It's been a long time

First I want to post this email I got and then I'll update family news. I received this email and it really made me think about the choices we make, to see the negative in life or focus on the positive. It is our choice.

LET IT REALLY SINK IN - THEN CHOOSE.
John is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"

He was a natural motivator.
If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked him, "I don't get it!
You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"
He replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or ... you can choose to be in a bad mood.

I choose to be in a good mood."

Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or...I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it.

Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or... I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.

"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested.

"Yes, it is," he said. "Life is a ll about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood.

You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live your life."

I reflected on what he said. Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, fal ling some 60 feet from a communications tower.

After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back.
I saw him about six months after the accident.

When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins...Wanna see my scars?"

I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.

"The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter," he replied. "Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or...I could choose to die. I chose to live."

"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked.

He contin ued, "..the paramedics were great.

They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man'. I knew I needed to take action."

"What did you do?" I asked.

"Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me," said John. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes, I replied.' The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Gravity'."

Over their laughter, I told them, "I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead."

He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude... I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.

Attitude, after all, is everything.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34.

"After all today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday. "
luv and hugs
Pam

FAMILY CHAOS is an understatement

Well Kaci is married. They all went to Colorado last Wed. I kept both baby girls and I swear just as soon as their parents got on the plane they were sick. Jordan stayed up and cried until 3:45 a.m. She had one of her tubes plugged, took her to the doctor Thursday, as soon as I got home Gabrielle starting throwing up.She had fever for two nights vomiting, diarreha, (poor baby).
I had all kind of fun plans for them but maybe next time. Jordan got ate up by a mosquito in her room at night and she has about 10 bites all over her face. So her mom and dad will probably think I put her outside with the dog or something. She looks terrible. Does anyone know what is the best thing to put on mosquito bites for them to get well fast, (besides makeup)?I had, had to go to work today but really needed to stay home with them one more day. Their parents will be back tonight so that's good.
Saturday will be a cajun filled day if anyone wants to come down. C.W. is coming down to go find some cajun music and I'm sure we will be able to pass a good time by the time the weekend gets here. In the meantime I'm going to try to get some sleep before then, of course after work.
They just got the pool put in, the back yard is a wreck,literally. pics to follow.
N E Way,
luv and hugs,
Pam

one thing leads to another

Work is crazy and I'm ready to retire.
Gabrielle's birthday party was Sat. at Jeremy's. The weather sucked so everyone had to be inside. Kaci made spaghetti had had a cute ladybug cake made for her. Gabrielle did not like the fact that you opened a present and had to put it down and then open another one. She just wanted to play with the present that was opened at the time and finally she had enough of Kaci taking them away and giving her another one that she had a major fit meltdown in front of everyone and yes I did get a picture of that, I'll be posting later. I must say it is so much fun being the grandparent and sitting back and watching rather than the parent and having to deal with it. Anyway, she got over it and moved on. She did learn a new word while sitting in the back of Paw Paw's truck the other day. He said, "Oh Crap!", she said CAP, PawPaw!! He blew his nose that sounds like a horn, she was in my room and yells "PawPaw...Huth which meant (Hush) of course!" That was so funny.

I did get to see the bed that flew out of the truck, it wasn't damaged that bad, it is a really cool bed made out of banana tree, very pretty. The story was Jeremy thought it was really heavy and could in no way fly out, the wind was very bad that weekend. Kaci turned around and screamed NO!!! and the thing just lifted up and flew out onto the interstate. Luckily no cars were behind them or they would probably be facing a lawsuit. It broke but he was able to fix it and is still working to get it where the boo boo doesn't show.
I got David a sattelite radio system for his truck for Valentines day, and he decides he would rather the kind that has the whole set-up, new cd player, sattelite with IPOD connection and of course the IPOD so my present just led to another bigger present. We went to Beaumont and had it installed, he did get it at "Best Buy". So now we have the original system and I guess we will put in on Ebay.
I did get a new car, Honda CRV-LE. I really like it, strictly bought it on the safety performance in it's class. Still need to sell that Firebird, but it has to be in perfect condition before David will put it up for sell. I'm thinking it didn't have to be in perfect condition for me to drive why does it have to be sold perfect. If it was perfect I wouldn't be selling it in the first place but oh well.
Have a GREAT week!
luv and hugs,
Aunt Pam

