Attack of the Killer Soup

I know I shouldn't laugh but every time I think about this I do. This past weekend was supposed to be a weekend full of fun and it ended up not being that way. From the prior post you all know I had wardrobe issues from the events I was to be attending. Well turns out the only event I actually attended was Debra's graduation where I got sick. My throat started hurting and I felt as though it was closing up. So after her graduation my brother in law took me up to the Gate Station for some Advil and throat losengers and of course a coke icee. I started feeling a little better but then at 3:00 AM I was abruptly woken by a very sore throat and not being able to swallow. I got up and found a flash light to look in my throat and there it was a big white gross spot on the back of my throat.

I won't tell you the words that soon followed after seeing that not so pretty picture of my throat. Hey it was late/early, whatever, and I knew that meant I was going to be out of commission for what was supposed to be a fun weekend. I tossed/turned for the rest of the morning until I woke up at 7:30 and decided to throw on some clothes and head up to Solantic that opened at 8 AM. Apparently I wasn't the only one in need of Solantic, there were 6 of us in the waiting room by 8:10 AM. Even though I was number 3 in line it still took over an hour an half for a doctor to look at me and write out my prescription.

Here's my favorite line of the morning, from the doctor "well the good news is it's not strep".... Well if that's good news - what's the bad news me - oh yeah the bad news is you are not a good doctor! I have a fever, the chills, and a rather large white bump on the back of my throat. All indications point to strep because I don't just get random white bumps on the back of my throat. I hate to tell you but the 10 minute strep test you ran on me is wrong and I bet if you sent it off for an overnight culture it would tell a different story. But who am I to tell you how to do your job. Can you tell the bitterness was kicking in yet? I was not a happy camper after sitting in this small exam room freezing, I had the chills, I couldn't swallow and I waited on him for 1 hr and 15 min to tell me his 'good' news. So he prescribed me a Z-pack because it was clear I had something angry in my body (ya think) and a prescription for what he called Magic Mouth wash - which by the way is NOT very magic. It was supposed to numb my throat and help with the swelling which it did not. I had better luck with Chloraseptic throat spray.

Needless to say Michael wasn't happy about me missing the wedding. Something dumb came out of his mouth about how I should have come home earlier Friday night and taken Nyquil because then I wouldn't have gotten strep. Did ya'll know Nyquil scared off strep? Guess I learn something new everyday.

Anyway - so to the funny part of this whole thing is how justice sometimes comes in places you don't expect. Re read paragraph above about how someone was mad at me for missing his friends wedding. Well that night he did return in a more pleasant mood and I asked him to heat up some soup for me because I hadn't eaten all day. So he did heat up some chicken noodle for me. And while I was eating he started heating up his own baked potato soup. He had covered it with a paper towel so it wouldn't splatter in the microwave but when he removed the paper towel and went to stir his up it popped and a hot glob of it hit him right in the eye. To which he dropped like a sack of potatoes (no pun intended) to the kitchen floor and dropping his spoon with him. Well both dogs went running but I found them more interested in his spoon and the bits of soup that had jumped out of the bowl and onto the ground and on him. Ya'll I tried not to laugh at him rolling around saying his eyeball was on fire and he had 3rd degree burns. But I couldn't stop myself. But it hurt to laugh too... but I just couldn't stop. It was about the funniest thing I had seen all day. Even more ironic - the rest of the soup was COLD!! So he had to continue heating it up which made him a little head shy so he used the microwave door as his shield.

Morale of the story - don't get mad at your sick wife!

Be Still My Booting Heart

My favorite seasons are fall/winter. I love how the trees change colors (well in other states since they don't really change in FL), I love how people start decorating for fall and Christmas, lights, music, and mostly people are in good moods.

But the thing I love most about winter is being able to cover up. I love wearing my sweaters, coats, long sleeve shirts and my boots. I especially love the boots - cowboy, dress up, funky, traditional. They have some pretty sassy ones out right now and some crazy expensive ones too. I love the cowboy boots they have out now and some that are trying to look cowboy like but aren't really. They are just so much more fun than the flip flops I spent 98% of my life in from March - November.

We have a busy weekend ahead of us with Debra's graduation from PT school with her doctorate nonetheless, (hello Dr. DDT), friends wedding, a concert, and a Christmas dinner with the whole family. Well me in all my smartness has decided that I want a pair of shin or knee high boots. AND I have been planning my weekend outfits around these boots that I didn't own yet. Mission # 1 - find the boots and preferably ones that don't cost $150. Mission # 2 - find the outfit to go with the boots.

I decided on a pair of brown boots for some reason. I had to have brown and I wanted a funky brown skirt or dress to go with it. Most everything I own in my closet goes with black - so naturally I want something opposite of what I have. Then when it's hard to find I want to complain about why I hate shopping. But I torture myself half the time with being so difficult - so I am my own worst enemy.

Problem # 1 - finding knee high boots that fit my calves. I have big calves from all the working out I do. You know all that walking from the couch to the kitchen really builds up the old calf muscles (or as Debra knows it, the gastrocnemius muscle). Or maybe it's because I spend so much time in the kitchen that I have big calves... and a big...... well we won't go there. Well Belk came through for me; I found a pair of brown boots that were a little rugged but I can also dress up.

Problem # 2 - finding a brown skirt or dress to go below my knees to go with the boots I now own. Well apparently brown is a fall color and not a winter color - who knew. Oh and who also knew they were putting out spring colors in December. Guess I'll know for next year to start looking in May for a fall colored skirt since clothing companies apparently don't abide by the season we are in. Just when I was about to give up bingo - found one on the internet that matched my criteria. It arrived several days later, I tried it on as soon as I got it, and just as quickly put it back in the bag it came in and returned it. Three weeks later and I still don't have a brown skirt to show. Next plan - buy a pair of brown dress pants (if they even make them anymore) and I'll just wear my boots under them. No one will see them but I'll know I have them on.

Please keep in mind this outfit I'm searching for is only for Debra's graduation on Friday. I haven't even gotten to Saturday's wedding outfit which will also be worn Saturday night to the concert.

Problem # 1 - now I need to find a pair of black knee high boots and something to go with it... Loooooooong drama story short - I found the pair of boots I needed at Belk again (thank you Belk for bailing me out again - guess it's my checkbooks turn to bail you out). They are pull on boots (instead of zipper) but the leather is a stretchy material so it fits my very in shape calves... and that shape would be round.

