Happy New Year!

Hello!  I know it has been over six months since my last post but things have been crazy busy.  My son, Zach, went to prom, turned 18, graduated from high school, we went on our first cruise ever, and Zach started college.  What a year!  So much going on and so many changes.  I hate that I have not been blogging all these events but I have barely been able to keep up.  I am hoping that in 2011 I can be more organized, get more exercise, and live healthier.  Now that was not a resolution becaue those things never work for me but it is a promise to myself to try to do better. 

I began 2011 celebrating with my very best friends, including my husband, my mother, and my niece, Kelsey.  The Cheuvront's hosted our New Year Bash (LOL!) at their home.  We watched football, played cards, and had a lot of laughs.  Life is great when you are sharing it with such good friends.  I have to say that I am very blessed to have such a wonderful family and great friends. Below I have posted a group picture taken at the party.  I am blessed to be a part of this group. 

I am hopefully going to continue posting to this blog and sharing the events of my life with those that care to read.  Stay tuned for more Means Mania!

Happy Father's Day!

Just wanted to take this time to say Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful fathers out there that are there for their children.  There is nothing like parenthood but I do have to say that it is one of the hardest things I have ever done and often feel inadequate at it.  My husband is a wonderful father.  He loves our son and would do anything for him.  He wants him to have better than what we have had.  He has probably changed as many diapers as I have and give him as many baths as I have.  He has coached baseball, football, and even soccer even though he had never played soccer himself.  He has become so much more since becoming a father.  My one regret is that we didn't also have a daughter for him to love as well.  He loves my nieces as if they were his own and I dare any boy to hurt one of them.  They better watch out because Uncle Steve will be after them at least as fast as their own fathers. 

I have to say that Father's Day makes me very sad.  I miss my own father terribly.  My Daddy was my hero and I miss him so much.  I would love to see him one more time.  Give him a hug and hear him call me Doll.  I wish he could see the wonderful man that his grandson, Zach, has become, see how beautiful his granddaughters are, see the grandson that was named after him and to see the two grandchildren that he has never seen.  I would love to share a meal with him and fix him a white cake with carmel icing.  I hope that he can see us from where he is and that he is proud of his family and how we have managed since his left us.  I hope to see him again one day in heaven. 

It is really hard for me to understand those dad's that don't want to be with their kids or how they can chose to be with one over the others.  Those Dad's don't know what they are missing out on. 

Home Sweet Home!

Times are a changin'.  First of all, I am now getting to work at home three days a week and I absolutely love it.  Since 1983 I have work outside of Winchester at various locations which include Richmond, Lexington, and Standford, Kentucky.  However, all my hard work has finally paid off.  I am now working as a paralegal analyst for the federal government and most importantly is the benefit of getting to work at home three days a week.  We bought our home 13 years ago and I have never felt I got to spend all the time I want there.  However, now I finally do get to stay home.  I only have to travel to Lexington two days a week now.  I love being in my home.  It is were I am most comfortable. 

The next change that will be coming up soon is that my son will soon be 18 years old and a high school graduate.  In the fall, he will be leaving to go to college at UK.  I am both scared and excited for this change.  I want to hang on to him and never let him go but realize I cannot do that.  It is time for him to leave the nest and I believe I will be okay with this as long as he comes back from time to time (hopefully more than less).  At least that is what I keep telling myself.  I am excited however to get to know my husband all over again and begin enjoying activities that we have missed out on because we have been so involved in Zach's life.  In addition, I would like to take some classes.  Now don't get excited.  I am not going off to college myself.  Those of you that know me well know that I have never wanted that and still don't but I would like to do some fun things such as a photography class, cooking class, or computer class and maybe even a scrapebooking class.  Or maybe I could just get my home organized.  There are lots of possibilities and I look forward to exploring them. 

Eventful Day!

Well, there is lots going on today.  First of all I would like to wish my beautiful niece, Kolbi, a Happy Birthday!  I hope she has a wonderful day.  She was suppose to play in a varsity softball game tonight that I know she was looking forward to but it was cancelled due to rain.  I hope she was able to make other plans that were equally fun for her. 

Also, I started my day today by taking Zach to school and dropping him off to go on his Senior trip to New York for the week.  I believe he was excited.  I am excited for him too.  However, I about had a heart attack earlier today when in called and said, "MOM!  I JUST ABOUT GOT BLOWN UP!!!!"  Well, what comes to your mind when you think of New York and blowing things up?  Yes, that is right.....911.  Then he proceeds to tell me that they were at a gas station getting gas for the bus when a lady that was pumping gas drove off with the nozzle still in her gas tank.  He said that gas started spuing everywhere.  Fortunately, they were able to shut the tanks down.  He wasn't sure what happened after that because they had to load the bus and leave.  I hope he doesn't call back with any news like that again.  I am glad they are all okay and continuing on to their destination.  Watch for more interesting stories about Zach's Senior Trip.

