Warp Speed Ahead

I had a note up at work to pick up an extra shift today and got lucky. No one wanted off!

I had grand plans to work in the yards all day but The Chief Meteorologist upstairs decided I needed to cook and clean inside the house instead so I did.

Both the kiddos are at work (a good thing) and I'm putzing around the house and garage making everything tidy, neat and exactly where I want to find it.

I have a tiny bit of OCD about where I want things to be but the ancient Chinese disease I also sometimes suffer from (Dragon Ass) makes it okay if things get messy every once in a while. That also gives me someone to complain to and about (the kids)  when I feel particularly tired or grumpy.

Everyone should have kids! They're a great release for stress and usually unarmed.

I worked seventy sometimes eighty hours a week for so long that almost feels like cheating to work just forty but sure feels wonderful and certainly has made our house a much more desirable place to be. Go ahead and ring my (non working) doorbell and see if I don't answer. I ain't scared. (anymore)

It wasn't a lot of fun while happening but the past few years happened for a reason and can't change the past anyway. You can only learn from it.

I hope our learning period is over for a while.

 It's almost June and my husband has been living in Texas since February. He's coming home for a few days at the end of July. I think he'll be impressed at all we've done around and to the house.

It's not up for any awards from Better Homes & Garden but looks better than it has in years and's finally a work in progress as opposed to a house we barely kept by the skin of our teeth.

Hey, it's not like I was gonna fix it up so the mortgage demons could resell for a hefty profit but now in less than two years will be ours free and clear. Time to get busy!

Working forty hours a week feels like part time and can finally exhale. I feel like I've been holding my breath for almost five years waiting for this huge exhalation... and it's here!

I haven't bounced a check in well over three years.

Haven't had a utility cut off or even close to it in over a year.

I answer the phone or door now without hesitation or worry. You never know...(btw) is Ed McMahon still alive toting around that big check?

Just checked, he's not (2009)...but there's always Ellen!

The dogs are never out of dog food anymore and all current with shots and vaccinations.

I feel good.

I'm still alive.



All alone here for the night but still cooked a nice dinner for later on when the kids get home from work. My dogs like smelling food cooking and besides, it's not really considered drinking alone if you have three dogs around you while you cook is it? Anyway, it's my day off and felt like celebrating!

With all we've been through, is still nothing compared to what hundreds of millions endure on a daily basis for an entire lifetime.


I can say with complete confidence that with mucho help from The Big Guy , family friends and sometimes even strangers...

We done it!

Never give up, you don't know what lies ahead and it's a waste of effort not to see.

Til next time...COTTON

Now You Know

I picked Massey up from college for the summer on Thursday. She started her new job on Saturday morning with me at eight thirty (ish) and yes I was running late.

She was on her first day of training, scheduled to follow the server assistant and begin learning how to do her new job. Training lasts two weeks.

There was no server assistant to follow so instead I taught her the table numbers first and showed her around the back of the kitchen. We're usually slow until after noon but as Murphy's law would have it was balls to the walls busy from the minute we rolled the gates back to open.

She did great!

Number one she learned the table numbers about seven days quicker than I did and gave it her all the entire day shift. Let me point out day shifts start at eight thirty in the morning and if busy can last well until after five in the late afternoon, which this one did.

Heck, even I was pooped.

Technically no one had to tip her out since was in training but the girl made over fifty bucks in tip out plus training pay and earned every penny.

Now she really knows how hard I work...often six days a week, at well over half a century old weighing in at nine five pounds. (after eating and wearing my heavy Danskos)

In a tired but celebratory mood we stopped by Walmart to pick up a gallon of milk on our way home but spent $117.00 by the time we checked out. Her feet were killing her (welcome to my world) so we got her some good gel inserts for her work shoes. Bought all new replacement bulbs for the outdoor flood and porch lights, a few groceries, staples and...

BAM!!

"That will be one hundred seventeen dollars and fifty eight cents" so sayeth the woman ringing us up.

I was able to pay cash (always a good thing) and went home with my new toys aka staples for the house; replacements for broken things (switches knobs hooks and dials) and even eight new cereal bowls for two bucks. We eat a lot of cereal and the price was screaming "BUY ME!" so I did.

Massey went right from cramming for and taking her finals in down town Atlanta while going through a tedious process of getting hired in a security scrutinized , FBI background checked, finger printed and badge required part time job in the world's busiest airport to being thrown on the floor the minute the doors opened in one of the most exclusive restaurants in Atlanta who also happened to have one inside the new international terminal, was busy from the jump but somehow managed to not only get through but knocked it out of the park.

