Time Sure Flies

While on my hiatus, I neglected to share all the wonderful and exciting things that were taking place in Grandy-land.  My proudest moment of the year was the night that little-man-Grandy achieved his Eagle Rank designation for Boy Scouts. 

Some of you who may follow this blog (if you're still around) know that we have been scout nerds for many years.  Grandy is in the process of planning his Eagle Awards ceremony as we speak.  As I go through all these things, and try to get his scrapbook together, I ask myself...

How...or WHEN did my boy go from this???

To this????

 *sniff. sniff*

I want my rewind button!!  I want my baby back!!! 

Back to the invitations I suppose.  *sniff*  I'll let you know all about the event, and have more pictures...but much to do. 

Paying it forward with a "CLICK"

I'm not exactly sure what is going on in Grandy-land at the moment.  Now that I'm 40 am I going all sentimental?  My usual comical posts appear to be replaced with a few "LOVE LOVE LOVE" posts.  HUH? ::taking temperature:: Let's blame it on a full moon, hormones, or a hangover headache, but here you are...stuck feeling my love with another post.

Wait a minute.  It's not my comical anecdotes that you all were missing.  It was just the posts in general.  Riiigggghhhhtttt!!  *wink wink*  We'll just go with that and say, "I missed you too!" 

In my last post, I explained how very cool our small town of Foresthill is.  What I maybe didn't mention was how "small" it is, in comparison to many communities. 

Our local businesses and community members give their all to support the local Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4-H, Little League, Swim Team, Softball, Soccer (and more I know I'm forgetting at the moment) in addition to the Elementary, Middle and High Schools.  We truly are blessed.

I can't count a weekend where there is not a fundraising opportunity for one event or another.  For a small town, we always rally for whatever the cause.  Car washes, spaghetti feeds, Tupperware parties, and this weekend is the annual "FIRE SALE" which is where everybody donates their things 8 months out of the year for a HUGE sale to benefit the local volunteer fire department.

Because we are such a small town, we are often overlooked in the area of corporation donations.  We have launched full force campaigns over the last few years to raise some serious funds to keep things going, as budget cuts keep coming to our small schools.  Budget cuts are affecting schools everywhere, don't get me wrong.  But since this is my blog...I get to talk about MY schools. 

Enter (stage left) an opportunity for YOU...YES YOU...to help our small town.

Were you touched by the story of our fire?  Have you been moved to tears (pass the tissue) over my love for these folks?  Are you ready to hand over your wallets and life savings?  Not so much?  Hehehe...I don't blame you.  Good thing I'm not asking you for money, huh? 

Target has launched a Gift Card campaign.  For every 25 votes our Foresthill High School gets, Target will gift us a $25 gift card.  Did you catch that?  You click...and TARGET pays.  Pretty good gig huh?

So...You have a computer...you have a Facebook...Please check this out and vote for Foresthill High School.  You can vote once a week until 9/8/12 (or until Target runs out of their $2.5M), so be sure to come back and vote. 

FORESTHILL HIGH SCHOOL

True Appreciation: The Robbers Fire Experience

My commute to work is 45 miles each way.  It takes about an hour and fifteen minutes to get in and get out every day, and that's on a good day.  On any given Monday morning or Friday afternoon, it can take well over an hour and a half.  I am often asked WHY I do it.  Some days...I'm not so sure myself.  I work a lot of hours in a day so adding over 2 more hours just to be in the car can get tiring.

Working in a city, and having to travel to many other cities to get to work, does help me appreciate that drive home on Friday evenings, as I'm stuck on the windy road behind campers heading up for their weekend.  There are vehicles pulled off at the side of the road with their bike racks, while their owners are on the trails.  As I get even closer to home I see large vans parked, waiting for their passengers to get done water rafting the American River.  I am instantly reminded that I live where people travel to to "get away" from it all.

While I do live in a "destination" area, there is something many of these people that travel to or through our little town only get a glimmer of.  Our town is more than just a small town with a market, and a park, and a couple of gas stations.  We are a COMMUNITY.

