Rudy's First Visit with Santa

My daughter in law is up in the north east visiting her family for Thanksgiving and they took Rudy to see Santa for the first time today. My DIL said Rudy wasn't afraid at all.
Guess this good little boy will be getting loads from Santa in San Antonio at Christmas!!!

Do You Like Las Vegas?

Travel to Las Vegas has never been this inexpensive before, there are room deals at every hotel/casino. This morning I got a deal to stay downtown at the Golden Nugget during the week for $89 for 3 nights (that's less than $30 per night), or $119 for 2 nights on a weekend. Last week I got an offer to stay at Wynn for $109 per night with $150 in slot play. New York/New York offered $40 per night during the week.

I love Las Vegas and there has never been a better time to visit if you have the time and money - what a great couples trip during the holidays!!!

The Rock Star Award

I was given the Rock Star Award by Starting Over who is a new reader of my blog and a strong woman who is starting life over since her divorce. Visit her blog and say hello.

8 things about me (wow, y'all are learning more about me than people I actually know - LOL)

1. I have ugly feet and hands, digits are way too large.
2. I dislike shopping.
3. I don't like taking time to fix myself up (in other words primp).
4. I don't like public restrooms or theaters (too many germs).
5. Chewing gum makes me gag (I chew gum simply to keep from smoking).
6. I love a clean house but I hate to do housework.
7. I love to sleep.
8. I wish I had a fortune to give away.

I'm not the kind of gal to tag people but I want you to know that this award is yours for the taking if you will only tell us 8 things about yourself.

ME in ONE WORD

I stole this fun meme from Maggie

Me in One Word

Where is your cell phone? Purse
Where is your significant other? Familyroom
Your hair color? Grey
Your mother? Deceased
Your father? Deceased
Your favorite thing? Technology
Your dream last night? None
Your dream/goal? Happy
The room you’re in? computer
Your hobby? photography
Your fear? suffering
Where do you want to be in 6 years? alive
Where were you last night? here
What you’re not? bored
One of your wish-list items? cruise
Where you grew up? St. Louis
Last thing you did? Meme
What are you wearing? clothes
Your TV? 72"
Your pet? dog
Your computer? appendage
Your mood? content
Missing someone? sometimes
Your car? 12
Something you’re not wearing? makeup
Favorite store? grocery
Your summer? gardening
Love someone? family
Your favorite color? red
When is the last time you laughed? today
Last time you cried? today

Copy and Paste this to play along.

I Got Tagged

I was tagged by Roxie at Roxiticus Desperate Housewives to play ABC......come play with me, please!!!!!

EASY as ABC...............
You went to school to learn girl
things you never knew before
like "I before E except after C" and why 2 plus 2 makes 4
now, now, now
I'm gonna teach you, teach you, teach you
all about love girl, all about love
sit yourself down, take a seat
all you gotta do is repeat after me

A B C , It's easy as
1 2 3 , as simple as
do re mi, A B C, 1 2 3
baby you and me girl

Come on and love me just a little bit
Im gonna teach you how to sing it out
come on, come on, come on
let me tell you what its all about
reading, writing, arithmatic
are the branches of the learning tree
but without the roots of love everyday girl
your education aint complete
teachers gonna show you (shes gonna show you)
how to get an A? (na,na,na,na,na,na)
how to spell me? you? add the two
listen to me baby thats all you got to do

Oh,
A B C , Its easy as
1 2 3 , as simple as
do re mi, A B C, 1 2 3
baby you and me girl
A B C its easy, its like counting up to 3
singing simple melodies
thats how easy love can be
singing simple melodies
1 2 3 baby you and me

A. Attached or single? Happily married to Roland for 32 years.

B. Best friend? Also Roland.

C. Cake or pie? Cake, white cake, buttercream frosting. White is the moistest cake.

D. Day of choice? Since we retired, everyday is the same.

E. Essential item? My laptop, keeps me in the loop.

F. Favorite color? Green used to be my favorite but in the last year it's become red.

G. Gummy bears or worms? neither, I don't care for candy.

H. Hometown? St. Louis, Missouri (county)

I. Favorite indulgence? Baskin Robbin's Jamoca Almond Fudge Ice Cream

J. January or July? January is a new beginning, July is my birth month.

K. Kids? Two, boy that is 30 and girl that is 29 (they are 12 months and 12 days apart in age.

L. Life isn’t complete without? My family

M. Marriage date? April 23, 1977

N. Number of magazine subscriptions? One - Glamour

O. Oranges or apples? Apples.

P. Phobias? Public Restrooms - ICK!!

Q. Quotes? Life is about the journey not the destination

R. Reasons to smile? Life is much better than I could have ever imagined.

S. Season of choice? Autumn

T. Tag 5 people.
I'm not good at tagging people as I know some people just don't care for participating so I'll leave this open for the many friends I've made online to participate if they would like (I sure would love to learn more about you)

U. Unknown fact about me? If I told you, it wouldn't be unknown, now would it?

V. Vegetable? Zucchini.

W. Worst habit? Biting my fingernails.

X. X-ray or ultrasound? Ultrasound.

Y. Your favorite foods? Mexican Food, Chicken anything, ice cream, most vegetables, home cooking.

Z. Zodiac sign? Cancer.

Juvenile Sex Offenders

The local news at 10:00pm tonight told the story of 20 juvenile sex offenders that are in middle school and high school and the school districts are not informing the parents of the other children in school with these criminals.
The schools say because the offenders are juveniles that they are not compelled to inform the parents of the other children.
Problem is that some of these offenders are beginning to re offend.

