My Bountiful Life

We had Thanksgiving at my brother's house this year here in Orlando. My sister drove down from Georgia with her son and his wife on Wednesday and her other son drove down with his wife early Thursday. Unfortunately Cin's husband was sick and decided to stay home and recuperate. Zach stayed in Georgia as well with work obligations and our other son remained in Charlotte with his little fam for Thanksgiving. They were all sorely missed.

But carry on we did!

My brother lives in a true paradise of nature. Unbelieveable views from sun up to sun down.

The icing on the proverbial cake is that my awesome brother also happens to be a most excellent host.

He always says to us, "Mi casa es Su casa."

I got over there shortly after noon on Wednesday to start cooking and pretty much lived there until Saturday night. I made the ten minute drive back to our house twice to check on our pups but pretty much otherwise lived at the lake with my sibs for four days. Massey stayed there too except for leaving for work twice and Tim spent Thanksgiving and the day after with us as well.

                                                      It was awesome...and then some.




My sister and I once again cooked way too much food but once all was cooked for Thursday, we could all eat until Sunday with a  quick reheat from the NuclearWave.

My brother recently rescued two Dobe's and the entire family fell in love with them both. They put up with all of us barging into their previously quiet and peaceful existence amazingly well.

My brother's next door neighbor joined us along with his fiancee' and we threw down like bosses.

We drank like fish, played cards and watched football and videos on demand. We played corn hole into the wee morning...woke up and started it all over again.

And again.

Chris took us for a boat ride this afternoon. It was an absolutely gorgeous day.

Lake levels were up after all the recent rain and hurricanes. We meandered over to the canal which connects Lake Mary Jane to Lake Hart.

We approached the bridge underpass which has always been a pretty snug fit. As we started towards it I thought to myself "We ain't gonna fit."

I kid you not, even Chris had to lean back while driving the boat under with literally three inches to spare above the windshield of his boat.

Yikes!

Chris ain't never scared, which kinda scares me sometimes.



The thing which also scares me most about boats is they don't have brakes. If I'm driving something, it's gotta have brakes.

I watched Gilligan's Island enough to know  how boat trips can turn out.

We all made it back in one piece and once again NuclearWaved leftovers and continued watching football or surfing the net.

I got approved to join the Jefferson Park FB page and was all excited. That is the neighborhood where I grew up. It was a wonderful community which went through some downward spiraling but has revitalized much to the thanks of an influx of conscientious gaybors.

I cracked up when coming across a post from a homeowner. He was ticked about candidates putting fliers on his mail box before local elections. He posted the code, section and number of the violation offense prohibiting candidates for doing this.

Then he added this meme.

Yes!!

I grew up in a great neighborhood...and is still a great neighborhood, fifty plus years later.

I got to laugh with my sister and brother for four days. I got to share with them all the crazy posts I find so humorous on social media ...which actually are. We drank into the night together, playing cards, attempting to solve the world's problems and looking through old family photos together, realizing obviously no one knew how to center a photo in the fifties or sixties.

For all that has happened to me or gone wrong for me in my life, there are and have been... two things which have always been right in my life, and right beside me the entire step of the way.

The sun set on the last day I had with my sibs here in Orlando. It was a beautiful sunset. It reminded me our short visit was also coming to an end.

My sis was heading out early on Sunday for the road back to home, in Georgia.



I couldn't stay there again tonight. If I had to watch them all pack up and pull away tomorrow, I'd be devastated.

When you have a family as close as Chris, Cindy and I have...parting is always hard. We're all that's left of us and when one of those parts leave, is hard to take.


Families who don't choose to remain close to each other, obviously don't realize what they are missing...and it's a lot.

I came home to our tiny rental house feeling kinda blue.

Then as I was writing this very blog post, my sister hit me up on Facetime, with all of them in the background. We shared more laughs and jokes.

It almost makes me feel spoiled that I'm lucky enough to be a Leach, but think we all three feel that way.

When you are brought into this world and raised by wonderful parents...

                                           Odds are you'll be okay if you listened  to them.




               You don't need a miracle in your life if you come from a family like mine, all you need is them.

                                                               



                                                                 

Till next time... COTTON

I Am Pig Pen

I've been off for the last three days, which is highly unusual for me. Not having a car makes it difficult to pick up shifts because I not only have to pick up a shift but a ride to it as well. I had two nice days off with  Massey though and spent some much needed Momma/Daughter time with her before she leaves for college next  week. Today she decided we had had enough  time together and left around three with her college room mate to spend the night at her house. They are going shopping for cheap text books tomorrow, trying to get a peek inside their dorm and having lunch at  The Cheesecake Factory in Atlanta.

I was fine with that. Zach's helping a friend move, Tim's off hunting jobs and I have the house to myself.

I gave myself a much needed manicure. I even got all crazy and trimmed my cuticles. Then I decided to paint my toe nails too. I took  off my flip flops and was disgusted by  the dirt between my toes.

