You SPIN Me Right Round...

I am warning you, in advance, that what I am about to write is my fault, but if you stick around to read it, it is your fault!  HAHA! I had quite the mishap at the gym on Monday...well, my second trip to the gym on Monday. I go to yoga every morning at 6:15...except for this Friday, because I have a GAZA Board Meeting in LaGrange that I have to leave early for and next week...apparently my instructor observes this holiday called Spring Break...I have heard of it but it has been years since I have partook of any festivities!  Anyway, back to the mishap.  Monday is usually Circuit, well, let me back up...the FD had to change their schedule for their workouts.  Because of their work rotation, some of them were not doing some of the workouts for three weeks so they have extended the classes to an hour and a half and combined the workouts into a few different things such as circuit and yoga together.  ANYWAY, like I said, circuit was suppose to be Monday but instead they had to change it to Spin and Body Attack.  Since I can't stay for the whole time, I usually just stay for spin which is great because I love it!  Tim is really good at pushing me (aka hitting me with the towel when he thinks I'm slacking) so we usually sit beside each other.  He tried to get me to sit in front of him, but I do not care for my butt to be in anyone's face...I prefer to be up against the wall.  I really don't care for anyone in front of me...some people are rather flatulent and you never know what they had for lunch!  Well, I being the good Baptist that I am, chose a bike in the back of the room.  Tim and I apparently need to have a come to Jesus meeting about where to sit because the little brown noser was in the second row!  After a brief discussion, on which he won, I was moved to the front row.  Here lately I feel like I have lost my fighting side.  I usually win arguments with him...or so I like to think...and while I am rather pissed off about a few things in life right now, I didn't put up much of a fight with moving, or much of a fight on anything these days...I am focusing my hurt and anger toward something else other than people.

Once I realized that I was moving up front, I had to dismount my bike.  Those who know me well know I am not the most graceful thing in the world.  It is really hard to fathom that I took ballet, but I did and now 20 years later I can't even get off a bike!  The pedals have straps on them and I forgot to take my right foot out of it.  The pedal completely attacked my leg on my way down...I'm still not sure how it all happened, but it did and only these type of mishaps happen to me.  Once I got myself back together, I went up to the front and since I was a little disgruntled with bikes at this point, Tim adjusted my new bike.  Later in class,  we were really going, and I mean going!  My legs burning and noodle-like; wanting to stop but my anger inside me wont let me and neither will Tim who keeps fussing at me "Faster" or "Tighter" (referring to the resistance on the bike).  As we are going, I realize a pain on the inside of my right thigh, just above the knee area.  It felt like I hit something...then I felt it again and again.  I was so focused on my spinning that I didn't realize I was hitting the bike seat adjuster knob...well, it let me know that it was there!

All I can say is...it hurts!

 Oh Spin,
You did me in.
For 45 minutes I was mounted on your seat,
Determined it was you I would beat.
I never thought that you would win,
Oh how wrong I have been!

Oh Spin,
You did me in.
Next week we will meet in class,
And next week I will kick your ass.
No more crap I will take from you,
Nor more will my legs turn black and blue.

Oh Spin,
You did me in.
For 45 minutes you make me sweat,
But when it's over you give me pep.
You have made my legs tone and tight,
To push me a little more, Tim has the right.

Oh Spin,
You did me in.
At first it was you I wanted to cut,
Mainly because your seat was a big pain in my butt.
But now my butt is nice with tone,
If you were a dog I'd toss you bone.

Oh Spin,
You did me in.
Only thing I hate more than miming,
Is this poem of full of rhyming.
I have rhymed about you for a few verses,
Begrudgingly with little to no cusses.

Oh Spin you did me in,
and this poem MUST end.
I will see you again next week,
With the FD boys who are not meek.
Good night spin and your seat,
For after Zumba tonight I am beat!

I warned you didn't I?!?! HAHAHAHA!! I really do love spin...it is a love/hate relationship. My leg really does hurt though! Kinda burns a bit too...oh well...this ain't my first rodeo.  I have had a bigger bruise than that before on my legs!  Bruises and scars always had a home on my legs from sports... especially the year my high school team decided to play in shorts instead of pants...ugh...

