Would you, could you for Chuck Liddell?

Summer before last, Secret Agent Man wanted to go down to Atlanta to so that the boys could meet UFC fighter Chuck Liddell.  He was signing autographs at one of the malls, so we made it a family outing.  We girls do not miss a chance to go to the big city, so we all packed it up and headed down.  Atlanta has more than Wal-Mart – we were excited.

As we shopped the boys stood in line.

I keep coming back to see how they were faring – I mean look at the hordes of people standing in line just to have some guy sign his picture for them.  I was like “whatever!  how much money can I spend”?  I mean hello!  They had Pottery Barn!  I think this is when Secret Agent Man said “hey, how about you run go get me coffee, and I’ll let you know about the money when you get back”.

He’s so sweet!  So off I went to get his coffee.  While standing there, and I stood there for a while because all of the other Chuck- fan-wives were getting coffee for their husbands too, I starting thinking of all the things I could get at the big fancy mall and how much money would Secret Agent Man fork over – it was almost my birthday! 

Then all these crazy Chuck fans started to catch my attention.  (People-watching is one of my favorite past times.)  I started thinking about who it would take to get me down to a mall an hour and half a way to stand in line for several hours just so I could have them sign something for me.  I really did not come up with anyone; I want to be friends with people – not have their autograph.

But the boys were happy – So I was happy… even though Secret Agent Man did not fork over money!I think Little Brother will remember this day his whole life!

I think Big Brother will remember this day his whole life, too… but for another reason…. Look How Much They Look Alike!!!  I promised him over and over I have never ever met the man before, and that Secret Agent Man really is his father!

So who would you stand in line for several hours to meet?  Would you, could you for Chuck Liddell?  A year and half later I found who I would stand in line for, and I will tell you about it… tomorrow… I have to go to a Big Brother’s wrestling tournament were he will use those Chuck Liddell skills …. he is still not convinced.

So stay tuned, and tell me who you would stand in line to meet.

New Blogger in The House

I know  what you really want to do is add a new blogger to your blog feed, so I have one for you.

 With Charm and Grace

Let me tell you a few things about her.

• She will be 18 next month
• Artistic
• Beautiful (like her mom – that was humor - please laugh)
• Smart (like her dad – that was serious, so please don’t laugh)
• Great Photographer
• Off to college in the fall
• Dramatic Flare
• Big Sister
• Lovingly referred to by many as a potential trophy Wife
• Wonderful writer
• She’s my oldest Daughter
• Does not like you to touch her knees
• I love her
• I am proud of her
• God’s Grace is poured out on her daily
• She is now a Blogger

Hope you enjoy her blog!

Big Sister, don’t post anything you will regret or upset the parentals!  Be wise, have fun and don’t offend your readers!  AND  I love you!

One Word

There is this mother of a boy on Little Brother’s football team who has a tendency to get rather carried away with cheers and jeers at the games.  She jumps around, shouts until she is red in the face and paces back and forth non-stop. It get’s really comical at times.  I enjoy watching her more than the games, we did not have that great of a season. 

So while friends where visiting last week I was telling them about this mom, I got a bit carried away in demonstrated how the mom would act.  My friends thought I was hilarious.  Little Brother who was watching the imitation did not find me so funny.

Little Brother: ” My mom is crazy”.

Friend: “That is the one word you would use to describe your mom-  crazy“?

Little Brother: (without hesitation): “Yes”!!!

Friend:  “With one word describe your dad”.

Little Brother:  “Fearless”

I loved that!  I hope Little Brother knows that his dad’s fearlessness come from Jesus,  I hope he wants that for his life too. 

I think I was robbed with the one word description, crazy nothing!

Rome Is Home

Four score and 7 years ago…..  Oh wait – wrong speech – let me suppress my inner Abe.

Okay – I am good now.

So it is November 11th, you know what that means, other than Veterans’ Day?  (Which, I would like to tip my hat and give a heartfelt “thank you” to all that serve and have served our nation.) Do you know what this day means to my family and me?  I will tell you.  Seven years ago today our family arrived in Rome, Georgia.

Which spin do I put on this post as I memorialize this day that forever changed our lives – for the good I must say.

Should I make 7 comments of what I miss about Texas?  Like I can sum up in 7 comments what it felt/feels like to have my beating heart ripped from my chest.  Guess I’ll pass on that.

Should I make a list of 7 things I love about our lives in Rome, Georgia?  The list would be more like 700, and it would all be people. Then I would hurt everyone’s feelings because of where their name would be placed on that list. So I will skip that, too.

What if I tell you about the most asked question I received since living here, which is:   Why did you move to Rome, Georgia? I’ve got a simple answer - Obedience.   Let me say the answer was simple because it was one word, the act of obedience was, and is still at times difficult. 

