It has been a busy weekend for the BBB household.  Even though I have been off work, there's been lots going on in my world.  I heard from my BFF as she was on her way to the big city to visit her mother (my "other mother") for a few days.  She said she sure would like for me to come and spend at least a night with them if I could.  Well, it turns out that after talking with hubby, we decided that was just a perfect idea since I would be going to the "big city" for my nephew's wedding anyway.  So, I had a doctor's appointment at 2:15 Friday (got all the pertinent female parts checked out.....woofreakinhoo.....ugh!!).  So before the big doc's appointment, I packed my trusty suitcase and packed it in the car.  Once the doc did her thing, I was ON MY WAY.  "Big city" here I come!!  Woooforrealhooo!!  I had a great drive just listening to my tunes and watching as the snow along the sides of the road became more apparent.  The big city got a LOT more snow than we did, and it stuck.  BFF's mother, who I call my "other mother" is just an awesome lady.  I just think the absolute world of her!!  She sends me money for every birthday (which I share with BFF) and Christmas too.  I call her Mom "O".  She was a wonderful mother to my BFF and to all her friends.  You always knew how much she loved you.  You were always welcome in her home.  She always made sure I was invited to her house when she was making her famous stew and cornbread because she knew how much I loved it.  To this day, I always, always use HER recipe when making stew.  The other thing she made that was just AWESOME was her homemade tabouli!!  I LOVE that stuff so much.  Her tabouli was the first I ever ate and has been the "yardstick" ever since for how good tabouli should taste.  Mom "O" and BFF's dad divorced when she was two or three.  They remained friends.  I remember my shock when I went with BFF to visit her dad for the first time.  Since the parents were divorced, I figured she'd let us out in the driveway and be on her way.  But, nope.  No way.  That's not what happened.  She turns the car off, helps us into the house with our bags and sits down with BFF's step-mom "S" and sits down for a cuppa coffee and some "family" chat.  In walks BFF's dad.  He sits down and visits a bit.  It was my first experience with divorced parents.  I thought they were supposed to hate each other.  I never imagined they would be pretty good friends.  But BFF's parents were always cordial to each other and BFF's step-mom was awesome and sweet.  Mom "O" worked very hard to provide for BFF.  Her dad, while cordial, was NOT the best provider.  He had a whole nother family (3 kids with step-mom).  They all got the best of everything.  For BFF, not so much.  If not for her step-mom, she would never have gotten birthday or Christmas gifts.  Anywho, things were pretty tight, financially, as you might imagine with a single working mom.  But Mom"O" never complained.  Through the years, Mom "O" had a couple, G and his wife, who were great friends of hers.  They socialized together off and on for many years.  When G's wife died, he and Mom "O" went to dinner or lunch a few times and then kept in touch.  Then, a few years later, they went to dinner, and Mom O said that she just knew something was different.  Long story short, she and G married.  Now, the beauty of this was that both had raised their children.  Both were without spouses and both were retired.  The nice bonus besides just being a really wonderful man, was that G is VERY well off.   Bless his heart, he set about spoiling Mom O to pieces.  He took her all over the world.  France, England, Ireland, Hawaii, you name it, they have probably been there.  Oh, and weeks spent in Palm Springs where Mom O could shop and G played golf.  She says some of their biggest arguments have been that he wanted to buy her fur coats and she hated them because you had to kill animals to make them, so she would NOT wear one under ANY circumstances.  They have had a wonderful number of years.  G had a beautiful patio home built for Mom O in the "big city" so she could have a home of her very own choosing to keep if something ever happened to him.  This is where I met Mom O and BFF.  We just had a lovely visit.  BFF and I talked for hours about just everything, but particularly, she is concerned about her Mom and what it will be like to lose her.  I just told her that she needs to be sure to spend as MUCH time as humanly possible with her mom while she is able to.  Anywho, we went out to eat, and did a little shopping, and BFF and I got to exchange our Christmas gifts.

