praise for poo

I love nature. I'm not a tree hugger or anything like that but I am infinitely appreciative of the beauty of the world around me. I love the colors of spring. I love driving through my "neck of the woods" and seeing the beautiful lush green pastures... the gorgeous mountains... the incredible views...

Until I moved here I didn't really understand how those pastures got to be so green... but now... riding with the windows down... there is an inescapable reality of fertilizer. Poo. Our beautiful scenery smells like poo.

And then today it hit me: Poo makes things beautiful. All of this natural beauty that surrounds me comes from icky dirt, smelly poo, the pollen the makes me miserable and.... rain. All those ugly things add together to make the beautiful world I live in.

And so it is with all of us... if we didn't experience a little ugliness every now and then, we'd never reach our full beautiful potential.

editorials

Tiger Woods... John Edwards... Jesse James... Jon Gosselin.... Michael Darby... they're all the same: men who believe they operate under an invisibility cloak. Be sure your sins will find you out. Tiger's apology tour is pathetic. Jesse James and his rehab - more pathetic. Michael "we helped each other get out of our marriages" the most pathetic of them all.

I found myself thinking this morning about the women who give an outlet to these egomaniacal figures. Where is their self-respect? Do they really think it makes them special to be able to win the affections of a married man? Who wants a man you can't trust? And who wants to be sloppy seconds? To the victor goes the spoils.

This came to mind just now as I was glancing through the headlines looking for info on the Easter Earthquake. Nope. Natural disaster that impacts millions - relegated to the bottom of the page. Man who commits depraved acts of infidelity - headline.

Been a stupidly busy day but it's almost over and I'm going to curl up in my nest with my laptop and remote and cringe at Kate Gosselin's efforts at dancing. good times.

love and hugs, y'all!

you're not missing much

I didn't post over the weekend because there wasn't much to say. Lazy - super lazy - restful - barely moved from my nest - kind of weekend. It was much needed. I'm still exhausted. The pollen count ridiculously high and my allergies are off the chart. I can't breathe. My eyes are burning. My head is killing me and I *think* my blood pressure is high. I have that dizzy, mushy headed feeling.

Aren't you sorry I didn't post? Riveting stuff. Whine. Whine. Whine.

Crazy earthquake in San Diego! It's hit all points along that Pacific Ring of Fire, hasn't it? What's next, Alaska? Georgia is on a fault line, it's just not very active.

We're a man down here at the office today or I'd be thinking about taking the afternoon off. I'm gonna tough it out. My attendance is better than last year but still leaves a lot to be desired. I need to toughen up. I mean, after all, Monday is half over!

More from the Tales of Little Bit the Ferocious Warrior Kitty - he has adopted a little black scrunchie as his security blanket. He takes it everywhere he goes. He likes you to hold him like a baby with his belly pointed up while you rub his belly and chest. He puts his two front paws together like he's playing. He always needs a nap after he eats... he still prefers to lay on my chest when he naps.

Ding! There's my lunch! Have a great afternoon!

great quote that sums up exactly what I believe!

You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is the beginning of the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.

Dr. Adrian Rogers

Yabba Dabba Dooo where are you?

It’s always harder to work when it’s a holiday everywhere but in my office. Good Friday… a day that I consider far more holy than Christmas… but hardly noticed by some. I guess if we had a Good Friday gift giving tradition more people would take notice. As it is… we overlook the day that commemorates the greatest gift that was ever given to us. Just another day. Schools are out in Habersham (the county where I work) but not in White (the county where I live). Our office is open, like most businesses. Banks are open. Mail gets delivered. I think we take more notice of the day that Elvis died than the day that Christ died.

So I’m here … and working at getting my mind set for work. Someone just asked if I’m ok. I’m fine. I’m great. I’m just in a state of quiet reflection. And tired. It’s been a long week. We had a busy weekend last weekend and I’m dragging. Not much on my plate for this weekend. Getting Austin ready for his week at his grandparents. Easter Service at church. Peace and quiet. I’m tired. I need a break. It’s been so long since I had a real vacation. I’ve had tons of sick days scattered over the past year but no real vacation. No real time off just for R&R. It’s catching up with me. I’m stuffy and my eyes are burning and my face itches from allergies. I have a little cough. Just a little. Not too bad. It was more noticeable yesterday.

