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!

I seem to have lost my.............. Can't someone help me find it? Please.......... :(

I have the wandering itch. Always have. I love to go-go-go. Especially to travel. I love to explore new places, stop and see the sights etc. If I could take a few trips right now this is where i'd go (in no particular order so don't anybody get their pants/panties in a twist mmmkay?)

1) St. Petersburg, FL - my BFF Mindy lives there and so does one of my favorite Nascar Fan/Bloggers Ryan. I'd like to show Stacy an alligator farm (boy do they STINK), visit the Citrus Tower, let Madison pick an orange or lemon or lime from a tree, of course go to the gorgeous beach ......... i'd also have to search out Chickie and Stacy PQ somehow while i'm in the State!
2) Key West, FL. I've always wanted to go and just piddle around and explore. Margaritaville come to life! See if I can find any of the Hemingway six-toed cats.
3) Minnesota- Hop a plane to see all of my favorite bloggers who live in and around the Mini-Apple (Cheeky,Bella,Sandra,Jenn,Flip Flop Mamma,Jessica, The Mutt Princess). We could organize a BIG get-together. How cool would that be?! Visit the Mall of America.
4) Hop down and spend a day or two in Indy + KC and visit blogbuds Jenie and Wendy and then Caroline (and hopefully meet MJ while i'm there). Swing by the Chicago area and visit Retro Girl, Vince, AFOD & visit the Egel's Nest!
5) Go to NM and see Lynilu and her "kids". She could show me all of the beautiful scenery and sights she is always talking about. I'll skip the high ride into the mountains though. I'm no hiker LOL Also swing by AZ and visit Michael Manning!
6) Go to Texas and visit Shell and hopefully get to meet Laurie, Kellan, Tammi and some other Texas Bloggers.
7) Go to Loo-siana and see the Southern Fried Girl. She could show me around and maybe help me stalk Brett Favre in Mississippi. Maybe meet the Mississippi Songbird too!
8) Go to PA and visit my hometown and the relatives. See Namaste while i'm there and also Daisy & Man who live in the general area is a definite MUST. Maybe Pat if she's not too busy in the upstate NY area...
9) Visit NYC for a few days and do all the fun touristy things (probably taking Namaste with us would be best as she knows the ropes). See Melissa! Buy baby things :) Meet Brown English Muffin and adorable Baby C !
10) Visit Boston and show Stacy & Madison all the things I Love about Beantown! See Hilda-May as she lives fairly close by! I think maybe Tigeryogiji is in the area too! I know i'd love to meet him!
11) Visit Canada and let Walker cook us some delicious Greek Food! I'd also want to meet his parents and Archie as well as Frick. Also meet my other favorite Canuck Blogger Martini and we can compare cool Halloween ideas!
12) Fly out to the West Coast and visit Vegas (PTwinkie & Mr J), maybe see Shephard in LA if he's not too ahem, busy (wedding bells anyone?), spend some time admiring Loving Annie's home and i'm sure she'd bake something especially for me and then head up to San Francisco. Ride a cable car. Do all of the touristy stuff there too.
13) Head on up to Oregon and meet Shangie, Lelo & Adri, then head further North and meet Casey & Dakota and their two adorable kids!
14) Before I headed home to SC for a rest i'd have to hit the Alabama/Georgia area and visit Cheryl Wray and her fabulous family as well as Andie and then Dawn Bibbs and Grant in the Atlanta area!
Of course I could go on and on and on and visit lots and lots and lots more places but this is a pretty good start! Also i'd love to take some time and visit some of my "local" bloggers, Chelle, Miss Hope, Nancy, Lee, Pink Owl .........

If i've left anyone out it's not intentional. I probably am not sure exactly where you live! (Whirling Betty)! Oh and can I just say it's one of my absolute dream's to go to the United Kingdom where i'd hope to meet Shabby Chic and dear Gledwood ......