just a week

Well last weekend was full of fun staying busy with Beth and Mason, the "Queen Mother of Shoppers".Debbie and Cindy came in a close second. Definetly can outshop me anyday, but a great bargain hunter. We went to Houston, Harwin street, (over rated in my book). Only hit one of the many malls in Houston, and got home at 1:00 a.m. Gabrielle and Mason were very good shoppers, we spoiled them as usual. They were afraid of the Rain Forest Cafe but had fun after they got used to it. On Sat. had fun at Jeremy's catching fish and eating hamburgers. Sunday David cooked some interesting pancakes for us, then Beth and Mason had to leave.
Back to work on Monday, same old thing everyday, kept both baby girls on Wednesday and that was busy. I said , "let's go outside", and before I knew Gabrielle had opened the door and was taking Jo Jo outside. "Jo Jo ooo side?" Jordan was trying to get into the toy car before I got outside. Funny girls, they had so much fun playing.
Then Friday when my car died at work on the way home. It needs a belt thank goodness it died in the parking lot,I could not steer it. So it's still at work and I'm at home. Does anyone want to buy a 2001 Red Pontiac Firebird with black leather interior for $8800.00? It's getting cleaned up to sell.
Question for the night is "Why are they playing American Disco music for the opening ceremony at the Winter Olympics in Italy?"
Carrie please update your blog.
luv & hugs
Aunt Pam

Cafe' Des Ami

Well we went back to Lafayette to pick up our trailer and this time we stayed in Breaux Bridge, La. We stayed at Maison Des Ami Bed and Breakfast. It was really nice, it is on the bank of Bayou Teche and this bed and breakfast is actually rooms in a 150 year old home. Our room had a huge four poster bed with a claw foot tub, antique armoir and chest of drawers. This house had porches all around. When you went outside to walk down to the bayou, gardens with lovely water fountains and a huge kumquat tree, loaded. Walking down to the gazebo on the bayou, of course David was already out there playing his mandolin, everything was so beautiful and just thinking about how old the place was and the rich history of the cajuns in this area. What was it like back then, in this huge home with no ac or heat to speak of. How did the family live, they must have been prominent with a home like this. The home was literally closed and abandoned for 30 years. It was renovated in 1995 by a couple. As the renovation began some of the older people in town would stop by and share memories of the home with tears in their eyes, memories of the family that lived there before it was abandoned. The actual home was first built in 1810 and the larger home was eventually built around the small stone home in the 1870's.They say there are ghosts that protect the place, that is if you believe in ghosts.
The next morning we woke up and walked downtown to the "Cafe Des Ami". Every Saturday beginning at 8:30 a Zydeco band plays. This restaurant is also in an old home with long leaf pine floors smoothed by dancer's feet. As we went in to listen to the music and eat breakfast, the Zydeco music played quite loudly I must say. The wait is long if you want to sit down, the hostess asked us if we would mind sitting with someone else at the table, which we said that was fine. So we waited at the bar, ordered beingnets and drank dark coffee watched the dancers and listened to the music. I love Zydeco music, the singer sang songs of old, "Whatcha gonna give me for a piece of cornbread", "Dont mess with my toot toot". It felt as if you were in another world another time, one that is slower where the people love to have fun. There are a couple of old men that go there every Saturday to dance with the women, and I'm talking old like around 80.Children danced, old, young, black and white. I loved it.
Finally the waitress seated us at a table with a family that had two little girls and a little boy. We ordered our food, couche-couche and huge steak omelot covered with thick crawfish etoufee, toast, butter, cane syrup and hot black coffee. Our meal, 14.00, can you believe and we did not even pay that because it was included with our room. We ate our breakfast watched the dancers, listened to the music, then headed back home.
So Beth if you ever want to go over there, come on down I'm ready to go back.Lafayette is only 7 minutes from there and they have lots of boutiques, I just dont know where they are at.
luv and hugs,
Aunt Pam

