OUCH! It just Dawned On Me I'm 50!

Monday, June 29, 2010

OUCH!  It just dawned on me that I'm 50!

You know, I thought I handled the 50th Birthday Surprise Party rather well.......embraced the actual "Birth Day" with grace and ease......and welcomed the 50's with anticipation and excitement...

Until Saturday.

A week after turning 50, reality set in.....UGH........I'm old.

(3 More Days Till We Hit The Road Again...)

I've Been Forked!!!!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

I'VE BEEN FORKED!!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Sing it with me now........"It's My Birthday~~~~........."

Yep, for those dedicated followers of Murphy's Mom Blog, you may recall the earthquake that occurred while we were in Eugene, OR on this date last year.........For those of you less dedicated followers of Murphy's Mom Blog, I'll give you a hint.......CHUCK FORGOT MY BIRTHDAY last year.....

But not this year......nope........nah........no way Jose.......not on your life.......He remembered!!!!!

With a little help from my sister and several close friends, they pulled off what many thought was impossible........to SURPRISE Liz!   Remember our neighbors, Mike and Kim, that I blogged about last Fall where I showed the tears in our eyes as they pulled the U-haul off Eagle Cove for the last time??  Made you cry, didn't it??  Well, she was a major part in pulling this SURPRISE off by suggesting we do what we always do for each others birthdays.......get a massage!  And since SHE turned 50 last month, off we went to get massaged!!

Now, if you've ever had a massage, do you remember what you look like "after" the massage??  Well, let me describe what "I" look like after a massage.....  Picture, if you will, no make-up (never mind....try not to picture that...) bangs standing straight UP, face creased from the table, and wearing very very very very casual clothes...  Now, picture driving up to your house (remember description above) with 35 friends and family waving Jerry Jones signs at you......  My first thought was, "Oh no, where's the FIRE?" until I saw the many Multi-Facelift pictures of Jerry Jones waving at me.  I promptly put the car in REVERSE at that point.....and then, just to shake them up, put it in DRIVE and headed straight towards them.......Ya, some of them jumped into the ditch, but that just made it more exciting.....

My initial thoughts were rather surreal and I can only describe them as something like I would expect "Liz Heaven" to be like.  Over to my left was my friend Liz Hurt.....you may recall her from my Cow Bell Blog last week....and then straight ahead was my Etheridge relatives, including one very very very pregnant niece (who shouldn't have been that far away from a hospital!!) and a niece and nephew who I thought were overseas but were now at my house, and their parents......then to my right were the Calloway relatives......my beautiful newly-skinny sister and hubby and niece and nephew, and then over to the left were my lake neighbors........and then behind them were other lake neighbors not from our neighborhood......My mind was so muddled up, I don't even remember putting the car in PARK.  These were all friends and family from different "sections" of my daily life......most of which had never met each other before.......and here they were.....all together for ME!  Liz-Heaven!!

Despite the 150 degree heat and humidity outside, they had a fabulous time making me do stuff like sing, "I'm A Little Teacup" complete with hand and leg motions, through a sound system that echoed throughout the lake......I insisted that wasn't my era and didn't know the words, but they eagerly helped me through it....I was then required to drink water from the opposite side of a cup.....which, I must say, I actually was very good at for some reason......and then the final humiliation .....blindfold this 50 year old women and make her hit a high heeled pinata with a wood stick.  It really wasn't that hard; I just pretended it was Jerry Jones' face and I was smackin' that thing like it was butter.

Thanks to EVERYONE for making this birthday one I will never forget; one that I will look back on and always smile; and one that made me feel truly loved.

I love you all.........

"My Dear Sweet Con Artist Dad......I Think I'll Keep Him"

Satuarday, June 19, 2010

Pappo

My earliest memories of my Dad was of him tossing all three of us kids into Old Yeller', his ancient yellow truck, and driving to 7-11 for an ice cold Slurpee on a hot summer day.  I can still remember the excitement I felt as we headed down the street, not a single one of us strapped into a seatbelt, and heading out on a rare adventure with our Dad.  That is, until he decided to squirt some of his mace into the cab of old Yeller'.  Now, I know if that happened today he would be turned into CPS, but back then, WAY back then......he and my brother thought this was about the funniest thing that had ever happened......watching as we hung our heads out the window coughing and wiping the burning tears out of our eyes......It's just a shame that is one of my earliest memories of my Dad.......

