Just Another Manic Monday...

I know it seems that I have abandoned my blog...I am surprised that I didn't get an email from Jason letting me know that I haven't blogged all week! A lot has been going on this past week, but nothing that's blogworthy...now that I think of it, nothing exciting happened at all last week! So, hopefully this one will be a good one!

Saturday, I kept two of the most precious little girls in the world! Nothing warms my heart like the sound of children giggling or a baby coo-ing. Completely heart capturing! By Saturday late afternoon, I was climbing the walls of my apartment out of boredom. Sunday, I skipped church so I could get out of town for a bit. I went to my aunt and uncles and spent the day. I needed it and enjoyed it so much! When I can't have my momma, her sister fills the void perfectly!

Honestly, I've got nothing for you today...I will try not to let you down later on in the week...maybe something good will happen! The only fun thing that happened today was I went to yoga with the FD...somehow I got talked into working out with them on Monday's, Wednesday's & Friday's...which works great for me cause I got a slinky blue satin dress I gotta get back into for a friends wedding in April and the strappy silver heels have been calling my name from the top of my closet!

Ooopsie Whoopsie...

Hey Guys! It's me, Bentley!

I'm in a little bit of a pickle. You see, my mother, we'll call her Stacey for the sake of argument, is really not happy with me! To be honest, all hell broke loose last night...I'll tell you my story and then you can make your own decision. It began a few months ago when she started really working with me on behaving. Back then I was a cute little puppy and I know that she thought I was just being a "puppy" and that's why my attention span was not all that great. Wrong. I am a terrier...that's what I do...I terrorize! I think that she has caught on to my game now though and here was my first clue. She created a "no-no" stick. It was a rolled up paper magazine, Farm Bureau, I believe. My first instinct was "hey, why aren't you looking in the classifieds of this paper to find us a house with some land so I can run freely" but she was actually using it to "discipline" me! Not cool. So, eventually, my AMAZING jumping skills that are structurally created within my DNA kicked in. Oh yes, I can jump way high...and soar too! From one couch to another...not to brag or anything, but I should be studied I'm so good. Anyway, she usually leaves me unattended when she gets ready in the mornings. I like to keep her on her toes though. Usually, she shuts her door and I, being the "good dog" she wants me to be would be laying outside her door when she opens it when she finally emerges from getting ready...geesh, she should be studied...it takes her forever...probably has to do with that hair she has...I'll give her credit, it aint easy taming that mess...believe me, I've seen it in ALL stages! Long story short, she shut her door and I knew I had time to seek and destroy the "no-no" stick. I unleashed all my energy and ran down the hall, made the turn around the couch and then I kicked into my Micheal Jordan soaring action and BAM! I was on the coffee table, the holder of the "no-no" stick. I quickly devoured it. Funny thing is not only did she have to clean it up, but she had nothing to punish me with! ha ha ha...

Then, she decided to use the fly-swater to pop me...

As you can see, I didn't take to kindly to that source of discipline either!

So, now we are working on "hush" and "no" in the verbal tense without any rod of correction. I know that I like it much better, her...not so much. Sometimes I listen, sometimes I don't care to listen to the long string of words that are coming out of her mouth. Some words I have never heard before...kinda ear piercing and for a dog to say that, well...that's bad since we can hear and tolerate noised you humans can't!

If you will recall, she cleaned out her closet while we were at her parents for Christmas. Well, talk about junk. She found these stuffed "things" and threw them at me to play with. I think it was more of a way to get me out from under her feet. I love to stay right under her and she hates it. She's scared I'm going to trip her...she caught on to my motive faster than I thought. She is no dummy, that's for sure! So I played with them nicely for a while, but when we got back home, I was really tired of those "things" looking at me so I tore off their eyes...then I pulled out their head stuffing. Of course, I do this kind of activity at night because she is in her bed sleeping and I am in my crate plotting out the next day's course of actions. I also know that she likes to keep her house so so, which is why when I pulled out all the stuffing I pushed it through my crates' bars so the stuffing would be everywhere...just not in my "house." She didn't care for this either. Hell, I was just trying to give her something to do. I thought it was kinda sweet...hahaha!

