fifty-eleven

Tomorrow is TT's birthday. But we celebrated today. Fourteen around my mother's beautiful table. It was a happy squish.

I made him his favorite, City Chicken. Family recipe from his mom. Actually beef and pork cubes on a skewer, seasoned with salt and pepper, dipped in egg and milk, rolled in saltine cracker crumbs, re-dipped and rerolled, browned in a skillet, then baked in a casserole at 325 for about three hours. You put about a half inch of water in the pan and cover with foil before putting in oven.

All the men at the table LOVED them! Dot made excellent mashed potatoes and gravy. Michelle made a fabby salad. Desert looked tragic, but was a hit. Peanut Butter Three Layer Cake with Reece's Peanut Butter Cups crushed for a filling over the peanut butter icing, between all the layers. (The tragedy was the top of the cake split into thirds!) That with Vanilla Ice Cream on the side.

Wonder why I have a sugar headache now?!!

My special gift to him, besides the meal, was a family membership to the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) at the national and local level. The main reason I did a family membership is so TT can take god-son (that's him with TT) to the meetings. EAA does a mentoring program where they work with young boys/men to interest them in becoming pilots. Eventually, god-son will get to go up in one of the planes!!!!

I love my Dot. She is flesh of my flesh and heart of my heart. And, I love our extended family. They are all Christians. The children add so much joy to our lives. Remember how scared I was about accepting this role of god-mother? I got over that!

It's all about being family and making family time top priority.

That's what TT asked for his birthday.

visit

I had an amazing day yesterday! I actually did a totally social thing. I usually spend Saturdays cleaning and organizing, paying bills and making lists for the week.

I gave myself a gift and drove out to visit Gardenia. I mean really, how many of us bloggers long to be able to meet each other and spend real time together and here we live in the same area!!

Of course, we were friends before we both started blogging. She is a dear, dear soul that inspires me and touches my heart. She is an extremely insightful, compassionate woman with a great, giggly sense of humor! I just love her.

I took out my collection of art books and she shared hers with me. I was in awe looking at her many paintings that are in progress. I have so much to learn. It was like a kindergartner visiting a high school senior! She is very gracious to me.

She also gave me an amazing gift. . . she may not want me to say what, so I won't. But it touched my heart. It is a beautiful gift I will enjoy my entire life.

I LOVE to organize. I found myself giving unasked for advice about a studio room for her. I am so opinionated. But, see, she paints in her eat-in kitchen. However roomy it is, she has to put things up for meals. . . Plus, it would really bug me having people milling around so close to a work in progress. Painting is rather private.

She has this lovely front room with a huge bay window. Lots of light, nice high ceiling, french doors. . . doesn't that scream "ART"?!! So, I want her to extend her kitchen flooring in there, do a "Clean Sweep" and get that room supporting her fabulous talent. She can put in a small window a/c unit, fabulous faux silk draperies from ceiling to floor, pipe in inspiring music and paint away. Close the door on it at meal time and go back after without missing a beat!

I hope she lets me come help her paint walls and make draperies and organize stuff!!

It was a fun day!

report

TT took her to Dr. She said she thinks it is all hormonal, that Isabella needs to be spayed. Her surgery is this coming Tuesday. They will keep her overnight, then all day Wednesday while we are at work. She will be home with TT on Thursday and hopefully okay by herself Friday.

Also, her eyelashes seem to be laying in her eye again. Though the graft protects her cornea. We had thought the eye problems were behind us. Oi.

I started taking her for walks around our circle on her leash. That is FUNNY!! She walks fast, then just lays down in the street for a rest!

Dr. thinks she won't be depressed once she is spayed. I hope so. I really don't want a double vet bill. Isabella is costly enough!

Not to mention MY dr. bills!

lonely?

I am worried about Isabella. She is doing much better than last week, but she is still spending a lot of time in her bed. She is eating some, but definitely has lost some weight. She is not upchucking anymore.

Her doc said her blood is fine, no need to be concerned about anything life-threatening. She really perks up when we have company, for a while, at least.

I am going to try taking her for a walk in the mornings now that the weather is so pretty.

I am also thinking about getting her a companion. Yes, another dog. Well, how would you like to be the only human in a dog household, get left alone for hours and the only language you heard was barking and whining? (Okay, don't even go there!!)

I think she may be depressed and lonely. She has never had a dog friend because all my friends and my daughter have these huge dogs who treat Isabella like she is a knat. That would depress me. I hate it when I am feeling invisible!

PS I have a new painting up!

baby shower

I know I said I had lost weight. . . but there are some things I haven't told you yet. . .Ha Ha Ha!!!! Pregnant NOW??? OMGosh, wouldn't that be something?

Dot, A and I hosted a baby shower for a co-worker. She had made this mold for everyone to sign. Since I had matched her colors, I just couldn't resist trying it on for size! (The baby-in-the-belly part, of course)

We had a great time, lots of friends, food and fun and fabby gifts!

How was your Saturday?

six pounds down!!

I got a treadmill two weeks ago. Doc's orders for me to walk two miles a day. I am a wimp about weather and can't risk not walking for weeks at a time because of the cold this winter.

I never thought I would like walking inside, but I love it. Maybe because I am such a charts and graphs girl and I can see my progress with mph, heart rate, incline %, calories burned, speed. . . I set little goals. Like I have to burn more calories than the distance I am walking.

If I walk 2.5 miles, then I have to burn more than 250 calories!

I have lost six pounds and I don't know how many inches. Of course, I have slowed down to nearly nothing on the wine or vodka. . . you know that helps. Then if I am not having those refreshments, I don't want late night shnackies, so no calories taken in there, either!

I want to get down to 125. I am down to 133 right now. So, five to eight pounds more and I will be so happy!!

Quote of the day, from Matthew Kelly, "In a sense, the body is like money- a great servant, but a horrible master." I have stopped yielding to it's childish demands and am giving it what it needs! Ha.

devotion

I painted it. But the words from my devotion today are too rich to not share. May they bless you as they did me. My love to you all. .

