where did December go??!!

i can't believe Christmas is already over!  December certainly was a busy month - as usual.  all the shopping and baking and wrapping and traffic and work and play and visiting friends!  neil and i got the perfect tree for our first official Christmas.  as is tradition (since i was a tot), i made Bubbly Christmas Punch when we decorated the tree.  it's not officially Christmas until that first glass of punch!  neil hasn't been home very much so we didn't really get to enjoy the tree much together but the kitties have loved it!  they like to sit under it and Raja really loves playing with the ornaments he can reach.  luckily they've never tried to climb it!  we watched most of the must-see holiday movies:  Charlie Brown, Miracle on 34th Street (the original, of course!), Rudolph, the Grinch and the pinnacle - Christmas Vacation!  i suppose i'll begin the task of taking it down this weekend.  it's always a little sad to pack everything back up and say goodbye to the punch and Rudolph for another year.  neil and i were apparently very good this year; we got loads of great stuff!  my parents gave us the Wii and Wii Fit, neil's parents gave us some crispy cash and holly loaded us up with some of the stuff from my Crate and Barrel registry.  we love it all!  we spent Christmas in Eufaula of course.  we went back and forth from holly's to neil's parents.  it sure is nice that they are still in the same town.  it makes things a bit easier for us plus we get to see everybody!  we went to Winder on saturday and spent the day with the Wacky Wilchers .  this was the first time neil was around all of those fools; it could be his last!  i think they made quite and impression on him - haha!  we laughed til we cried with that bunch.  neil and i came home saturday night; neil had not been home in 2.5 weeks!  it was nice to finally be at home together.  

in case you haven't heard, hannah got a spunky new puppy for Christmas.  and my goodness, he sure is cute and sweet.  he's a Border Collie and i think they named him Payton - i can't quite figure what they're doing on the name thing.  i'm not so sure they know!  dad took a shine to him; they became buddies pretty quick.  their kitty, Daisy, is not so happy.  hopefully Daisy will work thru her issues and not scratch up the puppy too bad.  we shall see!

We are so fortunate to have wonderful, loving families and true, lifelong friends.  all of whom we hope to see more of in 2009.

Love and Peace to everyone!  

busy days

i hope everyone's Thanksgiving was grand!  we had a wonderful, yet busy, holiday.  i started out Wednesday night at my cousin's house.  her sister, mom, and the Canadian in-laws were in town and i just had to see everyone!  i do love those Canadians!  i missed seeing the new baby (she wasn't feeling so spiffy) but i enjoyed the evening chatting with them.  they are sooo nice and fun.  sure wished they lived closer!  

thursday morning, i packed up and headed to Eufaula.  i met neil at his parent's house and we had a nice, slow day that led to a big, fat dinner.  neil and i went out to the Wildlife Refuge - one of the many places we would go when we were dating in high school.  it's always a hoot being in eufaula with neil.  we have so much history there 

and it always brings back some incredible memories.  

friday we both packed up and headed further south to Seacrest Beach, FL.  my sister and husband are now part owners in a beach house and this was our first visit.  my parent's were there too.  we rode bikes and scooters - trying to dodge the rain.  then had yet another feast.  saturday was pretty icky with rain again but the g

als managed to get a tad of shopping in.  the cutest shops are down there!  we watched some football (BOTH of my teams lost - very sad) then all went out for movie night.  mom and dad saw the new 007 - which they said was great.  holly, eddy, hannah, neil and i saw Bolt.  LOVED it!!  Disney and Pixar:  a beautiful duo! the best part of the evening was when Eddy - a huge Alabama fan (who had just beaten Auburn for the first time in 6 years  - badly) decided he should yell (well, almost) ROLL TIDE just as the movie was getting started.  note to self: never go see a movie with Eddy after a day of Alabama winning and drinking Screwdrivers.   

on our way home sunday, neil and stopped at his job-site and i got to see the waterfall in progress.  it's come a LONG way since i saw it last.  it's going to be amazing!  i just don't get how he has the vision for that stuff.  it's quite jaw-dropping.  i had to leave him in eufaula as i had to come back to atlanta and he back down t

o florida for his job.  have i mentioned how much i'm ready for him to come home??!!  

now, it's a new month and what a busy one it's going to be!  only 22 shopping days left before Santa arrives!  