Maison de Memoire

We went to a bed in breakfast for our anniversary. It was so nice. This couple has several acres and has brought in old, old little houses and brought them back to life by rebuilding them and furnished them with antiques. It's called Maison de Memoire or House of Memories.There is a pond on the land with a wharf with lights along it. Lynn, the owner paints and her paintings are in the house, she brings breakfast to your door each morning in a basket and I'm not talking about continental, a very good homemade breakfast with fresh homemade cookies in the evening.
We got back on Saturday, just in time for Jordan's first birthday. It was good, she is still sick so she was not in a very good mood.
Chris is having some anxiety in crowds so he was stressed. I think a lot of the guys have that when they get back from Iraq.
Heres a pic of David on the front porch of the bed and breakfast house.

Holidays and New Year

As you can see we had a very blessed Christmas. Full of family fun.Mason and Gabrielle were not in the picture taking mood. I don't know about Mason but we can hardly ever, get Gabrielle to sit still for a picture. As you can see in the photo of her and Mason she is scooting away just as we set her down and she is trying to get away taking a picture with Granny and the kids. Don't they all look so cute.

Christmas Party with less fortunate

This picture is a picture of David and a couple of ConocoPhillips friends. We went to a facility that housed physically challenged and mentally challenged folks. David and the group did not know 1 Christmas carol but I don't think it mattered to the people there. They really liked it and we served them lunch as their Christmas dinner, turkey, dressing and all the fixins. (I did see a guy there though... he reminded me of Hanibal Lector on that movie silence of the lambs) scary looking. There was also a guy there that had an assistant dog with him, I asked him what does that dog do for you, he said that he has severe epilepsy and the dog warns him when he is going to have a seizure.
It looks like David is squaking...
that Bluegrass does hurt my ears sometimes.
I can't wait to see Martha and the babies, I just wish they had more time to stay.
luv and hugs Pam

Jordan and David

This is what Paw Paws are good for, playing music so we can dance.

up in flames

how to have joy??? 1. Jesus 2. Others, 3. yourself

This is a Christmas memory that I had, yesterday this story was actually published in our local Newspaper the American Press.

Every year on Christmas Eve, our family would all go to my grandmother's and grandfather's house, which was only in our back yard but we were excited to go because this was the only time of the year that she would let us go into her den, "some sort of special room" for her I guess. My mom would dress us all up, my 3 brothers in little suits and I would have a new dress. We would then walk over to Nanny and Papaw's house. Our aunts and uncles and cousins would all be there. The tradition was for one of the grandchildren to read the Christmas story from the Bible, then pray, then everyone got to open Nanny and Papaw's presents. It was my turn to read the story and my brothers were to hold candles on each side of me while I read the story. This particular year, my mom had made me a poncho and skirt set to wear, It was red and white and had red fringe on the ends. Well, just as I was taking my very important place for the night, I realized I had backed into a candle and I was on fire. Just as I was about to stop, drop and roll, my grandmother and mom came running over to me and BEATING and flogging me with their hands to get the fire out. Ok now visualize it's the late 60's, they both have high heels, dresses kind of short, stockings (not panty hose) and we must not forget the ever loving 6" high matching hair pieces twirled and piled on to of their heads like a dairy queen ice cream cone. (I really wanted to STOP, DROP and ROLL so the next time the firemen came to the school, I could raise my hand and tell them, "been there, done that" thank you very much!!, but it did not happen that way and probably a good thing. My grandmother would have been upset if the fire would have burnt her burgandy carpet. Of course they got the fire out and and the night went on without a hitch. I did stink of smoke and singed hair the rest of the night and my brothers laughed at me all evening. My mom was able to cut off the burn part of the poncho and fix it later, but I could still smell the smokey smell on it sometimes. Sweet, simple memories with my grandparents and family.

luv and hugs,
Pam

Rainy weather and blue roofs yuk!

