INVENTORY IS DONE !!!!!!

It has been a long time since 4:45 am this morning. I made it to the store early ... as in 5:45 am.
You know it's early in the morning when not even McDonalds is open.

This was probably the EASIEST inventory I've ever had ... they were done with the entire store in 1 hour and 45 minutes .... And we were right on target.

I am so glad that is over !!!!
Tomorrow is Oct 1 ... can you believe how fast time has flown this month?

STRESSED and sad.

Ok .. it is now 11:25 pm ... I have to be AT WORK at 6 AM for inventory. It'll be fine, but the actual inventory process drives me nuts. All I'll hear for 2 hours is beep beep beep ... PRICE-CHECK !!!

Ok .. so it's almost over. That is good.

I'd like to pay tribute to my friend Ms Vita. Ms Vita says that a lady who tells her age will tell anything ... FYI she was 92. She passed away Saturday morning. She has been like a grand-ma figure to me since my Granny passed away.

No one who met Vita couldn't walk away and not love her. She was gracious, polite, caring, loving, a true lady, and a little fiesty too.

Vita was all of 5 foot tall. She weighed about 90 lbs soaking wet. She kept her hair died jet black, and NEVER left the house with out her make-up on. She wore thick eye make up, and ruby red cheeks ... with bright lipstick. She dressed to the nines ... and liked to dress for holidays. At Christmas .. it was red and green ... with sequined shoes to match. Halloween was orange and black with the little skeleton earrings to compliment the halloween purse and necklace. On St Patty's day ... the color was green head to toe. She had such a spirit.

She played piano fluently ... and loved to dance. She and her husband were never blessed with children ... so they chose to love each other and those around them.

Ms. Vita never said a bad word to or about anyone. And she'll always be known for her rose scented perfume.

She will be missed greatly. The angels have a new ring leader.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME !!!!

I turned 36 today ... and I have had a great day. Judy, one of my co-workers made a sausage and egg breakfast casserole for me ... instead of a birthday cake. I got several really funny birthday cards. I must say that my friends know me so well. I got an olympic Teacup/saucer set. Mom and Dad gave me money to go on the new flat screen TV that I want to get to put above the fireplace. Life is great. I've lost 22 pounds now. I have wonderful friends and a great family.

Dancing with the Stars

I am so glad that we finally have some decent TV programming back on .... I LOVE DANCING WITH THE STARS !!!!!!!!!!

Ok ... so far, I don't have a favorite, but I do know one thing ... my body will NEVER move like those girls on that show... heck Cloris Leachman is 82 and she can move better than I ever could.
If you put me in heels, that is a sure sign that I'll fall flat of my face. If I could dance barefoot, there might be hope .... NOPE !!!! TOO clumsey.

I actually looked at the DANCING WITH THE STARS exercise videos. I think I'll put that on my list for Christmas.

(By the way Santa ... If you are reading this, I want a little Chinese girl in my stocking, make her about 8 months old and really cute !!! )

COOK-OUT DAY

Tonite, we had a cookout to celebrate my birthday, Mom's birthday, and Karyn B's birthday.
It was such a beautiful afternoon ... decided to have the festivities outside.

We had 21 people at Mom's house. The kids played with outside games .. and had a picnic on the ground. Maggie, Susanna, Kaleigh, Cade, Anna-Marie, Savannah, and Kennedi had a GREAT time playing together. They are such good kids.

The grown-ups had fun too. We ate burgers with the fixins, hot dogs, potato salad, baked beans, chips and cheese dip, and cake and pie.

I have such great friends. Let me just say, one more time ... I love you all.

Thanks for making my birthday week fun !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ava then and now

Then ... Dec 12, 2007 ... 1lb 6oz ... born at 24 weeks.

And Now .... It is so hard to believe that Ava is 9 months old !!!! Thru lots of prayers, she is thriving!!!

Look ... she's even eating ICE CREAM !!!!

What an incredible MIRACLE ... Ava is thriving ... and beautiful !!!

25 months since LID

It's been 25 months since my LID ... and that is all I'm going to say.

Gee .. the next few weeks are going to be BUSY for me.
Tomorrow, I am going to UCA to see the Dragon Acrobats of China.
Then I'm going to eat with some of my FCC friends at FuLin.

Sunday .. it's BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION TIME !!! We are having a cookout at Mom and Dad's house to celebrate Mom's birthday, Karyn B's birthday, and my birthday. We are cooking hamburgers and hot dogs. It should be fun.

Tuesday, I have to go to Hot Springs for a District pharmacy meeting (since I forgot about the one in Little Rock).

Next weekend, I may go to see Les Miserables at the Rep.
I have inventory at the drug store on 9-30.
I'm having a yardsale on October 10-11.