*i'm thankful for:

  Tonia, Greg and Morgan:   i met tonia soon after i moved to myrtle beach way back in 1995.  (wow - i just realized how long ago that was!)  we worked together at a resort and at the Crab House - GOOD TIMES!  something about her just made me love her quickly.  she's a very honest person - she's just as sweet as she can be but she doesn't sugar-coat anything.  one of my favorite things about her is that she's not timid about calling people out and confronting them if they're being stupid and ridiculous.  ahhh - i love to hear her stories!!  but she's also gorgeous, fun, easy to talk to, thoughtful, respectful, smart as hell.  and of course, her husband Greg - he's just as awesome.  he's the true southern gentleman, a person everyone is at ease around, laid back (partly due to all the Jimmy Buffett concerts he's been to!); everybody loves Squeeky!! and then came Miss Morgan.  good grief - what a beautiful child!!  i remember the day tonia called to tell me she was pregnant.  i was in my office at work and she called during the middle of the day - which she never does - and i knew something major was up!  i remember trying not to scream - as i would've disrupted the whole accounting department!  Morgan is so funny; she started separating her peas and carrots very early like every little accountant-to-be should (tonia is also an accountant).  i don't get to see them but once a year if i'm lucky and i hope they know how much i miss them and love them!!

it's almost friday!

and that means it's almost Twilight time!  the much-anticipated movie, Twilight, comes out tomorrow and i'll be joining a crew of gals going to see it.  LOVED the book(s) and can't wait to see it come to life!

it's been a busy week as usual.  worked til about 11pm monday night, concert Tuesday night (Kings of Leon!!!!), took wednesday off to get new social security card, notary and business license for neil's company, back to work today, and happy the weekend is almost here.

not much to report really.  neil's still in florida - and i'm VERY ready for that job to be finished.  it was supposed to be 4 months but now it looks like it'll be 6 and i'm really ready for him to come home.  he was barely here two months after we were married so i'm anxious to have him back home.

i'm thankful for:

*my aunt anna:  a single gal who loves to laugh!  she's heavy in my thoughts today as i've just been informed that she's sick - and has been sick for about a week and half.  currently there is only speculation as to her diagnosis and i'm channeling all of the positive energy and thoughts i have in her direction.  she's awesome and i love her like crazy.  she's so much fun to be around; she's like one of the girls.  a southern girl loaded with spark, spirit and faith - all of which will get her through whatever this illness turns out to be. 

where did the week go?

geez, i can't believe it's been a week since my last post!  it's been a busy week...

monday:  hate 'em.  the weekend went by WAY too fast.  i didn't feel so spiffy monday - didn't have a fever but felt like i did all day.  when i got home from work, i could only gather up enough energy to set-up my Playstation 3 and watched about 30 minutes of the first Pirates of the Caribbean.  oh my gosh - it's gorgeous!  neil - who was out in kansas hunting - killed a deer! on his first day!!  so he was trying to decide when he would come home; he was supposed to be out there until saturday.  he hasn't been hunting in 2 years so he was excited to be out there.

tuesday:  neil decided to come on home so i picked him up from the airport about 8pm.  we went directly to Taqueria del Sol  - one of our favorite places to eat.  one of the their specials this week was Shrimp & Grits - the best EVER!  since i still wasn't feeling so spiffy, i chugged some nyquil and decided to sleep in and go in to work a little late.  