The Triumph of the Cross

A huge dynamite blast rips open a mountain. A powerful avalanche rushes down a slope and levels everything in its path. A raging flood drives through a ravine at a furious pace. In each of these scenes we see manifestations of incredible power. Nothing can stand in the way of these forces, and anything that comes into contact with them is overrun. Well, today the church celebrates the Triumph of the Cross. As dynamite, avalanches, and raging floods are three of the most powerful natural forces we know, so the cross of Jesus is the most powerful spiritual force in the universe.

Has any other single act in history won forgiveness for every sin that has ever been committed? Has any other event brought about the complete frustration of the devil’s attempts to control our lives and move us away from God? Was any other event powerful enough to tear the veil that separated heaven from earth and reveal a new and living way to the Father?

Like dynamite, the cross of Jesus has the power to blast away any deeply ingrained pattern of sin in our lives. Like a mighty flood, it can wash all anger, fear, and despair from our hearts. Like an avalanche, it can shower down on us the love of God in a way that destroys any obstacle to his presence. This cross is our way of victory because it points to a new day, a new hope, and a new joy.

How about you? Is there a sin pattern that needs to be exploded? Is there a relationship—perhaps with your spouse or a close friend—that needs healing? Is there an inner voice that constantly reminds you of your past failures and keeps you bound in guilt or hopelessness? Then today is your day. Take your sins, your weaknesses, your failings, and lay them all at the foot of the cross. Then rejoice with the angels and saints, knowing that this cross—radiant and triumphant—can overcome every spiritual, physical, or emotional obstacle to God’s love.

“Jesus, I marvel at the power of your cross. I believe that your death and resurrection have won my complete redemption. With joy, I celebrate the triumph of your cross—even over those situations where I have yet to taste your victory.”

Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 78:1-2,34-38; Philippians 2:6-11

Dark Hour

This is for another friend. Dark Hour I am intrigued with the idea of doing more Sacred Art. I have bought some drawing books to keep training my eye, hand and brain!!

After this one, I have a comical one in my head that has made me laugh ever since I "saw" it.

I have decided to start an ART BLOG, and I put the link up. That way this blog can be about regular living and those of you that aren't waiting with baited breath for my next piece of art won't have to feel like you're at a museum!!!

Ha ha ha.

bags too!

Gardenia got me going with her post on bags. I have quite a bag history!

Twenty years ago, my sister gave me the striped cloth bag Isabella is standing on, in a package of six. She was environmentally conscious then. I rolled my eyes over that part, but the bags appealed to me for a different reason.

When in a car, I cannot stand stuff rolling around on the floor, rattling or making any other noises! I have a bit of an anti-noise fetish. ( Like I hate hearing my husband chew anything when we are watching TV or movies, especially in a dramatic, emotional part.) With the cloth bags, my stuff could travel in silence!

Anyone who travels anywhere with us knows the number one rule is no plastic or paper bags in the car. Those go in the trunk!

My cloth bags have seen a lot of cherished belongings transported to and from this house and loved ones, work, play. . . all in silence!

The green floralish bag is my plastic lined Vera Bradley lunch bag. A good friend gave that to me for my birthday last year! Salon owner called my other bags "Hobo Bags", so I was happy to upgrade my bag image! I take my lunch to work nearly everyday. I like knowing I have my healthy salad, complete with tomato, lentil bean sprouts, avocado, broccoli, celery, garlic and feta waiting for me safe in my VB bag.

I left out of the picture my knitting bags, book bags, beach bag, cosmetic bags (I have one for face, one for body, one for hair, one for makeup), jewelry bags, vitamin bag.

Then we get Isabella, so she had a winter bag and a summer bag for the happy times we take her "bye-bye"! She likes to sleep in her winter bag every now and then. She just started doing that again this past week. . . is she realizing fall is soon to come?

TT took one of the cloth bags for all his meds and snacks and whatever. If we ever get on the road to anywhere, even just to church or a friend's house without his grey striped bag, we turn around to fetch it.

Hmmmm, now that I am painting and learning to draw, looks like I need an artist's bag, too!

Are there other bagaholics out there besides me and Gardenia?

kindergarten

I am calling this Communion. Painted it for the mother of our god-children. The Sacred Heart of our Lord, present in the Bread and the Wine. I got the perspective backwards on the Bread and it looks kind of moldy. I was trying to create texture so it wouldn't look like a brick!

I actually like the wine bottle. It is a little crooked, but I think that gives it character.

My least favorite is the Cross. I wanted it to look like it was translucent and glowing. And the heart is too muddy of a color. . . I was trying to make it translucent, too.

Okay, I am risking it, but y'all be honest. . . Gardenia has been so sweet. Tutoring me through email. I sent her the almost finished painting, so she did not get to help me create this. She makes me feel like there is hope.

So has Dot. She has amazed me with her sweet enthusiasm. She even tried to help me find a class today. So far, nada.

First sketches from drawing books. Don't know why the picture of the peach sketch is so fuzzy!! hahaha.

Son-in-law brought me over a fabby easel (on loan). So nice to work without wiggle!

struggling

I took off on Friday. Just to have a "me" day. I set up a little "art studio" space in our "library". I went to the local craft store. Bought a cheesy stand-up easel, because my back is objecting to too much sitting.

And I bought more acrylic paint, more brushes, drawing pads, pencils erasers, books, canvases and such. My daughter is a bit quizzical, though supportive of this "new" interest of mine. I saw something change in her eyes towards me when I showed her my sketch pad that dated back to 1996.

I have wanted to paint for a long time. My problem? I am so impatient. I want to be great instantly. My adult brain knows better. I guess it is the child in me that wants success NOW!

I am aggravated because I have not been able to find any acrylic beginning painting classes. People say, "Just paint." But that is not my belief system. I know I don't know anything about it. I like to learn from masters. I believe they can save me a lot of grief.

Plus, they will make me do what I don't want to do so I am able to do what I long to do. They will force a discipline that I don't even know I need.

My son-in-law said to take drawing classes. Oi. I know he is right. That is boring to me. I love color. It is also intimidating, because I am not a natural at it. But, I just read on Duey's Drawings that drawing is "60% patience, 30% seeing and 10% ability."

