Thought for the Day

"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.

The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."

- Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931 – 2005

Popsicle anyone?

So this is basically for Mama... She always seems to know what's going on here in Louisville before I do. So yeah, we're having an ice/snow "storm". And no, we're probably not fully prepared with food - or anything for that matter - if the power were to go out for a few days. That reminds me, I should look for that flashlight.

Anyway, once again, Matt thinks I'm crazy for going outside to take a picture of this, but I've never seen ice like this before!

And what's that in the background? That's two inches of snow covered with a thick layer of ice. Basically impossible to walk on... should be interesting to see what tomorrow looks like after the additional snow we're expecting tonight!

I'm just gonna take a long shot and say I'll be the only person working in Louisville again tomorrow...

The unfairness of life

So, it snowed last night. And right now, I just called Matt into my office to look out the window at the falling ice. I thought it looked neat. He's like, "Yeah, it's freezing rain, my wife."

We have lots of conversations like this considering my Southern upbringing and his.... Northern.

But here's what gets me about these days... I work for home. Awesome, right? Yeah, most of the time. Then there's days like today. I have tons of work to do (this is my lunch break that I'm taking today that I usually never take, for your information)... for real. And other folks, well, don't.

The tv screen this morning looked like .... CANCELED.... CLOSED.... .CANCELED.... CLOSED...... CLOSED..... CLOSED.

So what does that mean for me? Well, considering my "office" is 10 steps from my couch, it means that I still get to work today while the rest of Louisville is throwing snowballs or curled up on the couch reading a book and drinking a glass of wine.

Ok, so maybe that's not what they're doing, but it's what I would like to be doing.

And just to make it even worse, this is what I just walked out of my office to find:

Dixie - "Seriously, mom. I am warm and cozy on this winter day. Did you really have to wake me up for another picture?"



Matt - "I AM the world's best golfer." If only Tiger Woods wii golf gave actual money, we'd be LOADED!


Oh, such is life...

Meanwhile... I suppose I've pouted enough about the unfairness of life. I must get back to work...

It's organized chaos....

Oh yeah, and speaking of life not being fair, check out my girl's thoughts on that. Can I get an amen?

I love these nights...

Warm and cozy by the fire while the snow falls outside...
Sounds like Happy number 11.

Working Together?

So, if you know me at all, you know I have a tendency to be passionate about things. And recently, one of those is politics - more specifically our new president. Now, let me start by saying, I am not claiming, nor have I ever, that I know everything there is to know about politics. However, unlike many others who voted in this last election, I felt like I did my homework - my responsibility as a voter.

I have been criticized for not changing my mind to support our new president. That now all the sudden since he is the president, I must agree with everything he says. Since he says he's going to "change" everything, that I should put my "hope" in him. I'm sorry, I just don't see myself jumping on that bandwagon... I get my hope from a much more powerful Him. (Which, yes, I am trying to remind myself of that as we speak to keep me from getting too worked up!)

I had struggled with even putting something up on the blog about this... I mean, I know folks read it (I like watching the "views" number go up!) but I don't know exactly who... except for my mother, most of you don't leave comments! So I had decided I would just keep it simple, not truly knowing my audience... and then I read this article this morning.

Here's just an excerpt:

While discussing the stimulus package with top lawmakers in the White House's Roosevelt Room, President Obama shot down a critic with a simple message.

"I won," he said, according to aides who were briefed on the meeting. "I will trump you on that."

The response was to the objection by Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) to the president's proposal to increase benefits for low-income workers who don't owe federal income taxes.

Here's my problem. I feel like all Republicans - from the lawmakers to little ole me - are now just expected to be quiet. As though since Obama won, our views, thoughts and opinions on issues that effect this country no longer matter, no longer have value, and definitely do not want to be heard. He "preaches" work with me, we can do this together, etc... when it really appears to me he doesn't want Republicans to work WITH him, he simply wants us to follow.

I'm sorry sir, I'm just not there... and with the decisions that have been made the past couple days, it doesn't look like I'll be moving in the direction anytime soon.

Here's to hoping you prove me wrong!

You took the words right out of my mouth...

5 years and 9 months from now....

How bout them apples?

From the wall of a pharmacy I visited in Ft. Lauderdale today... I believe it was posted 3 times. They wanted to make sure it was clear.

The little thoughts

Maria (Matt's sister) and Elisa (our niece - who just turned 5) came to visit over the long weekend this past weekend. They were supposed to head back to Boston at the same time I was heading down to Ft. Lauderdale on Monday. However, my flight left as scheduled (for the most part) and, well... theirs didn't. They ended up going back to spend one more night with Uncle Matt!

I just spoke my sweet goodnights with my husband and he had the following conversation to tell me about from this morning:

Elisa: Uncle Matt, I'm sorry that I have to leave you today and you're going to be all by yourself.

Uncle Matt: It's ok. And I won't be all by myself. Dixie will be here with me and then Auntie Hope is coming home on Thursday.

Elisa: Well, I'm sorry that you, Auntie Hope and Dixie will be here all by yourselves when I leave.

Happy #10

Need I say more, really?

I love Mexican food. Especially nachos when they know how to put cheese on it!

Happy #9

So, like I said, I'm at the Hampton tonight. I went to the drink machine to get a water and was like... Hmmm... I haven't had one of those in a few years. So I got a Fanta Orange. Yum! So refreshing!

Cigarettes, Jack Bauer & Biotin

So, this is the first time in a while I've been able to get on here. Not because I don't want to, but I just haven't had the time... well, and maybe a little because there's not too much exciting going on these days to report, now that I think about it.

I'm traveling this week. I've been home for about two weeks so I guess it was about that time to get on the road again...