wednesday:  after the nyquil and some sleep, i felt much better.  had my salon appointment at 6pm then headed home to pick neil up - back to Taqueria for more shrimp and grits!!  after dinner, we went to best buy and looked at surround systems.  i want one but it'll probably have to wait.  after getting the skinny from the pro, it'll prolly cost about $1500.00 to do what i want.  oh well!  

thursday:  neil thought he might head back to florida today but the weather wasn't going to be ideal so he decided to stay home; plus he just misses me!  we went to pick up his truck from his mechanic and chatted with him for quite a while.  cool, nice guy; from argentina - neat accent and quite funny.  when we got home, we played Monopoly on the PS3 - very fun!  however, we lost about 2.5 hours of our lives!

friday:  TGIF!  this week at work has been incredibly aggravating.  i won't go into details cuz my blood pressure will probably rise if i do!  let's just say, i'm ready for the week to be over.  neil was still here so he had lunch with all of us from work.  for dinner we went to Maggiano's and spent some time at Borders.  we LOVE the bookstores!  

saturday: neil left this morning about 5am.  :(  i had much to do around the apartment; my to-do list is out of control.  so i did not leave the apartment all day.  watched the GA/AU game; don't really have much to say about it!  it's rare that i get a weekend with nothing planned so it's been great.  and i really get to see what my cats do all day.  i've determined that should reincarnation be true, i want to come back as a house cat.  they have the best lives!!  i could provide a video, but i feel that the still picture captures everything!

i'm thankful for:

*amy, wade and morgan:  Tigger, Pooh and Piglet!  i met amy and wade thru my ex-bf, michael.  he and amy were the best of friends.  well, i just loved 'em! and the best part - i got them in the break-up - HAHA!!  two of THE nicest people - individually and as a couple.  amy has an infectious laugh; she just has a glow about her.  wade is such calm and gentle soul.  they are both funny, rational, fun-loving, easy-going, and make parent-hood look like a breeze.  morgan - their daughter - what a little lady.  she's such sweet little thing - and smart, quiet, polite, and oh so pretty!  

happy birthday

OY - today is my 37th birthday!  dad called today and cracked me up saying "it sure was COLD in that hospital nearly 40 years ago!"  then he just giggled and giggled!  he's just so naughty.

i've had a great b-day weekend just not nearly enough time with my husband.  saturday i drove up to basically athens to attend debbie's daughters wedding.  a beautiful wedding and fabulous party.  neil did not make it to the wedding or the reception because of work but did drive up as i was staying with debbie.  got up today and ran a few errands with neil then had to take him to the airport at 2pm; he left to go hunting for the week.  had yet another great meal with melissa, michael and greg.  i've basically done nothing but eat the entire weekend.  back to water and salads tomorrow!  neil got me loads of goodies for my b-day:   Playstation 3 (WOOHOO!), a couple of video games, and the HD box set of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.  i'm quite excited and can't wait to get it all hooked up!  i've heard from loads of loved one's today extending birthday wishes including two voicemails of singing - one from my father-in-law (a nice calm rendition of Happy Birthday to you) and one from Rebekka and her kids (TOOO adorable!)  i'm glad i have these in voicemail so that i can listen to them again!

other birthday goodies:  a target gift card, a vera bradley cosmetic bag, a beautiful hand-painted pottery plate, an awesome-smelling hand-made candle, some cold hard cash and loads of cards. i racked up!

*i'm thankful for:

  michael:  the wing-slinger.  michael and i met when were were sophomores at Auburn and immediately had that "hey, you're a fool!"  "hey, you're a fool too"  "maybe we should be best friends!" connection.  we had some great times at auburn - both were on the University Program Council and both worked at The Strutting Duck II where every monday night after the council meeting it would be wing-night at the Duck and we slung those wings, honey!  boy what a mess that place was after we closed.  good times.  when i moved to atlanta he was already here and we picked up right where we left off; great friends.  as he says - which is true - my life would be a lot less colorful without him.  we have laughed, laughed til we cried, laughed til we had drinks coming out of our noses.  it's a beautiful relationship!  

