Is Anybody Going To San Antone...

ThatManILove and I, once we’re finally packed, heading out of town post-Starbucks, jamming to our favorite tunes...

Him:  “What?”

Me:  “How do we go to San Antonio from here?”  (a nice way to say, “Ahem.”)

Him:  “Well, I’m gonna go the way I usually do, you know, down Rankin Highway thru Spraberry to Big Lake.”

Me:  “Hmmmm.” (a nice way to say, “Seriously???”) 

Him:  “Why?”

Me:  “Well, babe, Sprayberry is that way...”  (pointing east)  (we’re heading south)

Him:  “Well, it dang sure is.”

I love ThatManILove.

Wait.  Was that a redundant statement?

Gonna Go Fishing (Maybe)

I have spent the better part of two days trying to reserve a rental down on the coast.

It’s not so easy to do when you’re trying to find (a) beachfront and (2) nice and (3) affordable on the (4) Texas Gulf close to your (5) favorite fishing guide.

I think I’m gonna start drinking.  Again.

That is all...

Inserting New Habits Into My Day

While I've been off recuperating, I’ve been trying to instill some good habits into my day.

My goal was to spend time in reflection and prayer on a daily basis.

I downloaded a daily prayer/journaling book, Jesus Calling: A 365 Day Journaling Devotional Jesus Calling: A 365 Day Journaling Devotional by Sarah Young.  I also downloaded Grace for the Moment Daily Bible: Spend 365 Days reading the Bible with Max Lucado.  I'm having a hard time staying on the day...I keep reading forward.  (Who knew, right?)

I’m liking it.  I like starting my day with quiet time, and reflecting upon the One who created me.

I like slowing down enough to get that done.

I'm healing up from my surgery, have to call and get my followup appointment today.

The Wonderdogs are ornery, but well.  

ThatManILove is doing well.  We've been spending lots of good time together.  I'm thankful.

On another note, my CHL came in the mail! Yay!  Now, to get released from the doc so I can go practice shooting!

I Miss My Mommy...Happy Mother's Day!

It’s Mother’s Day.

And Lord knows, I miss my mom.

I cannot smell the fragrance “White Diamonds” without thinking of her.

I miss her wisdom.

I miss her humor.

I miss her “eyes in the back of her head”…what I now know was her prophetic anointing.

In 2002, my Mom turned 80. My Mom was a very active woman – she skillfully managed her own stock portfolio, volunteered several hours a week as a “Pink Lady” at the local hospital, and followed us around to all of our respective hobbies and kids’ activities. Our boys called my Mom “Lucy-Gran”. Elder Son and I lived with her for a while so Elder Son could go to the private parochial school my brother and I had attended in our youth. She never missed a kindergarten graduation, a dance, stock show, a roping, a ball game, or a play. My brother and I live 45 miles apart – and she was at every event, for every grandson. I will never forget how much she sacrificed for us. Where those grandsons were, you would always find Lucy-Gran.

I think Mom knew every person in our home town. She stayed very active. And independent…whooooooeeeeee - Mom was VERY very independent. She would drive from West Texas to Shreveport, to go gambling at the “Boats”, and call us after she arrived…"Janie, I’m in Shreveport, spending your inheritance. I’ll be home in 2-3 days, after I go see your cousins in Troup. Love you!” 

Or, she and my Other Mom (mother to ThatManILove) would hop on the tour bus and head out to Niagara Falls, or north to watch the leaves turn – whatever trip came up, they were game. Mom would fly to Vegas or to Laughlin just because she’d had a dream that she was going to win…and every time she had a dream like that, she did win!

I remember, on Mother’s Day, 2003, she even went to the hunting refuge to watch Zack the Wonderdog work. Mom was, for every single day of our lives, simply amazing. She was both mother and father to my brother and I – as well as several of our friends!

To everyone else but us, she was Lucy. Everyone loved her.

About two weeks before her birthday, I had a brain wave (thank you, God!), and started planning an “I Love Lucy” party. I still can’t believe we pulled it off. I sent out invitations, and enclosed were two questions to be answered by the recipient.

“What is your favorite memory of Lucy?”

“Will you please tell us a funny story about Lucy?”

I captured all the replies, and put them in an animated powerpoint, and played it continuously at her party. (Of course, I had to print everything off, in color, for Mom.  She didn't do powerpoint.)  My brother Scott and I almost pulled off the “surprise” part. Mom had been gambling again in Shreveport, and we thought we could get away with putting a sizeable invitation ad in the local paper, which Mom never read. (Raised in the East Texas Piney Woods, she was a Dallas Morning News kind of girl.) 

