Wet July

So, this time last year I was blogging about how hot and miserable it was outside. This year? A totally different story. I don't want to jinx it--but this summer has been an absolute pleasure! Right now it's sunny with an expected high of 85. In July. In Arkansas none the less. I know what you're thinking--what alternate universe are we living in?!? I'm thinking the same thing. To make it even more humorous--my coworkers in the Boston, MA area are complaining about how hot it is up there. It got to a whoppin' 85 yesterday! Here I am talking about how wonderful 85 degrees is in July!!

The Arkansas Democrat Gazette has a story in today's paper that shows just WHY we're experiencing this break in the heat. Read headline: "Rain lingers; LR records wettest July in 118 years." 118 years. I believe it! I was just telling my mama yesterday that there is just no place for the water to go. We're flooding! Our farmers and ag workers are beside themselves. They usually have to worry about droughts. Now--they're worrying about flooding!

Crazy, mixed-up world. Makes me think--we should REALLY get on getting the gutters cleaned. Having the roof cave in would be no fun.

Miss V--I can't resist: "This cool July weather makes me feel bless. It so beautiful out side. Makes me not want to sit in side. Now--make sure you keep me in the black." (Mrs. G and Mama--I'm sure you find the humor in the italicized statement. For everyone else--just know that there is someone in someone's life that actually writes like this on a day to day basis, egad).

And just for a little bit more fun--can you ever imagine what the theme of the groom's table is going to be at our reception? Hmmm...I'll give a hint:

The BEST time of the year is just around the corner...Tim and I are starting to get a little antsy. TGI(A)F!!!

10 Year Reunion

Tim and I both have our 10 year reunions this weekend. I'm so excited...one of my dearest friends from high school, Claire, is coming in Friday afternoon to spend the weekend with me! I can't wait. Because both Tim and I's (not really sure if that is grammatically correct?) reunions are the same weekend, we're only attending our own--so no sharing in high school memories together (though, I do have a very pretty ring to show off!!).

Being the Type A personality that I am...I, of course, got suckered into the reunion committee. I've designed/ordered t-shirts and created the slideshow. It's been fun looking through old pictures and speaking to old classmates. However, I'm quite tired of looking at that show!! Just for fun...here are some pics from at least 10 years ago. Wow. I can't believe 10 years have already passed. I hope the next 10 years go by a little slower, though, I doubt they will!!

I was the basketball Homecoming queen...this is Nate...he was the king. At Hall they call the king and queen of Basketball Homecoming the "Belle and Beau."

These are two of my dearest friends from high school, Sarah and Rhema. Everyone called us "Say, Say and Ray."

This is the complete group: Sarah, Rhema, Claire and me.

UPDATE: And just for a good wedding laugh, I just got a bunch of emails w/ addresses and spouse names. Here is the original email Tim sent out:

"I have been informed by my fiancé that I need your address and spouse’s name."

He's such a mess but follows instruction very well. :)

Buy American

I just got this email from one of my grocery store contacts. Very interesting...

This is worth printing and looking at when you go shopping.

This may be useful to know when grocery shopping, if it's a concern to you.

The whole world is afraid of China-made "black hearted goods"..Can you differentiate which one is made in Taiwan or China?If the first 3 digits of the barcode are 690, 691 or 692, the product is MADE IN CHINA. 471 is Made in Taiwan.

This is our right to know, but the government and related departments never educate the public, therefore we have to RESCUE ourselves.

Nowadays, Chinese businessmen know that consumers do not prefer products "MADE IN CHINA ", so they don't show from which country it is made.

However, you may now refer to the barcode, remember if the first 3 digits are:

690-692 … then it is MADE IN CHINA.

00 - 09 … USA & CANADA

30 - 37 … FRANCE

40 - 44 … GERMANY

47 .... Taiwan

49 … JAPAN

50 … UK

750 ... MEXICO

BUY USA by watching for "0" at the beginning of the number. We need every boost we can get!

