Honestly, it is quite disconcerting to find out you are a year older than what you believed.  We were born in the same year…him in January, me in November.  I thought he was a certain age, and I find out he was a year more than I thought.  This, of course, means I am a year older than I thought.  ACK!  Why could he have let me keep my fantasy….just for a little while longer!!  sigh…

Anyway….I’m sure glad he was born!  Love you!!

So, Chris and I set out for Papa’s Social Club in Milwaukee. There have been a LOT of changes to the freeways, and I’m rather impressed. No doubt, the next time I come up here, they will be redoing the whole shebang….again. Cuz, y’know….that’s what gubmints do….they fix things that ain’t broke, and tinker to the point that….well…y’all know.

It was a wee bit windy, but honestly, it wasn’t THAT windy. Heh.  Naturally, to me, it was quite chilly.  But you know these Yankee types are….they consider anything above freezing (32 degrees) balmy.  Imagine the amusement they got out of my red fox jacket… hey….I was cold!  However, sitting outside in the sun a couple of time, it really wasn’t too bad….till the the wind blew…and then, Chris AND AB commented on the chill. 

Some of my favorite folks showed up.  And a couple are sick, so didn’t show.    Left to right…Kevin, AB, Sam, Fred, Tammy, Chad…ok…yeah, we let him live…and Dan, who got a $10 donation for his campaign.  I got a bumper sticker.  Yup…I’m gonna put a “Stand With Walker” bumper sticker on my Tennessee truck!  No, Mr Ol’ Broad….not on the bumper.  I can tape it in the back window.

And what do you do in a social club?  Why, you socialize, of course.  DUH!  L to R… Chris, Cindy, some guy with his back showing, Dan, Ric, and Ric’s dad.

Once again, I am abused by Cindy and Chris.  It’s become such a habit, I don’t even remember what it was this time.  *snicker*

And of course, we have my favorite Badger hugging buddy, Patrick.  You can see how much he likes having his picture taken. Lookin’ so good hon!! 

I’m not sure why I didn’t take more pictures, but if I come across some that others too, I’ll add ‘em.  Steve was also in attendance, but for some reason, I didn’t get a picture of several folks.  He and a lady named Mary are the only ones I can think of right now, although, someone said Dad29 was there, but I wouldn’t swear to it since I’ve never met him.  And where the blazes is Frank???  Couldn’t have sworn I got a shot of him.  sigh….  Oh yeah… Wiggy was there too.

Along with getting together with some terrific folks, there were also donations for our troops that Chris will send to her son, who will share with others in his unit, and maybe other units as well.  There is a LOT of stuff to pack into boxes for shipping.  I think I’ll volunteer to help her get some of it packed.  Can’t do ALL of it, cuz…well, the Mr expects me to be home sometime before the end of the year.    Yup…LOTS of stuff!

Sadly, Chris hadn’t been feeling too well all day, and she starting feeling even worse.    So we left before most of the others.  Poor baby seems to have contracted the creeping crud that seems to be going around up here.  (uh oh…praying I don’t get it too…but I won’t be gettin’ too close…. Heh!)

I really love coming up here and spending time with Chris and her family.  Good people, and they haven’t dug a hole in the back yard to bury me yet, so I guess all is well.  LOL

Tomorrow, I will be in Wisconsin, spending the weekend with Chris, getting on her last nerve, cuz heaven knows, she hasn’t got but one left. Heh. And it’s MINE! *snicker*  Gonna have a female gab fest, see some friends, annoy a Badger, and maybe going shootin’ with silent E?  Now THAT would be fun. 

So, if I’m not on here much, now, you’ll know why!  Ta da! 

Yup….my cute little darlin’ daughter has now hit middle age!  ROFLMBO And, on top of hitting middle age (average life expectancy is 77, so yes ya pain in the hinder….MIDDLE AGE!), she’s gonna be a granny in a few months. Yes, this totally cracks me up since she made me a grandmother at the same age. Of course, the down side is me becoming a great grandmother, but that’s beside the point right now.