 

Then, Saturday, it was famiy time again.  Hubby brought my Daddy to the big city and we proceeded to marry off my oldest nephew.  The one who is in the Navy.  Who met his bride over the internet courtesy of my youngest niece (his sister).  It was a really nice wedding.  Everyone was spit and polished.  The bride glowed.  And after the ceremony, we proceeded to have a BIG party.  There was lots of WONDERFUL food and drink, two kinds of cake, and lots of dancing.  I think it all kind of overwhelmed my Daddy.  The wedding was at 6 p.m.  At about 8:30, Dad, hubby and I said our goodbyes and headed back to the smaller city.  I wanted to have Daddy home before it got too late.  He just made mention on the way home about all the "drinking" and "dancing" that he had witnessed.  For a pretty quiet man, I think he was just glad to be headed away from that and home.  Anyways, we got home by about 10:30 and Daddy was glad to be home.  I was also glad to be home.  I should have gotten up and gone to church but I was juswt worn out.  So hubby and I stayed home.  He had intended to anyway because D*sh network was supposed to send someone out between 8 and noon to hook up our new high def TV stuff hubby ordered.  They were to bring a new dish, new receiver and new remote.  Well guess what?  After waiting ALL day, they have NEVER shown up!!  I just may re-name them something a little less flattering!!  Hubby couldn't even go to lunch with my Daddy, my aunt and uncle (who had gone to the big city yesterday for the wedding) and me.  He had to sit here and wait for some JERK who never even showed up.  He's just a LITTLE steamed and I don't blame him.  Cable, dish and utility companies are just the absolute WORST at making you waste your time waiting for them to maybe, perhaps, if they feel like it, show up.

 

I am off tomorrow.  I have to be up early and go have blood work drawn which couldn't be done at my dr's appointment Friday.  The doc asked if I had fasted so I could do the blood work and I just looked at her and said....it's after 3 p.m.  I wasn't gonna fast ALL day.  So, tomorrow morning.  Haul self outta bed with the chickens and go getting stuck will be my morning.  Then we are keepin the girls.  Both my granddaughters and the granddog!!  It should be a fairly quiet evening for us.  I will take "K" the oldest, and let her pick out the "treats" for the evening.

 

Well, friends.  I didn't mean to write a book!!  So, I shall sign off here.  You all take care and if I don't buzz back in before tomorrow evening, you all have a HAPPY and SAFE and BLESSED new year!!

 

BBB

Yes.  Christmas has come and gone once again.  I hope everyone's Christmas was a good one.  Mine was a good one in most ways.  I had most of my family around me along with a good friend of our kids' who survived (barely) a horrible car wreck this year.  There was lots of good food.  There were lots of presents.  But Christmas just seemed kind of hollow and different.  I really, truly missed my Momma.  I know that she was with us in spirit.  I couldn't help but see a little of her in my red-headed great niece.  My Momma adored that child.  Even when she was the most ill, her eyes would follow M around the room watching her every move.  The red-headed child that my Momma always wanted.  She finally got it through that great-grandchild.  In my heart, I know that I am so blessed.  I couldn't even begin to list every blessing.  I know that.  But there is just a hollow place in me right now.  I hope that with time, that hollow place will go away.  Everyone says it will.  And I know it will.  But this year it was just hard for me.  Even with all the food, the presents, the tree, the family and friends, it was just different.  Truthfully, I am glad Christmas has come and gone.  I am SO ready for this year to be over.  It has been a hard year....definitely the hardest one since I went through my divorce almost 15 years ago.    I am ready for a new year.  A clean slate so to speak.  A new beginning.  I know that a lot will remain the same.  But there is something about starting out a new year.  It is a fresh beginning.  Every year.  Year after year.  I am ready.

 

We will be keeping our granddaughters and granddog for new years.  I want our kids to be able to go out and enjoy themselves.  I truly do not enjoy going out on that particular night any more.  I have asked my oldest granddaughter to plan what treats we shall make and enjoy.  I think she will be glad to be not at home being as she is grounded yet again.  Seems she stayed out a a local mall with friends till 10:30 right before Christmas....without parental knowledge or permission.  So I am not sure HOW long she will be grounded this time.  But she will be with us for new years and we will  try to make it an enjoyable time anyway.

 

I guess I am going to get off here and go do a little after Christmas shopping.  I hope you have a great day my friends!!

 

Peace!!