Home Sweet Home

This weekend I finally made it home again!  I haven't been home since Christmas!  It was great to walk through my parent's back door and have the "smell" of home hit me! 

Friday night mom, dad and I crossed the street to the ballpark.  As we were walking up my dad mention that he had not been over to the ballpark since I last played there.  I quickly did the math and realized that was about 15 years ago!  Geeze!  Where has the time gone!?!  My brother is coaching 9 & 10 year olds and I could not be any prouder of him.  He loves kids (WAY more than I do) and he LOVES baseball so it really isn't a surprise to me that he is loving coaching!  I couldn't help but have flashbacks while we were at the park.  When my brother and I were both still playing at this park there was one instance where we were up to bat at the same time.  The baseball field and softball field are right next to each other.  Heath ended up hitting a foul ball and the dang thing came over and hit me in the leg.  It was the oddest thing and one of those things that could never be done again.  Heath was a great ball player.  I remember being in middle school and I was at his high school game and it was my birthday,  He called me over to the dugout and asked me if I wanted a home run for my birthday.  I said yes, of course!  He go up to bat, a perfect swing, and there went that baseball...just soaring through that night sky...well over the fence!

Unfortunately, his team lost their first game on Friday night and of course, I am now banned from coming back since obviously it was my fault! LOL!

 Saturday morning, I met up with some friends and went and picked strawberries.  We had a great time since we talked more than we picked! 

Me and my genetically challenged berry...it was quite windy, can you tell??  

Me and my Bucket-O-Berries

Saturday was also a furry little creatures first birthday!  Ole Bentley finally turned a year old and I am SO glad because that is one year closer to him getting old and calming down!!  No, he didn't get a special treat or anything...his birthday gift is that I haven't sent him to the pound yet!  I take that back, I did get him some balls to play with and chase outside since I took his real balls away from him a few weeks ago!  You would think that would calm him down, but you can get rid of evil so quickly!  The day of his surgery when I brought him home, I was suppose to carry him up the stairs.  Well, that's kinda hard to do when he takes off as soon as you get him out of the car and he's up the stairs before you know it like nothing ever happened! 



Happy Birthday Bentley!



Saturday afternoon I went to visit some old friends and we had a craw fish and shrimp boil.  It was good to see them and ready to see them at their wedding later in April.  An old high school friend of mine is going with me to the wedding.  Jacob and I went to his senior prom together,,,,this was us then....

Prom 2000

I'll take another picture for comparision on our aging process over the last 11 years!!

Farm Fresh

Last Monday night my dad, along with two other men from back home, were in Tallahassee for a state meeting.  My cousin and I were able to go down and join them for supper Monday night.  I did this last year as well and while the meeting is long, it is interesting to hear what house bills, legislative updates, etc are on their way.

The meeting was a Farm Bureau meeting and their slogan has something to do with "Family Farm" ...the actual logo is escaping my tired mind at the moment.  Regardless of what the slogan is, I am truly thankful for growing up on a family farm.  Being raised on a farm is one of the greatest opportunities in life, however my opinion is a little slanted.  Do you ever really think of where your food came from?  Where your clothes came from?  Where that piece of paper you were just writing on with a pencil came from?  Where marshmallows and jello come from (in case you didn't know geltin comes from the hoof of a cow)?  Where your soybean based makeup came from?  Where the wheat came from that makes that cold beer taste so good?  Next time you see a farmer you need to thank them. 

Right now every farmer is busting their behind to get their crops in the ground and as soon as they finish planting they hit their knees and pray to God that their crop makes it.  Why?  Farmer are nothing more than gamblers.  Everyday they take a gamble.  Whether or not a hurricane is going to come early in the season or late once the cotton bolls are open.  The chance that a rain storm may come along and ruin everything they just did.  Did that new born calf make it through the night or did a coyote kill it?  Is a new kind of weed taking over and choking the crop out?  Did a yard/trash fire get out and get into their wheat field.  Making sure that the person that flipped their car into their field is ok because no section of crop is more important than someones life.  Hoping all the livestock stay in the fence through the entire dark, storming, rain drenching and a phone call won't come at 2am saying "your cows are out."  From the unknown of what the crop prices are going to do after you plant them.