While I grumble and such about her and to her, she is quite aware, I love her dearly! If I didn’t, she would never have made it to this point!

After a VERY long New Year’s Eve, they aren’t looking their best.  LOL  We set off fireworks, a couple that decided to just blow up.  We thought Ick was going to blow up his truck a time or two in the process.  The grand finale went pretty well, until it caught on fire.  I tried to take video, but it was so dark, I doubt if they came out.  I’ll check when we get home.

Shortly before midnight, the next door neighbors came home, and Ick went over to say ‘Howdy’!  They had quite a conversation.  It seems that one of their trucks had been broken into the night before.  Well, not exactly broken into….evidently, if a vehicle was unlocked, the scumbags would take darn near anything inside.  Well, that started us all thinking…did we lock our vehicles?  Yup!  Mine is ALWAYS locked.  It’s a habit.  Ick’s was locked as well.  Brat on the other hand….  sigh…  Seems they got a pair of $2 knock off sunglasses, some lip gloss, about $4 in change, and attempted to rip out her stereo.  Evidently they went through the whole truck, taking their time, even moving the seats back.  We thought they had gotten one of the speaker thingys under the seats, but evidently, it got shoved back, and they didn’t see them.  However, they broke the face whatsit off the radio, ripped up a bunch of stuff, but weren’t able to get the radio out.

The sheriff’s department was obviously extremely busy last night, so they weren’t able to come out to make the report until shortly before we left.  It seems there has been a rash of such thefts in the whole subdivision, 8 on Christmas morning.  How tacky!  He speculated that it was kids.  I’d like to know what kind of parents let their kids going roaming the neighborhood in the middle of the bloomin’ night?!  Out there in the country, you wouldn’t think they would have such issues, but it seems people are moving out from Harris County (Houston) and Jefferson County (Beaumont) and they are bring their evil spawn with them.

There were a couple of other events, more of the amusing variety, but that’s family stuff, and as much as I’d love to share it….I promised.  Heh.

We are halfway home, but will be stopping half the distance so the Mr can watch the Rose Bowl.  *shakes head*  Well, that’s ok, I think I can probably find some way to entertain myself. 

So, we waited till all the kids were sufficiently drugged and in bed.  Ok, they weren’t really, but the thought did cross our minds.  Heh.  Instead of putting anything under the tree, we piled it all on the dining room table.  Another angle.    Yeah, with 3 kids, and one on the way, there was a LOT of stuff.  Spud made out like a bandit, and he hasn’t even been born yet.  LOL

The middle child, 17, who informed us he wouldn’t be able to sleep for a while, and was going to wait up for Santa….   Heh.  Yeah…that worked out real well for him. 

Ick decided he was going to play Santa,   and pass out the presents.  Usually, one of the girls insist on being his helper.  SP THOUGHT she was going to get to climb over everybody.  Pfft!  NOT gonna happen!  Considering the crowded conditions this year, Ick wisely informed her she needed to sit her hind end down.  Kids, dogs, cats….yep, a wee bit stacked on top of each other.

Apparently, Santa snuck penguins in to each of the kids while they were sleeping.  Yeah…Frodo had to have one too, especially since it was his very first Christmas with us.    He also got a toy shaving kit in his stocking.  Seems he got my biological grandmother’s Native American genes.  Kid is pretty much hairless, and of course, his mother finds this highly amusing.  Sick woman.  Heh.

Why is it when you get a great shot, the kid always has to move?    I considered whacking her upside the head, but refrained. 

And here are Jr and Michale…aka da baby daddy.      Actually, he’s a fairly nice guy, and I have felt no need to dig a hole in the back yard for him. 

