My visit with Kate!

Everyone wants to see new photos -- so here they are from our visit with Kate last weekend! She is so cute, but when she gets mad, she doesn't want anyone but her "mama"! She was screaming when we arrived Fri. nite, but calmed down (with Casey) so we could go eat at Stacy's favorite restaurant, Cracker Barrell! We had a new waitress, so it was slow going on getting our drinks and food, and Stacy didn't quite get the chicken salad he wanted, but my pancakes were great and the coffee revived me to enjoy visiting until bedtime.

On Sat. we drove to Nashville to the Opry Mills Mall to shop. I didn't buy a thing! (I had already shopped some for Kate before we went up!) Kate did so good all day sleeping in her stroller -- and I would sit and push while Casey did some shopping. The boys enjoyed a tool store and Bass Pro Shop! On the way back, we stopped in Franklin to eat dinner at a Mexican restaurant, Nachos, with my high school friend Dottie and her husband Doug (it was Doug's birthday). I haven't seen Dottie since our last class reunion several years ago, and we had a great time catching up!

On Sun. before we left, I helped Casey put a tree stencil on the wall in Kate's bedroom. It was a stick-on stencil she got a Ikea in Atlanta while visiting Anna the first of last week. So Kate visited two new states last week -- at the age of 2 months! Oh, how long can I wait to go back?

Happy Birthday, MawMaw!

I should have posted this photo back at Easter -- which was MawMaw's birthday! We had the family over for lunch and celebrated her 78th birthday!

Am I causing global warming?

Today is Earth Day -- and that's all anyone has talked about on TV all day long. I love the earth and do everything in my power to take care of it. I don't litter. I recycle cans -- in fact our Civic Club has a recycling trailer at the Piggly Wiggly. I don't recycle paper, glass and plastic because there's no place in town to put it -- but I should. We live on a farm and take care of our land and don't let it erode. Our cows are happy cows. I love trees and plants and we've replanted to replace trees that have died.

However, I'm not convinced of all of Al Gore and the mainstream media's global warming hype. I've heard too many scientists with opposing views -- they just can't get view time with the mainstream media that makes fun of anyone without their liberal views. And we know how upright and honest they are, don't we? Remember Y2K? They had us all in fear of our lives and the destruction of the earth at midnight on Dec. 31, 1999. They also called everyone who was in favor of the Tea Parties "gun-toting rednecks."

So now this latest turn in the global warming debate -- that fat and chubby people are causing global warming! GIVE ME A BREAK! First it was cows -- now it's fat! Read the article.

Our government will not be happy until it is controlling every single aspect of our lives -- and taxing us to death!

This week, Congress is holding hearings about energy and global warming. Watch out next for Cap and Trade Taxes -- they may call it credits, but it's tax on anything that requires energy to produce it -- and that includes everything. It won't just be your electric bill -- it will be gasoline, automobiles, food, entertainment . . . EVERYTHING! This is just another way to tax you without calling it a tax.

You can read an editorial about this issue on Fox News.com -- and please go to http://www.ourenergy.coop/ to voice your opinion to your legislators. Both of our Senators in Alabama oppose Cap & Trade as well as our Representative. But please, this is one issue you can't be silent on.

I know I'm back on my soapbox, but it's time for the "silent majority" to be vocal. If not, it will be too late to undo.

Honkey Tonk Angels

I just found out there's a new SEACT production May 5-9 -- "The Honkey Tonk Angels" -- at the Cultural Arts Center in Dothan! Here's what their website says about it:

"Got some Boots Made for Walkin’? Well, skip that meeting with the Harper Valley PTA and spend some time with a trio of unforgettable Angels! Three wannabe country singers meet on a Greyhound bus bound for Nashville. Angela leaves her trailer in Texas, Darlene her porch in the Mississippi Delta, and Sue Ellen, her desk job in Los Angeles. In Nashville the trio joins with a country blue grass band, trades in their blue denim overalls for rhinestones at the Hillbilly Heaven, and delivers the best of classic country songs of Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn and Kitty Wells and the contemporary favorites of Dolly Parton, Pam Tillis, and Reba. There’s a little rock, a little more gospel, and a whole lot of country – not to mention roller skating, baton twirling, spike heels, and a dancin’ dress slit cleanup to her hips."

Anyone interested in going with me, let me know! It starts at 7:30 p.m. each night and I was thinking either Tues., May 5, or Thurs., May 7. Find out about the cast and crew at: The Southeast Alabama Community Theatre

Skyping Miss Kate!