I had one but sold it because I was too retarded to download any music to it and got tired of seeing it sitting around mocking me.
My sister got one and got one of my niece's to download her music for her so I figure I can do the same.
So my birthday is coming up in a few months and if the hubs asks...that is what I want. A small one. Shuffle would be fine. Whatever's cheapest. I have no need for thousands of songs. Now a list of songs I would load on said Ipod ... if I had one.
A LOT of Prince. Warning ya.
1) Do me baby- Prince 2) International Lover- Prince 3) Little Red Corvette - Prince 4) Purple Rain album- Prince 5) Slippery When Wet album - Bon Jovi 6) True Blue album- Madonna 7) Live At Paradise Theater album - Styx 8) The Stranger album - Billy Joel 9) Glass Houses album - Billy Joel 10) Born In The USA album- Bruce Springsteen 11) Saturday Night Fever soundtrack album 12) Alan Jackson's Greatest Hits13) All Summer Long- Kid Rock 14) Jezebel - Chely Wright ....oh man there is alot of rap & stuff but this would get rather tiresome I fear. That's a start though dontcha think? Anything you care to reccomend?

Okay those of you that don't know what that title means - you are better off not knowing.
It means I am bitchy, bitchiest and bitchier. Did I mention i'm a tad bitchy? Yeah well I AM!

*** Apologies in advance for language although the worst is not spelled out completely 8-O

1) To UPS - YOU SUCK. I cannot believe that despite all of our careful packaging you still f*cking broke my friends birthday present that I made with my own two hands. You ASS. It cannot be replaced. I had to go out and shop like a fiend but I totally love what I found her and hope she does too. Anyway UPS you are not my friend anymore.
*
2) Friend-At-Work. I am seriously, seriously getting tired of you. The "i'm-so-busy" I forget to go to break/lunch/shit/go home routine is getting O-L-D.
For f*cks sake who forgets to go HOME? You know I don't have sh*t to do but twiddle my thumbs and you just like to rub my nose in how "busy" you are in your Dept. because you want me there too. Not happening. I've been to kindergarten once, don't need to experience it again. Capisce?
*
3) To Same Friend- If you would freaking GROW A PAIR and stand up to your sorry-assed husband maybe you wouldn't be so miserable all the got-danged time. That shit is getting old also. Maybe I need to find a new friend. Yeah, I think that just may be the ticket. I have my own set of aggravations I sure as hell don't need to hear about yours five days a week. AND you want us to get together on the week-end? Are you freaking KIDDING ME? I can hardly stand you for five days I sure as shit am not putting up with your ass on the week-end. No way, Jose'.
*
4) To the powers-that-be at Crying Cow. For the love of the Sweet-Tiny-Baby-Not-Yet-Potty-Trained-Jesus will you just go ahead and shut the freaking company DOWN and stop torturing us. These every-other-month lay-offs are working my last nerve. Y'all are seriously going to drive some poor bastard to shoot up his office i'm afraid.
*
Okay i'm scaring myself here so I need to go take a break and drink some water... or pop a Tranzine... or something!

Ci'ao Y'all and I truly hope I haven't frightened my newbies. I do NOT have rage issues. I pinky promise!

I've mentioned before that I like what I call my "alone time".

Saturday I did a little running around, read a little, watched some TV, went to my parents and when I finally came home and took a bath and got settled in for the evening I realized how silent the house was. No little voice calling "Momma" no distant buzz of voices from Stacy watching TV. I started feeling a little melancholy.

Then Reilly wanted to go out and I let him out and it was SO dark out there. Creepy dark.

Yes, we have a security light via the electric co-op but it was still creepy out there. You could almost hear the hum of silence.

I think it is the fact that my neighbor Miss Rose is finally gone. We'd known for months it was coming but now her house finally looks empty even though she's left the curtains up and her statues are still in the yard and her flag. No one has been there for days now.

There are four houses on our cul-de-sac. Miss Rose's is to my left, the neighbor's with the attack dog on the right and across the way is Miss Brenda. We can't really see each other's homes unless we come right out and look.

I can't see the neighbors to the right's home either due to an immense privet hedge. Although they haven't been home all week-end, i'm pretty sure. They are gone alot.

This all contributes to my alone feeling I guess.

There wasn't a car that went in or out that Miss Rose didn't know about it. Sometimes she was a bit "needy" and NOT that we ever begrudge helping an old woman but she's got daughter's and sons-in-law and grown grandchildren and none of them ever seemed available to help her but were right there when it benefited them. Oh well, water under the bridge, we were good neighbors to her and i'm glad we were.

I just hope if/when someone buys her house they are good neighbors as well.

For the amount owed on the house i've got a feeling it will be on the market a l-o-n-g time unless they decide to rent it out which I don't think they can do as she let it go into foreclosure.

Anyway I had a few spooky moments this past week-end. Maybe it was the Jill/psychic/Sandy thing. I dunno.......