree was decorated in less than ten minutes! I don't even have my tree up this year, let alone decorated. We had a great time visiting and decorating.
Ugh! My program was rescheduled for next Tuesday night!!! I am so upset. I wanted to get it over with!
I have my final program tonight and the forecast calls for snow! No way!!!! I want this over! Don't snow. Snow tomorrow. Snow over night, but don't snow today! Let me finish this last program.....
So, I did not finish early enough to go shopping :( I DID get to sleep late though.
Tonight was number 2 of Christmas Programs. I now have one more on Thursday night. Tomorrow I am taking a sick day so I can go work on the stage. I know, I know. That's ridiculous. But it's the only way I can get it done. I am sleeping late and then going in to do the stage. Hopefully, I can get it done quickly and then I can go Christmas shopping before church choir rehearsal. That is my plan. We'll see if I succeed....
Today started the week of Christmas Programs. I have three this week. The five year old church choir program was tonight. Tuesday is K - 2 at one school and Thursday is K - 5 at the other school. Friday, I collapse.
The Christmas party of the season is tonight! WooHoo!
I would be dangerous.
It is FABULOUS!
*WARNING* If you've ever dated me, you probably don't want to read this. You're not going to like it. You've been warned. Don't come crying to me when your feelings get hurt...
For those of you who wanted details...
It's not just the last boy. It's the last couple of boys (with the exception of Ryan) that have me baffled.
I'm sick of hearing...
1. I don't want to get married, date, etc
2. I think we need to take things slow (when we're not taking it at all!)
3. I hate you met me at this time in my life. I'm just not in a place for a girlfriend (Quite frankly, you shouldn't be dating, then!)
Really? I'm just over it all.
Guys, please get your crap together! It's not like I'm trying to date people younger than me. I'm dating people at least 2 years older, some much more older. One would think they could get it together. I look at myself and see that I have my stuff together (pretty well, I think). Maybe I'm too independent. Maybe if I didn't own a house, a car, have a job, couldn't pay my own bills. Maybe if I NEEDED a guy to take care of me and couldn't take care of myself. But I'm not needy. All I ask is for a guy like me. GET YOUR CRAP TOGETHER!!!!!!! And leave the drama for someone else.
If you have one of the above excuses or one just as grand that I haven't heard yet, keep it to yourself. I've heard enough. Thank you.
...why I only meet guys with issues? Are there any guys that are "normal"? Guys that want a real relationship? Guys that are not afraid of commitment? Guys that have their crap together? I mean really! Am I asking too much?
That is all...
I have the bestest friend ever! Heath fixed my broken kitchen drawer for me. He also kept Winston for me while I was at the conference. I only asked him to do the second. He saw that my drawer was broken (a casualty of Prom 2008) and he fixed it! I can only assume this is how it went down because I have not actually talked to him today. He's great!
Thanks, Heath!
These are not the words you want to hear when going through airport security. However, those are the exact words I heard upon entering the area and my backpack went through the x-ray machine. They swabbed it, for what I don't know. It passed that test, so then they went through it and put the contents in three buckets. The item was still in the backpack. I had no idea what it could have been. So she pulled the contents out, found a mechanical pencil in the bottom, and sent it through again. Here is the culprit! 
It turned out to be a pen that lights up. It was a promotional item for "Spotlight on Music", our new music series. Can you believe that?! A pen! Oh well, I finally made it through and now I am sitting in the airport blogging to you.
We had a wonderful trip, but I am ready to come home.
Today was the first "real" day of the conference. I am so tired!
Now, we are headed to a drum circle. Gotta go!
I am in Charlotte, NC at a music conference until Saturday. I arrived yesterday around 1 p.m. Eastern. I had to wake up at 4 a.m. Central to get to Karla's so Bradley could get us to the airport on time. On the way, I poured grape juice down my shirt TWICE and Tide to Go does not get grape juice out. So I borrowed a shirt from Karla. Then we headed to the airport. Upon arrival, we went to check in but the kiosk said there were problems and to see an attendant! Then the attendant tried and it did it again. We waited and waited and waited! It was awful. We finally got checked in about 10 minutes before boarding.
