My life is Destined to be a Sitcom

So I go into work at ten thirty to open. Balls to the wall right off the bat. We had a party of ten sit down, then a party of  five, then a twenty top. It was insane. Can I say I am tired of seeing Christmas sweaters?

I got off around four and called home. Massey answered and said Ziggy got out of  the yard again. I told her to put Zach on the phone and he said he walked the yard twice and couldn't find a hole. I told him I had to go to the bank and get gas but then we would go to Home Depot and get SOMETHING. I wasn't sure what we would get but I gotta keep the little sh*t in the yard.

I got home and let all three pups out back. Two minutes later I heard Ziggy scratching at the kitchen door leading to the garage. I let him back in and out the other door into  the back yard.One minute later he was back around to  the front of the house . I told Zach I thought he was getting out through the peep hole my brother in law  put in the new gate so we got the staple gun and covered the peep hole with chicken wire and let the idiots out again. Lasted five minutes. I went out back and saw Ziggy in my neighbor's yard. The chicken wire had been  pushed to one side. At least we knew now where Houdini was escaping. Zach went to the outside of the gate and stapled up more chicken wire. At the same time Zach was stapling up the wire I was in the kitchen watching Ziggy running to the back of the yard and leaping nonstop like a gazelle over the back fence. We have a six foot privacy fence around both sides of our back yard put staked up hog wire across  the back. In the summer the woods grow through it and you can't even see it. In the winter  the dogs trample it down and Ziggy (the inquisitive one) has discovered every weak spot. A big tree fell in the woods last spring during a storm and the hog wire sags in one point where the tree hit it.

My brother in law had replaced my gate but left the old one in my yard. Zach and I carried it to the back of the yard and propped it up over the weak link in the hog wire. Unless Ziggy can jump over six feet....which is a possibility at  the rate he is growing, he's fenced in, for now.

I let all three pups out back and Ziggy streamlined for the back. He got there, looked at the big six foot wooden panel  over his escape route. He turned around and as he slowly headed back I could swear I heard him say "Well crap!"

Work is wearing me out. My dogs are wearing me out. My kids are wearing me out.

Then I think about Newtown.

I am lucky to still have things to bitch about.

Last night at my daughter's Christmas concert,  the chorus teacher asked for a moment of silence for all the victims of the Newtown tragedy. I spent my moment bawling like a baby.

We've had a tough few years but have never had to bury  a child. The thought of doing that is beyond what what my tiny mind can comprehend.

We're having a slim Christmas...but are all here to enjoy what we do have. We have our health, we have family and friends and we have The Big Guy. What more can a person ask for?

I can't even imagine how it feels to lose a child. I've lost both my parents and THAT  almost killed me. My kids have all three tried unknowingly. That's just part of being a kid. (been there done that)

I am a lucky,  lucky woman. I have been blessed beyond belief. And not just me but my family and my pups. My oldest dog is alive because of the kindness of friends and strangers.

We have a beautiful tree in the living room...thanks to friends. I put money into  the Salvation Army pot every  time I go into the grocery store and dump my change back in when I leave.

It seems to me people have forgotten the Golden Rule. It seems  to me people have lost initiative .

Here's the way I think. You get what you give. Make someone else's day and it will come back ten fold.

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas...I know we will.

Till next rime...COTTON

Another Day in My Life...

So this is the way it started...

My baby Johnny, lost a bolt that holds his decking onto his frame and of course they had to order it. The bolt came in along with the steel cotter pin to hold it in place.

Like an idiot I asked Tim to help me. He has NO patience for anything resembling or sounding like "repair work."

I thought I could do it myself except that Johnny weighs at least 400 pounds and the bolt had to be put on his tender underside. I got the bolt in but for the life of me couldn't find the hole for the cotter pin. I got out my compact mirror that I use to sop up grease on my face between double shifts and shimmied my way under Johnny looking for the hole to insert the cotter pin.

Unfortunately I asked Tim to help...Problem #1.

He gets frustrated so easily as whereas I get pumped up thinking "I KNOW I can do this."

Problem #2 Mr. "Slow" Lee gets involved.

After thirty minutes he told me to go next door and ask our neighbor Mr. 'Slow' Lee to come help. I didn't want to but I wanted that cotter pin in so badly I gave in and asked him to come over. After about six tries he said "I'll be right back." I am assuming he went back next door to pound down another Budweiser and then he came back with a five inch piece of a wire coat hanger.

He said we had the bolt in and he could just twist the piece of coat hanger through the hole and pinch it off.

Seems to me if you could secure the bolt with a piece of wire why would they bother to include a STEEL cotter pin to hold it in place... But who am I to bitch?

DON'T YOU DARE SAY IT...(Tim already did.)

I just felt uneasy about taking a short cut...I had already spent about $100.00 on a new tire, air filter and blade and we were talking about short cutting the entire decking that holds the whole cutting part together.

If it had been THAT easy, the guy at the JD store would have said "Here's your bolt, just put it in and snip off a piece of a wire coat hanger and thread it through the hole and you're good to go!"

I just let it go.

I decided to cut my own lawn first since I know every nook and cranny of it. I moved on to Mr. "Slow" Lee's yard as he gawked over the back of his truck bed at me as if to say "See little gal...I'm a smart one."

I am taking my mower over to the OTHER side of my house tomorrow to my next door husband and beg him to help me put the cotter pin in.

Picked Massey up from school between cuts and asked Zach to take her to practice at 5:00 so I could cut our back yard.