 

BBB

Yeah!!  Bring it on!!!  I am ready for Christmas.  The packages are wrapped and under the tree.  I have made four pies today.  Two pumpkin, and two pecan (first time ever on those).  I have a few more things I want to get pre-made tomorrow.  My broccoli cheese casserole and the deviled eggs (for my wonderful son-in-law), and the sweet potatoes.  That will only leave the ham to bake, the fruit salad to make and mashed taters to make as well.  Whew!!!  I wasn't sure I'd get it all done.  But I did.  Woooofreakinghooo!!  I am doing the happy dance.  There is something under the tree for everyone but hubby.  I took him tonight to try to have him pick out a new HD/DVD player to go with our new Plasma Screen TV.  However, he wants to wait till the after Christmas sales.  I feel bad, but it was what I planned on getting  him.  He doesn't need clothes or shoes or anything like that.  He buys whatever he wants.  So that was my big plan.  I guess I am gonna have to go with his saying he is okay with not getting his present till after Christmas. 

 

I guess I am going to go to our company Christmas lunch tomorrow, as inconvenient as it is.  I have presents to pass out to my co-workers and my boss.  So I best just go.  It will be a good lunch.  I know I will enjoy it.  Then hubby and I are going to go see my MIL and take her her Christmas presents.  Her dementia is so bad that we cannot take her from the nursing home.  It would just totally discombobulate her and we cannot do that to her.  She is happy and content right now.  Routine is good for her.  Anything out of the ordinary puts her in a tailspin.  Anywho, after that, we are going by the kids.  We never get to see our grandson on Christmas day.  He is always with his dad.  So, we are going to go by and take him his Christmas presents and watch him open them.  Sounds like a good plan.

 

Well my fine friends, MERRY CHRISTMAS to each of you!  Thanks for being such good friends.  I am truly blessed!!

 

God bless you.  Till next time.....

 

BBB

Christmas is almost here.  I have worked my final day for this year.  Wooofreakinghoooo!!!!  I have not posted this week because it has been very very busy at work.  I had a lot to get done so I could head out and take the rest of my vacation.  Some genious at my work decided that we should have our Christmas luncheon on Christmas Eve day (which they are making everyone work!!).  That means if I want to share some Christmas "cheer" with my co-workers, I have to do it on only one of the busiest days.  Man I can't believe they did that.  If I can get enough done this weekend, I will go.  They are going to a restaurant that I really like.  I would like to go.  We will just have to see. 

 

I have gotten most of my shopping done.  I also got a lot of my Christmas cards done.  I should be working on some right now, but I just can't get in the mood.  I have my day planned out tomorrow as far as what shopping I want to get done.  I wonder how much I will get done??  We shall see.  I haven't done any Christmas baking this year and it is kinda looking like I won't get anything like that done.   Last year I made this mix that I call "Dog Chow" and also my famous Coconut/Chocolate candies.  I don't think that's happening this year.  Oh well.  I will be having my sister who lives here in town, her kids and their kids, my Daddy, and our kids and grandkids all here for Christmas day dinner.  Sis is actually doing the turkey and dressing and her famous squash casserole.  I will be doing a spiral ham, fruit salad, broccoli cheese casserole and pies.  Oh.  And MASHED TATERS!!!  Gotta have my mashed potatoes.  It will be a different Christmas without Momma being the centerpiece as usual, but we will at least be together. 

 

Then, on the 29th, we drive to Norman for my nephew's wedding.  I will also be taking Christmas gifts for the family there that won't be here Christmas day due to last minute wedding planning.  So, it is going to be a busy time around the BBB household.  Oh....and hubby got our Christmas present (we surely won't be getting anything else)....a 50" plasma screen TV for our new family room project which is also part of the kitchen/dining room project.  We have opened up all three rooms where they flow as one room.  Anywho, we got the TV and that's our Christmas. 

 

I am not sure how much I will be on here from now until after Christmas.  I hope that everyone has a wonderful, blessed Christmas.  Hug and hold your family close!  They are the best "present" you will ever receive.  Until next time, you all take care my friends.  See you soon!!

 

BBB

Wooohooo!!  Hubby got to come home today.  He does have to have some nuclear tests next week to check a couple of other veins in his heart and he has to get on a more aggressive cholesterol med, but other than that, he is just to take it easy for a few days.  What a difference from a year ago.  He was in the hospital a whole week then.  So this couple of days was a cake walk in comparison.  Thanks so much for all the good wishes and prayers.  I just have the absolute BEST blog friends.  No doubt about it!!

