I get teased a lot about being the Queen of Random. Yesterday at work probably was no different!
I walked into one of my co-worker’s office’s and asked her if she had photos of her with her grandkids.
To most people, that’s totally random and out of the blue. Heck if someone walked up and asked me that I’m not so sure I wouldn’t look at them like they had flipped their lid. BUT… It might not be random to them. Let me walk you through how I got there… Shall we?
Sometimes the joke in our office is my boss is the phantom. He’s in his office one minute and the next, he’s gone. Almost like he vanished into thin air. So our big boss, R, came by to talk to him, D, and of course D wasn’t in his office. He walked off for a few minutes. In fact, sometimes I’m surprised they don’t run into each other in the hallway. So eventually D came back to his office. I got up and was walking down the hallway and I saw R. I looked at him and said, “He’s in his office. Run!” And of course R laughed at me. In my head I was thinking, Run don’t walk. Do Not Pass Go. Do Not Collect $200. Get to his office now or he’ll be gone. {I hope you realize that do not pass go, do not collect $200 is in reference to Monopoly.} So I continued on my way down the hallway.
But that got me to thinking about playing Rummy. I love that card game. I used to play it all the time with my Grandma S. And now I’ve taught hubby to play it. So I was thinking that we need to play it again, soon! We’ve talked about playing it with Tbug but he’s not sure she has the patience to learn it. I point out to him that I was playing that at her age, but he thinks we should start with Go Fish first. But back to the story at hand… thinking about my Grandma S. And me, being the picture person I am remembered this picture.
And Sadly, I got to thinking about how few photos exist of me and my grandparents. All 4 of them. I still have one grandma left, and probably out of all my grandparents, I have the most photos with the two of us together, partially because we share a birthday so there are a lot of birthday photos of us. And truthfully there are very few photos that exist of my grandparents in general.
Then I got to thinking about Tbug. My mother HATES having her photo taken. Really, there are very few photos around of her. I took this recent one of her, and she’d probably disown me if she knew I took it, but sometimes, you have to sneak them in on her.
So when I asked my co-worker if she had many photos of her with her grandkids, that is how I got there. Very strategically.
So I guess my point to this whole post is, even if you don’t like having your photo taken, Sometimes you need to suck it up so that your kids and grandkids and great-grandkids can all know who you were.
Remember Trisha Yearwood’s uncle said it best, “Pictures aren’t for today, they are for tomorrow.” I agree Uncle Wilson!
Do you know what a relief it is to not have to go to class on a Monday night? To come home at a decent hour, get to go out and enjoy a nice walk with your husband and your pooches. I think I kind of almost forgot what that felt like on a Monday night. Sure I was home on Tuesday’s, Thursday’s and every other Friday’s, but then I was studying and reading and fretting. This was nice and relaxed! I’m not going to lie, I might be in love with Monday evenings…
Last night I was walking around the house, catching up on Dancing with the Stars, Two and a Half Men, a few blogs, just whatever popped into my head to do at the time. For some reason I walked into our office and grabbed a recipe book off my shelf. When I walked back to place it back on the shelf (shocker I know) I saw a notebook I wasn’t sure I recognized.
I pulled it off the shelf and walked into the living room trying to remember what this notebook was.
And all the sudden I had a feeling I knew what it was.
My Grandma S loved recipes. She hated to cook but she loved recipes and she loved to eat even more. She never allowed me to say food was nasty. I could not like it, but food was never to be referred to as “nasty”. That was just a horrible word.
She passed away on 9/11/07 {Cancer took her life, mean old ugly cancer}. Mom got things, AC got things, but I, I got all her cookbooks. Unfortunately at the time I was still living at home, didn’t have a kitchen of my own, and the books have been misplaced.
I have been searching for her cookbooks for years now. Every so often I still search my parents house. It’s not that the house is so cluttered or so large, but for some reason I keep passing over the box that was her cookbooks. A few made their way into my recipe book collection but not all.
But I forgot about this particular book. It’s her handwriting. Something I love! And someday with the way the world is going, our grandkids won’t be able to read her handwriting (schools around here have quit teaching cursive, which is all I write in).