Problem # 2 - finding an outfit to match the boots. Is anyone else seeing a pattern here? I know I am and it's making me dizzy. Found a cute dress at the store, thought maybe if I bring it home and put on some Spanx with it - it'd help. That was my first mistake.....well maybe buying the dress was the first mistake and thinking was the second mistake. It was one of those - looks okay but not totally crazy but it sure looked cute with those boots. End result - took it back the next day. Let's see if you have been paying attention at all....... what do you think I ended up with instead as my wedding outfit..... The answer is YES another pair of dress pants but in black. This body is just not made for dresses or skirts apparently. I so desperately want it to be but it's just not. So for now everything will just have to look cuter in the picture I have in my head than in person.

I half debated taking the boots back and just wearing the old worn out boots I own now. But then I figured if I did that - one day I will need them and I won't be able to find them because they'll stop making them or something.

Gotta love the pointed witches toe look and cockroach killing heal.

My half country/half biker/sassy boots. I like how they make me feel taller. I'll use all the height I can get since I'm vertically challenged.

One Word, Ten Syllables

YUMYUMYUMYUMYUMYUMYUMYUMYUMYUM!!!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/02/apple_dumplings/

Oh Lawrd have mercy on my soul! These little things were so tasty and so easy to make. They melt in your mouth, kind of like M&M's, but only better. Debra and Robbie popped over on Saturday night unexpectedly (it's a good thing we had just put clothes back on) and brought us dinner. What better way to cap off dinner than to have dessert afterwards. And nothing is better than trying a new recipe on others; which I tend to do 99.9% of the time. Then I stress about it.....but that's not what today is about.

Today is about how divine these little apple dumplings are. The mountain dew just adds a sweetness to it, well that and the 3/4 cup of sugar I'm sure - but the MD just adds a good flavor to the sauce. I cut the recipe in half and only made 8 dumplings because I'm pretty sure my jeans wouldn't be able to handle having 16 of those little suckers in my house. The house smelled so good after baking the apples, but the taste that lingers in your mouth after eating one is like totally way better (says the valley girl).

I didn't use a Granny Smith apple though, I used a some type of red apple which I can't think of the name because there are only 20 choices when looking at red apples. Maybe it will say it on my Publix receipt.... which I apparently threw away. Oh well, I'm sure a Fuji or Red Delicious, or McIntosh will work.

Either way - if you haven't made this yet then you are missing out. I think it's even better than hmmmm..............Mrs. Smith Apple Crumb apple pie. Yeah that's it, it's better than the Mrs. Smith apple crumb pie... haha

Happy eating! And hopefully soon...

I Do Not Like Meatloaf, Leanne I Am

Would not, could not in a box, will not, could not with a fox, not in a barn, not with some yarn, I will not eat meatloaf, Leanne I am.

I do not like meatloaf - it's not one of the foods I crave and in fact as I kid I used to smoother it in ketchup just to eat it - and I don't even like ketchup that much. So you can see my position on how much I dislike meatloaf - just not my thing. Recently I was searching Tasty Kitchen for new recipes, fun recipes, things that I normally wouldn't cook. That is when I came across this, Cranberry Chicken Meatloaf. Maybe I was still hung over from Thanksgiving and had visions of stuffing and cranberries dancing in my head but this sounded good to me and possibly because it wasn't a traditional meatloaf, it looked different, it looked fun.

I hesitated in telling Michael about it because I figured he'd turn his nose up at the sound of meatloaf too. So I waited until I was preparing it before I told him what we were having and he responded just as I thought he would "sure you cooking something new when I'm starving". But I kept pressing on because that's what I do. However, I do feel bad, I think I took some of the aggression out on the chicken. But I don't think it felt much.

Here are the modifications I made to the recipe.

• I used 1 pound of Purdue ground chicken since I don't have a meat grinder to grind up the required 4 chicken breast. I probably should have used 1.5 to 2 pounds of ground chicken though in order to balance out the stuffing.
• I also omitted the onions because we aren't fans of those either.
• And you will need to double up the topping, which is cranberry sauce and brown sugar.

When I popped this sucker out of the oven at the end of the 45 minutes it smelled really good and it didn't look bad either. Much to both of our surprise this turned out to be a fairly tasty alternate to meatloaf and this is something we will definitely cook again. I'm most excited for the left overs for lunch tomorrow. The dried cranberries in the meatloaf and the topping with brown sugar and cranberry sauce just gives it the perfect amount of sweetness.

I also served this with corn bread - an extra bread probably wasn't needed because of the stuffing but I was craving corn bread. And it sure tasted good with the meatloaf. I had broccoli lined up as the veggie but I forgot to heat it up and it was going to be for me anyway so I didn't worry with it too much.

I'm a meatloaf hater but I approve this message. With four thumbs up and full bellies I'm signing off to help with the dishes.

The Lifeway Marriage blog

Good post from Nov 17th

http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/marriage-family/index.html

Two intriguing quotes from Mark (author of the blog):

"If a man says to his wife, "I have fallen out of love with you", he is actually saying, "I never loved you unconditionally to begin with."

"You can't protect your home when you're rarely there, nor when you're relationally disconnected"

Who knows maybe I'm only trying to sound smart and that's why I like these. But just thought they were something worthy of pondering.

Recipe Exchange

Katie from McDonnell Place wrote a post about doing a recipe exchange. And while I don't have many recipes that are that exciting or new, I was asked to post a Bruschetta recipe that has been floating around the family from my sister's boyfriends mom... How is that for confusing?? Before I post that though - here are two links to Katie's site that have listed a number of recipes that her friends/family have been giving to her. They all look really yummy and gives me great new things to make. Thanks Katie

http://www.mcdonnellplace.com/2009/11/okay.html

http://www.mcdonnellplace.com/2009/11/you-said-yes.html

So here is the recipe I promised. Ironically it's called

Savory Bruschetta

Ingredients:

Bread (pre cooking)

1 large French loaf

¼ cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 clove garlic (minced)

Tomato Mixture

6 – 8 Plum Tomatoes (seedless and chopped)

Red onion (1 cup)

3 cloves of garlic (minced)

2 teaspoons of Kosher salt

2 teaspoons fresh ground pepper

¼ cup Balsamic Vinegar

½ cup extra virgin olive oil

25 fresh basil leaves- chopped

Cheese Mixture for bread (post cooking)

3 tablespoons parmesan cheese (grated)

8 oz cream cheese – softened

Pitted black olives – 2 tablespoons chopped

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Cook bread slices for 8 – 10 minutes until crisp (or 6 minutes for less crispiness)

Cut 16 slices out of the bread (number may vary based on size of loaf you get or how thick you cut the pieces)

Brush with the mixture of:

1. ¼ cup of olive oil

2. One garlic cloves

Place on baking sheet and put into preheated oven

Tomato Mixture

**This can be premade in order to allow all the juices and flavors to mix together

Mix tomatoes, red onions, cloves of garlic, basil, salt and pepper in a glass bowl.