 

I woke up at 4:30 this morning and could not go back to sleep.  So about 6 I finally gave up and got up and got busy.  Since I now have electric, I availed myself of that and swept the whole house.  I mopped the kitchen floor.  I cleaned all the ruined food (three trash bags worth) out of the fridge and hauled it all to the trash and pulled the can out to the street to be picked up today.  I stripped the sheets off the bed and washed them so we'd have clean, fresh sheets in case hubby got to come home.  To say the least, the adrenaline was pumping.  I got SO much done.  All hubby had to do was come in, hit his favorite easy chair and rest.  Also, a young lady from our church who is the busy working mother of two small children called and offered to bring by dinner to us.  I have learned to let people help, so I said sure and that I was so appreciative especially given how hard I know she has to work.  She brought home made soup, home baked bread, salad and cake.  Isn't that just the sweetest thing?  I just feel so truly blessed!!

 

Our daughter still does not have electricity, so she brought my two granddaughters over and they did laundry all afternoon.  They do have a friend who brought them some kind of wazoo heater that heats at least half their house.  Unfortunately, all their appliances are electric, so they are eating  out at every meal.  My SIL has borrowed our utility trailer and is going around helping people clean up and haul off debris.  I feel so bad for the kids and everyone else who is without power.  I have never been so thankful to have mine back on.  Our back yard looks like a war zone, and hubby isn't going to be able to do any work out there any time soon, but we could care less.  All in due time we will get it cleaned up.  We have friends who have had major damage to their homes from falling trees, so we know that we are truly fortunate.  Our only loss at all, besides just the trees themselves, was a little red wagon we pull behind our lawn tractor to haul stuff.  Alas, the wagon is history.  But, no trees or debris hit our pool or our house or our shop.  Yepper, we are truly blessed!!

 

Well, I am gonna go do a little blog walking.  I hope everyone has a lovely weekend.  I know that no matter what, I am going to have a great one because hubby is here with me!! Take care all and I will post again soon!!

 

BBB

Well, I guess I shall start with a phone call about 4:00 yesterday afternoon.  I get a call from my hubby.  He starts the conversation something like this..."I hate to even make this phone call....with the power still out and everything...but  I feel like I may be having another heart attack."  I was just almost speechless.  He had a major heart attack one year ago October.  He had just passed his one year exam with flying colors.  I know this because I spoke with his surgeon my own self as I was home when he called to report.  To say that I was just absolutely blown away, floored, devastated, you name it....I was.  I had to take the dog home as she had been at the office with me since it was warm there and I hated to leave her in the cold house.   I told hubby I would meet him at the cardiologists office, which is where they told him to go as his surgeon was there.  All the way to our house, I just kept telling God...Okay....this is it!  I just cannot take ONE MORE THING!!  I am at my wits end.  I just cannot handle one more thing...I just can't!!  I drove into our driveway, manually opened the garage door since that is the only way to open it when the electric is off.  I headed into the house.  I have to tell you that the VERY MINUTE that my foot touched the thresh hold of my kitchen, THE POWER CAME ON!!!  Now, is that a GOD THING or WHAT????  I just stood there and bawled like a little baby, because I was so relieved.  My hubby had been so worried when he called me because he knew pretty much for sure that they would keep him at the hospital last night....and he didn't want me to come home alone to a dark, cold house.  I don't do exceptionally well at home alone when I have all the creature comforts and he knows this.  I would NOT have been able to handle being there alone with no power or anything and he knew that.  So, I just cannot express my relief.  I just cried and kept saying...thank you God!!