I mean look at these freaks...wouldn't you have done the same thing???

Well, last night I really got to her. She is so quiet here at night and she never talks to me so I, being the gentleman that I am, initiated the conversation with a HIGH pitched bark. Man, her eyes shot right through me! She didn't respond so I did it again. Oh, that made her speak to me but it was that dreadful "hush." Whatever I thought, so I pranced on out to the balcony to do some more patrolling and to watch for that guy that always speaks to her...I don't care for this dude and I let it show by standing between them and barking uncontrollably until he is forced to carry on about his business because he can't get a word in edgewise. Back to my story, she was bundled up with her new favorite blanked that Courtney gave her for Christmas. I must admit, it is very soft. If I didn't have a built in blanket of fur, I would probably get under it too. She bundles up every night because she is cheap, I mean "thrifty," and won't run the heat. Well, I had been in the crate all day it seemed on both Saturday and Sunday and I wasn't going to let her forget that I was NOT happy about it! She was in the recliner as usual, but she didn't have her foot rest up, so I cautiously carried out my next scheme. I had to empty my bladder. Usually, I go to the door and whine or jump and she knows I need to go mark my territory, but not tonight. My new target was her. I know that when I did it she just thought I was trying to get under her feet as usual, but not this time. My motive was completely different. I unleashed a massive amount of processed water onto her new blanket. To my surprise, it didn't soak it up it beaded up like rain on a waxed car and pooled at her feet. Rut Row, this may not be good. Knowing the next few minutes may turn ugly I quickly ran and hid under the table. Then it happened. She finally got up and when she threw her blanket off of her...well, pee flew EVERYWHERE!! On the blinds, on the sliding glass doors, on the floor, on the rug, on the chair and on her. Note to self: cut back on my water intake, that was a lot. Anyway, to say the least she was, well, pissed! HAHAHA, man I wag my own tail sometimes! Can you believe that she put me in my crate without a treat?!?! Ugh, the audacity she has...obviously she didn't appreciate my gesture. She also said words like "pound puppy" "meet Jesus tonight" and I think there were some words in Spanish too! I'm not sure what a "pound puppy" is, but I am kinda excited about meeting this Jesus character. He must be pretty cool because I have heard her say his name before but her eyes were always closed. So, my guess is that he is this person that is so awesome that you can't look directly at him...I don't know, I must pontificate on this subject matter some more. Well, it looks like she isn't going to work today so I must leave you now and go plot some more from my favorite spot...

My perch on the balcony!

Crotch sniffs and wet kisses,
Bentley

P.S. I think that she is thinking of changing my name from Bentley, to Damnit Bentley. I've been hearing it a lot lately. She must be verbally testing it out to see if she likes the way it rolls off her tongue.

Blink Your Eyes and A Decade Has Passed...

This week I began research for my 10 year reunion. A slow start, but a start nonetheless! Thank goodness for social media is all I can say! I graduated with 93 people in my class and about 60 of them are on Facebook...makes it a whole lot easier to plan when you can create a "group" and then message the whole group!

One one hand, life flies by and before you know it you are grown, married, have a family and a steady career path. On the other hand, life as we know it is the longest "activity" that we will ever do here on Earth. There is absolutely nothing you can do that takes longer than living. When you think about it in those terms, the ho-hum of the day to day mumbo jumbo is just that...MUMBO JUMBO! We can't let little things get us down and keep us down. We all have good days and bad. We take for granted those that are close to us and never think that any extra efforts to call or visit would make any difference. Well, they do! I know I am horrible about calling my parents. They know it and I know it. I can easily go a week without calling, but when that week is closing in, my mom or dad is on the other end of my phone that's ringing! I've always been that way though...a little too independent at an early age in my mom's opinion but not soon enough for my dad. I even asked my dad once why he never called to check on me while I'm on the road. His response was 'If I have to worry about you and every little thing you do, I didn't raise you right.' Guess he has a point...

