Master Bathroom

In this set of pictures I've included:

- the bathtub and plumbing fixtures

- the shower and plumbing fixtures (get a load of the double shower heads! I can hardly wait!)

- the double sinks and plumbing fixtures

I also love the mirrors in the bathrooms ... the cabinet maker extraordinaire (Shane Carroll) made matching frames for all the mirrors in the bathrooms. He'll be back next week so I can explain to him how I want my closet designed. I've several ideas in my head, and I am excited about articulating those ideas to Shane. He's amazing ... just look at my kitchen cabinets and see what I mean. Oh, and Shane and his wife are expecting their 3rd child, too.

Ahem ... no, not to worry ... Shane's wife and Shannon's wife do NOT drink from my water faucet!! It is NOT in the water!!

Kitchen - Updated Pics

Okay, pictures from the kitchen. I realize now (as I'm sittin' here posting) that I've neglected to show a good picture of the island. Oh well, perhaps once we move in I'll get one of that. I'm also not sure I've gotten close enough to see the granite, at least the design in the granite. I am sure, though, that everyone can see the tile backsplash. The "tile man" ... David ... put in the backsplash in record time ... and I think it's beautiful. We originally planned to have a stainless steel backsplash behind the stovetop, but I think this came out much better.

I also included a picture of Shannon, the excellent "crown moulding" dude. In the photo he is finishing the crown in the breakfast area. He has been perhaps the biggest contributor to our house. Besides installing ALL OF THE MOULDING (crown and otherwise - which is A LOT), he also helps Ron do so many other things. He's a good guy ... and his wife is expecting their 3 child in ten more days. Everyone think good thoughts for Shannon and his family ...

Okay, on to other pictures ...

5 more days until MOVING DAY!

Okay, this post is long over due. We've been swamped with trying to get the house finished (more Ron than me, of course), and I've been buried at work since next week is finals week.
On Thursday evening (Dec. 7th - D-Day) we had our SSS Christmas party. It was only for the peer tutors and SSS staff; however, the party was anything but boring. We did the whole "secret Santa" thing going ... it lasted a week ... and on Thursday we each discovered who our secret Santa was. I happened to pick Jonathan's name ... he's 17 years old ... still in high school, but also taking college classes (he will be a sophomore when he begins UGA in the fall) ... so it was more than tough finding him a gift he'd like. I finally settled on a shirt ... but included the gift receipt just in case he hated it. My secret Santa was a girl named Stephanie ... she's very quiet and reserved, so I never could figure who picked my name. She did well ... she bought me some body lotion and shower gel from Bath and Body Works. Good, huh? All in all, the party was lots of fun. I love laughing with these kids ... it reminds me of when I was young ...

This past weekend (and the past 3 weekends, too) have been spent driving all over town ... spending gobs of money at Lowe's. Yesterday was kinda fun ... we went FURNITURE shopping. Fun in the way that it's always cool to get somethin' new ... but gut wrenching in the way that you've got to PAY FOR IT. Still, it was kinda fun. We hit all the furniture stores in town, which consists of FIVE. We settled on Hannah's bedroom suite at Farmer's Furniture ... a mahogany sleigh bed (see picture above). For our bedroom, we decided to only buy the bed (king sleigh bed in the picture above - the one in the room with the white curtains) because we need to see how the bed will fit with the antique dresser we have. I have a good feeling we'll be going back soon to get the nightstands and dresser with mirror.

While I love Hannah's bedroom suite, and I love the king sleigh bed for our bedroom ... both of those do not compare to how much I'm BANANAS over the kitchen table (see pic above) and leather couch for the den (can't find a picture of it ... but I'll take one of it when it's delivered). First ... the table. Now ... I know most of you won't go nuts over this table, but I have to briefly explain why I am.

When Ron told me to "pick out some furniture," I was trying to be kind (with regards to the price). I looked at circulars ... surfed the 'Net ... and decided upon a kitchen table from Farmer's Furniture. It was cute ... not really my first choice, but I wasn't repulsed by it. I figured I could live with it and make it work. Well, when I took Ron to the store to show him ... he said, "hell no." He didn't mind the furniture I chose for Hannah's room (actually, she chose it), but there was no way he was going to buy the table I picked out among the 6 designs that were available (hey, this is THOMASVILLE). Anyway, we paid for Hannah's furniture and headed to Turner's. We bought a couch two years ago at Turner's, and when we walked in the saleswoman from our last visit there remembered us. She was very nice (and was very much working on commission) ... and she was the one who guided us to the area where Ron found this table. When Ron laid his eyes on the table, he knew that was the one he wanted. I, of course, saw the price ... and thought, "there is NO way he's gonna buy this." Well ... I am still in shock ... he said, "this is the one we want." (sidebar: I'm gonna have to be nice for a REALLY long time for this table ;))