In a separate bowl mix ½ cup olive oil, balsamic vinegar, then pour over tomato mixture and toss

Chill until needed

Ready to Assemble

Drain tomato mixture through a strainer before serving – this will prevent the bread from getting soggy

Blend softened cheese, parmesan cheese, and olives. Then spread this over the freshly made toast.

Spoon tomato mixture over cream cheese and serve immediately. (Might want to spoon with a slotted spoon to help remove any extra juice that might have formed even after straining)

Mad Dash on Halloween

In trying to be gentle in how I approach this subject as there was a slight ummmm, 'miscommunication', yes we'll go with that word, between Michael and I on Halloween. I thought I had asked ever so sweetly for him to get Halloween candy on Saturday morning because if I had it in my house prior, I would have eaten it all. So I purposely waited to the last minute to purchase it. Well Saturday's I'm gone all day and knew I wouldn't make it home in time to shower, run out get candy, and be ready for the kids. Well he apparently thought differently and left at noon to go hang with a friend. Not sure what he was doing until noon but I guess that is neither here nor there at this point.

Needless to say I made it home at 4:15 to find out there was no candy, I had to let the dogs out, shower because I was covered in sweat and horse hair, left the house at 5 (I believe that is record time for me getting ready), ran up to Wal-Mart for candy only to discover they were OUT. Yes my friends, Wal-Mart was totally out of Halloween candy. Okay well maybe that is a slight stretch - they did have 5 bags of snickers left. Those 5 bags would have only fed me though. So I left there in a huff and went to my trusty Target, which is where I should have gone to begin with because they did not disappoint.

Grabbed my cart from outside garden and proceeded to run over a few toes on the way to the candy isle. Which turned into a race as I realized it was after 5:30 at this point. I zoomed around people up and down isles, missing a few small children and grandmas, and grabbing candy off the shelves as though it was all going to to turn into a puff of smoke less I grab it. I have no idea what's in my cart at this point, I just know I had a mix of chocolate vs non chocolate. Then it hit me - what am I going to put this in. I technically have a basket from two years ago that my cat had turned into bed, convenient. And no way was I going to have time to try and vacuum that sucker out. So I purchased a rather large blue tub and boy am I glad I did.

I told the cashier he could throw all the candy back in the tub but I just needed one Target bag for trash as I was going to assemble this thing in his parking lot. He kind of gave me the okay sure no problem smile but you are one crazy lady. So here I am, make up sweating down my face, sweat dripping down certain parts of my body it shouldn't all for the sake that when kids ring my doorbell they would get a treat and not a trick. Here's the funny thing - I didn't grow up in a family who celebrated Halloween. We never went trick or treating and we never had tricker treaters because we grew up on a farm. See what happens when you move into a neighborhood - you feel like you have to do certain things so you aren't one of those neighbors... Ohhh the pressure.

Then when I got home it hit me the I was going to have to pass out candy and keep the dogs from the kiddos. So I thought, what would McGyver do? Here is what I came up with

What you don't see in this picture is another concoction I had to come up with to keep my dogs back since they figured out how to push this open with their noses. Picture this if you will... next to the brick was two 25 pound weights lining the side of the gate along with a dining room chair which was attached to the gate with a bungee cord so they couldn't slide it open. I don't know if you can visualize that or not but it was quite the red neck site. But I was proud of figuring out how to keep them back.

Another baby gate pressed up against the cat stand. Don't poke fun - desperate times call for desperate measures and nothing was off limits for blocking the dogs from getting to the front door. They don't so much like kids in costumes - it scares them.

After 20 minutes of figuring out how to keep the dogs from the door and relishing in my accomplishment; I heard my next door neighbor outside with her daughter. Naturally I had to go out to see them because little H is so cute; she'll be 2 in Dec. Guess what I discovered while talking to her?? That her husband had left too for the night so they were passing candy out in the drive way. So we decided to join forces and sit together in her drive way and I ended up putting my road blocks away so the dogs could at least look out the window.

All in all I think it turned out to be a fun evening. I told her we'll do this again next year......except I won't buy as much candy. But I'm sure Target appreciated my donation!

Nothing Sweeter

There is nothing sweeter than a child's laughter; especially when it comes from deep down. Another blog post I read this morning was about Apps for an IPhone and I guess there is a video of a toddler on YouTube playing with this app. He laughs parts of the way through it but at the 3:00 min mark he really gets cranked up for a few seconds. All I could do was laugh with him and wanted to share something fun on this Friday morning.

http://www.thisisreverb.com/2009/10/a-vital-app.html

The Infamous Hay Barn

The organization I volunteer for was in need of a hay barn on their property. Prior to one being built they were using a stall which was leaving a horse out in the weather. Well because I have the best (in no certain order) brother, dad, husband, brother in law, cousins, and uncle they all agreed to put their skills to use and build a hay barn for the organization. My brother was able to draw up the plans in which the barn was built from; there were a few minor tweaks the morning before the building started but I think it all worked out perfectly.

My dad and uncle had put in the main poles on Wed and everyone else went out on Friday and started building. And oh yeah, pretty much finished it on Friday too. There were a few things left for Saturday but the roof was on and the sides were done by Friday... just amazing! It was incredible watching those boys work so well together and how fast they were. This isn't a small hay barn either, I think it's a 20 x 22 - give or take a foot here or there.

They did a beautiful job and I'm so thankful for each one of them. I don't think the guys will ever know how much I appreciate them taking Friday and Saturday to build this barn. It's such a blessing for Hope Therapy and they are so excited about it. They brag to everyone about the guys in my family; which brings a smile to my face. They brag about how nice a group the guys are, how cute they are, and how fast they were able to put the barn up. I am blessed beyond measure to have a good strong group of Christian men in my family who are awesome in many ways, especially when it comes to building things. Thank you guys, for taking time out to be apart of something that means so much to this organization and me. You guys are the best!!!

