Movie night and sad news...

Saturday night and where was I? Sitting in a dark theater with a big drink, big popcorn and my big date. It has been almost 38 years since I first sat in a theater with this guy. We were only 12 (him) and 13 (me) when we first started "going together". Yes, I robbed the cradle so to speak. And now here we are, 32 years married, 3 wonderful daughters and still going out to movies. He was a trooper and saw Julie and Julia with me. I didn't tell him anything about it, didn't want to scare him and I think he actually enjoyed it. But as I heard him tell someone, he has lived with 4 women for the biggest part of his life. Guess we have rubbed off on him a little...

The movie was very good and I think it will be added to my collection. I do love just about anything Nora Ephron does. Her movies are usually on my "gotta see again" list. This one didn't disappoint. I came home and immediately found Julie's blog and have begun reading it. She is very colorful and I think I will enjoy reading it.

Mr. Ed is off on a ride today. I chose not to go. Having a hard time dealing with news we got yesterday morning. My good friend Cindy's nephew and his wife were involved in a motorcycle accident Friday night. Unfortunately, his wife did not survive. Her nephew had a badly broken leg, required surgery, but it looks as tho he will be released from the hospital in time for the funeral service on Wednesday. So very sad, they have a 14 month old who will never remember his Moma. Cindy is with the family, caring for the children so the brothers and parents can be with her nephew. This family will be in my prayers.

I am taking this as yet one more sign that I am not supposed to be on the back of that bike. I know I got back on the other day, but I wasn't comfortable and this just confirms some of my fears. I have always told Ed he has something to hang on to, but I don't and this accident makes me believe that even more. The husband is driving, he has injuries, but stays with the bike. The wife is thrown and suffers massive injuries and doesn't survive. Granted she wasn't wearing a helmet, not sure if it would have helped, but it probably wouldn't have hurt. Regardless, she died. End of story. Whether it means anything or not, I don't think I will be riding any time soon. One step forward, two steps back.....

August = YUCK

I don't like August, there I said it! It's hot and has been hot for too long. It also means we have at the very least another month of much of the same. Around here, it doesn't really start to get cool until October and that is if you are lucky. Just one more reason I should be living in the North East. I need fall! It is my very favorite season. I love cool crisp mornings, the beautiful colors of the trees and most of all, knowing summer's heat is a very long way away. So, yes, I hate August.

I have had a few days to myself. Ed has been in Alabama since Monday and is due back tonight. He isn't traveling very much anymore and while it is nice to have him home, I have to admit I miss having some time to myself. He has traveled quite a bit during our marriage and I think we both became accustomed to some alone time. Of course, I wasn't really alone during his early travels. I had my girls with me. But at least it gave us a break and made us appreciate the time we did have together. The last seven years I have had quite a bit of "me" time. And I have really grown to appreciate it. So it was a little disappointing when his travel was cut way back and he is home most of the time. Don't get me wrong, I like the routine of him being here, but sometimes it is nice to break out of your routine. So, I have really enjoyed the past couple of days. Didn't really do anything, just hung out at the house. Me and the kitties. But back to reality, he will be home soon.

Home, a wonderful 4 letter word!

Actually returned home Wednesday night, but spent yesterday unloading the Tahoe, doing a mountain of laundry, grocery shopping (nothing in the house to eat) and managing to pull a muscle in my back. Darn that Diet Dr. Pepper!! Our local Dollar Store has 2 liter bottles for $1.25 with a 55cent coupon on each bottle. So of course I stocked up. They had cases with 8 bottles in each, so I got two cases in my cart, no problem. But then the checker wanted me to lift them out and that was my downfall. I lifted the first one out and felt it immediately. It was in my ribcage area on the left side of my back. I managed to finish up, get home, unload the groceries, put away the refrigerated stuff and collapsed!!

I had great plans for a home cooked meal, well, that didn't happen! Ed brought dinner home, bless his heart. I had stripped the bed and washed the sheets and yes, Ed had to put them back on for me. But after some very good muscle relaxers, it is a little better today. At least I can take a deep breath today. Won't be doing any heavy lifting, but better than yesterday for sure.

We had a wonderful time in Santa Fe, celebrating the marriage of Somer and Ryan. It was so good to see old friends and meet some new ones. We really enjoyed spending time with Alissa and Brek as well. And the food....

OH MY GOSH, THE FOOD!! We had so many wonderful meals. Ed should be green after all the green chile's he ate!! I don't think we had a bad meal the entire time we were there. And then we got to go to Dallas and have some of our favorite Texas meals. I was really afraid to step on the scale yesterday, but lo and behold, did not gain a pound!! Of course I am still not happy with what it had to say, but that's my life.....

Had a great visit with the Poynors and Copes while I was in Waxahachie. Ran out of time and didn't get to see everyone I had hoped to see. Maybe next trip...

My spa day at the Speedway Club was so fun. An hour and a half massage, mani and pedi. Almost did a facial, but my skin is so sensitive, I was a little leery. Probably made a good decision.

The kitties were very happy to see us. Puddy is laying on my feet as I write. He is such a sweetheart. I woke up the last two mornings to him curled up in the small of my back and MomaKat in the bend of my knees! Funny how they are always next to me and never Ed. Guess they know who loves the the most!!

I am going to try and add some pictures on here, still haven't figured out how to put them in the body of my posts and not just at the beginning. Need to spend some more time with this I guess and find out how to do that.

