My new niece!

Miss Cali was born on the 28th and her daddy (my big brother) and big brother Jase are so wrapped already!

Grandma and Grandpa might be too!!!!!!

Dear....

Dear Dad,

Happy birthday. You really are the best dad I could have ever asked for. Hope you enjoy your banana pudding.

A daddy's girl forever,

April

Dear kids,

Yall have been really good lately. Lets keep that way, ok. Also, if you keep washing the dishes for me, I will buy you and awesome toy this weekend. I promise.

A very grateful woman,

Mama

Dear Sage,

Thank you so much for the award. You are really a great guy and I am glad we have become friends. Love all of our conversations.

Can't wait to talk again,

April tx

Dear Carrin, Amanda, Brandy and Rose,

I am passing this award on to yall. No matter what, yall always leave me a comment and I appreciate it. There are no rules so do what ya want with it.

A grateful blogger,

April

For more letters, head on over to Shortmama's.

Random randomness

So I have some stuff to say but not enough for a whole post so here is some randomness for ya.

A little back ground. My dads best friend was a school teacher for 30+ years. Over that time, he became good friends with the school nurse that is an RN. He just retired recently after his quadruple bypass. OK, now he has a B-12 deficiency and has to get a shot everyday for 5 days at home. His wife wont do it so you would think he would have his nurse friend do the shots. NOOOOO, he wants my mom to drive over there every morning and do them since Little Man gets shots everyday. He said he wants someone that knows what they are doing. Don't nurses know how to give shots? Thought so. He is just a big whiney butt.

Little Man's step mom is stuck in Germany. She went to see her hubby (my ex hubby) for a 3 day weekend 2 weeks ago and can't get back home. Is it bad that I think this is funny. She flew on a military plane to get there and is now just waiting for one she can get on to get back home. They are hoping she is home by Thursday. This made me giggle to know she is stuck alone in a different country. (Yup, sometimes I am a bitch) Don't worry though, she knows German so she should be fine. And they actually want to take Little Man over there this December. This is not the way to convince me it is a good idea!

This weekend we have a festival going on and the dental community will be there giving fluoride treatments and sealing the kids teeth for free. That is a $170 dollar treatment for free. I will be there with Toot. I had my teeth sealed when I was little and never had a cavity until I was pregnant with Little Man. Definitely worth it.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. I plan on it.

Dear....

Dear Doc,

Thank you so much for all your help. Since you put me back on the Lexapro, I am feeling more and more like myself. It feels good to be me again. Also, thanks for pain pills. My neck already feels better and I know it will help with the headaches. Now I will be able to actually sleep all night and my body and kids appreciate that.

The woman who NEEDS some sleep,
April


Dear Verizon,

You really need to get all the kinks worked out soon. Also, why in the world did it take me being on the phone for a HOUR just to fix one tiny problem? I don't know how switching from Alltel to Verizon could cause so many problems, but it did. PLEASE get these fixed soon. I am still tired of my calls getting dropped on EVERY phone call I make.

The woman who would like to finish at least ONE conversation on the phone,
April


Dear Mom and Dad,

Yall have such a wonderful marriage. I am so happy I grew up in a home where the parents really love each other. I hope my marriage is always as happy as yalls. I really hope yall have a wonderful weekend celebrating your 30th anniversary. Congrats on making it 30 years and I know yall will make it forever.

Your daughter that is so lucky to have yall as parents,
April


For more letters, go visit Shortmama.

Amazing

I am a Christian but on here and in real life I do not push my beliefs on others. As with a lot of things in my life, my relationship with God is a private one. Not a secret at all, just something between me and Him. That is why I have never talked about it here. Today is a new day though and I have to tell you what happened to a friend of mine Friday night.

I know a few people who have actually heard the word of God straight from the man himself. Benny is one and my mom is another. He has also come to Little Man more than once. When my mom talked to Him, He told her to do things that didn't make sense but because of her faith in him, she listened and it all made sense in the end. It was life changing things that ended up being the best thing in the world for her at the time. A lot of people thought she was crazy but she didn't care. When He tells you to do something, you listen.


Anyway, my dads best friend that was also my biology teacher in high school had a heart attack a week ago Friday. That Sunday he had a quadruple bypass and all went well. He was sent home last Friday. He is 63 and has been a teacher for 30 years. His son came up to help take care of them and they had put a baby monitor in his room so they could hear if Gerald (my dads friend) was having problems.

Let me just say something real quick. Gerald and his wife are not religious. We actually wondered if they even believed in God but it was never brought up. Ok, back to what happened.


