28 and Holding Tight!!

But not as tightly as I will be holding on to 29 next year!  I had the absolute best birthday!  My day started with 'Happy Birthday' texts about 6:30 am and continued on throughout the day.  Phone calls and emails were in abundance too!  Other than aging, how can you not enjoy a day that is all yours?  It is an easy reminder of how much you mean to others and how much you are loved.  All I can say is, I am truly blessed!

Once I got to work, and threw everyone off because I was dressed up (I had to dress up on my birthday!), I had a little "birthday crown!" 

On Thursday night, I went out with some gal pals to the Mexican restaurant where we enjoyed some margaritas and each other's company.

Friday, I left T-ville around two pm and headed home.  Some changes in events caused me to decide to go home to see my family, but also to get to see my best guy friend...that was the cherry on top!  No pun intended since that is his last name! 

He let me know a few weeks ago that he would be flying in from California to Pensacola to take his Professional Engineering exam in Mobile.  At first, I was hesitant to go, but then I realized that if he can fly across country and wants to see me, I can drive four measly hours.  He was so excited when I let him know I had changed my mind!  He said he knew I'd come to my senses and that he was gonna give me a few more days till he let me know how dumb I was being.  He's so patient with me it's ridiculous!  Over the last five years we have really gotten close and two years ago we both moved away.  During our time back home, he would come up to see me the occasional Friday and we'd spend all day goofing off.  He's met most of my family and well...he kept coming back so I guess they didn't scare him off!   So, needless to say, we were both pretty excited to see each other!  

I'm going to back up a bit here and go back to Wednesday, when I got my hair colored because I refused to turn 28 with gray hair.  I thought it looked fine.  When my dad saw me he asked what what with all the red hair?  I quickly informed him that it was NOT red, but brown...he let it go...

Saturday, I met up with J in Pensacola and we had both understood that he would be on his friends motorcycle so I knew that we would be taking my vehicle.  Homegirl doesn't ride bikes!  I was a little early and he was a little late...that, also, is completely understood on both sides!  Once he finally got there, he walked over and opened my door to get out for a hug...and what does he say???  I LOVE your RED hair! Ugh!  Anyway, he said he'd drive so I dang sure let him!  He, and his chivalrous mannerisms that he obtains, walked me back around my vehicle to the passenger side and opened and shut my door for me.  He did this every time we went anywhere Saturday night!  He is also one to always have a plan and always be prepared. We had talked about going out to the beach.  Once we were in the vehicle he said that he thought we should go to Hemingway on the beach.  Neither of us had ever ate there so it was fine by me!  Supper was great and we picked up right where we left off.  After supper we walked the boardwalk and then went to the beach.  In my whole time of growing up there, I have NEVER been on the beach at night!  We went down a few public access places, away from the lights and Mr. Prepared had brought a blanket.  We sat on the blanket, listened to the waves crash, watched the stars (when the clouds would give us that opportunity), talked about life and discussed the condos across the street and which one we wanted.  The conversation is never lacking between us.  Never has been.  Time flew by and before we knew it, it was after 1am!  We headed back to the north side of town, where we had to say goodbye again.  Fortunately, Sunday held a window of opportunity for us and while he was dropped off super early for his flight, I picked him up and we went over to the mall.  It gave us a chance to spend a little more time together before he really had to leave...again.  Saying goodbye to a friend is ALWAYS hard to do...but it makes you feel good when you get a text that says "you are thought of and missed today."

Sunday morning I went to church with my family and afterwards my mom cooked us a fantastic meal for my birthday!.  

Me and my brother...his card had to be the funniest one I received.  It said "Forget the past, you can't change it" on the front and when you opened it, it said "Forget the present...there isn't one!"

My Maw Maw and my Mom...and the jolly green giant...gotta love genetics!

My parent's improvisation...no candles?  No problem!  Just use a balloon and a toothpick! :)

All in all, I had a great birthday!  I will have to blog later on my presents that I received.  Starting with some damn birds that Ashely got me!! Just kidding Ash!  Since they came from you, I love them!  I also got an Auburn picture for my office.  Once it is on the wall, I'll share a picture!   

Birthday Cards & Photos

It is the beginning of my birthday week and these days I actually check my mail daily for none other than....BIRTHDAY CARDS!!!  It is the only kind of mail I enjoy, well, that and party/wedding invites!  I have a box dedicated to cards...dating back quite some time.  But  you want to know the irony of all this?  I very rarely send anyone a card...if you have gotten a card from me, you rank pretty high on my list!  It's not (how many of you just read 'its snot' instead of it's not...it's one of my pet peeves but sometimes I do it just to say its snot cause its fun!) that I don't care about you...I just really forget to pick up cards.  No rhyme, no reason, I just don't do it!

So far I have received two cards, one from my grandmother and the other from my aunt and uncle.  Along with that I have already teared up twice...it was my first birthday card that didn't have Paw Paw's name in it and I know I won't get to hear him sing to me this year...oh how I loved to hear him sing!  There was an indescribable melody to his singing and I loved hearing every note of it.  It's like he never sang with anyone, but he sang by himself and pretended that no one was around...you could really tell he was in this zone when he started singing the wrong verse at church!!  However, along with Paw Paw, there is someone else's name I won't see on a card this year with the infamous dollar bill in it...my MaMaw's.

I was lucky enough to know three of my great grandparents.  MaWard died when I was in 8th grade, Old PawPaw died when I was in college, I think, and I do mean old...I think he was 102 or 103 when he died.  The last one that we lost was MaMaw, just six years ago.  She was a prissy little thing.  She and MaWard were complete opposites...its amazing their children married!  My grandmother will still call me MaWard when I get a little too opinionated, she'll say "you are just like your PawPaw and you are both just like his momma!"  MaMaw wasn't as strict as MaWard though.  I remember she would send us great grandchildren  birthday cards and there would always be a dollar in them.  I thought it was the coolest thing!  I always felt closest to MaMaw because she was in my life the longest.  I remember going to get her one Sunday for church and I think that she primped and looked in the mirror the whole time we were in the car!  I would tease her and ask "who are you getting all dolled up for?"  She'd just smile and tell me "you never know might be here!"  My first year of college I went to a junior college and I would usually stop in and see her on Wednesdays.  Every time I walked in she would be drinking a coke float.  I asked her one day if she was suppose to be having that and her response to me, with a giggle included, was that the doctor actually prescribed it for her.  Hmm...sure MaMaw!  Her husband, Granddaddy, died when I was just a few weeks old and one of the most precious items I have in my house is this picture...

This picture is exactly the way she had it.  I have not changed one thing about it, the only thing that has changed is it's location.  She kept this by her bedside, probably since the day she had it developed!  When she passed away, I made sure I got it and now it sits on my dresser.  The picture is her, holding me at just a few days/weeks old, and showing me to my great granddaddy.  It makes me sad to think that I never got to know such a great man, but knowing that he was able to meet me and knowing that he's waiting to hold me again in heaven is a great feeling.

The countdown continues...today in my cousin Morgan's birthday, then we skip two days and it's my birthday on Thursday, then we skip two more days and it's my cousin Arden's birthday....then we had a boy cousin and he screwed the pattern up! I think he's just one day after Arden.  It's hard to believe another year is coming and going so quickly.  I am the oldest granddaughter on my dad's side, Heath is the only grandchild above me, and to know that there are now ten of us is crazy!

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!