"Doubt is a thief that often makes us fear to tread where we might have won."

--William Shakespeare


Rainy weather and blue roofs yuk!
Nothing much is happening over here. Jordan got her tubes in her ears, so hopefully she can hear and feel better. I wrapped all of my presents and they are under the tree(little). I never could find a tree in a bag, I must admit I did call a decorator to help decorate the tree since I can't get my family to help. Ouch! $500.00 just for the tree, a couple of grand for the rest of the house. So that was out. What happened to Christmas spirit when families got together, drank hot chocolate, ate cookies and decorated the tree together? I hope that some of you are still doing that. Gabrielle likes the tree, Jordan doesn't care she has a big one at home. Chris REALLY did not like the tree and really wants his old stocking hanging up, not the new one. So, gotta go back in the attic and that's the part I hate about decorating the attic and finding stuff.
We went to one Christmas party last week, and it wasn't near as interesting as Beth's party. It was at David's boss' house, really beautiful and perfect in everyway. He made us play Outburst, "the old version", so when you are asked about movies or anything current you had to put yourself in a time warp of 10 years ago because the game was so old.Kinda fun, better than standing around and blowing smoke.
Please remember to pray for the troops over seas, it's such a lonely time and not the bests of situations. I hope this is over soon, so no more sons will have to leave. Well tomorrow a Christmas memory.
luv & hugs
Pam

Should Christians celebrate Christmas????

why a Christian should NOT celebrate Christmas... Every year there are some folks that make very good arguments about the pagan celebrations at this time of year, the evils of the Christmas tree, lying to children about Santa Claus, how Jesus was
notborn on December 25th, and many other reasons why a Christian should
not celebrate Christmas. To those people I have only one thing to
say....BAH
HUMBUG!

If you are led to not celebrate the birth of our Lord and
want to miss that is up to you. Sadly, your misguided legalism has stolen
your joy.

Listen, everyone understands that Jesus was not born on December 25th,
but according to most scholars, sometime in September. I have yet to meet
anyone that worshipped their Christmas tree, only decorated it. If you
are old enough to be able to read this, you are old enough to know that
there is
no Santa Claus. And yes, there are many pagan celebrations that occur
at this time of the year, and the Bible does not have the word Christmas
in it. However, there is only ONE REASON that we celebrate Christmas and that
is to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Christians SHOULD celebrate the birth of Jesus! It is right and good
that we take time each year to remember that blessed event. It was foretold
by the prophets of old. It is a well documented historical event
chronicled in
the Gospels and supported by the historians of that day. After His
death and resurrection, it is easily the GREATEST EVENT IN HUMAN HISTORY!

Think about it. God Himself, the Creator of the heavens and earth,
came to this earth as a mere man to live with His creation. He came as a baby,
born of a virgin in a humble manger in an obscure little town. He would
grow up to die on a cross as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all mankind.
Three days after His death, God would raise Him from the dead as a sign
to this lost and unbelieving world that He was exactly who He claimed to
be...the SON OF GOD! His life would literally transform the lives of
every man, woman, and child for the rest of human history!!!

THAT is why we celebrate Christmas. THAT is why as Christians, we
SHOULD celebrate Christmas!!!

I realize that people who say
not to celebrate Christmas mean well, and are trying to live their lives in a
way
pleasing and acceptable to God. Sadly, they are missing the great joy
of
this time of year. I know they are well intentioned and many of the
things
they point out about Christmas are true, but they have missed the point
of
Christmas. Christmas is about only one thing, celebrating the birth of
Jesus. It is one of those times of the year that we gather with family
and
friends and share our faith in Christ. That alone is a great reason we
should be celebrating Christmas.