And this recipe. This recipe almost brought tears to my eyes. She loved Green Goddess Dressing. I’m not sure what it is, but a restaurant around here served, in her opinion, some of the best. She asked me to make her Green Goddess dressing sometime. Unfortunately I can’t remember if this was while she was sick and I was supposed to make it when she got better or it was something she asked me to do that I never got around to. Either way, seeing this and a few other recipes for Green Goddess Dressing made me cry.
I was so happy to find this book. I’m ready to go put it in our safe because I’m scared of losing it. She was a huge part of my life (as all my grandparents were) and as the days, months and years pass by, I’m starting to lose the memory of her calling and leaving voicemails for me on our answering machine.
So I was extremely excited to find this book sitting among some of my cookbooks. Yup, I might just be in love with Monday nights.
So today, my father has worked for this company for 40 years. Wow, that’s a really long time! My mom is out of town for work so we celebrated this milestone last week before she left town with lunch with his co-workers & mom, hubby and me too :).
ignore the blurry phone photo!
So his boss compiled a list of things that happened the year my dad was hired. Um… this was before I was born, so I had to look some of these up and some of these people. I went ahead and included links (yes, I included links for things I knew too, I was on a google roll!)
1972 in Review
It was the longest year ever recorded in history – Leap Year + 2 Leap Seconds added on.
Today is my Father-in-law’s last day of work. After today he will officially be retired. I think he’s a little excited. So hubby and his sister decided to throw him a surprise retirement party Sunday.
I volunteered to make the cake.
Things have been crazy busy around our house; hubs & his sis decided on finger style foods & dips so my lovely mother came to our rescue and volunteered to make our food contribution. Have I told you how much I love my mother. She told us to worry about the house/lawn & the cake and she’d do the rest!
My Sister in law brought: cream cheese/cheese wrapped in ham slices pickle, cheese & Sausage
And there were a few other things too.
And I guess, there were only 2 retirement cards at Walmart. Pretty much everyone got him the same card. The other card was bought at the Hallmark store and it was the other one Walmart had :).
Here’s the necklace my Tbug made him. She made his name upside down…. It’s cute and funny.
And she made him a book.
The other card.
The kids were outside playing on the tractor tire.
So anyway now we can all be jealous that he’s retired. Happy Retirement Day!
So Tbug wanted to write you guys a post about her Spring Break with us. This is a very long & very photo heavy post just so you know :). Take it away Tbug. {yes, I helped her write it}
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Friday: After cheer practice dad & mom came to pick me up. I forgot my glasses at cheer so we had to go back and get them. Then we came home and smoked sausage & grilled cheese sandwiches.
Mom painted my toenails so dad couldn’t pinch me when I woke up.
We all took showers and went to bed.
Saturday: We woke up and had bacon & egg burrito’s.
Then we went for a walk to the end of the road and back. About the time we got to our driveway grandpa called and said he was 2 miles away and was going to the buffalo sale.
We wanted to go too so we all ran down the driveway and came and changed into jeans {from shorts} and of course green. After the buffalo sale we went to lunch. We had Mexican. Then we came home and went to a horse show.
Then we went to Memaw’s to look at her field for grandpa. Then went to dinner at the Japanese steak house for dinner with Memaw.
After dinner we went to Atwoods with her.
Then came home and walked the driveway a couple laps, We also made Rock Candy,
took showers and went to bed.
Sunday: We woke up and had egg in a basket, bacon sandwiches
and then walked down the road and back. Dad left. Mom and I cleaned on my room and went through my closet {getting rid of clothes that don’t fit anymore.} Earl called mom and asked if I could come play with T & M so mom took me to Earl’s and I played all afternoon with them.
Mom & dad came over in time for Sunday night dinner with dad’s friend Robert & Memaw. We had smoked pork, smoked cabbage {which I didn’t like}, rolls with butter, potato casserole, cream cheese corn, chocolate chip cookies and mom made Robert a birthday cake. {Robert’s 30th birthday is Wednesday}.
Then I went and stayed the night with Memaw.
Monday: I woke up at Memaw’s and she took me to Casey’s to get an Icee & donuts for breakfast. Then we went to Aunt Liss’s to play with Dill Pickle for a bit and get my Christmas/Birthday present they still had for me. For lunch Memaw and I had our Japanese steakhouse leftovers. Then on Memaw’s way to work she dropped me off at great grandma’s house. It was raining so we spent the afternoon baking cookies & bread.