What an encouragment! Also tells me I desperately need help with the "seeing" part. So, I will call PJC tomorrow and see if they have any drawing classes since they had no acrylic painting classes.

I have put this part of me on hold for too many years. For about five years, I did not touch it because of my daughter's involvement with an artist. When we went to an art festival together and he rolled his eyes over how "terrible" their art was, I thought to myself I would never make myself vulnerable to his harsh critique.

But today is a new day. I am surrounded with love and support. I have no goals with art. I just want training. I want to see what is in me that has never been released because of no training.

I love color. I love joy. I love humor. I love depth. How does that translate to canvas? I don't know. But I want to.

painting

 

 

Here I go! Off to follow another dream!

I have wanted to paint for a long time. I want to use acrylics.

These are the first two paintings I have done since high school!! Ha ha, isn't this a gas? I am looking for lessons.

Whatcha think?

love

There wasn't a dry eye watching them dance. Liquid love.

I can watch this ten times and still want to watch it again. So many reasons.

She is beautiful and fragile and strong, too. She is graceful and gentle and delicate. She loves with her whole heart. She picks up on the little things everyone else misses. And she is like a carbon copy of my mother.

He loves her strengths and doesn't see her weaknesses as weak. He holds her close to his heart, yet with plenty of room for her to breathe. He loves her fiercely yet handles her tenderly.

It was a long road to this dance. Many prayers and tears were poured out in the desperation of dark nights for her to escape a toxic marriage and be truly loved.

She is safe now. She is in the arms of love.

doing the wild thing

Isabella.
Eight months old.
Four pounds.

A female. . . she confuses me!!!

How about you?

confession

It has been a long time. Spending this time with the Lord revealed some dirty spots in my heart.

I went to 8:00 a.m. Mass yesterday and then to confession with Father Mercy. He spent over an hour with me. His insights were breathtaking.

Some I will keep private. One I must share.

I have this tendency to beat myself up a million times for my sins and errors. I have heard people say that to me. I thought they just did not understand my need to take seriously my wrong ways.

Father Mercy said the same thing. Then in his broken English,

"Haydi, do you realissse tha' God does not even remember your sins?"

"I weel proof it to you from thee Bible."

"Many preachers an' priests use thee Old Testament to make people feel guilty, then point to thee collection plate," he shook his head sadly.

"Thees eez not church, thees eez a business. It eez so wrong."

"Thee Old Testament eez only thee beginning of thee revelation of God. Thee New Testament eez thee fullness of revelation, as Jesus said, 'I have come to fulfill thee Law, I am thee better Covenant'."

"But, eef you look, you will see thee grace of God in thee Old Testament."

Then he told me how the prophet Jeremiah first told the Israelites they were adulterers for following after false gods. It took thirty chapters of God chastising them for their unfaithful, hard, prideful, deceiving hearts for them to repent.

But, they heard Him finally and they returned to their first love, the One True God.

In chapter thirty-one, the same prophet addressed the same people, "Again I will restore you and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin Israel. . . "

"You know, Haydi, an adulterer can never become virgin again. God FORGOT their sin and called them Virgin."

He reminded me of the parable of the Prodigal Son and how the father never referred to his sins, but restored him and gave him all the best of his house.

"And remember thee prostitute tha' Jesus renamed Mary? She never again was a prostitute in His eyes, so much so that she was thee first He revealed Himself to from thee grave."

"So, you see Haydi, you have confessed your sins and He has forgiven you. But more, He has FORGOTTEN. You are Heez daughter."

Oh, my penance? "When your back hurts, offer it up to Jesus an' thank Him for Heez mercy."

Something of the mercy and grace of my Father moved from my head to my heart. Though men never forget my sins and some never let me off the hook, I stand before the Mercy Seat of God a virgin daughter.

Why have I waited so long to go to confession?

P.S. Doing my own research and just found in Hebrews, in a discourse on how the New Covenant makes the Old Covenant obsolete, 8:12 "For I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sins no more." I have had a warped concept of God. He IS MERCY.

presence

This has been a beautiful week. I have been loved in all directions.

Friends and family have brought over meals, flowers, plants, cards and visited with me.

My good friend L has been going through an amazing journey with the Lord and her walk with Him has helped me come back into His presence. Had I been working, I would not have been available for 2:00 a.m. phone conversations. Her transformation from fearful victim to courageous, joyful overcomer takes my breath away.

She has had incredible, miraculous answer to prayer that has encouraged me back into conversation with the Lord.

I got this new CD by Brian and Jenn Johnson, WE BELIEVE, that has changed the atmosphere of my home into a haven of joy and hope and peace. Mostly, feeling His presence again, softly, tenderly caring for me, healing my weary heart.

I feel rested, renewed (goes with our freshly painted Family Room in Behr green called Shakespeare!), restored. I have been walking about 2 1/2 miles a day, per doc's orders. I take a nap every afternoon!

Our god children come over every night for dinner and games or a movie. When they leave, I usually go to bed, so I am really taking good care of myself.

I have only taken one pain pill and a few Advil. Am taking lots of vitamins, drinking nearly a gallon of water, eating protein again!

Mostly what I have learned is the presence of God is with me, for me, He is my sustainer, I am not alone, He is our provider and He cares about all the tiny details of our lives. He is gently revealing the parts of my heart that have been closed off to Him.

He is gracious and good and He has made my recovery time marvelous. I am so glad now that I was under "house arrest" as I called it!

In the stillness, His presence took me to a place of great peace.

Thank you for all your prayers. As you can see, He hears you!

pruned

Here it is 2:30 a.m. I should be sleeping. Had to write. Am standing as I write, as I have been instructed to only sit for twenty minutes at a time and to walk, walk, walk.

The drugs from the 11:00 a.m. surgery are beginning to wear off and I have only an ache at the surgical site. NO PAIN down my ravaged leg. The piranha is gone. Thank GOD, a million times.

I worked Tuesday and Wednesday. Honestly, I did not think I would make it. The grace of God, A's fabulous help, and my determination to take care of my fabulous clients. . . I made it through. We did in two days what we normally do in three days.