I DO NOT let him back out of or pull into the garage. The first day he got his learner's permit I let him attempt to pull in the garage and he gave my Passat the only dent it has. He scraped the whole side and bent the frame on my garage. I was on the mower today when he jumped in the car and said he could back out.

I jumped off and said I would back the car out. He was in the driver's seat and assured me he could do it. I told him my car was the last running vehicle we had and I was going to back it out.

Zach already had the car in reverse and simply pulled up the emergency brake and got out. I used my freaked out voice and said "PUT THE CAR IN PARK !"

He acted like it was no big deal and said "I have the emergency brake on."

I jumped in the car and put it in park, immediately letting the car rev down from trying to back up with the parking brake on.


How am I supposed to deal with people trying to short cut my JD, tear my car up and give me a stroke all at the same time??? YOU TELL ME.

Johnny made the cut (I'll have him fixed right tomorrow) Zach made it back in my car with no visible dents and I managed to cook them all a home cooked dinner. Smoked pork chops, home made macaroni and cheese, baked beans and deviled eggs.

After dinner I HAD to vacuum. When you have three dogs, it is like living in a dust (Fur) bowl. Thank the Lord they are all short haired. My vacuum cleaner broke it's belt and I didn't have the right one, but acting like Mr. "Slow" Lee I made one fit that I had from my old vacuum and cleaned the heck out of the first floor of the house. I vacuumed corners and crevices, vents and walls. I think I saw a line of bed bugs leaving through the cracks of the downstairs door holding signs saying "Thanks a lot, Biotch...we were happy here."

I pretty much stay downstairs because the kitchen, laundry room and my computer are there. I thought I would start with my own domain and move on to the rest of the house tomorrow. It smells so great down here, so fresh and clean. My teens don't mind living in filth but I did go the extra mile and clean their bathroom.

I don't have to work until tomorrow at 4:30 so I am going to cut the front of the sub division and vacuum the rest of the house. If we aren't a living ad for Clairiton we must be an ad for SOMETHING!

I went to Kroger to buy groceries and gas tonight and the young girl in front of me at the gas station had her debit card denied. She asked the girl to run it for $10 and it got declined. She asked for her to run it for $8 and it was declined.

My heart went out to this young girl. She was just trying to buy gas.

If I hadn't just kited a check for ten dollars for cleaning supplies I would have helped her.

Instead I will say a prayer for her.

It's been a tough few years for a LOT of people and I am just one of many.

But I got my yard cut, my part of the house clean and my family fed.

Going to watch a little TV, paint my nails and get on my knees again. I have had it rough although I have had it rougher...but if my teens don't kill me and the vacuum cleaner holds up, it will be a good day.

Surprising how the little things can be such a huge part of your day.

Count your blessings...name them one by one.

A Grateful...a blessed and a CRAZY Cotton...(The crazy part helps me through)

How Much Fun Can a Memorial Be?

I have had so many emails and comments about Shad's service. It was hands down one of the best memorials I have ever attended. Lots of family, friends... laughter and tears. My father's memorial was much the same and I wish I had been in the frame of mind to think to tape it and kick myself about not doing it.

It is such a small world we live in...getting smaller every day. I was in the restroom before the service with Massey and was complaining about how cold it was in the funeral home. Another woman was in the restroom and commented that she thought it was a bit nippy too. I told her that I was fifty, so in five minutes I would probably be screaming "Who turned the heat on?" Then in five more minutes I would be looking around for someone to borrow a sweater from. I told her "There is no happy medium when you are a fifty year old woman." She agreed totally and we all laughed as we left the restroom together (with Massey rolling her eyes at us both.) Massey and I went one way and she another.

When we got back into the standing room only visitation area a man came up to me and said that he had seen me a million times and asked where did he know me from? I told him (begrudgingly) that I had worked for Longhorn in PTC for 13 years and he said "Maybe that's it." I quickly added "Now I work at Mama Lucia's in Newnan." His face lit up and he exclaimed "That's it!"

He said they were there all the time and that's where he knew me from. Turns out his daughter is Leon's girlfriend (the owner's son.) I knew their daughter, she had done a short stint at Longhorn and I had trained her. What a small world, I thought...when it occurred to me what in the world were they doing at Shad's service? They said they worked in the small community theatre Shad's girlfriend ran. Shad was the set designer. I said that I guess they were there because they knew Norma, Shad's girlfriend. Then they looked at me with the same question on THEIR minds..."Why is SHE here?" I told them that I was Shad's cousin. About the same time, the woman from the restroom (hot flashes talk) came up to the couple I was talking to and said to them "I was just fixing to tell you about a really funny person I ran into but I guess you already met her." I told them all..."If you think I'm funny now, wait til you hear me speak at the service."

It's so strange how coincidences bring you together...intertwine worlds and lives and connections.

I had to go straight to work after the service and told Barb and Len about meeting their son's girlfriend's parents at my cousin's memorial service...now that is a mouthful (even for me.)

I had several people come up to me after the service wanting my blog website. I told Len at work that and he immediately said "Tell them to come in and mention your blog to me or Barb and they can have a free appetizer or dessert."

That my friends is called "You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours."

This family...the "Mama Lucia" family gave me a great blessing when they brought me into their restaurant and renewed my faith in myself as a server.

Now if you 'peeps' come in and mention my blog to one of them (Len or Barb) you get a free appetizer or free dessert!