Giving a more detailed answer would explain that we obeyed the Father as he told us to pack all we have and to leave everyone we love to plant a church in Rome, Georgia.  (On not so good days – I affectionately refer to it as: Rome-Freakin’-Georgia).

In the Old Testament God had his people place a stone in places were significant things took place so that the people would remember his promises and what the Lord did for them.  We are placing a “stone” on this date to remember his call, his faithfulness and his goodness to our family – even when worldly logic told us we were nuts!

I really do not like cheesiness; I try my best to avoid saying cheesy things. So if I am ever so overcome as to use them too frequently, please feel free to tell me to cut the cheese…I mean stop being so cheesy, but sometimes it can not be avoided.  So forgive me this one.   I once heard a lady say, “Home is where God has you.”  Well…Rome is Home!

 

 

Pumpkin Carving Throw Down

Word got out that a pumpkin carving throw down would take place in our backyard so these fine folks showed up with pumpkin in hand to challenge their contenders with their mad carving skills.

Our throw down began with laughter and smiling face.

With confidence, each carver began.

Carving tradition was passed from one generation to the next.

Intensity quickly filled the air .

Each kept their eye on the prize (a $5 dollar gift card to Starbucks) and carved with all their might.

 I think there comes a moment in all throw downs that the fun and games give way to anger, our was not an exception.   I never got the entire story why this lady got upset, but I thought it was something to do with her pumpkin carving skills – turns out it was something to do with Dolly Pardon or something – anyway we got the sharp objects away from her and all went well from there.

After the hostility died down some of the contenders need Smores and hot cider.

As the fire pit burn down and the pumpkin guts were cleaned up; it was time for the judging to begin.

As the judge made their decision from their lofty position on high, the carvers anticipated the results.

Pumpkin Superlatives

Best Over All

Scariest

Best Young Talent (8-year-old Little Brother)

 

Most Outdoorsy

Best Team Effort  (Big Brother assisted an expectant mother)

Best Monogram

Most Organic

Class Favorite

Most Sophisticated

Most Creative without a template

The Three Pumpkin Carving Throw Down Winners

Thanks to all the contestants!  You all have mad pumpkins skills, we look forward to next year – please no one mention Dolly next year.

Almost Famous

Did you know that I am almost famous?!  Okay – not really but I have had lots of views on my blog lately.  When I started this blog back in June I had faithful friends and family come to visit the site and read all my mad ramblings.  My stats report was showing that I was not being ignored; I was glad to know that you guys were reading.

Then, one day I blogged When Things Go Well.  In that post I told about going and seeing some artwork in an Atlanta museum. I even posted photos of the artist’s work that I found on Google.

 My status report reports on search engine terms – meaning: terms people used to find my blog.  However, these people are not searching for my blog, as much as I would like to think they are, they are looking for Monet.  I am not talking a few extra visits to my blog; I am talking 300 + a day!  I currently have had 10,035 visits to my blog!

See why I think I am almost famous?  I know, I know – they are not looking for me, but could you just let me pretend for a little bit – the Miss America title only holds me over for so long.

These poor people set out to look for some information on Monet and end up at my dreadful little blog.  What must they think?  If they only knew they are making me famous or at least making me feel like I am almost famous.

Sweet Laughter

I am not sure of the career path Little Sister will take, but after this morning I am positive that it will not be one in comedy.   I think it was the new outfit that she was sporting that made her a bit on the gitty side so early this morning, but whatever it was she was on a roll of (in her opinion) very funny jokes.

With extreme confidence she delivered the following joke:

Little Sister – Knock, Knock

Me – Who’s there?

Little Sister – Orange

Me – Orange who?

Little Sister – Knock, Knock

Me – Who’s there?

Little Sister – Orange

Me – Orange who?

Little Sister – Knock, Knock

Me – Who’s there?

Little Sister – Orange

Me – Orange who?

Little Sister – Knock, Knock

Me – Who’s there?

Little Sister - Banana

Me Banana who?

Little Sister – Aren’t you glad I didn’t say orange!

It was much cuter not to correct her and since we were all laugh so much she thought she was hilarious!  Such sweet laughter to start the morning.

Family Tradition

We have this little family tradition - it goes like this: Secret Agent Man goes out-of-town and things go wrong - like today.

I received a call from Little Sister’s teacher today telling me that she had fallen off of the monkey bars during recess and hurt her foot.  I went and got her from school, call Secret Agent Man (all the way on the other side of the county) and we decided that I would go ahead and take her to the doctor.  No facture showed up on the x-ray, but her little foot is all swollen up and she is hobbling around grimacing all the way.