I'm not a clean freak, whether it be my house OR me. I normally work six days a week and shower six days a week. I clean house about every other week but keep it liveable in between and Tim  and the kids kick in to help every once in a while. I mainly concentrate on the kitchen and baths, the rest is window dressing  to me. When you have two kids still at  home and three dogs, keeping the house immaculate is pretty much impossible unless it is your full time job. I get my spurts and will  attack a  room with Mr. Clean (Febreze scent) windex and Murphy's oil soap. (my three favorite cleaning products) I am always amazed when I get through  how little time it actually takes and how wonderful the results can be.

I basically haven't left the house since bumming a ride home from work Monday night. I get up in the morning, brush my teeth, run a washcloth over my face and call myself clean (enough). I like to think of myself as being very European. When we used to go to Florida every summer for vacation with my family, as long as we had the ocean and a pool to swim in I was good for the week. I might shower once if we went out to eat.

Tonight I'm going to have to break down and take a nice long hot bath...I'm beginning to get a bit rank. Even the dogs quit licking me.

Speaking of dogs...

These aren't my dogs but may  as well be. Dog fights are horrifying to me. They escalate from growling to a full out fight in less  than two seconds. I have big dogs and weigh less than two of the smallest ones put together.  Used to be it was always Charlie and Ham battling for the Alpha Male spot. Charlie got his butt whooped time after time after time and has finally learned his pecking order.

Ziggy is an extremely slow learner. He loves Ham, that's his buddy and sleep spooning each other. Ziggy just doesn't understand  that Ham is totally blind now and when he jumps on Ham in the back yard trying  to play, it takes Ham by  surprise and of course Ham's reaction is to defend himself. Ham could kill Ziggy if he wanted to, he's a massive dog. I couldn't imagine being totally  blind and having others jumping on me not knowing if they were friends or foes. Ham has gotten grumpier after losing all his sight and Ziggy is still a playful pup. We had another dog fight day before yesterday and luckily Massey was there  to help me break it up. Ziggy has a couple of superficial scars but Ham wasn't letting go being in the dark so  to speak and came out with several wounds from Ziggy's sharp  young teeth. I simply can't take it anymore and have to keep Ziggy out back all day, which isn't like a prison. He has a huge yard to  play in, or at least fifty yards of it when he is on his "Escapee" run. I go out back several times a day and let him off  the  run to let him romp. As soon as I get a vehicle we are starting the chop shop for all three. The local mobile vet does neutering on Thursday's. We once  thought about breeding Charlie because he is so spectacular  and looks just like UGA. Then we thought about breeding Ziggy because he is AKC and the most beautiful boxer I have ever seen with his perfect markings.

Then I started thinking about how many dogs are neglected, mistreated and  abandoned. Yeah, we're broke and studding out a male dog would bring in some money but I need to maintain some sanity around here and it's not like studding them out will entirely fix our economic debacle and the world certainly doesn't need more dogs, there are plenty out there who need a good home first.

The person I am in contact with at  the foundation that offered to help Ham is out of town until next  Monday. I am formulating my letter from  Ham to them. Ham's a great dog, didn't ask to be part of our family we adopted him. He's gone blind and  it's become an issue having two other rescue males here. I've become afraid of letting all  three in the house at once until Tim or Zach  get home and that's not the way I (or the pups) want it.

People have helped Ham get so far. Ham would be dead by  now if they hadn't pitched in to not only send him for eye evaluation but pay for his shots, gas to and from vet visits and even dog food. Then they paid for his heart worm treatment. The boy has come so far  thanks to so many and I simply want Ham to go the final mile and be able to see again, and limited vision is all we ask for.

Once again harassing the foundation tomorrow with yet another email but at least they have so far responded every time. To people who don't have dogs, I know I sound crazy. To people who DO have dogs, thanks for loving my Ham and helping him get to this critical point.

Back to the  real world tomorrow, working all weekend and only have to bum a ride on Friday!

Soaking in a hot tub, washing away three day's worth of grime and waking up tomorrow to do it all again.

"It's not about what it is, it's about what it can become."  (Dr. Seuss)

Til next  time, a stinky dirty but extremely lucky and grateful COTTON.

The Comfort Zone

So it was back to the restaurant tonight for me. Waiting tables is NOT easy work but something I've been doing for  thirty four years, hence it's my "Comfort Zone."

I had a good night's sleep and got lots of errands run today. Got my Hurr Did, groceries bought, bills paid and yard cut. Work was great, it was busy and I had four different tables come in and ask for my section.(always a good thing) No hunting and pecking at computer  spread sheets or Excel, just talking and putting in orders and giving good service. It's so much easier now that I'm not doing it seven days a week, I actually enjoy it much more. I went in tonight and one of the managers said "Hey Ms. Cotton! I sure miss you around here."

I've stepped out of my comfort zone with this new part time job and sometimes feel totally overwhelmed, which is a good thing. You have to push yourself to get ahead. I sold a mattress and box springs to one of my restaurant coworker's boyfriend yesterday and when I went into work tonight she said he really liked the new mattress and slept like a baby last night. She also made the comment that he said I was going to do great at  this job. I hope he's right!

Life is closing in on me fast. In less than a month my youngest  graduates from high school (with honors) my oldest is living on the other side of the world and my middle one is turning out to make me pretty dang proud too!