So ... we find the king sleigh bed ... and then I tell Ron I want to show him the couch I picked out. Now friends (and family) ... I looked at a gazillion couches ... and no matter how many I looked at, sat on, considered ... none would leave the impression I had of the whiskey-colored leather couch I found at Turner's a month before this weekend. As we (me, Ron, Hannah, Eli, and the saleswoman) head towards the leather section of the store, I began searching for the couch of my dreams. I turn a corner thinking, "oh, it's right around here." I get to that spot and I can't find it ... I panic ... truly, my heart just dropped. The saleswoman says, "are you looking for the whiskey-colored one?" I first think, "how the hell does she know that?" and then I wonder, "where the hell did they move it?" The saleswoman takes me around another corner ... and there it is ... in all its glory ... and I just melt as I gaze upon the rich leather ... and Ron melts as he gazes upon the PRICE. Thankfully, it's on sale (yeah, right ... sure it is) ... and I get the "go ahead." Of course, he wouldn't relent and let me get the loveseat, too ... that is, until he sees the couch in the den. He seems to think there won't be enough room in the den for both. Ahem ... let me spare everyone the suspense ... there's room ... oh yeah, there's PLENTY of room. That loveseat will finds it way home soon ... :)

The only drawback of buying furniture from Turner's (besides the sticker shock) is that the furniture will take 6 weeks to arrive. Well, they have UP TO 6 weeks for its delivery. The saleswoman told me that they will be close the entire week of Christmas, so I should plan on the entire 6 weeks. Ugh. Oh well, it'll be worth it.

Okay, let me get posting some pics of the house. I'm sorry it's taken so long to update the photos ... so many people have been asking me to post some photos, but the house was in a stage where it was difficult to look at parts of it and imagine what it'd look like. Since we're near the end, most everything is complete except where noted.

Tequila Christmas Cake

I have a friend from long ago who recently sent this to me. As the old saying goes, "it's an oldy, but a goody."

Tequila Christmas Cake

Ingredients:

1 cup of water
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup of sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup of brown sugar
Lemon juice
4 large eggs
Nuts
1 bottle tequila
2 cups of dried fruit

Sample the tequila to check quality. Take a large bowl, check the
tequila again. To be sure it is of the highest quality, pour one level
cup and drink. Repeat. Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of
butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add one teaspoon of sugar. Beat again.
At this point it's best to make sure the tequila is still OK. Try
another cup... just in case. Turn off the mixerer thingy. Break 2 leggs
and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit.

Pick the frigging fruit up off floor. Mix on the turner. If the fried
druit gets stuck in the beaterers just pry it loose with a drewscriver.
Sample the tequila to check for tonsisticity. Next, sift two cups of salt.
Or something. Check the tequila. Now shift the lemon juice and strain
your nuts. Add one table. Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever
you can find. Greash the oven. Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try
not to fall over. Don't forget to beat off the turner. Finally, throw
the bowl through the window. Finish the tequila and wipe counter with the cat.

CHERRY MISTMAS!

A Monday Giggle

Compliments of my dear friend, Nita.

Women are Evil by Nature

A woman went up to the bar in a quiet rural pub. She gestured alluringly to the bartender who approached her immediately.She seductively signaled that he should bring his face closer to hers. As he did, she gently caressed his full beard.

"Are you the manager?" she asked, softly stroking his face with both hands.

"Actually no," he replied.

"Can you get him for me? I need to speak to him," she said, running her hands beyond his beard and into his hair.

"I'm afraid I can't," breathed the bartender. "Is there anything I can do?"

"Yes, I need for you to give him a message," she continued, running her forefinger across the bartender's lip and slyly popping a couple of her fingers into his mouth & allowing him to suck them gently.

"What should I tell him?" the bartender managed to say.

"Tell him," she whispered," There's no toilet paper, hand soap, or papertowels in the ladies room.

The latest kill ...

Alright, here's another one that will soon be staring at me in the den. I've relented (much like I did as I was giving birth to our son and agreed to name him "Ronald" after his father and grandpa, but we call him by his middle name) ... and I plan to use AN ENTIRE WALL in our new home dedicated to dead wildlife.

This deer was 200#, 8 points, and was shot early this morning. That makes FOUR that will be displayed on ONE wall. Man ... y'all gotta stop by and see this ... with the turkey fan and the fox squirrel ... I may start charging admission :)

DK's cherub

OMG ... I just had to post this picture (sorry I didn't ask you first DK, but I won't use names for your protection and privacy - I promise!) ... my friend, "DK," sent me a link to her son's photos ... and I'm only showing all of you ONE of them, but they're ALL fabulous!!

DK ... you and your hubby are so proud, I'm sure. Wadda handsome little man y'all have! Love, LOVE, looooooove the photos!! The photographer is gifted ... I'll have to get some information from you so I can get Eli's photos shot. Hannah's were done not too long ago, so it's my little man's turn.

Thanks for sharing, DK ... he's G O R G E O U S !

Thanksgiving and beyond ...

Well, it's been a few days since I've posted ... I know I've been a slacker ... ahem, but ONLY with the blog. I've been swamped at work and experiencing a few ills (nothing serious), so I've been busy with other things.