Christmas is also VERY BIBLICAL. Luke chapter 2 gives us the account
of His
birth. That was the very first Christmas. Of course Mary was there,
as was
Joseph. We also read about several shepherds that God spoke to who
were
part of that first Christmas. Now, some 2,000 years later, we will set
aside time in the coming days to do what they did at that first
Christmas...to "celebrate" the birth of Jesus!
luv and hugs,
Pam
"striving to become an old woman with no regrets."

latest Berryman news

Thanksgiving was pretty nice, however we did not find a good looking Santa like Beth did, he was great...
We had everyone over at our house, the usual, Turduken, smoked turkey and everything else yummy. We did have a crisis on Wednesday the day before Thanksgiving. I had sent David to pick up a shrimp dressing stuffed boneless turkey at a local shop. Well they were closed...so plan "B". He was freaking out, not because he was worried about not having a bird but about being in traffic. I called the market and the woman told me they were sold out. Soooo I gave him instructions to go to another place, which was clear across town. OMG, the end of the world for him. He called me, "can't you go pick it up tomorrow?" I said, "David, it's 3:00 and tomorrow is Thanksgiving". I told him no, that won't be enough time to cook and they will be closed anyway. Well he got a turduken which if you aren't familiar it is a Turkey stuffed with a duck and a chicken all in one. It was pretty good.
Everyone came over and we enjoyed the day. Granny is not feeling well so we brought her and Dewey a plate. The babies played and they were all so cute together.
We took off on Friday and went up to Natches and Jacksonville, MS. We usually go to Houston but we knew the traffic would be horrible. Well, there is not much in the state if Miss. so we will probably go to Texas next year again.
We still have not been able to get our roof and house fixed yet. Everything is still a mess around here.
And I wish someone would put my tree up and decorations for me...I must admit, I have been shopping online for a "tree in a bag" like the one on the Grinch, something that will pop up and have everything on it and will go back in the bag. So if anyone knows where I can get one let me know. I have done almost all of my shopping online, about 95% of it. Online is so great. I love it.
Gabrielle has been entertaining us with dancing when PawPaw plays the mandolin, its so cute. She doesn't have much rhythm though and she has been bad, everything is NO!!, MINE!! MINE!! and pitches tantrums. I told Kaci, she needs a real spanking. Chris has taught Jordan to say "Poo Poo" and we are all proud of that accomplishment.
I have been listening to the Phantom of the Opera on Broadway cd, it's beautiful violin music, if you haven't ever takin the time to go see a Broadway play, I highly recommend this classic, the movie is just not the same. I
I hope Beth gets the job. I have to ask everyone what was the best present you ever received and what was the most memorable Christmas. My niece Ashley is getting boobs Monday for her Christmas present, go Ashley!
luv and hugs,
Pam
"striving to become an old woman with no regrets"

Thanks Jim

thought: "Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way."

Booker T.

OMG someone actually looked at my blog, thanks Jim for your comments. I enjoy reading your's and angies also and my wonderful niece's (Beth). I'm glad Carrie's up there by ya'll she will get used to Dallas, it is really a cool place to be.
This weekend was another hard at it work weekend. We cleaned out the attic, made piles for each family member and ex family members. Giving everyone a date to come get their stuff, then if they don't its ours to do whatever we want with. It is unbelievable how much stuff was up there, with two guys going to Iraq, then piling it in on us agh! Then I guess they forgot about it all when they got back. But the new truck is taking over so the garage has to be clean, which is a good thing.
Then we cut the liner out of the pool, drained the nasty thing and getting ready to dismantle. I'm sore, stiff and old from all of that.

This hurricane stuff is getting to me. Walmart closes at 6:00(not enough employees) the lines in the fast food restaurants are long (not enough employees) and the supplies even to stock the shelves have been slow to come. Every time I try to go out I'm stuck in traffic behind a truck picking up trees off the road. I went to get my car washed on Friday and they said, we are only cleaning the outside, can't clean the inside of your car because we don't have the staff. Everyone that was making min wage must have gotten their FEMA money and figured out a way to get unemployment. Good grief it's frustrating. But it could be worse I keep telling myself.

