Do-over

Hosted by Shannon at Welcome to the Nut House!
Have you ever had a moment in your life you wish you could relive? A happy memory you'd like to repeat... or a bad choice you wish you could go back and change...

One day? I can relive one day? Hmmm...and I've made so many wise choices over the years that just ONE would stick out?

There is a day that still sticks out in my mind. Prom, 1988.

Back story (I'm channeling Dr. Doofenshmirtz here) -- my brother was getting married in August of 1988 and my fantastic family chose my prom day to have my soon-to-sister-in-law's bridal shower. Because you know, there were NO other weekends between April and August. Yeah, so! I wanted it to be MY special day but since that wasn't going to happen I figured I'd take everyone down with me.

I was spectacularly angry that they decided to have her party that day. Honestly, it wouldn't have been that big of a deal to have chosen a different day. I wasn't even in the wedding; neither me nor my sister were but that's a whole different can of worms we won't open. Anyway, I got my hair done in the morning so that I could attend the bridal festivities. Not only did I have to go but I had to plan my freaking prom around this ridiculous party. It was an afternoon party the day of my prom. I'm still bitter.

At about 4pm I decided I needed to actually go put ON the dress so I could go to dinner and the dance. Well, what ensued after that decision is not pretty. The dress was at my aunt's house because it was rather...large and we had no where to put it.

Think this but a bit poofier, hoop skirt, teal satin, ivory lace and bows. I know, I know but it was 1988. Cut me some slack. There are pictures but I wouldn't want that image stuck in your head all day.

At any rate, when we got home there was a disagreement of sorts between my mother and I about the dress, when to get it, and when it should be put on. To make a long, horrible story short, I ended up on the back of a ATV riding to my aunt's house (driven by my uncle) to get dressed. My mother never saw me in my dress and no one took pictures of me in it. I have a few shots that various people gave me.

Yes, I was a big brat but I was 17 and it was a my prom day. I regret being a monstrous PITA. I do. Then again, the whole day was pretty much crap because no one ever took me into consideration either. Not a happy memory all things considered.

Did I just say that I want to go to prom again?

Picture credit -- Google Images search for "1988 prom" found here.

Today in history

On February 6...

1891 - the Daltry Gang commits it's first train robbery
1911 - Ronald Reagan was born
1917 - German sub sinks US passenger ship California
1937 - Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is published
1952 - Elizabeth became the Queen of England

and in 1965, my parents got married.

Today is my parents 45th wedding anniversary. They got married in California (my dad was in the Air Force) and drove to NY. Six years later they had four children and a life of craziness.

Getting married. Check out that hair! And the AF uniform.

Not the best picture, but this was them going to the prom.

This was 1974 and we all actually sat still long enough to have a picture taken.
Can you guess which one is ME?

This is one of my favorite shots from our wedding reception.

My parents and my sister, Heather.

I love my family very much. We may not get to see them very often but they mean the world to me. They are funny and sweet and caring people who would do anything for you because they love you. That's family; that is what is most important in the world. Anyone who tells you different is lying.

Happy Anniversay, Mom and Dad. Thank you for a lifetime of happiness and love.

Friday Fragments

Hosted by Mrs4444 at Half-Past Kissin' Time

• It's raining. Again. Honestly, I feel like I need to build an ark. It's only 9:28am and we've already gotten 1.5 inches of rain today. It's raining and I need to do about 12 errands. Blah. Can't I just stay home and have cereal for dinner tonight?
• Don't let anyone ever say that exercising with the Wii Fit is not a workout. I did step aerobics, jogging and yoga this morning. I even got up early to do it. Go me. And according to the little needle on the scale, I've lost 1.5 pounds in the last week.
• My current favorite Dominic-ism is when he asks, "Can you do me a favorite?"
• Dominic has decided he likes 80's pop music. Bananarama, Naked Eyes, and Wang Chung. This kid rocks. His current favorite tune...
  
  
  
  
• I have a this stack of magazines I need to get through. The Food Network magazine rocks; I love it though am kind of put off by some of the recipes. Is it necessary to have a chicken recipe that requires 23 ingredients? I'm not Ina Garten, you know.
• Do you celebrate Valentine's Day? I'm not a big fan though I'll take Godiva chocolates and flowers at any time...restriction to VD is not necessary. Dominic loves giving cards and little gifts. He wants to give all the girls at school pink hearts. I think we are in trouble.

Happy Friday, y'all. Hope your weather is better than it is here. Go Colts!

