365 ? I might give up!

I'm exhausted.  I think I've been sick for a full three weeks and have just refused to acknowledge it. Right now I'm sneaking a few seconds to myself, but I feel bad because the kids are hauling in the groceries alone. The groceries Jay offered to get because I wasn't feeling well....but I'm not going to let him do the shopping after a full day of work!!  I was mostly fine, until the debt card wouldn't work.  I knew I had money, so I tried again.  Then I tried the credit card, and IT wouldn't work!!!  WTF?  I freaked out and then tried the other card, and it was fine.  You know that feeling? When everyone at walmart stares at you like you are some kind of poor bum? I wanted to scream at the whole line of morons..."I HAVE money, it's her MACHINE!"  but I didn't.  I started sweating and ran like hell to the car.  I hate today, and the hard part isn't even over yet.  Shit.

Groundhog Day- Why?

Groundhog Day is a holiday celebrated on February 2 in the United States and Canada. According to folklore, if it is cloudy when a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day, it will leave the burrow, signifying that winter-like weather will soon end. If it is sunny, the groundhog will supposedly see its shadow and retreat back into its burrow, and the winter weather will continue for six more weeks.


The celebration, which began as a Pennsylvania German custom in southeastern and central Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries, has its origins in ancient European weather lore, wherein a badger or sacred bear is the prognosticator as opposed to a groundhog. It also bears similarities to the Pagan festival of Imbolc, the seasonal turning point of the Celtic calendar, which is celebrated on February 1 and also involves weather prognostication. and to St. Swithun's Day in July.

An early American reference to Groundhog Day can be found in a diary entry, dated March 5, 1841, of Berks County, Pennsylvania, storekeeper James Morris:

Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate.

In Scotland the tradition may also derive from an English poem:

As the light grows longer
The cold grows stronger
If Candlemas be fair and bright
Winter will have another flight
If Candlemas be cloud and rain
Winter will be gone and not come again
A farmer should on Candlemas day
Have half his corn and half his hay
On Candlemas day if thorns hang a drop
You can be sure of a good pea crop

mbolc (also Imbolg or Oimelc), or St Brigid’s Day (Scots Gaelic Là Fhèill Brìghde, Irish Lá Fhéile Bríde, the feast day of St. Brigid), is an Irish festival marking the beginning of spring. Most commonly it is celebrated on February 1 or 2 (or February 12, according to the Old Calendar), which falls halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox in the northern hemisphere.
The festival was observed in Gaelic Ireland during the Middle Ages. Reference to Imbolc is made in Irish mythology, in the Tochmarc Emire of the Ulster Cycle. Imbolc was one of the four cross-quarter days referred to in Irish mythology, the others being Beltane, Lughnasadh and Samhain. It has been suggested that it was originally a pagan festival associated with the goddess Brigid, who was later Christianised as St. Brigid.
In the 20th century, Imbolc was resurrected as a religious festival in Neopaganism, specifically in Wicca, Neo-druidry and Celtic reconstructionism.

Irish imbolc derives from the Old Irish i mbolg "in the belly". This refers to the pregnancy of ewes. A medieval glossary etymologizes the term as oimelc "ewe's milk".
Since Imbolc is immediately followed (on 2 February) by Candlemas (Irish Lá Fhéile Muire na gCoinneal "feast day of Mary of the Candles", Welsh Gŵyl Fair y Canhwyllau), Irish imbolc is sometimes rendered as "Candlemas" in English translation; e.g. iar n-imbulc, ba garb a ngeilt translated as "after Candlemas, rough was their herding". -Wikipedia.com

Brent Nunnally

Justin Brent Nunnally

Tuesday, 17 January 2012 21:07

Justin Brent Nunnally age 31 of Huntsville, Alabama formerly of Edmonton died Monday, January 16, 2012 in Edmonton.    He was the son of Tommy and Becky Bartley Nunnally of Edmonton.   He was Vice President of Regions Bank in Huntsville and a member of the Church of Christ. Besides his parents he is survived by a brother Jonathan (Charity) Nunnally of Edmonton.   His maternal grandmother Jean Johnston of Edmonton.  Four nephews.   Holden White, Hunter Nunnally, Ethan Bates and Trigg Nunnally.  One niece Kennedy Bates.   His aunts and uncles.   Eddie (Carolyn) Nunnally, Bill (Beverly) Bartley, Julie (Jeff) Ennis, Nancy (Billy Joe) Shaw, James Morris and Sue Nunnally.   Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM  Friday at Butler Funeral Home in Edmonton with burial in the Summer Shade Cemetery.   Visitation will be from 4:30 PM until 8:00 PM  Thursday and after 9:00 AM  Friday at the funeral home. ********************************************************************************** I feel just a little too young to be loosing  classmates.  All of my sympathy goes out to his family and friends.  He was entirely too young.