We just had our weekly "Skype" to see baby Kate! She has grown and changed so much since we saw her last month! She's filled out and is gaining weight -- Casey calls her "Miss Piggy," but she's not fat! She's precious! We're going up next weekend for a visit, and I can't wait. Stacy loves the last photo of her in her little Auburn suit!

It's Tax Day!

Today is tax day and I'm watching all the "Tea Parties" being held all over the country through Fox News. I keep having to explain to people what exactly a "tea party" is! No, it's not a bunch of society ladies sitting around a table in their fox furs with a nice cup of tea!

Remember your history -- the Boston Tea Party -- when the colonists got tired of England taxing them without representation? The increase on the tea tax just drove them over the edge, and they boarded the merchant ships in Boston Harbor loaded with tea (they drank alot of tea back then - guess it was their English roots) -- then they dumped all the tea into the harbor. It was a form of protest -- and was the start to the revolution that formed our country.

The purpose behind these "grass roots" (the little people banding together) Tea Parties is to protest increasing taxes and huge bailouts -- the government throwing our money away. We may have representation -- but that representation has lost touch with the regular people. No one uses common sense any more -- it's all about filling their pockets to get re-elected.

"Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys." -- P.J. O'Rourke

Blessed Easter!

Ah, what a blessed Easter Sunday! It was also MawMaw's birthday . . . so I did lunch here at the house for her birthday -- the easy way! We had Easter Cajun turkey, home-made potato salad (I have been craving some nice fresh warm potato salad, so this was the only home-made thing I made), green beans, asparagus, macaroni and cheese (frozen), deviled eggs (I did made these), Sister Schubert rolls and 10-layer chocolate cake (thanks to Becky Watson - what a cook!).




My brother Walker and his son Charles came down from South Carolina to be with us for Easter! So we had them, my Mom, MawMaw, Greg and Jessi! It was so nice visiting, and everyone pitched in to help with clean-up. Of course I missed having the girls here, but Anna called from California before lunch and we web-cammed with Casey, John and Kate after lunch. I didn't make it to church, but I think the Lord will understand. He has blessed me so with a good recouperation following my surgery, but I don't want to push it too hard and mess anything up. So now I will take it easy for the remainder of the day!

Happy blessed Easter to everyone. The Lord is so good, and I thank Him for my salvation!

Happy Birthday, Barbie!

Congratulations to Barbie! It's her 50th birthday this year!

Actually, this photo is just wishing! Didn't you ever wish that Barbie aged just like we do? She'd get gray hair, gain a little middle-age weight, have hot flashes and vericose veins! Her feet couldn't wear those high heels any more and her arches would ache!

I remember my first Barbie! I was five, and my mom took me to the Ben Franklin Store (a pre-Wal-Mart 5 and dime) and I picked her out. I got the black haired Barbie with the black and white striped bathing suit. Come to think of it, there were only two styles -- black or blonde hair! She had the coolest pony-tail with a little hair wrapped around the rubber band. She had her own wire stand and slip-on high heels! I thought she was soooo cool!

My best friend Barbara and I collected some "original" Barbie clothes, but they were expensive. There was a little old lady in our neighborhood (she must have been at least 50!) who made Barbie clothes for us. And my mom made clothes for my sister Susan and me. We had the best time playing with our Barbies -- making food and designing houses in the closet with left-over fabric from my mom. My Barbie even had a "fur stole"! In fact, I went on Ebay a couple of years ago and found that black slinky dress with the net fanning out at the bottom -- I had that dress and loved it!

Poor Barbie -- my original one lost her head -- literally. I don't think my brother Walker did it, but somehow her head broke off at the neck -- and you couldn't push it back in like you can now! My dad tried to fix her with a nail and some kind of funky epoxy he liked to use for everything (don't ask). If we just had Gorilla Glue back then!

Then along came Ken and Madge and Barbie's little sister -- what was her name? I think it started with a "T". Wow, was I wrong -- her name was Skipper! I liked her because she had long straight hair and was more like a teenager.

One day, I decided I was too old to play with Barbies any more and gave away all my cool stuff to the little girl I babysat for across the street. Man, do I regret that! I would have loved to have been able to pass all my cool Barbie stuff down to my girls -- and my granddaughter! At least Susan didn't give hers away, and I still had her Barbie and Ken.

I didn't know this, but Barbie's full name is Barbie Millicent Roberts, and she was officially 'born' on March 9, 1959, in (fictional) Willows, Wisconsin. March 9th of 1959 was the date that the doll was first introduced at the annual New York Toy Fair.