What a day of ironic coincidences...what a day of tributes. What a day of learning that the world is a heck of a lot smaller than you'd imagine and that if you persevere and give life your best...it will all come back around to your advantage.

Once again I have to say "Karma is a wonderful friend to have."

When Life is in the crapper...Suck it UP

As if we haven't had it hard enough...our septic tank is backed up. I don't mean my financial or emotional tank but our actual septic tank. Although my emotional and financial tanks are gurgling as I type...the septic tank is telling me "S--- happens."


A week ago I noticed some funky activity in the downstairs toilet. Just a random 'glug glug' sound from the toilet on the bottom floor of our house. When I would go in to investigate it appeared that my toilet was burping bubbles for no apparent reason. I bought some rid x and poured it down the john and flushed.



Next day I thought my problems had been flushed away. BOY was I wrong! The laundry room is right across the hall from the bathroom and when I washed my sheets and comforter I heard water running and walked into the bathroom to discover two inches of warm soapy water on my bathroom floor... all coming out of the toilet and pouring onto my bathroom floor.



HOORAY!! One more thing going wrong at the wrong time.



At least it wasn't "Dooky" but simply the washer emptying up through my toilet and flooding my bathroom floor. After using every towel in my house to sop up the mess I turned the water off behind the toilet and simply went to bed hoping it would just be a bad dream in the morning.

NOT SO...

My sister came over and ran a snake through the washer pipe and came up with some lint but seemed there was nothing else blocking the way.

I tried flushing the toilet again and at first thought we had success.

NOT SO...AGAIN.

Two minutes later I heard the gurgling sound and went to get more towels before the water started pouring out once again.

GEEZ LOUISE.... give me a break!

We determined when talking to a septic company (after my sister came back over and smelled sewage in my front yard area) that we needed our septic tank pumped.



If that ain't some S*#%!!!

Once again more Angels appeared in our lives. After putting my family on their prayer list at my sister's church, some wonderful people got together and told her they were mailing me a check to have my septic tank pumped. I was struggling to pay our mortgage and barely had $$ left to put gas in my car.



They are coming to pump my septic tank and we will be able to not only relieve ourselves without worry of a "crap shoot" but will be able to wash clothes again as well.

While I was at work today working a ten hour shift, my sister came over and cleaned my house...took home my laundry to wash and left dinner simmering in a crock pot on my counter.

One thing I have learned is that Zach "Plunges" like a girl. When I was sopping up water and asked him to use the plunger to try and make the oncoming tsunami smaller he put his fore finger on top of the plunger handle and pushed slowly "up, down, up, down." I snatched it out of his hand as the water hit the top of the bowl and began furiously jamming the plunger fast and as hard as I could. He asked me if I was mad and I told him no...that is just the way you are supposed to use a plunger.

When the septic people pumped out our tank they said the filter cap was missing and we still needed our lines snaked...$150 for the cap and $185 for the snake. We declined their generous offer. I suppose we will have to have the cap replaced but that goes on my "To Do-Do" list. At least I can wash clothes again and flush the toilet after peeing without a plunger between my legs.

Massey called me at work tonight (the kids ALWAYS call between 6 and 7... like that is my slow time at the restaurant) to ask if a good friend of hers can stay with us for a week while her parents fly to Michigan to look for a new house to relocate to. For Pete's sake...if I am having trouble feeding five family members and three dogs...what's one more teen age girl?

She has a lot of family issues and is a dear sweet girl just trying to have a happy time being a teen...so I said yes (like an idiot.)

Maybe she will know how to use a plunger properly ! If not, I can teach her.

Work has picked up some and I have resigned myself to be happy to have a job and have put leaving my place of employment on the back burner. I still plan on finding a new job, but would be crazy (er) to leave a paycheck that is certain most of the time for the unknown...especially in this economy. Now that I have another mouth to feed coming on board for a week (I hope she likes Kibbles and Bits) my strategy has to adapt to the new situation.

I told Massey that so many people have helped us out...it is time to start helping others. At least this girl is extremely sweet and seems to LOVE being with us (much stress relief for her.)

So my "Crap" has been sucked up and paid for by Angels... work is going okay...and Tim picked up a third part time job (Thank goodness since our family just grew by one for a week.)

One thing I can say is that life is never dull in our house. It is a house constantly filled with teens (a good thing in my book) and a place that they seem to enjoy.

Thanks to my sister and brother and the many other people that have helped in so many ways... in the words of the wise Dr. King...

WE SHALL OVERCOME !!

Til next time... "Flushin' Freely" COTTON

Tis the Season...

Even though it isn't a Christmas picture this is one of my all time favorites of my favorite (only) daughter. This was when she was too young to want anything but love and an occasional tootsie pop.

I've been back and forth from the high school three times today...squeezing in a full days work between and cooking dinner. She is back up there now handing out the programs for the bands' Christmas concert. I'm sending TJ to pick her up...let him earn that free dinner!

The band director had sent me an email saying that they still needed items for the family they were sponsoring for Christmas. I was too embarrassed to say I was broke so I took some of the money I made last night and bought the little boy two shirts his sister two pair of shoes and the DVD "UP" for the both of them. When I saw the sizes the band director had sent for the clothes and shoes I knew that they were small children...the ages that still believe in Santa.

I am lucky. My kids are old enough to know and understand this Christmas , these young kids are just excited that in a little over a week they will wake up and have presents from Santa. To think that in some small way we helped them is a good feeling for me. In the grand scheme of things...it was the right thing to do (no one tell my husband.)