With regards to the house ... we're spending this weekend cleaning real good so the carpet can be laid in the master bedroom, master closets, exercise/recreation room, and the extra bedroom. I found the most beautiful carpet for the master bedroom ... it has just a hint of sage in a neutral background, so it will tie into the wall color fabulously. I didn't care too much about the carpet in the extra bedroom, so I found something neutral. The exercise/recreation room will have a commercial grade carpet, but Ron isn't crazy about the one I chose. No worries ... I'll go and pick out another one tomorrow. I pick my battles, and this carpet (exercise room) means little to me.

Okay, so Tuesday the cabinet maker extraordinaire will return to install the kitchen island and finish up some odds and ends (put on the cabinet knobs and such). The next two days we will see the countertop man come in and make me very happy. The granite countertops are finally cut and finished, so he will come in for two days and install all the countertops. The following Monday (that would be the first week of December), the plumber comes in and installs all of the fixtures. Somewhere in between the cabinet maker, the countertop guy, and the plumber ... the rest of the crown molding and trim will be completed. Also, the columns in the dining room need to be put in and painted. Oh yeah ... and the stairs will be done, too. We've purchased the wood for the stairs so that should begin any day, too. Once the cabinets and countertops in the kitchen are finished, the appliance guy can come in and install the gas stovetop, the refrigerator, the dishwasher, and the washer/dryer. I'll be sooooo glad to get those appliances out of the dining room! The only real hold-up will be the glass company. The shower in the master bathroom cannot be completed until mid December. Apparently the glass that I ordered for the door and the sides of the shower has to be made. I didn't want any metal showing on any of it ... I only wanted GLASS (I hate that silver band around the whole glass), so the only metal will be brushed nickel (to match the fixtures) brackets screwed into the tile but even those are very unassuming. Even the handle that opens the door will be glass, so I think it will be worth the wait. I know I may be "playing with fire" by having an all glass door, but both kids have their own bathroom - this will cut down on the chance that it will damaged or broken. If it breaks only Ron and I will be responsible.

We've had a quiet Thanksgiving for which I'm VERY thankful. The photo above is my turkey. This is the second year I brined a turkey ... and the second year that it is too delicious for words. I love Williams-Sonoma ... I order the turkey brine and turkey seasonings for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Kinda like a gift to myself. I have my eye on the copper dutch oven, but so far I only ordered the brine :(

I could use this posting to list all that I'm thankful for, but I'm too tired! I think I'm going to sit with Eli and watch Arthur instead :) Suffice to say I have TONS to be thankful for ... and I realize how lucky I really am.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Civilian Friends vs. Cop Friends

Disclaimer:
Those who are easily offended by slang may want to skip this post.

I have a dear friend, Nita (a former cop), who sent this to me. I also have a friend, Donna, whose husband works in law enforcement. When I read this I knew I wanted to share it. I have many friends and former students who work in law enforcement, and I thought of MOST of them when I laughed my way through this ...

By the way ... um, Donna? Ask your hubby if he agrees with these! At least, from his pre-marriage days!!


Civilian Friends vs. Cop Friends

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Tell you not to do something stupid when drunk
COP FRIENDS: Will post 360 degree security so you dont get caught

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Call your parents Mr. and Mrs.
COP FRIENDS: Call your parents drunk as hell and tell them about the fat chick you tried to pick up

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Hope the night out drinking goes smoothly, and hope that no one is late for the ride home.
COP FRIENDS: Know some wild shit will happen, and set up rally points and an E & E route.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Bail you out of jail and tell you what you did was wrong.
COP FRIENDS: Will be sitting next to you saying, Damn...we fucked up...but hey, that shit was fun as hell!"

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Cry with you.
COP FRIENDS: laugh at you and tell you to put some vagasil on your pussy.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Borrow your stuff for a few days then give it back.
COP FRIENDS: Steal each other ' s stuff so often nobody remembers who bought it in the first place.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Are happy that someone picked up a one night stand and leave them alone.
COP FRIENDS: Will Low Crawl naked into the room with a camera and hope for the tag team.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.
COP FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that ' s what the crowd is doing.
COP FRIENDS: Will kick the whole crowds ass that left you.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Would knock on your door.
COP FRIENDS: Walk right in and say, "I'm home!"

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will try and talk to the bouncer when you get tossed out of the bar.
COP FRIENDS: Will man up and go after the bouncer for touching you on the way out.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will wish you had enough money to go out that night, and are sorry you couldn't come.
COP FRIENDS: Will share their last dollar with you, drag you along, and try to steal free drinks all night

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will take your drink away when they think you've had enough.
COP FRIENDS: Will look at you stumbling all over the place and say, "Bitch, you better drink the rest of that shit, you know we don't waste..That's alcohol abuse!!!"

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Want the money they loaned you back next week.
COP FRIENDS: Can't begin to remember who owes who money after taking care of each other for so long.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will say "I can't handle Tequila anymore".
COP FRIENDS: Will say "okay just one more" and then 2 minutes later okay just one more".

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will talk shit to the person who talks shit about you.
COP FRIENDS: Will knock them the fuck out!!

