We're Still Here....

As most of you know, a storm system moved through the southeast last night. It was not fun. Tornadoes, high winds, rain, hail, etc. My heart aches for the city of Enterprise, Alabama. We were fortunate here...although we were under a tornado warning for some time in our county, no tornadoes touched down. DH was at a basketball game last night so it was just me and the girls. We went to my parents' house for a few hours and kept a careful eye on the weather. We went home and I tried to put the girls to bed but the storm was loud and they were nervous...as was I...so there wasn't much sleeping going on. I kept calling my Dad to make sure everything was o.k. because the local news channel kept saying to take shelter because of the tornado warnings. I wasn't sure if I should herd the girls (and the dog) into the bathroom in the middle of the house, or if we were far enough away from the danger spots that I didn't need to do that and make them (and myself) even more nervous. A was quite nervous and was very relieved when DH got home. So was I. And the dog....that darn dog kept running through the house whining, whimpering, and howling. Ugh.

Some surrounding counties were hit hard. I am so thankful that we were not.

Last night made me very, very thankful that we live so close to family. Spending time with them last night watching American Idol (and keeping an eye on the weather) helped keep the girls and me calm and somewhat distracted. It was very comforting to know that my Dad was just a phone call away, a couple of minutes away by car if we needed him, or that I could grab the girls and get to my parents' house quickly.

Last night my sister was doing some kind of quiz that is supposed to predict life span. Apparently I will live to be about 83 years old because I am intense and aggressive...this will reduce my expected life span. Who, me? Intense? Aggressive? Surely not! My daughters kept laughing at me last night because I tend to think I'm more easy-going so I was arguing the point. They disagree -- and think that my arguing the point actually made their point for them. Maybe I am intense about some things...but the nice thing is that I don't let things build up -- I have a momentary explosion and then it's gone and I'm back to calm and easy going. I think. Maybe others would disagree....

Anyway, for today I'm just glad that the storm has passed and it's FRIDAY. Yea!!!

Heaven...I'm in Heaven....

There are days when it takes so little to make me incredibly happy. Today is one of those days. And what, you ask, is the source of this happiness? I found a brand of jerky (turkey, not beef) that does not contain nitrates, MSG, or other substances that give me migraines! And it actually tastes good! I know, it's a small thing...but today, that was all it took. I'm a happy camper.

In other news...A arrived home safely (although her flight was late) the other night and we are thrilled to have her home...she is still walking on cloud 9 and talking non-stop about her wonderful trip...B enjoyed her first soccer practice despite a run-in between her face and a soccer ball...and DH's basketball team made the state Sweet 16 for the second year in a row (that also means that coaching season is almost over!)...I'm finally feeling well after feeling sick for several days. It's amazing how we take our health for granted. After having chronic stomach problems for years, I have grown accustomed to feeling well 95% of the time. So to have a setback and feel so sick for so long was really discouraging. I finally started feeling well again this afternoon...the cold I've been fighting seems to be almost over...

B and I were out shopping with my sister on Saturday and found a beautiful Easter dress for B. She was so cute in it -- she twirled and had the biggest smile on her face. The only problem is that it's sleeveless, so now I'm trying to find a matching shrug or sweater to wear with it. Wish me luck -- she loves this dress and I would hate to have to return it because we can't make it work (modesty must prevail!). I'm hoping to take A shopping for an Easter outfit this weekend.

Life is good. Very good.

It's been a long week.....

Work has been pretty crazy for the last few months, and will continue to be crazy. This week was no different. I'm in a big meeting all morning, every morning, and then a recap meeting in the afternoon, and then a meeting to prep for the next morning's meeting. Doesn't that sound fun? Yeah. It's not.

A is having a wonderful time on her trip...check out my sister's blog (link on the left side of the page) for pictures and to read about their adventures this week. This is really the trip of a lifetime for A. M and her husband have really helped make it special for her. We miss her but we're glad she's had this opportunity.

B has enjoyed playing with her friends. After being sick two weeks in a row, missing school and not being able to play with friends, she has just wanted to spend the week playing. Her appetite is back, as is her energy, and she seems to be fully recovered. I hope her immune system has fully rebounded so she doesn't get sick again!

DH has kept busy here at home, plus basketball practice every day. The first round of the state tournament is tomorrow night...they have a good chance of winning. He's done a lot of work in the garden and garage. I think he's enjoyed sleeping in this week. I have not enjoyed leaving for work with everyone else (including the dog) still asleep!

This weekend...not much going on besides the basktball game and A coming home on Sunday. I can't wait to have her back home!

Go Demons!

Just a quick note....DH's varsity basketball team placed first in the region tournament. The state tournament is next. Fortunately, the first round of games is here in town so he won't be travelling for those. The next round is in Fort Valley, only about 20 minutes from where we live. Yea -- no more long drives to/from Valdosta!

Go Demons!

Do they have a support group for that?