So, think about it. Flash back to those first 18 years of your life. At the time they seemed so drawn out and things were never going to change. High school graduation couldn't come soon enough and neither could moving out. I remember telling my parents over and over how I was leaving home the day I graduated and I meant it! Obviously, that didn't happen...thanks fall freshman class of 2001 for being the biggest enrolling class at Auburn at that time...nothing like being wait-listed!

What takes us from being four years old without a care in the world because our parents could, and would, fix anything...

To being a senior in high school and having to make decisions about "what you want to be." Because all that really mattered to me during those years between 9th and 12th grade was socializing, hanging out with friends, goofing off and the following...

My first love...my 1991 Firebird...

Getting ready for prom...

Going to prom and hanging out with your best friends...and your date too, I guess...Oh the things that you wish you could change...well, mainly my Sr year! LOL!

Doing well in photography, having your photo displayed and receiving the MIRA Award two years in a row...In my opinion, I didn't think my photos were that great...but I'll take an award!!

Having a great ball game and waiting to see who's photo would make the paper...yours or your team mates...Thanks Grandmother for cutting out every one of mine!!

Winning Championships... I'm back row, third from the right..

Trying to make the best out of your last game you will ever play...

Being elected Sr. Class President...and ten years later thinking "Why did you do that?"

Sr. skip day on the river...

Sr. play "Lil Abner" and yest that's me, back row center with my blacked out tooth!!

Being chosen as Homecoming Maid my freshman year and on the court my senior year..

And finally making it to graduation...thanks geometry for kicking my tail and causing me to be the only one in the top 20 of my class without a the gold Beta Club sash...at least I still had my honor cords and metals!

These activities are what kept my attention during those "what do you want to be" years...hell, I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up! But I am really looking forward to seeing my old classmates...when there is only 93 of you, you tend to be close. Not only did my first 18 years of life fly by...so did the last 10.

Ode to Auburn...The Loveliest Village on the Plains

I am going to begin by borrowing a few words from the famous Sonnet 43 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Auburn...

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

(Take the words at face value. While I absolutley love to dive into poetry and break it down until you find the true meaning of what the author was saying, I am not doing that here!!)

Yes, I love my National Championship Auburn Tigers, down to my childhood's faith! War Damn Eagle! Seriously, let me count the ways for you...

1) Samford Building-You are a beautiful masonry structure that will always be iconic to Auburn University

Me on graduation day in front of Samford Hall...I must have been REALLY excited...that's the only reasoning I can think of to even acknowledge this goofy pose

2)Ridgewood Village-Lot 33, you were my home for 3 years and during those years...well, we've been through lots! I have never been so proud to be "Alabama Trailer Trash" than I was during those years! Having guys from back home just a few trailers down made it even better and easy to adjust with the move.

3) Toomers Corner/Toomers Drugs-A beautiful, majestic oak has stood there and taken year after year of toilet papering and yet it always managed to look so breathtaking. With toilet tissue flapping in the wind, it has maintained its importance to the college and continues to be one of the best landmarks we have! You can even buy this tree's seedlings to plant in your own yard! Toomers Drugs...hands down, the best lemonade ever!

4) Haley Center-I spent SO many days within your completely confusing building. I can still smell your sent lingering within my nostrils on a daily basis...nothing compares to you and the bookstore you house on the bottom floor.

5) The Library-I can't remember your actual name at the moment. That right there is a sign that I did not visit you enough! However, I remember how extremely quiet you were and I could never get any studying done because I was always thinking to myself "does it really have to be THIS quiet in here?" I am sorry I didn't visit often, I prefer to have background noise when I study.

6) Ware Jewelers-You were my favorite job! Not just because of discounts, but because of employee parking downtown across from campus on game days! You rock!