The book

Actually, it's more like our book. Our library book -- with my partner in library crime. We'll call her Marcia because I am not allowed to speak her name on my blog. Not just any book but a book about the library. The things that have been inflicted upon us, done to us or have witnessed unwillingly...in the library. Because let me tell you -- it is frightening what people will do in the public library.

I've not worked in the public library in eight years but I know it never changes. Why? People don't change. The craziness is forever.

Like Silver Britches. Yes, that was the guy's nickname. He liked to wear rather tight silver metallic bicycle shorts (stuffed with tissues to over accentuate things below) in the library and expose himself to women. A lot. It went on for years until one day the local police managed to chase him down the street (literally) and arrest him. After serving his jail sentence he showed up in a neighboring county wearing women's green stockings...and not much else. At least he was out of our jurisdiction.

And the pervy old guy standing at the reference desk with his wife. He looks straight at me (he was at least 70) and said, "Do you know how cute you are?" And then wiggled his eyebrows. His wife turned and looked at him and said, "Are you serious?" And then she started laughing.

Or the other pervy old guy. I was helping him look up some random company in one of the business books. We were discussing finding more materials when he started to point at the book shelves. Instead of pointing at the shelves he turned directly into my right breast. I looked down, looked up at him, and then stepped back. He got the biggest grin on his face. He then, with his finger still pointed, took a step forward and tried to poke me again. Book shut. I walked away. Done helping the boob poker.

Those are just some of the stories in our book. Someday we might even write it. For now when something happens we just say, "It's going in the book."

Sundays in My City

Hosted by Unknown Mami
What can be said about the Grand Canyon? It's Grand? It's quite incredible really; peaceful and serene. We did a whirlwind tour of Zion, Bryce and the Grand Canyon in April one year. We drove 1400 miles in about eight days. Vegas, Hoover Dam, Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Sedona, Prescott, Kingman, Lake Havasu and back to Vegas. I don't think my bladder could take it anymore. At any rate, we got some wonderful pictures at the Grand Canyon. Enjoy!





This is the Yavapai Lodge inside the Grand Canyon, where we stayed. It doesn't look like much but it was a nice little room.





Yeah, we take dorky pictures but we had a lot of fun.






Have a peaceful Sunday.

Friday Fragments

Hosted by Mrs4444 at Half-Past Kissin' Time

It's Friday; you know what that means. Fragging at the speed of light. Well, I've never done anything that fast so you'll get fragging at the speed of typing. How's that?

• I have a box of Stampin' Up goodies that has been sitting next to the front door for days. I'm really wanting to open it up and play with my new toys but I first need to get my crafting table back in place. We had to move it out of our front room to put in the Christmas tree of doom in December and, being the slack people we are, we have haven't bother to put it back yet. Think I can convince Matthew to help me drag it back over before he goes to work?
• I've had to make a decision. I cannot acquire anymore books until my to be read pile decreases by at least half. It's 31 books high right now. Seriously demented, I am. I got the latest book in the Outlander series (number 7) in September. I decided to re-read the entire series before starting it. Um...yeah, I'm currently about a quarter of the way through number 6. These books have 627, 743, 870, 880, 979, and 980 pages respectively. Why did I decide to do that and forgo reading something I've never read before?
• They canceled Ugly Betty. I really love that show. How is it that the networks move these shows from great time slots with lots of viewers and then wonder why no one is watching anymore? Move it from Thursday to Friday night and no one watches. Gee, I wonder why. This happened with Jericho too. I have a notion to write a strongly worded letter...
• While at Target yesterday I wandered into the Valentine's day section of the store. They have some romantic-type movies display there. Knocked Up was one of them. Call me crazy, but I don't consider forced-relationship-due-one-night-stand-pregnancy to be a Valentine's kind of movie. Am I wrong in that? Besides, I thought that movie was horrid.
• Just an update -- Aunt Dot's surgery went really well. They think they got all the bones spurs out of her spinal cord and she's now walking again! Yay. She's been in so much pain from spinal stenosis that she was unable to do much at all.

Happy Friday, y'all. Have a fantastic weekend. It's supposed to be really cold again here and possible snow. Apparently Mother Nature forgot this is the south. We don't do that here.

Who?

I've found a new pottery fascination. Owls. Who knew?






I don't know if you can tell, but these pictures are the front and back. I made it into a vase with an owl face on each side. You know, since owls can turn their head around.

It's low fire clay so I can play around with design and patterns. I think I'll try it with earthenware too. Yeah, I get obsessed. But I managed to make this thing in one class and it turned out pretty good -- that doesn't happen often. I was thrilled.