A "weighty" subject...

What is the deal with the fickle media? No! What is the deal with the fickle world?
There is a big scandal about Jessica Simpson putting on "all" this weight. OK, first let me preface this by stating that she is not my favorite person on the earth. In fact, I have MUCH opinion about the poor girl, so this isn't a blog to defend her because I'm a fan...
I am wondering what the deal is with people and weight. But it isn't just about anyone's weight, it is about women and weight. As a girl turned woman who has struggled with the weight issue most of my life, I have to say that I am totally disgusted. It amazes me how everyone is so critical of women looking a certain way and so much of it has to do with weight.

1/23/09 ---> Happy Friday Folks

I have a bunch of things that I thought I would blog on today, but it is to no avail. As my fingers tap these keys, they struggle to contruct words, much less sentences.
So instead, I stop, look around and realize that the weather is gorgeous outside and there...there he is! FRIDAY! He is here and I am thrilled! So glad he is gracing us with his presence today!

Have a great weekend!!


A happy birthday and congrats on his engagement going out to Mitch!!
AND a VERY happy Birthday to little Mary Casey who turned two this week!!!

Some dreams just may never come true....

So yesterday we experienced the first ever elected African American President. First, I think it is a bit sad that it is about the color of our skin, but all in all, I do still understand its significance.

I watched the inauguration and this morning I read all the articles. I thought...wow! A dream has come true. All day, everyday, I see dreams coming true for people all around me. Dreams of owning a home. Finding someone that will love us unconditionally. Dreams of having the "perfect" job. Dreams of getting an education.
I am amazed how everyday, there are dreams that are coming true for so many people, including myself. But in all of those awesome dreams coming true, I also am beginning to understand and accept that some dreams just may never come true.

It is sad. Something I don't want to accept, but regardless if I want to or not, it will stay true. My personality has always been one where I say, "never say never". In most things I run in at full charge and don't let anything or anyone get in my way. Words are idle. Blockades are futile. There is something I believe to be true and hell or high water, I am going to come to realize it.

I feel that for most all things. But today, for whatever reason, I woke and as soon as I opened my eyes, under my breathe I whispered, "You will never be a mother. This dream is not for you." Even as I scribe these words now, I have a lump in my throat and I fight the water that gathers in my eyes. To this hopeless dream, I concede. I will no longer collect baby stuff for my children. I will no longer research names to find their perfect meaning for my perfect kids. I will no longer live my life as if one day it will no longer be just mine. I will no longer look at pictures of happy families and think, "one day that will be me".

After a handful of miscarriages, false pregnancies and tears shed in joy and in pain at the same time, I concede. I am done wondering why.

I will no longer hope and be disappointed. I will no longer act ungrateful when my life is so full of so many other amazing things! I will no longer act like a selfish child wanting it all. I will be completely grateful, not just partially.

As I release this hopeless dream and accept that my role is not to be mother, I have to believe my heart will begin to heal. In so many things, I continue to believe despite. But in this area....I am tired. I am empty. I am done. I know that some dreams just may never come true.

Happy Martin Luther King Day

I very much believe that "birds of a feather flock together" and that we can tell what kind of person you are by the company you keep. One amazing day, when I was at the Hamilton Unit in Bryant, TX, I got to meet a man that worked and marched with Martin Luther King. He was an amazing man! Although the years shown in his face, his eyes were kind,his smile was warm and his mind was full of images and experiences that we can only dream about. He spoke and tho his voice was not loud or rough, everyone stopped to hear him. Every word that came out of his mouth yielded so much strength, influence and inspiration.

Of course, all I get to see and know of Mr. King are his scribed and recorded speeches, however, that day, I really felt that I got to feel, for a moment, in that prison, what it would have been like to walk a moment with a man of such incredible passion! I am grateful.

Today, I take a moment to honor a man who has left such an incredible legacy and I am hopeful for all the tomorrow's that follow tomorrow!

From one of my favorites, Dr Seuss

I am a BIG fan of Dr Seuss. I think I always have been. As a little girl, I used to LOVE to read. My mom would buy me books with cassettes that had music and someone reading the story so I could read along with the tape. (Boy, am I dating myself with the tape thing or what?!?!)

Anyway, I had all kinds of favorite books, but one of my favorite authors hands down has and continues to be Dr Seuss. His book, "Oh! The Places You'll Go" is one of my fav's!