In our current economic situation, every little thing we buy or do affects someone else and perhaps even their job.My grandson likes Hershey's candy. It is marked made in Mexico . I do not buy it any more.

My favorite toothpaste Colgate is made in Mexico now. I have switched to Crest.

You have to read the labels on everything.This past weekend I was at Kroger. I needed 60W light bulbs and Bounce dryer sheets. I was in the light bulb aisle and right next to the GE brand I normally buy was an off brand labeled, “Everyday Value.” I picked up both types of bulbs and compared the stats - they were the same except for the price. The GE bulbs were more money than the Everyday Value brand but the thing that surprised me the most was the fact that GE was made in MEXICO and the Everyday Value brand was made in - get ready for this - the USA in a company in Cleveland , Ohio .

So throw out the myth that you cannot find products you use every day that are made right here...So on to another aisle - Bounce Dryer Sheets....yep, you guessed it, Bounce cost more money and is made in Canada. The Everyday Value brand was less money and MADE IN THE USA! I did laundry yesterday and the dryer sheets performed just like the Bounce Free I have been using for years and at almost half the price!

So my challenge to you is to start reading the labels when you shop for everyday things and see what you can find that is made in the USA – the job you save may be your own or your neighbors!If you accept the challenge, pass this on to others in your address book so we can all start buying American, one light bulb at a time! Stop buying from China........... (We should have awakened to this a decade ago......) Let's get with the program.... help our fellow Americans keep their jobs and create more jobs here in the U.S.A.!!!

Just Another Humpday...

So, I've been incredibly busy trying to get a slideshow ready for my high school's 10 year reunion that is this weekend. I have had to scan photos and then edit them as best as possible...I haven't even gotten to putting the actual slide show together! Hopefully I can get that done tonight.

Last Saturday I granted my first wish. Our wish gal wanted to go to Hawaii. I took pictures of the enhancement gift we gave her to send her on her way...hopefully I'll get those out of my camera and onto the blog sooner than later. Which reminds me. I need to write up the wish story. Ah! Another thing on the list. *sigh*

I'm definitely ready for this weekend to be OVER. Tim and I both have our reunions this weekend. I'm really bummed that I don't get to go to Catholic's reunion--but I'll have a good time at Hall's.

On top of all that I have some major decisions that I've got to make soon and I'm ready to either make them or stay on my current path. I have to wait hopefully just a few more days--but I've been exploring potential changes in the near future. Ah. I'm so ready to just know something. Keeping my fingers crossed and having a constant worry in the back of my mind is really starting to get to me. I'm just ready for some answers. Hopefully the answers I've been looking for!!

Wedding planning is coming along. I'm afraid I might have to get bride-zilla-ish on the guest list if people don't turn in their guest list "assignments." I've asked Tim for his friends addresses/wives/fiance/girlfriends' names probably about 10 times now. Oh boy. My mom is coming in town in mid-August and hopefully we'll be able to knock out the remaining big three items: florist, baker, printer.

I keep getting asked if I've sent out my Save the Dates. No. I haven't. I'll send those out in October--assuming my dang guest list is finished! I can't wait for that list to be done. It's getting so dramatic!! It's been kind of weird, this whole wedding deal. I've actually had someone ask me if they could be invited. I have yet to respond--but this particular person I haven't spoken to in over 15 years...sorry. Not meaning to sound rude, but Tim and I would much rather have our friends and family that are involved in our lives NOW be invited to the wedding over some "stranger" that I haven't spoken to in over 15 years. And...again, not trying to sound rude, but who asks if they can be invited? Does anyone else find that strange?

I suppose I've rambled for long enough today. I'll leave you all with this picture of HORRIBLE flying form--taken sometime over 10 years ago. What are my arms doing?!?!?

Checkity-Check

So--I'll post a more upbeat topic today...

On Sunday, I found out that the photographer I was originally going to use for my bridal portraits is unable to do them...(understandably).