After my last trip to the school I stopped to pump my five dollars in gas (I think short term.)

There was a very elderly man (at the least late eighties) in the gas station asking some young boys how to get somewhere. The place he was asking about sounded like it was in Peachtree City. We live in Newnan. The young boys tried to help him (he looked like he needed help just to get back to his car.) Finally the man asked if he was in Peachtree City and the two boys told him he was in Coweta County...Peachtree City is in Fayette County. He was so lost I felt like putting him in my car with its five dollars worth of gas and driving him to his destination in the neighboring county.

The boys tried at least three times to tell the older gentleman how to get to Fayette County...I don't think he heard them or understood. I thought about how lost he must feel driving so far from home. I went back outside to get in my car and a group of people (there is always a group of people smoking) outside of the station were watching the old codger struggle back to his van. I felt better knowing that he was driving a big "Cushion" vehicle until I noticed his license plate..Fayette County.

For Pete's sake he had left his OWN county and ended up in ours looking for a place that he had obviously overshot by at least 15 miles. I commented to the "smoking guns" staring in his direction: "Next stop Carroll County."

I hope that he made it safely .

I wish every one well. What goes around comes around and I am hoping upon hope that the Earth has shrunken with all the global warming my turn is close at hand.

Not complaining... I am feeling pretty good. Things are tight... so tight I feel like I had a face lift without the results. But as long as I keep on giving and trying...it will come back to me.

My family is incredibly happy this holiday season...we are together and have bonded like never before. It's the little things in life that make the big picture easier to see.

Merry Christmas... and it truly is one for us. Hope yours is as blessed .

There is nothing like being made aware of how lucky you are and how much you have taken for granted for so long .

Keep your faith, keep your values and everything wil be okay!

HO HO HO !!!

There's No Place like Home, There's No Place Like Home...

Zachary and I went to visit Frances today...and didn't even have to use a code to get in to see her!

This was my first visit to her "real" home. It is just as tidy, compact and cute as Frances is herself!

Zach went right in and sprawled out on her couch.

It is hard to believe that this amazing woman (APPROACHING) eighty has had triple bypass surgery, another surgery to replace her pacemaker and an open wound in her thigh from a botched catheter, not to mention she has a lens implant and is almost deaf...but has bounced back like a teen.

Her niece came down today from Tennessee to spend a couple of days with her and we were there when she arrived. It was like meeting myself in a few years (if I am lucky.)

She bounces into the house and takes over the floor, room and house. Her sister, Elizabeth who is also very close to Frances...is more like MY sister. Isn't it crazy that Frances has two sets of sisters that are so different yet so alike, all loving her at the same time?

If we don't kill her with our"UP, Down, Quiet, Loud, Bursting, Thinking" differences it will be a true testament that God is for looking out for her, while we all run over her with our different approaches and personalities!

It has been such fun getting to know this whole new part of my family tree.

Who would ever think that I would be grateful for a triple bypass, pacemaker surgery, goof up by a doctor and rehab to make me realize how blessed I am with a whole new family and new friends for life?

Life.

Ya gotta make the best of it and when you do, it usually works out to your advantage.
Frances and Barbara are coming to eat with me at the restaurant tomorrow and I can't wait for everyone to meet her...they have certainly HEARD enough about her and now get to see why I have come to love her soooo much!

Just wait til THAT blog!

Day Two

First off , my son commented that I call my blog "A waitress and a Mom" why wasn't it a Mom and a Waitress?



I told him I have been a waitress for over thirty one years and have been a Mom for only twenty three years. Ya gotta give credit where credit is due!



Massey is safely at camp, having a blast. She called last night around midnight to tell me that there was another convention group at the same site. A "Clown" convention.



Massey has always been terrified of clowns (like Kramer on Seinfeld.) She, even at a young age said that you just never knew who those people were behind those painted on faces and didn't trust them. I told her that she was with the East Coweta Indians marching band and that Indians could take care of clowns pretty easily. She laughed at that and told the other girls in her room and I heard them all giggling.



This morning I woke up with a new mission. Yesterday when Zach and I went to visit Frances, she was in the church service and we had to wait to see her. A therapist was waiting for another patient so I took this spare time to pick her brain. I told her that what we really needed was another table that you can roll across the bed like the one Frances eats her meals off of. I told her that I had brought in my daughter's lap top for Frances to use while she was there and if we had another table, we could leave the lap top on one while she used the other for meals.

She told me that while Frances was not one of her patients she had heard of her and her situation. She also told me that she told her own patients not to bring their watches, jewelry or even their teeth to re hab as sometimes things seemed to (using quote marks in the air with her hands) disappear.

This shed an entirely new light on the situation. I haven't even finished paying for Massey's lap top. It had not even occurred to me that someone would try to steal the computer. I told her that I had brought Frances a lap top bag to keep it in. Her comment was that would only make it easier to walk out with.

I told her that I just couldn't even imagine taking this life line away from Frances. She is hard of hearing and can't communicate over her cell phone, but with the computer she can keep in contact with her family in Tennessee, North Carolina and Texas.

I am still paying the computer off and was torn as far as what to do. I talked to my sister later on that night, she was in Florida for a weekend trip. Cindy mentioned that we should get a briefcase with a combination lock to keep the lap top in and chain it to the bed with a bicycle lock.