I can't HELP it!! I have to share the fun!

365

I am striking today, which you will see if you log on to check my blog.  Write your congressmen, and let them know that censoring the internet is not the way to go.  If they want to prevent piracy, there are better ways to do so. 

365

I found this yesterday, while going through some of the clutter in my trunk. That's my brother, Jason with the first animal I ever rescued, Smokey.
I was in the creek on our farm (literally IN the creek) when I heard a crashing, splashy, scary sound coming from behind me. I turned to see what was coming at me fearing a bear, runaway deer, or my brother.  I was fully prepared to get out of the way, but waited to see where it was going first.  Around the bend came this dog, running for dear life, howling and whimpering at the same time.  He was running with absolute abandon, with water sloshing out of his way while he bore down on me like brain starved zombie.  Without thinking about it, I crouched down with my arms spread wide, catching him at the chest as he ran straight into me.  The poor animal was wide eyed, and terrified.  I wasn't for a second worried that he would hurt me, and I don't know why.  I really should have known better and my dad would have been really mad if he'd seen that my first instinct was not to flee, but to capture. My actions were vindicated when I realized that the pup's neck was tightly wrapped in a brown electrical cord that someone had torn from am appliance.  I can only assume that the dog had been a nuisance to the last person this dog came in contact with and they had tried to choke it to death in order to get rid of it.  Either that, or the idiot was too lazy to buy a chain, and tied him up with the cord.  I realized the unearthly sound I had heard was the pup trying to breath while running at full speed to escape. Whatever had happened to him had just occurred, and now was the time to get the hell out of the creek and get back home.  Anyone who would be so cruel to a dog, is not someone who I would benefit from meeting. 
I had to use my teeth to loosen the cord from Smokey's neck.  The dog needed a moniker, and his color suggested the black and grey smoke that wafted from the trash fires we lit once or twice a month.  In my head he was already my dog.  I was saving his life, and he was going to owe me!  Once I got the cord loose, the dog seemed anxious to leave anyway, so I told him "Let's go!" and I started booking it for the house.  He followed me without hesitation. 
I don't really remember what happened next.  The memory of catching Smokey is so crisp in my memory it could have happened yesterday, but what my father said to me is lost in my memory forever.  I did get to keep him, however.  My very own dog.  He followed me everywhere I went, protected me from not a few snakes, and was a great exploring companion.  The pictures above tell a great story. Jason and I are just getting off the bus from school, ready to make the 2.7 mile walk to the house from the bus stop, and there is my dog, waiting for me.  He knew somehow when we were going to be there, and started walking to meet me.  He did it every day that I went to school until one day he wasn't there anymore...

365

I admit it...I am really not good at blogging every single day for a year.  It gets incredibly hard.  I'm going to have to start from today, and fill in as I go what I've missed.  I have photos for every day, and I am keeping track of what is going on, but who knew having the computer in the bedroom would make it harder to get anything done? lol 
I'm really busy these days, so I'm going to try my hardest, but as in the past, my family and outside obligations have to come first, so hang in there with me.  I'm just a couple of months from being done, and I know I can get there!

The moon last week was amazing. With the mountains (hills?) it's hard to find a spot to stop and capture a good photo, but Laurel and I were sure trying. We finally got a couple in town, while parked in front of one of the smaller hills.  You can see, though, that we were just barely in time to see it.  I was devastated the first time I saw the moon this past week, that I didn't have my camera. It was an amazing shade of red, and would have been an awesome photo.   The problem is that it takes me so long to get home from dropping Laurel off at school that it was behind the horizon when I got back.  I won't be leaving the house without my camera (s) again!

365

Oh, it's so cold!  Three inches of snow, and they didn't cancel school.  With the roads looking like they did, and the buses skidding off the road and getting stuck as we witnessed, I'm shocked.  Edmonton saw snow here and canceled in anticipation!  (Just kidding) Driving Laurel to school was downright scary.

365

The stage

The stage

The stage

Blocking already!

Move in with me!

Listening in at the bathroom door

This picture by: Miah

We are plunging in immediately!  Practice is scheduled every single night and Saturdays are reserved for clean up and stage building!  Whew!  Six weeks until opening night!