I just love his shirt... cracks me up!

Please don't fall....please don't fall

Monkey boys... this picture puts my stomach in

the bottom of my toes

YAY!!! 180 bales of hay fights nicely with room to spare

Thief In the Night... Or should I say Day??

To the person who stole my checkbook please note the following:

(1) You messed with the wrong girl. And not in the I'm the big bad wolf kind of way but in the way that I won't stop searching for you. Oh yay, I did it, I've already called the stores in which you've written checks to. What irritates me the most about you right now is the fact that you think you are going to drag my name all over your town, writing bad checks, and attempting to ruin my credit and I'm going to sit back and watch... the joke just might be on you sweetie.

(2) You might be writing fake phone numbers and drivers license numbers on my checks but you are getting careless. So please continue with your careless streak it's fun for me to watch. Oh how I love a good game.

(3) Clearly the area in which you are doing this, you live, because all places have been relatively close. Really - that close to home and you don't think someone won't find you. hmmmm

(4) When you go to places that put date/time/operator stamps on checks, it might make it easier to see you on camera. I sure hope you and your friend were smiling.

(5) And oh yeah my favorite, writing fraudulent checks I'm pretty sure is a federal offense. If not federal, it is criminal. You are signing my name in all sorts of crazy ways, and you are stealing from those companies - not me because you see I closed that account back when you thought it was a good idea to steal from me. So they might go through and you might buy your $100 groceries, and $100 items at a particular 'dollar store'. But you'll get greedy and it will catch you. I'm pretty sure department stores don't take stealing lightly.

(6) Well actually this might be my favorite one. When you stole my checks I was at a Christian women's conference learning about how God is Able. So therefore my dear sweet thief or thieves, shall God deem that we find you - it will be done because He is able. He knows no limitations, no bounds, he knows all, and sees all. If nothing else scares you - I would hope that would. He knows who you are, he knows where you are, and shall his will be done; you will be caught. So I just keep praying the Lord would find favor on the innocent (myself and the two stores you stole from) and that you would be held accountable for your actions. And I don't say those things out of anger or hatred - I say them with sympathy for you.

So to my thief in the day, whoever you may be, I will persevere, I will keep track of where you go through those returned checks, and I will continue looking in all avenues. My mamma didn't nickname me a 'bulldog' because I'm sheepish.

Sleep tight........

Hope Therapy Benefit Show

On Saturday Sept 26th, (yes I know I'm behind) the First Coast Hunter Jumper Association held their annual show and silent auction and all proceeds went to Hope Therapy. Three of the patients from Hope Therapy were able to participate in a demonstration class. The girls had to show the judge how they steer the horse around cones and played a ring toss game. The judge was so sweet and gave each participant a first place ribbon and trophy. It was really cool to see how our patients were so excited to be apart of the show.

There are also pictures from other random riders during flat classes and jumping; which I use to do both as a kid. A flat class is where they walk, trot, canter and jumping is just that - horse and rider jumping. Being at this show just makes me miss that part of my childhood so much more. Maybe one day it will be something I can do again; after all several participants in the show were over age 55.... so there is hope for me yet.

Hope Therapy patients in the demonstration class.

They were to demonstrate to the judge two of the things we do during our therapy sessions.

Regular flat class - walk/trot/canter with random riders

Jumping....my favorite sport

I think she read my thoughts.......

Do you ever feel like a post was written specifically for you? Well that's how I feel this morning after reading a post written by Beth Moore. If you have time it's a good read. Even if it's not something you are currently facing; I know it's something we've all faced in the past and is sure to come up in the future.

http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/2009/09/just-one-word.html

Bailey's Thoughts on New Carpet

**For the record no animals very physically or emotionally hurt during this story**

The Culprit:

Michael and I have been talking for awhile now about putting new carpet in the back three bedrooms. Either that or put down the extra laminate flooring we have. I almost prefer carpet because I'd like to keep those three rooms warm and inviting. The carpet in there now is builders grade, cheapo stuff that was here when we purchased the house in 2005. So it's time for some new stuff.

Well Bailey, the ever so smart dog of ours, has apparently been listening to our conversations and decided that while our sweet innocent dog sitter, Sarah was here while we were in NY, took it upon herself to help pull up the carpet in the front bedroom.

Or was it because she was being a brat and got mad about being locked in her kennel, only to break out of her kennel (because the latch is broken), then somehow manage to shut the door on herself, and proceeded to dig her way out by pulling back the carpet and eating the padding. What dog does that I ask you?? Oh yeah MINE!

Look maw no padding...

While I'm not surprised she managed to break out because she's done it a time or two before since that latch is busted. I am shocked she ate the carpet padding. She hasn't acted that way since she was a puppy and she'll be 5 yrs old next month. She can be a destructive little monster when she gets mad though - just ask my window sill and the corners of my baseboards. The vet says it is because of the Husky in her, they don't like being left alone, I say it's because she's a ........

This destructive, evil behavior all started the morning we left. It was 4:50 AM on Thursday morning, I woke up 30 minutes late but somehow managed to only be 10 minutes behind schedule in leaving for the airport when Bailey decided she was NOT going in her kennel. Michael and I chased her around the house for like 10 minutes. He tried getting her in and all she did was bark and run away. Or she crouches down low and when you grab her collar to pull her in she yelps like you are hurting her. That way when you release her she runs away again.... ohhhh she's a beast! He has no patience for this kind of behavior and told me I could get in her. So I sweet talked her at first, then yelled, then sweet talked again and even tried getting her in there with her cookie, to which she snuffed. Finally, victory! I was able to get her in only to turn around and watch her put her furry little paws on the kennel door and kick it open. You little %^&$# I said sternly.... get in your kennel. She barked at me as if she was telling me no.

What is your deal crazy? I asked her sternly.

She barked as if to tell me she was not going in her kennel because she likes being out.

Again sternly I tell her - Bailey in your kennel now; it is too stinking early in the morning for this garbage.

She barked again telling me she's not going in and no way I can make her and it's too early to be locked up...

Okay fine - Michael you deal with her. I'm not quite sure what happened in there that day. But all I could here was yelling, barking, her squeal, and then her kennel door being shut and pushed tightly into place, and her kicking at her water and food bowl. He comes storming out and says get in the car, lets go. I never did ask what happened - I don't think I want to know.