So here's to Barbie -- she's just a little younger than me -- but she sure has aged better than me! But I never resented her for it. There's a price you have to pay for fame -- she had to diet and work out too much to keep that shape. And I've heard she had some "work" done too! Here's the latest on the new "Realistic Barbies":

REALISTIC BARBIE:

1. Bifocals Barbie. Comes with her own set of blended-lens fashion frames in six wild colors (half-frames too!), neck chain, and large-print editions of Martha Stewart Living.
2. Hot Flash Barbie. Press Barbie's bellybutton and watch her face turn beet red while tiny drops of perspiration appear on her forehead. Comes with handheld fan.
3. Facial Hair Barbie. As Barbie's hormone levels shift, see her whiskers grow. Available with teensy tweezers and magnifying mirror.
4. Flabby Arms Barbie. Hide Barbie's droopy triceps with these new,roomier-sleeved gowns. Good news on the tummy front, two-MuMus with tummy-support panels are included.
5. Bunion Barbie. Years of disco dancing in stiletto heels have definitely taken their toll on Barbie's dainty arched feet. Soothe her sores with the pumice stone and plasters, then slip on soft terry mules.
6. No-More-Wrinkles Barbie. Erase those pesky crow's-feet and lip lines with a tube of Skin Sparkle-Spackle, from Barbie's own line of exclusive age-blasting cosmetics.
7. Soccer Mom Barbie. All that experience as a cheerleader is really paying off as Barbie dusts off her old high school megaphone to root for Babs and Ken, Jr.
8. Mid-life Crisis Barbie. It's time to ditch Ken. Barbie needs a change, and Alonzo (her personal trainer) is just what the doctor ordered, along with Prozac. Includes a real tape of "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do."
9. Divorced Barbie. Sells for$ 199.99. Comes with Ken's house, Ken's car, and Ken's boat.
10. Post-Menopausal Barbie. This Barbie wets her pants when she sneezes, forgets where she puts things, and cries a lot. She is sick and tired of Ken sitting on the couch watching the tube, clicking through the channels. Comes with Depends and Kleenex.

Kate's first photo shoot . . .

Having a photographer mom can be a good thing . . . or a bad thing! Casey and Anna had a photo shoot of Kate last weekend and took some really great photos. Here are a couple, by Casey Cooper Photography! Such talented children! Anna did her logo -- Anna Hatcher Design! This photo below is my favorite!

Support Team Eleanor and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation!

I am finally beginning to feel human again -- surgery went well and I'm on the mend -- still sore and moving slow, but each day gets better!

Our friends Patricia and Buddy Guilford's granddaughter, Eleanor Guilford, was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) last year. Eleanor's parents, Robert and Coleen, grew up in Hartford. Eleanor is now 14 months old and doing well. She has had one CF related sickness this past year, but thankfully with great care is doing well.

Many genetic diseases receive funding from the government, but CF does not. It depends on donations to fund research and treatment. That is why Eleanor's family is so passionate about getting involved and doing what they can to help Eleanor and the other thousands of children that suffer with this disease. That is why they -- and those of us who know and love this family -- are doing what we can to help raise support to fight this disease.

I know these are difficult times economically, but if you can make a donation to help Eleanor and others with CF, please do so -- she is such a blessing. Just look at that precious face! You can view the website and read the letter from her mother, Coleen. It will explain in more detail about CF, and allow you to know a little more about Eleanor.

If you are unable to support financially, please pray for Eleanor and all of those with CF. Another young lady, Kate Brannon Wells, age 28, passed away this week after her life-long battle with CF. She left behind a young son, only 7 years old.

You can also contact your legislators and ask that they include funding for CF in future legislation.

No April Fools joke!

I'm going in for surgery in the morning -- well, really, it's in just a couple of hours now. Not sleepy, and I don't know if I could sleep if I laid down. A little anxious -- just ready to get it over with. Female stuff, you know!

My kids encouraged me to watch Gray's Anatomy -- and that's not a good thing if you're going in the hospital. I haven't spent the night in a hospital since I had Anna -- and that was almost 26 years ago! She was born in the "old" Flowers Hospital one week before they moved into the new hospital on Hwy. 84! And every time I've been there with my mom or Stacy's mom in the hospital, I see some of Stacy's past students working there. Not sure I want them looking at my near-naked body!

Since it has rained so much lately, our septic tank is "tanked out" -- so tonight I went to the office to disinfect myself for surgery! We have showers there in case we need to put workers up after a hurricane. Came in convenient tonight! It's stopped raining for a while, so hopefully I can take my second disinfectant shower at home in the morning. I have to be there by 5:00 a.m. -- at least I don't have to do hair and makeup! I'll let you know how everything "comes out" -- ha, ha! Wish me luck -- it's April Fool's Day!