This is my beautiful red entranceway, and my iron frog hooks hanging to the left as you walk in. Madison's backpack, dance bag and my coat are hanging from them.

I had the day from HELL at work yesterday which is why I couldn't get online. Today I will try and at least pop in and respond to comments and I will catch up on reading blogs over the (Thank GOD) long week-end!

Oh and No I didn't get a new camera, just borrowed my sister's to download some pics she had in hers for her. I'm enjoying hers though. Might even get some FUG if we go to the races Friday night just for Manblogger!

Miss y'all and please, please send good thoughts that I don't lose my temper and stupidly get fired from my job - as i'm working on my 19th year and well, that just would not be cool. Lord are they testing me.

P.S. School is going GREAT. I'm feeling so focused and even Math isn't freaking me out and i'm learning as I go instead of feeling lost as I feared I would. I guess it all balances out in the end right?

This is the end result, I don't know why she wouldn't smile - she loves it!

We may have to hold off on pigtails for awhile but it will be worth it. Then again maybe we can still pull of pigtails - you never know!

Madison and Miss Felicia (our awesome hairdresser!)

I love this look on her face - PURE MADISON!

Miss Felicia says "Hold very still Maddie so I can get it straight"

I got mine cut and colored as well, just a trim but it's straight across the back now instead of so "choppy". Ugh - NOT a fan of "choppy" unless it's a deliberate look.
It's raining here today so I had to dig up an umbrella. Could I find any of my umbrellas - No. Is my "Crying Cow" umbrella at work? No. I had to bring... get ready for it a Red and Black Chevrolet Racing umbrella. LOVELY. Hey at least it'll keep me dry! LOL

Had to leave work about 9:30 as Maddie's school called and she had been sick three times. I had to go pick up my poor little pumpkin. She did look pitiful sitting there with her head down on her desk.
We got home and I got her some cold sprite to sip and a big bowl to be sick in and I rocked her awhile. Then she tried to eat some chicken noodle soup and some mini wheats. Not entirely successful.
She wanted a warm bath and then we got back in the recliner again and she thankfully fell asleep. To me, that is the best thing for a sick child but that kid will fight sleep like a warrior. She's just afraid she will miss something I guess.
She did hug me and tell me I am the best Mommy EVER. That felt good. Real good. :)

My birthday will be coming up in a few months and I know Stacy will be asking me what I want ....
I've wanted a pair of these monogrammed clogs for a few years now but can't bring myself to pay their steep (to me!) price. They are probably the only item my friend that has a monogram shop does not do. I've begged and begged her LOL
Maybe - just maybe i'll break down and order a pair when I go to "Merry Market" in October. We'll see.

I already said I want an iPod BUT i'm seriously considering asking for another Kodak Easy Share Camera to replace the one I had that I wore slap out. I have REALLY missed not having a camera.

I also really REALLY hope Stacy and I can get away for a few nights to celebrate our Anniversary. I'd love for him to take off on a Friday and we stay Thurs,Fri & Saturday night somewhere. Gotta be back for school on Monday.

I'm ready to go through my closet and Mad's and purge all the summer. I think I will do it next week-end. Although we have warm weather sometimes through the Fall and it's not been unheard of to get 70's in the dead of winter, I just cannot wear outright "beachy" stuff after Labor Day. Just can't!

I'm also fighting the urge to order some of those delicious cookies or icing shots from www.palatinecookies.com With all the stuff I have to buy for school and Madison's dance tuition doubling (she's added Tap) I really can't afford a splurge but God I want to!

So on one of the message boards someone started a little game yesterday and I thought it was cute and thought I would let ya'll in on the fun.
Go to Google and put in your name and the word needs after (like this: Patti needs) and then do a search and see what the first 10 things are. For this little exercise I used my real name:

My results are:

Patti needs... some men to help her sing (Believe me no amount of men will help!!)

Patti needs... a cause (i've got several thank you!)

Patti needs... to be a guest judge on America's Next Top Model (yeah like i'm SO qualified!)\
Patti needs... to know God's judgement is not based on popularity (I know that thank-u-very-much!)

Patti needs... an intervention (Huh?!)

Patti needs... a little help (don't we all?!)

Patti needs... to go back to her mid-range (who wants to be mediocre?!)

Patti needs... to go solo (nope i'm happy with the hubs)

Patti needs... to get over herself - QUICK! (i'm sure there are some who think so!)