Our family farm goes back many generations.  It is in our blood.  While we all didn't stay around to do it, it does not mean that we still don't miss it, love it, desire it, and still want to live it.  Being raised on a farm has taught me many things that has, and will continue to, carry me through life.  Hard work- just because you get off at a certain time does not always mean it's time to go home.  You go home when the job is done, not when the clock says to.  There were many nights mom and I took supper to the fields and we all ate on the back of a truck because dad and Heath didn't have time to stop and come home.  As a family, it was very important to all sit down together.  There are many nights that they don't come home until late.  Especially during harvest season.  It could be 10 or 11pm, unless the dew fell early.  Then come break of morning, they are gone again.  Self reliance-you can only depend on what you do.  If you do a half ass job from the beginning, then you have set yourself up for a half ass crop or a complete failure.  Dedication-you have to tend to it everyday.  There are no vacations.  We went to Disney when I was three and that was only for my uncle's wedding.  A few years later we went to Kansas City, MO, but that was for a Soybean Conference.  Our summer vacations consisted of going back and forth between our farm in Florida and the one in Alabama.  Faith-you are at the total mercy of God's guiding hands.  If you have no faith in Him, then you need to be prepared for what he throws your way.  One of the many things I love about my dad and his Faith in God and his Dedication to his farm can be found in his Bible.  Whatever the scripture is for that Sunday's worship he marks it with not only the date, but the forecast...cloudy, sunny, hurricane Ivan, 40% chance of rain.  Love-you have to love to farm to do it. It is a relationship too.  You have to love it just the right amount.  Never more than your family or God, but just knowing that what is exposed out in those fields is your lively hood for the next year will cause you to find the right amount of love.  I have complete respect for my mother.  Never really getting to see my dad during those late nights of work and her having to deal with us when we were little wasn't easy, I'm sure! Stewardship-farmers are the best stewards of the land.  No one cares for it more than they do because no one depends on it more than they do.

Feeding and clothing America isn't an easy task, especially for the family farm.  Always be thankful and grateful to that farmer you want to flip off because you got stuck behind them on the road.  While you are heading off to go shopping, hang out at the beach, or off to do your favorite hobby because you are off that day, that farmer is trying his hardest to make sure all his crops are turning out ok so you can have fuel for your car, clothes on your back, money in your pocket (what do you think money is actually made out of?...that's right)  and food in your stomach.  They do not get any "off days"  because their job is 24/7/365 and even though they may be finished with their crop doesn't mean they are done for the year.  No sir, they are off to help other farmers out to make sure they get their crops in as well. Just be thankful and mindful because feeding and clothing a grateful nation is much better than feeding and clothing an ungrateful nation.

I am a farm kid and damn proud of it.

Mid Week Rant

While filling up my truck the other day, I noticed a sign at the gas pump that said "Please do not leave pump unattended while pumping." There comes a time in every conversation I am engaged in that I totally lose all focus on the topic at hand because my counterpart within the conversation said something that either 1) I totally do not agree with or 2) worded it wrong and does not make any sense. While I do recognize I was not having a conversation with anyone at the gas pump I suddenly became completely oblivious to how much my tank of gas was costing me because I was stuck on this stupid "warning label" and this is why...

Let me restate it for you "Please do not leave pumps unattended while pumping." I have one question for you...when have you ever been able to leave something and STILL be able to attend to it? Exactly. There is no way you can ever leave anything and it NOT be unattended. Once you step away from it, it is rendered unattended. You can't leave it and it still be attended to. Even if you had people with you. If one from the group leaves, it doesn't matter because there are others there to attend to it. The words "leave" and "unattended" are too similar to try to use both within a warning message about gas pumping.

