We were outside last Friday, waiting on Daddy to come home and this little guy jumped on Madison's Barbie Bug causing her to run screaming to me "Momma-a-a-a there's a cricket on my Bug!"
After I satisfied myself that we weren't under bug siege I discovered this little guy and promptly moved him to the porch where he settle upon a red Geranium.

I explained to her that he's not a cricket (they are black) but a grasshopper.
That they won't hurt you. He tickled my hand and was quite friendly when I moved him.
He would peer at me as I talked softly to him (can you imagine how BOOMING our regular voice must sound to bugs?).
Then he jumped from Geranium to the Deck.
He stayed there for a long, long time. Every once in awhile i'd go check and talk to him and he'd peer at me - so cute! Madison lost interest and resumed zooming around the yard once more.

I was just glad she didn't run upon a snake.
I don't quite have the courage to give her a nature lesson in one of those and probably never will!

Going great so far but, uh, Madison that is NOT what you do on the barre'!!!

Miss Patsy giving a little one-on-one instruction before class actually begins!

Look Mommy - I think i've got it!

I didn't get any during Tap Class as they segue right into it after Ballet but I can hear them in there, tapping their little hearts out!
Madison loves it. I'm so glad we can do this for her.
She's such a confident little girl. Something I was NOT at her age.
That is one of the most valuable gifts we can give our children is build their confidence, in my opinion!

Pikes Pickles

did a post last week on people's cars and bumper stickers .... I don't have stickers on my bumper but I do have them on the rear window.....

A gamecock spur/palmetto tree on the bottom left (top left is my parking permit for School), a smiley face/palmetto tree on the bottom right, my Monogram in the middle and below that my "stick family". What stickers do YOU have? Please ignore the dirty car also. Thank You! *wink*

Whoo Hooray! I passed that test Wednesday night on the re-do AND I aced my Power Point. I am feeling (as Tony The Tiger would say) - Ga -REAT!!!! I couldn't do it without the help of Stacy and the encouragement from him, my parents, my friends and you all! Thank you so much.
I have to admit it's not easy. There is no time between classes to get anything to eat, I have resorted to packing some Nabs (that would be snack crackers to you non-southerners) and munching when I can. I also put a drink in my backpack. The rule is no eating and drinking in classes and I try to adhere to that but I get a headache if I don't eat something. Hmmmm how come I don't see any weightloss benefit here? LOL!
I am ready for a Ga-reat week-end now! I am going to organize my closet and work online on as much homework as I can! (don't anybody get jealous of my rockstar life okay?!) *wink*

I want to extend a warm Monogram Welcome to

Hippo Chick

on my blogroll. Pam comes to me via Cheryl Wray's blog. Although her blog is new to me, her posts already touch me - being that she's a Pennsylvanian as I am.
Just reading her post yesterday about her visit made my soul yearn for those wonderful PA mountains... the excitement of spotting an Amish Buggy, trying to "politely" stare at the adorable Amish children ... of childhood summers spent in PA ....

Today... I choose...

To smile at three people on my way into work and wish them a nice day.

To not cuss at anyone in the parking lot No. Matter. What.

To not immediately start googling for info on Cry*ng C*w B*nk the second I get to my desk and start freaking myself out.

To not grimace or make faces at my boss behind his back. No. Matter. What.

To make 100 on that re-test IF she let's us do it tonight.

To give the best Power Point Presentation in my Col 103 Class and not be nervous!

Okay some of you know where I work at IRL.
I don't blog about it, because I don't care to get fired from my job but, over the past week-end our CEO was ousted.
Our stock has been failing dismally....... change is in the air at Crying Cow Bank.
I just hate the tension, the feeling of "when is the other shoe going to drop".
Just lay me off, give me my severance and i'm out of there.
I'll be glad to go to school full time and collect unemployment.
We can get by.
What I AM worried about is the company folding and me NOT getting my severance pay. That would be very very un-cool.
I hate worrying about crap I have no control over and it does me no good to tell myself NOT to worry... cos' i'm gonna worry.
Even subconsciously. I wake up three or four times during the night. Blah. Hate it. Anyhoo send good thoughts. For me, for my girl Cheeky, who is undergoing some tough times personally, for Shell in Houston who may be in for a week-end visitor in the form of Ike. Just pray for everyone...
AND last but not least, big thanks to my girl Bella for the cool signature she made for me! I love-love-love it~! Thank You!

P.S. I "failed" the test (well made a 79) but she's allowing a do-ver and I WILL make 100!

After the blowing and raining got done Friday Night/Saturday Morning it turned out to be a nice day (humid as hell but otherwise nice). We decided to go to Columbia and ended up eating at one of our favorite spots - Hooters!

Daddy got in on the action and had his picture taken with Madison and the Hooter Girls too! U da man Daddy!