Patti needs... some Irises. (I hope they mean flowers and not eyeballs.. Eww!!)

Y'all go ahead and play... it was fun!

http://monogramchick.blogspot.com/ visited my blog a few days ago and I just realized it and when I went to her page - WOW! Does she ever have some cool monogram items and right now there is a give-away of customized

monogram cookies!

Click on the link and also visit www.platinecookies.com! Go on over and poke around and get yourself something personalized just for YOU!

Was Monday night (I go Monday's & Wednesday's from 5pm-8:45pm).

First I went by the bookstore to get the books I needed. I'm only taking two classes but the total for the books for those two classes. $237. I was floored but got them. Yikes! I don't remember books being that expensive, er, 20 years ago!

I can't find my car registration so I can get my parking decal and that must be done this week. Oh God I hope a trip to the DMV isn't imminent. I hate going to the DMV!

Okay my first class is in an auditorium setting with about 50 people. I am definitely not the oldest one there, it was mostly older students maybe 15% youngsters. One girl even worked with me at Crying Cow eons ago! This is Math though, which I hate and wanted to get out of the way as quick as I can. That is my weak point, always was in school too. Once I get two semesters of that out of the way the rest is pie. Ha!

My second class, about 16 people. I am definitely "Mom" in there! These are babies... However this is an easy "A" for me, I think, and will boost my GPA from the beginning.
I wanted it to off-set the Math because, guys, I really REALLY suck in Math.
Division, whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percentages make my head SPIN. Please pray for me!

7 Things:


7 things I plan to do before I die1) Visit my blogger buddies in Minnesota 2)Go to the United Kingdom 3) Become a Teacher 4) See alot more of the United States 5) Have another big family reunion like we used to have 6) Drive a racecar 7) Have a tummy tuck

7 things I can do:
1) Wiggle one eyebrow 2) Buy anything monogrammed3) Read VERY fast 4) Have a witty comeback 5) Drive a stick shift 6) Milk a Cow 7) Put an outfit together

7 things I cannot do:
1) Snap my fingers on my right hand 2) Whistle with my fingers 3) Lose weight 4) Kill an animal (even a skeeter or roach) 5) Workout6) Wait 7) Watch TV for a long time

7 things that attract me to the opposite sex:
1) Sense of humor2) Nice Shoulders 3) Wants to please me 4) Likes to do new things 5) I can be myself with him 6) Is thoughtful 7) Is good to his Momma

7 things I say most often:
1) You dumb ass 2) Madison - what are you doing? 3) I wish I could lose X lbs. 4) I love you 5) Fudge (can't say Fuck in front of a toddler okay? 6) Asshole

7 celebrity crushes:
1) Brett Favre 2) John Cusack 3) Josh Hartnett 4) Jon Bon Jovi 5) Dominic Purcell 6) Dennis Quaid 7) Keifer Sutherland (this was harder than I thought)

7 people who need to do this:
Anyone who'd like to give it a shot...;)

Prompted by the ever-so-lovely Loving Annie who wrote about people who do/do not comment etc on last Friday's blog post. I got to thinking about who comments on my blog versus people I can see who stop by but don't.

EVERYONE who visits me, if you can, tell me how you found my blog or how we met. Pretty please, with sugar on top!

Thank You!

Where we stayed had about anything you could wish for including a playground by the sea! Madison's all time favorite is the Swings! Thankfully she has mastered the art of pushing herself
My Beach Baby
"Oooooh this is kinda hard Mommy!"
She almost looks like she's flying~~~~
With her cousins Juliana, Chandler & Nolan.......

I love this one of her and Nolan (he's Juliana's big brother)
I love this group shot in black and white also!
Chandler comes to stay with us quite a bit. People always think he & Madison are sister/brother
Look at her "bucky" teeth in this pic. It cracks me up. Lord that child is a CLOWN!

Hope you didn't get "overloaded" on beach pics!

I thought this would be a cool pic but it looks kind of dorky - like i'm a prisoner or something! That sawgrass will cut you to bits too.... just sayin'!