I am taking off all next week. The doctor wants me off for two weeks. I will be off for eleven days. That is pretty close. And thankfully, my schedule is jammed for the next month.

Dot took me to the surgery center this morning and stayed with me for a while. We had some very good conversation. She made the statement, in reference to cooking a meal after working all day, that she hates stress.

She said, "I don't like myself when I am stressed." Hmmmmmm. I have been thinking about this all day.

I don't like me when I am stressed either. I just have never put it that way. Or stepped back to look at the picture of my stress. Yech. Stress most likely has attacked my back.

See why I love her so? Over the years, she has dropped these simple nuggets of gold that have helped alter my life view.

Today a slipped disk was pruned. And so was an unhealthy response to my full and blessed life.

Good work, docs. . .

decision

I am giving up my fight and gonna have surgery. I have tried everything natural and conservative to save my back. I am still in very bad pain.

Thursday at eleven in the morning, I will submit myself to a microscopic discectomy, an outpatient one hour surgery. The neurosurgeon is promising an end to all the leg pain. He feels I may have residual back pain, maybe.

I will take off from work until Tuesday, July 30. I have been told to do a lot of walking, that walking heals the back. Cannot sit or lie down any longer than twenty minutes at a time, with the exception of nighttime sleeping.

I am taking lots of Vitamin C and eating more protein.

I had a tonsillectomy at seven, birthed my daughter at twenty-two. Don't frequent hospitals much!

But it is time to get help. I am a little scared, but more relieved.

second shot

The pain is back. Was improving so much, enough to even cook and do some light things around the house on Saturday.

In the middle of Monday night, I got up and was so happy to realize I was even better. Almost no pain as I walked down the hall and then back to my bed. But Tuesday morning, I was sleeping soundly when my alarm went off and I jerked to answer it. . . Yes, you guessed, I felt the strain immediately.

So yesterday was tough and today at work was even worse. I am okay sitting, but I cannot stand up for ten seconds without the roaring pain all the way down my hip to my ankle.

I called the pain management doc this morning on his cell. He called back at 8:30 tonight. He is going to try to get me in for a second epidural about 7:00 a.m. tomorrow. He leaves for a ten day vacation tomorrow afternoon. Thank God I called today.

I am discouraged. I am really thinking about surgery. I just cannot manage this extreme pain. And to have it get worse over something so simple as turning my alarm off. . . that is just crazy.

So, I need prayers for healing and mercy.

I also need someone to tell my why my Picaso piccys are not showing on previous post? Very irritating.

Of course, everything irritates me right now. Pain sure reveals a yechy side of me. God help me suffer better.

cycles

Remember how awful I looked April 17 with that terrible hair cut? Mommie called the same groomer because she really is a nice lady. Told her just to shave between my eyes, clean up my feet, pull the hair out of my ears (yowwwwwwwwwwww!) and bath me.

I am much happier with how I look. Some of my bangs have to grow more to get into my pink bow.

Actually, yesterday was a happy and grumpy day. After a visit to the emergency room two weeks ago, an epidural shot and lots of Advil, Mommie's back seems better. She has been drinking a gallon of water a day, sleeping at least nine hours a night and taking her liquid glucosamine/condroitin. She changed beds around and has found the hard guest bed worked better than her soft, memory foam topped bed.

She even cooked dinner for our good neighbors. She had to sit while she was cutting up peaches for her homemade peach cobbler (yumm!), but still, she cooked! She was very pleased with herself. I hope she did not overdo it. She is moving a bit slower today.

The grouchy part of yesterday was that I . . . became a woman. I. . uh. . .er. . . ahem. . . began my female cycle for the first time. My birthday is November 4, so I guess I am a late bloomer. Now Mommie understands why I was growling at all those dogs at the Fourth of July party she took me to.

So, last night, after dinner, I was so excited (blush) that our neighbors brought their boys over to see me!!!!

I tried to tell both of them that I was. . . er. . . available.

Duh. . . they kissed and sniffed.

And I have to admit, I acted a bit forward. . . but. . . grrrrrrrrrrr. . . that was it. A big nothing of a night. Daddy and Mommie made me mad. They kept laughing at me.

How rude and insensitive was THAT? Parents. They just don't get us kids.

pain

Pain is a great mentor, carving compassion into the soul that once looked upon human suffering with distaste, apathy or pity.

For a full week, my nights and mornings have been a tortured existence. Searing pain rips down my backside, leg, calf and wraps its vicious tentacle around my ankle. I pant like a woman in labor, but eventually I cave to literally crying out. The vice grip is mean, ruthless and domineering.

I am comfortable lying down. I hold my bladder for hours, not wanting to go through the brutality of hanging onto the walls as I wrench myself the ten steps to the bathroom and ten steps back to the comfort of my bed. Isabella is very troubled by me. I try to control my outbursts, but most of the time am overcome and can't.

I finally got an answer yesterday. I have been to the emergency room on Monday, got a new MRI on Tuesday morning and had an epidural steroid injection Tuesday afternoon. I thought that would "fix" me. The doctor had said it takes up to three days for the shot to work. When the pain was just as wicked on Friday morning, I began making calls for help.

I have more than an annular tear, a piece of the disk has popped off and is sitting on my sciatic nerve between L4 and L5. Hence the unending ripping pain. I now have a Monday morning appointment with a surgeon and a second epidural appointment Tuesday afternoon. So, relief should be soon.

Ms. Natural is taking a lot of drugs. I loved the morphine in the E.R. I now understand drug addicts. I was longing for another injection when I woke the next morning. If someone had offered it to me, I would have been on it like a duck on a junebug!

Through the help of drugs, my incredible assistant and the magnificent grace of God, I have been able to work. We did four days work in three as I was off Tuesday for all the procedures. Mornings are beyond difficult, but as soon as I got to work and until the last client left, the pain was manageable. Upon returning home at night, I would collapse and even the pain killers stopped working. But He knows our needs and has given great grace to meet them.

Our neighbors have been so good to us. She has cooked two fabby meals and he mowed our yard. They never asked what could they do. They just did things. Makes me see how pale my love and help has been for people in my life that were going through difficult times.