Fast forward to age 16..........Dad always had the philosophy that his kids needed a stick shift car and a strong sense of responsibility when they turned 16.  Most kids would have killed for a Dad with that philosophy, but not me.  I was just fine with my brand new 10 speed bike.  But Dad won and I was now the proud owner of a standard, aluminum engine 1979 Chevy Vega Station wagon.  He taught me how to drive this dream car at Restland Cemetary where, in his words, "I couldn't kill anyone".

I'm so glad he did......

As the years continued to fly by, Dad and I grew closer.  He always made sure to smuggle me plenty of Dr. Pepper at boarding school where it was strictly prohibited; he always made sure I had a $20 in the back of my wallet; and even though he knew I was making the mistake of my life when I married my first husband, he walked me down the aisle anyway.

Don't get me wrong, my Dad is certainly no saint.  He made plenty of mistakes raising his strange kids; he lost his temper far too many times; spent way too much time at work and away from his family; and was way too easy to wrap around my little finger........

But my Dad is a good man......a very good man.

He loves his wife, his family, his God.  He has always challenged us kids by taking "devils advocate" with us and forcing us to think outside the box; to be independent and stand on our own......and to always give back to others.  He believes every man should have two pocket shirts with a pocket protector at all times; why, some might even call him a "con artist".......

And he's changed as he's gotten older.......

I drove an hour once just to capture a picture of him getting a pedicure...

He reluctantly allowed a picture of himself with a bib on that said, "You Feed...I Burp"

He owns an iPhone

My Dad......my sweet, dear con-artist Dad.......I think I'll keep him another year!!

Thanks Dad!

Love,

Softie

Still Playing With Paper Dolls After 44 Years.........

June 17, 2010

When I was six, I remember my Mom coming to my room with an after-season Sears catalog, sitting me down and telling me the only story I remember ever hearing about her childhood.   I don't know if she did this because I was her favorite (sorry Deb and James); or l was looking particularly bored that day; or maybe because she, too, had been the youngest in her family and sometimes felt a bit "picked on" from the rest.......whatever her reasons, I have never forgotten that day 44 years ago.....

She told me that when she was growing up in the 30's, her mother would give her the after-season Sears catalog and she would cut her paper dolls out from it.  They didn't have much money growing up, certainly not enough money for paper dolls, so this was a nice substitute.  She thought I might enjoy using the after-season Sears catalog for my own paper dolls.  I remember this little talk like it was yesterday.  I remember thinking how nice it was that she "saved" this idea for me.....and only me.  I couldn't wait to jump in and start cutting my paper dolls out from that Sears catalog, and I didn't stop with just people; no-sirree........I cut out furniture, light fixtures, rugs, and then layed them all out on my bedroom floor in the shape of a house.  I could, and would, spend an entire weekend in my room playing with my Sears catalog cut-outs, only coming out for food and potty breaks.  I would then carefully collect them all up and place them ever so gently in a shoe box until the next time.  Whenever I grew tired of a certain sofa, I simply went back to my after-season Sears catalog and cut me out a new one.  

Those were good times........simple times........tender memories....

Why, I just may get out my Sears catalog tomorrow and cut me out a new bed!

Heaven Help Us; There's 2 of Us....."The Other Liz"

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Okay folks, we are 2 weeks and 2 days away from hitting the high road........."On the road again ......dadadadadadaadaaadadaaaaa...."; well, you know the song, I don't need to sing it to ya....

We will be leaving July 1 heading in search of cooler weather.....yep....we're done with the 100 degree East Texas heat and humidity.....Guess where we're headed....go ahead, guess.......give up????  The answer is, we have absolutely no idea.  We're going to throw Murphy and Kruger, the 1-claw cat, into the RV and head north....bypassing Kansas, of course, cause we don't do Kansas........and see where we end up.  Jealous yet???!!!