This picture was taken in July when we went to Myrtle Beach for a few days. Madison and I, that is. Daddy had to work *snicker* My camera had just crapped out so I have been waiting on my SIL to send the pics and she just did. This one isn't too bad so I thought i'd share it.
Bella you might recognize the shirt as it's fron the Banana Cabana where we went the first night we met while we were staying at the Isle Of Palms! :) Good Times! It's hard to believe it's been a YEAR (and I STILL haven't made it to Minnesota yet!)

I can't decide if I want to go back to the beach or go to Savannah. I've been reading some books set in Savannah and it's been a few years.... I would say i'd let Stacy decide but I know he'll leave it up to me. I have been on two beach trips already this summer..........
Tomorrow i'll post a few pics of Madison and her cousins on this trip!

Sneaky had her kittens on Monday Night. Since I already had written that post before I even knew it was imminent... well let's just say I didn't realize it would be THIS quick that i'd be a Grandma!

We were sitting on the front porch and Sneaky was laying with us. She kept going to the front door and meowing to go in.

Me: "No, Sneaky you are not going in the house because I don't feel like chasing you all around to get you back out".

Still she kept at it.

We went inside and then Dalton (friend's son) goes "Miss Patti - Madison let that cat in and she ran behind your big Curio Cabinet".

Me: *insert cussword of your choice*

So I huffed and pulled the big hulk out and got her out of there. I petted her awhile to make up to her and when I put her down realized my hands were wet.

Stacy said "I think her water broke".
(I don't know why the rest of the post is in blue)
Me: "Ya think so?"

Stacy: "Yeah, she's panting a LOT like you were when you were in labor with Madison, that sure was funny!".

Me: *Death Stare* "It sure was NOT funny. Now where can we put her to have those kittens?".

He ended up making a big box with a blanket in it in his Shop. She ended up moving into Madison's Playhouse and having them in a corner. She had FOUR (Lynilu!) but sadly two died. I hope the other two make it.

** Also I am currently trying to decide if Stacy and I go to Savannah the end of September (since October is always so busy for us) should we stay downtown (like we always have) or out at Tybee Island. It'll be a Bed & Breakfast either way. Decisions.. Decisions....

say it with me now...... i'm gonna be a GRANDMA~! Hey it's better to rejoice in that fact than grouse that i've been an irresponsible pet owner. Our dear little Sneaky is going to have babies. Yes I just let time slip by and neglected to get her spayed in a timely fashion. She's so petite that she always still seemed like a "kitten" compared to those other monsters male cats of mine.

We're going to keep a kitten and Carrie wants one. I'm hoping because of her small size she will only have two or three. At any rate rest assured I will find good homes for whatever she has and then she will be fixed - STAT.

I wish I had my camera i'm definitely going to have to rectify that and SOON.
After all a proud Grandma has to show of PICTURES!!!

That is what Stacy calls me. A Fashion Bug. It always makes me giggle. Yes I love clothes and shoes and accessories.
Friday I was in a rather large meeting and the woman next to me I recognized as a transplant from our former Milwaukee Center. She made the comment to me "I love your skirt, you always dress so well and look great!" I just smiled and thanked her but it got me thinking.
If she only knew. I get alot of my clothes from yardsales, thrift shops, eBay, Clearance racks etc. I bet she would never guess that in a million years.
I do know how to put myself together though. I know what colors/cuts suit me. I know how to mix accessories and which shoes look good. I am not afraid to be "bold". I love bright colors, chunky jewelry, animal prints etc... I have an eye for detail. My Momma always taught me that the "little things" count. A certain seam, a type of fastener, whether something is "lined" etc. Always look at the details in a piece of clothing or shoes.
Also "less is more". That is my credo. I live and die by it.
Madison, her credo "the more I can pile on and not fall down".
I am hoping she will watch and learn from her Fashion Bug Momma!

Carrie is supposed to keep Madison tonight and take her swimming tomorrow and Stacy and I are planning a date.

Actually we'll probably end up at the races as our friend Raef is driving tonight but if the weather doesn't co-operate we could end up at the Movies.

I want to see the Dark Knight or StepBrothers, there is another one that he wants to see.

My SIL "A" is supposed to come get Madison next Wednesday and take her down to her Grandma's in Summerville and we will go down the week-end. We will definitely see a movie one of those evenings that she's gone.

Is it totally silly that i'm so excited? I still love going to the movies with Stacy. Holding hands, whispering to each other. I love eating the butter popcorn, slurping on an icy cold drink, sharing a box of candy. I can't wait!