That's my rant for the week...actually it has been bothering me for a few weeks. My co-worker, Kim, had to hear about it for about 20 minutes the other day. Bless his heart...but when he starts making "mouth talking" motions with his hands, I realize that is my cue to shut up about whatever it is I am yapping about. My other clue to shut up is when he turns off the radio...he once asked me "what did you do with all that money?" "What money?" I asked. He said "all that money your parents spent on singing lessons cause obviously you didn't use it on lessons!" I now take my "Bless his heart" back...he gives me hell some days...like when he said I had that 'kind' hair. I asked (like an idiot) what that was and he said that kind that's found on dogs asses...so yeah, it's more like Bless MY Heart!!

And yes, I realize that I put too much thought into the smallest things, but that should also let you know how much thought I put into the big issues within my life. Especially in debates. I may let it go for a bit, but just a fair warning, I'm still thinking about the issue and it is not always benificial to revist past debates (because I will probably call you out on a few things) unless they are very important topics that need to be resolved. I am not a dweller but I am a thinker and I am not an arguer but don't provoke me, please. Side note: Another phrase that gets me every time is "Can I ask you a question?" Well....considering that, in itself, was a question you really didn't give me a choice, now did you? "Can" should be replaced with "Let" if you must use that phrase...at least then it will become a statement and not a question.

Lushful List...

My mother told me to be reasonable when creating my birthday list...I told her I'd do my best to try. While I am a reasonable and understanding person when it comes to the daily grind and life issues, when it comes to what I want I don't think I am being unreasonable...I just have good, and at times expensive, taste! Hint: the word 'want' plays heavily. I know that I will not get any of the items on my wish list, but that is what I want. Remember, 'needs' and 'wants' are completely different!

Item #1: I want a new watch. Currently, I am sporting my Citizen, two-tone, Eco-Drive that I purchased in 2003. I really do love this watch and I have only cheated on it with my Brighton watch for about two years. The battery in the Brighton finally died and I just didn't want to go spend $7 on a battery when I had my back up, aka my Citizen. This watch does not require a battery, that is why I love it! Every morning, I pull it and my Pandora bracelet out of my smaller jewelery box that sits on my dresser and while I am putting on my bracelet the Citizen is waking up and the hands are going crazy to get to the correct time. If it doesn't get any sunlight it goes into sleep mode (even at the movie theater it will do this) but as soon as light hits it, it goes to the correct time. My other issue with the Brighton is that it did not have the date on the face. It bothers me if the date is not on my watch. I don't know why, it's just one of the characteristics of a watch that I prefer to have. This is the watch I have had my eye on for some time now...http://www.michaelkors.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod8840004&parentId=cat31902&masterId=cat145&index=7&cmCat=cat000000cat145cat31902

Item #2: I would like some new Auburn Art for my office. Currently, all I have is one goofy picture that I tried to paint of Aubie and a picture that PKD painted for me. I would love to have the picture of Toomers Corner after the National Championship game, a picture of Toomers Oak, the Eagle, the stadium, Samford Hall...actually, I love all of them! This link will take you to Toomers Corner after the NC game, but feel free to browse! https://www.auburnart.com/auburnwinnerwonderlandautoomerscornerbcschampionshipcelebrationframedphoto-p-3167.html

Item #3: I am still in search for a few of my Waterford Flutes Twelve days of Christmas. I am mainly focused on the First Day since it is the oldest and it will be the hardest to find. I think I still need 1, 3, and 7...I think that's correct. There was the option of getting them all at one time for about $1000.00, but that's not an option now! I'm sure Overstock, eBay, or Amazon has them! I absolutely love these flutes and can't wait to actually use them one Christmas! The stemware pattern for the flutes is the elegant, most popular Waterford Pattern, Lismore! Thank goodness it is not platinum or gold rimmed...those will have to be hand washed because the dishwasher will eventually remove the trim on the rim!