Hi. My name is Stephanie and I am a shoe-aholic.

There -- I've finally admitted it. Isn't that the first step to recovery? Actually, I think the first step to recovery is recognizing you have a problem and deciding you want to make changes. I haven't gotten to the "deciding you want to make changes" step yet. So I guess I'm not ready for a support group.

I love shoes. Always have. My parents tell me that when I was very young they had a hard time finding shoes to fit me and they spent an exorbitant amount on red patent leather dress shoes for me...the only ones they could find to fit. I think that's when my shoe-aholism started. I remember Christmas of my 8th grade year...I got several new outfits for Christmas, with matching shoes *and* handbags. (Somehow the handbag obsession didn't stick...just the shoe obsession). I remember the red pumps and red handbag, the black pumps and black handbag, and the royal blue (yes, royal blue -- hey, it was the 80s!) pumps and matching handbag. Let's not even get started on the outfits that went with the shoes....but I was in heaven...shoes specifically matching certain outfits. I remember the first pair of shoes I bought for myself, entirely with my own money -- white jellies (gag!) at the BX on base. I used babysitting money. I was stylin' in my white jellies!

And so it went. I think I took almost as many pairs of shoes with me when I went away to college as outfits. LOL

One of the projects Alyssa took on in her efforts to earn money for her trip to Massachusetts was cleaning and organizing my walk-in closet. She lined up my shoes around the closet, row after row after row...there were so many that it made it nearly impossible to actually walk *into* said walk-in closest. Obviously the over-the-door shoe organizer in the closet wasn't adequate. So off to Target I went, in search of a storage solution which I was positive would magically transfer my closet into a shining example of organization. (Yeah, right).

I bought a "wooden" shoe organizer with 15 cubbies in it. Surely I could fit a lot of my shoes in that. I planned on buying two, but decided to start with one to make sure it would fit the allotted space in the closet and to see just how many it really would hold. And so DH assembled it and I started filling it.

Ummmm....surely I don't have that many pairs of black shoes? Really...are all of those mine? Just a few months ago I filled an entire kitchen garbage bag with shoes to get rid of. Are shoes like bunnies, multiplying at an astronomical rate when you're not watching? That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

So now I have one lovely shoe organizer in my closet with 15 pairs of black shoes in it, three pairs of black boots on top of it, and at least 5 other pairs of black shoes that won't fit in it (not counting two pairs of tap shoes and one pair of jazz shoes, my black Keds, and my black-and-white polka dotted flip-flops). Last night I bagged up more shoes to get rid of -- including two more pairs of black boots and three other pair of black dress shoes.

Do you think I have a few pairs of shoes? Oh my. Understatement! And I haven't even gotten to the brown shoes, navy shoes, and other colors...or the cheap (but oh-so-comfortable-and-fun-gotta-have-them-in-every-color) flip-flops. And my daughters, of course, have inherited my shoe-aholism and embraced it with every fiber of their little beings.

They say admitting you have a problem is the first step. OK, problem admitted. Am I ready and willing to do something about it? Ummmmm....no.

Hey, it's time for the winter clearance sales....anybody up for some shoe shopping? After all, I just bagged up an entire kitchen garbage bag of shoes to get rid of last night....that just means I have more space for more shoes, right?

And now for a note from our sponsor....

One of the (very few) readers of my blog asked why I don't talk much about DH in my blog. There is a very simple answer...he prefers that I not talk about him. He's a very quiet, private person. I belong to a message board and used to post things about him quite often on the board. He didn't really appreciate it -- he said he didn't want lots of strangers knowing so much about him. I respect that. I am a very open person. With me, what you see is what you get. Take me at face value. DH, on the other hand, is the kind of person that you really don't know until you've spent a lot of time with him. He doesn't talk much -- not even to me.

So it isn't that I don't love him and appreciate him and want to brag on him (how many husbands do you know who do the dishes, laundry, cleaning, and vacuuming without complaining??). He just prefers to remain relatively anonymous.

Safe and Sound

Alyssa arrived safely in Boston. We got to the airport with time to spare and had a nice lunch (A, DH, and me)....then DH went out to the car to nap (he got home at 2:30 this morning) and I took A to the gate to wait for the plane. She was excited...but a little nervous at the same time. But when they took her to board the plane she didn't even look back -- she was ready to go! We had a few anxious moments, hoping M and her Dh would get to the airport in time (traffic problems) but M sprinted (literally) from the security checkpoint to the gate and she made it with several minutes to spare. A called from the plane when it landed and she sounded so excited. She said the flight was good and smooth, which is a relief for me.

And me? Well, I did better than I expected. I only cried a little, and I was able to hold off the tears until after she boarded the plane. Does it ever get easier to send them off on their way?

I know M and her DH will take good care of her, and she's going to have a wonderful time. Like DH said on the way home from the airport, this is a trip A will remember for the rest of her life.

But oh, I miss her already!