God came to Gerald and had a long talk with him. At one point, Gerald's son heard talking on the baby monitor and got up to go check it out. Before he got to his bedroom door, God told him to go back to bed, that He was talking to Gerald and had it all under control. So, he went back to bed.
My parents went over yesterday and Gerald sat them down and told them what God said.
God told him to retire from teaching. That it was time for him to do something else in life. God wants him to start talking to the youth of America about Him. God outlined the whole plan for him and told him exactly how to do it. God even told him what to call this mission. Youth of America.

Gerald told my parents that he was saved Friday night and that this would be the new path in his life. He has already talked to a local preacher about getting it started. Isn't that AMAZING!
Gerald was a little worried that my parents would think he was crazy. They explained that they totally understood and my mom told him about the times God talked to her and to Little Man. Gerald then said that he has always felt some presence around Little Man and that he now KNOWS that Little Man is destined for greatness and that God gave him to me at such a young age (16) and that I didn't abort him for a great reason. A lot of people have said that about my Little Man.


After Gerald told the preacher what happened, he told his church about it Sunday morning and two teens gave their life to the Lord that morning. His mission is already starting.

I am not asking you to believe anything I am saying, I just wanted to share with you the amazing thing that has happened to a dear friend of mine.

Not far at all

I love my dad. He cracks me up so much. I was talking to a good friend and warned her about his ways seeins how she will be meeting him in about 3 weeks. Then I realized, the apple really doesn't fall far from the tree. Not in our case at least.

I was telling her that when she meets him, he will mess with her. And that the way to get on his good side is to take it and then dish it right back at him. I then told her that the main thing he would probably joke with her about is the fact that she is a yankee. Hmmmm, that sounds familiar. Remember this post? Anyway, with my post yesterday and then talking about him, it got me thinking. He tends to say things that could go left unsaid too (but then it wouldn't be as fun). Yes, I have a great example.

As long as I can remember, Taco Bell has been my FAVORITE fast food. I LOVE IT. Use to, I always got a bean burrito with no onions and pintos and cheese. And no, I was not a gassy child, thank goodness. We always did drive thru (probably why I still refuse to go inside).

When I was a freshman in high school my best friend was also a huge fan of Taco Bell. It worked out really good because we never argued about where to go. One day we where hanging out with my folks and we went to TB. My dad said something I will NEVER forget and still cracks me up to this day.

We ordered our usual (she always got the same thing I got) and we proceeded to the window. As always, my dad checked the bag to make sure we got what we ordered and noticed they left something out. SPORKS!!! How can you eat a bowl of beans and cheese without a spork? Ya can't!

So my dad asked them for some and a second later she said they didn't have any. BULLSHIT! It's Taco Bell! So then my dad said "I don't care if you have to shit them but find me some!". Me being the smartass I am said while laughing "I care!". She found some along with a dirty look and we went on our way. IF I was the window chick I so would have found one, shoved it in beans and then handed it to him. But that's just me for ya. This is a memory I will always remember and laugh at.

Now you can really see where I got my 'say whatever you want no matter what' trait. I love that about him and it has made for some great memories.

Gotta give a little credit to my mom though. One time we went to the McDonald's drive thru and they asked us to pull up and wait. And wait we did. Forever! Finally, she got out of the car, went inside and asked if they had to go kill the cow. I guess my dad rubbed off on her.

My folks rock!

Be thankful

Friday we went over to my parents house and something happened that just shocked me.

My dad is a Vietnam Vet and he started talking to Little Man about the war. Little Man is VERY interested in military weapons and wars and all that goes with it. They talked about it for hours. I have never heard so much about my dads time over there as I did Friday. If you know a Vietnam Vet then you know that they don't like to talk about it and my dad is no exception.

While they were talking, they were looking at pics my dad took while over there and through a book about the war. The most upset I saw my dad was when they saw a picture of the protesters. My dad was spit on and screamed at and called very ugly things because he served his country. How shitty of those people!

Well, we are in the midst of another war. A lot of people are pissed about this. I don't care how you feel about the war but you should ALWAYS be thankful to the soldiers. They put their lives on the line for US. How dare anyone say anything negative to or about them. You should only thank them and pray for them.

Here is a post about Tyson Serles, a soldier that was badly injured in a road side bomb. Here is a little of what was written, "Tyson had been critically injured in a roadside bombing in Afghanistan. Sadly, the entire group of soldiers he was traveling with, except for his Sargent, were either killed or critically injured. Tyson bravely tried to pull his fellow soldiers from the wreckage and witnessed one friend take his last breath." This man deserves all the thanks in the world and our prayers. So if you feel up to it; send a card, a prayer, and/or a thanks. The info on what happened and how to contact him is in this post. Please hit it up.

