Flintstone Vs Jetson

Massey is most definitely a Jetson.

I'm half Flintstone half Clampett.

(not a good combo in this techno world) 

At least I still weigh the same as I did in high school (and was slim then) have a somewhat sassy hair do, and even luckier...have a daughter still living with me who knows every thing I don't.

When we were in the process of buying our new home, I'm quite sure Tim and I were the water cooler funny story every morning at the mortgage lenders' office.

It took me twenty minutes to open an attachment the first time they sent one to me.

The process of e-signing it took an additional hour of trial and error, followed by fifteen more minutes of figuring out how to send it back.

Yeah, these are me.

Heck, I still go through a book of stamps in less than two weeks, and that's not counting bills. Texting is okay for a rapidly needed response and I'm fine with e-mailing too but would much rather sit down usually (pretty much always) at night, with a glass of wine and my favorite pen and paper. 

It's a challenge to me.

Sometimes I have to think of, or search for the exact word, to convey via pen and paper the feeling or emotion I am wanting to get across.

It's exhilarating to me to think that maybe people who receive something from me snail mail, actually get it  (my exact feeling) simply from the way I express it on paper, with an ink pen none the less!

Technology and money are both over rated if you ask me.

Unfortunately living in 2019 for me, requires both.

I've never seen a movie before I've read the book. Same with Game of Thrones. Read every book, lost interest after season two on HBO.

Loved the books though!

Words are powerful, when chosen and used wisely.

There's nothing more relaxing and satisfying to me, than sitting down with pen and paper... and expanding on life, my own experiences or maybe someone elses... beyond all texting, e-mailing and social media... and forwarding that to someone... for them to literally open with their hands after retrieving it from their mailbox and read it.

My message is one you can actually have and keep  in your possession. 

You can keep it for as long as you want. (without ever having to  click and  save)

As humans, we need to reach out more to each other, in a physical way.

Whether it be a nod to let someone else go ahead in front of you, or a smile to enjoy anothers' moment you simply happen upon and witness, as it occurs.

Sometimes, people just need a hug.

Life is a heck of a lot more than copy and paste.

Live your moment.

Til next time ...COTTON

Happy Birthday Jed

Tomorrow is my husband's fifty seventh birthday.

Our oldest will be thirty three in two months.

Our younger son will be twenty seven this July.

Our youngest turns twenty four this August.

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

to here.

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

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

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

First we lived here.

Then we lived here.

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

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

Here's the thing ...

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

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

My Momma didn't raise no quitter.

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

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

 He was gone almost two years.

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

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

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

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

I have a very bossy way about me.

Luckily I married the Job of Jeds.

#BibleMeetsTheClampetts

Our house was almost next to go.

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

And now we live here...

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

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

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

You asked me to this dance of life.

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

Happy Birthday, Partner!

And quit looking so happy with my sister. 

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

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

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

This new 'Hello' has been awesome.

Thank You.

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

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

and both know it.

#Gratefulforeverybreath

Til next time...COTTON

And It Just Keeps Getting Better

After almost two and a half years at my new job, I've finally got it down pat.

It's true what they say about teaching an old dog new tricks...

It ain't easy.

I think (know) it would be easier if I didn't care so much about what kind of job I do when I'm clocked in...but I do.

I hit the clock and immediately go to work, and continue to work until I clock back out.

I learned decades ago, if you do your job right the first time, you don't have to do it over.

True fact.

About six months ago, they started scheduling me for dayshifts one or two times a week. It worked out great with Tim beginning to work more and more out of town during the week. Massey works until after ten o'clock and someone needs to be here for our blind pup, who doesn't like to be left outside in the yard for more than a few minutes.

I never request a specific schedule, I just work whatever shifts they give me. The only requests I make are when I ask for time off for visiting friends and family. Other than that I have full availability...but certainly enjoyed day shifts. The money wasn't as good but has really been picking up with all the new construction going on in the immediate area. They are opening a town center in front of our restaurant with a hundred different retail shops, restaurants, movie theatres and bowling alley. Also under construction next to us is a convention center with a man made lagoon and beach in front. Across the road from us is a totally solar powered water park already under construction. On the other side of our place is Boxi Park, opening on Valentine's Day. All storefronts (restaurants, boutiques, bars) are refurbished shipping containers. It will include a dog park, beach volleyball and also have live music venues.

Needless to say, it's gonna be more than a popping area. Already open by us, is the USTA national campus with over a hundred tennis courts and Drive Shack, a Top Golf type venue run by the PGA.

Every single week foot traffic increases and so does business.

The past few weeks I have been blessed with more and more day shifts... and I don't take it for granted.

I make sure every single thing is done before I clock out and leave the night shift set up for a successful shift.

Bonus points, I'm usually a closer, which means it's up to me to make sure the other AM servers do their fair share before they leave. 

I never assign all the work to others so I don't have to do any, but instead say "This is what needs to be done, so lets all get started on it together, and all get done together."

So work ethic and dedication have once again paid off for me. My latest schedule came out yesterday and am working Monday through Friday, all day shifts. Couldn't have happened at a better time. Tim leaves for Virginia in the morning and won't be back until Friday night.


It's true.

What comes around goes around.

I'm a crazy one, but I like it that way.


I prefer to think I am also a pretty decent person. Not the best, far from it... but feel like I am at least a positive addition to society.

And seems to have paid off.

We've moved into a perfect forever home, both of us are knocking our jobs out of the park and life is falling into place after almost ten years.

 Never ask for help, unless you are willing to  help others.

This world is turning...and spinning the truth.

Find your groove in life.


Til next time...COTTON

Old Peeps Need A Project

I've tried to be really good about tackling one project or part of a project, every single day since moving into our magical mystery tour of our new forever home, after ten years of debts and doubt.

It's been a complete blast.

It's all about "That was then, but this is now."

I've never been happier.

We're now living in a house almost as old as I am... which  weathered the journey better than me.

From all accounts we have heard (on our block and  further away)  since moving in, this property (now ours) was loved, cultivated, pruned, upgraded, and been the stomping grounds for more than one killer party.

Number one we have a tree hut for views of the sunset over the lake.

Number two we have an awesome fire pit out back, underneath massive live oaks with vines streaming down from them big enough for Tarzan to swing from...with tons of cut up wood waiting out back by the utility shed.

Bonus points for winter nights...luckily few and far between.

I love our bedroom with the wood floor and its five windows, but was just so dark with the wooden built ins as well.

BAM!





Life is at its best when every day is a challenge but ends with you smiling at your accomplishments.

I'm one of the lucky ones.

I got nothing but time on my hands.

Some peeps don't.

Never worry about something small in your life. If something small happens, you're one of the lucky ones.

My prayers are fast and furious for my warrior friends.

#CallMeAnyTime

COTTON