But Pain's purpose is to indelibly carve compassion into my heart. I have had a lot of Pain. Bad first marriage and divorce, buried my father and my mother, lost a step-daughter to a seemingly hopeless place of unforgiveness, lost half my husband through the stroke and seizures and subsequent loss of his business and his earning potential, two divorces and very costly second wedding of my daughter (happy to say all is well with her and her hubby now!), and some other disappointments and situations where I put misplaced trust. . .

People live with Pain. It has helped me to stop judging, stop looking down my nose. Most of the time. Instead of criticizing, I pray, most of the time.

That is, until TT doesn't bring me my morning food fast enough! (Before you raise your eyebrows at me. . . I can't take any pain meds until I eat and there is no way I could drag myself the twenty-five steps to the kitchen with the pirana biting my leg off.)

God help me live the rest of my life being like our neighbors.

mighty hunter

I know I am very young, but I take my job as the household mascot and guard dog very seriously. Mommy and Daddy and I were watching "So You Think You Can Dance". Mommy's back is hurting her real bad again, so she was laying on the floor with ice under her booboo.
Daddy was in his chair with his pillows and lots of food in front of him. They had a friend over and her foot was hurting her, so she was laid up on the couch.
Who else could save the family from the danger of the intruder, Slime Roach, but me? I heard his thundering hooves advancing at us from under the couch.
Mommy thought I was looking for a naughty place to tinkle or drop a tootsie roll. When will she ever trust me? "Isabella, come HERE and go potty where you should!" She said it about three times.
I had to ignore her. There was a higher call for me. Do they feed me Mighty Dog for no reason, I thought?
At last, I took the prisoner alive and brought the criminal before my masters.
I thought Mommy was jumping up in fear, but turns out, she wanted to record my militant effort to protect them. Daddy kept saying to take my prey away from me. Grrrrrrr, I wanted to devour the scummy varmit.

Ah, only seven months old, I, a mere young girl of a teacup ShiTzu have shown myself worthy of my Mighty Dog din-din!

P.S. It would really help my hunting if Mommy would get me a haircut!!

summer

Here we are at a baby shower Saturday. She just had her bath and was feeling pretty cute!

Ha, I gave her a bath and didn't have time to shampoo my own hair!!

I have so many hurting friends. Divorce, neck injury, financial stresses, heartbreak. I am trying to give love and encouragement. I am just thankful TT and I are in a good place right now.

His job is going great. He has sold five sheds in the last couple of weeks. He has his own keys to the place and the owner, our good friend, is entrusting him with more and more responsibilities. We are both very grateful. TT has the potential of making a real income.

Dot and Hubby are very happy. It is so good to see her blossoming. He cut his hair OFF!! It looks great. I think it will help his business. I love lots of hair on men, but it seems to send negative messages in the business/professional world.

Our contractor is in jail. He seems to be going through a come-to-Jesus. Humility is a beautiful thing. We are going to wait for him to come out. How can I judge him? The ground is level at the foot of the Cross.

Hope you all are well. Will be visiting!

Arf, arf, yapp, yap, yaaaaaaap!! (Isabella wanted to say hi, too!)

wedding

She is married.

May 20, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. on a lovely pier, my beloved daughter walked on the arm of her daddy into the arms of the man who loves her dearly.

It was a beautiful and brief ceremony.

The reception was under a tent on the water. Bride and groom danced magnificently to Moon River and bride and daddy danced to Forever Young by Rod Stewart.

The newlyweds departed on a boat provided by the groom's brother.

They did the whole wedding.

I hosted a small bridal brunch Sunday morning. We had a fun time. She was so happy and relaxed all day.

She had made a lovely headpiece out of vintage netting and beads. It was to sit on top of her head and the veil would just come beneath her nose. She said she wanted me to sweep some hair over the crown area of the headpiece. I had my doubts, but started working with it as directed!

I wasn't feeling it. . . but it wasn't my wedding! I kept encouraging her that when the hairdo was complete, she would love it.

She finally said, "Mom, the headpiece looks like a cake topper and the hair on top looks like a cinnabun!!" I was relieved!

She took apart the headpiece so I would have the netting only to work with. At that point, it started working. I could see the netting nestled into her nape under the big flower she wanted to wear. "I should know Mom, to just tell you how I am feeling and let you create. Those are always the best 'does!"

When I finished, she literally jumped up and down, thrilled with her hair. "It is perfect, just perfect, I just LOVE it!"

The photographer was not there to catch the moment. But we will never forget it.

six months

Yesterday was Isabella's six month birthday! Even as I write, she is on my lap, watching me type!

We are just goofy-in-love with this dog!

She seems to have recovered from her bad haircut and is enjoying life again, prancing around like the princess she is!

I am gonna take her to Central Bark Bakery for a healthy treat and to see some dog art. They just added an espresso bar for the humans, and Yappy Hour for the canines! Should be a fun treat for her.

I have six more months to plan her Birthday Party!!! Wanna come to it?

prom

I LOVE hair!! Redid the feathered fauxhawk style on H for her prom. What a beauty! She will have the tallest hair at prom, most likely. She has a black and white color blocked dress, black gloves and dreamy Nina black heels.

Hopefully, I will get the after photos, too!

Please pray for the mother of our god-children. She has a rather serious heart condition that a procedure yesterday was supposed to fix, but she has to go back in 30 days for them to do it again. Apparently, she has had the condition her whole life and it worsened with the stress of her pending divorce.

Started construction on our cosmetic remake of our family room. Yea! I have decided that the room will be a mess for the entire summer. That way, I won't be irritated and angry at our contractor, who is very nice, but
v e r y s l o w!!!

Gonna do Mexican Paver tiles if I can find labor I can afford for installation. I LOVE them. We had them in our Orlando salon. Warm, earthy, lots of texture and variations of color.

Have a fabby weekend!

scalped

I was so excited. It was Isabella's first appointment to get her hair cut. Okay, to be groomed! I had been carefully combing her hair every other day so she would not get matted.

I chose a groomer that two of my clients use. She was very nice and kind. Isabella really liked her.

I had cut Isabella's hair a bit when she was a couple months old, because it had gotten matted from the collar she had to wear after her surgery. I did a pretty bad job. . . hard to cut such a wiggly client!