It usually takes something major to appreciate what you have.  For us, it was the recent "Robbers Fire" that burned over 2600 acres and threatened 170 homes.  300 people were evacuated, and our community rallied together like we know how to do.

This was not a stranger helping stranger situation, but rather a friend helping a family.  It didn't matter whether anyone knew the other before this fire or not.  When it was all done, we were all a family.  There were constant updates, volunteer coordination efforts, and an outpouring of appreciation.  With everyone outside our community watching, our locals shined in their spirit. 

THIS is why I live where I do.  Cities have their big buildings and big events...but we have our FAMILY COMMUNITY.

With the over 2100 firefighters working hard to keep us safe, the Red Cross making themselves available, and the daily updates provided by CalFire, we were reminded how very precious our community is.  We all have new friends as a result of this fire.  Our appreciation for all the efforts made to keep us safe is evident by all the thank you signs everywhere, but is preciously summed up by this video.

THANK YOU!!

If Grandy falls in the forest...

We all recognize that Grandy's frequency of posting here on this blog has been sporadic over the last year or so. It might be even longer, if you're keeping track like some of my friends and family.

See this picture?  It symbolizes more than just a tree falling (albeit I do recognize it is not actually "in a forest" but you get the point).  This picture is almost what I envision what I look like after the last few months.  Grandy's head has blown completely off.  Whew!!  It's the pressure leading up to the explosion that makes it tough though.  Now I feel much better.

So...have you missed me??  Did you notice Grandy missing at all? 

Just to recap what's up in Grandy-land.

• Grandy has turned 40 years old - WHAT?  I failed to commemorate the occasion here?  Next post will be about THAT.  
• Grandy was on a 3 week criminal jury trial - DEFINITELY some blog-worthy material in that experience.
• Lil Man Grandy got his driver's license - Still in shock and fear.
• Grandy threw the EVENT OF THE YEAR for the construction industry...and NAILED IT.
• Lil Man Grandy is almost done with his Eagle project and application - nail biting and hard to not help.

That pretty much sums up what's new in Grandy-land.

What have you all been up to??  Hmmmmmm???  

Seems like yesterday...Another Birthday

How did it happen?

Where did the time go?

*sniff*

At some point my boy went from this...


To this...



My son turned 16 this week!!!

As I look back over the years, I'm again grateful for this blog. I look back on past birthday posts, and get to relive every heartfelt moment. THIS is the reason I started this blog. I'm not great at scrapbooking, but man will my guy have something to reflect on in the future...hopefully. I have officially commemorated 4 of his past birthdays here. And I am GRATEFUL!!

Take a walk down memory lane with me...

There's this "Letter to Ty" when he turned 12.
I cried when I re-read his 13th birthday here.
And then of course I was tardy for his 14th birthday.
And then there was FIFTEEN?!?

My son is becoming a man. He is working on his Eagle project, he has a job, and he's getting good grades. We still remind him he has to do his chores, and his room is never clean...so my son is still a kid in many ways. THANK GOODNESS!!

Grandy is truly GRATEFUL!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE MAN GRANDY!!!

Yes...this is what it feels like

Grandy has been absent for a couple months.

It has been a difficult time in the Grandy home, as fubby has lost his mother. The process of grieving and dealing with her effects has been a bit overwhelming to deal with. There have been many times where I have started to write a blog post or a poem, or post a picture, and then I stop. I didn't realize the impact it all would have on me, nor did I want to acknowledge it out loud.

Grandy stayed strong for Fubby & Little Man Grandy, who I am proud to say have been doing amazing with how they are coping with the loss.

In the last two months, Grandy has also been in charge of various events. Coordinating events, "task forces", putting out fires on my desk at work, and essentially giving new meaning to the phrase "directing traffic", has left me feeling a bit like...

...well...

THIS!!

Singing & Dancing Grandy

It has been almost 15 years since Grandy has performed on stage.

It has been even longer than THAT since she has had to kick, two-three-four, turn, kick, turn.