Problem solved! I went to Walmart this morning to get a briefcase with a combination lock. Obviously they stopped making them in the seventies. Every bag for a computer was soft and pliable. I couldn't find a hard case to put the computer in that could be locked. All anyone had to do was use a knife or razor and zip the bag open and walk out with Massey's computer.

I was determined.

I found myself finally in the sporting goods dept. finding a Black and Decker tool box that was hard plastic and had a place on the clasp for a padlock. Only ten bucks...and once I took out all the shelving, there seemed to be room enough for the lap top. I purchased a three foot long combination bike lock and a padlock for the tool box.

$10.00 for the toolbox, $2.00 for the padlock, $3.00 for the bike lock...cost to keep Frances happy...PRICELESS !

Got back in the car and headed happily to the re hab to see if my computer was still there.

Got about a mile away from the place and realized I was once again SO out of gas. Pulled into a gas station to buy my next $6 fix and realized I had left my debit card at home.

I turned my car around, hoping I had enough gas to get back to the house , when I realized I would have to pass the restaurant I worked for on the way. I stopped in the middle of a lunch shift and asked the girls if anyone would loan me six bucks for gas. of course they did and I returned to my mission (thanks Darby...I owe you big time).

Got to the re hab and found Frances had two visitors. I came in looking like a mechanic carrying my tools and told them why.

It took us at least half an hour to figure out the bike lock, and Frances' two friends had quite a time with the combination padlock..."Just like we used to have in school on our lockers!"

We finally figured it all out and put the combination to the tool box on the underside of a small figurine that sat on Frances window sill.

When I stepped out of the room, I ran into the woman who had told me about the dangers of having an unsecured computer on the premises.


She immediately told me she was so sorry she had said that to me yesterday. I told her that I was entirely grateful she had. She said she didn't mean to imply that the staff was dishonest. I told her that I just hadn't thought of the big picture. Someone visiting a patient could be cruising by Frances' room when she was in therapy and see a lap top...in these hard times if you aren't an honest person a computer sitting all alone can not only be a temptation but an invitation.

I told her not to feel bad about saying that to me, but to know that I appreciated her bringing it to my attention.

We are now secure with the computer and Frances has a place to lock up any of her valuables as well.

I wheeled Frances up to the lobby to connect to the internet (she SHOULD be able to get online from two doors down from her room) another battle I am currently fighting.

Ya know, God smiled on me once again . No checks bounced, Massey is off at camp with everything she needs, Frances still has the computer, I didn't run out of gas and things are good. I am a firm believer in " What goes around, comes around."

She was so excited to get email from our relatives, read my blog and check her bank account. It really doesn't take much to make another person happy.

You know what...I think it may have made me even happier.

When I went to leave, she stood up in her wheelchair and I thought she needed me to help her get onto the bed.

She just wanted to give me a hug.

That was the most touching thing I could have ever gotten from her...THANK YOU FRANCES.

You are my hero...In the words of Oprah....YOU GO GIRL.

Massey and the "BUBBLE" of Life

When I got off from my lunch shift I went home and picked up Massey and we headed into downtown Atlanta.

My father's cousin, Frances had a triple bypass and two other operations within the past week. She looks GREAT! Still as sharp as ever and in great spirits. Her niece (I believe) was there with her and was a pleasure to finally meet. She acted as if she had known us all of her life and made us feel right at home. The hospital seems to be giving Frances excellent care and I was amazed at how good she looked and seemed to feel. Not one complaint came out of her mouth the entire visit. I think a good mind set is some of the greatest medicine there is, therefore Frances is well on the road to a full recovery. Massey and I both promised to come see her when she is moved to a rehabilitation home here on the south side and told her to let us know anytime she needed anything.

After that we drove on up Peachtree to the Sheperd Center. A young girl who works with me was in a car wreck driving to Tampa to visit friends. She was temporarily paralyzed on the left side of her body. The wreck was over three weeks ago and she has just been moved to the Sheperd Center. She was in the recreation room when we got there. She was sitting by herself at a table in her wheelchair, waiting for her dinner.

When you walk into a recreation room at the Sheperd Center, you immediately realize how very lucky you are. It is at BEST heart breaking. Young kids, teenagers and adults all facing tremendous challenges and obstacles. The staff is incredible and I know that she is in the right place, it just breaks my heart that she has to be there at all. Security is really tight, you have to sign in with security before even going up to the floors. I know that it is a great facility and she is in excellent and caring hands.

She seemed not to really recognize me at first...so I jokingly said "Hey, It's me... KELLY from work!" She weakly said "hey." When I quickly recovered from the shock of seeing such a spirited and vivacious 21 year old sitting in a wheelchair, I plowed right on talking (because that's what I do) and she seemed to come around. It just takes a few seconds for her to absorb and process information and I really do talk too fast. I told her all the work gossip and caught her up on things. She started to perk up and I could see the old her coming out. They placed her dinner in front of her and we watched her pick at her macaroni and cheese and totally avoid the lame piece of broiled fish. I told her Massey and I were going to the Varsity to eat, and we could bring her back something.

Massey and I were even MORE shocked to hear that this poor girl had never eaten at the Varsity!! It is almost criminal to live in Atlanta and NOT eat at the Varsity. I told her what all they had and she said she liked hot dogs. I told her about their great onion rings and famous "PC" (plain chocolate) ....the best chocolate milk I have ever had. She seemed up for it so I headed back to the nurse's station to see if it would be okay to bring her back some food. The nurse said she had her feeding tube out now and was on a regular diet. I told her I was going to the Varsity...I wouldn't call it's food a regular diet, but the nurse said it would be okay. Another nurse perked up and said how she loved their hot dogs. Another asked if they still had F.O.s (frosted orange) I told her they did and we would bring them chili dogs and an F.O as well.