What more can a girl ask for? I have two jobs I really like, three kids I absolutely adore and one husband who deserves a gold medal for putting up with the likes of me. Tim and I are a combination of Ralph and Alice, Al and Peg and Ricky and Lucy with a touch of  Archie and Edith except that I wouldn't be caught dead in one of Edith's dresses or Peg's heels and hair dos.

On top of it all I have three pups who I love too. One's blind, one's deaf (or just extremely stubborn) and one's just BAD. I wouldn't trade any one of the three, I love my pups and they are all crazy about me! I have three kids who are all different and unique in their own way....the pups followed suit.

I reached a stand still with  the Vet specialist I took my blind dog to. I'm going another avenue, contacting the Auburn Veterinary Program about having his sight restored. My vet thinks he is healthy enough for eye surgery and since he saved my Ham from heart worms, I'm going with his vote. It may sound uncaring or cruel but I am willing to take  the chance on his eye surgery.  He never runs anymore, he never jumps anymore, he simply bumps and bumbles his way though every  day. Click on this link to see Ham, being Ham!

http://youtu.be/xsKUECBVTCw

This is a video of him in his prime, just a few short years ago. I'm willing to take the gamble. He doesn't want to be a doddering old man, he wants to be HAM again!

So I worry  about my dogs  almost as much as I worry about my kids....I think that makes me a pretty caring person. That's not such a bad thing to be is it?

Swinging back to selling furniture tomorrow and swinging back to being a server on Sunday. I'm a lucky wife, a lucky mom and pretty satisfied person.

There's always room for improvement!

Til next  time...COTTON

Ready or Not...Here it Comes!

I quit trying to remember my last day off a couple of weeks ago. It was pointless, all my days have blended together. I just wake up and put on a uniform, go in and come home when they let me. That's the way it is during the holidays when you are a server. But if you don't work you don't get paid so I chose work. It's paid off and taken it's toll as well.

The kids have been pretty good about helping. I took three hours one day and knocked out their presents and have sent them out every day since with a detailed list for everyone else. I have maybe five gifts left to buy and was going to do  that today before I went into work at four.

 I woke up at nine this morning after working  two back to back grueling double shifts and noticed immediately that my pillow and bed never seemed to fit to my body so exactly perfect as they did at that very moment. I decided to give it another hour. I knew I had to drive to Griffin about twenty five minutes away to the mill store my momma shopped at when we were kids. It's called The Sock Shoppe."  You can find anything there ridiculously cheap from towels to socks to undies to jeans  to hoodies to jewelry.

 Tim brought me two 500 mg ibuprofen and a glass of orange juice. I called the mill store  and they were open on Christmas Eve til three so I rolled over and settled back in. It was my Christmas present to myself and an outstanding choice if I may say so.

I went into work at four and the tipping gods thankfully smiled on me. Had a bonus, one of my old customers from the Western Sizzler I used to work at came in with a huge bag of Divinity his mother makes every year and sends me a bag. It was like crack...I couldn't get enough.

Then it got even better. Two dear friends from Florida came in to eat with me. They love me dearly as I do them but are "Team Massey" all the way. They have shown my daughter so much love and in return my daughter loves them to the moon, which with the domino effect makes me love them even more. There have been times when I couldn't do  things for her and they made it happen. They not only love her but guide her. By being mentors to my girl they are being the greatest friends I could ever hope for. As a bonus I had a bag of crack to share with them!

I walked out the door tonight knowing I didn't have to be back til Wednesday afternoon and  felt like the Governor had given me a pardon or at least a stay of execution.

I think about this past year as it comes to a close. I am older, I am grayer and unfortunately I am thin as a walking stick. I hate looking in the mirror seeing my gaunt gray self but then think it is a face of someone who has survived with the help of  many and realize I am  thin and bony,  but  by Webster's definition of  gaunt  certainly don't consider myself  "Bleak and desolate."

I am one stinking lucky woman.

We have all survived.  My husband and kids  should all get medals for putting up with my manic insanity. My family and friends have helped us through the dark side and  can see a light at the end of the tunnel. If it isn't a train, we'll be okay.

My pup who is blind and unfortunately has heart worms  has been taken care of by  donations. It may sound crazy to care about a dog this much. If my three kids needed help they would definitely be first but lucky for me they are all healthy just lazy.

I am blessed beyond belief. We have battled back from six months behind on our mortgage to eight weeks late. In this economy I consider that a miracle in its self.

It will be a good Christmas. Got a tree in the living room that smells great after I clean up Ziggy's dog poop. My friends bought it for us. It is wonderful to be loved.

It's crazy around here...and I kinda like it that way. It's been crazy so long it would feel weird to be normal which Webster's defines as " Conforming with, adhering to, or constituting a norm."

My family is anything but normal but deal with the cards we were dealt.

Kinda makes you want to  come to our house on Christmas Day doesn't it?  Come see the freak show we'll be here all day!

Come on down...There will be lots of laughs, lots of  food and lots of love!

"Come one come all....there is love for you all."

Merry  Christmas!  COTTON