SO, I started off pestering my NOLA girls for photography recs. I researched a few and chose three that I really liked. After inquiring on Sunday--I found a photog to do my bridals!!! Yay!!!

So--my New Orleans peeps, I'm heading your way for Halloween weekend, yippee!!!

Here's the photog. He did Cherie's wedding, too!

Government Healthcare Plan

I know that some of you do not agree with my politics, and that is our God given right as Americans. To agree to disagree.

With that said, the healthcare proposals that Congress/Senate are putting out there at lightning speed terrify me. There are parts of every proposal that would take away Americans' greatest right: Freedom.

For example, it would be ILLEGAL to have private insurance under the House proposal. ILLEGAL. That is not America. That is terrifying.

Please, I beg you...look into this and decide if this is something YOU would want your children and grandchildren to have to live by. This is no longer about red vs. blue or liberal vs. conservative. THIS is about our rights as Americans. Don't sit quietly by. Call your Senators and Congressmen and tell them that the current healthcare proposals are unacceptable.

What's more? Congress would be grandfathered in and NOT have to use the healthcare plans they force down America's throat. They will have access to the best that America offers, while you and I will have to stand in line with the hundreds and thousands of other Americans needing to see a doctor.

Yes, reform is necessary, but do you want to wait in line like you do at the DMV for a high fever or severe cough? Start with eliminating coverage mandates, regulate the court systems, eliminate frivolous law suits.

To learn more, please visit http://www.healthcare.cato.org/.

Please, if not for yourself, for your children, your nieces and your nephews, for your grandchildren.

If you feel you need further research on what nationalized healthcare can do--google Canada and Great Britain. It's not working out so well for them, either...

Saying a Prayer

What a sad day...I just got an email from my daddy:

"You guys should know that Pamela went into hospice this week, and is not doing well. She has multiple problems, but has internal bleeding that slowly starves her blood nutrients, and she will likely continue to deterioriate. Weeks at best. Say a prayer or two for her."

Pamela is my aunt. I'm so sad for her. I pray that God shall give her peace and comfort.

I'm ready for some happy days...I'm very tired of sad news all the time.

July 4th Weekend

Every year we go camping the weekend before July 7th for Miss V's birthday. I know what you're thinking...CAMPING in JULY?!?!? Yeah--Tim thinks the exact same thing. But that's what crazy girl wants to do for her birthday and we oblige. (We're secretly wishing for that family lake house to get finished so we don't EVER have to camp in JULY again...but that's another day).

I am in serious procrastination mode--I've been studying A LOT (another story, another time) and I'm just so tired. Of studying. Ugh. Hopefully, just one more day of this stage and then maybe I can enlighten you all with what is going on in my life. For now, just know I'm majorly annoyed at studying. :)

Here's some pics from the camping trip. Mr. and Mrs. G, Jess, Miss V and Nick, Steve and Wilbur, and Lydia and Jeremy all camped with us on Friday night. Cindy and James (and their family and hundreds of dogs) and Paul and Vicki joined us for the day on Friday. Scherm and Brad joined us on Saturday. So, we had a great crew to help celebrate the best holiday in our country!! I thank God daily for being able to proudly say I'm an American!!

Mrs. G's chairs were AWESOME. Check out that portable shade!!

I ask Tim to smile for the camera, this is what I get...at least My Jess is smilin' pretty.

Again--I ask them to smile and they all do something weird?!?!? Lydia smiled, I think my camera caught her at a weird time!!

Ok, the picture below is really blurry because little man got camera shy...so I had to try and pretend like I wasn't taking a picture. He's really good on the guitar. (See the video below.)

What is it about July 4th shots of Tim? I seem to remember a very familiar shot from this time last year...

Brady Mountain had their firework show on Friday night...and my brilliant brother and nephew built a camp-side fire, so we all moved to the beach to watch the show and escape the heat. The best I could do with nighttime photos...

Scherm and her hat...it was REALLY windy and her hat wouldn't stay down. She was a bit frustrated...