So I'm doing all and I mean all of my Christmas shopping on Amazon.com. It's wonderful.
David did get a new mandolin over the weekend (Gibson) which is supposed to be all that and more. It should be because it cost enough. He says he got it because he needed it for a model to try to achieve the "tone" he is after in the mandolins he is making, ok whatever. Now he is making sure the doors are locked and so careful about making sure the alarm is set and I was thinking aw that's good he is being protective here lately. Then I realized this change in habit has only been since 7:15 on Friday when UPS made the delivery of the "Gibson".
well everyone have a good week,
luv and hugs,
Pam

it was a truck/beauty product weekend

Quote for the day,
"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know
that your name is safe in their mouth."


Beth, will you please send the link to my blog to Carrie.

Everything is still a mess here. I think it looks worse now than in the beginning because the limbs that did not fall from the trees are dying and turning brown and ugly. I was in my bedroom Friday night and I heard a man talking outside my bathroom window, it was about 9:30. I listened carefully, thinking someone is actually so stupid to be snooping around talking in a loud,loud voice. But as I listened I realized it was the announcer at the football game about 4 miles away. This is the first time ever that we could hear that at our house. I guess from a lot of the trees that are gone now, is the reason.

David got a new truck and it had a lift kit on it. He could not pull the trailer with it sooo the cool lift kit had to come off, that's what he did all day on Saturday while I helped Kaci host her... lauch parties of Arbonne. Which if you have never heard of Arbonne, its makeup and face products. Good stuff. Cynthia AKA Cindy put one side of her face with Arbonne makeup and serum and the other side her regular makeup. She came over about 4 hours later and said look at this, so the skeptic in me was lookin her face over and I'm serious no wrinkles on just one side. REALLY, I was like give me some of that stuff, so her and I both probably are Kaci's best customers now.

Sunday OMG I had to help David install a hitch in his new truck. I had to actually crawl under the truck and use all these tools, don't ask me what they were. But he would tell me get this, get that, then fuss, "not that way you have it backwards". Ten years ago I would have slapped him and quit but with age comes patience into a soul I think. (I guess it did not for him)
He finished and sold his first mandolin, he was excited about that. It came out beautiful.
I kept Jordan for a little while, she did not feel good, she is walking though.
well luv and hugs
Pam

Strike

Well I think I'm going on strike with the blogging. Beth you are the only one that posts and probably the only one that looks at it.

Halloween was a total rain out at our house too. Moss Bluff had opened up their Halloween but Lake Charles still canceled theirs. We had two trick or treaters. Kaci and Jeremy took our little flapper and snow white to the church. They had fun for a very short time.

Saturday I finally drug PawPaw to town and he found himself not one but two redneck cowboy stores. He purchased himself a belt (without the cowhide hair) 2 pair of wranglers and a pair of boots that he loves. He did still have to ask the employee about all the ins and outs of jeans, which ones were the right cut at the boot and in the leg and he was quite impressed with her knowledge in which I was thinking ..."ok I could have made that up and sold you the Gap jeans"

PawPaw has finished another mandolin and I have to say it is the most beautiful one yet, it's sold already.

Well luv and hugs,
Pam

Rita pics

McNeese Stadium
210 Beach Lake Charles
Hibernia Bank Building (I used to work on the 10th floor)

some cute little pics

Today was such a pretty day, I hated to be locked up in an office.
Does anyone ever really look at my blogs, I'm wondering or am I just entertaining myself here.