This Friday, June 17th, Grandy makes somewhat of a comeback in The Producers.

When my friend asked me about 6 weeks ago (days before my 39th birthday) if I would consider, I of course hesitated. The work/life balance hasn't exactly been the best feng shui mode lately. 60 hour work weeks. Board Meetings. Boy Scouts. Boosters. There was just not enough hours in the day.

But my girlfriends talked me into it because there are never enough hours in the day. They were right, and it's been a blast. My daily schedule continues, but somehow I'm mustering up the strength to get my butt there. And although my body is asking me, "WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING TO ME?" it is lots of fun.

Really. My body hurts like no other. There has been a lot that's happened to me physically since I last did this. If I were in the finance world (which I'm not) I would suggest the following stock tip: Buy stock in Ben-Gay and 5-hr Energy. WOOF!!!

I think my boys notice I'm having fun with it too. Although I come home tired and hurting, I'm smiling.

So...Friday is opening night. There are 6 performances. And Grandy's anxiety level is reaching new heights. It has dawned on me...my past life and my present life are colliding. NOBODY in my current day-to-day life (minus my mom and sisters) have ever seen me perform on stage. They didn't even realize that's what I used to do for a LIVING.

There are A LOT of people dying for the opportunity to catch this. "What? You're going to be funny ON STAGE? REALLY?!?" To which I respond..."Let's hope so."

Kind of exciting...kind of anxious...kind of hope I don't fall off the stage. While Grandy can't promise she will take this on as a regular hobby (remember all the stuff going on), it's good to be "back".

"Let's Do This!!!"

Mother's Day

We make you eat your vegetables, only so you'll stay healthy.
We give you chores, to teach you a work ethic.
We ask that you keep your grades up, because we know you can.
We ask you to clean your rooms, because we frankly don't want to hurt ourselves or end up gagging over a plate of food that's 3 weeks old.

What you may not realize is...

When you are nervous about a test, so are we.
When you are heartbroken with your first "break-up", so are we.
When you feel joy at finishing that project, so do we.

Being a mom is the best job in the whole world. We wouldn't trade it for anything. Thank goodness this is a job we never get to retire from.

I learned what I know about being a mom, from my Mom and doing what I thought made sense. What makes sense to me doesn't always make sense to you, but I hope it might someday.

Thank you to all my moms who have influenced my life, and is playing a role in my son's life. It truly does take a village, and I have the best village around.

Happy Mother's Day to my Mom...and THANK YOU for giving me a GREAT gig to my son!! LOVE YOU!!

FIFTEEN?!?

The lil' man Grandy had a birthday last week. He turned 15. It's hard to believe. In this picture he is sitting on a stool, and he is STILL bigger than me.

It seems as though we cannot stop the aging process of these kids. DANG IT!! I'm not asking to slow things down for myself. Really. But could we do something about keeping our kids young? No? DANG IT!!

This year is bound to bring more grey hair to Grandy-Land. Lil Man will be getting his learner's permit this year, working on his Eagle Project, and oh yeah...working on his grades.

This will be a big year for him indeed. I of course shared my birthday wishes with him both at home, and on the blessed Facebook, but it has become a ritual to put at least a little something on this blog for him. Someday he may look back at all his mom's rantings and maybe laugh. Until then, we'll just laugh for him.

I Love You Little Man!!!

The moment when Grandy cries - #52,673,102

So you have probably guessed that Grandy tends to wear her heart on her sleeve. There aren't many surprises from Grandy, when you want to know how she's feeling. My demeanor, or my words, will let you know how I'm feeling right away.

There are moments when Grandy wants to cry. It may not be because she's sad, necessarily. It may simply be when she's feeling overwhelmed, over-joyed, or just plain OVER-over. Regardless of how I'm feeling, sometimes these real moments just hit me.

Yesterday, my son and I are driving back from the bank. Grandy reminds him that now that football is over, he is REALLY going to have to focus on his grades. Really. REALLY-Really. (Wonder if he got the point).