My dads favorite quote:

"Freedom has a taste the protected will never know."

Racist?

After being gone for 5 days, I had a ton of e-mails to go through. I ran across one and it really got me thinking. I am not saying I agree with any, all, or none of it. Just that it got me thinking. I am going to post the e-mail and then give you my thoughts after. I did not write or change any of the e-mail so if it offends you, just remember that.

"This e-mail does contain wording that is meant to express an open opinion to a major problem in the USA. It is estimated that only 11% of those receiving this e-mail will read it all the way to the end. In addition, it is estimated that only 1% of non-white color will read this past this point and 99% will blow it away because of the title.

It is a shame this sentiment exists when we tell the world that the USA is the best place to Live, Worship, Work, and Play…

"WHITE" Pride"

This is great. I have been wondering about why Whites are racists, and no other race is....Proud to be White

Michael Richards makes his point..............

Michael Richards better known as Kramer from TVs Seinfeld does make a good point.This was his defense speech in court after making racial comments in his comedy act. He makes some very interesting points...Someone finally said it. How many are actually paying attention to this?
There are African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, Arab Americans, etc. And then there are just Americans. You pass me on the street and sneer in my direction. You call me 'White boy,' 'Cracker,' 'Honkey,' 'Whitey,' 'Caveman'... and that's OK.

But when I call you, Nigger, Kike, Towel head, Sand-nigger, Camel Jockey, Beaner, Gook, or Chink ... You call me a racist. You say that whites commit a lot of violence against you... so why are the ghettos the most dangerous places to live?You have the United Negro College Fund. You have Martin Luther King Day. You have Black History Month. You have Cesar Chavez Day. You have Yom Hashoah. You have Ma'uled Al-Nabi. You have the NAACP. You have BET... If we had WET (White Entertainment Television), we'd be racists. If we had a White Pride Day, you would call us racists. If we had White History Month, we'd be racists.If we had any organization for only whites to 'advance' OUR lives, we'd be racists.

We have a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a Black Chamber of Commerce , and then we just have the plain Chamber of Commerce. Wonder who pays for that??A white woman could not be in the Miss Black American pageant, but any color can be in the Miss America pageant.If we had a college fund that only gave white students scholarships... You know we'd be racists.There are over 60 openly proclaimed Black Colleges in the US. Yet if there were 'White colleges', that would be a racist college.

In the Million Man March, you believed that you were marching for your race and rights. If we marched for our race and rights, you would call us racists.You are proud to be black, brown, yellow and orange, and you're not afraid to announce it.

But when we announce our white pride, you call us racists.You rob us, carjack us, and shoot at us. But, when a white police officer shoots a black gang member or beats up a black drug dealer running from the law and posing a threat to society, you call him a racist.

I am proud... But you call me a racist.Why is it that only whites can be racists??There is nothing improper about this e-mail. Let's see which of you are proud enough to send it on... I sadly don't think many will. That's why we have LOST most of OUR RIGHTS in this country. We won't stand up for ourselves!BE PROUD TO BE WHITE!It's not a crime YET... but getting very close!

It is estimated that ONLY 5% of those reaching this point in this e-mail, will pass it on."

OK, if you made it through that, here are my thoughts. If I loose every follower because of it then oh well. And actually, I will say there were parts I did not agree with.

Am I proud to be white? Hell yes!
Why you ask? Why would you ask? Apparently, everyone thinks it's the 'easiest' race to be.
Is that why I am proud to be white? No. I am proud because I am proud of who I am and who my ancestors are. Just like I am proud to be a Texan and a woman and a mom and a wife and a daughter.
Should I be scared to say that I am proud to be white? No.
Am I? No but I don't go around saying it all the time. Never felt the need to.
Should anyone be scared to say they are proud of what they are? No.
Why is it OK for me to say I am proud that I am Irish but not proud that I am white? Same think isn't it, in my case?

So, what kind of world do we live in? I'll tell ya a tiny bit about my world. One where if you don't like our current president, you are a racist. One where my 10 year old son asks me why kids at school call him a racist because he is white. One where my dad didn't get a job once because he was white, even though he was the most qualified and it put us in a major bind. One where my husband had to score 20 points higher on a test than any other race to get a job. BTW, that is all 100% true.

Is that fair? Well hell no.
Is that life? Well hell ya.