We headed back down to security , asking the guard if we had to sign out if we were just going to get a patient some food. He said we did and I told him we were just going back down Peachtree St. to the Varsity. He said he liked naked dogs. That is the terminology used at the Varsity for a plain hot dog. I told him we were getting the nurses some and we would get him one too (they are only $1.84). In 'Varsity speak' I said "One naked dog walking." At the Varsity that means one plain hot dog to go. He said quickly, "You know, don't even bother to sign out, just go on and go...and don't you DARE get me a peach pie." The Varsity is famous for their fried pies as well.

Massey and I scooted back down Peachtree St. to the Varsity and ate in the car..."The World's Largest Drive In" (another fun fact about the Varsity.)

We had the NICEST car hop . A friendly smiling guy that just catered to us like we were sitting at a table for two in The Four Seasons. After he took our order, Massey said "He is my favorite here...we should always ask for him."

When he came back with our huge to go bag for the Sheperd Center, I paid and gave him an $8.00 tip.

You would have thought I had just handed this man a hundred dollar bill. I mean with me and Massey eating and food for the patient, the nurses and the security guard (don't you know we bought him that peach pie) the tab was around $37.00. I had bought my son and husband a couple of dogs and onion rings as well to take home. Dang though, I fed eight or nine people for $37.00. Not bad, and it made me feel good. I always tip at least 20%...it is in my blood, especially when they make an effort to be nice. The crappy servers even get 15% from me...just to make them think "Hey, how much would she have left me if I had really tried?"

So we trudged back up Peachtree again with our Meals on Wheels.

The security guard had a replacement. He said the other had just stepped away for a minute, so I left his naked dog and peach pie with his partner.

The nurses couldn't believe it when we walked in with their chili dogs and F.O.

One of the nurses said we were her new best friends. I don't know if you have ever heard of the Sheperd Spinal Center in Atlanta, but it is a highly respected facility. Christopher Reeve went there after his accident. These doctors, nurses and therapists do some amazing things for their patients. If a hot dog from the Varsity makes them smile, I say my buying them a chili dog is tiny compared to what they do for these patients every day .

Finally we came back to my friend's room.

My friend liked the hot dog...scarfed it down in a New York minute, I held her chocolate milk to her lips with a straw and could see how good it tasted to her. We fed her onion rings and fries and gave her a napkin to wipe off her Varsity lip gloss. (Everything is greasy at the Varsity...in a good way if you ask me)

People have done so much for me over the past few months that it made me feel good to do something for someone else for a change.

Massey made the comment when we were first driving to Atlanta early this afternoon...she had a theory that her best friend's cousin proposed while in Myrtle Beach .

God and love are like a bubble. Some people have the bubble so tight around their body that you don't even notice it is there. Some people have a big enough bubble that you can actually see it. Some people's bubble is so huge that it covers them and everyone around.

On the way home in a beautiful twilight driving through downtown Atlanta (a really fabulous city) my daughter remarked that she felt like our bubble was pretty big right now. She said we visited Frances, met her niece and hopefully made them feel better, went to see my friend and made her feel better, met the nicest car hop (in her words "He was AMAZING") made his day giving him a well deserved great tip...made the security guard happy (when we left the Sheperd Center, we bumped into him coming around a corner with the hot dog stuffed in his mouth, carrying his peach pie on a plate) we made the nurses almost giddy...they were also cramming food in their mouths at the nurses station when we left and all smiled and thanked us.

Massey and I are going back to visit both our friends later this week. This time all the grease will go to Crawford Long Hospital for Frances' relatives who are staying with her. Sorry Frances, but after a triple bypass...I don't think the Varsity would help you ...it would probably give you those three extra years of age I gave you in a past blog and possibly a clog. Maybe I will bring you an "F.O" how bad can a frozen orange drink be, even from the Varsity?

My bubble does seem to feel bigger and feels easier to breathe in.

My daughter can really know how to make me look at the big picture and see the beauty.

PAY IT FORWARD...a motto to live by.

Frances is doing amazingly well, despite being in her sixties (you're welcome Frances) on the road to a full recovery I am sure and has a great support group of family and friends. "A tough ole bird" as we say in the south...no dissing intended...in the south that is a true compliment to a strong willed... minded... and independent woman.

My co worker is in one of the greatest facilities in the nation and I happen to be lucky enough to live outside of that city and can go see her often.

All in all...a good day for me and one that made me realize once again how truly lucky I really am .

Fireworks !!

Just walked in the door from work and SHOULD be making my macaroni and cheese, potato salad and guacamole for my son's birthday party tomorrow, but here I sit and blog!



Sometimes I think blogging makes me more relaxed than anything and I need it tonight.



It was busy as all get out at work. I knew it would be. Even thought the 4th is a much slower night for us, our restaurant sits on a hill that is perfect for viewing the city fireworks and you don't have to sit in an hour long traffic jam to get home. We have a great dinner crowd, lots of regulars and everyone eats early so they can be on our lawn in time to catch the big show.



We have people that don't even eat with us setting up lawn chairs and claiming a spot. The front porch is covered with families and couples and even the single person out to enjoy the moment.