I'm working on my first 2 events as the new FCC chairman ... a playdate ... at my house ... for Halloween ... and the first Winter Solstice Festival in November.

THEN comes Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and Chinese New Year.

I should be able to unwind about ... hmmm .... FEBRUARY !!!

Maybe I can work in the Rockettes in December ... I really have enjoyed their show the 2 times I have seen it in Branson.

Branson ... hmm ... SHOPPING Trip ??? nah ... maybe I can get to a beach somewhere before it gets to cold (won't hold my breath).

So ... Happy birthday to Mom, Karyn B., Karin M., Melissa B., Susanna C., Joe B., Lisa P., and ME !!!!
(8 birthdays in 12 days ... WOW)

Moon Festival Photos

Melissa and Susanna
Kammy and Reese Allison had fun with the chocolate chip cookie.
Kelley looking a little goofy ....
Kaleigh
Riley

Me and Anna-Marie

Happy Moon Festival !!!!!!!!

"I see the moon, the moon sees me ... God bless the moon, God bless me."

Today is September 14, 2008. HAPPY MOON FESTIVAL. Our FCC group celebrated today in Jacksonville. We had mooncakes, games, and the story of Cheng-E ... the lady in the moon.

It was fun. I'll post pictures as soon as I get a chance.

If you want to learn more about the Moon Festival ... here is a website : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Autumn_Festival

Today was a beautiful day. And tonight, the full moon is gorgeous.
Part of the tradition of Moon Festival is going out and gazing at the full moon. While looking at the full moon, you are supposed to think of all that you are thankful for, and remember those you are no longer with.

Tonight, I am blessed with a wonderful family ... I have developed lasting , important friendships, and I have so many blessings from God that I can not count them all.

I remember those who are no longer with us ... My granny and pop, Uncle Paul, my nephew Alan Michael, and many others who are in heaven stirring in the formula God is using to create Mari-Grace.

And I think of Mari-Grace...has she been born? Is she safe and warm? Does she have enough food? Are there people who love her?

I think about her birth-parents. I thank them for the gift they will give me ... and I pray their hearts will be healed from their loss.

Ok ... so enough sappy.

Happy Moon Festival !!!!!!!

Just Thinkin . . . . .

2 years ago, I was anxiously awaiting my LID at this time of year. I, along with the other families in my DTC group, were getting antsy because we had been DTC since Aug 7, 2006, and we hadn't heard anything about our LID.

On my birthday ... September 25 ... I found out our LID was a month prior ... August 18, 2006.

Last year ... this time ... I was anxious again. August LID group was in the review room at the CCAA. I didn't think it was bothering me ... but I remember being anxious and having problems sleeping. It was like I had a brick pressing on my shoulders all of the time.

Once again .. on my birthday ... I found out that August had made it thru the review room.

Now ... here I am .. just waiting. Life is good. Work is good. My family is good. I have so many blessings. I'm so thankful to be where I am in life. Each day is a step closer the end of the journey .... and the beginning of a lifelong adventure.

I HATE MOTH BALLS !!!!!

Ok .. I'm actually getting junk together for my yard sale. I found a tote full of winter clothes in the garage ... haven't worn them in 2 or 3 years. The stench of moth balls is stuck in my head.

Well ... tomorrow, I head back to the old grindstone. I am ready to get back to work ... into a normal routine.

If I don't get back to work ... I may fall and really hurt myself. I say that because I have fallen 3 times in the last week. First, I tripped over a suitcase in the parking lot of the rental car place in Boston. Then, last Wednesday, I had to go pick up a package at the airport. The floor was slick ... so were my croc's and down I went again ... Same knee !!!
Then to top it all off ... Saturday ... I cleaned out the bathtub. Drrr ... I wasn't thinking that the clean tub might be slick...IT WAS ... I fell over the side of the tub and into the toilet.

JUST PRAY I STAY ON MY FEET !!!!

I feel like I've been in a fight, and my legs are battered and bruised.

New Bedford and Fairhaven, MA

The first few photos are of some of the buildings donated in the early 1900's by Standard Oil Tycoon, Henry Huttleston Rogers. Millicent Library
Fairhaven Town Hall
Unitarian Church ... This church was phenomenal. There was a wedding going on as I was taking these photos. At the end of the wedding, as the Bride and Groom were coming outside, the bells, in the bell tower, began to ring.

Unitarian Church

The next set of Photos are of the New Bedford Historic District in Downtown New Bedford. This is the area of town Herman Mellville explored before boarding the sea vessel, the Achusnet and going out on the high seas.