What's your thoughts on this subject?
Should the school districts inform parents when they have a known sex offender attending school in one of their schools, should age matter?

MY OPINION - the law is the law, criminals are criminals, regardless of their age. Maybe if these kids knew that everyone would know who they were and what they had done they would think twice before committing these crimes in the first place.

It's Beginning to Feel Alot Like.........

The weather is finally cooling down, leaves are turning and falling from trees, I see jeans and sweats more often and now with day light savings over, everyone has finished their personal running/walking, and dog walking before it's dark (well before 6pm). My thoughts are turning to the holidays, what I'm going to cook, what needs to be purchased, what needs to be cleaned before visitors arrive.
Cooking always feels so much more comforting when the temperature drops, I also cook differently, the stick to your bones kinda food.
Even my bedding changes with many more blankets and down comforters (but I still need those crisp cold sheets which I found by the way at Thomas Lee). We haven't turned on the main heaters yet but the portable heaters we've started in the master bathroom. Tonight I believe we are going to stoke the fireplace for the first time this season, my daughter and her boyfriend are coming for dinner, the Cowboys play tonight and it will be another chilly night - perfect evening for the fireplace.

What makes it feel like a change in seasons for you?

Blog Clean-Up Necessary

I'm in the process of cleaning up my blog so if you don't see a link that used to be there or an award you know you gave my blog.........it's still there, it's just hiding until I can finish my clean up. I'm going to add some navigation aides so that everything isn't on the opening page and doesn't delay the site coming up for those just dropping.

Thanking Those Who Have Served

Thank You for your selfless service so that every American can stay free.

I am a veteran, not of any war but I served my country during the mid 70's for 4 years. When I first enlisted, we were called a W.A.C. (Women's Army Corp), we trained in places different from men for basic training and our training was different as well. Our daily uniform, Fatigues (what they call BDU's today) was also worn differently, we had to wear our shirt hanging out instead of tucked into our belt (as the men wore their uniform) as the Army didn't want the men to be distracted by our shape/waist (can you believe that!!).
I met my husband while I was still in the Army, I got out as an E-5, he was a 1LT when we met and he retired a few years back with 30 years (active and reserve) as an 0-6.
Our daughter did ROTC in college and served her 4 years after and got out as a Captain. She was able to be Airborne and when I was in all those years ago, it wasn't possible for a woman to be Airborne. I helped pave her way and those of all the other women that have been in since the 70's.

"I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free, and I won't forget the men who died that gave that right to me, and I'll gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today, cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God Bless The USA"
- Lee Greenwood -

Drawing Names for Gift Giving

How does your extended family handle Christmas? My Son asked me the other day if we could draw names instead of shopping for everyone.............there aren't many of us.
I didn't give him an answer because I have to speak with our daughter first.
I rather like the concept of drawing names but I'd love to hear how your family/friends handle gift giving at Christmas.

How Did I Survive Raising Two Children?

We are still in H-Town babysitting for Rudy while his Daddy works and his Mommy is out of town on business. We got here on Tuesday and we are headed back home tomorrow (Saturday), thank goodness, I'm exhausted!!!!
It's not by happen chance that it's young women that bear children.........my back is killing me, I'm suffering from much less sleep than I'm used to, and Rudy wriggles all over me. His Daddy has taught him how to lean back, actually he forces his body backwards and expects someone to hold him/catch him.
Rudy probably weighs in at about 20 pounds.

I'm so glad we came and babysat, I'm so glad that I had this quality and quantity of time to spend with my little boy, to get to know him and him us. He is the very best of everyone, and he is going to be a handful plus and give us all the greatest joy we could experience.

I'd love to hear from other GrandParents on the best way to handle everything :)

Our First Full Day With Rudy

Nana and Grandpa have had 24 hours so far with our Rudy and oh what a treat!!!
My own children were pretty wonderful (and still are) but this baby has the sweetest spirit I've ever come in contact with, he is all smiles, peace and happiness.
He is on the verge of crawling and will no doubt be there by the time he is with us at Christmas. He blabbers all the time and his hand eye coordination is excellent.

The annoying toy I brought isn't half as bad as some his own parents have gotten him and I've had the time of my life playing with him.
In all seriousness, Rudy is happy and smiling ALL THE TIME!

What I'm Doing On Election Day

We'll be leaving to drive to Houston to babysit for Rudy while his Daddy (my Son) works and his Mommy goes out of town on business for the first time since she gave birth to Rudy in March of this year. We'll be there for about 4ish days. We haven't seen Rudy in almost 3 months (since his Christening - OMG, it's really been that long). During this time there was the hurricane and the kids didn't have power for 14 days and we went on our cruise and had some health issues of our own........time sure does fly.
Anyway, I'm headed to Rudy filled with love and kisses along with some clothes and of course an annoying toy (makes lots of noise when it's so much as touched). I'll be thrilled to dote on all my boys (husband, son, and grandson). I'm bringing along my laptop though so I'll be sure to keep up with the goings on online.

We already voted as Texas has early voting.