The ad was styled something like this:

“Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Please don’t tell Lucy-gran!

You’re invited to a Surprise 80th Birthday Party for Lucy on June 26 at ...”

Mom returned to town a day early, and ran by the bank on her way home. Almost immediately, some old codger came up to her, and said, “Well, did you have a good time at your birthday party?”

Mom called me.

We. Were. So. Busted.

“Honey, I know.”



“Know what, Mom?”



“About the party.”



“What party, Mom?”



“Jane. You know. My surprise 80th birthday party at the church - the one that you and your brother are throwing for me.”

…Silence…

“Oh. Yeah. That party. How do you know, Mom?



“This stupid man at the bank told me. Then when I asked what he was talking about, he said “Oh, you didn’t know?” and, then, told me what the ad said. And I told him that if I was supposed to know, the ad wouldn’t say “Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Please don’t tell Lucy-gran!!!” Can you believe that stupid man?! I can't believe he's even smart enough to be in a bank!”



“Well, Mom, don’t worry, that just takes the stress out of it! We’re still picking you up for lunch at 11. Be ready, Mom, I love you!”



“Okay, sweetie...but honey, please don’t make me cry, okay? I don’t want to cry.”



“Okay, Mom. It’s all good.”



And it was. We had a blast. Tons of people showed up. Memories had come in from every part of the country – via fax, e-mail, and regular mail. And they were sweet, poignant, and funny. Every time she read a new slide on the power point, she would cry. And laugh. That party blessed her socks off.



Mom died September 29, 2004. I had been out in the field on one of those massive frac jobs. Mom drove 20 miles one way to meet me in Stanton that night for supper, to celebrate my birthday. Then she drove back home and around midnight, experienced a massive brain bleed, and went home to heaven almost immediately. She was never in pain, and for that, we are so thankful.



And, I’m so thankful for my Other Mom. I love her. You would, too. She is a beautiful, Godly woman who loves her husband, her sons and their wives, and all of our children. She was a good friend to my Mom, and they loved each other. I’m thankful for that, and the time they spent together, as well.

  Such a gift they were to each other.

I miss my Mom.

Happy Mother’s Day, LucyGran.  Scott (your excellent child) and I (your almost excellent child) love you and miss you so much.  You guide our lives, even from Heaven. (Lord knows that Jesus needs your help!) Give our brother Tony a hug for us.  We wish you both were here with us.

Oh, yeah...just so you know, we’re getting to spend some good times together.  And we are both being pretty good...good...well, pretty funny.  We make lots of people laugh.   We like doing that, if you remember. 

I know you're laughing, too.

PeaEye Parker Snags A Black Eye

Kind of a laid-back weekend.  Our adopted daughter and our goddaughter came in to spend the night with us, and we had a great time with them.  And we’re babysitting Pea The Wondercowpup.  (Which, I know, totally negates the “laid-back” portion of this story.

Later, our friend Prudie came over for supper.  She’s such a funny lady, she makes me laugh!

We were visiting, and all of a sudden, Pea the Wonder Cowpup starts yelping...in pain.  

We turned, just in time to see Zack the Wonderdog baring his fangs.  Pea came running to me and jumped on the chair with me.

I guess Pea had just stumbled over Zack right when Zack was going into post-dinner carb nap.  And he turned and bit Pea.  In the eye area.

Blood?  Everywhere.

Freak out?  Me.

I ran and got a wet paper towel and once I got Pea settled down, went to work on that eye to try to find the wound.  I could never find it.  But I dang sure knew it was there, somewhere.

Pea acted fine after that, but I just couldn’t determine the extent of the damage.  His eye didn’t swell, until he woke up.  And whoooooeeeeee.  C’mon, 8:30 a.m., I need the vet to open!

So, off Pea and I go this morning to the vet clinic, and everything is fine.  Our vet prescribed an antibiotic drop, which he sweetly takes...when I can get him to be still enough!

It could have been so much worse...

I wish my son would come get his pup!  It’s that time when, like I’ve heard all grandparents talk about, you spoil ‘em rotten, let them get filthy, and THEN send them home to their parents.

I love this pretty pup.  Even though he's too busy wagging his butt to stay still for a picture.

Pea Eye Parker the Wonder Cowpup

Sweet Saturdays - Pea-Eyed Parker the Cowdog

Some puppy's been sleeping at my house.

At night, trying to figure out what's best for sleeping...the bed, or the floor.  Because the crate is a n.o.n.-o.p.t.i.o.n. for this Aussie pup.  And by the way, he asks, why can't I sleep under the covers like Zanna the Wonderdog does?

So, in other words, this pup is...