We had a small layover in Memphis and then off to Charlotte. We checked in at the hotel and then went in search of lunch. I had a cheeseburger. It was good.
So far, so good. I'll keep you posted. The conference actually starts tomorrow. Registration and exhibits start tonight.
I'll keep you posted.
Today is Ryan's 29th birthday. To celebrate, his family is having a balloon release at the cemetery. (I am not with them today because my church kids choir is singing tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m.) I am having my own release at home. His mom purchased blue balloons with his name and birth date printed on them. We are releasing at 11:00 a.m.
While I was borrowing pics from Ashley's camera, I took these too. She had forgotten to send them, so I took charge and did it myself! Enjoy!
I have been trying to post this for days! First, I couldn't find my card reader. Then I didn't have time. THEN blogger wouldn't upload the pics! Now finally the universe has come together to reveal the pics of "Prom Night '08" on Halloween.
Today, I went to vote this morning and the line was wrapped around the building, down the sidewalk, down the front lawn, across a parking lot, and down a road. I did NOT have time for that before work. So I just went to work and voted after work. When I got there this afternoon, there was barely a line. When I got to the room, I had to wait behind one other person with the last name in the same section as mine. Technically, I was the second person in line :) I voted and went on my merry way.
I can not believe it has been 6 months since the plane crash. It feels like it happened just yesterday. It's crazy how time has passed so quickly.
We won! 35 - 0!
I am headed to the Bama game! It is my very first one ever. I am headed to meet Ryan's family for tailgating and then I become "one of the guys" because the guys are staying for the game and the girls are headed back home. But they had an extra ticket and I'm gonna get to go to the game!!!! Yea!!!!
It's Prom Night! Yea!
Also, I know I never posted any pics of pumpkin carving. Go check out Ashley's blog. She's in my sidebar. She was the host and posted pics. Thanks, Ashley!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
FOUND!!!!!!!!!! WooHoo!
I still have not found my house key or my mind. I'll keep you posted!
Last night was Fall Festival at one of my schools. I had the Karaoke booth. It was fun. I had a cute pic taken too. I'll post it when I get it on the computer. The owner of the camera is supposed to email it to me.
Tonight, I am going to a pumpkin carving party! WooHoo! It should be fun. I don't remember the last time I carved a pumpkin. She has several patterns for us to choose. We also went to buy a few pumpkins earlier today.
I'm thinking about a nap right now. Then, I'm cleaning the house.
I will post a pic of my pumpkie!
Tomorrow is Celebration Sunday at church. The choir sings at the early service. Then I'm headed to Sunday School and then lunch at the church. I don't know what they are serving. It should be yummy though. Their Wed night suppers are yummy. I'll let you know.
Leigh-Ann over at Freckled Nest is having a 50% off sale at her Etsy shop. She makes cute stuff like photo albums for you scrapbookers. She also makes supply bags for artists, photographers, scrapbookers, etc. She has all kinds of other stuff too. Go check her out at her Freckled Nest Shop.
when I lose things! For instance, my new teaching certificate! I just got it this school year and I need it to complete my eligibility process for National Boards. Now, of course, my principal handed to me and said, "don't lose it." So I went and promptly stored it in a "safe" place so I would not lose it. Does anyone know where it could possibly be? It's probably with my house key that I lost. Ugh!!!!!!!! I really need to get my brain back. It's been missing too.
I went to the fly-in on Saturday. I spent the day with Ryan's family and after the fly-in, we headed to their house to watch the Bama game. We caught a little of the Auburn game at dinner and finished up back at their house. Then I headed home. Keep in mind, it was three hours after the Bama game ended and I still ran into traffic on the interstate! Can you believe it?
Ryan's remote control airplane club is having a memorial fly-in this weekend. I am meeting Ryan's parents at their house on Saturday morning so we can go together. The club is doing a tribute flight and then presenting a plaque to his parents. This is going to be odd. The only times I have been to the flying field were to see Ryan fly. I really had no interest other than to be with him. So, we shall see. I'll be with his family though.