Let me take a minute and tell you that both brothers had a game tonight at the same time.  One mom, two brothers, two games – what’s a mom to do? Therefore, the lovely Brandi – whose son place on Little Brother’s team, stepped up to the plate and took Little Brother to his game with them.  

From the doctor’s office we went to Big Brother’s football game. Little Sister is not so little anymore so she got a piggy back ride from the parking lot to the stands which caused us to miss the kick-off.  As I get into the stand visit with another mom for a few minutes I discover that Big Brother is on the sideline with the trainer having his shoe removed.

The next thing I know he is being picked up and put on the bench and ice is put on his foot.  The other mom with me let me know that is would be a very un-cool mom thing to do if I went down on the sideline during a high school game to find out what was wrong.  So I stayed in my seat. 

Here was my dilemma; do I stay and wait to see if Big Bother is going to make a quick recover and get some more game time or head over to Little Brother’s pee wee game.  Big Sister came along and went down to the field.  She can do that and still be cool, plus she is the team manager and was in the press box filming, her free pass to the field.

Big Sister got down there, spoke with the trainer and Big Brother then turned back to the stadium and shook her head and then mouthed the word “broke”.  I gave her the “yeah, right” look.  She then pointed to the trainer and he shook his head to confirm.  I looked at the other mom and said “cool doesn’t count when it is a broken bone” so down to the field I went.

The trainer went into medical mode and told me all the medical technical terms to tell me the tendon was broke and the orthopedic doctor that the team uses will see him on Saturday morning until then he would be on crutches.  His foot is swollen, he hobbling around on crutches grimacing all the way, just like Little Sister.  

Big Brother and Little Sister have so many things in command – and now they both have an injured foot in common – in the very same spot on their feet!

So that is the kind of crazy crap that happens when Secret Agent Man goes out-of-town.  Did I mention that the entire day yesterday I had to deal with a septic tank issue, that turned into and electrical issue and then ending up not being anything at all other than a serviceman’s mishap?  Oh – I did not mention that?!  Well it is all just part of the tradition around here.

47 and Counting

Today being September 11th most people are remembering the terrible event our nation experienced eight years ago.  My first thought for September 11th is my parents wedding anniversary and this year it is their 47^th.  In honor of their anniversary I would like to share one of my favorite stories about them, a love story if you will.

Several years ago my dad and I where traveling alone together from a funeral. The funeral was in his hometown where he grew up so I had lots of questions about his childhood – which lead to questions about him and mom.

ME: Dad, do you remember the first time you saw mom?

DAD: (looking at me like I was a crazy person) Honey, I fell in love with your mom the first time I saw her.

ME: Boo Hoo!!! All the way home!

 Still makes me tear up when I tell you this!

 Happy 47^th anniversary Mom and Dad!   Thank you for loving and enduring with each other all these years – It has taught us (your children and grandchildren) a great deal.

Southerners and the SEC

Living in the south for the past seven years I have learned that Fall is the most anticipated season of the year.  Why is that you say? College football!  Being here in Rome, Georgia we pretty much sit in the middle of the SEC (Southeast Conference – that is an acronym I’ve learn since living in the south).   You will never lack for conversation here in the south if you just mention one of the SEC teams.  Whether it is their favor team or their least favorite team these southerners have a lot to say about college ball.  

  I have learned more about college football than I have ever wanted to learn – or thought I would learn for that matter.  You cannot live in the south without learning a thing or two about the SEC.  Over the past week, Facebook has read like ESPN.  I know who everyone is cheering for and who they are booing for.  Do you know these people even plan weddings around games?!

I have had a few tee shirts that have been passed down to me and I gratefully accept free things.  However, theses shirts are SEC college shirts.  And Lord help me if I wear the wrong shirt around the wrong person.  I have even had someone offer to buy me a brand new tee shirt of their favorite SEC team if I just would not wear the other team’s shirt.  I always just try to say “it’s just a free tee shirt I don’t follow college ball”.  Of course no one believes me.  I mean – I am in the south and everyone follows the SEC.  Well not everyone – I am still not a follower.  (Sorry guys) 

I will say that yesterday I did keep turning on one of the games just to see if they were winning or losing.  I did this so that I would know what mood to expect from my southern friends. 

Don’t be fooled, college ball is not a man only game – these women are as serious about the SEC as they are about southern cooking.  Southern women quote players’ stats faster than they can their children’s birthday.  Today after church we had lunch with a few families and the entire hour and half was about college ball.  I did not have much to say at lunch today.  I did not mind – I find their passion for the sport fun.

So here’s to all my SEC fan friends (in no particular order)

Go Dawgs!

Roll Tide!

GO VOLS!

War Eagle!

Geaux Tigers!

Go Cats!

Go Rebels!

Go Gators!

Go Game Cocks!

Hope your team has a winning season!