Disrupting my life.

Unraveling my rug.

Uprooting everything in the rope basket (aka doggy stash bowl).

And he's so cute and sweet, he's getting away with it.

I've Been Puppyjacked

We’ve been attending the Pathways training.

It’s changing our lives.

Heck.  It’s changing my life.  And thusly, my outlook.  Henceforth, changing our lives, because what I do affects ThatManILove.

Here's what the training’s doing to me, and for me.

This training hits you at heart level.  Gut level.  Oh, it hits you in your thinker, too.

qweiuhnvjk;ahupf...

Well, puppy pawola.

My son’s dog Pea took it upon his hairy self to attack me, jump in my lap, and as such, on my laptop.  He puppyjacked me.  And then, he slobbered all over me in kisses of apology and “come play with me”.  As he’s a 40 lb Australian Shepherd, he’s kind of hard to ignore.

I guess today’s not the day to write about this.

I’m going to think about it some more and maybe my next post will be clearer and more concise.

I’m gonna give this pup some attention.  He deserves it...he’s a super sweet puppy.

It's A Dog's Life

Fashions...from Sam's Club? You Betcha!

Well, who could resist these cute shorts for my goddaughter Ada?

Not I.

She’ll be the cutest almost 3 year old in the world in these!

I love it when I run across cute stuff in the craziest places - like Sam’s Club.  For super cheap.

I hope her momma has some neon cutesy tops to go with these!

Plumb Wore Out...

My faithful companions since I’m off work, post surgery.

Here, they are trying to get my attention, while acting otherwise.

Kind of in-my-face, so if, perchance, I move, they will, but meanwhile, they’re checking out what’s happening outside.  A squirrel might happen by, who knows? Multitasker German Shorthairs.

I’m doing well.  Actually drove today for a bit.  Wore me plumb out.

Plumb out.  Gosh, I’ve not heard that in a while.  “I’m worn plumb out.”

Which is completely different than “half a bubble off plumb.”

What  funky sayings hail from your "vagrant yoot"?

Down and Out...Not For Long!

I’m alive.

I had to have a little operation, but I’m home now and recovering.

And though I had these great aspirations of writing every day, and telling stories about all the visits I’ve had from my friends, I’ve not been able to do that.

All I can do is sleep.

I forgot what anesthesia does to me.  

It knocks me on my butt.

So, today is Sunday.  I think I had the surgery on Wednesday. (Pause for thinking.) Yup, Wednesday.

See?  I’ve lost days.  Days, I tell you!

I will feel better soon.  And I intend to get back on track writing.

Hopefully, I will.  Thanks for bearing with me!

I Told You...It's Never Boring Around Here

Well.

It's never boring around here.

We were headed home today, decided to stop for lunch in Irving.  Ran into a friend.  Ate, visited, had a great time.

Left the restaurant and what do we see?

Yup.  That's exactly what you think it is.  My window was broken.  Shattered.  

My heart jumped into my throat.  My head wanted me to have left the window down...but my heart?  Knew.  

We had been robbed.

We were packed to head home.  And in the second seat floorboard?  Two cases.

Bummer.

This is my first list of what all is missing, that I can remember, and an estimated cost.  (Which, now I know, I lowballed the MacBookPro.  I know this because I just went and purchased the replacement.)

I forgot my Speedlite Flash.  My Samsonite spinner case.

Then, this morning, remembered several sets of premium seat concert tickets...for George Jones.  Peter Frampton with Robert Cray.  Boz Scaggs.  Now I'm chasing those receipts down to get those replaced.

I'm sure I'll remember stuff for days.

Rockin' the Fort Worth Downtown…I Love It Here

So...

I’ve spent the latter part of this week at the Harts DUG Permian Basin conference in downtown Fort Worth.

Do y’all know how much I love Fort Worth?

I’ve had dinner with some major executives...my company hosts a speaker dinner, which was a lot of fun.  An intimate venue, at Del Frisco’s, and I was blessed to be invited.

The next morning, the real conference commenced.  I saw tons of customers, and our lunchtime speaker was retired General Colin Powell.  He gave an interesting talk, and proved he knows virtually nothing about the energy business.   He was treated superbly by our industry representation at that conference, and I think there were 2200+ people there.  I am proud of our industry, and the people in it.  They laid down their political beliefs for one hour, and honored a man who had served our country, and did it well.

I’m proud of anyone who fights alongside, and leads our troops, in defending this country and the people who call America home.  

I met so many people, saw so many friends, and even got to hang out a little with Elder Son and his Cowdog/Hunting Dog (if that sounds funny, it is - it’s a trick Elder son has taught the pup) tonight.  And that, people, made my year.