I had one of my regulars come in tonight...husband , wife and two precious little girls. One of the little girls is a "Chatter" let me tell you. If you talk to her for three minutes you know everything that has happened in her small life in the past week...in detail.



Her younger sister is a complete opposite. She is as serious as a stroke. Very dramatic and precise with every word that comes out of that sweet little, continuously contemplating expression on her face.



Her parents I can have drinks ready for (with limes and lemons) appetizers ordered and the cherries for the girls ready to go before they sit down.



They spend a lot of money in our store...they are excellent tippers (Tippin Christians) as they call themselves...sometimes I think people come in after church and think "Dang...in this economy, tithing is KILLING me." And guess who suffers? That would be me.



Our loyal guests are the people that keep us in business and me with a job. They expect good service (as they most certainly should) and we have dropped the ball a few times. Servers that are new, or one or two that just seem to be stupid have waited on them when I wasn't there. It's happened with other regulars of mine.



Not to brag (well maybe just a little, it was a rough night) my regulars ask for me because I know before they sit down what they most probably want to drink, how they will order and what extra sauces or condiments they may need. A few of the dumber servers consider that type of table a pain, when it is really the servers fault for not listening correctly or ordering their food correctly. THAT is a servers job and I feel pretty good about the way I carry out my job. Granted I am just a 'waitress'..but I think I am a pretty good stinkin waitress. Obviously all my regulars think so or else they all feel sorry for a fifty year old woman still waiting tables after 31 years.



Either way , I am glad I have people that come in and want for me to wait on them. I truly get a buzz when I make their meal go smoothly and make them glad they chose us to eat with that day...it's a boost to me mentally AND financially. A win win situation.



I scratch their back and they pay for the heating pad I have recently bought for mine.



I saw the mom and daughters in the restroom before they got seated and was joking around with the mom .



I came out and they were being seated at my table. JACKPOT. Always easy for me to wait on, I know theirs likes and dislikes, I could order FOR them some nights and always enjoy seeing this world of four that these 2 girls are lucky enough to grow up in. They are joined often by family and friends, but these four know they are a loving and stable microcosm.



The husband commented on how glad they were to have me be their server and asked immediately how much weight I had lost. I kinda felt embarrassed...I sure as heck haven't being doing "Nutri System" ... actually I feel more like I am being pulled along in life by "Mighty Putty."



They asked if I was sick and I didn't want them rushing to give blood so I told them of our current circumstances and said ...as I truly feel, that it will get better and that we will be okay.



They left as the fireworks started, forgetting a to go box that I took to the door. As the older "Chatty" daughter told me, if you go out the door straight and turn like this...our chairs are right there."



I stuck their bill in my pocket and didn't even look at it for over an hour because I knew they always tipped me good ... it was a given.



When I opened the check presenter, there was a note stuck to a $100.00 personal check that read "Kelly, we'll continue to keep you and your family in our prayers! God is Large and in Charge and he will take care of you."



I was humbled.



They even left me a $10.00 tip on their credit card.



A few years ago when we had another set back, this family helped me out as well. My restaurant knew my husband had been laid off and chose my family to help out at Christmas. These regulars contributed and selflessly made our Christmas one of the best.



I know that this time when things work out okay I will pay these people back. What goes around comes around...and surely I am reaching the 360 mark.



I will pay back my siblings that have helped us out so tremendously, I will pay back my regulars that have helped over and beyond the call (at least my siblings are blood relations and I can play the "I'm the youngest" card.)



This man is a realtor in Fayette County. If you want a house sold...call him, my sister did and sold her house that had been on the market for over two years in a matter of weeks.



The point is, what goes around...comes around.



It came around to me tonight in Fireworks. My son has his birthday party tomorrow (the big 17) and I felt guilty for taking the day off.



Now I can enjoy the day, not feel the crunch of losing a shift at work and know that maybe it WILL be okay.

Thanks to family and friends...it truly will be okay.

I promise to each and every person that has prayed for us, helped us and encouraged us that I WILL pay you back AND pay it forward as well.

I am humbled and thankful. I am a very lucky person.

The fireworks went off at work, but the explosion I feel in my soul is the most beautiful thing I have ever experienced in my life.

Hubby Coming Home !!

My husband is coming home tomorrow unless some more work pans out.

Now I am in "Panic" mode.

My kids could care less if the house is clean...so I have been letting them live "Care" free. It isn't a pig sty...but it has certainly seen better days. Working all the time and keeping the laundry and meals up has taken up much of my time.

Not to mention that my husband doesn't allow our two boxers in our bed. Since he has been gone the king size bed has been "Home" for them. I keep my side to myself, but the male boxer has taken over Tim's side, his pillow as well and seems to really like it there(from the snoring he emits). He reclines like a full grown man and stretches out like it is the best dog bed he has ever been privy to.

My female boxer is too old and lazy to climb the stairs twice a day...she will come up once the kids go to school (I guess she gets lonely) and we all lay in a pile until I get up for the day.

When my husband comes home, I want him to be walking into a fresh and clean house(Not that he notices) but it makes ME feel better.

I cut the grass today and tromped grass all through the downstairs, going from the front to the back with the weed eater. I always hit my stride around 11 PM, have always been a night person. I have cleaned the downstairs bathroom, have Fe breezed all that I can and now will go upstairs to "Hide" the evidence that my dogs have taken over his domain. When my husband goes to sleep tomorrow night, there may be a fight. After over two weeks of "Living Large" with Mama, they may wonder why they have been down graded to "animal" status?