I was looking forward to her having a professional cut that would correct the flaws from my attempt.

I showed the groomer this photo in a Shit Tzu magazine. I wanted Isabella to grow into this cut. I am a hairdresser. I like HAIR! There is a reason I did not get a short haired teacup Chihuahua!

Listening. What an art. No wonder I have the success I do as a stylist. I know I miss it sometimes. But I must hit the mark most the time, as thankfully, my book stays slammed.

Can you imagine my shock, when out from the groomer's van comes THIS haircut????

She is nearly bald. She was pathetic for twenty-four hours. Very clingy and sad. Sat on TT's feet today when he was trying to paint our ceilings.

It took five months to grow her to the top photo. It will take a YEAR to get her hair to the long look on the model.

I know, I know, she is still cute and it is gonna be nice in the summer and all that. But she doesn't even look like her own breed.

Arrrgh. Does anyone know a local groomer that specializes in TeaCup Shih Tzu hair cuts?! Help!

I think it was a roaring success! We were voted Best of Show Booth! The massage girl worked non-stop on models, teaching the benefits of Thai Yoga Massage, Hot Stone Massage, Pregnancy Massage. She brought a lot of positive attention to our booth, which was located at entrance!

No photos yet of me, maybe I can post one later! I felt so goofy, 'cause my hair was curly and I was in a DRESS and HOSE!!!!! Eewwww. I am simply more of a Kat Hepburn type!

TT was our awesome chauffeur, patiently running workers and models to and from salon and Civic Center. Everyone loves him!

I am skipping church this morning, rejoicing over the first day since Tuesday that I could sleep in and stay in my jammies!!

Model

I love doing Dot's hair. She is so trusting.

"What do you feel like for your hair, Dot?"

"Whatever you want to do, Mom. I just want some green in it."

So, I did a faux-hawk-chignon style. Ran outside and found some palms and voila, there she is!

Isn't she incredible?!

Day One of the Expo is complete. Tomorrow, I entrust my hair to a fellow stylist. I will be at Expo from 9 a.m. til 8 p.m. Then we break it all down, set salon up and collapse in bed.

TT was chauffeure all day. Ran models from salon to Civic Center and back. He made their hard day a bit easier!

Everyone said our booth was the best of show! Hopefully, we will be better known for all our effort.

Expo

Tomorrow starts the Gulf Coast Women's Expo. I begged our salon owner, R and J, to be in the Expo. We need the exposure. We are the best kept secret in Pcola.

Here I am an Introvert. Do you know what it means to me to be in the midst of five thousand women in the Civic Center for 12 hours? That is like Hell on earth for me. Plus, we are going to wear cocktail attire. So, not only do I have to be contained in a noisy, cold, crowded place, but I have to be uncomfortable in dressy, stiff, scratchy clothes too!!

TT is going to be the driver. Escorting models and workers from the Civic Center to the salon. Parking at the CC is a nightmare. So, we can all park at salon and TT will drive us to the door at CC.

I quit smoking ( AGAIN) last Friday. It lasted until tonight. Just the thought of it all. . . okay, I am a whimp. . . I smoked tonight.

TT got a job. He is working for his best friend. Selling sheds. Not just any sheds, but sheds that stand up to 140 mph winds. Hurricane proof. Just when I was going to do some house renovations and painting. Shut up HG!!!!! This is so AWESOME for TT!! He could make some really great money$$!!

mercy

Trees used to be some of my best friends. They stood tall, shading me from the sun, fanning me with a cooling breeze. Their only danger was the lightning rod potential!

That was until Ivan the Terrible and Dennis the Menace struck our area. Dennis was a bad hit for us, because a huge branch from one of our neighbor's trees flew over and nearly pierced our family room roof. We still have leaks. Fortunately, we did not file an insurance claim because no one would write us if we had made two claims in two years. TT has tried to fix the leak about twenty times. . . I don't know what is going wrong up there, but I will say I am so OVER having buckets out for every rain storm.

Judging by the care of their home and yard, our neighbors have the appearance of being quite financially undernourished. They have about six trees that in a bad storm would be a threat to both their home and ours. It is all about which way the wind is blowing. Though they cannot pay, they have given us permission to have the trees and tree tops removed.

I got a quote a few months after Dennis of over $4000 to remove the four tree tops in the back. Oi. Since then, their two humongous pine trees that are right next to our carport have died. They would be like Rice Crispies in a storm, snap-crackle-pop.

Dot was over last Monday. I got to telling her all my woes about how I hate our back yard. As we walked out there, I got this urging to take care of those trees NOW!

I started polling my clients, "Do you know any reasonable tree services?"

You guessed it. Today a man came by who was a referral from a client, looked at the whole job, said he would take the four trees in the back, the two dead pines and a very high limb out of the tree in front of our house for $1,375. OMG! Now, this is still a stretch for me, but it is doable. I won't have to take out a loan to do it. I am SO grateful.

I would love to have a neighbor like me. One that would pay for preventing potential damage to my home. But I have to say, that with such an overly reasonable price like that, I feel like God Himself is helping me to love my neighbor as myself.

As soon as the man left, I said to TT, "I am writing my tithe check NOW!!!!!" Give and it shall be given to you, pressed down, running over, shall men give unto you. He is so faithful and caring.

Jennifer Hudson on the Oscars Feb 2007

Winner

Here we are world, the next American Idol winner, Lakisha Jones. This girl ROCKS!!!!

Singing Jennifer Hudson's winning song from Dream Girls as good, if not better than Jen, she took the contest by storm. Even Simon said, "I am tempted to say to the other twenty-three contestants to get their airline tickets home. . "

She sings from the depth of a heart that we have never experienced before on AI. With tears streaming our faces, TT and I began dialing to vote for her, but only reached a busy signal.

Her comment, "After years of singing in the church, I may finally get to do what I love", reflects her devotion to Christ ("If I win, I will first thank God Almighty"). In addition, her love for her four year old daughter, whose 4th birthday was tonight and her magnificent, powerful, soul stirring talent catapulted her to the top of the contenders.