Item #4: A new china pattern. I am in love with Juliska! I have been for years! I think that Jardins Du Monde would make the best everyday pattern! Also, I love Pewter Stoneware, and mixed with the right combination of other patterns, such as Berry And Thread in the color 'Ruby' it would be an awesome table setting and with the right table scape, it would be an fantastic Christmas setting! However, I do not see mixing my Waterford with Juliska for a Christmas setting...that's just not gonna happen. That's like putting plaid with stripes, you just don't do it!

Item #5: "The Thornbirds" dvd. I LOVE this movie...well, it's really more like a mini-series...I had the dvd and I let someone borrow it. Needless to say, I never saw it again. I came across it at a place in Auburn where you could sell your old cd's and dvds...I couldn't believe that I found it in a store! I'm sure the Internet has it, but it's more fun when you stumble across something like that!

Item #6: This is going to sound totally ridiculous, but I would like a piggy bank. It absolutely drives me crazy to see loose change lying around everywhere! I found a few "Shabby Chic" piggy banks and a few websites that can personalize them...I just want somewhere to put my loose change! Plain and simple!!

Unless you are my parents, you can stop reading now...

Dear Mom and Dad,

I would like to introduce you to the Platinum Edition of my birthday list. Read closely as you know I don't like to repeat myself! There are two serious issues at hand here (three if you read between the lines):

#1) I would like my car paid off.
#2) I would like a house completely furnished.

Did I mention that you two are the best parents ever?!?! :)

Thanks,
Stacey Suzanne

PS: Yes, I know I just wasted my time typing that out....a girl can try, can't she?!?!

Now, back to everyone...This is just a list of material things that I want and there is really an even longer list of my 'wants' that even includes a husband and about three kids. However, no matter how many wants there are, there is not one thing that I need. Being able to understand the difference between your wants and needs are what really sets people apart. There is a point in your life when some of your wants have become your needs (just not the material things). For example, a husband and kids are a 'want' for me at this point in my life, but should that want ever get met, they would cross the line into the 'need' category. They would become my family and I need my family.

I have my health, my family, my friends, a job and a roof over my head and I am truly thankful for another year that the good Lord has blessed me with...

Don't get hung up in the 'wants' in life. Eventually the wants that you need will become the needs that you want!

Happy Birthday Maw Maw!

Ok, I lied...the next blog will not be the complete shopping guide to my birthday presents...mainly because I haven't completed it. However, today marks two events...my Maw Maw's 75th birthday and it's exactly ONE month to my birthday! (I know how you feel...I can hardly contain my excitement too! It's ok to give in... :) )

This weekend a few of us met up in Destin to have a birthday lunch for this special little lady! The weather was windy and cold, but it didn't stop us from having a good time!! Lunch on the beach, coffee, ice cream and cake at the condo (I just had coffee since I am not a fan of ice cream or chocolate cake...even though my mother got me a chocolate cake one year for my birthday...I have since forgiven her!), and a few rounds of Mad Gab. That was a pretty fun game! My team consisted of My Aunt Ronda, Maw Maw, and Ashley. Since I don't like to read out loud, especially not fast, I was more than happy to let them say it out loud! My slight speech impediment causes me to have problems with my "R's" and sometimes they become "W's" if I get real excited or talking fast...it's quite embarrassing!

All this young lady wanted for her birthday lunch was oysters...she got her birthday wish!

Us freezing and wind blown after lunch...nothing says "cheese!" like a windy comb over...

The Birthday Girl with three of her four kids

The Birthday Girl with four of her nine grandchildren

Me with my two cousins, Caroline and Ashley, and my Aunt Ronda

My Uncle Greg and Aunt Ronda

Us standing around chatting before the game of Mad Gab began!

My Aunt Cathy posing for the camera...she really didn't have a choice! I will get all up in your face with a camera...I can be quite annoying with one, but at least I recognize that I can be!

All in all, we had a great weekend and I didn't get a speeding ticket! Family time is always good, especially when you get to celebrate a birthday!

Happy Birthday Maw Maw! I love you and I hope that all your birthday wishes come true!