Yep,  seems my kids have been paying attention to me and their father these past few years!

Actions speak louder than words and kids never listen much to their parents anyway.

The relief has finally been released and our life is once again grinding but now forward  with much appreciated and pleasant  good fortune and lots of sweat and tears.

As a raging half century old hot flasher,  was just the breeze I needed to feel and know Tim was sweating even more.

We thrived at first and enjoyed it immensely.

Then survived the barren valley four years (pun intended) wandering, worrying and wondering but with much help and love from above and all around us are hiking back up at a surprisingly rapid pace, thanks to both having great new jobs a thousand miles apart yet bringing us closer together.

For (quite) a while felt like we should receive a Purple Heart in a big bodacious ceremony if survived.

Now I know.

Life isn't a race to be won but something to be experienced and learn from.

Life is also ironic.

The company I now work for has a list of fourteen steps for success and one is "Learning and Growing".

Massey, just like me has luckily landed in a great place to learn and grow....and prosper!

Enjoy the ride.

That says it all.

Til next time...COTTON

They Call It Another Day Because Each Is Different

I feel like I have been riding a roller coaster for almost five years. I love (am all about) roller coaster rides but sure ready for this one to end.

I started the ride with both hands above my head but been through so many twists and turns ended up holding on for my life and sanity.

My husband's working and living a thousand miles away from home and I'm home womaning the fort. My younger son still lives here and has turned out to be a huge help (except for the garage door fiasco) much welcomed and sometimes needed company.

Tim seems to be doing great with his new job in Texas and I'm loving mine in Atlanta more with every shift I work.

I get to somewhat mingle with people from all over the world, hear some pretty fascinating, amazing (sometimes ridiculous) stories and meet people I've only heard or read about until sitting smack dab in front of and talking with me. That's pretty cool to an old chica like me.

The other day I waited on a couple who were probably in their late sixties. When I first approached the table the husband asked if I would take a selfie of them with their phone... to which his wife

quickly corrected in her British accent wasn't a selfie if someone else took it but handed me her phone anyway and both smiled as I aimed and said "Cheese!". Maybe I should have said "Cheers" which seems to mean any number of various things to Brits. It's like you can't make 'em mad. They cheer you on with each response.

The husband said he wanted a picture of them having dinner on the last night of their trip around the world.

Shut up!

I was totally impressed. WHAT a Bucket List item to mark off and wanted to hear all about it!!

They had a leisurely dinner, drank two bottles of wine and conversation with them was fantastically interesting and yes I wrote it down.

At the first of January they left home from London Heathrow  and flew to Singapore. They stayed a few days then took a cruise around southeast Asia for over two weeks. The cruise ended in Hong Kong where they spent a few days. Then they flew to Bangkok  and spent another week. After that they flew to New Zealand and toured the north and south isle for two weeks. From New Zealand they flew to Honolulu and spent another week before flying to San Francisco, staying in Union Square. They drove to Yosemite, picked up route 66 and drove to Arizona staying with friends for a while (or bit) as they say continuing on to Santa Rosa and eventually Dallas. They caught a flight from Houston to Atlanta and were waiting for the flight back to Heathrow.

Heck yeah. That's on my to do list too now!

It's weird working at an international airport. Christmas time is slower while street-side restaurants enjoy Beach Season but when Spring Break starts in March the international airport is flooded with passengers traveling as street-side servers twiddle their thumbs and take time off as well. The airport continues to rock through the Masters golf tournament week. Next schools get out and will run full force ahead into the summer months of vacationing.

How did I get so lucky?

I'm approaching my one year anniversary so realize now you have to put back a little every Phat week to make up for the slow weeks but still making more in a slow week than ever did street-side in a busy one.

This is just what we needed to slow the roller coaster and eventually hear "Watch your knees and exit to the left."

I spent so much time worrying about everything gone wrong that almost forgot how to enjoy what's going right.

I can say with (almost near) conviction now that everything is going to be alright. It almost feels like taking a trip around the world!

 We started in a good place, visited a few rough neighborhoods and almost slept under a highway bridge but didn't have to.

It got worse before getting better but at least did and am grateful for the blessing.

My daughter has been coming home from college every weekend since her dad left. I think it freaks her out a little with her parents living a thousand miles apart while I just tell myself he's upstairs sleeping when I get home from work and somehow suddenly doesn't hear or complain about me vacuuming after midnight.

