A community mourns

A little girl in our community was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in December of 2010. Yesterday afternoon she lost the fight. She was three years old.

Rest in peace, Addison Jo. You touched the hearts of many.

Soccer jersey--$25
Laundry detergent--$15
Seeing the look of pure joy on a seven-year-old-- PRICELESS!!

The last soccer game of the season ended with a very muddy Hankadoo. The Silver Knights may not have won the game, but they ended the game in cheers as Hank took off down the middle of the field and did a body slide right through the mud.

The lesson of the night: Don't dare Hank to do something! Because he's going to do it!

Hodge-Podge

There isn't one thing in particular on my mind today, so this is hodge-podge post, I guess.

I have lost my voice. I sound horrible. It's making answering the phones rather challenging. And when I do manage to whisper out my greeting, everyone says, "Oh My God, you sound awful!"..... Gee, thanks for the reminder, Captain Obvious!

The sun is shining. For now. It's not going to last long. When I was watching the 5:30 morning news, they were saying to prepare for bad weather tonight. When the weatherguy is warning you 12 hours in advance that you may need to seek shelter and prepare an emergency kit--that's never a good thing. I'm hoping it won't come to that!! Hank has a soccer game tonight at 7. I'm wondering how this will play out today. I do not want to be at the field if we have bad weather coming.

My heart breaks for the residents of Joplin, Missouri (and all the other communities that have been hit by tornadoes!)-- I can't even imagine what they must be going through. Our highest elected official in the county (my boss) is from Joplin, Missouri. He still has family & friends there. His aunt was injured when her house collapsed. She's in the hospital, and he hasn't spoke with other family members. Yesterday, he left for Missouri. But before he left, several of the magistrates and Department Heads took up a donation for him to give to the American Red Cross once he arrived. It was a very kind, thoughtful gesture, and I believe he was surprised when he received the card with the donations. I live in a great community. There are kind, wonderful people here. And, I'm lucky to call them my friends.

I haven't done a great job about going to the gym the past few weeks. I've either been busy, or just haven't felt like it. I need to change that. I haven't lost as much weight as I had hoped at this point, either. To be honest, I haven't tried as hard as I should. I need to do better. I'm stuck at a certain weight, I know once I break that barrier, it will give me a renewed motivation. I need to lay off the cake. Cake is evil.

My sisters...

I have the best sisters in the world, and lately, I've really been missing them. They only live 45 minutes away, but we don't see each other as much as we'd like. We're just too busy. We all have a lot going on in our lives. But, when we do get together--it's wonderful.

I sent them both a text last night, all it said was, "I miss you!"....
Those three little words said it all.

Stitches, Sunshine & Charlie Sheen

On Sunday, Austin was washing dishes, when a glass broke and cut his thumb. It was bad. It was bleeding. I could actually see his muscle. It was obvious that he needed stitches. We go to the ER, where they tell us that we can stay there, it was going to be an hour or so wait before we could get into the annex clinic for care or we could go to the First Care clinic, they open at 1. It was 12:15, so we thought we'd go to First Care, and wait. And, with any luck be the first seen. We sat in the parking lot for 45 minutes, and at 1, there wasn't a light on, or a soul to be seen. At that point, we realized the clinic opened at TWO! Ugh. We went back to the ER, and there we sat, waiting. Austin was called back, and we finally got his thumb stitched up. Instead of the little pretty stitches, they gave him three of the big tension stitches to make sure the cut didn't split back open. They stitched him up, bandaged his hand, and wrote him a note for work. He'll go back in ten days or so to get the stitches out. And, he's out of dish duty for a while.

Kentucky weather is very unpredictable. Last week, we were 15 to 20 degrees above normal. It was 85 to 90. The sun was out, the sky was blue, it was gorgeous! This week, we are below normal temps. It has been in the 50s. It feels more like March than May. The sky is gray, and it's just been depressing and blah outside. I need sunshine!!

Last night, while Joe, PJ and Hank went to Hank's soccer practice, and Austin was working, I took advantage of being home alone. I curled up on the couch with the remote, a big bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats, and watched "Two and a Half Men"......... It was a perfect way to spend a few hours alone. Now, I'm not a huge Charlie Sheen fan. I never have been. I think he's a, well, I'll leave that word out, it isn't very nice! But I have to say--I love him on that show! Now, that Ashton Kutcher (can't stand him!) will be replacing Charlie Sheen, I just don't think the show will be the same. I guess I'll keep watching the re-runs. I'll take Charlie over Ashton anyday!

A new hat

Every woman wears many hats in her life--daughter, sister, mother, wife, friend. Women can also wear their professional hat--teacher, nurse, chef, secretary. I believe most women need a huge closet for all the hats.

I'm happy to say, that come November, I'll be wearing new hat.

I'll be an AUNT!! My sister, Kasey, and her hubby, Mark, are expecting their first baby in late November. And, even thought I'm an aunt to Joe's niece and nephews, it's not the same. They were all born before I came into the family. Hankadoo was the last baby born into our family, so it's due time that we have a new little bundle of joy to spoil, and make a fuss over.