Then the following conversation happened:

Him: Oh, by the way, the Principal came in to Biology on Friday and said she just hired a permanent substitute teacher for the class.
Me: Why?
Him: I guess that her husband has been fighting cancer for a while, and it's not looking good. Meaning...He's Dying.
Me: THAT'S HORRIBLE!!!
::Grandy's chest begins to feel heavy::
Him: Yeah. She teaches two biology classes and an anatomy class. All the students got together and decided we would collect money to send him flowers and a card.
::Totally choked up now::
Me: ::fighting back tears:: Do you need money then?
Him: No, I gave them all the money I had.
Me: ::full on crying now::

Him: Oh yeah...but can I have some lunch money?
Me: ::still crying...but nod my head::
Him: Are you alright?
Me: MmmHmmm...::tears gushing down face::
Him: Should I have NOT told you?
Me: No! Why would you ask that?
Him: I just know that it's kinda something that hits so close to home for you.

DONE!! Crying...close to sobbing...Grandy is a mush pot.

This teacher is brilliant. She is young, vivacious, and married with two young children. The thought of her losing her husband at such a young age, and facing things on her own with the kids, saddened me.

I have a dear friend who is a teacher, brilliant, young, vivacious and married with two young children. She is battling a very aggressive form of breast cancer. This must have been what made me react the way I did. I couldn't figure out why I cried so much.

I tell another girlfriend about the episode, and she pretty much summed it up as any man would have, "Are you getting ready for your period?"

PERPETUALLY!! When emotion cannot be explained by any other means...blame the monthly visitor. All better now.

Guy Stuff

Apparently there is an unspoken code among the male population. There are things about the "guy" act that perplex me. My husband and my son...GOD LOVE THEM...they are one and the same.

Watching my son with his friends...they are the SAME WAY.

Junk ball? REALLY? Where is the fun in throwing a ball at another "guy's" junk FUN?

We women don't walk by each other, punch each other in the boobies, and say RIGHT ON!! We don't even think of such a thing. NOR do we think about hitting men in the balls (unless they really deserve it for something of course).

Why is it okay for "guys" to walk by each other and PUNCH EACH OTHER in the junk?

I will never understand why this is alright, or acceptable.

Don't EVEN get me started on the "MAN UP" code that tells a kid to ignore what a doctor says, in order to not be eliminated from the playoff game.

This conversation ACTUALLY took place tonight:

Fubby #2 (very close friend of mine, and this is his actual nickname): What the hell happened?
Ty: Hurt my shoulder.
#2: HOW? Were you goofing off in class?
Ty: Not exactly, but was playing a game in class.
#2: Why are you wearing the sling? What are you, a panzy?
Ty: My MOM made me wear it.
FUBBY: Why the hell did you listen to your mom? MAN UP KID!!

None of the "guys" knew I was standing right behind them.

I had to walk away. Fubby will hear about this later...but alas...I fought the MOM urge to kick the two FUBBYS in the junk myself.

He has done it again...

Grandy had a sad morning. She has a "friend" who is going through some things and decided to take it out on her this morning. Because Grandy is a sensitive shmuck, she fought the urge to take it personally, but quickly lost that battle.

As I sat there, eyes filling silently with tears, my son looked over at me. Without saying a word, he reached over, gave me a hug, stood up and walked out of the room. I thought to myself, "I am so blessed with him...HE is a good boy."

In that time, he returned to the room with his hands behind his back. He had a smile on his face.

I looked at him with a perplexed "what have you done" look. And he did it...again...as he did 12 years ago. He handed me one square of toilet paper.

He knows how I love the story about how he was not quite 3 and I was having a particularly difficult time. I sat there and cried, and he waddled his diaper butt down the hall. He came out with his hands behind his back then, and handed me the one square. "It okay Mama," he said.

This morning that same sweet boy, who towers a good 5 inches taller than me now, reached in and pulled me out of my moment of sadness, as he has done for so many years without even knowing.