Hoping to see Julie and Julia this weekend, Meryl Streep and Amy Adams were just on the View, promoting it. It looks like a really good movie. We have dinner with the Martins and Hales to celebrate the 46th anniversary of Donna and Gary. Haven't seen them in a while, so it will be good to catch up with everyone.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Should be packing....

I know, I know, I should be packing. Those clothes aren't going to get in my suitcase on their own. I just can't seem to get motivated. I have known this trip was coming for a while now and yet here I sit, playing on the computer.

We are going to Santa Fe for the wedding of one of "my girls". I only gave birth to three beautiful daughters, but I consider myself MomaLightner to many. This one is extra special. I feel so honored to be invited to her wedding. She wanted something small and intimate, similar to what the First Born had seven years ago. Just family and close friends. So I feel especially privileged to be included. We will get to see the First Born and her hubby, so that is an added bonus to the trip. After dropping off the kids at the airport on Sunday, we will go on to Dallas for a work related meeting for Ed. I will try and do some visiting and catch up with old friends. So, obviously, I really need to be packing and preparing to be gone!!

Ok, talked myself into it. Time to get busy and get packed.

Prayers for Stellan

I have never met this little boy, probably never will, but I am praying for him and his family today. Please pray with me for Stellan. He is being airlifted to Boston as I write this. Please pray for healing of his little heart and comfort for his family.

Summer Cold

Yes, I have one. Not happy about it either. This has not been one of my most productive weeks that's for sure. I had hoped to be in Tennessee spending some time with my daddy. But Cindy couldn't go this week and I since I have had this head cold, it is probably just as well.

Lots of sleepless nights too. When I lay down, I can't breathe well, so I end up sitting in my chair, watching stuff on the dvr. At least I am getting some things deleted.

Tomorrow is Baby Girl's 25th birthday. Just does not seem possible that she can be that old already. I was 25 when I had her!! She calls this her Golden Birthday, because she is 25 on the 25th. She has big plans in Dallas with her friends. I wasn't invited : ( Oh well.....

Not a lot today, don't feel like being too newsy.

Hope to be better soon.....

Back in the saddle again.....

Well, I did it, it has taken over 2 years, but I mustered up the courage and got back on the motorcycle today. It was supposed to be just into town to get a newspaper, but of course Ed couldn't let me off that easy, so away we went. He says we only went 70 miles, but when you are on 2 lane curvy roads, it takes a while to go that far. We rode for about 2-3 hours with only one stop in the big town of Booneville. We stopped and looked at some possible vehicles for me and then got something to drink.

I did pretty well, although I have to admit there was a huge lump in my throat for just about the entire time. A few times I got pretty queasy, but I toughed it out and made it home. The times that were the hardest were when we were going very slow, taking off from stop signs, things like that. Or when Ed would get to going too fast. Just brought back too many memories.

A quick recap of the events that traumatized me. Father's Day weekend 2007, we went on a ride with 3 other couples to Eureka Springs. We had only been gone about an hour, when we had a blowout doing 70 miles an hour. The hand of God (and an angel named Wilma) were with us and Ed was able to keep the bike up and get it stopped. I haven't been that scared in a very long time and hope I am not again for even longer. We had to wait for a tow truck to come and get us, take us back to Fort Smith, fix the tire and get back on the road. Now, the entire time we were riding in the truck, I was praying they wouldn't be able to fix the tire and wheel and we would just be able to get in the Tahoe and go on to Eureka Springs. But no, they fixed it and YES I got back on.

Things were going fine, we met up with our friends, had fun and the next morning after breakfast, started our trip back home. We stopped to fill up with gas and get drinks and as we were pulling out of the parking lot, barely moving, Ed had to make a sudden stop, the front tire was in some gravel and the next thing we knew, we were on the ground. The bike just fell over!! Our friends helped us get the bike off of us and the ladies took me inside to the rest room. My elbow was bloody, so we got stuff and cleaned it as best as we could. I had some large bandages in my bag, so we put one on and YES I got back on the bike!! We had about a 3 hour ride home and less than halfway I was in incredible pain. My elbow was throbbing and every bump in the road only made it worse. When we were about 30 minutes out, I actually asked Ed to drop me off somewhere, go get the Tahoe and come back for me. I just couldn't take the bike anymore. But make it I did, at least to our friends house in Ft. Smith. Ed did come back home, get the car and some clean clothes for me and by then I was ready to go to the ER. Now I hate going to the Dr., so if I am asking to be taken to the ER, you better know I am hurting. After a ridiculously long wait, the very young, very inexperienced ER Doc, says, nothing is broken. Mind you, I couldn't straighten out my arm, turn it, nothing, but he says no break. When I told him how much pain I was in, he took another look and finally saw the break!! Of course the whole time, Ed is saying, it's not broken, cause he feels so bad and doesn't want to feel responsible for breaking me. But I knew it was broken. Thank goodness I stood my ground and made him take a second look.

Wow, didn't mean for that to be so long!! Anyway, I had not been back on the bike since then, cause honestly I have felt that God was trying to tell me something. He gave me a good scare on Saturday with the blowout, when we should have been seriously hurt and I didn't listen. I got back on the bike. So.... Sunday, when we are barely moving, we simply fall over and I break my elbow!! I have just felt like I was supposed to stay off the bike. So for 2 years I have. Maybe it was a mistake to get back on today. Only time will tell. I have to say, most of the time I really enjoy riding. I don't like to go fast, just a nice leisurely ride. If Ed will honor my wishes and ride safely while I am on there, I guess I am ready to start riding again.

At least till the next time..........