I got to work early this morning. It was unintentional. Just happened. Gave me a few minutes to collect my thoughts here.

Bitty kitty woke me up at 5am trying to bite my butt. I don’t know why. He climbed UNDER the covers and apparently I looked like a good juicy teething ring. He’s a little trouble maker. He loves to climb on the little side table beside my nest and find some little treasure to carry off. He has created a little fort for himself under my tv stand and he takes all his pirated booty there. He thinks that is home base for him. He will “hide” in his fort and grab at Stubby when he goes by as if Stubby can’t reach him. His other favorite game is to climb up on my stepladder and play king of the mountain with Stubby. Stubby’s not so very nimble. I found a red ribbon, a hair band and a pita chip in the fort this morning. One way to get Bitty Kitty in line is to whimper. He can’t stand it. He puts his paw over my lips to try to stop it. If that doesn’t work, he’ll lick my face. He’s a sweet kitty… but he’s acting like a crazy toddler right now. He hasn’t learned the rules yet. He’s starting to understand “no” but he’s not as good as Stubby about it.

One other thing… I’m realizing how many of my pj pants / loungewear has dangling strings. Every time I go to the bathroom Bitty Kitty tries to climb the drawstrings to get into my lap. Sharp, uncontrolled kitten claws on bare skin = unpleasant potty time.

Ryan bought his plane ticket to come home for Cody’s wedding. I was shocked at the price – much cheaper than I would have thought, especially over Memorial Day weekend. He’s paying $179 round trip from Allentown, PA to Atlanta, GA. Makes me want to book a flight out to see him this summer!

I was shocked to learn – but shouldn’t have been – that there is a White County Agricultural Hall of Fame. Apparently the top farmers in the county are added. When you google it, you mostly see it listed in obits.

I mailed in my census form today. Sometimes it’s still weird to be part of a household of two. It will be even stranger when it’s just me and the kitties. I went from living in a house with five kids… to having three kids… to being with Michael and our Brady bunch blended family of anywhere between 1 and 7 boys at a time… to it being just me and Doodle Bug.

Well… let the weekend countdown begin… Yabba Dabba Doo time can’t get here early enough for me today… beautiful Spring day… I’m ready to get out and enjoy! Y’all have a great Easter weekend! Love and hugs!

pictures of cute kitties and cute kiddies

My fur boys in the nest

ignore the junk behind the pepto bismol colored recliner... thought the babies were so cute cuddling and playing together that i didn't stop to tidy up

Doodle bug with his new pokemon cheat magazine. And they say that kids don't read these days!

Sarabeth with her ballet hair reading a book while waiting for dance class

Jamie-gurl with her ballet hair, also reading - because SHE CAN!



NOOOOO! MOMMY! Don't leave me!!! bitty kitty hooks on to anything that dangles... this morning it was my keys

they really do love each other...

thankful thursday

I was so exhausted and headache-y yesterday afternoon... but I went to church anyways and it was definitely a blessing. Doing Beth Moore's Loving Well and it's something I really needed.

Four years ago today I went on a blind date with the man who would become my second husband. We laughed about the stigma of an April Fool's relationship. Who was the bigger fool? So thankful to be a year and a half removed from that nightmare.

Got a call yesterday from the brother of my children's grandfather. I thought Papa Ned was an only child. It turns out he had a half dozen half siblings and step siblings. I learned a lot about that branch of my kids' family tree. It sounds like my kids' dad has a lot of the same character traits of his grandfather. Generational sin is no joke, folks. It's the best reason I can think of to live right.

My allergies are in full bloom today. I woke up choking on slime. Good times.

I'm tired. This has been a long week - and yet - I can't believe it's already Thursday.

Gonna finish the glam routine and hit the road. Love and hugs, happy Thursday, y'all.