Random Things About Me- #5

This is appropriate for today.....

Tuesday's are my least favorite day of the week.


I really couldn't tell you why. But it seems my mood is always a little down on Tuesday. I guess too that on Monday I am ready to face the week all bright eyed and bushy tailed.. (Boy that doesn't sound too flattering does it) and then Tuesday rolls around and what can you say... it's just Tuesday, the day before hump day, the day after Monday..... hmmmm.... what is special about a Tuesday.... Nothing!!! But this Tuesday is almost over. Yippppeeeee. And then it's HUMP DAY. Another day.... another chance for a random reveal.

Random Things About Me- #4

Monday, Monday. My first day back to work after a much needed five day break. Today I've decided to fill you in on this about me.



I will not use drive-thru windows.



Another sad but true reveal. I have no desire to talk to a box so I go in and place my order or handle my transactions. I have had one teller at the bank ask why I don't use the window and I just laughed and tried to explain my silly (or sick) way of thinking. She just shook her head and laughed too. I also used to only buy gas at stations that would pump it if I happened to be alone and had nobody else to do my dirty work. I used to joke with my son and tell him the reason I had a boy was to pump my gas. Somewhere along the way (probably out of necessity) as my son is now grown and out on his own and full service stations are a thing of the past, I learned how to pump my own gas. YEAH me!!!

CrEASY Rider

I don't know if these pictures need any words... They speak for themselves!

All I can add is Lord Help Us if he ever gets one of his own.

Random Things About Me- #3

I really did not know what I was going to reveal today as I started typing this but when I looked down at my hands on the keyboard.... there is was, today's little bit of useless information about me. My hands are chapped and bleeding which leads me to explain this about myself...

I HATE (AND I MEAN HATE) TO THROW UP!

Okay, so I guess you wonder what does bleeding hands have to do with throwing up. Well, all it takes is the mere utter of the words "Stomach Bug" and I start obsessing to the point of making myself sick. Recently we have had several people at work catch that nasty stuff and I have become germaphobic. Everytime I touch something that is germ infested I wash my hands. This can lead to at least 20 to 30 handwashing a day.


Now does it make sense? The more I wash my hands the more chapped they get and the more they bleed. But, in my mind.... better to have bleeding hands than to have the stomach bug. I will be glad when summer comes and my germ obsession subsides a little.

My lovely chapped, cracked and bleeding hands. Beautiful huh?

Random Things About Me- #2

Today's random thing about me is...

I HAVE A HARD TIME MAKING DECISIONS.

I mention this little tidbit today because I am trying to decide on colors and countertops and cabinets and lights and design for our new kitchen and needless to say it is overwhelming. I am stressing. I went to Home Depot yesterday and got two granite samples. The sales associate was very helpful and handed me 4 idea books to take home and browse thru. I did just that. I spent Sunday afternoon looking at every page and every design.... now I am just as confused as when I started. Billy Head says I complicate the heck out of things. He just doesn't get it. Major decisions require major thought, Right? Although, simple decisions require major thought too. Deciding what's for lunch is an everyday decision but I start thinking about it at 9:00 am so by 12:00 I'm sure I know what I want. Doesn't everybody do that?
Back to my kitchen....What do you think, green/gray or orange/brown granite?

Random Things About Me- #1

Facebook has certainly made one young man very rich and to think he was just a college kid with an idea to connect with some of this college buddies.... Why didn't I think of that? I guess maybe because my college years were very short lived... one to be exact and most of my friends were imaginary. Anyway, one of the neatest things I've discovered about Facebook is "25 Random Things About Me" Lists. In case you have no idea what I'm rambling about, it works like this. A friend will send you their list of things about them. Once you've received it, you've been tagged. You are then supposed to make a list of 25 random things about yourself and share it with 25 friends. The list can be complex and deep or simple and even stupid. It's fun to make the list but what's even better is reading other's list.

So why am I writing about this.... well, as you can see. I haven't exactly been committed to my blog lately and I really don't have anything life altering to write about so I've decided to reveal myself to you. One day at a time, one random thing at a time. And, I'll make it real simple and call it "Random Things About Me". How creative is that? For 9:15 am on a Friday, hey, what'd ya expect.

So, my first random reveal is...

I love to get mail.

My favorite part of the day is checking the mail box. I know, a little odd but I love getting what I call "Good Mail", you know, checks, rebates, coupons, sales ads, letters from friends, invitations. Bills I consider "Bad Mail" and nothing is more disappointing than opening my beloved mail box and finding BILLS.