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will tell you "They'd take a bullet for you."
COP FRIENDS: Will actually take a bullet for you.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will ignore this
COP FRIENDS: Will repost this

Poor Donny ...

I could try and think of something clever to add to this cartoon, but why?

Ouch! Even his troops (um ... "troops" is meant to infer THE ENTIRE U.S. MILITARY, or at least those who have a voice) are finally tired of him.

All I have to say is, "what took you so long?"

New Rules by Bill Maher

I love to watch HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher. I have forgiven Maher for making a nasty, rude comment about mentally challenged people, and now enjoy his show. To forgive can be a pretty good thing :)

Anyway, I am going to copy and paste below the transcript from his show the other night when he had Barney Frank (D-MA), Jason Alexander (Seinfeld), and Bill Richardson (some Republican governor... I think from NM). I haven't succeeded in finding the entire transcript, but I found Maher's NEW RULES segment. Political comedians, like Maher, are having a hey-day right now with all of the crap the Republicans and Bush folks are pulling, particularly justifying the Iraq war (both initiating it and staying with it).

I hope you enjoy this rule as much as I do ...

New Rule, in two parts: A) You can't call yourself a think tank if all your ideas are stupid. And B), if you're someone from one of the think tanks that dreamed up the Iraq War, and who predicted that we'd be greeted as liberators, and that we wouldn't need a lot of troops, and that Iraqi oil would pay for the war, that the WMD's would be found, that the looting wasn't problematic, and the mission was accomplished, that the insurgency was in its last throes, that things would get better after the people voted, after the government was formed, after we got Saddam, after we got his kids, after we got Zarqawi, and that the whole bloody mess wouldn't turn into a civil war...you have to stop making predictions! You know, there's a name for people who are always wrong about everything all the time: husbands. You know, it's a shame what happened to think tanks. They used to produce valuable, apolitical analysis. But partisanship crept into many of them. And the Bush Administration doesn't just come up with something as stupid as "If we leave now, they'll follow us home." No, they have someone from a think tank say it first. It's a way to lend respectability. The same reason a titty bar has food. I hear.

The think tanks that incubated the Iraq war have lofty names like the Heritage Foundation and the Project for a New American Century. Whatever. They've been wrong so often, I'm surprised they're not my broker. Richard Perle thought we could win Iraq with 40,000 troops. Paul Wolfowitz predicted, in 2003, that within a year, the grateful people of Baghdad would name some grand square in their fine city after President Bush. And he was right when he said they'd be waving American flags. They were on fire.

William Kristol pooh-poohed the fears that Sunnis and Shiites would be at each others' throats, as "the stuff of pop psychology." Right. And having your head chopped off is just a quick way to drop 11 pounds. Kristol, of course, is revered by much of the right because he was Dan Quayle's chief of staff, and was known as "Quayle's Brain." You know that. Which sounded impressive until I remembered Dan Quayle didn't have a brain. And now, Mr. Kristol proposes immediate military action against Iran, predicting the Iranians will thank us for it. Hey, you know what, Nostrodamus? Why don't you sit this one out? We'll get by using the Magic Eight Ball for a while. Because you guys have been so wrong about so much for so long, people are actually turning to the Democrats. So, we can say Iraq was a noble experiment, if that helps you. Our intention was good: to penetrate Iraq and bring it to a glorious, euphoric climax. But it's clear now that's just not going to happen.

And yet we're still pounding away. Causing the whole area to become painfully inflamed. And in that situation, the kindest thing you can do is...just pull out.

All Women Should ...

Compliments of my friend, Emily ...


A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...

A set of screwdrivers,
a cordless drill, and
a black lace bra.

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...

One friend who
Always makes her
Laugh...
And one
Who lets her cry.

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...
A good piece of furniture
not previously owned by
Anyone else in her family.

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
Eight matching plates,
Wine glasses with stems,
And a recipe for a meal that will
Make her guests feel honored.

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...

A feeling of control over Her destiny.


EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

How to fall in love without losing herself.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

How to quit a job
Break up with a lover
and confront a friend without losing the relationship.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

When to try harder... and
WHEN TO WALK AWAY.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

That she can't change
The length of her calves,
The width of her hips, or
The nature of her parents.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

That her childhood
May not have been Perfect...
but it's over.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

What she would and wouldn't
Do for love or more.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

How to live alone...
even if she doesn't like it.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

Whom she can trust, whom she can't,
And why she shouldn't take it personally.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

Where to go..
Be it to her best friend's kitchen table..
Or a charming inn in the woods...
When her soul needs soothing.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

What she can and can't accomplish
In a day...
A month...
And a year...

Pride

Wow, am I lucky or what? I have so much to be proud of!