 melissa:  sweet melissa - the crab hunter:  i met melissa thru michael - they are neighbors.  she manages a musician so we hit it off pretty easily and have attended many a concert together.  she's just a pleasure to be around.  so easy to talk with and really funny.  we call her sweet melissa - which is fitting - she's one of the nicest, most considerate people i know.  she's become a great friend in the few years that i've known her.  if you run into her, ask her to sing you the "crab huntin'" song - it's quite something!  

georgia's birthday gift

in georgia, license plate tags expire on your birthday, so each year you have to pay ad valorem taxes, get an emissions test, and renew your license plate.  it's always fun writing a large check to the state for your birthday.  my b-day is sunday so i began my friday at the tag office.  luckily there was no wait!  i'm now a legitimate resident of Fulton County.

when i got to work, two of the girls who work for me had a birthday card waiting with a Starbucks gift card in it.  they know me well!!  then we all went to lunch at Twist - my favorite place for sushi - had a great lunch then chocolate fondu for dessert.  YUM!  then, as tradition, when we all got back in the elevator at work they sang (more like yelled) happy birthday to me.  always a hoot!

for dinner, i was lucky enough to get rebekka and tracey ALONE! no children, no husband's - a very rare occasion indeed.  we had a great dinner and the best part was just having my two oldest friends there able to chat.  i guess i really don't get a whole lot of girl-time anymore so this was truly a treat.  a wonderful wonderful birthday gift!  thanks so much girls!!!  here's a picture of us from a few years ago....

*today i'm thankful for:

  debbie:  we share a soul!  this woman is one of the most fun people to be around.  she is actually a co-worker but we quickly became the best of friends.  she's a blond - boy is she really blond sometimes!  we have SO much fun and get SO many laughs at her expense and she's the type that just laughs right along with you - at herself - because she knows "she's so pretty" (as i pat her head).  the two of us: could sit on a beach for days and be perfectly content, love mojito's, are addicted to the Twilight books, enjoy complaining about Behringer Harvard (a work thing), love our men in Lucky jeans, and want everyone around us happy.  i love my Deb Deb!  here's a pic of her and her husband, Chris, who i also adore.  he's a brave man - marrying debbie - but boy are they meant for each other!  

good news

Rey didn't go to Mexico!!  turns out, he had taken his wife to the hospital because she was so distraught with grief - she couldn't stop crying and stopped eating.  i think she finally got some sleep with the help of some sleeping pills but if she's awake she's hysterically crying.  Rey went back to Florida today so Neil's in bit of a better position now.  so, hopefully he's back on track.

today i'm thankful for:

  *rebekka:  my oldest friend - i've known her since 1st grade!  nuts huh?  we've lived in 4 cities together and i just love that she, tracey and i are all in atlanta.  it's so wonderful having them so close.  rebekka married her high school sweetheart (much earlier than i married mine!) and has two adorable children - jake and kathryn.  she makes being a working mother and wife look so easy.  you rarely see her without a smile!  and her kids are happy too; they're just a happy family.  it still makes me laugh to see her so serious sometimes on the news (she's a reporter for CBS); i've seen this person grow up and she's a goofball!  as with tracey, my life is so much different from theirs and i don't get to see them as much as i'd like but just knowing t

hat they are 20 minutes away keeps me at peace.

thankful

i had intended on starting my blog on Nov. 1 - but i had a really busy day saturday!  anyway, my plan was to start on 11/1 - and since this is Thanksgiving month - end each blog with something i'm thankful for.  so, i'll catch up now!

11/1 my husband:  what luck i have!  neil is so wonderful - he's my best friend, he loves my family - even though he knows them really well (HAHA!), and he just loves me like the fairy tale.  it's weird; a few years ago i was happily on the singles road.  i never thought i'd meet "the one".  turns out, i had already met him - when i was 13 years old.  it just took another 20 years to realize it.  he is perfect - for me - and i'm looking forward to our life together.  