Then surprised grandpa with dinner of Chicken fried steak, homemade gravy, carrots & broccoli & mashed potatoes. Then I went to grandpa’s.
We were supposed to go pick grandma up at the airport later in the evening but she didn’t make it back home. Her flight got cancelled. I stayed the night at grandpa’s and he gave me a flashlight in case I needed anything. It was storming and I woke up once. Morelli {the dog} came to check on me and then went back to his bed.
Tuesday: Woke up at grandma & grandpa’s. Went out with grandpa to feed the horses, sheep and petted the kittens. Memaw came and picked me up from grandpa. {Grandma didn’t make it back from Indianapolis so Memaw came to get me for the day.} We went to her house and played for a bit. Went into town and paid bills. Stopped at Casey’s and got an Icee & donuts for breakfast. Then we went to Wal-Mart where she bought me a Jason Aldean CD and a polka dot umbrella {so I didn’t have to get wet} and then went back to Memaw’s house and played. I had Spaghetti-o’s for lunch. Then my daddy came to pick me up and take you home. Mom stopped at the store to get stuff for Chicken Quesadilla’s.
Then we watched movies. Then we took showers and went to bed.
Wednesday: I didn’t want to get out of bed but mom & dad made me get up around 6:30. We had Honey Nut Cheerio’s & chocolate milk for breakfast. Then I got dressed and rode to work with daddy where grandma came to pick me up. I was bored at daddy’s office because I had to be quiet. Once grandma had me we went to the bank and then to Hobby Lobby to get stuff for her table. She also bought me wood cut outs and markers. Then we went to the mall to return some things for grandma. As we were walking from one store to another grandma saw some clothes I should try on. I wound up with a green shirt. Then we went to another store and found 2 pair of shorts & a new swimsuit. Then grandma took me to another store and bought me some lotion, body wash & spray. Then we had lunch at Chick-fil-a.
Then we went back to grandma’s and I colored my things from Hobby Lobby & watched tv. Dad came to pick me up. When we got home Audrey went missing. So mom & I walked around the property looking for her. Dad’s friend Robert came out and helped too and so did grandma & grandpa. We didn’t find her. Then we went inside and I showed off my new clothes and we ate dinner. {Cream Cheese Chicken}. Then we went to bed.
Thursday: Dad got me up early {6:45} and we had breakfast. We had banana bread but I didn’t like it. Then I rode to work with {step}mom to meet up with my mom and go home with her.
Friday: I went to Cheer practice and then dad & {step}mom picked me up. We went to mom’s work to get dad’s truck and then headed for the house. On the way to the house dad called and told mom and said something about the sky so we made a detour up to the square to take pictures.
Then we came home and had dinner. After dinner we watched the finale of Sweet Home Alabama and mom cut her finger open with her roller blade. She made me a headband.
Then we took showers and went to bed.
Saturday: We got up at 9, got dressed and went to the Amish store. We got sandwiches for lunch and cookies for breakfast and then headed back home. Then we went outside and started working in the yard. Came in for lunch and mom finished working on a project.
Then we went to Memaw’s to try and take grandpa’s tractor tire off. Then came back home and jumped in the hottub. After that we watched a movie we met up with grandma & grandpa for dinner for hotwings. I stayed the night with grandma & grandpa.
Sunday: I got up in the morning and helped grandpa do chores. Then watched him ride Mini Me for a few minutes and then went into the house to watch cartoons. Later when grandpa put the horses out I went and helped by opening the stall doors so they could go outside. Dad & mom came and picked me up after they got done at church and we went back to the house to eat lunch. We all ate left over sandwiches and this yummy cheeseball. Then I helped fold laundry and we picked up my room. We also cleaned the spare room and then dad and I went out and decided where the bee boxes would be set up.
Dad had to take me home a little early because I was going to a birthday party with my mom.
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And that ladies and gentlemen was her spring break.
Her dad had her write you guys a story describing her Spring break. I took pictures of it and then typed it word for word the way she wrote/spelled it 🙂
My Spring Brake Hi my name is Tbug. And this is my story. This spring Brake I drew pictures, cooked. This spring Brake I played, and watched TV. And I also colored. AND I Wroet this story
Let’s head to the races, where it’s Mom against Daughter
And here are the contenders….