I felt for the other girls in the competition. Their faces fell as they witnessed the audience's thundering explosion at the end of Lakisha's compelling performance of "You Will Love Me".

We already do and can't wait to hear more. Sing, beautiful Lakisha, sing on!

Forty-eleven

February 16 was my forty-eleventh birthday!!! I learned to count from 4D. My friends threw me the funnest party. My beloved family, bestest friends, their children and pets! Food, beverages, fire-pit, pinata, gifts. . . what more could I want?

Dot gave me the fabby leather jacket pictured above. I love three-quarter length sleeves and very open necklines on jackets. She is so generous. TT continues to spoil me daily. He gave me a rather unlimited Starbucks card. How FUN will that be?!

Isabella had major eye surgery two weeks ago. (Her second surgery.) She had an ulcer in her eye, so it was emergency surgery (another word for very expensive!!) to save her eye. She has been in a lampshade collar for two weeks.

I hope I am not being foolish. I could not stand her misery any more today. I took the collar off, bathed her, groomed her and got her hair out of her eyes. She is not scratching at her eyes. She seems so happy to be free from her mobile prison.

She is still under two pounds though 15 weeks old. I tried to get her to be still on TT's shoulder for a photos shoot so I could compare her from week 7. I do believe she has grown a good bit.

Sorry to be so busy and such a bad blogger friend. I keep thinking I will get time to visit. . . Oi! 

promises

My friend asked me and TT to be god-parents to her two children B (7 yr old boy) and D (4 yr old girl). She is a new friend, sister to S, who has been a major part of my life for the past year. Sister just moved here in December.

I love her and adore her children. They all love God and are true blue people. I don't want to disappoint them. I have a habit of that. I seem to make promises and then forget I have made them.

Like I have another friend and when she and her son were confirmed, I know he had picked another couple to be his god-parents, but cannot remember if he also had picked us, too. I know we love him dearly.

TT and I got busy with buying a house, remodeling, moving, etc, etc, etc. . . and slowly, we let them drift out of our lives.

Then there are all the kids that used to live next to us in the country. The two older ones call me about twice a year for me to do their hair (at special friend's rate!). I love hearing from them. They don't have a phone at home, no cell phone, no way for me to stay in touch.

The little kids have a more tragic story. Their parents divorced and their mother has been running with an ex-con with a violent record. The kids have lived in about five different places and of course, no phone numbers. Why am I not hunting them down? My own life gets so crowded. What a pathetic excuse.

Then there is my newest child commitment, my god-daughter, child of my best friend from high school. They used to live in England. This fall they moved to North Carolina. How many cards, notes or letters have I sent her? Oi. I am embarrassed.

Now, we do chat on phone every so often. Thankfully, she just got her own email address. I do well with email. She just told me what a good god-mother I am. For what?

So, now, there are two more lives looking to me/us. Right now, I am present with them. How do I know I will do this one differently and stay present?

All I know is this, I am very thankful that God is not as forgetful or preoccuppied as I am, that He never forgets me or forgets His promises to me. I pray He helps me be more like Him.

january

A year ago, I began blogging. I wrote nearly every day. I spent a lot of time reading blogs, making new friends in Cyberspace. What has changed?

WORK: The move to the new salon has been so positive. However, it has taken loads of time. I think this coming weekend may be the first weekend I will not be doing something work-related since before Thanksgiving. My room is nearly complete with the exception of my tortoise shell bamboo blinds arriving and being hung. I will be posting photos later!
I actually went in last Monday and had a Raindrop massage, which means she used the Young Living Essential oils on my spine. It detoxifies at a very deep level. She incorporates a lot of reflexology. It was a fabby experience.
The owner and I have been spending a lot of time planning advertising for print and in special events. I love how proactive he is. He seems to be a talent magnent. Our staff is continuing to grow with top-notch professionals.
I have slept the whole night undisturbed since December 22 when I moved out of old salon. Does that make the prior place bad? No. It was just time for me to move on.

TT: He has been working painting the new salon. That is, when he is not being Mr. Mom running our household and caring for Isabella. He is a very good "dad"!

DAUGHTER: As of Christmas morning, Dot and Boyfriend are engaged. I can now use the "F" word when referring to him. (Fiance!!) I was over the boyfriend thing. They were meant for each other. She is so happy. So is he. So are we!
She is nurturing a huge crop of wildflowers for their May 20 wedding. Their kitchen looks like a green house with boxes and boxes of tender shoots stretching towards the window for sustanance from Mr. Sun!
She told me this wedding was not mine to spend a dime at. I appreciate that response. My only sorrow is F has never been married and it would have been so nice to have him be the recipient of my splashy generosity on the last wedding. Drat. . .

ISABELLA: How is it we could be so silly in love with such a tiny package? She weighed a big 1.5 pounds at her ten week checkup. She is now twelve weeks and is about 75% housebroken. She is very smart and very dear.
She had to have her eyelids tacked up because the lashes were poking her eyes. She may have to wear this horrid collar to keep her from scratching the stitches out until she has matured enough to have actual surgery to reform her deformed eyelids. What misery for her. She has already knocked one stitch out. . .
Isabella now sleeps with me (TT sleeps in his chair). I confused her for my little travel alarm clock this morning and woke up to realize I was tapping her on the head as though she was the snooze button!

FAMILY: One of my sisters had a health emergency that was a dreadful scare, but ended up not life-threatening. As my eldest, I think of her a lot like my mom. . . she has always been there. I am grateful she is okay.

FRIENDS: Our friend with the lung cancer who had the double lung transplant slipped into eternity Friday, January 12. What a sad, sad loss. They all fought hard. She is a remarkably brave woman. She is strong and fragile.
Our friends F and S had her sister move in with her two children, 7 and 4. They asked us last night to be the childrens' god-parents. We love these kids. Help them with homework, take them to church, play and pray with them. I said yes. Made me feel very badly what a rotten god-mother I am to KE's daughter. I have a hard time with long distance relationships. KE and her dot are in NC now. I must work on this weakness.

FAITH: We continue to love our Catholic Church and are now considering our response to the Lenten season. F and S will be confirmed at Easter Vigil Mass. That is exciting.