I have also been very concerned today for my niece, Kelsey.  She is having some serious medical issues.  They began over a year ago and she has been treated for several different illnesses but so far nothing has helped.  Now, her doctors don't seem to agree with each other on a diagnosis.  I feel very sorry for her as she has been away at college and for most of this past year, many have not taken her complaints seriously.  However, now there is medical evidence that something is definately wrong but they are not sure what.  She is scheduled for more testing later this week.  I am hoping we will get some answers then. 

Daylight Savings Time

After checking Facebook, I hope I don't get beat up or booed for writing this post; however, I LOVE the new time.  Yes, it was hard for me to get up this morning and I do miss that hour that I lost but I love that it stays light later in the evening.  I love having more daylight hours to enjoy.  I know lots of people do not like this time and would perfer to stay on the old time but I wish if we had to chose one to stay on it would be this one.  I hate getting home late and it already being dark out.  I like getting home, being about to cook out on the grill and then still having some daylight left to enjoy. 

This week, Steve is at Spring Football Practice and will be every night for the next three week.  The new time makes it easier for them to practice because it stays light longer.  I am sure they wish it would get a little warmer, as I wish that too.  But, with him gone, I have time to get extra things done.  I hope to weed the flower bed if it gets a little warmer and also start going to the tanning bed.  I want to at least have a slight tan before we go on our Spring Break trip to Pigeon Forge and I want to break out my capris!  Lots to be done in the next three weeks.  I am so excited for this upcoming spring and summer.  I love the warm weather and will appreciate it so much more after such an awful winter. 

I know I am just rambling today.  I finally feel better and my coughing is at a minumum.  I also think I forgot to complete my cookie post by telling you my favorite cookie of all time is OREO.  Love em! 

Icky, Sicky, Vickie

Sniff, sniff, cough,cough,cough, gasp, cough, sniff, sniff, honk, honk, sigh.  That has been the sound effects I have presented with this week.  It started out as just a little sore throat.  So I rushed and got my Zicam.  I took it religiously every three hours just like the bottle said.  However, it developed into a real sore throat.  But still as I went to the doctor to get my monthly B-12 shot, I asked if they could call me something in because I had serious congestion by that time with the sore throad.  The nurse said no problem.  I was thankful as my normal doctor has recently had surgery and will not be in his office for two to three weeks.  I go to the drug store to pick up the prescription and I see that it is only a mild antibiotic.  Normally, mild doesn't work for me but I am thinking that I have caught it early and it will be okay.  At first, I did feel better; however, I was losing my voice which my husband and son thought was quite funny.  Not so funny for me when I had to repeat everything two and three times.  Hey, I am gasping for air here, don't make me repeat myself.  I decided it could be the antihistamine that was causing the tightness, so I stopped taking the Allegra D and started the Musinex DM.  Well, that is some good stuff.  It works EXACTLY like the commercial says.  I have washed several of those little green men down my sink every morning since.  There must be an army of them inside me because I can't seem to get rid of them all and it sure isn't any fun trying.  (I'm sorry, I am sure that was more information that you needed to know.)  Today, I finally decide the Kefalexin is not going to cure me and call the office back.  I had several choices:  1) they will call in another antibiotic (this time they checked my chart and saw what I had the last time I had a sinus infection) 2) I could see another doctor that was seeing patients for my current doctor or 3) I could go to the immediate care center.  I chose the easiest route of having another prescription called in which may not have been the smartest route but I am hoping for the best.  I will start the Cipro tonight after dinner and I am hoping to have a miraculous recovery overnight or at least sometime soon.  Wish me luck!

They're Here!

They are finally here.  My Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies!  They started teasing me in early January.  Asking me if I wanted to order them and then they take forever to get here.  I have been longing for them each and every day since last year at this time.  They are my secret obsession.  (Well, maybe not too secret.)  Anyone that knows me very well, knows that I have an obsession for cookies and Girl Scout Thin Mint is my second favorite cookie of all time. 
Tonight it will just be me and my cookies home all alone.  My husband and son are having a guys night out so I plan to cuddle up with my Thin Mints and savor each and every morsel.  I may have a chocolate/mint hangover tomorrow but I will enjoy tonight.

Does anyone know what my most favorite cookie is? Watch for the reveal in my next post.