This past weekend she came home and we got to spend an entire evening together.

Girls rock.

We spent hours going through old pics, cooking a fantastic meal together and fixing things around the house. I got "muh hurr" cut the other day and Massey even highlighted it for me, digging into my scalp for thirty minutes with the crotchet looking needle, pulling my short strands of hair through the ridiculous looking plastic cap.

You gotta pay to play.

Life feels like it's getting better.

I'm even having more good hair days and to a woman, that means a LOT.

Til next time, ( crossing her fingers) COTTON

The Next Chapter Begins

Tim left for Lubbock yesterday. He had all his clothes in plastic tubs in the back of the little Ranger and headed out at ten. He drove straight through the snow, ice and rain headed for us here in Georgia for a thousand miles.

He called me last night a little after seven to say he had crossed the Texas state line. When Tim drives, he drives and drives. He only stops for gas. He sent me a text this morning at seven saying he was checking in at his hotel. Surely that is some type of record.

I was really worried about him driving such an older vehicle but our little Ronnie Ranger literally kept on truckin'.

I'd simply put it out of my mind that he was moving across the country for at least a year. I just kept considering it as him getting a promotion and new job.

I went to get ready for work today and opened our closet door to get my uniform.

His side of the closet was totally bare unless you counted the empty hangers.

At first my heart sank a little. He's gone. For a while. It was really the first time it hit me.

We've had a really really hard few years and  sometimes amazed we actually made it through and remained married.

We've been tested on almost every vow we made to each other, time and time again.

It's gotten ugly between us at times but we always got over it. Sometimes it only took an hour. Sometimes it only took a week.

If I had to visualize who would play Tim and me in a movie about our life would definitely be these two.

This would be who played me:

...No, wait a minute that's an actual picture of me!


I meant her:

Then of course, this is who should play Tim:

Tim is an honest, extremely laid back man of very few words. No worries, he's got me to do the talking and can say with confidence I excel at the task.

He actually does quote ole Jed often. When I do something really stupid Tim will just slowly shake his head and say "Pitiful. Just pitiful."

Now that he's gone, a thousand miles away and  taken this giant step forward for our family makes me remember all the reasons why I married him.

Once the initial shock of seeing his half of our closet holding nothing but empty hangers, it  struck me he had left every hanger.

Guess he'll be ironing a lot of clothes. It made me smile to think of that and then it was better.

Tim will be fine.

He's a hard worker and the only person I've ever met who doesn't like him is me, and that's only been sporadically during really rough financial times these past few years. (that also made me feel better to say)

I think I'm already liking this, even with the distance factor. We're now back to making what we were when the bottom fell out. If we didn't have five years of "Ketchup" to finish we'd be on vacation.

We are on an equal playing field now. He can really move up with this company, they've already realized his potential  in less than a year. That's a good thing.

I have a job I absolutely love and feel blessed beyond belief to have. Initially I thought was being trained to be a brain surgeon but quickly realized was simply stepping out of my "waitress" box and into the box of being the professional server I consider myself to be.

I love working at the new International Terminal. I've only been there for about nine months but quickly came to realize had been lucky enough to land a job at the only place I would work.

Domestic is okay unless you're a server or bartender. The International Terminal is only three years old and serene compared to the angry beehive known as Domestic. Not to dis anyone but if I have to serve for a living would much rather meet and interact with people flying all over the world to and from places I've only read about. I've met guys who work on oil rigs off the coast of Thailand and are in the air for over twenty four hours just to get to work. I've met people with interesting stories and destinations. I've met quite a few celebrities and even some kooks but every day is different from the day before and will be different from the next shift as well. I see or witness something hilarious, shocking or incredibly touching every single shift. It may be in the parking lot or on the shuttle bus. It might be in the security check point or on my walk through the atrium to the restroom or to get my free meal. Heck sometimes it's in the restroom and often times is simply at a table in the restaurant where I work, and not necessarily my own.

Two older women came up to our bartender yesterday. One handed my coworker her cell phone and asked if she would take a selfie of them both?

That cracked me up.

I think if they had asked me would have replied I'd be glad to take a yousie for them!

I've met people going to Africa to help conserve rain forests or endangered species. I've met people going there to hopefully kill one of the endangered species. ( kinda hard to be really nice to them) I've waited on and seen close enough to tell if  they had a booger in their nose, celebrities I've only seen on TV or read about. I've waited on people who have actually asked to sit with me because read my blog and have received emails from two different tables I waited on. Several from a couple in Ireland I waited on when flying through Atlanta and another from a couple from Key West.

