Merry Christmas!

I am already on my second cup of coffee on this Christmas morning. The crossword puzzle, as is my daily first activity, is done, the kitchen is clean, the dishwasher is running and the scalloped potatoes are ready to go in the oven. We had a wonderful Christmas eve, which is when we do our gifting. As always, I am so grateful to still have my parents and that at Christmas they tend to help out my bank account considerably with a donation to my finances.  My brother was thrilled with his because it will pay for his new 4 wheeler which he will be getting as soon as his wife is well. Our friends that we always share Christmas eve with furnished 24 quails for dinner and while my family went to church services, I stayed at Mom's and cooked the quails. We always have Christmas eve at my brother's lake house, but yesterday the plans changed rather quickly. His wife is really sick. In fact, she is scheduled for surgery early tomorrow morning. Seems that she had been in pain for about 6 weeks and the geniuses have finally decided that there is an abscess somewhere in her abdomen...probably on an ovary. They won't really know until they look in there with a scope tomorrow. Anyway, she is on lortab just hoping to not be an emergency before tomorrow. Because of her illness, we moved dinner to Mom's house. I went down to her house yesterday morning and got everything cleaned up and ready so that she didn't have to do anything, but cook some beans. I cleaned everything up last night to prepare to go back there today for her chicken and dressing, which she has already made. It just has to be cooked. I'm trying to make it as easy for her as I can. She is just not able to do much, but she will die trying.

I'm jus' sayin'

Why must you bring your whole damn family with you to Wal-Mart and talk to rest of the hood on the phone while you are supposed to be shopping? Why? Why? Why?

 

Of course, my sanity could be questioned for going there today, but I love my mama and she needed some stuff! She has no clue how bad I hate going there any day, but most especially THIS day. Ok....it's done and I'm not going back! Merry Christmas! I'll get over it. but I'm traumatized!

No Scrooge here!

Our Mardi Gras krewe is called the Krewe des Ambassadeurs and as the name indicates, we try to be good ambassadors in our community. Our main project is the local homeless shelter, which right now houses two families that include 4 children. The email went out last night that the person from the krewe who makes this her project needed money. She is trying to get something for everyone there and provide a nice meal. I bought a nice spiral ham and took her a check. To me, this is what Christmas is all about...helping others. I would much rather buy for them than my family and friends, who don't need anything. I also think my family and friends would agree with me. We also have a youth ranch here for boys who don't have a home. Another of our krewe members was heading up the drive to buy some clothes and shoes for each of these kids. He needed $10,000. I don't know if he got it all. I donated enough to buy for one boy all the things they hoped to give them. When I went to give my check to the homeless shelter chairperson, the other chairperson was in there donating as well. This is a very giving community.

I'm an Anti-government gunslinger!

My Conservative Identity:

You are an Anti-government Gunslinger, also known as a libertarian conservative. You believe in smaller government, states’ rights, gun rights, and that, as Reagan once said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’”

Take the quiz at http://www.fightliberals.com/Inside-the-Book/What-Breed-of-Conservative-Are-You.html

Yep..this pretty much nails it!

Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow is only a day away!

The weather turned really cold here today and is not supposed to rise out of the 30's tomorrow, so I guess it will be a day of candy making. I need to make some more for gifts because I keep taking it to my dad and not putting it aside for gifts. There is even a possiblility of sleet.

 

 

Let the good times roll!

Aaron Neville show was awesome. It was just him and his brothers (band) just picking and grinning. His voice is so unique and he could really pay tribute to Jesus Christ's birth in his Christmas songs. He was not shy about his faith and ended his show with "Amazing Grace"....well, almost...the final, finale was "Goodnight, Sweetheart".

 

It took all the damn day for Dad to get his port out and apparently the muscles that help him urinate were slow to wake. He could not use the bathroom until this morning. I went to see about him this morning and he was fine....no hurting at all. He's going out to eat fish and see his waitress girlfriend tonight.

 

I'm off to another party tonight...the last one, I think, except all the family festivities next week...that's 3 more.

Dad update...

My sister-in-law took Dad to the surgeon who inserted his port for his chemo. Tomorrow he will go in the hospital for an outpatient procedure to remove it. That makes him happy. Because he is so thin and bony, the port sticks out and everything rubs it, which is why it is infected now. We haven't been to our favorite catfish restaurant in at least a month, so If he feels ok, tomorrow night will be the night for that. I can't go because I am just a social butterfly. Some of us are going to the Aaron Neville Christmas show tomorrow night and to dinner. Saturday I will be going to an open house Christmas party at another friend's house. My, my,my.....such a busy social calendar!!!:) Personally, I could keep my butt at home in the recliner and be perfectly happy!

Just because I like the graphic!

Merry Christmas to all!

I have spent the morning once again making candy for gifts to neighbors and friends. Yet another batch of pralines and fudge, but neither of them came out as good as they should have. Texture is not right on either of them. CRAP!

It's going to be a great Christmas!

Yesterday I took Dad to the oncologist after a couple of months rest. He had a chest x-ray and the doc couldn't find anything right now to be concerned about. There are still some slight shadows, but nothing like it was before treatment. His port is infected, so we are hoping to get it out on Thursday. I'm not sure the surgeon will remove it as long as the infection is there. Seems to me the chances of infection getting in the blood stream would be too great.