Then I felt even more bad because I had to ask my mom to come over and let them out mid day so they weren't locked up for 14 hours. And Bailey of course pulled the same thing with my mom - she hid behind the elliptical, barked, and ran around in circles... LOL My mom has raised 5 children so she has the patience for this stuff. She was smarter than we were though and shut the bedroom door and just sweet talked her little face off until Bailey ran into her kennel....

Then apparently after all of that she pulled the same stuff on Sarah but turned destructive when she escaped. All I could do was laugh because that's my dog. But I felt so bad for Sarah having to deal with it.... I hope she comes back.

I don't know if you can tell in this picture or not but the front entrance has no padding - from the top of the picture to the bottom where my cat decided to lay has zero padding! As in it's all cold, hard concrete.

While on my trip I kept thinking what on earth has gotten into this crazy dog? She has never acted like this when told to get in her kennel. She is normally the one that goes right in and lays down waiting for her cookie. It's Greta that has to be coxed in. Then it hit me, I've been working at home more or when we leave to run errands we've been leaving them out. So it's been a long time since she's had to get locked up. She's just going to have to get over that though and learn to go back in.

But now it's my turn to show her in the Savery ghetto fabulous style. I'm trusting the bungee cord to keep her in... I apparently have a lot of trust in that tough little elastic band. Notice she's already smelling it figuring out this little contraption I hope keeps her in. You can see it in her eyes, that the wheels are already turning.

So now with the entrance into the bedroom missing the padding it's left us at an interesting crossroad. Do we finish ripping it up and put down laminate in the one bedroom? Which I'm not a fan of personally. Or do we live ghetto style for awhile until we can save the money for new carpet in all three bedrooms? Or do we start shopping around now for new carpet? Decisions that I'm sure will take us months to make.

New York

For Labor Day weekend we took a trip to see Michael's parents in NY. We could not have asked for better weather while we were there. It was in the 70's most of the trip with blue skies and just beautiful. I can't wait for that fall like weather here in FL.

We managed to squeeze in a lot of activities while we were there but one of the highlights of the trip was going to see a Mets/Cubs game (Go Cubs) on Friday night. Even though the Cubs lost the Mets new stadium, Citi Field is extremely nice. We arrived 2 hours before the game started so we could walk around to see all the new shops and watch the guys practice.

Below are pictures from Friday night's baseball game. I apparently need photography lessons because more than half of my pictures came out blurry - UGH! These were the only ones that made it.

So mom if you are reading this.... for Christmas I need photography classes, please and thank you!

Practice time...

Our seats - notice we are once section away from nose bleed. Guess that puts us in the pre-nose bleed section

Apparently it is his tradition that every time I take his picture his gives me the finger... You wonder why I don't post vacation pictures; it's because this is how they would turn out. Or maybe it is because we don't go on any vacations...

Who could pass up an opportunity to not take a picture of this sign.... Oh, you say you could... Well I couldn't.

NY City Skyline during the game.

All Banged Up

I'm sure there are some things I should keep to myself - but why start now. I started riding again and had another lesson on August 30th. Apparently when I was dismounting I banged my stomach on the saddle and the result was a nasty bruise. Which is still here a week and a half later - only now it's yellow instead of bright purple. Just thought I'd share some of the grossness in my life.... you are welcome!

BooMama's DipTacular

In honor of BooMama's DipTacular post here are two dips made with cream cheese.

Rotel Dip

1 8 oz pkg of cream cheese
1 can of Rotel dip (I use mild because I'm a sissy)

1. Soften the cream cheese first
2. Melt the cream cheese over the stove in a sauce pan on med to med-low heat. Stirring frequently in order to prevent burning
3. Once the cream cheese has melted but not soupy, pour in the can of Rotel
4. Turn off heat and mix together and then pour in a serving bowl.
5. Put in the fridge for at least 2 hours for it to set. I've found that sometimes making it the night before the big event is better because it sets better. Or make first thing in the morning if your party is later that day. Or if you are like me and tend to forget or run behind you can put in the freezer for 30 minutes and then in the fridge for an hour or so to help speed up the process.

Serve with Tostito Chips

Cream Cheese Chili Dip (from my mother in law)

1 8 oz pkg of cream cheese
1 can of Hormel Chili - bean or no beans depending on your preference
1 block of Sharp Cheddar Cheese
1 block of Monterey Cheese (or a spicier white cheese if you prefer)
Black Olives
1 - 10 inch round pan (if you want a bigger plan like a 9 x13 then you'll need another block of cream cheese and another can of chili)

1. Soften the cream cheese first so that it's easy to mash down
2. Mash the cream cheese down into the bottom of the 10 inch round pan
3. Add the Hormel Chili to the top
4. Shred about half a bar of each block of cheese or if you like cheese (like me) you can use the full block if you like. Sprinkle the cheese on top
5. Add olives to the top - again the amount is based on if you like olives or not or you can leave them off if you don't. This dip is good either way
6. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and cook for 25 - 30 minutes depending on how your oven cooks. You want to make sure the inside of the dip is cooked but watch the cheese so it doesn't burn.

This is good with Frito's or Tostito Chips.

These are a hit at BBQ's, football parties, or can even be enjoyed when home alone and no one else is sticking their grubby little hands in.

Why Is It?

This is a result of me sitting in an airport for 3 1/2 hours. See what happens when I'm left alone for long periods of time watching people and have been up since 4:22 AM.

• Why is it when we are told we can't have something, we want it more?
• Why is it when we are told we can't do something, we want to do it that much more?
• Why is it when the flight attendant tells us there are plenty of seats on the plane, someone feels the need to sit on top of me.
• Why is it the pilot felt the need to tell us we had a warning light on but it should be okay. There is no need to tell us that... just keep it to yourself.
• Why is it we can't apologize quickly but we expect others to?
• Why is it that when we say hurtful words we can blow it off? But when others do it we hold grudges.
• Why is it that we seem to never be satisfied with where we are or who we are?
• Why is it that in our world of plenty, we never seem to have enough?
• Why is patience a virtue that most lack?
• Why is it hard to look a stranger in the eye and say hello, excuse me, thank you, or please? Manners people....manners
• Why is it the older I get the more nausea I experience while flying? Could it have something to do with the turbulence that made me feel like I was on the back of a bull.
• Why is it I can't figure out how to put a filter on my mouth?
• Why is it we struggle to find contentment - maybe that goes back to my question about never being satisfied.
• Why do we feel the need to control every aspect in our life, when in reality we have no control? Or maybe I'm the only one with this problem.
• Why is it every 5 minutes today at the airport an announcement had to come on telling people to use a tissue to sneeze into or cough into? Because most walk around with tissues handy...thats why I use my sleeve. It was also nice enough to tell us how to wash our hands. Did I mention I was there for 3 1/2 hours???
• Why is it I can't stop writing when I really have nothing of importance to say?