Kinda cool...and I get paid for it too.

God has finally opened the window for us. Granted, Tim is on one side of it and us on the far other side but are all through it.

It may be another five year struggle but then will be finally set just fine to enjoy our golden years and cut back to part time.

All said and done am just grateful to have even gone to the dance.

I am  totally serious when say there have been at least over a hundred people who not only helped us limp to the window but somehow pushed us through and over.

I can finally see how we can work it out.

Together.

With God as my witness it should and shall be!

Til next time...COTTON

Ziggy's Jewels... Or Lack Of Them

Today was the day Ziggy got a car ride. He was really excited when I opened the back door of my sister's Mercedes and let him hop right onto the leather seats. I've never seen him look so happy!

It was a short happy ride.

Ziggy's been a bad dog from the get go. We got him during a time when none of us had any time to teach or train him correctly.

Not his fault, so it kinda made you love him even when he was bad.

He got lots of love, if ya know what I mean.



He's almost three and can't seem to learn how to stay in a half acre fenced in yard with all the amenities. Food, water, nice big yard with woods and two dog houses with always fresh kennel shavings.

My sister took her skiddish female boxer on Tuesday to the mobile vet when it was in her area. She was a little worried at first but her pup's coming back around after two days of home recuperation.

I found out about and started using this mobile vet when we were broke as jokes with three dogs to take care of. I took Ziggy as a pup and got all his shots, Rabies included, a complete exam, heartworm test and years supply of preventative for $70. That's pretty stinkin' cheap.

It's a no frills "Vet in the Van" but the Morocca Doc (He's from Morroco) has done fine by all three of my dogs. He cured ole Ham of heart worms and is the only vet I use.

He comes to our county animal shelter every Thursday at eight o'clock and parks in the lot next to the animal shelter and county prison. Until five o'clock he has at least ten people at a time waiting to see him in his waiting room aka their car.

You get out and fill out a form telling him what you need done. When it's your turn you simply walk or carry your pet over to the door of the van as he examines and treats them right there on the literal spot. Sometimes he'll walk over and treat them while they are still in their owners vehicle.

I've never had one neutered there and learned from my sister the night before you were supposed to make an appointment the website before for all the details of the surgery.

Oops, my bad.

Instead I asked my sister what I needed to know since she had just taken her pup. I learned he couldn't eat or have water after midnight and to have him there by 8:15, then pick him back up by five.

That's all the appointment I needed!

He is so crazy busy with people and animals right from the jump, knew I could surely blend into the mass of people easily...and did!

True to fashion I got there fifteen minutes late.

I parked my borrowed car and left it running. It was thirteen degrees and the wind was insaner than me.

I hopped out, grabbed a clipboard from the sign in table and filled it out in the car with Ziggy bouncing all around like I was in the parking lot of a bitch strip joint.  (pun intended)

When one of the assistants came out of the van I jumped out with my form and quickly started off with my spiel as I handed her the clipboard. It went something like this and was fast like a machine gun:

"I know I was supposed to be here at eight fifteen and am late but can I still get my boxer neutered, he hasn't eaten or drank since midnight and I have cash?"

She said she didn't know if there was anymore room left in the van and didn't know where they could put him.

The Morroca Doc came out next and I spoke to him by name. He said hello back, walked over  and shot two little furry dogs in the hip with needles as two old people held them out, turned around and took the next syringe from yet another assistant and gave another pup on a leash a vaccination while the owner smoked a cigarette with her free hand.

It's not a Beverly Hills animal clinic but gets the job done and saves us all hundreds if not thousands.

The other assistant with my clipboard spoke with him and came back to the car to tell me they didn't have any room left. She walked off back towards the van when   Morocca Doc walked over, opened my passenger side door ... took the leash and led him into the van Ziggy was hoping held the strippers but quickly notated with a perk of his ears were certainly a loud  bunch of bitches!

After Ziggy disappeared into the "operationmobile" I got out and asked one of the assistants if they had room now? She told me the Doc asked if I could be back in one hour? I told her heck yeah, apologized once again for being late and got back in the car before they changed their minds.

It was the perfect day to have this done. It was too cold for them to be outside and Zig could stay in our bedroom all day and recuperate since I had the day off.

I was at the bank depositing my pay check when my cell rang about forty five minutes later.