7) The Flight of the Eagle-No home ballgame would be complete without it! To this day it is the best thing your two eyes can witness! To watch such a majestic bird fly in circles around the stadium while you and 86, 000 of your closest friends continually yell "WARRRRRR" until in pounces upon the target on the 50 yard line and you finish with "EAGLE, HEY!" is a moment in time that you will never forget and continually look forward to with every new football season. I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it! Here is a link to watch if you are so inclined...it's Tiger VI's retirement flight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLF2OHEIPuY&feature=related

8) Foy Student Union-A great place to visit with classmates and friends. A great place to pick up a coffee for your ethics teacher because you need to butter him up. A great place to call when you need any random question answered...seriously. Just call them!

9) Tiger Statues-Randomly placed, colorful patterns, and strategically placed throughout town. I never minded tripping over your paws.

10) The Nightlife-You were fantastic!

The coliseum on campus and where graduation was held.

I believe in Auburn and LOVE IT!!

Last night and tonight I had 'girl time' with one of my favorite girls! While looking for my Auburn pictures on my computer (I am still missing a lot of them though...) I found this picture of me and Ashley. It's from her bridesmaid luncheon a few years ago...

It really made me realize...I never dress up anymore! I guess throwing a hot roller in my hair every once and a while wouldn't hurt anything! I'm sure my momma is thinking the same thing!!

Happy (Belated) New Year!

I really enjoyed my time at home this Christmas. I didn't really do anything and it was awesome! I was home for almost two weeks and while I was there I was able to spend time with my family, which is one of the most important things to me. Without them, I have no idea where I would be today! I left T-ville on the Tuesday before Christmas. I went straight to Pensacola to see my old co-workers and to do a few errands for mom. It was really nice to see my old co-workers and their new building. They were having their annual Christmas luncheon and I do believe the funniest part of the day was when a guy I use to work with came up to me and asked me what I brought. I just looked at him and said "I don't work here anymore." He said "yeah, I know, but you always brought the best stuff...just hoping you still brought something!" After staying a few hours, I decided I better head home. Unfortunately, mom was sick and stayed sick till a few days before New Years. We did manage to make a trip into Pensacola after Christmas, which is where I found two more of my Waterford 12 Days of Christmas flutes! YAY!! Now, I only need days 1, 7 & 8 and I will have them all!! I have a feeling day 1 will be really hard to find!

I spent a few days doing little of nothing....just visiting and catching up with friends or taking care of mom. I hung out with daddy and Heath a few days at the barn, but all in all I had a very relaxing and enjoyable time not having to be anywhere...no meetings, no emails, no phone calls...it was nice.

One night me and my cousin, Brad (I have two cousins named Brad-it can get confusing), met up with Nick and Crystal, his fiance, in Bay Minette for supper. It was good to see Nick, I haven't seen him in years and only met Crystal once before. I'm sure their wedding in April will be fun! Looking forward to it!

Me and dad out looking at the irrigation system they were getting ready to move

Heath and dad doing something...not sure what

That's some sweet asses, ain't it?

On Thursday, Dec 30th, we went over to Spanish Fort to my aunt and uncle's. My Aunt Ronda was throwing my Uncle Greg (I call him Greggie Poo) a surprise 5oth birthday party. From what I can remember, it was a great time and had lots of potential to be even greater! Unfortunately, that was the beginning of the end for me. Lucky me, food poisoning started settling in on me and when I was puking my guts up in my little cousin's bathroom, I decided it would be best that I started the hour drive home...thanks mom and dad for driving me! Nothing builds your self confidence like having your mom hold your hair back while your throwing up on the side of a major hwy...as well as the baptist church parking lot in Atmore. I finally emerged from bed on Saturday at noon. All I can say is God bless my parents cause I know I'm not the nicest person when I am sick...I, like my dad, like to be left alone. My smart ass tendencies tend to come out and you really on get one chance, per day, to ask me how I am feeling before you start to get on my nerves. Luckily no one exceeded their limit! :) My precious momma though was a trooper and put up with me! I'm glad she was finally feeling better or else my dad would have had his hands full!! By Sunday, I finally pulled myself together, packed my stuff and said my goodbyes. I had to get back and get my stuff ready for the work week. All I have to say was that was the longest ride back...ever! Those four hours seemed like eight.