 

Mom, on the other hand, after going with us to Dad's oncologist in the morning had to go to her doctor because her foot was hurting so badly. She thought maybe it was gout, but the doc said it wasn't. She has an infection, which is really not good for a diabetic to have on her foot. I got meds for both of them and took the meds to them yesterday. Today, hers is much better, but his is not.

 

The temp has not risen above 35 today, so I have been hunkered down by the fireplace and making candy again. I had gumbo at a friend's house today, but after that, my butt was back home keeping warm!

Last poopie day!

Today was my last day to clean up pens and feed poopies. They are so cute, but I sure wouldn't want one. I'm just not a dog person. I stink when I get back from handling poopies and always must take a shower as soon as I get home. I also don't like washing out poopie pens. YUCKEEEEE! Bro will be home tomorrow! Yay!

I love it!

Click on it to enlarge and read the small print.

WTH!

I went in for my usual 3 month check up and blood work, which, as a diabetic, is necessary. I just happened to ask doc about a little spot on my wrist and he busted out with his "freeze it off" machine and zapped it....And while he was at it, he zapped one on the side of my face as well! I wasn't prepared for that. It hurt at the time, but now neither of them hurts, so I'm all good.

Every day, while my brother is on vacation, I am going to his house and feeding his 9 lab puppies at 4:30. Someone else feeds them at two other times during the day. They are so cute...little black puppies everywhere. I have to switch them to a clean pen and wash out the dirty pen for their next switch in the morning.

Today our lunch group ate at one of the lady's home. She made antipasta, which was perfect since we all eat too much food during the holidays. Of course, she also had pralines! Hey, it's Louisiana!

A Louisiana staple

Louisiana is famous for two things.....corrupt politics and good food. Here's my contribution to the good food.....pralines!

Wow! Just Wow!

 

It would have been so easy to skip the church musical tonight, but I am so glad I didn't. It was so awesome. A professional production could not have been any better. I came away with my heart filled with happiness wishing that everyone could feel the same way. In fact, the whole day has been that way. Today was the day that we take our only offering of the year for missions. We have a manger at the front of the church and everyone goes up and drops their envelope in the manger. Our goal this year for our church was $98,000. At the end of the service, a man came out and gave the preacher a note. They had counted the money and the total was $142,000. There will be more because not everyone who is going to contribute has given yet. Never did we expect such generosity in these bleak economic times. God is good!

Finally!

Finally, the morons citizens of New Orleans did something right. They voted out that criminal, William Jefferson, who is under indictment. They voted in a Republican Viet Namese immigrant. Here in North Louisiana, I gritted my teeth and voted for the Republican just because I didn't want to lose the seat to a Democrat. The candidate was not my choice. In fact, I don't like him, but I sucked it up and voted for him. I guess I can say my congressman lives on my street now. He does, but he lives in a huge mansion up on a hill on the same street as my little patio home. I have never met him!!! I guess he doesn't associate with the  "little people"! By the way, he won by 356 votes!

Never...never..never....

I have NEVER filled up on crab legs. It's just too much work, but last night I did! Boomtown Casino has awesome crablegs on their buffet on Friday nights and they are really good and big. The Krewe Christmas party was last night and I opted out and spent the day running errands in Shreveport. On my way home, I stopped in at the buffet and ate NOTHING but crablegs, one roll and some banana pudding. Excellent choice. Normally, I would eat some crabs and fill up on other stuff, but this time I filled up on crabs and warm drawn butter! YUM! 

I'm the favorite !

Last night I did my familial duty and went as a guest of my 92 year old aunt to her assisted living home's Christmas Candlelight Dinner. This is my third year in a row to attend this event, but I must say last night the food was good. The previous two years, it was so bad that I had to come home and eat. It made me feel even more sorry for those people who have to eat it every day. I very often cook up some fried white perch and take some to my aunt and in the summer, I take her fresh tomatoes and watermelon and whatever else is in season. She isn't much of an eater, but she does like my fried fish.
 

I'm ready!

Saturday is our open house for all the neighborhood homes. The house is all decorated, so today I focused on the outside before it rains again and turns cold again. I mowed all the leaves and used the leaf vacuum to get them out of the flower beds. Then it was to the attic to drag out a few outside decorations and see if I had any Christmas cards. I didn't. Sometimes after the season, I buy Christmas cards on sale for the next season. Apparently, last year I didn't do that. I wish I had because now I have to go to Shreveport and search for the perfect Christmas card. Mine always must have a snowman on them. I'm obsessed with snowmen.

Next, I went to Mom's and cleaned her kitchen while she was gone to a church function. Then I picked up more pecans and have them in my car to take them to get shelled. Maybe tomorrow I'll finish everything else before the party on Saturday. I have all the cheese and wine and crackers bought, so I'm set. Floors still must be cleaned and furniture must be dusted.

Yoga is over!

Tonight was our last night of yoga. It has been so much fun...mostly the trip over to Bossier Community College and the trip back. We have so many laughs. We will miss going to yoga every Tuesday night even though we have a liberal, whacked out, goofball of a yogi.  After all, that's what is expected from the "yoga types". I guess that's  making a broad generalization. But....really now....think about it!   Tonight in the middle of my class, my phone indicated very loudly that I had a text message. I got up and looked at it and it said, "We have a baby. 9lbs 15 ounces.".....After that, all I could think of was poor Angela.....that's one big boy!!!