I'm proud of my 15 year-old daughter ... a freshman in high school ... bringing home 5 A's and 1 B on her first report card. Her B was in Algebra, which is she AND her momma's worst subject, but I'm proud anyway. To celebrate her scholarship I took her to the movies on Sunday ... her choice ... she could pick any film she wanted to watch and I would watch it with her. This is a big deal, people ... I let her go to the movies anytime she wants, but it's usually with her cousin or a friend of hers ... THIS time I would watch ANY MOVIE SHE WANTED TO WATCH with her. So what does she pick? She chose THE GRUDGE 2. Oy vey, I say ... but I managed to make it through. It was the single most repulsive and innane movie I've ever had to sit through! After the movie I reminded her that my presence and participation was a true representation of a mother's love. I'm kinda praying she earns a C next time ;)

More pride? How's about this ...

Eli, the child who looks like Ron but has my charm (hee hee), can tell anyone who asks him who is pitching in the World Series, and he can tell them (a) what channel the game is on, (b)who's pitching the next night, (c) who's DH'ing, and (d) who's favored to win. That's MY kid ... ain't he the coolest? He's so smart ... and I'm so proud :)

Okay, here's some more ...

I'm proud of the GREAT WHITE HUNTER ... which is to say, I'm proud of Ron. He has worked so hard on building our house (though not necessarily with hammer in hand, but he could if he had the time). He maintains a very busy job working as a PA ... taking call sometimes 3 and 4 times a week ... and shuffles pockets of time talking with sub-contractors and our banker. He has managed to build us our dream home AND has done so allowing us to walk into the house with ---K (numbers taken out to protect the innocent) of equity already in the home. I am so proud of his efforts ... he has done an amazing job.

Okay, it's gettin' kinda weepy in here ... we can't have that, can we? Too mushy for me (and for Will, I'm sure)!!!!

:)

Cabinets (unfinished)

Okay, here are a few pics of the cabinets in the kitchen, one shot of the cabinets in the laundry room, and one shot of the custom cabinets built around the fireplace in the den (excuse the trash everywhere ... I find construction dudes to be quite messy).

The countertops will not be installed for a few weeks (I think). Shane, the cabinet maker extraordinaire, told me that he thinks he can use a different countertop guy who will only take a week to get the countertops I've ordered but he isn't sure he can get the exact granite I orginally ordered. If I stick to the original granite, it may take up to 3 weeks ... what a dilemma, huh? Um, not for me. I'll wait 5 weeks if I have to ... the granite I chose will be PERFECT ... and I have waited this long for my dream house ... what's 3 more weeks? It's a cake walk, that's what it is.

:)

A little bit closer ...

It took a while to load these photos, so I hope I remember what exactly I loaded. I think there should be a picture of the exterior light outside the garage bays, the light over the kitchen island (which is missing a globe because the electrician accidently cracked one giving me a new job tomorrow - ordering a new one), the light over kitchen table, the chandelier in the dining room, and I think the ceiling fan in the den.

Things are starting to come together ... slowly, but surely it is beginning to look like a house. I think the electrician will finish this week which include turning ON the electricity! The heating and air guys and the alarm system people will also be out this coming week. There are still "holes" in the ceiling for either vents or alarm sensors, so I'll be glad when those are complete, too. I will post more pictures in a minute ... I think I took some of the cabinets in the kitchen and the den.

:)

A Tickle for your funny bone ...

... compliments of my friend, Ginger (with a few changes).



A small zoo in Alabama had a very rare species of gorilla.

Within a few weeks the gorilla, a female, became very difficult to
handle. Upon examination, the veterinarian determined the problem. The
gorilla was in season. To make matters worse, there was no male gorilla
available.

Thinking about their problem, the Zoo Keeper thought of Bobby Lee Walton, a
redneck part-time worker responsible for cleaning the animal cages. Bobby
Lee, like most rednecks, had little sense but possessed ample ability to
satisfy a female of any species. The Zoo Keeper thought they might have a
solution.

Bobby Lee was approached with a proposition: Would he be willing to mate
with the gorilla for $500.00?

Bobby Lee showed some interest, but said he would have to think the matter
over carefully. The following day, he announced that he would accept their
offer, but only under four conditions.

1. "First", Bobby Lee said, "I ain't gonna kiss her on the lips."
The Keeper quickly agreed to this condition.

2. "Second", he said, "You can't never tell no one about this."
The Keeper again readily agreed to this condition.

3. "Third", Bobby Lee said, "I want all the chil'run raised Southern
Baptist."
Once again, the Keeper agreed.

4. "And last of all," Bobby Lee stated, "You gotta give me another week to
come up with the $500.00."

For D.D.

Okay, since it's 3:00 am and I can't sleep (too much stuff on my melon), I will post a few more photos of a very unfinished kitchen. I promise to update these pictures after Monday.

Updated Photos

Okay, here are just a few ... I'm on my way out the door to head to Lowe's (grrrr) ... I have to change out the front door locks. I can't find the receipt, so this could prove tough.

More pics later ...

Update

It's Wednesday ... "hump day" ... which, by the way, is a strange description of a day which is typically reserved for attending evening church activities ...

