Childhood memories relived, Family Cherished

Work is extremely busy, came back from vacation with many wonderful memories, but lots of work and hitting the ground running!! Either way, nothing can ruin the wonderful week-end experienced with family...

more pictures to come...

Maxine Monday

Well, Monday has come and gone and this post has been in the works since then. Work has been extremely busy and with me leaving out of town on Friday, I'm trying to get as much done as possible. So here she is...

Maxine in all her glory...

So... as I get ready to fly home to El Paso and see my family, I figured Maxine had the perfect wisdom for the upcoming event. I love my family, they are a bit on the nutty side, but they are mine! All mine!! As you can tell by the picture, it's an old one(then again we are all old) lol...), the picture was taken in 2004. Mom , my brothers and sister, as well as myself have aged. In fact, aging is the reason why we are headed to El Paso, my brother on the far right is turning the big 50!!! A milestone!! LOL!!! Yea... they are all a bit on the nutty side, but I wouldn't take them any other way! Besides, they have their baby sister that is just as nutty or nuttier at that!

El Paso has it's history... I wouldn't go back home to live, but I do have some good memories back there and of course, my mom, my sister and two brothers. I am extremely looking forward to this trip though for more reasons than the obvious, seeing family.... my whole family gets to meet PC for the first time ever! It will be a family reunion and that is what makes the trip even better.

I know for me, it's home, it's where my roots are, but there's something about Hell Paso that just keeps me from going back for good. When I went through my first divorce, I remember mom calling me and telling me to consider moving back home... it hurt me to have to tell her that I couldn't do it. I had "nothing" to go back to. I wasn't trying to be disrespectful, but the economy in El Paso is not going anywhere, so much that I tell PC, it's like going back in time, every time I visit. The music doesn't change, the styles and fashion doesn't change, nothing changes, at least I don't see it. I could not find a job that pays me what I get paid here in the Houston area. My sister advised me against going back, she knew I had a better chance in doing something better with myself here in Houston than in El Paso, and I can say that she was right.

I remember driving every year to go see family. A tradition? Just something that was? I don't know, but I remember corralling all three kids out of bed at 5 am in to the van and heading out for the 12 - 13 hour drive. In saying that, it brings to mind of a picture of my daughter asleep in the back seat of the van while we are in-route to El Paso. We'd pack an ice chest with sandwiches, drinks and snacks. Magazines, games, books, Cd's, CD player for each kid, blankets, pillows and suitcases. All set, ready to go... yea... I remember!

I also remember making pit stops along the way to and from El Paso, images of the kids taking a break on the side of the road, especially an image of my daughter in diapers (as it was hot). OK, so even an image of me comes to mind... goofing off on the side of the road as we took a break! The picture posted at right, I'm wearing a shirt that says "El Paso Bound". The playfulness and silliness of me acting like an El Paso DIVA was just a way of letting go of some stress from the long ride home.

I get an image of my 26 year old, in 2005, (at the age of 24) playing "Air Guitar" and his brother taking a picture. That was the year that I took Albert, "Prince Albert", to leave him with my mom. That was a hard trip for me... Giving him up that is. I had Prince Albert since he was a puppy and it killed me to leave him in a cage for 10 hours at a time while I was at work. He was definitely a wonderful dog! Was very well behaved and very loving. Always could communicate with me when he had to go for a walk, although at times, he abused his gorgeous little "innocent" look. He use to always sit right by his leash and just wait patiently until we gave in and took him for a breath of fresh air. I think I even have a picture of him doing just that. Hmmmmm, more digging of pictures forthcoming... It will definitely be good to see him again. He always remembers me, and sleeps with me when I visit. Mom always tells him that I'm "Momma #1"... See you soon Prince Albert. I have to confess that mom was a bit upset when she learned that I had named him Albert though! You see, that was my dads' name. I had to explain that he wasn't named after Dad. To this day, I don't think I've convinced her of that. She has renamed him to "Pee Wee", one of our past dogs. Personally, I don't like it, so I still call him Albert, of course with mom screaming at me at the same time. lol...

That trip was definitely a memorable one, I had someone very special to come back to... Little did I know then how far that meeting for "one" beer would go.

We will most likely make a trip to Scenic Drive, maybe do a night run up there on Friday night,(Make it a bit of a romantic run... hehehe...) and Fort Bliss Cemetery (to pay my respects to Dad)

More to come as I reminisce. Pictures too...

"My Cat is Special" Project

And so ... here I am to update that "BFF" of mine... the latest on "My Cat is Special".

As you can see, it's coming along quite niceley, not much more to go, really. I'm hoping to have it all done by this week-end, hoping that no major distractions come along. Even if I can take it on the plane and work on it during that hour and a half or so.