Thank you, Tyler, for being one thing I have done right in this world. Thank you for being the boy where people stop me to tell me how truly good you are. Thank you for being the kind of boy who opens the door for the girl he likes. Thank you for being the boy that detects a change in your mom's voice, and instantly knows when there is something wrong. Thank you for being YOU!!

I am hard on you with your grades, because you CAN do so well. I may remind you of your manners because you CAN be good. I ride you to do your chores because you CAN do better. Frankly, you have yet to understand that I don't think there is anything you CANNOT do.

What I do not do enough is remind you how much I love you, how proud you make me feel, or how truly blessed I am to have you and call you MY SON.

I love you buddy!!
This picture was taken only 3 years ago. We both look so different now, but it is still my favorite picture of US. It is the sweetness in this hug that reminds me of the sweetness in your heart.

WTF Wednesday - TEENS

It's happening folks.

We are almost two months into Freshman year of high school, and my son has lost his mind. Don't get me wrong, I am proud of him almost every day. He kinda does his chores, tries hard at boy scouts, and is not really studying.

Ok...Surely I jest.

He does have a very full class schedule, with difficult classes at the high school. He is very active with boy scouts. And of course there is football. SO MANY ADJUSTMENTS!!!

Usually by the end of summer, Fubby was teasing Ty about his brain becoming a puss bucket because he hasn't been "using" it during summer. I'm afraid somehow, part of that stuck.

Did you do your homework? - Yes
Did you get credit for your homework? - ::Shrug::

Where are your Spanish Flash Cards? - ::I sit and watch him literally pull out tiny squares of paper he had turned into flash cards::
What are those? - Flash Cards!
What does this one say? - ::Shrug::

How did your test go? - I think I did well.
What was it on? - ::Shrug::

Can we reverse time?

How did my boy go from this...?



To THIS...?




Oh dear me!! He is a great and wonderful boy, and I thoroughly hanging out with him and his friends. I am fortunate that he and his friends even still want us around. Mind you I am hardly delusional that I don't know for a moment some of those times they want us around involves either a ride somewhere, or food of some sort, but we all have the MOST fun together.

However (and this is a note for my Lil' Man) at the rate of "adjustment" period we've facing with this High School thing, we will be lucky if either of us lives to see the day he sees his driver's permit. We still have a YEAR for that, and I don't count on my kidney or liver holding up that long at this rate.

REALLY?!?!

::SHRUG::

Grandy is HERE

So many of Grandy's friends are going through something major in their life.

Unemployment

Child Custody Battles

Divorce

Deportation Issues

Mid-Life Crisis' in ways I can only embrace.

Grandy wants them all to know, she is here. She's here for you. She's not been HERE...via her blog as often as she would like, but she is HERE, in person, and for real.

What can I do for these friends?

Help right the resume.

Go to court.

Give a hug.

Grandy gets low in her own little moments...but has never let that stand in her way of her friends and family. It is in my lowest moments that you have all touched me.

I am here because of you all. I am who I am because of you. You are strong, and make me want to be a better person.

Have faith...and know that you can call me. No matter what!!!

Thank you for being Grandy's friend.

Family Vacation minus 1

As you read this, Grandy & the little man are off on a vacation to DC. Fubby couldn't come with us this time, and it's kinda feeling like it won't be the same.

I've taken business trips without him, and gone on weekends away with girlfriends, but I've never taken an actual "vacation" without him since we've been together.

It will be odd I think. Little man and I will have a great time, I'm sure. We get to travel with Mom, a Sister, and her family. Lots of pictures will be taken, lots of laughs will be shared, and lots of memories will be made.

Somehow I think though...it just won't be the same. If Fubby read my blog, I would put a little note here that said something like, "See you when we'll get back! We'll miss you!"

But alas...he doesn't...so that would be pointless.

Have a great day everybody!!!

Belated Birthday Blessing

Several of you who know me through facebook know that the Little Man Grandy had a birthday on Friday.


He's FOURTEEN now.

What does this mean for Grandy?

Well, it means that I now overhear conversations between him and his friends that I REALLY never wanted to hear. Case in point...