In the midst of the present passing out, Brat decided she was going to open the door, and make sure that we all got flash frozen!    Ok, it was just me, but still….  Cold and pouring down rain makes the ol’ broad’s knee hurt….a LOT.  Rotten kid!  Of course, she thought she was going to prevent me from getting pictures of her   by covering her face?  Silly girl!  Of course, it wouldn’t be Christmas morning without a couple of Kringles!  Breakfast!  OH YEAH!    Courtesy of myself and Chris, and O&H!  There was a bit of a healthy array that came later, but we had to battle the dogs for the cheese and such.  Beau is going to be fairly unhappy after snatching all the pepper jack.  *snicker*

The kids got Brat a “mom ring”.    She’s quite proud of that.    Ok, so it’s hard to see, but it’s quite nice.  Then she had a serious battle with one of those boxes they make just to frustrate the one who is TRYING to get the item out.    In this case, a rather neat case and keyboard for her iPad thingy.  She finally figured out….rip the very thing paper stuff.  Yeah…occasionally, she’s a wee bit slow.  LOL  And hey….let’s not forget the old woman here…    Y’all hush!  That’s what they call me.    What can I say?  sigh…  That’s going over my side of the garage!  I don’t know how, but it will…even if I have to climb up on a ladder, and drill a hole or two.  HUMPH!  I wasn’t completely forgotten.    Chris sent me a sweat shirt that would likely fit my moose  , but I wasn’t gonna try to get it over his antlers.  “Doin’ the Fat Cat Boogie!”  Hey…it’s a song!  And I like it!  Daryl T song, don’cha know.

Ick continues his work, and decided perhaps it was time for him to open one of his present.    Got himself some Cowboy love going on!  It’s a tree face, in case ya couldn’t figure it out.

Brat Jr and Michael did quite well this morning.    An X-box, some games, a Kindle, a box of diapers, and a WHOLE bunch of cool baby stuff.    It was surprising there was any room left around them to put stuff.  LOL  It looks like Short Person is getting buried,  between Jr’s stuff and her own.

Frodo got himself an Alvin sweat shirt.    I’m tellin’ ya, the boy has serious rodent issues.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen a teenager so obsessed with Alvin and The Chipmunks.  Oh well, each to their own.  LOL

Naturally, it wouldn’t be Christmas without an appropriate outfit for the feline.  I had intended it for Rocky Moose, but evidently, I had a brain fart, and forgot he needs a LARGE dog size  , so Salem had to do the modeling.    She wasn’t thrilled, but hey…it’s a tradition. 

Basically, it was a pretty nice Christmas.  There was a serious problem, but I won’t get into that, cuz I’ll get chapped all over again, and trust me, ya don’t want that!    The reason we celebrate is to share the love that God showed up by giving us His Son.  I never forget that IS the reason for the season!

I pray everyone had a joyous day with family and friends.

And oh yeah, Chris?  I’m really sorry the Bears lost.    Well, not really, but you know what I mean. 

Naturally, any and all shopping trips has to include a trip to Wal-Mart!  Why?  Well, because out in the Podunk areas of any state, that’s usually the only place you can go to find just about EVERYTHING needed at any particular time.  Why do people get so nasty around Christmas?  I’ve never figured that out.  It could be because of sheer exhaustion, cuz believe me, but the time we left that store, all I wanted to do was crawl into bed, and perhaps, not die, but come real close.  I have hurts in places I didn’t know I had places.  Of course, my leg has the typical “get off me” pain.    And Jr is still complaining about her back.  *shakes head*  You’d think no one had ever been pregnant before.

I have decided…there will be NO more shopping while we’re here.  If anyone wants something, they can darn well and go get it themselves.  This ol’ broad is not move from this spot, except for nature and sleep!

Pray for all of our sanity.

Happy Birthday Mom!  I miss you!

Well, I now have my laptop computer back where it belongs…. IN MY LAP! I called Best Buy first thing this morning, and talked to the young fella who actually checked me in. NOT the one who took so much time explaining, repeatedly, why he couldn’t take my computer last Thursday, which, if he had stopped bumping his gums, could have taken my computer, instead of wasting time. *shakes head* Nope, it was the one who actually knew what he was doing, and only took about 5 minutes to get it done!

to the smart guy with the sense of humor! 

