Family and Christmas

Well Christmas was very special at our house except that my husband got sick on Christmas day at about 9:30 or so in the morning. He had written a special prayer, blessing, speech to give at the table that he never got to give. He was basically in bed for 3 days and on the coach for the fourth. He is feeling some better today. Then my oldest son and I got sick on Thursday night and spent most of Friday in bed. My daughter-in-law though the best thing to do was to get her and kids out of here to see if they could escape what ever it was we had. So far according to the conversation I had with them today she has. Gary pulled together the strength to get him and our son returned to Abilene. It has not been the homecoming we were anticipating nor the way we had anticipated spending Christmas. So on that note, how was everyone else's holiday. We are going to spend the New Year celebrations in much the same as we have every other year, at home eating chips and dips and watching movies.

Homecoming

Well husband is home again. I think we were both ready for him to be home at least for a while. We will have a decision to make in the near future. So since this is suppose to be for thoughts and provoking questions, what do you think about setting a goal and working toward that goal even if it means a separation for another year to reach that goal. If he goes back for another year, our goal will be to pay the house down to the point that we can pay it off within the next 10 years. We will both be ready to retire, or in my case at a point that I can retire with retirement check. Since we don't have children at home, it only leaves Missy and I here to deal with things. I know money isn't everything, but when we started this we said 5 years and he has been gone for three. There was a year and half between the first 2 and the last one. That means technically he could go for another year.

Driving Cars

I know that sounds like a crazy title, but I was driving back from town today and I started thinking about the drivers that annoy me. I also got to thinking about older drivers. I don't consider myself old, some of you may, but not me. Anyway I was wondering what constitutes a car for older drivers. What color, what kind, etc. Well if you stop and think about it they are not usually very colorful and they always seem to be a Buick. Now I don't drive a Buick or a dull color. I say my car is blue, but both of the boys started calling it the Barney mobile when they saw it. I think they need their eyes checked, because I wouldn't have gotten a purple car. So what do you think most older people drive. Basically I am thinking anyone who has gray hair all the time.

I have recently read a series of books I never thought I would read. I had one teacher ask me if it had smut in it because it involved a vampire and a human. I told her no, but it was a really good book. The name of the first book is Twilight. I have not read a book that I could hardly put down in a long time. Other than a little fantasy because it is about vampires, there was no bad language or sex in the books. Later on in some of the books there was some violence. Edward the vampire tries to keep Bella the human from being changed to a vampire. They consider themselves vegetarians, because they don't feed on people but on animals. I know some of you are not going to find this interesting, but that is the battle throughout all of the books. I read the first book and my friend told me that I needed the second book by the time I finished the first because the first chapter was at the end of the book. She was so right. I finished the first and started the second book in the same weekend. I spent the rest of the week on book two and started book three. I finished book three about 12:30 on a Saturday and decided I better get a shower and some lunch. I sat back down about 1:30 or 2 and didn't get out of my chair except to take of necessary things like food and bathroom until 10:30. Decided I better go to bed and read a little more. It was 2:30 when I looked at the clock and I couldn't read anymore because I was so tired. I had about 100 pages to finish on Sunday afternoon. This all took place in the matter of two weeks. Then my friend told me that the author had started the first book from Edward's point of view, but it was not finished because someone hijacked the script and posted it on line. She put the first 246 pages on her website due to her fans. I have read it too. Now for the question: Does a book have to have smut or be encouraging to be a good book to read? Some will respond sarcastically I am sure.

Post surgery

Well I got tired of being told what I should write, but decided to try again. I was ever so grateful to my daughter A and her husband J (I was told to use code) that they were willing to take time and help me out. I think J really was here for the TV, but he came anyway. Then he didn't want to be seen in my BLUE car. What's the deal!!!? I got to tell you having your gallbladder is not as easy as everyone told me it would be. I guess it wasn't really the surgery, but after. It hurt to get out of bed and that made my neck hurt. My boss S said that was because I was using my neck muscles and not my stomach. Dr. S has some really good stuff called Cyrogel. For sore muscles, headaches, stiff necks, or sore knees and legs that is the best stuff since sliced bread. Usually cures in less than half an hour. I took it to work and passed around there as needed too. Maybe I need to take stock in the stuff or start selling it.
A said I have to ask a question or food for thought so here is my questions. If you have never had surgery you probably can't answer the question though, but you might have thoughts. When they are trying to put you back together, would you rather have glue, stitches, or staples? Really think this through. Glue may leave less scar, stitches might be neater, doctors seem to like stitches now.