365

UMM.....

That's better!

You might be wondering what the hell that is...
Its a doughnut from a locally owned shop.  They call it the butterfly...but that's not what my first thought was!
Jay and I had a date today.  We traditionally drop whatever we are doing and go out on  Friday the 13th.  Just 'cause.  We went to the one Japanese restaurant in town, and thank goodness it was great!  Then we went to the doughnut shop and raced home to watched "Never Let Me Go".  It's an interesting movie, but the ending was a little disappointing for me.  We had just enough time to get this all in before we had to go pick Laurel up from school.  Great day!

365

I'm on my way back to the playhouse!  They called last night, about ten minutes after I got home to offer me the part of Sylvie.  I'm ecstatic that they didn't make me wait!  I talked Laurel into auditioning yesterday, but she didn't get a part.  She will be a part of the crew though.  She was too quiet and shy to really do her best, but I hope being a part of the crew will help her the next time.
The picture is the skyline through the hills.  It's just barely a sliver in the pic, but in reality it was a brilliant pinkish red.  I love it here!

365

The Theater is having a second day of auditions....I get to go back for more! This is a reprisal of the play that they did nine years ago...so they offered the parts to the original cast.  I thought I was possibly trying for any part, including the two male parts, but it turns out that the only parts available are Renee' and Sylvie.  Yikes!  Between yesterday and tonight at least ten people auditioned.  Barbra, the Director, said they'd call tomorrow to let us know.  Gulp!

365

Today I am going to go audition for a play I did at BarnLot about 13 years ago..."The Odd Couple". I was Vera...so I am going to try out for that part again.  I loved that character!

365

I got all of my pictures up in the front room.  I painted the frames black, and matted them.  The three by themselves are the mandalas that Sara Goff made for the girls and me for our birthdays.  I've been waiting to get them up for a long time.  I don't know how well you can see them, but I made one picture with three mandalas to put above the shelf.  I am completely done with the house now. The only reason it took me this long is the fact that I had to paint seven coats of black paint on the frames before they looked good enough to hang.  Talk about time consuming!

365

I got all of my frames painted..and hung everything up before Sheila came to visit!  I'm still not happy with the wall behind the tv.  Something about it is bothering me.

The Truth about Christmas Revisited

This morning in formation I was told to tell my children the real story behind Christmas. "And it's not Santa." I was then told it was about our lord Jesus, his personal savior. Well first off, fuck you dude. OK now we can have a rational talk. I have actually talked to my children about the truth behind this holiday season. I have also shared these tales with anyone who cared to read. Below is a list of links for those of you that weren't reading along a few years ago. And for the record, I am not trying to dissuade anyone from their faith (if the truth can do that you've got problems you shouldn't blame on me anyway). If your church leaders tell you to celebrate jesus' birthday (the Bible wouldn't -as he was Jewish, he would have seen it as a sin to celebrate it himself) or family tradition forces you to participate, all I really ask is for you to stop using your positions of authority to push it on people who may not agree. Cause if they did they wouldn't need your two cents anyway. Asshole, sorry had to get one more in. Gingerbread men - http://laforestgump.blogspot.com/search?q=christmas Christmas lights- http://laforestgump.blogspot.com/2009/12/12-days-of-truth-real-meaning-of_15.html Stockings - http://laforestgump.blogspot.com/2009/12/12-days-of-truth-real-meaning-of_16.html The wreath - http://laforestgump.blogspot.com/2009/12/12-days-of-truth-real-meaning-of_17.html Mistletoe - http://laforestgump.blogspot.com/2009/12/12-days-of-truth-real-meaning-of_18.html Caroling - http://laforestgump.blogspot.com/2009/12/12-days-of-truth-real-meaning-of_19.html Candy Canes - http://laforestgump.blogspot.com/2009/12/12-days-of-truth-real-meaning-of_20.html The Yule log - http://laforestgump.blogspot.com/2009/12/12-days-of-truth-real-meaning-of_188.html The tree - http://laforestgump.blogspot.com/2009/12/12-days-of-truth-real-meaning-of_21.html Santa - http://laforestgump.blogspot.com/2009/12/12-days-of-truth-real-meaning-of_23.html Christmas eve - http://laforestgump.blogspot.com/2009/12/12-days-of-truth-real-meaning-of_24.html The "story behind Christmas" - http://laforestgump.blogspot.com/2009/12/12-days-of-truth-real-meaning-of_25.html

365

Isn't that the best color?  This is from our back yard, and the building you see is Miah's school.  It's so close that I can see her during recess (when they have it).