 

Anywho....I left some lights on and made sure everyhthing was secure and headed to the doctors office which is part of one of our major med centers.  I got there just after 5:00...so guess what.  They were closed.  I pounded on the windows to no avail.  I knew hubby was there because I saw my truck in the parking lot.  I was turning to the elevators when I heard voices.  I headed that way to see if perhaps someone could help me get to my hubby.  When I turned the corner, there he was with a nurse from the docs office!!  The doctor admitted him directly from the office....we didn't have to do the horror of the ER!!  We went straight to his room.  They medicated him and told him they would do a heart cath this morning.  Loooonnnnngggg story sorta shortened.  He had another stent put into the right side of his heart.  Last year it was the left.  This year it was the right.  All went well and if he has a good night tonight, I will bring him home tomorrow to our nice cozy (if somewhat messy) house.  I have such mixed emotions right now.  I am ever so thankful that God blessed us with a successful surgery.  I am ever so thankful that we have our power on again (so many people still don't).  But I cannot tell you how overwhelmed I feel also.  It has just been quite a year since last October when I came so close to losing my hubby.  Got him back on his feet.  Then Momma got so ill and we lost her.  Now this.  To say that my head is spinning is just an understatement. 

 

Once again, I am sorry to always be posting such seemingly down stuff.  But folks, this is just my life right now.  I cannot tell you how much your encouragement since I started this blog has meant to me.  I just appreciate it so much.  Hubby is doing well and I am doing okay now too.  Things could have been so much worse.  Since he didn't have a major heart attack the healing process will be a little easier this time. 

 

I am so very tired.  I think I am going to go crawl in my nice warm bed.  Know that I will be thanking God for SO many things.  So many things.  Thanks again for always being there for me!!  I will try to visit when I can.  Take care my friends!

 

BBB

I thought I would just post a quick update.  We were still without power as of lunchtime when I went home.  I brought my weimie to work with me.  I just didn't have the heart to leave her in the house.  It is FREEZING in there!!  Hubby decided we would sleep in the house not the trailer last night.  It made getting up this morning just downright painful becuase it was so freaking cold.  One good thing....with the fridge and freezer up and running in the trailer, we lost a lot less food than we would have.  At lunch today I handwashed the dirty dishes, washed my hair and headed back to work to eat here.  I also blew my hair dry here in my office with NO mirror.  I probably look like an idiot....but at least it is clean and blown dry.  The dog has laid under my desk all day and been so good.  I am sure she is just happy to be warm. 

 

I saw TWO Public Service Co. trucks LEAVING my area to go elsewhere on my way back to the office.  I wanted to just hijack them and ask WHY every upscale neighborhood AROUND us has power....and we still have NONE!!  Oh well.  So I have yet another cold crappy evening to look forward to.  Oh...and I had already scheduled to take two days of vacation....tomorrow and Friday.  I won't be hanging out at home.  That's for sure.  I may just go MOVE IN at the nearest mall.

 

I will post more when I can.  Thanks for your prayers and good wishes my friends!!  I just keep telling myself....this too shall pass AND there are people in a LOT worse shape than me and my hubby.

 

Take care all!

 

BBB

Can't stay on here long.  I have not worked at all until today.  May I just say it is horrible here.  It looks like a war zone.  We have been without power since about 5 a.m. yesterday.  The damage is so great that they are estimating 7-10 days before we have power again in my little 4 street neighborhood.  I can look across a ravine in my back yard and my neighbors have lights.  Theirs were the LAST TO go and the first to come back on.  I am at my wit's end already.  My Daddy's assisted living center is a couple of blocks away and THEY were without power so I went and got him.  At least I can cook on my gas cooktop.  We played marathon games of dominoes yesterday, bundeled ourselves up in layers and listened to the sounds of huge tree limbs in ours and neighboring yards crack then crash with the weight of the ice.  My sister in OKC area is on her way to get Daddy.  They have power.  My other sister in Tulsa has power, but has her daughter and 3 grandchildren with her in a 1 bedroom apt.  So, we are moving into our travel trailer until we get power back on.  It has central heat and can run on a car battery and propane.  Oh yeah.  Now we are amongst the bazillions scrambling for propane.  Luckily my neighbor here at the office has several partial bottles he has offered to bring me.   God bless his heart!!

 

All I can say is, things are really really bad here.  Please pray for us.  One thing though, everyone is watching out for their neighbors and lending a hand where they can.  So, while it is an awful situation, the way everyone is helping each other is heartening.

 

I may not be back for a while.  Till then....take care and keep us Okies in your prayers!