Rambling

Well I am not sure that creating a blog was worth it for me. No one posts any comments except for one that Liz left. My children do not answer or make comments about my attempts at blogging. We had a wonderful time on vacation and I am now trying to catch up on sleep. I have given myself this week and next to catch up and do all the things I need to do before going back to school. Nothing much is happening at my house anyway and after all the noise and action it is very quiet. I am going to have to find someone to change a light because the overhead floresent light is going out. It happens to be over my desk. Gary's cement pad has been poured and I am ordering the building to be here by Christmas. He hasn't really decided wjem he is coming home for good. His plans right now are to come home for Christmas, but if we keep spending things on the building then who knows when he will come home for good. Well enough rambling.

Back to normal

Well Gary left on Wednesday to go back to Qatar. He still hasn't decided if he will come home for good in December or if he will stay another year. He is looking at other contracts. Missy and I just kind of get used to him and then he leaves. We had a wonderful time with friends in Colorado Springs. Gary had a little problem with altitude sickness in the evenings and mornings until we came down from our cabin. It was nice and cool up there as well. The place we stayed Heavenly Hideaway, was exactly that. You could sit out on the porch in the mornings. One night I think it got down to about 38. The only problem I would say was that the beds were horrible. I wonder if there is someway to say politely to someone that you had a great time, the place was super, but the beds need to be replaced. Gary actually ended up sleeping on the floor. He is used to a very hard bed and the bed was very soft. We both rolled toward the middle the first night and then you spend all night trying to hang on to the side to keep from rolling into the gully in the middle. The chapel at the Air Force academy was beautiful, but we were also told by a cadet friend of Don's that it is also the place that gets hit by lightening the most on the base. We went to Focus on the Family and ate at Whit's end. Since it is Mr. Whitaker's place I asked since we were the Whitaker's if that gave us a discount and she said she believed we could have the employees discount. It was a very cheap place to eat to begin with, but we took the discount. If you ever get a chance to go it is a very family priced place to eat. Gary got to go White Water Rafting, but wants to try some harder ones next time with his boys, (all 3 of them). Blaize would probably love to go as well, but I don't think Mom would let him do it until he gets older. We also took grandkids to Sea World and I think next time it will be with parents. Grandma and Grandpa were exhausted after words. Well I am off with kids next week for some time on the beach.

Grandchildren

Well we picked up our Lubbock grandkids on our way back from Colorado Springs. We made our annual trek to Sea World yesterday. Let me just say that Grandma and Grandpa are exhausted to say the least. Then I cam home with a migraine and went straight to bed leaving grandpa in charge. Needless to say that meant they didn't shower and I am not sure what time they went to bed. But last night I really didn't care either way. Greatgrandma, Aunt Nadine, and Aunt Mary arrived and we are going to have a great time on the 4th of July.

Vacation

We take off for Colorado tomorrow and some relaxation. We are going with two couples from church. Brad is giving us lunch tomorrow and then on the way back we will pick up the two grandkids in Lubbock. I am sure we will have more than enough things planned. The end of the week is July 4th and all the family is expected to arrive. We are cooking out, but Gary keeps changing his mind on what we are having. Well I am hoping this will expidite things and emails will be sent so someone else is reading this blog.

Husband returns

Gary will be coming home on Friday. He arrives in Dallas and Matt will be picking him up. He is taking him to his house to shower and show off his house. Then they will be meeting me at Aimee's house for supper. We leave the next day for vacation for a week with some friends. We are really looking forward to that. Then on the way home we will be picking up Grandkids and spending a week doing things with them. Grandpa is voting for Schlitterban, but I am not sure they would enjoy that as much as Sea World at their age. Maybe next year. Blaize is a little young yet or Grandma is a little too old to be chasing him in the water at Schlitterban.