Ben, me, Caroline and Heath at Greggie Poo's Birthday (Minuets before I was knocking on death's door)

My aunt Ronda, Uncle Greg, Ben and Caroline

Now for a quick goodbye to 2010...

Dear 2010,
I WILL NOT MISS YOU. This past year has not been the best of years. You continually took people out of my family. You took an aunt, her son, and my grandfather. In April you tried to take Ashley. While you did take her's and Joseph's baby, I don't know what I would have done if you would have succeeded with actually taking my Ashley Paige. Dear Lord, I know you take us when you are ready, but I am so thankful you weren't quite ready for Ashley. Also, 2010, you marked two 5 year anniversaries for me. On August 31st, you marked the 5 year anniversary of my dad's heart attack. That is something I would really prefer not to have to go through again. Then on September 9th, you marked the 5 year anniversary of the death of my best friend from age 3, Ricky. Dying at age 23 is sad on it's own, but loosing someone that was a great friend for 20 years is worse. HOWEVER, you weren't 100% awful to me. I did meet PKD and his family in 2010 and for that I am truly thankful.

2011...be good to me!

Ghost of Closet Past

I held true to my promise to mom. My old closet has now been cleaned out. I started around 7:00 am this morning and finished a little after noon. I had a lot of crap! I still really didn't want to believe that it was all mine, but 97% of it was. I kept some of the stupidest stuff too! Almost fifteen years later, I finally threw away my birthday cards from my 13th birthday...completely ridiculous! It was fun reminiscing though about the things I came across. Let's venture in and take a peek! Remember, this is what it looked like to begin with...

I found many interesting items and some not so interesting items...like my braces, how gross!! I found a box full of notes/letters from high school. Ashley G must have never paid attention in class because I swear I have so many letters from her they could be bound and published! But, on the other hand...why do I still have them?!?!

At the very top of my closet I found this picture! I was 14 and at cheerleading camp at Auburn the summer before freshman year started. The summer of 1997 was also the last year of short bangs for me. The reasoning should not even have to be explained...the picture says it all! The sad part of this is that I was probably the one who cut my bangs! Farmer tanned arms, nice scar/scrap above my left knee, and shin high bleach white socks...what a hot mess I was! LOL!!

Moving on along...I only cheered my freshman year. I quickly realized that it was cutting into my sports. I never want to relive the days of playing a full basketball game, pouring down with sweat, and changing out of my ball uniform to try an pry on my cheerleading uniform to go cheer for the boys ball game. A cheerleading suit is very unforgiving when you are sweaty. Anyway, I came across my plaques from high school ball. I have no idea what I am going to do with them. For now, I have them shoved in a box.

This was the funniest part of the day. I found this book "All About Me" from when I was in the 3rd grade. I was a horrible speller then and I am a horrible speller now! Dad came in and saw it laying on the desk and began to read it...well, try to read it! I'm not real sure what I was trying to say on some pages! On my "Personal Inventory" page, one of the questions asked what my favorite color was. My response? Orchid. While I did have a very good imagination growing up (and still do!) I did not use it on my answer. How do I know this? The background of my page is colored in a purple-ish color. I am very certain it was the name of the Crayola Crayon I was using. The other thing that makes me certain is because Orchid is spelled correctly. At this point I'm not even spelling "sick" correctly so I know all I did was copy it off the crayon label!! My number one wish at this age was to "live to be 100 and never be sike (a.k.a sick)." I also had to make three wishes. One for my friends, one for the world, and one for myself. For my friends I wished that they all had color tv, for the world, I wanted it to be drug free, and for myself I wanted a college degree. Hmm...those where pretty odd wishes for a third grader! I wanted the world to be drug free but judging from my answers on some things and my not-so-great coloring skills, it looks like I was on drugs! Apparently I also wanted to travel back to the year 1871 so I could go to school outside. I guess in my little head buildings weren't invented at that point in time! Reading further into my book I found out I had an imaginary friend named Mr. Keel...I think I was trying to spell "Mr. Cool" but missed it by a long shot! But the real hum dinger of this whole book is the last page. When asked what makes me glad, I responded with "Iic crem, p.e., Cirtemas, and school." My how things have changed. I do not like ice cream, thank God I spelt "P.E" and "school" correctly, and thankfully I learned how to spell Christmas too! And in case you were wondering, the things that made me sad was "Win some won dids" (when someone dies)...Dear Lord, please don't let my children get my spelling gene!