Anyhoo ... I'm headed out to the house to take care of some things for the hubby. I have been DYING to post some new pictures, but I am trying to wait until more is done. The cabinet guy (Shane - custom cabinet extraordinaire) has installed as many cabinets as he possibly could in my kitchen, but he has to wait for the electrician to find the stubouts that were accidently covered up by the sheetrock guys. The cabinets ... are ... breathtaking. Ron and I stood in the kitchen the day after Shane was there and just ... stared at the beautiful wood. Ron said he had no idea they'd look that good, but I knew they would. I had this picture in my mind as to how they'd look with the paint color, the tile, and with the million rays of sunshine coming through the windows ... and now reality matches the picture in mind.

Our appliances were also delivered on Monday. They, too, are incredible. I am sooooooooo excited about using the ovens and the gas stove ... although, I haven't used a gas stove in over 20 years, so I'm sure I'll burn the hell outta some food for a while. The stovetop has 6 eyes so I guess that means I can burn 6 things at once!!! The refrigerator ... oh geez ... that thing is HUGE. I get excited just thinking about it! (so there IS something to the "size" of things ...)

The wood that Ron took out of his granny's house has been laid upstairs in my office and on the landing. It is the most beautiful heart pine I've ever seen. We've decided not to stain it ... just sand it and clear coat it ... leave it natural. Against the terra cotta paint in my office and the bright white french doors ... it is G O R G E O U S.

The tile guy is almost through with the shower in the master bathroom. The guy moves as slow as government ... but he's good. It looks great. He will go this weekend and pick up the tile we're putting in the hallway, Hannah's room, and Eli's room. We were going to carpet those areas, but we agreed that it would be prudent to cover heavy traffic areas (AND ELI'S ROOM) because it would be easier to clean and keep looking nice.

The electrician has installed the foyer chandelier, the hallway chandelier, and a few other lights. Eli is happy as a pig in slop that his ceiling fan has been installed. We got him one of those baseball ceiling fans ... the blades look like bats, the globe is a baseball, the main piece is a baseball glove, and a piece that looks like home plate is on the ceiling. It's adorable! I bought him a baseball nightlight and a baseball switch plate. They will look even cuter once his Atlanta Braves bedding arrives. Hannah's fan is white, but it has a remote control ... too cool for her. The fan I chose for our bedroom is one of those fans with the wooden blades that look like palms. When I saw this fan in Lowe's I wasn't impressed ... I almost thought it was ugly. But then I saw one like it hanging in my friend Micky's house ... and I knew right away I had to have it! I had to special order the fan for the den, so hopefully it will be in next week. I ordered the lighting for the kitchen (over the table and over the island), and I ordered the exterior lights for over the garage bays. Hopefully those will be in soon.

I spent some time furniture shopping this morning. It was short-lived because I had Eli with me. I discovered that 10 year-old boys don't appreciate leather couches or finely detailed dining tables ... go figure. I, of course, found soooooooo many nice pieces ... but only time will tell how many I will be able to bring home. I found the BEST leather couch and love seat ... I just wish it came with the BEST price.

Well, I've got to run to the plumbing supply place. It was months ago that I picked out the fixtures and now I can't remember what I chose! I am trying to pick out cabinet hardware and lighting fixtures for the bathrooms ... but I couldn't remember what the plumbing fixtures looked like! Maybe I'll post some pics later ...

J :)

Kiss my grass ...

Look! We have grass, man! (Not THAT kind of grass, Ginger ...)

This is our back yard (well, soon-to-be backyard). They (whomever "they" are) put the grass down last week. The tile guys - and that's an official title - are finishing the kitchen and den today. They still need to put in the grout, and finish the master bathroom.

Wooo hooo! It won't be long now!

:)

For my friends who smoke ...

A Boy and his Toy

This is Ron's new (well, new to him) toy. One of the docs he works with had to buy a big tractor because he bought a bigger piece of property, so Ron bought this from him (to my chagrin). The picture of land I posted is showing the area he semi-cleared today with his tractor. Ahem ... I should mention ... the land he cleared IS NOT OURS. It's part of the plantation that surrounds our land. I have a feeling after it's cleared it will become a food plot.

Maybe I should get out a piggy bank to start putting money away ... you know, for Ron's bond after he gets carted to jail for hunting on a private plantation. I'm sure he's betting on risk v. reward ... the risk is minimal since there is soooooo much land surrounding our place, and the reward ... well, let's just say I'm glad I will have 10 foot ceilings in our house ... 'cuz we gotta make room for more deer heads :(

For my family and friends who ...

... do NOT live in Jawja. This picture is of the road in front of our property. (For my friends who live here, this is LBH - Lower Boston Road)

This ... is red Georgia clay. I know I'm odd about some things, and I think this is one of those "things" that make me odd. I LOVE THIS CLAY. I know it turns my white Pilot orange, but I love it. It's one of the things that defines Georgia, which has been my home for 16 years. I never thought I'd love a state more than my native Texas, but I do. Now ... for my family and friends who live in Texas ... I'm not abandoning my affections for the Tejas ... it is dear to me for a thousand reasons. But Georgia is home for me ...

... that is, until we retire to Colorado ...