2011 Happiness Ranking of the States.

• Hawaii: 71.1
• North Dakota: 70.5
• Alaska: 69.4
• Nebraska: 68.4
• Minnesota: 68.3
• Colorado: 68.3
• Utah: 68.1
• New Hampshire: 67.9
• Iowa: 67.9
• Kansas: 67.8
• Vermont: 67.8
• Maryland: 67.8
• Massachusetts: 67.7
• South Dakota: 67.6
• Virginia: 67.6
• California: 67.5
• Washington: 67.2
• Oregon: 67.2
• Montana: 67.1
• Connecticut: 66.9
• Arizona: 66.9
• New Mexico: 66.8
• Idaho: 66.7
• Wisconsin: 66.6
• Maine: 66.6
• Texas: 66.6
• New Jersey: 66.5
• Wyoming: 66.5
• North Carolina: 66.5
• Rhode Island: 66.2
• Illinois: 66.2
• Georgia: 66.2
• Delaware: 66.0
• Nevada: 65.9
• Pennsylvania: 65.8
• Michigan: 65.8
• South Carolina: 65.7
• Florida: 65.4
• New York: 65.2
• Missouri: 65.1
• Alabama: 65.1
• Indiana: 64.9
• Arkansas: 64.9
• Oklahoma: 64.8
• Tennessee: 64.7
• Louisiana: 64.6
• Ohio: 64.4
• Mississippi: 63.6
• Kentucky: 63.0
• West Virginia: 62.4

Red Alert!!  We've gone DOWN FROM GA!  Is that possible? Every state I've ever lived in is at the bottom of the list.  Explains a lot.

365

I'm listening to "A Prairie Home Companion" and cleaning my room (or I was, anyway). We've had  a busy day today, but for now I'm relaxing.
Jay changed up the pancakes this morning, adding blueberries to his repertoire.  I am not a big fan, so he was nice enough to make some plain for me.
While I sit on the bed and lean against the new pile of ridiculous pillows - Jay is grading the rolls of wheat pennies he got at the antique mall yesterday.   Speaking of, we went to Lebanon yesterday to check out the antique stores.  The very first one we stopped at had the cheese place (and a gas station, ew) attached to it.  I was apparently the only one who thought it was funny, but at least Miah was willing to get out of the car and have her picture taken with the big wedge of cheese.  Laurel put her foot down - no fun, that one. 
I found a double edged boot knife for when Laurel starts dating.  I caught her later in the kitchen looking at it and smiling while she did her little " I'm excited" sway.  I knew she had some of me in her! She's under orders to keep it hidden until she's older.
Jay got a day off on Friday for donating blood that morning.  He still worked a couple of hours, but came home in time for lunch, so we took our free couple of hours to go look for some shelves for Laurel's room and an air mattress and sheets for Sheila's visit.   We found a really cool shelf/cabinet/dresser thing for her.  It has a brass plate that says it was made especially by the furniture company for the lady who bought it.  I thought that was a great detail.  We had to go get Laurel from school too soon to be able to take it home before hand, so we left it there and went to Sonic for some tea.  Did you know they sold apple slices and fat free caramel there?  We had some, rather than the french fries and burgers we would have been happy to eat. Yay us!  We sat in the car and ate our apples and talked for a while, and pulled out the cards from a game Jay picked out for Sheila's visit, and we were laughing our butts off while we were waiting for Boo in the parking lot.
After we got the kids we came back for the furniture - we had to make two trips in the Jeep. Jay and I carried the top part out to the car, but when we walked in to get the bottom half, as I was picking my side up this guy offered to take my side because it was to heavy (He thought) half joking I said "I'm insulted!"  and then had the gall to call Jay by his rank, and say "No, really, let me help!"  So after the third time, and while we are already carrying this thing and very carefully navigating through a crowded shop I said, "Listen dude, I'm an Army wife, and my balls are bigger than yours, buddy."  He shut up.  I only wish I could have seen his face, but my back was to him as he was trying to take the dresser from me.  For a minute I was a little ashamed that I was so crass, but then I changed my mind.  This is 2011, and when a woman says she doesn't need your help, you listen, because she means it.  Respect that.   Besides, I'm a hell of a lot tougher than that skinny little dude.  I'm pretty strong!  The last time I let a man carry something for me, the moron ripped a huge hole in my couch because he wasn't careful enough.  I prefer to do my own grunt work!
Anyway, it was a pretty good weekend.  We're all ready for our guests, so if you decide to come early, we'd only be happier!! I can't wait!!