3

2

1

Cat Kisses

Sandpaper kisses

on a cheek or a chin-

that is the way

for a day to begin!

Sandpaper kisses-

a cuddle and a purr.

I have an alarm clock

that's covered in fur!

~ Author Unknown ~

Pass the peace

If you see someone troubled, with pain in their eyes...
Pass the peace.
If you know a call's come, bearing grim news...
Pass the peace.
If you hear the whimper of a troubled young teen...
Pass the peace.
If you notice the sadness, on a tear-stained face...
Pass the peace.
Chaos, Loneliness, Fear, Sadness,. When someones world's upside down- -
Pass the peace.
Pass the peace. Offer a prayer. Give a hug. Show you care.

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

John 14:27

Just like one of the boys...

What a week-end!! It was a week-end full of drills and shooting. LOTS of shooting!

We did quite a bit of shooting this week-end, quite a bit. You can see some videos over at "The Cathouse". Me... I'm doing the "womanly" point of view thing, that doesn't have all the "gun lingo" and the "gun statistics", for that, you are better off going over to The Cathouse.

We headed out on both days about 7 am and didn't stop til Noon on Saturday, and on Sunday we finished at 1pm. I wasn't so involved in the shooting on Sunday, but I got my time in with my new Mossberg 500-A and my Glock 19. I always carry my Ladies Smith, so towards the end on Saturday, I put a few rounds through it, and when I say a few, I mean only maybe three rounds. There were several things that came to light with the week-end excursion, one was my lack of leaning in to the shotgun and figured that I was not pulling the rifle into my shoulder. On Saturday, I had a bit more control in my stance, but on Sunday noticed that I had no control. The recoil was sending me backwards, and while standing in muddy grounds, and water logged grounds, that backward motion would not have been a pretty site. Second thing was the way I was gripping my Glock on Sunday. Sunday I was pretty "off" on a few things, I can't blame all of it on lack of sleep. There is no room for mistakes, or excuses! The picture posted is just "wet feet" at this point. I didn't dare take the camera out with me to water logged grounds, (I'm already having to take my camera in to see if they will honor a return as the display has a crack in it and now I can't view the image of the pictures I'm taking. I'm fighting the thought of even dealing with the return).

After getting my bearings on what I was doing and leaning more in to it, I had better control. Plus, PC informed me that I was shooting something totally different each day that made the big difference. Otherwise, as you can see over at The Cathouse, the videos will show the different scenarios and drills we went through and I have to admit that it was definitely a good day. These scenarios were similar to the one that PC put me through back some time ago, shooting from a seated position as if in the car and at an ATM machine, Evolution of a Female Shooter. I've come a long way baby... but so far along that PC made the following comment: "We might want to think about a "His and Hers" Gun Safe.

Here is a montage of pictures from the week-end.

Until I saw the pictures, I hadn't realized how foggy the day had started out, maybe cuz I was still trying to get my coffee in for the day.

I can proudly say that I hung in there with the guys on both days. Waking up at 6:30ish and with maybe 2 hours of sleep (max) on Saturday night, I toughed it out til about 11 am, at that point, the two hours of sleep caught up to me... Or should I say the lack there of.

Birthday Come And Gone

A special birthday has come and gone, I'm here to say that I hope it was a very pleasant and happy one. I didn't get to voice my wishes in person as she was out of town, but I hope to make up for it by going to lunch sometime next week. *This will stay on top until she makes it by here... lol... (Cheap shot to get someone to hit my site huh? Yea, well... This is "My Place" and I make the rules!!) LOL!!!

She's not far from the "Menopause" symptoms listed in my previous post, she gets to see some of us "older" women go through it first, but I have to warn her, "SHE's NOT FAR BEHIND!!" lol...

So, in trying to think of what to give her, I finally came up with something I thought would suit her personality and part of what keeps her going day to day...

I should have taken pictures upon the first few stitches, but I think that's when #12 and #13 hit me from that previous post.

I will be posting pictures as this project goes along... check it out...

(1)

Update 9/10/07
(2)

The finished product will turn out to look like this... (I hope)...

Have I ruined the surprise, probably, but this way, she will be on pins and needles for the finished product... I'll get to hear, "Is it finished yet?" "Are you done yet?"

Meanwhile, here is a poem for her...

A birthday is just another day,

young of mind, yet youthful looks go away.

Another year older,

the world seems a bit colder.

Yet my heart still burns,

and for love it forever yearns.

Another year older,

I grow even bolder.

Life is for us to learn from,

as calculated as a mathematical sum.

Another year older,

hurting blazes now just smolder.

Letting go of past rage and pain,

living life and feeling sane.

Another year older,

a tear on your shoulder.

Life has not been so bad,

my tear is of joy not because I'm sad.