Tonight, Carrie and I went to Ted's Montana Grill to eat dinner. I ordered some yummy looking lemonade. There were some straws in front of me, so I offered one to Carrie. She said she didn't like their straws and I just looked curiously at her. That is until I opened the straw and saw a CARDBOARD TAMPON APPLICATOR! It was a cardboard straw. What?! Who makes straws out of paper? Is that even possible? It was definitely different! The food was good and the service was excellent. We even had enough for lunch tomorrow.
I arrived at home tonight around 6:30 p.m. There was a package waiting for me by my front door. I had not ordered anything, so I did not know what could be in the box. I opened it and it is my box for National Board Certification. OMG!!!! I am so nervous. It is so "real" now. I have to buckle down and get busy.
So, you think I've been neglecting the blog? You should talk to my wii! I got on today because I haven't been on in a couple of weeks. Well, it turns out that the "couple of weeks" was actually
I arrived home to find these wonderful new additions to my yard.
1. Rocks in the flower beds
2. U.S.A. Flag
3. Welcome mat
4. Tape measure that belonged to Ryan (not pictured)
I love it all! It looks great!
Thanks, Mr. Chuck and Ms. Annette!
Here is what my yard looks like after Mr. and Mrs. Jones left yesterday. These are actually pictures from this morning. I LURVE it!
When I changed my background, I deleted my sidebars and I can't remember which blogs I had links to. I hope I got them all. If you can think of one that used to be there that is not there now, let me know! Thanks.
When I came home from school, Mr. and Mrs. Jones were no where to be seen. They had gone to Lowe's to find some more bricks. This is what I saw...
HOW BEAUTIFUL!!!!
This is what was done yesterday in my yard. Yea!
In the center, where the rock is, there will be a nice, large pot with greenery and flowers. 
This is the "weed bed". Look, no weeds!
This is around my mailbox. Those are daylilies. I can't wait for them to bloom.
I am super pumped about my yard. And Mr. Chuck edged my whole yard! He went all around the driveway, street, and sidewalk. That was a hard job. Mrs. Annette had to climb over my fence to get to my flowers and shrubs in the backyard. I'm so glad she did not hurt herself! I can't wait to go home today!
Tonight and tomorrow is the sanctuary choir retreat. I have to go home today and bake cookies. Yummy!
Today, I had a meeting after school, went to dinner, and to the grocery. I finally got home at 9:00 p.m. and found a wonderful surprise waiting for me. Mr. and Mrs. Jones had started my flower bed. It looks awesome. I couldn't take pics tonight because it was too dark, but I will take pictures tomorrow morning and post them for you to see. Tonight, I will leave you with the "before" pics. Now, I didn't know they were coming today so I had not taken before pics. But I do have pics from Christmas, so ignore the lights and reindeer. You will see how bad my poor "weed bed" looked. Enjoy!
Do you see all those weeds?! It is so bad and that is in December! Isn't everything supposed to be dead in December?
Oh my! I can't believe how bad it looked. I had cleaned out the weeds, so it didn't look that bad. I had forgotten how bad it looked!
This morning, I slept in and texted Ms. Annette when I got out of bed. She and Mr. Chuck were on this side of the world, so I met them for lunch. After lunch, we decided to look at Home Depot for plants for what I refer to as my "weed bed." We would like to transform this "weed bed" into a flower garden. Ryan and I were going to attempt this undertaking, but we did not get around to it. Therefore, Mr. and Mrs. Jones wanted to help me with it. We looked at Home Depot and I showed them what I liked. Then we went to my house to see the actual space we were working with. That helped Ms. Annette to know how many plants we needed. We then went to Lowe's and looked some more. I thought I wanted a large flower pot that I can leave outside and just plant in that small area. She suggested we add some greenery around the pot. I think we decided to do a large pot with elephant ears and other green plants (and maybe some caladium). We got some Japanese holly bushes to go around the bed. They are supposed to stay small. Then I decided if I was making the front bed look nice that I needed to make the area around the mail box look nice too. So we bought some day lilies to go around that area. I will take before and after pics when we start working on the area.
We did buy a nice flower pot for my peace lily. It goes great in my dining room. The dining room has black and maroon accents and the flower pot is black with cream accents. The carpet in the dining room is cream. Below you will find pics of the pot and with the lily in the pot. I think he looks very happy in his new home! What do you think?