Anyway, we weren't going ANYWHERE until I had a chance to have lunch with one of my favorite people.......her name just happens to be Liz, otherwise known as "The Other Liz" and she hosts our Winnsboro Ladies Bible Study group each Monday night.  Have you ever met someone and just instantly felt like you'd known them all your life??  If so, then you know what I mean about my friend, "The Other Liz"......I really didn't know much history about "The Other Liz", but I knew all I needed to know.....she's an amazing, incredible lady.  We've never had a chance to just sit and find out about each other, but we were bound and determined, come hades or high water, to sit down and visit before Chuck and I headed down the long highway of cooler weather.  So today was that day!

When we were setting up our lunch appointment today, I remember "The Other Liz" writing, "Can't wait; I'll be there will bells on!!"........which made me smile cause I thought to myself, "Ya, I wouldn't put it past her!" and then chuckled to myself.   Well, as I walked into the Winnsboro Bakery and while still trying to focus my eyes from the bright sunlight I just left, I heard the bells.........a Cow Bell that is!  Yep, "The Other Liz" had a HUGE cow bell hung around her neck and was clanking it.......I just needed to follow the clanking to find my friend.  Had we been anywhere but Winnsboro where everyone knows "The Other Liz", they might have thought we both had lost our marbles as we made a scene laughing, hugging and continuing to clank the cow bell.

But a lot of blanks were filled in on these two Liz's lives; she learned about my history; I learned about hers.  Amazingly similar in many ways........which just confirms one of my favorite sayings:

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Embrace all equally!"
-- Author Unknown 

"Don't Forget To Check Murphy's Caboose...."

Friday, June 11, 2010

As I'm sitting here in bed listening to Murphy snore and watching Chuck read, I just needed to share with you, my dear Blogger family, a tidbit of my daily life......

As most of you know, my Chuck received an iPad for his birthday a few months ago.  He is happier than a tick on a dog.......hounded me every single day up until the day I could officially order it.......and persecuted me day and night on whether I'd heard from Apple on its arrival date.  I've just never seen him get this excited over anything................well.......not since he received the Lee Majors Rechargeable Bionic Hearing Aid he ordered off the Infomercial.

Anyway, he's been playing with his new iPad for a couple months now; downloading new and strange applications for it and excitably wanting to show me each and every thing he puts on it.

This week, he downloaded a new application called "Soulver".  As far as I can tell, it's just a glorified word processing app, but to Chuck, it's SO much more!  He's making himself notes about everything; then sending them to MY computer wirelessly........not because he "needs" to, but just because "he can".  So tonight, just before heading to bed, I notice a new message on my computer.......I see the following message he has written to himself on his new Soulver software:

Yep, the man needs a reminder note to check his dog's caboose for poop....aaahhhh....such is my life with Chuck and Murphy.....

My Murphy Screams "Like A Girl"......

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Whew......what a week so far............oh man, it's only Wednesday!  

As some of you know, my girlfriend and neighbor, Kris, lost her dear Dad to a massive heart attack last Saturday morning.   My heart aches terribly for her as I cannot possibly imagine the grief and sadness she is experiencing.   Some day, I hope I can share some of his unique and incredible story with you, but for now, just know that this amazing man completely transformed himself within the past year and was experiencing a close walk with God at the time of his death.   It's bitter sweet......so tremendously sad to lose him suddenly and unexpectedly, yet so incredibly sweet to know that his walk with God was solid.  Bitter sweet, indeed.

Poor Murphy; he's had a tough, no good, very bad day today.  His day started at 6:00 am as he went out to do his business when he spotted a deer down the road......and off he went!  We could hear him barking as he bolted down the road after the deer and then suddenly, his bark changed.  It was more of a......wellllll......I guess you could say, he started barking "like a girl".  Next thing we see is him bolting back our direction with the deer RIGHT ON HIS HEELS!  Oh, where is my camera when I need it???!!  It took him most of the day to get over the trauma of the deer.........he promptly ran into the house, grabbed his stuffed monkey and proceeded to stand at the window, monkey in mouth, barking at the road.  Oh ya, tough guy now that he has his monkey.....

So, to help him over this incredible trauma, we tried to make him feel better with a trip to Home Depot.  He loves his Home Depot.......don't tell him, but I'm working on getting him a little orange doggy apron like the big boys wear........maybe he won't feel so much "like a girl"......