Good-bye 2005!

I'm a TEXAN!

Even though I was born in Louisiana, I am a Texan. I have lived here most of my life and when I start thinking about leaving it many things cross my mind......not the least of which is Central Market. This is my favorite store in the world. I drive the two hours to Houston just to go to this store. I did it today! When I move to Louisiana, the closest Central Market is in Dallas! That is a good 4 hours away. What Oh What will I do!

No thinking required!

Any movie that I can just enjoy and not have to figure out what is happening is my kind of movie....that would be Rumor Has It. I never had to think even once! I just love Jennifer Aniston and she was perfect in this movie. Yep, it's a chick flick, but, hey, I'm a chick!!! Well, more like a HEN!

Home Again!

Once again I have made the trip to North Louisiana and back again. I am so, so, so tired of driving that stretch of highway. I have started taking baby steps to move there. I have begun the search for a home there in the Shreveport/Bossier area. I just need to be closer to my aging parents so I can care for them without having to drive so far and stay at their home when I go there. The decision has been made. I will move as soon as I find a suitable place. I will start getting rid of things here this week in preparation for a life- changing move. I haven't moved in 30 years and really dread doing this. I don't want to have a negative attitude about this and I won't because it will be fine after the move is made and I am settled in a new place. The main thing that I was concerned about (Texas Network doctors) has been solved. My insurance sent me a directory of doctors in North Louisiana that are in the network. It's just overwhelming to think about all the things that moving to a different state involves....not to mention leaving friends of many, many years!!

C-Ya on the Flip Side!

Gone for the Christmas Holidays!

A golfing kind of day....NOT!

Today I played golf for the first time since August. Only morons play when the temp is not predicted to rise out of the 40's today.....yep, I'm a moron, but it was fun. We only played 9 holes, but there was not another MORON on the course. We could do whatever we wanted. The Pro even gave us our cart for free because he said even he doesn't play in weather this cold!!! It really wasn't too bad and we plan to do it again after Christmas. We didn't lose feeling in our hands until the last two holes!!

My new favorite movie...

I cannot believe I had never read this book or seen the movie. That all changed last night when I turned on the movie and got ready to go to sleep ( I always go to sleep during the movies). This was at 1 A.M. I watched every minute of this movie. It was such a beautiful story.

I'm easily amused!

Very cool illusion

Popcorn and Chocolate peanuts...

That's my usual choices when I go to the cinema, which I do rather frequently since retirement 3 years ago. Today was a movie type of day even though I usually don't watch movies at home. It was rainy, dark and cold....a perfect day for movies. I started off watching Cold Creek Manor on Encore Mystery channel, but half way through the movie snakes started appearing everywhere tormenting the family who bought Cold Creek Manor. I just can't watch snakes, so I had to stop watching that one. Later, I started watching Something To Talk About and it was a great movie. It had a line in it that I just loved: Him: "You Southern women sure are easy to please." Her: "It's from keeping our expectations so low." You go, Julia Roberts!

My mom....

I have blogged so much about my mom lately. Most of my friends have never met her so here she is. She is a beautiful lady inside and out.

Mission Accomplished!

The stockings are hung by the chimney with ca.......wait, I don't have a chimney! The gifts are all bought and wrapped or shipped....whichever the case may be! I don't have many people to buy for, but I love buying for others. I should be a personal shopper although I only like to do it when I want to do it.....and for as long as I want to do it....so, I guess I wouldn't be a very good personal shopper. ALL DONE! I'm not one who buys just to get it done. I really want to buy something for the other person that she/he will really like. I try really hard to do that, but sometimes it is very difficult to get the right thing.
I love Christmas!

A fun Christmas Greeting

The Snowdog - animated Flash ecard by Jacquie Lawson

I Love You MO!

As a teacher I had several students who I really became attached to and just sort of adopted. I still call them "my kids". Last Thursday as soon as I got home from my mom and dad's, I got a frantic email from one of "my kids" telling me that her Godmother died and would I please call her. She told me she really needed me to go to the funeral. I did not know the lady who died, but I know Jessica loved her dearly. Her name was Sandy as is mine. Jessica told me that we two were the only ones who kept ALL her secrets. Of course, I went to the funeral to support Jessica. Some things I just gotta do!!!! She just needed a long, hard hug!

Best Buy or Circuit City?

I got that answered once and for all today. I had not used my Ipod in several weeks because I haven't been to the gym. Today I plugged it in the computer to charge it up to get ready for exercise. It did something crazy and went into diagnostic mode and I couldn't get it to do anything. I couldn't even turn it OFF!!!! I went to Best Buy and asked their Geek Squad. They had no clue. Here's their answer: "Send it back to Apple. It may need to be replaced." Well, no help there and I did buy the Ipod there. I know they are not authorized to work on them, but, Geez, they ought to know something! On a whim, I went by Circuit City and asked if they had an Ipod guru. Yes! He punched a few buttons, all of which I had already punched.....but he got the thing working immediately. He told me honestly he didn't really know what he did. I was very grateful. I'm addicted to my Ipod and cannot work out without it!!!

Home, Sweet, Home....yet again!

Tada! Getting to spend time in my own home has become a commodity in the past 5 months due to my mother's failing health. I just spent another week with Mom and Dad so my brother could go on vacation to Branson. He was on his way back home yesterday due to snow in Branson, so I came back to my home. He sees Mom and Dad everyday and is close enough physically to them that he can be there in a minute. Recently, Dad had to call him in the middle of the night because Mom had fallen and broken a rib and Dad could not get her up. She had been on the floor for 5 hours when dad found her. Due to situations such as this my brother and I believe that one of us should be nearby at all times now. I am even beginning the search for a place to live in the Shreveport-Bossier City area. I really do not want to move, but I have to do what is right!

Let it snow!

If I had a yard, it would be sporting one of those plastic blow-up snow globes. They are just awesome. Inside the globe there are snowmen and it is constantly snowing on them. There is a bright light inside so it really shows up beautifully. I just love these things. Of course, I also just love snow globes, snow and snowmen!! I need a yard!

HO, HO, HO!

Today I did something that I have never done before. I bought a bunch of toys and candy and took them to the Salvation Army. I am troubled that so many kids don't even have a home after the hurricanes, so how can they have a wonderful Christmas? The things that I took to the Salvation Army will go to children right here in Orange, Texas. It will make you feel good to do this, so go do it!

Yet another.........

BIRTHDAY! My friend, Joy, always takes me to lunch on or near my birthday. This has been a tradition for many, many years. Today was the day even though my birthday was last week. For the last couple of years, we have made it a point to stay in our own town and support the local economy. This year it was very important that we do that because of Hurricane Rita. Local businesses just need our business. We went to the Bread Box, which is owned by someone we both know. It is a little boutique type of establishment that has very good food. We had a nice lunch and a nice visit. Friends are just awesome! I am very lucky.