Me: ::driving him and friends to a party::
Him: Dude! You're not black? (ongoing joke with his friend)
Friend: Well... only from the waste down.

...pause...

Me: ::giggling:: LA-LA-LA! NOT LISTENING!!

What else does it mean for Grandy?

It means that my boy is growing up, changing, every ding-dong-day!!

Other case in point...here is his picture from last year's birthday:







And here he is at Christmas:

He looks EVEN MORE different now!!

My handsome boy is turning in to such a young man. I get compliments from everyone I see about how sharp, courteous, and respectful he is. I'm so proud of him, in so many ways!! His nick-name is still Captain Half-Ass in Grandy-land because it takes him 3.2 tries to get his chores right. But we love him anyway.

Part of me though...deep down...still misses this kid:

Can you blame me????

Love you Bud!!!

It's About Time

Remember my post last week? The one that said Grandy was spending quality time with her niece and Mom in the hospital? Well, remember the posts a few weeks back that said Grandy was dealing with her own stupid stones issues?

Well the next day after that post, everything came to a head for Grandy. She called the doctor and got an appointment first thing. The little guy Grandy also had injured himself while snowboarding with the scouts on Saturday, and his knee was looking worse. So Grandy also called and got an appointment for him that afternoon.

Here's how the day transpired after that...

- Fubby (new nickname for Hubby for the last 10 months that stands for F-N Hubby) has to drive Grandy to the 10:00 doctor's appointment.
- Pain so bad for Grandy that tears are coming down.
- Doctor takes one look at Grandy and tells Fubby to get me to the hospital, they will do emergency surgery that afternoon.

"We stand a 50% chance of fixing it this time," the doctor says.

::blink blink::

"Ummm...what about that other 50%?" I ask.
"We'll worry about that after" he says, with a crazy look on his face as he speaks only to Fubby.

- Fubby drives Grandy to the Hospital, where nice people are waiting for me with pain meds. They all remembered me from my surgery 2 weeks ago...which helped.
- Grandy calls the office (fully medicated) and tells everyone she won't be in for a few days.
- Medications roll...Fubby leaves the hospital to go pick up Little Guy Grandy from school 20 miles away, so he can be back in time to see the doctor before surgery.
- Fubby & Ty make it back just in time to meet the staff rushing me in.
- Nite Nite Grandy
- Fubby takes Ty to the doctor, where they send him for x-rays.
- Grandy has sweet friend working recovery that day, taking very good care of her.
- Fubby & Ty (now on crutches) return to hospital in time to meet Grandy on her way to her way to her room.

"WHAT? You're keeping her?" Fubby asks.

- Doctor shows Fubby & Ty the stones he removed. The largest of them is the size of Fubby's pinky tip. The smallest was the size of his finger nail.

"Nevermind." Fubby says.

Grandy proceeds to pass several more stones through the course of the next couple days and develops a new affection for morphine and norco and comes through with a smile. (On a side note, Grandy is hoping that she passed the last of the big ones last night).

- Several more appointments for Ty are sprinkled in over the next couple days because they're worried about a blood clot, among other things.

Needless to say, Fubby handled it all in stride. My pain, Ty's pain (which now looks to be a slight tear of the ACL), and all the fun that goes with it.

Thank goodness this week is behind us. Thank goodness the stones are out of me.

THANK GOODNESS WE'RE DONE!!!!

I hope!!

Grandy's Early Signs of Stupid Things

In trying to reconnect with some of her long lost blogging community, Grandy came across a great post over at The Junk Drawer. Kathy has a great way of sharing her silly moments, laughing at them, and making us all laugh with her. Hmmm...wonder why Grandy likes her?

Well recently she posted Careful Where You Stick That, which of course lured Grandy straight to reading. She talks about a silly thing she did while AT the doctor's office that caused her an injury. Then she challenged her readers to share a story of something stupid they did as kids that caused an injury.

Psssttt... Would now be a good time to let out my secret that Grandy STILL does stupid things that cause injuries?

