Yes, I'm finally back

Just a quickie

I'm dropping back in again to let everyone know that I am still around. Life has just taken on a whole new phase for me. Both my kiddies are in school full time. I thought I would have more "free time" Ha Ha... I'll say again...HA freakin HA. I don't even get to watch much tv anymore so I don't feel I have much to offer in the threads, but I do want to drop by when I can to add to the blog and catch up with my friends here.


I'm sending special prayers to everyone in the Gulf Coast region, especially in the next few days.

I'm going to scream!!!!

OK, so I'm about to scream and I am ready to bite...BITE....nails. In the past couple of years we've had a rash of appliance shut downs at the Patrick household. First, the fridge...no problem, go to Lowe's get a new one. Then the dishwasher...back to Lowe's, have it in a couple of days. Then comes the washer, followed by the dryer. (All this has taken place within four years, so you know Lowe's is lovin' it when I walk in.) Now it was time for the oven to go out. I had a repair man in to tell me it would be cheaper to just get a new one instead of have the ancient thing we have repaired. Fine, back to Lowe's we go. I took my little measurements to the store, with both the little lpatrick's in hand. We browse the selection and my youngest picks out the perfect model. So I think. Well, Mr. Delivery Man shows up today and informs me that our model is a drop in (?) and if I want the one I purchased I would have to hire a contractor in to cut up my counter tops and baseboards, plus do some re-wiring. So, Mr. Man leaves the house with a smile and a wave that that's one less effort he has to put forth for the day.

To the phone I go and contact Charlie, who sold me my oven. I remind him of who I am and what I purchased and the conversation I had with "Mr. Wha-hoo I get off work early guy." Then Mr. Charlie-Smart Mouth asks if I didn't realize the type of oven I had. I reminded him per our conversation during the purchase of said oven that I specifically asked...."Are all ovens the same, same size, same attachments." I even reminded him that I brought in my oven measurements. Then Mr. Smart Mouth commits the sin of all sins to any woman entering into an establishment such as his.... "What, did your husband not help you decide what you needed and what would work???" WHAT THE.... I know he did not just ask me that!!!! Don't get me wrong... I love Mr. lpatrick with an eternal undying love, but do I need his help with every thing....NO.

I will NOT go back to Lowe's for any thing else. Home Depot will from now until the end of time get all my business when the need arises. This decision is not made lightly. It's not the first time that I have encountered this type of treatment from the "men" working at Lowe's. Just because I don't borrow my husband's testicles when I go to a home improvement store, doesn't mean that I can't measure the width, height and depth of something. (Mr. Smart Mouth actually asked me if I really knew how to do that!!!)

BTW....I'm the one who kills the spiders in this house.

30 Days

Just watched a few minutes of the show 30 Days. What a concept. If you could step into someone else's shoes for 30 Days...where would you go? Before you jump to a quick answer, think before you leap. This guy on the show was going to be a coal miner for 30 days. Could you do that? He was underground from early morning until late afternoon, not once seeing the sun. Constantly shoveling coal off the floor, he could not stand up straight. But he reminded himself that the work he was doing was help to run things like Children's Hospital (very near and dear to my heart) or just someone watching something on the internet. He said..."well, at least it's makin' someone happy."

So again, who's shoes would you step into for thirty days? Ok, you can have two choices...choose something totally selfless first...then go ahead and reward yourself by picking something wicked selfish.

Close to bedtime. I'm going to do some reading. Right now it's J D Robb's "Strangers in Death." Whachu readin'?

xoxo

Where to begin

So where to begin.... Well, I've been MIA from ART for awhile. As you can say, life has just gotten in the way. First all the health issues. Instead of thirty four, you'd think I'm a hundred and thirty four. I have had problems with my hands for several years, mainly the thumbs and wrists. I've been to a million and one different doctors and specialist...and you know what....none of them can give me an answer as to what is really wrong. Next... a few months ago I found a lump on my breast. Now you know that's never a happy moment. Thank the Lord it was nothing serious and all is well. Now I have the largest heel spur on my left heel. It's killing me. I have several options as how to take care of it, but are any of the fun. NO!!!!

My two little monsters are becoming big monsters. William will be seven in July and John turned five in December. Time flies when you have little ones. We made a HUGE decision in Will's life to retain him in first grade. The kid is SO smart and logical, so the decision was almost impossible to make. He passed but he was not at a second grade reading level. That on top of being the youngest and close to one of the smallest kids in the first grade, we just felt we could give him more time. It was truly one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. He is actually taking it better than me.

So Mr. lpatrick has just gotten home from work and has brought me dinner. I'll, of course be back with more of life at the lpatrick house. I'll even share some good ole Southern recipes with y'all in the future!!! XOXO