You're Gonna Miss this...

I got a nice reminder the other night watching "Marley and Me" that someday I will miss all the craziness in my life right now. Some days are just too much, but I will look back fondly on them.

As the Trace Adkins song goes:

"You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast

These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this"

Three-Ring Circus

After a very busy day at work, I find myself in the detour back-up stressing out -- the road to my house has not been repaired yet. (See earlier post)

It is only 4 p.m. and I have no idea what aggravation is awaiting me.

I run to the house to pick up Chris, I need to fight traffic 10 miles to teach religion class. Topic of the day: end of the world, purgatory heaven and hell (not easy concepts for 1st graders--don't get me started). I get through the class, I think the kids are more confused, as am I, than when class began.

It is now 6 p.m., fight traffic to get Chris to his baseball practice, as I am pulling in the field a little early, Bryan calls, "can you come get me?" The only conversation the two of us seem to have lately. So I make a U-turn to pick him up, I only have a few minutes for this to take place, his buddy comes out to the car, Bryan is no where to be found. Meanwhile, Chris starts dancing around "I need to pee," "well quickly go find a bathroom" I holler! He comes back 5 minutes later, soaked, he didn't find a bathroom in time! Meanwhile, Bryan's buddy is in my car and he is ripe from football, a smell that cannnot be described-- add to that the pee-soaked boy.

Bryan still nowhere--so I leave --I am fuming!

Now I need to run to the house to get Chris fresh clothes -- oh yeah--the detour back up is between us and fresh clothes, so there we sit in the back up, my blood pressure is rising.

I drop off Bryan's buddy, I call Jim to pick up Bryan--I am too mad to see him anytime soon!

We get to the house --the dogs are hysterical -it is now 2 hours past their dinner time--they are both whining, so I tell them to hop in the car. I run Chris over to baseball, puppy in arms, where Jim and Bryan are waiting, I pick up Bryan in the parking lot--"Hi Mom, what's for dinner?"

My head is going to explode at this point.

It is now 7:30, back in the detour--everyone is "starving" luckily there are leftovers in the fridge-- cause mama ain't cookin'.

Everyone is back home by 8:45.

Time to collapse.

End of the Season

Our last sunset was a beauty! That is our campsite there on the left.
We stayed until the very last minute on Sunday, they were closing down the campground for the season, we sure didn't want to leave! We pulled out at 8:30--the gates were being locked at 9. We had a really fun season with our friends and made many new memories.

Half My Life!

This is my favorite picture of us as a young couple! We recently celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary, without much fanfare, Jim wasn't feeling well, recovering from the H1N1 Flu, but he made the effort to take me out to dinner (he has learned something in the past 20 years!)

He is still my hero, and I am constantly amazed at the projects he will tackle and complete beautifully. We still manage to laugh on a daily basis and are proud of the life we have built. We enjoy reflecting back on the old days and have so much history together it is a truly special relationship. Every day is not a picnic, but we manage past all that!
Here's to many more years together...

Raindrops and puppies...

Well this week has gotten off to a crazy start!

Our new Dachshund puppy was ready to come home, we picked up Cleo during the middle of the rain storm. We listened to the torrential downpour all night while the puppy slept quietly, then Jim got up to check on her and she thought at 5 a.m. -"yeah it's time to play!" So we were both sleep deprived. Got ready for work and the mayhem ensued... roads washed out everywhere traffic backed up beyond description.

It is amazing the terrible feeling you have when you can't get to your house. Now I understand why people get swept away, you really lose your bearing when it is raining so hard and you are on a strange road. At one point on the way home, I took a wrong turn and was down some strange country road, I kept following it and came out on a familiar street, what a relief.

Above is a photo I swiped off Facebook of a nearby main intersection and the new baby!

731...

It seems nearly impossible that you were stolen away from us 731 days ago. I never thought I could go on without you, little sis... my father said the morning after, that he thought the sun would not rise, he was suprised when it shone brightly that next morning, our lives have surely been dimmed.

Sometimes I imagine where you would be now, certainly married, maybe a business owner, your MBA was only a few months away... it was all so close. You were so full of life and possibilities, the most positive, talented, brilliant and beautiful woman I will ever know.

You were courageous and caring, you were the best hostess, when you pulled me out of my comfort zone and into your world in Barcelona. Thank God I made it over there to visit you.

I often thought of all the joys you will miss out on in life and then realized you will also be spared any of life's sorrows as well, you were perfectly happy and beautiful when you died, you will not have to suffer the loss of loved ones or your own declining health someday, you will not suffer disappointments, this is some comfort to me. I am afraid to go through them without you by my side, but I will manage.

My Slow Education in Wine

At the ripe old age of 40 is when I started giving wine a chance. Thanks to a wino buddy (you know who you are!) I have begun to find out about this mysterious universe of wine.

I sure wish I could have a do-over when I was in Spain, to be more adventurous. My sister tried very hard to get me to appreciate the Spanish wine offerings. I guess the palate just takes time to develop. My brother, a certified wine snob, warned me --he said it will become an expensive habit, once you've had the good stuff you can't go back. Well the cheapskate that I am, I haven't delved into an expensive bottle of wine yet.

The other night though, I did get to sample some moderate priced wines at a girl's night out wine tasting. Seven wines to taste, all from a vinyard right here in Georgia, some were not to my liking --but some were wonderful! Of course they only give you a small sip. It was a great way to find out before you plunk down $25 and realize its not for you! I didn't end up getting a bottle, times are tight but it is definitely in the back of my mind for a splurge in the future.

It's amazing I could get this far in life not even knowing what a Shiraz, Pinot Noir or Sirah tasted like, glad I gave it a chance! I didn't need another vice, but it sure is fun! Julie would be proud.