For this "episode" Grandy was about 7 years old. Remember the times when your parents could leave and tell you to "stay inside" and it was just assumed that's what you did? These were the days before people like CPS would kick your ass ask questions for leaving two small children at home while Mom ran to the store "real quick".

The boy down the street, his name was Matt, came over and wanted to ride bikes. My twin told him we couldn't go outside, and Grandy of course said "PISHAW, let's do it!" We rode our bikes around in front of the house, in the street, and the whole time Twin is saying, "MOM SAID NOT TO".

Just as Grandy could spit out the words, "Mom will never know", IT happened. The front tire of my bike caught the curb just so and the wheel came to a screeching stop. Grandy goes FACE FIRST over the handle bars and into the pavement.

While laying on the ground, Grandy does a quick body check. Nothing broken. She sits up, and then it hits her. OH THE HEADACHE!! She touches her face, and realizes there is blood. No tears, just panic. "See ya Matt!" as Grandy sprints into the house to assess the damage. As she's always done, Twin picks up Grandy's bike and takes it to the garage, before coming in to assess the damage herself. Yep! It's complete road rash on the right side of the face. OUCH!! Now, with Mom coming home any time, we do our best to try to "mask" the damage. Twin does her best to help fix it.

Now...here is where you ask yourself...how would two 7 year old girls "fix" the fact that the top layer of the right side of my face is now gone? With a comb-over, of course. How else?

Grandy's hair at the time was cut in this cute little boyish cut, and she had more curls than Shirley Temple. So imagine how that worked out for us.

When Mom got home, we thought we would only show her the "left" side of my face. Imagine, walking sideways to Mom, greeting her with a hug like nothing happened. Yeah, that lasted about...um...20 seconds.

Needless to say, Grandy got a good spanking that night when Dad got home. Not sure what hurt more, the spanking or the time Grandy spent over Dad's knee waiting for the spanking. While hanging over Dad's knee, with all the blood rushing to my brain and face throbbing, he decided THEN would be a perfect opportunity to discuss how what I did was wrong, and how something more serious could have happened, blah.blah.blah. Just as the stars started appearing in my eyes, the ass beating blessing of the spanking finally came.

I don't remember much more after that but needless to say, when Mom says she used to make decisions about whether or not she would allow me to do things based on whether Twin was doing it with me...she had a valid point. She says she "questioned my judgment".

Gee... I wonder why?

Grandy has a date!!

Grandy never quite got into the whole fraternity/sorority thing in college. Most of the time, they bored me. I must have been too serious then. In fact, in the whole time I was there, I only went to one football game. That says a lot, considering the fact that for one year I lived across from the stadium. I just had other things going on all the time, even though I really liked football.

It's funny how some things change.

Today Grandy has a DATE with her son. She's pulling him out of school early (does the principal read this blog?) and we're going down to the biggest game of the year tonight at my alma mater. He absolutely loves football, and has been obsessed with it since I took him to a game four years ago. Watching him get excited about the game, and my old school, has given me a renewed energy about my old school.

So, we're driving 3 1/2 hours to get to the game, going to have a blast (even though we will lose), staying at my brother's, then turning around to come back in time for his own game tomorrow. It will be tiring...but so worth it.

I don't know that my weekend will slow down at all by Sunday, but I promise, I'll blog more next week folks. So much going on, that I cannot share here, but always a story in my head for you all.

See you at the game!!

The Hidden Keys to Relationships

Today Grandy visited the Annual Fire Department Garage Sale. It's a big thing where people all over town donate their unwanted things, in hopes that if it sells, the money goes to our volunteer fire department. Going through the discards of so many families makes it that much more fun.

Grandy could not miss the opportunity to take a picture of this...

Relationships can be a difficult thing.

I don't know a single marriage that hasn't faced obstacles from all angles.

Whether or not one is strong enough to weather the storm, can go either way.

Grandy wonders, however, whether or not the couple that bought these videos made it the distance.

I suppose it might have helped them a little... if they had maybe OPENED one of the videos though.