Mom, Stevie & I are all hoping for a girl. We've had our fair share of blue, we need some pink. I'd love to buy dresses, hair bows, and baby dolls. Hank wants a boy, so he'll have someone to teach 'boy' things to. I don't think Kase and Mark care, they are just excited to add a little one to their family.

Regardless, boy or girl, I can't wait for our little Thanksgiving turkey to come! In the meantime, I need to make space for my new hat.

Frankly, My Dear........

Oh, how I love "Gone with the Wind"..... I think every woman should have a little Scarlett O'Hara in her. She has fire. She has determination. She has strength. She has that look that can stop you in your tracks. There are so many great quotes. At some point, I think every woman has pulled a 'Scarlett' and said the "As God as my witness, I will never.............."

My famous Scarlett reference: "As God as my witness, I will never mow grass again!"

I haven't touched a lawnmower in over 8 years!

Just like every woman needs some Scarlett, every man needs a little Rhett Butler. He's dapper. He's charming. He looks amazing in a suit.

I can watch "Gone w/the Wind" over and over. I've watched it on TV, I had it on VHS tapes, I have it on DVD. And, tomorrow, I'll go see it again on the big screen. Several years ago, our old theater underwent a restoration to restore the theater back to what it looked like many years ago in it's prime. Now, the theater will have concerts, plays, and show old movies. There's something so nostalgic about watching Scarlett & Rhett's love affair on the big screen. It's captivating. It reminds me all over why I love the movie the way I do.

A Happy Ending

On Thursday, my wallet was stolen. It was stolen from my office while I was either in the break room, or in another office. Luckily, I realized that it was missing not long after it happened, and was able to call the bank, and my credit card companies immediately to alert them. My bank card was frozen, and the credit card companies cancelled the cards. I started thinking about other things that were in my wallet--insurance cards, Sam's Club Card, gift cards, Kohl's cash, etc. etc. I was mad because it was my Vera Bradley wallet that I just bought a few months ago, and love! It was not a good afternoon, obviously.

Yesterday afternoon, Joe and I were out running an errand, and my phone rings. PJ says, "Mom, I'm about to tell you something that will make your day much better-- the Sheriff's Department just brought your wallet, and it appears that nothing is missing!"

I couldn't believe it. I just knew that my wallet was gone. I never thought for a minute that I'd get it back. Much less, getting it back with nothing missing!

Sometimes there are happy endings!

Today's Forecast....RAIN!

It's raining here this morning. Again! I'm so sick of rain. I have worn my rain boots more in the past month than ever before. At this rate, we are going to need an Ark. Schools are closed, roads are closed, creeks are over flowing. Hank didn't have soccer games or practices all last week. The game for last last night was cancelled, as well as practice today. I wouldn't be suprised if the games for this coming weekend are cancelled, too. The rain needs to stop. And, quickly!

Friday is The Oaks, and I don't want to be at the track all day in the rain, that's for sure. Churchill Downs doesn't allow umbrellas. I don't want to buy a cheap rain poncho and cover my hat in a clear bag. That's not a good look. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that the rain will stop, the sun will shine, and we will have a wonderful, amazing time on Oaks Day. To be safe, I'll cross my toes, too.

Happy Birthday... to ME!

Today is my birthday. And, I have to admit--I'm one lucky girl. I'm convinced that I have the best family & friends that any girl could ask for!

Last night was a great night. We ate dinner at Buca di Beppo which is an Italian resturant that serves family style, meaning their portions are HUGE! I think that's obvious from the picture of my dessert. For the record, I shared with everybody. The cool thing about Buca di Beppo is that anything goes attire wise. You can wear anything from a prom dress to a UK tee shirt and jeans, and it's all acceptable. The resturant has really cooky, crazy pictuers all over the place. Everything from Italian soccer teams to photos of nuns bowling. There's pictures of Sophia Loren and 'mafia' scenerio pictures. We had reservations in the Pope Room. And, well, it's called that for a reason. The entire room is decorated with Pope memorabilia, complete with a Pope John Paul bust in the center of the table!

The food was great, and the company was even better. A group of crazy girls came and sang 'Happy Birthday' to me--just because they thought it would be fun. I had Joe, my parents, baby sister, and some of my closest friends with me. It was wonderful. I just wish a few of my GA girls could have been there, too!

My boys spoiled me! They gave me a new CD, a movie that I've been wanting, an iTunes gift card, new ear buds, a 'Greatest Mom' coffee mug, a camera case, and a flower that I have already killed! Stevie gave me a very cute J initial glass to drink my Diet Coke from. I had a Kohls gift card that I already used, and some betting money for later this week. My BFF, Maria, gave me the neatest gift... a 1975 (the year we were born!) Kentucky Derby glass, and an issue of Sports Illustrated from May 1975 after Foolish Pleasure won the Derby. She also gave me a very pretty fleur de lis bracelet and slide to wear to the Oaks this week. It was all wrapped up in a Lucy & Ethel bag! We decided the Lucy & Ethel bag will go back and forth between us every year.

So, Happy Birthday to ME!

xoxoxo