"Come and get 'em!"

It took them a while to bring Ziggy out, there were at least fifteen people waiting now but pulled right up next to the van to get my patient. They finally brought him out and Doc helped hoist him into the back seat as Ziggy tee tee'd his way onto the seat. He looked groggy but okay besides peeing on my sister's car seat. An assistant came over with his meds and a pee pad (a little late) but gave me all my instructions, told me he had tested negative for heartworms and gave me a years supply of preventative, all shots were now up to date, handed me his rabies tag and sent us on our way for just a hundred twenty bucks. That's an awesome deal.

Granted he didn't stay there to totally recover from anesthesia, but where better to be than home once given the all clear?

He paced in the back seat the entire way obviously complaining about me duping him into thinking it was gonna be a really fun field trip when in fact they cut his buddies off but at least it was done.

I put the car in park in front of my garage door when he spewed his guts out over the urine he placed not ten minutes before on my sister's leather seats.

It took a while to get him upstairs and once locked in my bedroom had the other two idiots laying right outside the door wanting to know what was going on and how did he enjoy the strippers?

I called my sister and told her about Ziggy's one hour snip. She asked me if they just made him bite on a bullet?

The first day he wouldn't even come out from under our bed. I'm not sure if he was hurting or pouting, probably a little of both.

The second day he came out from under the bed to lay in the floor in front of the TV. (just like a man)

The third day he jumped up onto the bed. No easy feat with stitches in your crotch but was a good sign.

We've kept the other two dogs away from him just to let him heal and the boy is coming along nicely.

Not really looking forward to a repeat of all this next Thursday when I fake another appointment for Charlie, our bull dog but has to be done.

Ham will go last.

I dread the thought of taking a totally blind dog to an unfamiliar place with thirty other dogs and cats yapping and meowing but will simply bite the bullet myself. It lowers the chance of cancer and other problems in male dogs and are way too many unwanted pups in the world.

Ziggy's behavior totally has changed and all for the better. I told my sister last night neutering either helped or now know he needs to be on a twice daily dosage of Tramadol.

On different note...

Tim leaves tomorrow for Texas. He'll be gone at least a year if not more. He bought some plastic bins today and is loading up the little Ranger and heading out in the morning for his thousand mile drive.

These past few years have been a test for us both, not to mention our kids. Deep financial problems make it hard for a married couple to remain blissfully happy and we've certainly proven that point.

We're still faced with car problems. He leaves in the morning driving the only running vehicle we own, a twenty five year old Ford Ranger. If he gets five hundred miles without breaking down will consider it a good omen. If he makes it all the way will be a miracle.

I suggested the above idea to Tim if he does break down.

Our two boys took Tim out for a send off dinner (appropriately enough) at Texas Road House tonight. Massey had gone back to school this afternoon and I met them all at there after work.

We've had great times, we had good times and been through some really rough times but have always done it together.

Tim finally got the well earned  reprieve he's been waiting for.

A great job and thousand mile buffer from my sarcastic, extremely quick witted and seemingly always right / left wing mouth and opinion.

He's doing this for our family. He's doing this because he loves us and doing this because we are lucky enough to have a man like him for our husband, father and provider.

He has no hesitation about getting in a quarter century year old truck and heading to the pan handle of Texas. We needed and wanted to move ahead, Tim got an offer to if willing to relocate so gratefully accepted, bought some plastic bins to pack up his clothes and is driving to our next stepping stone.

I so vividly remember the above photo and day. We were in love, happy and on the top of the world.

For over twenty years we constantly moved ahead, had three awesome kids all uniquely different far from perfect but make us pretty proud each and every day. Even when they screw up.

Tim completely started over at the age of fifty one from scratch in an industry he's worked in for over thirty years.

Tim has integrity.

I'll stay here and try to fix up our house which will be paid for in less than two years. A good pressure washing, freshly painted shutters and new roof will cover the outside of the house. The rest will require a lot more but we're no quitters, not by a long shot!

Worried about Tim's long drive in a short truck but will keep the faith. That's all you can do sometimes and for over five years has worked for us.


I know and realize we are still luckier than millions and millions and millions of people. That's why I think we have a really good chance!

Til next time...COTTON

What A Weekend

Boy have I been having a lot of desserts lately.

We've had a cold snap this past week and temps have been brutally low especially by deep south standards. I got stuck in the parking deck after work Wednesday night when my car wouldn't crank. It was eleven degrees outside without the wind chill factor and wind was certainly blowing pretty hard.