 

BBB

Well I shall  start out with the good.  I got my Christmas bonus today!!  WOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!  Yipppppeeee!!!  I am doin' the HAPPY dance.  Now I can get my Christmas shopping done.  Did I say.....WOOOOFREAKINHOOOOOO???  My boss is just the absolute best.  I have worked for him for so long and he is someone I admire and respect so very much.  He is just a really fine person.  He's the one who gave me my check.  I told him how very much I  appreciated it.

 

Now, for the not so good.  I am having to work in our other office.  Today through Friday.  It is NOT among my favorite things to do.  I just HATE the drive there.  This morning I missed EVERY stupid stop light between my home and that office.  Can I just say that is a lot of stop lights?  And tonight, instead of a 5 minute drive home, it took almost a whole friggin' hour!!!!  Aaarrrrrgggghhhhhh!!  I had to do courthouse run and about froze my buns off too.  Oh well.  This too shall pass!!  I love working for my boss.  But I love working in MY office.  All by my lonesome.  I am just NOT used to working around a bunch of people any more. 

 

Tomorrow is the first of my Christmas parties to attend.  This is usually a pretty nice one with lots of good food and drink and good people to visit with.  I never have found me a new outfit.  Dingdurn it!  I had thought I would go tonight after dinner, but I was just too tired.  One of the GOOD things today was that I got home and hubby had made a wonderful dinner.  Meatloaf, baked potatoes and creamed corn.  Can you say YUMMMY??  He's  such a sweet heart and a really good cook to boot!!  So, since he cooked, I cleaned up.  I think that is only fair.

 

I am going to call the friend who has our puppy and see if I can go by this weekend and see her and maybe get her picture.  I really want to get a pic posted so you can see how adorable she is!!  And hubby hasn't seen her yet either.  I think we are definitely going with Lillith for her name.  No nicknames though.  I like the whole name.  That's just me though. 

 

I hope everyone has made it by to visit Omaha Mama's space to say hi.  She and her family are fine, but her sister had a really bad experience of her own today.  Go by and wish O. M. well and tell her how glad you are that she's okay!!  I know each of you will be praying for those in Omaha who lost loved ones today.  I know I will be. 

 

Well, folks, that's all for now.  Ya'll take care!!

 

BBB

I guess we are getting Lucie's little half sister Shitzu puppy.   Hubby said I could have her.  She is only a week old now, so we won't be getting her till after the first of the eyear I'm sure.  She's gotta be old enough to leave her Mommy.  So now we are trying to come up with names.  The leader so far is Lillith.  I loved the show Frasier and Lillith was one of my favorite characters on that show.  Anywho.  Anyone out there have any suggestions for a good name for a little fluff ball of a baby girl puppy?  I will try to get some pics of her ASAP and get them on here so you can see her.  She is black and white with that cute little smashed in kinda face.  Can't wait to get her!!  Hubby thinks our Weimie will be just fine with her.  She does really well with Lucie.  And we will pen up our little offender out in the back yard when we need to.  I just can't take a chance she will be aggressive to the puppy.

 

It is cold and windy here today.  Daddy and I went out to the cemetery and decorated Momma's grave with some really pretty seasonal flowers.  I also bought a little bell with a Cardinal on it and put it on there.  Momma LOVED cardinals and collected them in every shape form and fashion.  So it was only fitting that she had one on her flowers.  The bell was tinkling in the wind as we walked away. 

 

Hubby is  putting up sheet rock in the kitchen.  We shall be starting the new cabinetry soon.  Yay!!  I really AM going to have a new kitchen.  I canNOT wait!! 

 

I really need to get my Christmas stuff out....but I just can't seem to get myself to do it.  I did get Daddy's up at his little place and he is happy with them.  I really am wanting a little scraggly "Charlie Brown" tree.  Don't know why.  You know...just one of those trees that only good ole Charlie could love?  I will probably just go with my small tree though.  I have a HUGE tree we bought when we got this house.  You see, I had a front picture window for the first time ever.  Well, that picture window is now taken up with hubby's desk....as we have turned it into the "home office".  So, the BIG tree stays in the attic.  Maybe next year we will have room for it.  I am not in the mood to mess with it this year anyway.  I want my Charlie Brown tree.  We shall see.

 

My cold is on the way out.  Thank goodness!!  This  is NO time to be sick.  Too many parties and such. 

 

 

Well friends, take care and have a great week!!

 

BBB