Anyway, I read this quote and thought it so true!


“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." ~Dr. Seuss


I think it speaks so much to the essence of unconditional love. Regardless the crazy shin-na-ni-gins that come out of our lives sometimes, those who truly matter can see beyond it and know our core is solid. They will love us despite. They will believe in who we are no matter what.

For me, this is personal because I am so dynamic. I am often tough to love. More times than not, I make no sense. Because I am passionate, I am here, there & everywhere at one time and wonder why those around me can't keep up. I am stubborn and sometimes my first response is to argue. I have strong convictions that seem immovable. I am loud and opinionated. I don't have a reputation for being very tolerant much less patient. I am often very insensitive which makes me a horrible friend. The list of my flaws as a "good" human being go on and on.

HOWEVER, that is just the outside...the facade. There is so much more to me.
(This is where my initial instinct is to list the traits and examples that contradict the above mentioned, but for whatever reason, I don't feel I need to do that.)

The point of all this is that despite these flaws, those who matter don't mind and those that mind don't matter. I feel blessed to be surrounded by so many that just don't mind! *SHE SMILES*

Have a great weekend!!

Question:: Who gives a blind guy a high five??

Answer:: Ryan Seacrest!!!

It is stinkin' hysterical! I saw it and I had to post it!!! I guess the reason I think it is SO funny is because as a huge claude myself, I am both embarrassed and sympathetic for him! ROFL! Stinkin' hysterical!!



In case my link thing doesn't work, you can cut and paste it from below, it's only a few seconds....what a claude!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3bJBGpF5hc

Life is what makes it real!

So many of you know that Terry is an avid hunter. In his house, there are many "decorations" that are made of animals that once took in air on this great earth. LOL! (It cracks me up that I am even so light about that!!)

So the other day, we were rearranging things in his house and he has this gorgeous mount of a duck with it's wings spread wide open. When hung, it looks amazing on the wall because of its size and wide wingspan. I was standing there holding this stuffed duck as he drove the nail into the wall and I said, "Gosh, it totally feels like it's real." He stops mid-hammer, turns around and looks at me as he shakes his head and smiles. I say, "what", unsure of what he is looking at me like that for.

He says, "Baby, it IS real!"

Selah! (meaning pause and reflect)

"Well, I know it is real, what I meant is that it isn't REALLY REAL!"

(screeching brake sound inserted here)

What the heck!??!?! What am I saying?!?

OK...let's rewind for a second. I am holding a stuffed duck. It has the same feathers & feet and beak it did when it was wading in it's little pond moments before Terry took him out. That means, the stuffed duck that I am holding is the real deal right?

Well, it got me to thinking...

What makes things/people/situations, etc "real" to me is the life behind it. And I don't mean the simply-breathing-to-consume-oxygen kind of life. I mean the REAL living! The kind of life that stops you every once in a while right smack dab in the middle of your day and makes you sigh with a smile because you are grateful. The kind that feels like that moment you just lived, that memory you just created is the best thing that could ever happen to you and it happens over and over again! The kind of life where even complete strangers peep into your life for 15 seconds and are completely jealous. The kind of life that is doing its intended purpose, on purpose! (you might have to read that one a couple of times to really get it)

I guess to me, that duck with its real feathers, feet and beak wasn't real because there was no life to it. It no longer had any substance, any love(if ducks can feel love), passion, purpose and meaning.

I think LIFE, true life, is what makes things real.

The incredible, edible egg!

So the other day, a question came to me via my BFF from a woman who us very much an un-sung hero in my life. The question she posed was "How do you like your eggs?" I know why she was asking, however, to that I am not blogging today. I am blogging simply to answer the direct question and not necessarily the why of the question. SO....to answer the question as to how do I like my eggs, here it is::


A variety of different ways. It just depends on my mood!

Sometimes I like to have Huevos Rancheros when I am in the mood for a bigger breakfast because I like that it is spicy and I can eat it with beans. But I don't like them when it is one of those "coffee mornings" because it just doesn't go together. I love coffee mornings, so the Huevo Ranchero mornings don't come often, but I enjoy them when I can sacrifice my coffee comfort.