I think this blog makes me think I'm cooler than I am and gives me a chance to show how nerdy I am... LOL But if you people only really knew what else went through my mind you would be afraid............very afraid. I know I am 99% of the time.

Ode to Target

I'm totally bored sitting in my hotel room in Indy. I made the mistake of drinking diet coke at dinner and now cannot fall asleep to save my life. So here it is 12:55 AM and what better way to spend this sleepless night than sharing my Sunday experience at Target... I know brace yourself for some good old fashion boredom. It's not too late to hit the back button on your browser and save yourself from my over caffeinated body that is in desperate need for sleep.

So my first mistake was going to Target on the Sunday before school starts. By the way Sunday people at Target - you cannot stand at the front entrance of the store and not expect a traffic jam to occur. Then you want to give dirty looks when people bump into you or try and get around you without disturbing your conversation. I don't care if it's been all summer since you've seen your friends, move to the side... There is an entire store of space and you somehow think standing in the front is the best place for you.

The dollar isle of Target, a great idea and an isle I can't pass up, however it's put in the wrong spot. Again at the front entrance were people tend to lolly gag.

Why is it out of 500 carts at the front of the store I get the one that didn't work. The faster I wanted to push it the slower it moved or didn't move. Apparently the cart had something against me but I would not let it defeat me. AKA I was too stubborn and lazy to get another one. The harder I pushed (I guess I was thinking it would move better) the more it would come to a dead stop and send me flying forward. I felt like I was in stop and go traffic the way my body would come to a crashing halt out of no where. I think my ribs were bruised after this trip due to the number of times they slammed into the cross bar. This cart and I were quite a site walking through Target. I pushed - it stopped, I pulled - it didn't budge. I got a few funny looks as I kicked the wheel and mumbled a few things under my breath (which shall not be repeated).

The cleaning isle was packed full of kids and parents purchasing things for dorm rooms. All I needed was soap but that was a 20 minute ordeal just trying to get down that isle. Partly because of the stop and go motion of the cart but mainly because of the people. Although I will say it was rather cute watching a father, mother, and son shop and the dad was looking around for brooms and dorm size trash cans. But that sweetness only lasted for a brief moment and then it became annoying because he kept cutting me off trying to get to his wife. Or maybe it was the cart stopping me from moving. Either way each time I came across the family I somehow got stopped.

Finally I had my 10 items I went into Target for and now it was time to check out. Apparently I had the same idea 100 other people had because each line had at least 4 or 5 families. You would have thought it was Christmas in that place. Then as I walked outside with the cart in tow it wouldn't move on the concrete. It just decided to stop and not move and I'm pretty sure the guys walking by me started laughing at the site of me trying to move this thing on wheels. Even though I had a giant 25 pack of toilet paper and a 10 pack of paper towels I decided it was time to ditch the cart. As I'm walking to the car all I could think was Lord please don't let the toilet paper or paper towel packing rip. Please just don't let them go rolling out and into the parking lot. I really don't need anymore embarrassment right now. Thankfully we all made it to the car with no mishaps.

I will say this - the only good thing about a bad cart is it kept me from walking around and buying more than was on my list. So for that my checkbook is thankful, but my ego not so much.

See I tried to warn you above about the boredom but you didn't listen. I'm just jealous that after reading this you are falling asleep and somehow I'm still not.

The Male Species

How is it possible for their clothes to make it to the FRONT of the clothes hamper but not IN it? Come on really, dropping your clothes on the floor is that much easier than dropping them into the canvas opening of the standing clothes hamper.

Or my favorite as of lately is the not hanging up of his towel. The towel manages to make its way over our foot board but not to the bathroom 4 steps to the left.

Or maybe today's email thread is my favorite.... (**Disclaimer: work has been rough today and therefore I should not be held responsible for the following. It's just overwhelmingly annoying when things aren't working properly and what should have taken me an hour at most has taken 6 hours. )

M: So Jeff needs some help with his mounting projection...do you care if I go and help him, or do you want me home or what? You seem to not like me so much right now .......so .. (I guess he thinks I don't like him because I was short on the phone with him instead of my normal loving self...hahaha)

L: yeah that's it i don't like you........... you figured it out. Me being in a bad mood has nothing to do with work and everything to do with you. Whatever I don't care what you do (okay so maybe this does sound a little harsh...but as I was saying it in my head and typing it out in an email it didn't seem that bad at the time)

M: i don't care what you do is not really a "yeah that's fine, i love you and i'll just see you later".

L: you are right it's not those things....... it is an i don't care - just the way it sounds. (I literally mean I don't care that he goes.... why is everything taken so personal. Oh right because I'm in a loving mood today)

M: alright.....so i'll be home after work.

L: no i don't want you home after work - go help Jeff.

M: lol okay so i'm still unsure if i'm supposed to come home or if you want me to go to jeffs and not come home lol.

L: repeat after me slowly........... g...o... h...e...l...p... Jeff

Like Michael says at times... I am a box full of crazy (not sure what that means but I'm thinking it's not a compliment) Or maybe I need to go a few rounds with a punching bag; does anyone have one I can borrow?

Clearly today I have a lot of aggression that needs to be worked on. And would you like to know the sad thing about my aggression/frustration/aggravation? It comes from this little mechanical box called a computer that is somehow supposed to make my life easier. However today, not so much. When you spend 6 hours rattling off words like Socket Errors, ODBC, SQL, ABA it is enough to make one crazy. To the point where I've been reduced to saying things like my thingamajiggy isn't connecting to my whatchamacallit so please just fix it.... Try getting help from IT when explaining errors like that. I bet if you had an 8 ball you would get "Outlook Isn't Good."

Oh wait!!! I just thought of something else.... I also opened my bill from JEA today. That could quite possibly be another reason my head is spinning around and around and around.

GOODNESS - ME OH MY!

Happy Monday Y'all!