Blissful Birthday Banter...

It's my birthday!! Well, in a little over a month it will be my birthday!! I absolutely LOVE my birthday! How can you not love a day that celebrated you being born...it's basically a day dedicated to your awesomeness!! Let's wonder back and reflect upon those past birthdays...

Age 3: My birthday fell on Easter this year and I got a stuffed lamb that wound up and played music. I, being the musical wonder I am (haha), made up a complete song about this lamb. Why? I have no idea, but it seemed like the right thing to do at the time. Playing on my swing set wasn't cutting it that day! That birthday was also the first time our family met my Aunt Ronda...I am truly blessed with awesome aunt's and uncle's!

Age 5: Had a few of my friends over from my kindergarten class...that was the year I got my bright pink radio! Oh yes, I was rocking it at the young age of 5!

Age 7: I had a sophisticated dress up tea-party complete with mom's china and petit-fours that the baker came to the house to finish up. We all looked pretty cute in our mother's dresses, high heels, grown up hair-do's, and costume jewelry! Man! I wish I had those pictures here with me! Obviously, between the ages of 5 & 7, we realized boys were gross and they were no longer welcome at girl birthday parties!

Age 13: Major party at our residence...boys no longer were gross (well some of them still were, but that was just due to bad hygiene!) and there was about 40 of us playing volleyball, basketball, or just sitting around while my parents cooked for us. I'll never forget two things: 1) one guy in my class, Mark, clung to my dad like glue. My parents ran into him a few years back and mom said he was just as fascinated with dad then, as he was when we were back in school. 2) My mom made me a huge "13" out of balloons. I thought it was pretty cool, especially since I have a fascination with balloons...I think they are pretty for some odd reason.

Ages 17: Jacob and I were suppose to meet up with some more friends for supper, however Amanda had called me to come pick her up cause of some lame excuse and Jacob hadn't picked me up yet. She told me to come on and get her and we'd be back before he would get there. Well, that statement was correct! When I got to Amanda's there was the whole group at her house, along with my parents! I love a surprise party!

Age 18: My birthday fell on the same night as my Senior play, Lil' Abner. After the play, I wanted to go home because the looser I was dating at the time (yes, you were right about him daddy) didn't come to my play, much less come see me on my birthday, and I wasn't a happy camper. Everyone else was going over to Daniels to hang out by the pool and just goof off. Just as I'm walking in the backdoor my mom hands me the phone and it's my best friend, Ashley, calling to see where I was. After a few minutes of begging me to come over, I finally did, and I had another surprise party! Two years in a row! Sweet! And in case you are wondering about the looser, I continued to put up with his crap for another year and a half. In fact, I got my acceptance letter to Auburn and called him with excitement and instead of a simple "congratulations" I got a "I guess we will go a head and break up." Let me charade this out for you: one word...sounds like...asshole.

We will skip the others up until last year, mainly cause I don't think I did much of anything...well at 23 I went to Destin for the weekend. All I have to say about that is, I LOVE DESTIN!! My 24th I spent in Myrtle Beach while we stayed at a friend of the family's condo.

Last year, age 27, my fantabulous cousin, Ashley, cooked me a fantastic supper complete with fantastic gifts! She had bought me a robe, a matching cosmetic bag and a hair brush. She had my robe and bag monogrammed with my initials...I love anything monogrammed. If I had a machine that monogrammed...well...it could be dangerous. I am pretty sure that even my shower curtain would be monogrammed!! If you are wondering why a hair brush, it's because she absolutely hates mine because the knobs on the end of the bristles are gone so it really scratches your head...I personally like the way it feels. I still use my brush, just don't tell her...shhh....

This year, who know what will happen...hopefully I won't shed any tears. The realization of 30 is quickly approaching and I am nowhere close to where I wanted to be at this stage in life. However, I still have two years to make those things possible!

The next blog will be the complete shopping guide to purchasing any of the items that may appear on my birthday wish list. Please do not hesitate or get upset if you miss my birthday (well, some of you better not forget it), I accept presents year round.