Hard to remember

Today at 11:34 am, I was wondering if it was appropriate to have a cocktail.

A vodka tonic with my lunch. Then, I looked at my watch, remembered I was indeed responsible for a 2 year old, and that the 2 hour doctor appointment with a toddler wasn't really all that bad.

The kiddo has this bump. This red hard bump on her eyelid...right at her eyelash line. It has been there for months...a trip to her pediatrician led us to a pediatric eye doctor.

There are only 3 in the entire area. I had made the appointment months ago. And, naturally, the bump was in it's small stage this morning. You know...when the doctor was supposed to see it.

Her appointment was at Texas Children's Clinic here at the local hospital. We walked in...the waiting room was almost to capacity. Not really with sick children...just mostly special needs, handicapped, mentally illness, serious vision problems, and developmental delays.

I felt so stupid. Here I was sitting in a waiting room full of truly ill children. All because my kid had a bump on her eye.

The appointment took 2 hours. Eye exam, nurse exam, waiting...

Just sitting there for 3 minutes reminded me of how incredibly lucky I am. Really, how incredibly lucky we all are. Even if you think you have problems...there is someone that is dealing with unimaginable issues with their children or family members.

Wheelchairs, feeding tubes, completely unable to communicate....serious things.

"Out of sight out of mind" really applies here. We all get disappointed, frustrated, angry, and irritated with our personal and family situations sometimes....no person's life is perfect.

Trying to keep things in perspective is what it is always about. Makes living life.

Not meant to be a sad post...because those children are here for a certain reason.

Hope we all keep things in perspective and are thankful for our health...for our children...and for our blessings.

No matter how big or small.

Here comes....

"Here comes Peter Cotton Tail....hoppin' down the bunny trail...."

I love to sing....it sounds so beautiful. So beautiful that my kid says "SHHHH Mommy."

As we were leaving today...we saw these two bunnies in the back yard. Eating my dead and frozen plants. Aren't they just cute little huge rats? Do you see the other rat...I mean bunny?

Really....look at them...rodents.
It is a rat with huge ears. And a white fluffy tail.

But, a cute rat. :)

Pretty sure they were the Easter Bunny's watchers...looking for the perfect place to hide eggs.

I LOVE EASTER.

Reeses Peanut Butter Cup....anyone?

Back to Basics

Being disappointed really bites the big one. Really.

Shorty spent over 24 hours jacking around with raw meat, meat fat, marinades, rubs, charcoal, trailer hitches, wood, rain, thermometers, knives, cut and bloody fingers, and I could go on.

As Saturday afternoon rolled around...we were excited to taste his food. I mean for real folks....all that time and effort should produce world champion awards in my opinion.

As the first slab of meat came off the grill....it was placed in a holding area....no one could touch it or look at it....it was time for it to rest.

When the time arrived for slicing and tasting, it seemed perfect...it looked perfect and sliced perfect...but it didn't taste perfect. It was salty. Way too salty. Like corned beef salty.

The second and third ones came off....perfect taste...but not cooked perfect.

Shorty then realized that it takes years of "rednecking" to become a master of those huge smokers.

Shorty owns a "Big Green Egg." It is known as "The World's Best Smoker and Grill"

I have eaten brisket, ribs, chicken, pork, steaks...you name it...all off that pit and it IS so gosh darn good.

So, Shorty has decided he is taking his "Big Green Egg" to the cookoff.

We will be at a cookoff....surrounded by rednecks and cookers as big as our house...and Shorty will be relaxing in his chair cookin' on his Egg.

Can you picture this? Really? Cause I can't. ;)

So, lesson for the day....if you are really good at something....keep it that way. If you try something new....and it doesn't work...try try again....OR just do what you do best.

Guess I am basically saying...give up real quick....it's not worth the effort if you are already good at something else.

I doubt I will be getting any motivational speaker jobs anytime soon.

Go Shorty go. :)

Bar - be - que

Wait a second. I didn't marry a BBQ cookin' redneck. I married a preppy golfer boy who lives in khakis and polos.

Seems as if Shorty has found a new interest. Seems as if Shorty is going to enter a BBQ cook off here in the great state of Texas.

The contest is in February. Shorty is practicing this weekend.

And I get to be the judge. You know....since I am such a BBQ connoisseur.
So here he is...inspecting the metal contraption that will indeed consume his entire weekend and most of this evening.

This metal contraption will also produce some fine tasting BBQ chow.

Brisket, ribs, and chicken. All on the menu.

Think I may have to wear my cowboy hat tonight. Straw or felt? Hmmm....decisions decisions.

Stay tuned to hear stories of Shorty's adventures in practice this weekend.

Mmm Mmmm good.

I have a problem

One of the first steps of recovery is admitting that you have a problem.

As I sit here typing...I am wearing a black tshirt.

It is the 2nd one I have worn today. The first one was dirtied while I was bathing my black dog.

Today...I had a couple of hours to myself. So, I decided to spend it running errands and browsing around town.

I bought 3 shirts.

Two of them are black.

One was $6.00 and the other was $14.95. Not like I spent a lot of money...but, why do I need black shirts? I am so drawn to them....

I love black.

It must be because of its magical slimming abilities. It hides pesky back fat....they go perfect with jeans, and I love that rebel look.

Last time I did laundry...my pile of clothing was entirely black.

May never change.

But, I did by a pink t shirt to go along with the black one.

So, not that boring.

Ok...so maybe I am that boring.

Oh well.

Just a little crazy

Why?

Why am I so overprotective? I am so overprotective of my child...that I even annoy myself.

Poor kid busted her lip yesterday at school. Thank the Lord I wasn't there....or, I would have passed out. You can see her lip in the picture...not that bad...but still sad.

Would have passed out simply because she fell on her mouth. Everyone has something that makes them a little crazy....and hurting one's teeth does it for me. My heart skips 4 beats.

Today...we were eating a gourmet lunch at the old Chick fil a.

After much convincing and bribery to indeed finish a reasonable amount of lunch....I agreed to let my kid go in the indoor playground.

It has solid glass windows...so I get to enjoy experiencing blood pressure in the hypertension category from the comfort of my dining chair.

A little boy....with a tshirt on that said "Trouble" kept climbing on places he shouldn't climb...and acting like he was going to pounce on my child.

I went in. My maternal instincts kicked in and I told him "get down from there. you are not supposed to be standing up there and you are going to hurt someone. Now get DOWN."

He just looked at me....and taunted me. What a brat.

So, I gathered my kid and made her leave.

I am always the parent on the sidelines cringing...waiting for someone to get hurt....watching her every move....

All while other parents just sit there. Relaxed.

I just can't. Not in my nature I guess.

So, if you need a lesson in over protection...I am available.

Yeah right...I need a lesson in relaxation.

WATCH OUT! BE CAREFUL! DON'T DO THAT!

HOLD ON TIGHT!

Overnight

Have you ever experienced an overnight change? Like, you wake up one morning and you have magically gained 5 pounds....your skin looks like that of a 15 year old with raging hormones...and that your hair has all of the sudden turned gray. Overnight.

I experienced 2 of those overnight changes this morning. I know the few pounds I gained just happened magically. Nothing to do with the fact that I have been eating like a pig at the trough.

We were running a little behind this morning...my 2 year old has decided it is fun to take 30 minutes to eat 4 bites of cereal.

I was short on time...so instead of curling my luscious locks....threw my hair into the World's thinnest ponytail.

I looked a little closer...the entire right side of my temple is gray.

What?

So, I wake up with a few extra pounds and gray hair.

Good morning sunshine!