I had forgot that I had this! This remote control whoopee cushion is making a come back! I cannot wait to start having fun with this again!!! Here is your fair warning...don't bend over if you are around me!!!

Four trash bags and three goodwill bags later, this was the finished product. Still isn't great, but it will do for now!

Home for the Holidays

Another Christmas Day has come and gone and before we know it, next year's Christmas will be upon us. As usual, we (mom, dad, Heath and I) exchanged our gifts on Christmas morning. While this is nice, it would be more fun if there were little children involved...maybe one day! I thoroughly enjoyed all my presents I received this year and truly thankful for everyone in my life. I received the last two editions (11 and 12) of my Waterford Twelve Days of Christmas flutes. I got in on the tail end of this collection so I am now having to go back and get flutes from the beginning. So far, the Waterford outlet in Destin has been my best friend for this! Last year after Christmas I stopped in on my way back to T-ville and bought three other flutes. The best part was I go three for a little more than the price of one in the department stores! That is what I call a good deal!!

This is my mom's tree...I always love looking at it!

I made this ornament many years ago and mom still puts it on her tree!

These are my 11th and 12th edition of my Waterford Flutes. Eleven Drummers Drumming and Twelve Pipers Piping.

For lunch we all gathered at grandmother's (my dad's mom). I went over a little early to set the table. This has always been my task...partly due to the fact of my obsession with china and all that entails. Mom, dad, Heath and I went together and got my grandmother a Wii. When she opened it she, along with her sister, Aunt Sharee, screamed like little girls. Needless to say, the Wii was hooked up immediately!!















Me with my grandmother and aunt
















Dad and Heath playing baseball on the Wii




My grandmother's happy dance!



My Aunt Sharee and Uncle Edward getting in on the fun!

That afternoon, I went to see my best friend Courtney. She has the most precious little niece! I could hold her forever but Court won't give her up! This is the sweetest picture of them...the only thing sweeter would be if Court was holding her own daughter and she would also be my niece...Court, Heath, quit fighting your love for each other! LOL!!





I'd be lying if I said this Christmas was great. It was bittersweet at best. For the first time in 27 years, I sat down at my grandparents dining room table and PawPaw was not right beside me. We all have our assigned seats and mine has always been right beside him. The only time this is not true is when my Uncle Scott is home from Tampa. I figure since he doesn't get to come home often I'll let him sit by his dad. We still have lots of "firsts" to get through. We've made it through our first Thanksgiving and Christmas without him. Next up, January 31...his birthday.

The one task my mother has begged me to do since I have moved out (in 2002) was to clean out my closet at their house. I am really going to try to do it this week. They have since turned my room into a home office for the farm, so I really don't see what it is hurting, but I will hold true to my promise! This is the before picture...hopefully the after will look a lot better! This is my disclaimer though: My closet does not look like this! My closets are a lot neater! My clothes are grouped by color and then the colors are alphabetized from black to white (no yellow because I don't wear yellow...it's not in my color wheel for my complexion!). The chaos of this closet is contributed to many factors...this is not the way I left it! It is full of old high school stuff. If you notice, you can see my ribbon from being Homecoming Maid, my athletic Letter with my pins, cheerleading outfit, prom dresses, sporting apparel and last but not least...bridesmaids dresses! For those who do not know this fun fact about me, I have been in TEN weddings and Maid of Honor in four of them. I have quite the collection of dresses!





P.S. I have no idea why some pictures are centered and some are not. My guess is that the problem is ME! LOL!!