When I moved in my house 9 years ago we must have been at the top of our mailman's route because our mail always arrived by 12:00 pm at the latest. Now, for some unknown reason, our mail arrives between 4:00 and 5:30 pm. I have even witnessed my mail being delivered after dark. For someone who is mail obsessed, this is a major problem. And, another not so agreeable kink in my mail routine, Billy Head's work hours changed a couple of months ago so now he gets home 30 minutes before me. No biggy except that means he gets to the mail box before me. URRRGGGGHHHH. If he only knew the agony this causes me. Then again good thing he doesn't or he'd have me attend meetings of "Mail Lovers" anonymous.

Have a great day and I hope you get some "Good Mail" today.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Happy Birthday Daddy!


Today my dad turns 73.

In honor of his special day I'd like to share him with you.

Dad is a family man. Here he and mom are at one of the great-grandkids birthday parties.

This was taken on Thanksgiving Day 2008 at my house.

And this is Dad and Hunter at Hunter's 2nd Birthday Party. When the first great-grandchild was able to talk Mom became known as Nanny Grey (because her middle name is Grey) so of course Papa had to be Grey too. So they call him Papa Grey. It makes it a little easier to keep straight since they have more than one Papa.

Dad at Jamerson and Charity's wedding.

Dad at Greta's wedding with his two grandsons, Jamerson and Seth.

This is Papa Grey and the youngest grandbaby Caden.

And here are two Billy's on a couch. Dad and Billy Head.

Hunter and Dad playing trucks.

This is Dad and Greta at her High School Graduation in 2001.

And last but not least, a blast from the past. This is dad, his parents and siblings. Can you guess which one is him?

Happy Birthday Daddy. I love you!!!

Sausage and Bean Soup

I have prayed all winter for a big snow storm and my prayer was answered on Sunday. Our little city was long overdue a big snow as we had been without the white stuff for years and years. I guess it goes without saying, I LOVE SNOW. And I love it best when it means I get to stay home from work. That's exactly what happened on Monday morning. I got up at my usual 5:30 a.m. to check the news and by golly what did I see..... Lynchburg Sheltered Industries- CLOSED. YIPPEE!!!! I know, I sound like a kid waiting to see if school is closed. Some of us never grow up completely.


So what do people do on a snow day? I'm sure most played in the snow but it was way too cold for that and freezing my buttocks off wasn't what I wanted to do with my day. In my opinion snow is best observed from the inside where it is warm and toasty. See, this picture was taken from my front door. Isn't it lovely?

And I guess some people clean off cars and shovel the walks but not me. That is Billy Head's department. We made a pact when we first starting dating that he would take care of anything outside and maintain the vehicles and my duties were limited to inside chores. Don't let on, but I got the better end of the deal. I get to be warm in the winter and cool in the summer. I'm not much on fighting the elements. DON'T look too closely at this picture, or you will see my neighbor out shoveling snow. She puts me to shame and gives my inside chore pact a bad rep. Note to self: I need to have a talk with her.

So while Billy Head was out shoveling the sidewalk and dusting off my vehicle ( which as you can see was in desperate need- the sidewalk is buried between the two shrubs)

I was inside thinking of things to do. I came up with a project for Billy Head--Installing our new ceiling fan. Since he was stuck indoors with me all day and rather than listen to me beg and plead for hours on end. He decided to shut me up and install our new fan. Yeah ME!!!

As a gesture of fairness I fixed him a working man's lunch. I was in the mood to cook and decided to create a new soup recipe. Billy Head enjoyed my little creation so much he said..."write this down so you can remember how you made this" I can't image why he would have said this ;) but anyway here goes:

**Let me add, I had cooked a crockpot full of navy beans on Saturday and had some leftover which was the inspiration for my creation.

Sausage and Bean Soup

1 package smoked sausage, thinly sliced

1 small onion, chopped

2 cans beef broth

1 cup frozen corn

1 cup carrots, sliced

1 can diced tomatoes

1 cup shredded cabbage

1 1/2 cups navy beans (or 1-15 oz can)

In large saucepan, brown smoked sausage in a little olive oil, cook about 8 minutes. Add onion and cook till onion is translucent. Add beef broth, carrots, corn and tomatoes. Cover and simmer about 12-15 minutes. Add cabbage and cook another 10-12 minutes. Add beans and simmer till hot throughout. Season with salt and pepper and a dash of garlic salt. Also if soup is too thick, add a little water to thin.