Life's not fair. Get over it or do something about it.

Whoopie said something on The View once that I LOVED. She said she doesn't call herself an African American because it takes away from the fact that she is a full American. Just like I don't call myself a Scottish/Irish/Native/Who knows what else American. I am just a Texan. ;) Sorry, had to say it. I am just an American.

And no, my big girl panties are not on because I usually don't wear any but I can take anything you have to say if you would like to bitch about this post. Also, I don't delete comments so would appreciate it if you didn't comment as 'anonymous'.

I use to think...

money grew on trees.

Back when I was a kid, I use to get so mad at my parents. I mean really, who didn't. I would get mad at them for things that I thought were so important. Most of the time I got mad because I wanted something and they wouldn't give it to me.

One of the main things I wanted was my own phone line. This was before everyone and their dog had cell phones. It was an pretty big deal to have your own line and I, like everyone else, wanted my own. With a family of five, chances are someone was on the phone and I didn't like that.

We (my brothers and I) got our own ring but that still wasn't good enough. It was still the same line, just different number. I actually still remember that number to this day.

I never got why it was such a big deal. I mean, they both had jobs, so how could it be such a problem. It's not like I was asking for a car. Yet. But, no matter how hard I pushed, they wouldn't budge. I just never got it while I was a child.

And then I had kids. NOW I get it. No, one phone line isn't that expensive but when you add up all the little things, they add up to a ton. My parents had soccer stuff, softball stuff, swimming stuff, cable TV, food, gas, school lunches, clothes, house pmt, electric pmt, and everything else that comes with living to pay for. I don't know how they did all what they did but now I am so grateful for it.

Ya, I use to think money grew on trees. Now I know that someone has to work their ass off for all that money that pays all the 'little' things that add up to so much. Thankfully, my wonderful husband has taken on that responsibility all himself to allow me to stay home and raise our three beautiful babies.

Now go visit MamaKat for more posts on her writing workshop.

DRINK DRANK DRUNK

There are many types of drunks. Let me break it down for ya.

Happy drunk - This person is just happy to be alive. Laughs at everything and has a good time no matter what happens.

Lovey drunk - This is the drunk that goes around tellin EVERYBODY that they love them OVER AND OVER AND OVER!

Cocky drunk - These are the guys that think they are the shit when drunk. Ya know, grow a foot and all the sudden have mega muscles. Oh ya, and a 10 inch.... One of the most annoying drunks if ya ask me.

Slutty drunk - These are the girls doing keg stands. Hate to admit but I have done one. Or two. But really, who's counting. These drunks are just as annoying as cocky drunks.

Flirty drunk - Not quite as bad as a slutty drunk. Just real friendly.

Sad drunk - These just suck!

Sentimental drunk - These remember all the stupid little sentimental things and dwell on them and cry and then dwell on them some more.

Angry drunk - These are the worst.

There is more but I'm tired of listing them.

Anyway, there is a point to all this.

My mom is a happy drunk. I vaguely remember my mom ever drinking when I was growing up. I remember her drinking at the lake but never anywhere else. That is until I turned 21. Then it was my goal to get her drunk.

On my 21st birthday I went to Billy Bobs in Ft. Worth Texas and hung out with my folks. They are really that cool. We had a ball. Ever since then, she's been a little lush. LOL! Right now she saying "WHAT!" I'm kidding, she is not a lush. BUT, she does have a kegorator in her house that always has a keg in it. Just saying. Also, her and my dad went to Nashville TN one year and I got a call saying that they had just left Coyote Ugly where she had just danced on the bar. I wish I had been there. My mom ROCKS!

Anyway, since my 21st birthday I have seen her drunk and got drunk right along with her. She always says she wasn't the next day but I know better. There is another day I wish soooo bad I had been there to witness what happened.

Her and my dad were out on the boat. Now, they have a pontoon boat with a potty. Well, my dad was making bloody mary's and she was tossin em back I guess. I don't know where the hell I was because my brother in law was there too. We were always either with them or my folks. Anyway, doesn't matter. I get a phone call from my dad and he is laughing his ass off.

I immediately told Benny they were drunk (not the first time I got a phone call like this). Well Mom had decided she needed to pee and I guess this day she was too good for the potty. She grabbed the rails on the boat and proceeded to attempt to pee over the side. Now this was still early spring and she was wearing jeans that are now around her ankles. Guess what happened next.

Yup, she fell in! This is when I get the call. Dad had to call me before helping her out of the water. Sweet, ain't he.