Sunday we went in search of a Mermaid Costume (neither W*l Mart nor T*rget have their Halloween out yet - i'm impressed!) and ate at Applebees in Hartsville. She had to give Daddy a smooch!

She was just being goofy here, we enjoyed her so much this week-end! She's finally getting out of that "baby-tantrum" stage and is fun to be with.

I hope everyone else had a most excellent week-end as well. Not too thrilled to be at work this a.m. BUT I have a paycheck right... and I take my first TEST tonight!

I know, I know, a RARE post from the Monogram Queen on the week-end! Just wanted to let y'all know we made it through okay. Had alot of wind got about 5 inches of rain so it wasn't too bad. Stacy moved everything to safety (my stained glass window, patio cushions, furniture, swings etc). Now i'm trying to figure out what I want to do with the rest of the week-end! Hope y'all have a great one!

My Pearls and Wedding Rings ... given to me by my beloved husband, Stacy.
My hand-monogrammed ring from Charleston... given to my by my dear friends Bella and Cheeky........

What is something that defines you?

****EDITED TO ADD**** we are now under a Tropical Storm Warning for our County

I hope the boss is mellow today and I hope he okays the week of Christmas off for me like I asked him.
My trip to the dentist still has me cringing. I swear I can still smell the burnt peanut-y smell. Gack. Turns my stomach. He did a bang-up job though. I go back Sept 30th. Will be glad to get it all over and done with.
I am feeling so-o-o-o-o restless. I need a trip. Stacy if you're reading this - hint~hint.
I know what he'd say. "Next Month".

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SWEET NIECE JULIANA Who turns FIVE today! It seems like just yesterday I was holding you in my arms at Christmas at Ma's :)

As much as I love the beach - and I do love the beach alot anymore, I love Fall best. I am so happy to see September arrive. Madison and I were at the Playground yesterday morning and I saw some golden leaves gently drifting to the ground ....
It was nice three-day week-end. Didn't get some things done that I would have liked to, but I spent time with loved ones and that is most important.
Boss is out today, leaving me with peace and blessed quiet (hearing him call my name sets my teeth on edge) and even though I have a dentist appointment I don't even mind that because i'm getting the damage done by my braces fixed.
Maddie and I sat out on the porch last night waiting on the Pizza Delivery person and it was downright chilly!
Thoughts & Prayers going out to those affected by Gustav. I even dreamed about it Saturday, Sunday & last night. Also keeping an eye on Hanna churning out there and now we have joinging the party Ike - Yikes! (Sorry - couldn't resist!).

Cheryl Wray is turning the big 4-0 today and she's hosting a birthday party on her blog. Fun! I love pink and picked out this pink poufy party dress to wear to your party Cheryl. The design would allow me to eat lots of cake and goodies and hides a multitude of caloric sins!

You can't have a birthday without CAKE! Yummy looking frosting!

I'm a big fan of jumping on the bed or the couch but what's a party without - you got it THE ELECTRIC SLIDE! C'mon don't be bashful. Join right in!

I hope you have a wonderful, fantabulous day with your equally wonderful, fantabulous family & friends! Happy Birthday my sweet friend! Maybe before the next one rolls around you can add me to your "met IRL friends" list! :)

Since i've got another post set up for tomorrow I wanted to take a minute and wish an early Happy Birthday to another of my favorite bloggers born on August 31st - Southern Fried Girl whose blog is May I Nap Now? in my blogroll. She is currently readying to evacuate her home in NOLA due to Hurricane Gustv and her and the family are in my prayers. To top it off she is expecting her first child the beginning of November AND her husband is a Firefighter and won't be able to leave with her. That is a whole lot on a girl at one time so keep her in your thoughts okay? Also thinking about my girl Andie who lives on the 'Bama coast. Hugs & Godspeed to you all!

Stacy and I were both sick as dogs last night. I got sick after I picked Maddie up and we stopped by my Mom's. Stacy managed to get home, take her to dance class THEN get sick.
It did not help that I had a small salad for lunch and no snacks in the afternoon and had the dry heaves the entire time. I think I scared Madison to death! She was so concerned and kept fussing around me like a little mother hen. She was so good and ate her dinner, took her bath and went to bed like a big girl. Stacy slept in his recliner and I fought the bed all night. Reilly alternated between the bedroom and livingroom. He gets concerned too. It's cute.
Started feeling like I could maybe take a sip of something around 3 a.m. then I took an Aleve because I felt like someone had beat me with a bag of rocks.
Have I mentioned how GLAD I am that today is Friday?
*** Also please say a prayer for my buddy SFG who is in New Orleans, and understandably concerned about that bastard Gustav. Go Away Gustav! NOLA suffered enough three years ago with Katrina!
EDITED to ADD: Also pray for Andie who may have to evacuate her fam and all her critters too off of the Gulf coast and Hannah who might hit Florida (Stacy -Peanut Queen)or HORRORS - US!

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!