Happy Birthday Jed

Tomorrow is my husband's fifty seventh birthday.

Our oldest will be thirty three in two months.

Our younger son will be twenty seven this July.

Our youngest turns twenty four this August.

 We have literally grown, and gone, from here...

to here.

It has been quite the adventure since first meeting Tim back in 1988.

He literally asked me if I'd marry him after we had been dating for less than a month.

Instead I moved in, and we lived in sin for two years before marrying in 1990.

First we lived here.

Then we lived here.

Then life, as we had known it for well over two decades screeched to a halt.

And almost ten years later we ended up renting here for two years.

Here's the thing ...

We both lost faith in our selves, our marriage and in each other... for a minute, during the storm.

I think simply walking away crossed both of our minds, more than once.

My Momma didn't raise no quitter.

And Tim stepped up....even though it meant he had to do it a thousand miles away from home.

I met him at the airport one afternoon, on my lunch break, and saw him off on a plane for Lubbock Texas.

 He was gone almost two years.

When I look at this picture, I can see the pain in his eyes. Sometimes it brings tears to my own.

I know it was hard on him, feeling like a failure, after losing his job.

It didn't help that I lost my own shortly after.

It was a Self Pity Party Battle Royale I was determined to win.

I have a very bossy way about me.

Luckily I married the Job of Jeds.

#BibleMeetsTheClampetts

Our house was almost next to go.

Then we both took off our skirts and got in the game.

And now we live here...

So Happiest of Birthdays to my husband and friend of over thirty one years.

He actually came by his nickname of Jed because he is a man of few words, notorious for slowly shaking his head from side to side when I say something ridiculous (which is frequently) and sometimes mutters "Pitiful...just pitiful."

I've always loved you, but it's nice to be in love with you again.

You asked me to this dance of life.

Let's be the old couple behind us some day.

Happy Birthday, Partner!

And quit looking so happy with my sister. 

I'd hate for us all to end up on Springer!

It truly takes a village, and we were always fortunate enough to have one.

Here's to at least thirty more years or so.

This new 'Hello' has been awesome.

Thank You.

As I type, Timbo is snoozing away in a motel in Virginia, where he will be working all week. So his birthday and our Valentines Day will be spent apart.

We are still two of the luckiest people on this earth...

and both know it.

#Gratefulforeverybreath

Til next time...COTTON

Oh Ziggy

Oh Ziggy...

My Lil' black and white, Houdini.

You were always the problem child but had personality and a smile that could make anyone's day. You chewed up four remote controls your first month with us, followed by knocking down our twelve foot Christmas Tree on Christmas Eve and chewing up the lights.

You could jump a five foot fence like it was a baby gate and often did.

We thought maybe a peep hole would keep you satisfied, it did the other two dogs.



Then there's the time we found you in this picture posted on Facebook after searching the woods for over four hours,

 after you jumped the back fence. The nurses at the elementary school half a mile away had you with them in the school office. You were always seemingly trying to escape a concentration camp...when in fact you lived a phat life in an over half an acre fenced in perfectly great yard with plenty of food, water and even a house where you were encouraged  rather than merely allowed, up on all beds and couches.

Once we had you neutered, your wanderlust faded. Guess those really were 'bouncy balls' you had.

You haven't tried once to jump the fence in our tiny yard in Orlando which is not even four feet high.

 You've been to the beach and were real intrigued by God's huge water bowl.

Sure didn't do much for your thirst though.






All our dogs have been and are, good dogs. They all have different stories and are as varied as my own three human children.

We still miss Ole Charlie, Sir Charles, Chally Boy, Chally Too Fat, Scar Face and about ten other nick names. In hindsight, fourteen years is an excellent run and his life should be remembered as a celebration of that.

Ham's number's up next, he'll be fourteen this year, but when it happens will also be thought of as a celebration of a good, long life.

-

The reason we invested all this money in Ziggy's surgery is that he only recently turned six, still feels and  acts like a puppy and should  be around for quite a few years. to come.