Number one the idiot they call a a parking deck truck driver who's only job is to help stranded motorists tried for less than four minutes to jump my car, told me to call roadside assistance if I had it, got back in his warm truck and drove off.

I looked for my insurance card and finally found it but in the meantime had called Zach at his job and he had one of the Lost Boys coming to pick me up from Newnan.

I sat in the truck until I couldn't stand the cold anymore and went back down to the first floor and got on a shuttle headed back to the terminal. I figured I'd just ride the route until my ride got there.

Number two God sent me an angel. The doors opened and my favorite shuttle driver smiled and said "Get on honey you look like you're freezing to death."

I was.

I told her about my dilemma and she told me to go to the back of the bus where the heat came out and turned the fan on high.

Of course the Lost Boy had to stop for gas and antifreeze so it was going to be about forty five minutes before he got there.

My favorite driver of all time (Ms. Thornton) said there were three other shuttles lined up, it was getting really slow and she'd be just fine sitting there letting me warm up and keeping me company.

We talked about what high schools we went too, both of us were south side gals born and raised.

We talked about our kids, we talked about our cars and sometimes we just sat silently listening to the wonderful hum of her heater on high.

I got off work a little before nine and got home a little after midnight but at least I got home.

The next day wasn't much warmer and I called our insurance company to find out who to use for towing so could be partially reimbursed.

I called the number they gave me and told the guy where my car was.

IMMEDIATELY he said "my truck's too big to pick up in a parking deck, you need to call someone else." Then he hung up after giving me the number of someone in downtown Atlanta not covered by insurance.

Thanks (not) goofball.

They tow cars all the time at the international parking deck. If you leave your car too long they tow it...there's signs everywhere saying exactly that.

Lucky for me was off the next day and just had to leave my car sitting in the deck. Now I was up to $24 for parking instead of twelve.

The car has never been easy to start. Sometimes it takes ten minutes to get cranked. So much for buying an awesome car I sunk almost five grand into.

Lucky for me (not Tim) the next morning he had a flat, no spare and had to call out of work to get new tires.

My sister brought her husband's truck over for Tim to use to go get new tires and I left in Tim's truck in time for my night shift.

The car had to stay another night in the deck. I felt sick to my stomach knowing now owed $36 for parking to even get the car out of the garage much less back to Newnan.

One of the Lost Boys met me in the deck before I left work though and we tried for thirty minutes to get it started.

No Go.

My brother in law let us keep the truck for the weekend (thank you Harvey)  and drove his big ole pickem up to work on Saturday. I worked a long day shift but couldn't think of anything other than now it was up to $48 for parking.

My daughter had come home for the weekend, a starving college student without much food in the kitchen at her loft. She sent me a text saying Zach and yet another Lost Boy had rented a pull behind tow bar and were on the way to get my car.

I went back out of security to meet them at the departure entrance , give them the money to get my car out of parking and the keys. I had directions written down to the parking deck and level where my car was  parked.

Zach's buddy has a BIG truck and had the come along attached to the back. I handed them the money, keys and directions and took off like they were late for a Monster Truck show. The speed limit is fifteen MPH and cops are everywhere. They were doing at least forty when the truck disappeared from my sight.

I called Zach twice on my way back through security to work again to tell him to be really careful, it was a tight fit and please don't hit another car.

He got kinda irritated by the second call so switched strategies and sent Massey a text "Text me when the Lost Boys get back home."

That's all I could do. And I prayed.

My manager reminded me after getting back to work  they were twenty two and could handle the job. Heck, every twenty two year old thinks they are invincible. I at least had that on my side.

An hour later finally got the text all was good.

Now am just waiting to hear from the mechanic. By that I mean MY mechanic, a dude who has always treated me fair and square and used to let me post date checks for two weeks when were really broke and had car issues.

The sous chef at work is holding the car for Massey I was going to buy this week for two more weeks so can have money for the repairs to my own car.

We are so the Clampetts before Jed hit Black Gold, Texas Tea! (and's not a bad thing in my book)

We may not wind up in a Beverly Hills mansion ( most probably, almost certainly) but we'll be okay.

You gotta remember to simply keep on keeping on, take the good with the bad and it's okay to cry every once in a while when you're alone talking to one of your pups.

Then you wipe away the tears, get yourself a good nights sleep and if lucky enough to wake up the next consider it a good sign.

God's not through with me yet.

Till next time...COTTON