365

I hate the commissary.  I have successfully avoided going as of now, but I accidentally sent Jay on Payday.  It's been a long time since we've had to deal with Payday traffic, so we both forgot.  It was insane, and my poor husband came back looking shell shocked.  This cartoon is no joke, it's for realz (as Laurel would say). I clipped it from the Fort Campbell newspaper forever ago, and laminated it so that it would last forever to remind me to never go back.  I forgot to put it on the fridge when we moved back to a post.  But it's front and center now!!!

Duh, Diane

I think this is a no brainer.  Women that have goals that are unrelated to the husband, house, and kids are happier.  Huh.

365

Laurel is sitting with us until the concert starts, telling us about her new band.

Isn't she cute?

Miah, as always, is dying of boredom.

Miah is so proud of her sister, she took all of the close up shots of Laurel playing.

The whole band on stage.

Now Miah looks happy!

********************************************************************************

The pictures Miah took.

***********************************************************************************

I have to get Jay up here to fix the Video, but I'll post it as soon as he does. 

365

I'll believe it when I see it.  I have a really bad feeling about the whole thing.  It doesn't really feel real.  Where's the parade?

365

I am currently painting some cheap picture frames black, and making a shelf to serve as a mantle in the front room.  These are the paintings I bought in Alaska (Anchorage).  I've been waiting to get here before I framed them and hung them.  They're going to look great (I hope!) in the front room.  I don't really have a wall space that makes sense, so I'm just going to wing it.  I'll post done pictures later. 
Sheila is coming to visit in a week or so, and we can't freaking wait!  Not that there is too much to explore here, but Jay bought a new game, and I got "Shout about TV" to play.  We are all really excited about it.  Jay is going to be working half days, but the kids will be off, so we can be free to drive around or just hang out.  Yay!

365

December sky.  The clouds were moving a million miles a minute.  I wish I could capture the movement and the feeling of rushing with a still picture.  It was wild.  The wind here is powerful. 

365

Waiting.  (For Laurel)
It's been really rainy.
It gets a bit depressing.
There is nothing to do but invent projects.  I'm not really complaining.

365

Me

365

The side view from Laurel's school.  Not much to look at...

365

Self Portrait

365

Somehow Harley knew we were coming home.  I spied her at the window when we were still on the road, so I pulled out the camera and stopped in the driveway.  How do they always know?

365

I had a dream last night that it snowed.  Then I woke up to this.  It's no blizzard, but it's definitely white stuff, and I got just a little wierded out.  I hope I'm not sleepwalking!

365

JAY let Miah buy Harley a shirt.  ?!?  Harley wore the bandana to the vet to "protect her" as Miah put it.  Harley didn't really care that Miah was "hugging her from school with the bandana" she freaked out.  When we got her, it was from a foster family who took her in after she was rescued from a puppy mill.  No one had wanted her, so they stuck her in a tiny cage, where she had no room to move and was covered in ants, fleas and ticks.  she was still pretty banged up when we got her, so I can't imagine how bad she was then.  Long story short, Harley isn't really into strangers.  Especially when they are stabbing her with needles.  I warned the guy (Who was a SPC in the Army) that she might freak out, so he had to muzzle her.  She promptly peed all over the place, and let of this stench of fear that made me gag.  My poor baby.  Dobby got the guy back though, when she bit him on the finger through the make shift muzzle.  She wasn't playing.  Harley got really upset when Dobby started crying, and lunged at the guy, but thankfully I had her leash wrapped up my arm.  I almost cried when Harley reacted that way.  It's good to know she loves her doggy sister as much as she loves us.  I don't have to worry about anyone's safety while she's around!  You may remember my last trip to the vet was when we had to put Chet to sleep, so I was already a little out of sorts.  Thankfully, though, no one was too injured at the end of the trip, and they are all up to date on their shots and are chipped in case they get lost.  Glad that's over!

365

My drawer organizers finally came from Linens and Things! My old organizers were half the size of the drawers, so I've been getting irritated about the mass of tools and silverware every day. I can't stand it when I can't find something while I'm cooking.  Now I feel better.  It still looks a bit cluttered, but I know where my stuff is.  At least until Laurel puts the dishes away.  The kid is having the worst time remembering where things go.  Ugh.