Pea Eye Parker the Wonder CowPup

On Easter Sunday, our adopted daughter and her mommy brought our baby goddaughter Ada to see us.  We had so much fun loving on them and hanging out with a ton of our friends for Easter.

Sweet Goddaughter!

ThatManILove and I have been busy campers this week.

Such is Mi Vida Loca, eh?

It’s never boring around here!

Hope y’all are all doing well.

Sick Servers? Ummmm….No Thank You

The other night, we arranged to meet some friends for supper at a local establishment. Our friends have two young children, who often go with us on our dinner dates.

We beat our friends to the restaurant, and had the table set up for them. Then, I waved to one of our favorite waitresses.

She said, from across the room, “You don’t want me around.”

I said, “What’s up? Are you sick?”

She nodded affirmatively.

I asked, “Do you have that flu?” and she again nodded.

“Why are you here?” I asked.

She said, “No-one else could work.”

I looked at ThatManILove, and said, “Donna’s sick.” We took one look at each other, and turned to walk out. Our friends had just walked through the door. We told our friends we were leaving, and once they heard the story, they agreed with our decision, and we all walked out.

We’re all doing all we can to keep from getting this flu stuff. And even if it means not eating out, we’ll do it.

The owner came outside forthwith, and asked us if we wanted to order out instead.

Ummmmm, no. No freaking way.

To restaurant owners and managers: I know you have to make a profit.  And I know that you're super stretched for people in this crazy West Texas employment market.  

Newsflash: Your health, and the health of your employees and customers, is more important than losing a day or two of revenue.

I don't go to work when I'm sick...my co-workers have small kiddos and I don't want to be responsible for getting people sick!

If all your employees were sick, I, for one, would totally understand if you closed for a couple of days. Just put “Our Employees Have The Flu and We Care About You!”

I would SO understand. And I’d be back in a week or so - instead of running me off, this would make me way more confident in the cleanliness and the health of your employes, your food and your restaurant.

What say you, my faithful readers?

I Skipped April Fools Day!

Whew.  I made it through April Fool’s day.

Thank you, Lord.

I stayed super busy all day, working on a project.  I was so busy, I don’t even think I ate breakfast.  I know ThatManILove went and picked up P. F. Changs to go.  And all I have to say about that, is Yum.  But back to busy.  I’ve been crazy busy and it’s only Monday.

And tomorrow, the DUG Permian Conference starts.  Another busy day.  Actually, a busy week.  

I found out the business center at the hotel is there to make money for the business center.  Whatever happened to customers using the business center, to, ummm, get their business done as a perk of staying at a nice hotel?  Eeeeek.  I printed one three page document and it cost me $8.32.

I think I’m going to run to Fedex Kinkos tomorrow and print me some things off!  Good grief!

Or, if it’s not too far, I could run to my company office in this town...maybe that will be an option.  I’ll have to make a phone call tomorrow.

It might be better to just go buy a cheap printer.

I think I’m going to start a business, in each hotel, called a Business Center.

At these rates, I could probably make a whole lot more money!!!

Have a good April 2nd, y’all!

Comfort Food

Do you have a “comfort food”?

It might be something from your youth. For example, ThatManILove loves him some New York style hotdog. If you don’t know what this is (for they rarely serve them in West Texas!), it’s a hot dog with mustard, lettuce, tomato, and pickles. No chili. And the only place locally he can get them is (1) at home, when he makes them, and (2) at Der Wienerschnitzel, which is located 20 miles away in Odessa.

For me? It’s Starbucks Venti Chai, no water.

Foodwise? Cornbread, with a little bit of sweet to it. Lordy, I do love me some cornbread. And blackeyed peas, please.

My comfort food used to be Cool Ranch Doritos and a Dr. Pepper. I really thought that was great food for breakfast (oh, yeah...I’m an oilfield gal!). I rarely drink Dr. Pepper now, but I will sneak a Cool Ranch Dorito chip or two!

When Outback came to town (I celebrated that day!), we would always start out a meal with Aussie Cheese Fries. Until I read the calorie count in those puppies a couple of years ago. I couldn’t believe it.

And now, the Aussie Cheese Fries have made the #1 listing in the Men’s Health.com article “The 20 Worst Foods In America” - with a rocking 2900 calories per order.

A Little Bit of Heaven...That Goes Straight To My Butt

My Chai didn’t make it, but it should have, at 300+ calories, and that’s with low-fat milk.

I quit. If you see me going thru the Starbucks drive-thru, feel free to stop me and check me for drinks. And pour them out.

So, what's your comfort food?