It hasn't been his favorite thing to ever happen to him.

This was over a week after surgery. Two more scars on the other side.

He adapted well (considering) and after a shaky couple of days, rebounded. Everything is healed but about one inch part in the middle of that hugest scar. The one spot he could reach turned into a lick fest every time we weren't watching him. The hard plastic cone was like coming at him dressed in a "Dog Catcher" uniform holding that pole with the wire noose on one end. The city of Orlando where we live didn't have one size large blow up 'no bite' collar so went with the cheapest next, which was a size medium for twenty bucks.

Ziggy is about as medium sized as I am.

Anyway, it worked great for a few days until he finally figured out exactly where he had to get that collar clasp around his neck to be , so he could still lick that one inch  wound with that white Cool Whip (freakin' antibiotic creme) he just couldn't get enough of, he'd even lick it off the dog bed. Problem is, it made him sick.


Idiot.


I was supposed to take him back for a wound recheck the other day but  has healed so well (thanks to the small cone) knew the Vet would just say, "Great job, Ms. Cotton! Just keep on doing what you're doing and we'll see Ziggy back here once he finishes all his medicine. That'll be thirty five dollars; you can pay at the front desk."

I called and say I had to reschedule for the following week.

I also bumped up my game since I was already taking shortcuts again. I knew he had healed pretty well (because we busted our asses taking care of him after that surgery) and with vigilance would recover just fine. The right size collar and the wound would be gone in less than five days without him licking the medicine off.

 I went in search of a bigger inflatable collar, meant for a dog his size. I went to five stores; none had large and only one had extra large.

I bought it.

Forty bucks.

Dammit.

Of course, he weighs over eighty five pounds so maybe I should have gone for extra large from the jump.

It's just that extra large one had that extra large price tag, but I got it. If you're gonna get 'em well on your own, that last step of the way...do it right.


Ziggy about lost his mind with the right size collar on. He couldn't even see the part of the scar he wanted to lick. He could feel that creme on there after we applied it. He could sniff it. He knew it was back there. He knew he really wanted it. At least he could see it with the little collar. He stood in the middle of the room for twenty minutes not moving...obviously pondering this new twist (and complication) to his recovery, his way.

He scrubs the doorways, couches and beds. He's like a freight train with his big new bumper. Its thrown him off balance, us one upping him.

He wanders around like a dude who was stripped of his Mo Jo, or at least his "Dog" card. He gets creeped out about settling down, kept me up all last night, pacing the floor and wouldn't lay down. Not licking that wound was driving him nuts...and it showed.

But at least we haven't had to apply that creme more than twice a day and stays visably on there the entire time. The wound is down to under half an inch wide and healing up 'pinkishly.'

I put the vet appointment off until this Monday morning so Tim can finally go with me again. I get nervous when that office is full of dogs all yapping at each other. My dogs aren't yappers but sure perks them up when the heard all that ruckus. Zggy pulled me down the last time when we were in the exam room (luckily alone) and two dogs out in the lobby seemed to be having a growling pissin' contest.

I could let Tim take him and stay at home  but know the vet is going to be very impressed with Ziggy's often hard to come by progress and how well he's done; he should at least commend us for our efforts before sending us to the lobby window for another office visit payment.

That's right. I want MY credit.

I'll say Tim helped some too.


Pretty sure tomorrow will be the last visit unless we need those couple of staples to stay in for a bit.

It took Ziggy about two days to finally get the drift that he's stuck with the right size inflatable collar now so may as well get used to it...and kiss that 'lickfest' good bye.

And he has.

And he has healed.

And just like that, Ziggy looked even better the next  morning. Tim suggested calling and moving the appointment (yet again) for his recheck until the following week. I agreed. They've (the vet) most probs caught on to us by now but pretty sure they know we are taking Ziggy's getting well seriously while at the same time trying to save a buck.