When I pulled into Best Buy’s parking lot, I caught sight of one of the coolest things I’ve seen in a while.

The tags were from New York, but I obviously cut that part off.  Privacy and all that, don’cha know.  I just had to take a picture.  Yep, they need to wash it, but still….

You know, of course, while I was over there in Jackson, I had to do a bit of shopping.  I was actually looking for a couple of maternity tops.  NO, not for me….for Brat Jr!

For the first time in her life, her boobs don’t stick out farther than her belly.  *snicker*  I’m really NOT old enough for this.  sigh…  I had no idea that preggers shirts were so unbelievably ugly!  Even I wouldn’t wear the ones I saw today.    Talk about OLD woman shirts!  For HOW much???  Sheesh!  I’m not aware of any 90 year old broads that get preggers.

Then, I was lookin’ at the preggers britches. 

Excuse me, but I didn’t see any gold or platinum on those things.  They were just your plain blue jean type britches with that stretchy panel thingy on the front!

But that store evidently thinks they are something REAL special!  Think about it.  This one pair of britches that a woman will only wear for a few months could pay for a couple weeks groceries for a family of 4.  Years ago, it probably could have fed that same family for a month or two.  Gracious sakes!  Well, I can tell ya…we will be hitting Goodwill or the Salvation Army…or any other second hand store we can find while we’re down there in Podunk Texas for Christmas.

So, anyways….now, I don’t have to re-arrange the Mr’s desk anymore.  He’s left handed, and has everything on the WRONG side.  I’ve no doubt he’ll be pleased to not have to put everything back where he had it. 

We decided to head down, and have lunch at The Generals’ Quarters.  My friend Charlotte, and her husband Chef Luke, run the place and we hadn’t seen them in a while, so why not?  Apparently, anytime I tell Charlotte we are coming, she isn’t there.  I was starting to get suspicious.  Heh.  No, not really.  We found out she was over at the animal shelter, and thought after eating an excellent lunch, and doing a wee bit of shopping, we’d head over and chat with her for a bit.  Oh…that was a BIG mistake!  But I stayed strong!  I didn’t whine.  I was tough!  We did NOT bring home any cats!!

Oh, but lemme tell ya……it was hard!  HARD!!!!  Walking out and not bringing that beautiful little 2 year old fluffy silver feline?  sigh…  Or the kitten that was all of maybe 2 months and very affectionate?  *shakes head*  Logic tells me that 4 is way more than enough, but…..  Oh well.

Today was a terrific day, other than that!    And now, I’m tuckered!

My progress from the TKR is going forward. I found a lady who wanted to get rid of her bike that goes nowhere, nice one too….digital stuff…and practically brand new, so that has been my mostly every day rehab at home. I found out that if I use my Daily Bible reading, it comes out to 3.5 miles, so, I’m getting those 2 birds at the same time. Works out great! I am having some issues with the weather though. UGH! If my barometer goes off like this at 52 degrees, what is it going to be like at 32, or 22? *shakes head* I’m fairly sure I’ll survive, but I won’t be happy. grrrrr  Likely, the Mr will find many things to keep him occupied and out of the “whining” room.  Heh.

Now, for the REALLY good news. The doc has pronounced the Mr in remission. How do I know? I saw it on his FB status! *mumbling under breath at Mr* Nope, he didn’t tell me. He says he thought he did, but no…I’m pretty sure I would have remembered something like that, don’t you? HUMPH! MEN!  He does have to go for some test or other in January, and they decided not to cut on his liver.  Yep.  I’m confused.  But that’s ok, that word “remission” makes it all worth it. 

So, that’s where we stand for the moment. All the prayers and encouragement has been a God send for both of us. We sincerely appreciate all of y’all!

Now you know there has to be camo in this kid’s future, right?  Heh. Hey, at least I’m going to wait a while before he gets his first gun, ok? 

It would probably be wise if I stay out of the baby department for a while. 

Sigh….  Seriously….I’m not old enough for this!