oh well here's the girls
Jordan and Gabrielle

a trip to the mall

Trying to get used to all this blogging is very patience trying. Today we had bad news everywhere we turned. Our best friends mom passed away and then David's mom went into the hospital with a broken back. Gabrielle was sick with a virus, then Kennedy, now Kaci soooo tomorrow who will it be.
The fun thing was after we went to see Granny at the hospital :( we went to the mall in L.C. which is trying to recover from Rita. Well anyone going to the mall with a man knows the torture they go through along with the torture they put you through but we had to do it, PawPaw needed a new pair of jeans. Me, I tried to spare the pain by picking him a pair up at the Gap last weekend by myself. Just like the ones he had but new ones was his request so when I brought them home they didn't feel right the legs were too big. So here we go the torture begins, I'm hungry first so we have to eat in the food court, BIG, Mistake, too much time for PawPaw to scan the creatures that walk the local mall, boys with eyeliner, 14 year old girls pencil thin "literally" with 5 olds calling them momma. what's up with that. And the newest style shirt everyone is wearing is the orange Prison Property sweatshirt. I saw the eyes squint and square off in defense mode. I said David, thats the style they probably paid $85.00 for that shirt. Gangstas, weirdos and hooches is all thats here, he said. I said well so are we and you need some new jeans so Paw Paw finishes his pizza then stands in an onguard stance headed for whereever I was to direct him next....the Gap. He has the jeans to return in his hands so I said go bring them to the counter, he was lookin at me like "are you kidding me?" I'm in guard mode, ready to attack if needed mode and you want me to take care of this. I said yes, I want to go to baby gap and look. Well, the look on his face any wife would have felt sorry and come to his rescue in this place where boys wear their jeans at their knees and trying to get pawpap to dress like them. So I stayed. I started handed him jeans to try on and he was so fluster at the choices, how does a redneck choose between low at hip, straight leg, boot to sit on hip, loose fit, straight cut or boot cut easy fit. Finally he picked out a pair to try on, still keeping an eye on the strange lookin employees in that place. I said, David that's what we are bringing back, try on these. So he took a pair goes up to the front desk and proceeds to tell the young, very, young lady , the kind of jeans he wants, jeans like he had before that were perfect in the leg and not too wide at the bottom, just blue, not scratched like a cheeta clawed the front. She just had a glazed look over her face. I pulled him aside and said, they don't help you like that any more, you just have to try on until you find the one you like. So he gave in and trys the jeans on, and comes out of the dressing room looking like someone might at any moment invade his space. Men and Women going into the same area to try on clothes was just the last straw. Got money back, no jeans...wheres a cowboy store with real people?

It's been a long time

Well I'm so behind, in my blog, so much has happened. From being a Katrina volunteer to a Rita evacuee, aghh! It still looks like a war zone here in Lake Charles. There is so much trash to deal with, everyone in the whole parish lost there food in their refrigerators and freezers so the streets are lined with taped up refrigerators and freezers and trees that have been here for ages. The city is literally a sea of blue roofs Operation Blue Roof from FEMA,(in other words tarps to cover leaks). There are apartment complexes in town that have sent out eviction notices to their leasees because the mold is so bad they have to demolish, so those people are riding around with their belongings on top of their car. There are no places to rent, lease and property to buy is going up fast.They tried to get them housed on a cruise ship but red tape stopped that idea, so now they are hoping for trailers to come in to be set up in a trailer park somewhere. School has finally started back today, they are literally starting over with classes, extending the day about 45 min. A lot of restaurants and stores are still closed because their staff has not returned. Every restaurant in town is hiring. Kaci's employer however layed everyone off, including her, so I guess it's whatever business your in. She was working for a chiropractor's office.
Halloween, well that's canceled too, some of the churches are doing things but the whole Parish has canceled Halloween. Gabrielle is going to be a flapper and I don't know what Jordan will be.
Chris and Sarahs house is still a big mess where the ceiling tile came in and water damage.
They are still waiting on insurance.
Other than that we had good quality time with our relatives and we are all safe and not homeless and the electricity is back on. And I can probably say I'm the only one that literally someone left their shit with. My brother and his wife and kids were in their camper for a couple of weeks in my driveway, left the little blue crapper thing with us. I called him and told him to come get his sh__ and he took forever theeeennnn dumped it out in our WOODS! Can you believe, what a redneck, Griswald.
luv 2 everyone, especially spidey and raggedy ann