I love the way Mary Kay Andrews writes and she writes about areas I know about.

I am finding myself getting MAD at the con man in this book.

How could he DO this to her? Silly, I know, but that is what makes a good book, good. When you really care about the characters.

I read a LOT of Authors who write fiction set in the South Carolina Lowcountry/Savannah, GA area because those are some of my favorite places.

This is only my second book of Mary Kay's, but I enjoyed the first one immensely and LOVE this one, so i'm pretty sure her other two will be winners as well.

At least I hope so.

I also want to look into the "Twilight" series that Cheeky blogged about.

My tastes are certainly eclectic, from aging southern belles to vampires........

Anything YOU care to comment about or reccomend that I might like?

*** I am already a fan of Charlaine Harris, Laurell K. Hamilton, Kathryn Wall, Anne Rivers Siddons, & Dorothea Benton Frank. I also love the "Miss Julia" and "Dear Dorothy" series as well.

I'm all registered for school i'll be going on Monday & Wednesday from 5pm-9pm. I am not sure how Stacy really feels about it. I know he doesn't mind I just... I don't know. He didn't have much to say when I told him but what did I expect him to do? Jump for joy. Us women are weird sometimes - I admit it! I hope I like it. It is going to be tres' strange being in a classroom again and i'm sure i'll be the oldest one there! Oh well I do think i'm doing the right thing. I think a safety next is exactly what I need and if I do get laid off i'll start full-time after the first of the year and get done even sooner.
Question: If you could go back to school, time and money are of no object what would you be?

Okay, I hate - hate - hate not having my camera. I got the correct battery, the # even matches up between the camera and the battery. I've been charging it for DAYS but when I turn it on, the green light comes on then the red light then it goes dead again. I'm so pissed. I KNOW i've got the correct battery. Any suggestions? Anybody... Bueller?..........

**also before you even say it I really don't have the money to go buy a new camera right now either *sigh*

Okay given my cheerful disposition and post yesterday I am giving myself an even BIGGER pat on the back. I had a back molar broken off and had to go to the dentist and he had to CUT it out of my gum. He is so good though. He gives me something for nerves before he even swabs the gum area to give me the shots to deaden for the extraction. He has a very slow soothing way about him also. Two big thumbs up to Dr. Herbert. (okay see if i'm still saying that when the novocain wears off because I am posting this after I just got home).
Seriously and another good thing - Percocet! La~la land here I come just as soon as Stacy & Madison get home and the novocain has completely wore off.

Also can I get a big thumbs DOWN for my stupid freaking camera. This is the THIRD time i've put replacement batteries in it... and I still don't think i've got the right ones. I don't know what the hell to do. I missed a LOT of FUG at the racetrack last Friday night thanks to the !@#$%^ camera! Also i'm dying to show you my poppy red entranceway! All in good time I suppose....

You know, Monday, blah blah blah but I thought you know what? Instead of the usual gloom n' doom and griping i'm going to post positive things this Monday morning. Here goes:

* I have a job. I may hate it but it gives me spending $$$ and keeps a roof over my head

* Gas has gone down about $.14 a gallon in the past five days

* I got to see my sweet babygirl and hold her a few minutes before I left for work this a.m.

* My sweet hubs took everything out to my car and it was running when I walked out the door (he usually does this in cold weather and defrosts the windows)

* I have big bowl of ice cold watermelon to eat. He bought it yesterday and cut it up last night. Mmmmm just like eating a big ol' smile!

* We went and ate yummy chinese food yesterday at Winn Buffet in Hartsville. Anyone who knows me knows I am not a fan of buffets but Winn always seems to clean and neat (Chelle if you know anything bad - don't tell me! LOL). I love their pork eggrolls & crab rangoon.

* I bought the coolest vintage "Button Your Fly" Levis t-shirt yesterday. Remember them?

*I finally got my 1976 & 1977 set of vintage "Cricket" magazines in the cases on Saturday. Haven't read them. I'm kind of savoring them.

*I made a great library run yesterday. Found a new Author that I think i'm going to really like. Found out I really can't "get into" the Great Gatsby but maybe it's because others have caught my eye/interest. I'll give it another try before I take it back.

That concludes my post. I hope you all have a fabulous Monday and I hope I am able to get caught up on my blogroll. I haven't exactly found my sparkle but I think i'm at least shimmering!