Another day older,

more pages added to my folder.

I'm glad of whom I am today,

I would not have myself any other way.

So don't mind that I write my own birthday rhyme,

I've lived through my life up till this time.

I think it is safe to say,

that things will go as planned His way.

He's got more for me yet,

It'll be even better I bet.

Another year older,

and I am in His debt.

I GET IT!!!

The joke must be on me...

but I do GET IT!!!

Who is Minnie Pauz? The Babyboomers' Ultimate GirlFriend!
I think I just found my site…LOL…

1. Hot flashes, flushes, night sweats and/or cold flashes, clammy feeling
2. Bouts of rapid heart beat
3. Irritability, Mood swings
4. Sudden tears
5. Trouble sleeping through the night (with or without night sweats)
6. Irregular periods; shorter, lighter periods; heavier periods, flooding; phantom periods, shorter cycles, longer cycles
7. Loss of libido
8. Dry vagina
9. Crashing fatigue MORE INFO
10. Anxiety, feeling ill at ease
11. Feelings of dread, apprehension, doom
12.Difficulty concentrating, disorientation, mental confusion
13. Disturbing memory lapses
14.Incontinence, especially upon sneezing, laughing; urge incontinence
15. Itchy, crawly skin
16. Aching, sore joints, muscles and tendons
17. Increased tension in muscles
18. Breast tenderness
19. Headache change: increase or decrease
20. Gastrointestinal distress, indigestion, flatulence, gas pain, nausea
21. Sudden bouts of bloat
22. Depression
23. Exacerbation of existing conditions
24. Increase in allergies
25. Weight gain
26.Hair loss or thinning, head, pubic, or whole body; increase in facial hair
27. Dizziness, light-headedness, episodes of loss of balance
28. Changes in body odor
29. Electric shock sensation under the skin and in the head
30. Tingling in the extremities
31. Gum problems, increased bleeding
32. Burning tongue, burning roof of mouth, bad taste in mouth, change in breath odor
33. Osteoporosis -- MORE INFO
34. Changes in fingernails: softer, crack or break easier
35. Tinnitus: ringing in ears, bells, 'whooshing' buzzing etc.

Maxine Monday

Happy Labor Day!

*With that being said... here's one for the women in reference to work around the house.

PHILOSOPHY OF HOUSECLEANING!

I don't do windows because ...

I love birds and

don't want one to run into a clean window

and get hurt.
~
I don't wax floors because ...

I am terrified a guest will slip and get hurt

then I'll feel terrible

( plus they may sue me.)
~
I don't mind the dust bunnies because ...

They are very good company,

I have named most of them,

and they agree with everything I say.
~
I don't disturb cobwebs because .

I want every creature to have a home of their own.
~
I don't Spring Clean because .

I love all the seasons

and don't want the others to get jealous
~
I don't pull weeds

in the garden because ..

I don't want to get

in God's way,

HE is an excellent designer!

~
I don't put things away because .

My husband

will never be able to find them again.
~
I don't do gourmet meals
when I entertain because .

I don't want my guests to

stress out over what to make when

they invite me

over for dinner.
~
I don't iron because ...

I choose to believe them

when they say "Permanent Press".
~

I don't stress much on anything because ...

"A Type" personalities die young and

I want to stick around

and become a wrinkled up crusty ol' woman!!!
~
REMEMBER . . . .

Sunday Humor

A man is driving down a deserted stretch of highway when he notices a sign out of the corner of his eye....It reads:

SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS
HOUSE OF PROSTITUTION
10 MILES

He thinks this is a figment of his imagination and drives on without a second thought. Soon he sees another sign which reads:

SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS
HOUSE OF PROSTITUTION
5 MILES

Suddenly he begins to realize that these signs are for real and drives past a third sign saying:

SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS
HOUSE OF PROSTITUTION
NEXT RIGHT

His curiosity gets the best of him and he pulls into the drive. On the far side of the parking lot is a stone building with a small sign next to the door reading:

SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS

He climbs the steps and rings the bell. The door is answered by a nun in a long black habit who asks, "What may we do for you my son?"

He answers, "I saw your signs along the highway and was interested in possibly doing business...."

"Very well my son. Please follow me." He is led through many winding passages and is soon quite disorientated. The nun stops at a closed door and tells the man, "Please knock on this door."

He does so and another nun in a long habit, holding a tin cup answers the door... This nun instructs, "Please place $100 in the cup then go through the large wooden door at the end of the hallway."

He puts $100 in the cup, eagerly trots down the hall and slips through the door pulling it shut behind him.

The door locks, and he finds himself back in the parking lot facing another sign:

GO IN PEACE.
YOU HAVE JUST BEEN SCREWED BY THE SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS.
SERVES YOU RIGHT, YOU SINNER