It happened for us at a good time. It happened when we were caught up financially  (also something to celebrate) and at a time when someone would always be at home to take care of the patient. I better be in Ziggy's will.


Tim and I are also super excited that late next month we'll all (even Zach) be on vacationfor a week together in the Keys. None of us Clampetts have been there. My brother is going and taking his boat. My sister, her husband and hopefully their boys, spouses and significant other can make it as well.

I get chills every time I think about this trip.

Talk about a "Sit right back and you'll hear a tale" moment?!!

I'm taking a coconut in case we need to make a radio or something.





I'm finally getting used to not feeling like a failure anymore. It's a different feeling.
It's  a reassuring feeling.
It's a good feeling.


I am so down the line on why all this goodness happened to us, but sure am glad they haven't kicked me out of the dance yet.

I think I still look pretty good...

Don't you?



I'm finally feeling back to my old self again after being sick for what felt like forever. Bonus points am also up to triple digits on the scales, even without my Danskos, for the first time in over five years.

I got this now, thanks to my past.


Til next time...COTTON

Nothing Better Than A Staycation

I am lucky enough to not only have a job I love but one which loves me as well. Yeah, it has its ups and downs...that why they call it working. You simply just need and consider yourself lucky if the ups outweigh the downs. There are millions of people who dread going to work every day. Once again I'm one of the lucky ones. It helps that I've always been pretty blessed to have wonderful management and co workers. One thing I've learned from experience after over almost thirty eight years of being a server is that just like in all other aspects of life, you get what you give.

I don't call out or show up late. I don't come in looking like I've slept in the clothes I'm wearing and just woke up twenty minutes ago. I try and not complain, and if I do is usually in a joking manner. It could always be worse. I begin working the moment I clock in and don't stop working until I am clocked out.

And you know what? Managers notice that...and so do customers.

Customers show me they notice by rewarding me monetarily. Management shows me by always giving me a pretty great schedule and always doing their best to give me time off when I request it.

It's a win/win.

A couple of peeps I really loved working with have moved on to other jobs and while I miss them, also salute them.

I just can't do it. I'm too old and detest having to start over again. It takes me six months to feel remotely comfortable in a new place, and once I begin to feel comfortable have absolutely no desire to be anywhere else.

It's been really busy at work lately and kicked my scrawny ass. Our new schedule comes out on Thursdays and when mine was posted was elated to see I had three days off in a row.

We were broke for more than a few years and always worked at least six days a week, out of necessity but grateful I was allowed to do so.

Now that we are doing comfortably and are financially stable...three days off seemed like an unexpected vacation!

I've cleaned out the refrigerator, dusted and swept. I've cleaned things you skip cleaning when busy working a lot...as long as company doesn't come over. Who's gonna notice but me?

I have never heard Tim say "You know, I can write my 

name in the dust on this table."

Of course if he did, would have handed him the Swiffer wand and replied "Knock yourself out."

He never complains if I don't cook dinner every night but is always grateful when I do.

Kudos to him, since we've moved to Orlando and are back together after a three year separation with him first working in Lubbock for two years and then being in Orlando working for a year before we joined him has stepped up his game with helping around the house. He does all the laundry every week on his day off and takes care of all the recycling and trash. He buys the dog food... no small contribution with us having three huge chow hounds.

                      It's been quite the journey for us both. It's been a journey for us all.

This is when TJ left for Australia to live for a year. It was right after Tim and I had lost everything

, including our jobs and once hefty 401k.

And look at us now...

We survived...all of us.

The saying is true, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

There were many sacrifices made by us but more acts of charity given to us. and I wouldn't change one single thing about the last ten years.

It's what  has defined us. 

Looking through all these pictures, all these memories, all this love...makes me happy beyond belief.

                         Never hesitate to help another...it will help yourself even more.

We met thirty years ago, moved in together after three months and have been married for twenty eight years.

Always dance with the one who brought you.

                                                Once again, you get what you give in life.

                                                Luckiest woman in the world...That's me!

Till next time...COTTON