11/2 my hannah:  my one and only (blood-related) niece.  i don't know what in the world my family did before she came along.  i truly have a hard time remembering what our lives were like before she was born.   she'll be 8 in january!!!  how did that happen?! she's a hoot - funny and smart - and just a tad bit sassy.    ;)  

11/3 my sister: thank goodness there's only one because boy is she a handful!  neil just affectionately calls her "baggage".  mom has a few sayings about holly:  1) she could charm a snake and 2) she's like a butterfly.  for those of you who know her, you'll understand!  she'll do anything for ya - if she likes you!   she claims to be responsible for neil and me getting back together but i think that we may have had something to do with it! i think about hannah not having a brother or sister and it makes me sad.  i just don't know what i would've done without holly growing up or what my life would be like now.  i hope she'll start taking better care of herself; i'm not sure she realizes how much she's adored by so many people.

11/4 my parents:  they're so cute!   now that i'm happily married to my neil, i think a lot about what mom and dad's life was like when they first got together and got married.  i see 

them like i see neil and me.  just - happy.  laughing  a lot.  Freud would love this - but i guess i see neil like my dad - level-headed, easy-going, hard-working with a sound moral center.  and me like mom - goofy, great sense of humor, also hard- working, and the one with the crazy family!  i think about them everyday and pray for their health and happiness.

11/5 tracey: bff since 4th grade!  tracey was diagnosed with breast cancer late last year, had surgery this february and started chemo.  she's now done, has had the reconstructive surgery, the hair is growing back - she's a survivor!  she handled this cancer with such amazing calm, grace, and strength.  she went through a divorce and has a 4 year-old daughter.  there are no words for my respect and admiration of her.   she is also the smartest yet funniest chick i know!  

self-employed

neil has been working since mid-june on a HUGE waterfall near Panama City, FL.  we have one employee - from Mexico - Rey.  his wife just recently joined him in atlanta - after about 5 years of living apart since rey moved here.  about 1am tuesday rey got a call that his wife's brother had been murdered in Mexico so he left florida and returned to atlanta - to an inconsolable wife who was intent on going to mexico.  not easy and not cheap.  neil tried to explain the difficulties of going to mexico and trying to come back so rey said he would just go back to florida today and bring his wife.  neil hasn't heard from him since yesterday afternoon.  neil feels confident rey took his wife to mexico.  which, of course, puts him in quite a pickle with this job that he's a month behind on and needs to crunch to get it done.  neil's now scrambling to find someone to help him finish; he's not so sure he'll be hearing from rey for a while - if he ever does.  our thoughts are certainly with rey's wife.  what a horrible thing to go through.  

who's it gonna be??

it's election day!  finally; i'm so sick of the coverage!  i did my duty today and voted.  as normal, i began my day by assaulting my snooze bar (how it's still with me, i have no idea).  after i became cognizant i thought, well, might as well get up, grab a ball cap and hit the polling station.  got in line at 7:14 am and walked out at 9:06 am.  not bad actually.  i took my book - that i'm addicted to - and the time went quickly.  other than that, it was a non-eventful day.  i did, however, spend an hour and a half trying to pick out a tie for neil (we're attending a wedding on saturday).  good grief - what a task!  i'm so glad he's allowed to dress casually for work ;)  

enjoy the election coverage, which you will not be able to escape, and say a prayer for our blessed nation!  GO RED!!

Keeping in touch....

so, we're all super busy with our own lives and i know i'm not the best at keeping in touch with folks (at least not as much as i'd like). and since i'm not a huge user of the phone, i thought i'd get in on the blog world! what a great way to let loads of peeps know what's going on in our lives all at once! (i'm a fan of multi-tasking!) hopefully i can keep this updated; my cats keep me awfully busy!