But they have been the thing that got me through this separation...having them stuck to my side like glue has been oddly reassuring.

We have had numerous e mails about positions and opportunities for my husband. I wonder if the one's for out of town work are fake one's from my dogs?

Gotta go scrub the upstairs...not that it would make any difference to my husband, but it just makes ME feel better.

I have had such tremendous support and so many prayers and leads sent our way...I would feel bad to not at least have made his homecoming a pleasant "smelling" one.

Gotta get back on my vacuuming and get off of this addiction of "Blogism".

I can honestly say that I am thrilled to have Tim coming back home...job or NO job. It will just be good to have him home (just don't ask the boxers).

WOW!!!

Just walked in the door from work, sat down to check the email...hoping that I had some good news for my husband.

I had four different emails from friends who have either passed on Tim's resume or promised to keep their ears open.

What a tremendous feeling to be loved by not only my immediate family, but a family of friends that I just couldn't do without. I have so many people praying for us and so many people giving me encouragement that it makes the weight on my shoulders feel lighter already.

Friendship is something that I value very deeply and feel blessed that people love me and genuinely care.

I hope that I can repay all of the kindness that has been shown to me the past few weeks. Without this network of support I would already be in the "Nut" house...although some think I should have already have a room there!!

This is the first day I haven't cried at least once in quite a while.

This has been a day when I have realized just how lucky I am, how much love I have coming at me from all directions and want every person to know how deeply I am touched and that with YOUR support, I KNOW that it will all be OK.

There are so many people that are worse off than me and I could be standing in their shoes. Instead I am standing in the shoes of a woman that has been looking on the dark side when I need to realize what a bright light all my friends are throwing my way. Without that bright light I don't think that I could make it, without your friendship and support, I would be lost.

These words seem insignificant, this post seems such a small gesture...but my writing has always been a comfort to me and I want these words to be a small gift to my friends and supporters. It is an amazing thing to feel loved and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for making me realize how truly lucky I am.

It is a great feeling to know that when you are in despair, there are people that feel the pain with you and that they reach out to touch you...and that their touch is what makes your day.

You have ALL made my day... my life is much richer having my army of friends encouraging and helping me ...without you all, I would be lost...with you, I think that I can make it.


From the center of my soul, THANK YOU !!!

I will sleep soundly tonight for a change, I will wake up tomorrow to face the day knowing that I have the greatest network of family, friends and co workers that a person could ever dream about...I hope that I am worthy of your love, because this outpouring is making it pretty tough.

Stripping Wallpaper... WHAT A JOY!!!

I think that I would rather BE a stripper than to have to take wallpaper down.

I have been working for over a week just to strip the paper from around the top of the shower of my kid's bathroom.

When I first started, my two younger kids said "take it all down"!!

Thank goodness I don't listen to them much!!

I have tried home remedies, "DIF" the wonder product for taking paper down easy, fabric softener, hot water...and a lot of cussing.

The one thing that I have realized is that when something DOES work, it takes the taping of the sheet rock off, a LOT of the actual sheet rock and a bare minimum of the actual wallpaper.

My wall that I have finally completed looks like it has acne scars.

Pockets so deeply dug into the walls, missing layers of sheet rock, patches of wallpaper glue...and the scars of me unrelentingly forcing the damn scraper that advertised "The Only One That Works".

If ONLY my sister, who can "WISH" wallpaper away was not sick, I could go on to patching up my scars, dents and obvious mistakes.

I am beginning to think she may have "faked" her cold.

Because if I had to look at the mess and destruction I have done in (thankfully my kid's bathroom) I would fake an illness too.

It is a total mess...it is a nightmare that I try to avoid.

I made tremendous progress tonight (Thank you Coors Light).

I alternated between fabric softener, "DIF", hot water and cleaning my scraper every five minutes.

I will NEVER EVER put wallpaper up in my house again.

We bought our house as a new home, and they obviously did not treat the walls before putting up the wallpaper.

I wouldn't be nearly as concerned as I am, if not for the fact that I have 25 people coming over for Thanksgiving, and the kid's bathroom is used frequently when we have a lot of people over.

I have thought maybe I can lock my dogs in the bathroom, and say "OH..Don't go in there, the dogs are in there".

Hopefully, Cin will be miraculously healed by tomorrow and will help me Spackle, re tape and sand the walls...and I can have the walls repainted (NO PAPER) by the time that my avalanche of company arrives on Thursday.

If not... We may start the bloody marys early and hope that no one notices what a wreck my bathroom is.

I know that it won't bother anyone like it will bother me, but with the task of Thanksgiving at hand for over twenty people...I don't want to have to worry about the mess that I have made with the help of so many products that have deemed themselves so "Spectacular...Amazing..The ONLY one that works."

If they are THAT SPECTACULAR...come on over and cook my turkey for me too!!

As I write this in frustration and jest...I hope that EVERYONE has a great Thanksgiving, and is surrounded by love and people that mean the most to them.

And if you can't fit into either of those categories...

Feel free and totally welcome to come to MY HOUSE...You are MOST welcome to come (you may not want to come back) but you will be an honored guest at our table....Just don't go into the upstairs bathroom...Unless my sister makes a rapid recovery!!

To my family, to my friends and to my limited readers...

Happy Thanksgiving... make the best of your life and your situation... and always know that if you need help... Thanks to a huge turnout from the voices ...It is ON THE WAY.

Of course this is only my opinion.

Til Next time...Cotton