Luckily, she is a very happy drunk and laughed about the whole thing. Well, except the part where her phone got fried. I still laugh just imagining her trying to pull up her jeans in the cold water while drunk. I'd pay good money to see that.



So what kinda drunk are you? I'm a happy, lovey, flirty, sentimental drunk. It all depends on what I am drinking and who I am with.

Have a great weekend.

I'M GETTIN DRUNK!!!!!

Writing Assignment - New Territory

It's Mama Kat time. I looked at the prompts last night and my body was full of cold medicine so I just went to bed early. Wasn't going to do it this week because it really did hurt to think. Then, I woke up at 4 am and was wide awake. So I figured what the hell, might as well.

Here are the prompts this week:

1.) Write a limerick.
2.) Normal is...
3.) Describe a memorable camping experience.
4.) What's the best thing that has happened this week?
5.) Did you have a childhood hideout? Where? Describe it.
6.) Words that hurt me.

So while I am still not in the mood to think, I decide to do the hardest one. Well, the hardest one for me at least. I don't do poems. I hated doing them in school. I never do them when they are one of the prompts. When I read the prompts I said to myself "Self, write a limerick even though you don't know what it is." So I googled it (trust me, I'm not the only one) to see what it was. Low and behold, it's a damn poem.

BUT, I challenged myself and did it anyway. It's pretty cheesy but I think that's the point so here ya go.

There is an old man I call Dad
Use to I made him so mad
But then I met Ben
Who's better than Ken
Now my Dad is so grateful and glad

So there it is in all it's glory.
If I was a bettin' girl, I'd bet I never do a poem again.

Oh wait, I just came up with another one. I'm on a roll I'm tellin' ya!

There is this cute guy with a truck

It seems to never get stuck

Except that one day

So we rolled in the hay

Man he sure knows how to f***

Now head on over to Mama Kat's and read what everyone else had to say.

My Dad

I thought it would be appropriate to tell you about my Dad today since it is Veterans Day.

He is a Vietnam Vet. He never talks about it and the little I know, I either heard it from my Mom or saw pictures he took while there when I was snooping in their room. Yes, I snooped. Who didn't? He did not wait for the draft, instead, enlisted on his own. He is a very proud man and should be. He served our country because he believes in it. He has had many problems because of his time spent there but continues to go on every day without expecting a hand out. He has made me one proud daughter.

There is so much more to him though.

He is an amazing Dad and always has been. He has ALWAYS been there for me when I needed him most and even when I thought I didn't. I have wonderful childhood memories thanks to him and my Mom. He was home with us when he should have been and didn't go out to bars or anything.

He would take me hunting, fishing, bowling, camping, to the lake... and the list goes on. He always made sure we had a good time. He was the one to teach me how to play softball and was my batting coach. He always put us first.

Some of my favorite memories.

Throwing up in his plane and him chunking it out the window (it smelled really bad).

Him wearing the ugliest clip-on tie in the world with a t-shirt to a soccer tournament because I gave it to him for Fathers Day (as a joke, the joke was on me).

Beating the gar he cought while bow fishing.

Helping him build a fense at the deer lease.

Learning how to ski in his boat and driving said boat.

Catching a big bass with a gummy worm and having to throw it back because it was pregnant (I think he just didn't want to clean it).

Only hearing his voice when I was in the batters box.

His compasion when he found out I was 16 and pregnant.

Playing golf with him and laughing so hard we couldn't even swing the club.

Him holding my children for the first time.

Digging threw junk yards looking for old car parts.

Thanking him for my favorite doll (Sally) when I found out about Santa Clause.


I could go on forever but I wont.

He has helped teach me to be and do anything I put my mind to. I am blessed that I married a man a lot like him. I would say 'just' but I tend to compare Hubby to him a lot when Hubby pisses me off. It's Hubby's fault though, he askes "What man wouldn't do that?" and I tell him. My Dad, that's who.

He has so many great qualities about him and some that just annoy me. Mainly because I am a lot like him. I am stubborn, a smart ass, emotional, hate to admit when I am wrong and really love my family just like him. One of the only things I would change about my life are some of the things I have said to him when I was younger. I would not be who I am today without him. He is a good ole country boy that raised me right. He still comes to my rescue whenever I need him and I know he always will. Whether it be a busted up alternator in my car or a broken heart.

I am very proud of my Dad for serving our country and for being the man he was and still is to this day. I have often said, He has to live forever because I don't think I could handle life without him. I love him more than I could ever show him.

His favorite quote: "Freedom has a taste, the protected will never know."