:)

Entrance Gate

No, this isn't an ant hole or just pile of bricks. In one of these photos, you can see Ron and his dad working to install a gate on our property. The hole, obviously, is for the poles that hold the gate ... and the bricks are to build around the poles. We will install solar lights on top of the pillars and the gate will be electric. Not only will the entrance bring beauty to our property by landscaping around the pillars, it will keep vehicles off our property. After having Ron's 4 wheeler and trailer stolen, we're not taking any chances. Which, I must mention, is still very much a sore subject ... STATE FARM sucks. You know the commercial, "State Farm is there?" Well, apparently they're RIGHT THERE to raise your premiums whenever you make a claim. Muthas ...

It's gettin' closer ...

... to being finished! Here is the latest photos ... one of the house and one of our front yard, which as you can see is woods. We will have a grass yard that surrounds the house along with landscaping, but we're going to keep the woods in front of our property to try and help the visibility from the road, or the lack thereof, actually. I will post pics from the inside as soon as the cabinets are put in. I think the cabinet guy will start in about two weeks, but in the meantime the tile guy is working on the master bathroom. He has to tile the shower and around the garden tub. He has alot of prep work to do first, then the tile will be put on. Ron and his dad are driving to Jacksonville, Florida on Monday to pick up the tile he ordered. We saved nearly fifty cents a square foot by buying from this certain tile distributor. And THAT'S a good thing since we never budgeted for tile!

More to come ...

Linda's birthday

Here is my friend, Linda, enjoying her birthday. I'm not even sure how old she is ... I think we're only a year or two apart. Oh, and she is also the mother of my friend, Karli (who has already sent two of her papers my way to check for her - she's at MaryMount College in Manhattan).

Linda is ... hmmm, how do I describe her? Well, I think first and foremost, it's important to state that Linda is REAL. There is nothing fake about her! She isn't pretentious, artificial, or conceited in any form or fashion. It is true that what you see is what you get with Linda (and I, for one, think that's a good thing). She raised two great children (which reminds me of my sister, D.D.) by herself, works harder than anyone I know (Um, except for my husband - he's always the exception), and would give you the shirt off her back if you asked her (which reminds me of my mother).

In this photo you can see the flowers I sent her (to her left), and the nekkid-men playing cards given to her by Kristin (yet another friend I must blog about some time). She was showered with gifts from so many people at work ... which, in my mind, is a testament as to how many people truly love her and want to celebrate her special day.

I love her, too ... she's so r-e-a-l ... which makes her a real friend, indeed.

By the way, those playing cards are FAAAAABULOUS ;)

My diploma is here!!!

I've waited nearly six weeks for this piece of paper to get here ... and it arrived today, ensuring I'll have a great weekend. I do have one teensy-weensy gripe about the diploma ... IT'S SO ... SO ... small. I mean, I'm sure it's the same dimension as my diploma for my B.A., so it's not as small as a postcard ... but I expected a diploma that was bigger. I didn't expect one as large as Ron's diploma (his is HUGE and is written in Latin - privilege of going to med school, I guess), but I thought my M.Ed. would be larger in size. Perhaps I'm matching the academic difficulty with the size of the paper ... 'cuz I'm here to tell ya, I worked MUCH harder for this one!

I know, I know ... I shouldn't bitch about it. After all ... it's only a piece of paper. But I guess it's true ...

size DOES matter ...

;-)

5 Long Years

Yep, it doesn't seem as if were 5 years ago today that a monumental tragedy took place. It feels as if it were only yesterday ...

Why does it feel that way? Because the media (in an election year no less - coincidence? Um, maybe not ...) are making sure to devote every spare second to showing the planes fly into the towers. There are documentaries, made-for-tv movies, and news shows this past week ... and I'm sure in the weeks to come as well.

I will perhaps offend some readers when I post a link that concerns 9/11 and the events of that day (moreover, events leading to that day), but I am not worried about that. If my readers love America (as many claim they do), then they will respect and remember that if America is to be free, Americans must honor those freedoms. The freedom I write about is the freedom of speech ... the freedom I have to express my opinion. Now ... I know as sure as I'm sittin' here that some readers will argue that the link I provide below is in direct conflict with our government ... and it's because of our government and its soldiers that I have the right to the freedom I mentioned above. Most of that is true ... I agree that I enjoy this freedom because others fight for us to protect it ... that's right and I agree 100%. But what always seems to get lost in the mail (so to speak) is the fact that granted, our military protects them, but they are only the puppets of our government - they do as they're told. I am grateful for the risk they take ... I am ... and my readers need to keep in mind that just because I am grateful doesn't mean that I can't have an opinion.

I will always believe that the events of 9/11 were cold, cowardly and tragic ... HOWEVER, I will also always believe that our government (specifically George Bush and his cronies) are more than partly responsible FOR THE REASON for the attacks. Slay me and burn my name in effigy for saying so ... I do not care.