There are sometimes that I like my eggs scrambled. I like to put them in a flour tortilla with some turkey bacon, cheese and Pace picante sauce. That, coupled with some yummy coffee reminds me of camping, hunting and the country....this is probably one of my fav's.

Then there are those days that I just really HAVE to have eggs benedict...just because I love the Hollindaise(sp?) and hashbrowns (extra well done). But these days are few and far between because I like to eat these at IHOP and that place holds memories I am still trying to file away right now. But I still enjoy the meal! (o=

Then there are days that I drive myself crazy trying to find the perfect Chorizo!! When I just want a taste of home, I MUST have my eggs with Chorizo....this meal is sometimes bittersweet. But again, I enjoy it none-the-less.

I can't stand hard boiled eggs.

Eggs over-easy are ok...but they aren't my preference.

(she looks up thinking)

... if I can have my eggs however the heck I want...then I think I will have it my way!!! (she smiles)

Part 3 :: Abby's New Wheels

WOW! Just a quick note.

Abby's is only 2 and her parents already got her her first set of wheels! It is a John Deer, of course! Corrie took her outside the other day to ride it and I had to snap some pic's....LOOK AT HER FACE!!!! WOW! AMAZING!!

Part 2 :: The Tree

I had to post this. Check out this tree. It is in the middle of this large pasture.
There is nothing else lit up around it....just the tree alone. Again, my photography skills lack much so I don't think I even do it justice, but it seems so eerie. Since it is so pitch black out there, notice the still glow the lights create in the place of its shadow. ...and how the HECK did they get these lights on there!


(You can click on the pictures to see them larger)

Part 1 :: What a drive!!!

Greetings all!
OK! I am SOOO excited about posting this, I can hardly contain myself! I may trip over my words and have all kinds of chaos going on here, but I HAVE to tell you about my drive after work yesterday!! SO AWESOME!! I had a bunch of work stuff to do all day, so I am barely getting to it right now....

OK. So, I leave work and everything around me is ice! As I step outside, the cold bites the tip of my nose, my eyeballs say, "bbrr" and I can feel the stale cold running through my curly head....yikes! It is C-O-L-D!

I get in the car and as I sit there waiting for it to warm up, I look around and see that all the branches on the trees glistening as the sun hits them. It's as if each branch was dipped in ice....SO cool! (pun completely intended!) (o=

I reach back and get my camera.

As I am driving, I take the back country roads because I love the country. I am driving slowly looking at the crystal country all around me when at a distance, I see two Shetlands.(Mini-horses- I LOVE THEM. I WANT THEM.) Not only are there two little horses as cute as can be, but they have two owners attached to them...uh..."walking" them...on LEASHES!!! What the?!?!? Oh my!!
I pull over, step out of my car and say, "I know you all are going to think I am crazy, but can I take a picture?" The woman smiles at me warmly and with her Texas drawl says, "Shur, we down't think yer crAzee". The little girl takes the pink leash attached to the pink bridle and yanks on it to pull the horse around for the perfect pic. We stand there and talk animals for about 20 minutes....SO neat!!! AAHHH...I love the country! I love the people! I love the animals! I love the smell!





....OK, OK, I'll stop...but I DO love it! (She smiles)

After my interaction with them, I get in my car and drive on. As I drive, I got through a tunnel of trees that are crystallized by the cold....it reminds me of the ICE exhibit I saw at the Gaylord Texan. There was a tunnel make of branches that were covered in ice with a blue light behind them. As I snapped back from my memory, I found myself pulling over. I grabbed my camera and started snapping some pictures. I look at them as I attach them to this blog and they just don't do justice to how gorgeous it was out there! But I hope you get the idea.






I stand there for a moment taking in the silence, feeling winter's touch on my any exposed skin. I take a deep breath. I think, "It's a new year. It was a tough last year, but it is a new year." I close my eyes. "It is a new year. This is my new life. I am grateful."

Just a quick HELLO

Greetings and Happy New Year!

I hope when you read this you are in good spirits and good health!
2009 is upon us once more...amazing! Time has completely flown! I don't have a lot to write on this morning, just thought I would drop a quick message to say Happy New Year. I have lots on my mind, so I will write more later...hope all is well with all!
If you are reading this, drop me a line and let me know you are well. It is funny because I have NO idea who reads this....it would be nice to know who my audience is!!

All the best!