Ready? Three….. Two…… One…….
And they’re off…..
It looks like momma might be in the lead….
But daughter is going to catch up.
And this is going to be a close race… they’re in sync
Oh NO, is momma going down?
Daughter is taking the lead
But momma’s not going down without a fight.
Here they go.
Yikes, who’s winning?
Uh oh… is momma giving up?
Now Daughter is….
But wait, daughter is making a come back.
And here comes momma’s second wind.
She might even take Daughter
But in the end, It’s age before beauty, or something like that.
Who did you place your bets on?
{It so felt like running like Pheobe on that Friend’s episode. Yes I’m referencing Friends again. It happens.}
Yes, studying for A&P tests non stop for a day will make you go crazy. It’ll cause you to need a break and sometimes, the best entertainment is cheap and in the form of a camera. I have a test tonight. Wish me luck! I’m so going to need it!
So the other weekend Tbug was over and we decided to make some cookies. Here’s how 2 of our many conversations went:
Tbug: Do you like to take pictures? Me: Um…. yeah….. you say that likes it’s a bad thing. T: No, no it isn’t. M: Mmmmhmmmmm…. sure.
T: I LOVE cooking. I think I love cooking as much as you love taking pictures M: I like to cook too. T: Yeah, but I love cooking as much as you like taking pictures, but I promise it isn’t a bad thing.
1 box Devil’s food cake mix
2 eggs
1/2 cup Veg Oil
I remembered to take the before shot 🙂
Mix well
In 2 eggs I only had to dig out 1 little piece of shell. Not bad!
The batter gets stiff! Fast!
Hand mix in one bag Andy’s Mints bits
We only used half a bag, you know so we can have some agian… LOL hahaha
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake 7-8 minutes
Teaspoon size cookie drops make about 45 cookies.
And I would show you the finished product, but we ate them all. woops! haha! Take my word for it, they’re good!
Today would have been your birthday. I know I use past tense, truthfully I wish I was using the present tense. I miss you. More than you’ll ever know, I miss you. If you were still here you’d have the pleasure of meeting your grandson-in-law and your great {step}granddaughter. Unfortunately I guess I didn’t get my head out of my butt in time to find him while you were still alive, but at that time he was overseas stationed in Afghanistan, so it wouldn’t have done much good anyway.
I actually went back to school. Something I always said I wanted to do, but at the same time wasn’t real sure I was going too, lol, even though I wanted an MBA. I guess I did go a different route though. I wish you were here because I would so pick your brain and have you help me study! Oddly enough just like my other grandma, that’s one thing you loved to do.
I traded off my car the same week I paid it off. You always said you loved that car and always knew that was me when you saw that car. Well I got a nice car now, that I really love, even though I’ve had to take it back to the dealership a few times for a speaker malfunction and now some sensor that’s gone bad. I guess that’s what you get for buying a brand new car that is in its first years of that particular body style.
Unfortunately you’d see a few things that you weren’t so happy about, but in all honesty you’d still be here with us, and I wish you were. I can’t even begin to tell you all about everything that’s happened since you passed away. Sadly enough it dawned on me this morning that it has been a little under 5 years since you passed away and I still miss you every day!
In Life the First Act is Always Exciting, But the Second act, that’s where the depth comes in ~Grown Ups
You are everything, I never knew, I always wanted ~Fools Rush In
The Truth is I gave my heart away a long time ago…. -And I never really got it back ~Sweet Home Alabama
Never lie, steal, cheat or drink But if you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love. If you must steal, steal away from bad company. If you must cheat, cheat death. And if you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away. ~Hitch
Look, I guarantee there’ll be tough times. I guarantee that at one point, one or both of us is gonna want to get out of this thing. But I also guarantee that if I don’t ask you to be mine, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life, because I know, in my heart, you’re the only one for me. ~Runaway Bride
The hardest thing is loving someone and then having the courage to let them love you back. But if you know her shit and she knows yours, and at the end of the day if you still would rather give up than try, nothings ever going to be worth it. ~The Wedding Date
Sometimes life is hard. Sometimes I have to sit in my blue chair and just think or drop to my knees and pray. Sometimes life is hard, but I make it through everyday with the Lord, my wonderful husband and my fabulous family.