The link below will bring those interested parties to a website called "Scholars for 9/11 truth." I think those who have an open mind will visit this site and give some of the articles a look-see ...

http://www.scholarsfor911truth.org/

Update

I was going to post photos of the inside of the house ... we're at the painting stage (finally) and I am dying to show off the colors of the rooms ... BUT ... I've decided to wait until the cabinets and flooring is in. My decision to do this probably stems from the color of the kitchen. I chose a Benjamin Moore color called "bryant gold" for the kitchen. I gasped when I saw it on the walls because I could imagine the beautiful cabinets and granite countertops ... those who do not know what the cabinets or countertops look like may only see a color that may evoke thoughts such as, "who puked on the walls?" -----> You know, like my friend Will would say ... :)

So ... until more is complete on the house I am going to wait to post photos inside. Until then, take a look at our view of the driveway as we're leaving our house, and the view we have as we drive up the driveway to our house.

My husband has amazed me in his quest to build us our new home we've dreamed about for the last few years. I had my doubts at one time that he'd pull it off, but he showed me that my doubts were unfounded.

J.

Have you ever ...

... been so tired your eyelids hurt? That's me today ... got the deadass but no time for the deadass ...

Oh well, I have plenty to be thankful for so I should just shut the hell up with my complaining.

I have this student ... I'll call her "A" ... who forces me to use every incidental learning and teaching experience I have learned through 5 years of undergrad, 2 years of grad school, and 4 years of teaching. She wears me out just lookin' at her ... she's probably in her mid 50's, African-American, looks like an unmade bed (at least her hair), and spends more time complaining about how hard her classes (all two of them) are than she does actually doing the work. I am her cheerleader, her mentor, and her foster parent. I have to praise her constantly, lecture her daily, and tell her in a million different ways how far she's come in such a short time. She ... is more than a handful. But ya know what ... she makes me feel like the educator I claim to be. For some reason, I seem to be the only one on the entire campus who can solve her problems. They're never HUGE problems, but she insists that I help her. I'm still not sure I like this position she has me in ... it can get pretty scary up there on the pedestal ... but it is certainly one in which I cannot refuse. She ... is why I work for TRIO. She is underserved, underrepresented, and unrelenting in her quest to educate herself. She demands more than I have ... yet she motivates me to give even more than she expects.

"A" is why I teach.

Now I'm going home ... to screams of "Mommy's home!" from Eli, Hannah coming to me showing me her latest art work, and Ron on the phone with a sub-contractor ... and I am probably too tired for any of that ... but like my job with "A," ... I can't let 'em see me sweat.

I am tired ... but I'd rather be tired than not to be needed.

J

Small town girl in the B I G city

I got an e-mail earlier from my friend, Karli (for those who don't remember - she went with me and Ginger to the Braves game for my birthday) ... she is missing Thomasville, her family, and all her friends. She moved to NYC last week to attend MaryMount College in Manhattan. She was born and raised in this area, so naturally she is missing the familiarity of home.

Not only is she my friend, she is also a former employee. She was an English tutor for our program for over a year, so she is also sorely missed at work. I know she will begin to feel less homesick the longer she is there; I only hope that feeling disappears quicker than it probably should. Her mother, Linda, also works at the university and I'm here to tell ya ... Linda is missing Karli as much as Karli is missing home! Both Linda and Karli remind me of my sister D.D. and her daughter, Amanda ... very close relationships. Karli is also very close to her brother Danny, much like Amanda is close to her brother, Tyler (who is also homesick in Illinois - that's for ANOTHER blog).

I was hoping to see Karli this coming week as I was scheduled to go to NYC for a week to attend the COE conference. I had to cancel the trip because we are short-handed at work ... I would have felt guilty leaving my boss all by herself with only 3 returning tutors (6 are BRAND NEW). I lost $100 by cancelling the plane ticket, but it's only money ... I'd rather lose $100 than to put my boss in a tight squeeze.

So ... I will miss visiting Karli. I am on the lookout for any conferences close to NYC that I can attend in the spring. I'll visit her soon, I'm sure.

Karli ... when you read this ... know that soon I'll be posting pics of us together in Manhattan!!

J :)

Wadda catch!!

I have been meaning to blog this, but got caught up at work and didn't get around to it. Okay, it's Friday now (PTL) and I actually have some "not-anything-pressing-to-do" time.

Alright, so you see the photo of Andruw Jones of the Atlanta Braves here, right? Well, it's not the photo I wanted to post but I could not find the one I was looking for. The other night ... um, I think it was Wednesday night ... the Braves were playing the Giants. In the 8th inning, Ray Durham got some good wood on a Chad Paronto special (which means that it was right down Broadway when it wasn't SUPPOSED to be) and everyone just KNEW the ball would find the stands. I even turned to my husband and said, "Oh hell, there it goes." Andruw Jones had other plans ... the guy jumps up on the outfield wall and caught the ball as it was leaving the field!!! If anyone has watched Andruw play, this description comes as no surprise. I mean, geez ... the dude has won 8 Gold Gloves!!!

I had to blog this because it is one of those moments ... you know, you remember where you were when it happened ... the assassination of JFK ... events like that (okay, so I exagerrated). Well, I'll ALWAYS remember this amazing catch. Wadda gamer ...