Brother's koozie reads, "Bunco Babe."

Brad in Scherm's hat. Awwww...

Ok, here is Wilbur playing the guitar. I apologize for the video being sideways. =(

One of these days I'll remember that I can't rotate vertically shot videos and shoot the videos correctly. Will is really good on the guitar...he's only been playing for a year. I'm so proud of him. Like what I wrote above, he's camera shy so I also had to pretend that I wasn't doing anything. When I got caught, he'd stop. Again, I apologize, I can't get the video to rotate.

Finally, and totally off topic--as I'm being a terrible (or great) procrastinator--the Auburn/Vandy game from last season is on the tv right now...I CANNOT WAIT for football season to get here. We know we're going to head down to Southern LA for the UA/LSU game...that's about all we know for sure at the moment. Our friends, the Pettyjohns and Fergusons, have a tailgate out there (in that Tiger territory) and they have invited us to join them, even though I cheer for the wrong team. ;) Can't wait. Football is great. Here's hoping to a fabulous season for all four of our teams...Woo Pigs...Geaux Tigers...Go Frogs and WHO DAT?!?!?!? =)

Make A Wish

My sorority's national philanthropy is Make A Wish Foundation. I did some volunteer work for them through my years at the UA. Once I left school, I kind of put Make A Wish to the side.

Well, a couple of weeks ago I was reading Carepage after Carepage and knew at that instant that I needed to reconnect with Make A Wish. So, I sent an email to the Mid South Chapter expressing my interest in volunteering with the Foundation. It just so happened that there was a Wish Granting training class two weeks out from the day I sent the email. I told the volunteer coordinator to sign me up.

I attended the class and have officially received my "Wish Granter" certificate (passed all the quizzes with flying colors!). The next step was to simply wait to be assigned to a wish kid.

Well...I was notified today that I get to grant my first wish! I am SO. EXCITED. I have no idea what the wish will be...but then again, finding out the wish is part of my job.

I am so looking forward to seeing the joy on my little wish kid's face when the wish is granted!!

If you're interested in seeing what Make A Wish is all about...feel free to check out their website.

Big Birthday Day!!

Lots of Birthdays on July 7th!! My life is surrounded by July babies!!

First...my baby sister is celebrating her birthday. Happy Birthday Miss V!!! (do you like that we're dressed in winter clothes??? Christmas in July, LOL...more like Mardi Gras in July)

Next is Miss Lauryn's birthday...she's a 7/7, too!! Happy Birthday Lauryn!!

The final July 7 birthday is my late grandmother, Betty. I miss her terribly--but love to celebrate her life on days like today. Happy Birthday Grandma!!

I have pictures from our camping trip to Lake Ouachita this past weekend that I'll post very soon. I'm not trying to be a slacker...I've got a lot on my plate at the moment, but the plate should be clearing off here about Sunday (or get to be less crowded at least).

Please continue to keep our friends, Sarah and Taylor, in your thoughts and prayers.

it's the little things...

So, this morning I woke up really dreading going to work...just not in the mood these days. I can't tell if it is a case of the summer blues...or what, but I have been just dragging to get up. Then I realized...I only have to wake up to go to work ONE more day this week and it's a long weekend!! Woo hoo! Thank you Independence Day! It's a break that is much needed!!

On another note, I needed to do something for the wedding just to ease my nerves (I feel like I'm just not doing enough--but there's not really anything to do)...so I got another CHECK!!!

Really awesome shoes? Check. (after months of hassling BMs, sisters, in-laws...you know)

What's even better? FREE SHIPPING!! Gotta love those words!

For those of you that I hassled...it's the first pair of shoes out of the three. If you want to see my awesome shoes, leave a comment or email me and I'll send you a link.

**UPDATE: I just received an email that my shoes are shipping TODAY!! Because I'm such a great customer. :) Add this email update to the words FREE SHIPPING!!! WOO HOO!!!