Every time I travel I have this little problem. I just don't get tired. Normally I will play on facebook or actually read a book, however my computer has a sickness and for some reason it will not let me get on facebook (which has been tough considering my addiction). And, I've got three books that I am in the middle of reading right now and none of them are really calling my name tonight.

So, I've resorted to subjecting you to my randomness... you have been warned.

Here's what's on my mind right now as I sit here again, at the Hampton Inn in Raleigh, NC (or Garner, NC... something like that):

* It's no secret... I am NOT a fan of cigarettes - more specifically their smoke. If you choose to smoke, that is your prerogative. It'll make your lungs black and you'll sound like a 95 year old hackin' up your lungs way before your time, but whatever floats your boat... but I don't want to smell it. I am so tired of having constant headaches when I travel. Rental cars say no smoking, hotel rooms say no smoking... but folks do it anyway. Right at this moment, I swear I can just feel the smoke remnants in this room weighing my lungs down, not to mention eating away at my sinuses and brain. So please, world, think before you light that stink... Meanwhile, I'm going to use my Neti Pot.

* 24. I really could just stop there. I'm telling you what, there's some shows that I love to watch, but dadgum, 24 is so amazing to me! I was stressing tonight thinking that I wouldn't get to the hotel in time - I made it with 7 minutes to spare! I'm not always all about action packed shows and movies but the fact that you don't know what is going to happen from (literally) one second to another just keeps you on the edge of your chair and thinking where did the past hour go? In the words of Emmitt Smith, "Jack Bauer is the man. Who else could go for 24 hours straight without sleeping, taking a bathroom break or eating anything?!" (shout out to my husband for sharing that quoteable with me)

* So, remember when I said I was going to try to grow my hair out? Well, it's still growing. I was thinking about it today and I do believe it's been some 5 months since I've even had a haircut! I've also started taking Biotin. A girl at work told me about it and I really think it's helping! It's a vitamin that is good for "skin/hair/nail support"... So far, so good! I'll keep you updated.

* So, Obama.... one more week... I just hope he's everything so many believe he will be.

* I'm not sure if I've ever mentioned it, but I have the most amazing husband in the world... I don't know, I may have said that on there before a couple times. However, y'all stay tuned to find out how you earn the "World's Greatest Uncle Award"... cause he's gonna... if there was such a thing, anyway.

Well, Jon & Kate and their 8 are on... so I'm gonna go watch them. Good night, folks.

Happy #8

So, one of my New Years Resolutions is to just stress less. I've been stressed lately for several reasons - work... travel... well, that's it really, but I've been stressed. So, I've decided I need to remind myself about my Happy #2 - QTip first off, and then, I've added a little extra step.

I am now obsessed with my igoogle homepage I've set up. So, I searched through all my gadgets and looked for something that is just random and there's really nothing you can do but smile at... and I found a "Be Happy Gadget"! Who knew!?

Here's one of my favorite pics that pops up and makes me smile

Happy #7

So, at my age, I can almost count on the fact that I am going to know what I am getting for Christmas. More than likely there's only one thing I've asked for and I'm going to get it and some gift cards. However, this year, I do have to say there was one completely random gift that took me so much by surprise



That's right, folks. All EIGHT seasons of the Cosby Show in one 25th anniversary commemorative edition. It made me so happy, it literally brought a tear to my eye! Do you know what this means? This means that one day, our child(ren) will be able to enjoy the best show ever on tv just like we did as kids!

Matt and I have already watched 4.5 hours worth and smiled every minute... I highly recommend it.

By the way, I just saw this tidbit of info on the box:
Total Running Time: Over 76 hours
Bring it!

Christmas Wrap Up

Get it? Christmas "wrap" up!?
yeah yeah...

So, my sister-in-law just informed me that I need to update my blog... yeah,(sigh) I know... I'm jsut at that point where I'm so far behind that I don't even know where to start!

I have been traveling so much lately I feel like my brain is just mush and I could just sit here on the couch and stare at the tv for hours and not even feel bad about it! Don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved being with my family at Christmas this year, but two and a half weeks away from my bed and my couch and my "stuff" can just wear ya out!

So as I sit here on the couch, I'm just going to tell ya stuff as I think it... so you've been warned...

Christmas was good this year! Economy shonomy - we racked up!

So - for the much anticipated Christmas present for Matt....

Matt will now be stylin' on the golf course thanks to my mother... Matt's been talking about how cool knickers are - it's all about Payne Stuart, etc. So, he now can get all decked out! Just take a look at how snazzy he is!

Ain't he cute? Oh, and by the way, yes, that is a pipe in his mouth. He really really wanted one for Christmas. No, he doesn't smoke it, but it sure does look cool! I love this random man....

Now, let's move to Dixie...
On Christmas morning, Dixie and Coco were more excited about eating the tissue paper than their new sweaters - Dixie's says Cookie Monster and Coco's appropriately says Born to be Wild...


I took this picture for Hope - the other one. This is Dixie in one of her new sweaters that she got for Christmas and it reminds me of Hope for some reason... maybe because it's the same color as her hair.

Ain't it cute? Yeah, I just realized Dixie's hair looks a little out of control, but whatever!

I got my wii fit and Jillian Biggest Loser wii game and team Jillian black t-shirt. That's right - y'all watch out! Matt got me some organization shelves/drawers/boxes for my scrapbook mess too! Now to just get started... No, I haven't started on any of the scrapbooks yet, but I've got several planned in mind - that's got to count for something, right? In the meantime, I broke out the Sizzix machine and created some homemade Christmas present tags for this year. They're pretty adorable if I say so myself!



So that, my friend, is the quick and dirty of our Christmas 08... and by the way, it was like 75 degrees down in lovely Sweet Home Alabama!