Hard Day

Today seems to be a harder day for me than the past days for some reason. Maybe it's because I went to church today and allowed the worship music to penetrate my heart. For those few minutes this morning I allowed myself to be vulnerable. Or maybe it was the fact that our Senior High Youth Pastor announced that his wife is pregnant and due in February and I would have been due in March. As soon as he started telling the story of his wife meeting him in the driveway, something she never does, I knew what was coming next. My mind started racing, my first thoughts were I need to leave, just a quick trip to the bathroom or something, I can't listen to this but I was trapped on either side by several people that I didn't want to crawl over. Then I thought well I'll just sit here and not listen, I'll think of something else but my mind was blank and I could still hear his words. So I just decided to sit there and listen to the rest of his story holding back the tears. I kept thinking to myself, of all days Lord, of all days, just 6 days after all that happened I have to sit here and listen to someones pregnancy story. Then when he said the words 'she is pregnant' everyone starts awing together and all I'm thinking is ugh.... Then I'm supposed to clap in excitement??? Lord this almost seems cruel - you couldn't hold off his story for another week or two when maybe the wounds weren't so fresh and tender.

My mind started racing on the way home about the sermon and the pregnancy story. Again my first thoughts were Lord that was cruel - do you know how hard it was to sit there and listen to the excitement of our Sr. High youth pastor? Lord why of all Sunday's did you pick this Sunday for him to teach and him to share? Why did he feel the need to share that with everyone? Sure he's excited - I get it but did it have to be shared? I just kept thinking how painful those first few minutes were and how mean I thought the Lord was for that brief moment. Then I thought well of course the Lord knew how hard it was for me - you too lost a son but in a much more painful way than I did. Then it hit me that maybe I'm not as tough as I want to be. The reason for the story today was to show that to me. That inside my tough exterior of 'it is what it is' and how I feel like I just have to move past this that maybe I should allow myself to grieve. I need to allow myself to cry; that I need to be sad instead of a robot with all the perfect answers. I haven't really put my emotions out there yet and maybe because at times I'm thinking this isn't real.

Or maybe I feel like I need to be strong enough for both Michael and I so I've held myself back. Or maybe I want everyone to think I'm okay so that I can move past this quicker than I need to. But acting tough isn't working out to my advantage yet; I know people can see through me. So far it's just leaving me in a state of denial and as long as I don't say it out loud then maybe it didn't happen. I just felt the Lord put it on my heart that I needed to be sad over this - I need to allow myself to experience emotions about this. That it is okay when someone ask how I'm doing that I don't have to respond with "I'm doing good". It would be acceptable to say you know today is a hard day or I'm doing sucky right now. It's okay to grieve the loss of the baby.

As much as I wanted to come home and fall apart and just fall into Michael's lap and not move all day, I didn't. I came home and tried to dry my eyes and not let him see the tears....because remember I'm tough.... but he saw right through me. He knew something was wrong. So I told him what happened at church and my thoughts on the way home in how I'm trying to be strong for us both and it's about to kill me. He said honey - you don't need to be strong for me.... Then it hit me what, what do you mean I don't need to be strong for you? What do you mean I don't have to worry about you? That's what I do - I worry about people and things that I have no control over. This is what I do and probably the reason for my high blood pressure - I'm a worrier. It dawned on me - he's right, I don't have to worry about him (not to sound cold hearted). Why am I worried about him and how he's taking this when I can't even look myself in the mirror and work on my own emotions. Maybe I should start there before I can move on and 'help' someone else with their own grief.

So today is a hard day. Not sure if it's just because the reality of everything is hitting me. Not sure if its because sometimes being in church it just brings out certain emotions that I can hide when not there. Or was it hard listening to the excitement our Sr. High youth pastor was feeling and for a brief moment I knew what that excitement felt like. You walk a little taller, the smiler is a little brighter, your words are a little kinder....you just overall feel good.

And then there is this horrible low - a low that is hard to comprehend, a low in which I try and hide my emotions from. If I don't let them out one day they are going to come bursting through. So I can choose to either allow those emotions to flow forth now, allow the grieving and healing process to start. Or I can put on my 'I'm a tough girl' exterior and not deal with it and then one day, weeks down the road just fall apart. I think for now I'll choose to not be the tough girl and allow myself to be more truthful about the day I'm having; good or bad - no more hiding. Regardless of the day I'm having I know my family and friends will support me. I know they will laugh me, cry with me, be sad with me/for me and together these are emotions we can share.

I feel like I'm in a 12 step program or something.... "Hi my name is Leanne, I had a miscarriage, and today is not a good day.............'

Home with the Lord

It's hard to know where to start when so many emotions are tied to a situation that doesn't make sense and doesn't have the outcome you have prayed for, for so long. All I know is when I took the pregnancy test on July 6th and it came back positive and then another on July 7th for a second opinion that was probably the most beautiful site I'd ever seen. A positive pregnancy test that left both Michael and I speechless, which is hard to do since we are both motor mouths.

On August 7th I should have been at least 8 or 9 weeks pregnant and we went in for our first ultrasound. According to the doctor he was surprised to see I was measuring only 6 weeks and 2 days, but he/we could still see the heartbeat flicker on the screen even though we couldn't hear it yet. Once Dr. V printed out the ultrasound picture of our baby that became the most beautiful picture I had ever seen. It was so crazy seeing our baby so small and knowing the he/she was a blessing from the Lord. Again during the appointment I was left speechless because it was so amazing knowing the Lord had answered many hours, days, weeks, months of prayers from myself, family, and friends. I finally had confirmation of the pregnancy and according to the doctor all looked good. Michael and I started passing the news along to extended family and friends. I figured letting people know could only be beneficial because then we could have even more prayers behind us during this time. The more people I told the more real it was becoming to me that I was finally going to be a mom. That the Lord had heard the desires of my heart and opened my womb.

Then over the weekend I started having some spotting/bleeding which I thought was cause for concern. But then after reading things on the Internet and talking with others it could have been normal for me. It could have been a result of Friday's exam or just whatever but there was the possibility that there wasn't cause for concern just yet. I called the doctors office on Monday morning and they made an appointment with Dr. C that afternoon to have him check me out again. I hadn't met Dr. C prior to that visit and he was a blessing from God. I am so thankful he was the one doing the ultrasound because he was taking his time and making sure to not miss anything. He was so tender and sweet when he told me he couldn't find the heart beat and that the embryo had passed. His voice was soft and apologetic; yet strong. He then said do not let this discourage you and you should be congratulated in getting pregnant because so many woman these days cannot. So the fact that I can get pregnant is exciting and that I would be pregnant again one day.