TV: Yes, we are American Idol junkies! There goes two nights a week. Then there are the football games, which take us over to F and S's house. Great b/c I can play with the children. But, bad for blogging.

So, there is the catch up on why I do not spend much time in cyber-space! I am hoping for a lull in the action so I can return to visiting my friends. Love you all!

devotion

I had to post this. I need this message every day. God help me to be this honest with myself.


The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword . . . it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

What a pleasure it is to use a set of sharp, new kitchen knives! At first you may fear accidentally cutting yourself, but you soon discover that the right instrument makes it much easier to prepare the evening meal. You don’t have to exert your strength to tear apart meat or vegetables, so you’re less tempted to put your fingers in harm’s way.

How many of us make use of the Word of God in this way? Do we read its stories reflectively, placing ourselves into the situation and testing our reactions?

For example, with whom do we honestly identify in today’s gospel (Mark 2:13-17): the sinners who flocked to Jesus’ table, or the religious critics who found them embarrassing and inconvenient? Would we be able unhesitatingly to lay aside our work in response to an invitation like the one Jesus gave Levi?

What motivates our actions? Dare we allow the Spirit to penetrate our hearts, exposing roots of greed, glory-seeking, envy, or cold duty where we would prefer to see ourselves as motivated by prudence, self-esteem, truthfulness, or love?

It can be frightening to realize that we can hide nothing from God. But it can also be very liberating. We don’t have to waste energy pretending to be someone we are not. God knows us through and through, and he still loves us unconditionally. He offers us forgiveness for sin and the power to be transformed.

The same Word of God that reveals our deepest thoughts and intentions also reveals to us the face of the Son of God, who was fully aware of what he was doing when he called Levi and sat down at table with other sinners. He is a powerful and sympathetic high priest who understands our every burden and temptation.

So put aside fear, and tap into God’s great mercy. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

Jesus, Word of God, I invite you to search my heart and know my thoughts. I come to You just as I am, eager to encounter You just as You are, full of compassion and life-changing power.

Psalm 19:8-10,15; Mark 2:13-17

wierd

Six Wierd Things About Me


(THE RULES: Each player of this game starts with the "six weird things about you" blog post. People who get tagged need to write their own six weird things post and state the rules clearly. At the end of the post tag six more people and don’t forget to leave a comment on their blog to tell them they have been tagged and tell them to read your blog.)

1.My forearms and calves are VERY short even though I am 5'8". Always have to hem jacket sleeves and pull my seat forward in car.

2. I have to have five small pillows to be able to sleep. Tempurpedic curved one for neck/head. One between my knees and one under my waist to keep my back aligned. One at chest between my arms to keep my back comfy. And finally, one under my right wrist/hand so the carpal tunnel does not flare up.

3. I have to sleep in pitch dark. I wear a black velvet tempurpedic sleep mask. Makes for a lot of peace in a well-lit world!

4. My childhood was wierd - my maiden name was Ralph, my parents were atheists, my knees are knock, my teeth were buck, I wore tortoise shell rimmed glasses and my mother made my clothes (when minis were in style, my homemade dresses were to my knees- eeewwwwwe) they were into healthfood, so I had carrot strips and pumpkin seeds when all my friends had Fritos and Hostess Twinkies!

5. I get really paniced and smothered feeling if I don't get time alone, but give me a glass of wine and I want to be with all my friends!

6. I hate clutter, but I make it every where I go. I am constantly picking up after myself. WHY do I have so much STUFF?????

I tag:

TT
Gardenia
Pup
Jada's Gigi
David T
Sandi

almost!

I have moved in and worked there for one week.

I could load you down with endless details. Like decorating slowdowns and such. I wanted to move in and have my room all perfect. You know, so I could have the big "TaDaaaaaaaaaaaa" and beam with pride.

But, we are still painting trim, waiting for bamboo shades, shelves, my aromatherapy timer. The new shampoo room chairs have not arrived, the washer/drier is not yet installed. . . oi!

For one week, I have slept through the night each night. Slept like a baby. For one week, even though I work nearly as hard as the holidays, I am not worn to a frazzle at the end of the day.

It is a happy place. Not perfect. But happy and respectful. I feel it. My assistant feels it. Dot has felt it for the four months she had been there. And most importantly, my clients feel it.

Truly, HAPPY New Year!

Holiday Party

First time Dot held her and Boyfriend got to see her.
She was the hit of the party.
Interesting how grown-ups melt
at the sight of this teeny, beautiful puppy!
She is still waking 2 -3 times a night.
TT said he has heard her actually bark twice!
She is going to have a very yappy bark.
We will just have to do a really
good job with training her.

Whatcha doing for New Year's Eve?

 

Isabella

December 26, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. our lives changed forever!!!! OMG, we were both petrified when we arrived near Baton Rouge, Louisiana (a mere 250 mile drive!) to behold our Bella.

She is so tiny, it is staggering to think of caring for her. When she barks, she sounds like a squeaky toy. She nearly mews. When she bends in her food dish to get a bite, her hind end comes up in the air; she looks like she is performing in a circus doing a handstand! She is very expressive with her paws. Tim was certain last night he had already taught her to shake hands!

We have been watching the Dog Whisperer's DVD so we will know how to properly train her. Sad to see how we have done it all wrong with every dog we had.

She has definitely bonded to both of us. She loves being curled up in our necks. She finds TT's unshaved holiday face very interesting to lick. Her tongue is as smooth as a baby's bottom, so I am sure he feels like sandpaper to her! Fun to hear him giggle!

I made the little papoose today, because I had errands to run and she cannot bear to be in a basket, cage or bag (Dot got me a fancy designer doggie carrier purse for Christmas!). As soon as I pop her in the papoose, she snuggles in and stops squeaking/mewing!

While I was getting my manicure, she curled up in the papoose, stuck her head inside and slept!

Puppy love. . . she definitely has grabbed our heartstrings!

So, did you all have a Merry Christmas? More on that later!

P.S. After having her for a couple of days, I have decided she is too fancy for a simple name, so am calling her by her full given name, Isabella! She likes it better, too!