Formerly the First Bank of New Bedford ... this building is now home to the Visitor's Center
Part of the New Bedford Whaling Museum
The New Bedford Whaling Museumk
#1 Johnnie Cake Hill
(OOOPS ... this should've been in the Fairhaven section ... It is Fairhaven High School)

The Customs House ... the oldest operating customs house in the US.
Mariner's Home ... this served as a home for the sea merchants.

Seaman's Bethel ... this is the church that inspired the "Whaleman's Chapel"

in Moby Dick ... written by Herman Mellville. The inside of the church has a boat bow as a pulpit. This is the church where Chris and Meredith got married.

FAMILY PHOTOS

My Mom and her brother Johnny (this is like looking at my grand-parents)
Inside Seaman's Bethel ... where Chris and Meredith got married
Me and Uncle John ... Yup ... I was plain old tired.
Me and my cousin, John Jr., at the wedding ... we always called him Little John.
Mom and Dad before the wedding ... they clean up pretty good.
My Cousin, Teresa (in gray) with her son and daughter, Andrew and Kelsey.
The Bride and Groom .... Meredith and Christopher
Daddy with Little John's Wife, Robin, and their kids ... Molly, Bailey, and Johnny III.
Uncle John, Aunt Marilyn, Lil'John, Robin, Molly, Bailey, and Johnny
Uncle John, Aunt Marilyn, and Bailey

The Grand Kids ... Back .. Andrew, Christopher, Johnny, Kelsey

Front: Molly and Bailey
My cousins ... John and Teresa with Baby John
Christopher and Teresa ... Mother -- Groom dance
Meredith and Christopher ... their first dance.

coming soon ... family photos and photos of New Bedford, MA

Boston Photos

King's Chapel ... 1st Anglican Church in Boston ... after Revolutionary War was changed to Unitarian Church.

King's Chapel Burying Grounds

Site of graves for first Governor of Massachusets Bay Colony, John Winthrop

William Dawes ... the fella that road with Paul Revere during his Midnight Ride

Mary Chilton ... the first woman in New England

Elizabeth Pain ... the woman who inspired the character Hester Prynne in Hawthorne's book , The Scarlett Letter.

Mmmm ... mmmm....good !!!!!!!!

The Freedom Trail is marked by a red brick line in the sidewalks, and medallions like this one.

The Granary Burying Grounds

3 signers of the Declaration of Independence are burried here .... John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and Robert Treat Payne.

Paul Revere is burried here.

The 5 victims of the Boston Massacre ... including Crispus Attucks, the first black male to die for the cause of the revolution.

Ben Franklin's Parents are also burried here.

Elizabeth "Mother" Goose is burried here.

The white obelisk at the center of the photo marks the grave of Ben Franklin's parents.

The USS Constitution ... the oldest commissioned war vessel still in operation. Nicknamed "Old Ironsides", the vessel sailed first on Oct 12, 1797. To maintain her commission, the ship must sail 1 nautical mile per year. Each year, on July 4th , the ship is sailed 1/2 nautical mile into the harbor and 1/2 nautical mile back.

In the background, you see a monument. This monument is in Charleston, MA and marks the Battle of Bunker Hill.
Steeple of the Old North Church. This is where the gentleman hung the lantern to signal the coming of the British Army ... starting the famous ride of Paul Revere.
This is the Old State House ... site of the British Government in Colonial Days. The Declaration of Independence was read, from the balcony, to the citizens of Boston in 1776. The Unicorn and Lion seen on the roof are symbols of British Government. It is said that these symbols were removed after the Revolutionary War.

This is smack in the middle of the street. Why is this piece of cobblestone important??? It marks the sight of the Boston Massacre. One of the events that triggered the Revolutionary War.
Bankworth Garden ... arena for the Boston Celtics.
Customs House (white building with the clock) ... and the skyline of the Boston Financial District.

Faneuil Hall

King's Chapel ... the first Anglican

Inside Courtyard By Marriott Boston Tremont Hotel

Park Street Church
View of Boston from Boston Harbor

Theatre District on Tremont St

Wang Theatre Building

Commonwealth Avenue

To be a Chinatown, there MUST be a gate. This is the gate to Boston's Chinatown. Boston's Chinatown is the 3rd largest in the USA.

The "Falling Down Building" or "Dr Suess Building" ... campus of M.I.T.

Outside of Courtyard by Marriott Boston Tremont Hotel

Boston Public Library (with flags). In background, we see the New Old South Church.

Boston Skyline from Bridge over Charles River from Boston to Cambridge.

Buildings come in all shapes and sizes in Boston. Some are round, some triangle. Great architecture.

More Photos of Chinatown.

The Citgo Sign ... often seen during Boston Red Sox games played at Fenway Park.


Homes on Beacon Street ... the MOST EXPENSIVE Real Estate in Boston.

More homes on Beacon St.

Beantown Trolley

Boston Common
Boston Harbor