Just to be sure that what he thought was correct he had me come in and meet with the sonographer for verification the next morning. Then after the appointment we met with Dr. C for a follow up and scheduled the D&C for later that afternoon. Everyone in the Outpatient Surgery Center was so very kind. They took good care of me and you could tell there was sense of sweetness about them since they knew what was going on. Something that could have been a more horrific experience, than it already was, turned out okay because of the people I was surrounded by all day.


Right now I have my moments of emotions that run through me but I have faith that the Lord will use this situation for His good. I also know that there will be someone in heaven for me to meet for the first time and the Lord is taking care of him/her. We may never understand why this happened to us and sometimes I don't think we are always supposed to understand because if we did then we'd stop seeking after the Lord. And we know a life without Him, isnt much of a life at all. I just pray that Michael's heart doesn't become hardened and that he too will see the Lord in this situation. That he would move towards Him and not away from Him. So right now we both just need prayer as we try and make sense of all this.

I'll end with this - I read it off of a blog this morning Proverbs 19 “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”

The true story of Greta and the black cloud that follows her...

Every time I look at this picture I can't help but have a true laugh out loud moment.... this face says it all.

This poor dog has everything bad happen to her. Not that I want bad things happening to Bailey because my checkbook can't afford 2 high maintenance dogs. But anything bad and expensive that can happen, happens to Greta. About two years ago now she decided to eat something that caused them to open her stomach in order to remove it (we won't discuss that expense), she's torn her ACL (or this one for that matter), has horrible skin allergies, and now this....

Over the weekend Michael and Greta were wrestling on the couch and when she jumped down she got her thumb nail caught on something and ripped it pretty much at the base. Poor little thing just started crying, whining and squealing. It was the saddest sound and just about broke my heart. It was all I could do to hold back the tears for her. I had to have Michael hold her still while I put two band aids over the nail to keep it in place and then in ghetto white trash fashion I cut up a pair of my socks and found some black electrical tape to hold it on. She has this obsession with licking - whether it's her feet or Michael's head and she's the worst at licking her battle wounds. So I had to figure out how to keep her from getting to this nail without making a late night run to CVS. And since I don't make a habit of keeping sports tape or bandages in the house - the sock and black tape had to do.

Michael took her to the vet for me on Tuesday because again I couldn't bare listening to her sweet cries and turns out they'd have to sedate her in order to cut it off because of the pain. Well of course you have to sedate her - why wouldn't you??? Not to mention the vet found a skin tag on Greta that she also wanted to cut off because it's a precursor to skin cancer. Apparently light colored dogs are more prone to cancer - fantastic!

This incident is another vet bill we won't discuss but I will share that the bandage alone they put on her leg cost me $35..... $35 people... for something I could have gone to Target and purchased for less than $5. So you can only imagine the shots for sedating her and then bringing her out of sedation.... ugh! But for $35 that bandage better look freaking perfect - which it did. Until of course we've been getting all this rain, which of course causes my backyard to be a lake. So the beautiful expensive bandage was black and soaked in less than 2 hours of her being home. Needless to say I started cutting part of the bottom off so her foot wasn't wet all the time. And selfishly so she wasn't dragging black mud through my house. To which she then decided why not take the full bandage off. Here I'm thinking she's sleeping in her room but instead she was ripping the thing off. Had I known it wouldn't last long I would have taken a picture so you can see a vet applied bandage vs. a Savery applied bandage. There is a major difference in the quality. But why spend the money when she's just going to rip them off.

So this morning after her going out and ruining yet another pair of my socks in the mud I decided to sacrifice a pair of Michael's white socks.

My poor dog and all her aliments. Not to mention she's not allowed to leave my side anymore because when she does that means she's getting into trouble. And the bandage has to stay on for awhile so she doesn't lick the blood clot that is trying to form. I really don't need blood stains in my house.

Maryland Trip

I've been trying to get to Maryland to see Leigh Ann (LAGS) since mid June. Based on both our schedules we finally we settled on July 8 - 12th which was her birthday weekend. So myself and her friend Jane from Ft. Walton fly in on Wed night for the weekend. I think LAGS just wanted more presents so she conned us both into coming up. She has a way of getting people to do what she wants - and to this today I'm still not sure how she pulls it off after 8 years of friendship. But oh well it's worth it. We had a great time together.

On Thursday we drove to Annapolis and walked around and did some shopping. Annapolis reminds me of Fernandina a little bit but only with hot military men, so it's a little better. But it has quaint little restaurants and cute little shops to walk around in. Of course they have 3 ice cream places within 2 blocks so really you can't go wrong.

Friday we did errands around town getting ready for her birthday party on Saturday, which was a Twilight theme or vampires for those who don't know what Twilight is. Don't worry if you don't because I didn't either and since I haven't read the books or seen the movies because well vampires just really don't do anything for me I was made fun of the whole weekend. But you know I'm okay with that because I'm a better person for not giving in and for not knowing - at least that's what I told LAGS. Besides there were a few of her other friends who haven't seen it so when they showed up on Saturday to the party the poking was all back on her. My high school friend/college roommate Liz also lives up in MD, in a town LAGS actually grew up so I got to see her for a little while on Friday too. She just had a new baby on July 3rd, William Daniel, and I still hadn't met her other son Jacob who is 2 1/2. So it was great seeing her. We did take one picture while I was there but of course I was trying to be cool with the new fixed lens and the picture came out blurry. So much for being cool when all the pictures come out blurry because I really have no idea what I'm doing.

Anyway - Saturday was decorating day and secret mission day with our friend Dawn, her daughter Sophia, and Jane to get LAGS a gift for her birthday. She loooooooooves trees so Dawn called Lowe's and they said they had Magnolia trees in and that's what we wanted to get her. Well we get to Lowe's and NO Magnolia trees - they lied to us........ jerks! So mission was aborted and we went to Chic-Fil-A instead. Then Saturday night was the party which was a lot of fun with the vampire themed desserts and karaoke. Then Sunday I flew home on Southwest who I had claimed not 24 hours before never had airplane problems and it didn't bother me that Carl was reading a story of another plane issue in France. Only to find out that two SWA flights on the Monday and Tuesday after I got home had to make emergency landings. So much for that track record.

Okay enough rambling and boring you with words - I'm now going to bore you with pictures.