Neglect

Neglect. Well, that sums up my life since I last posted...over a month ago:/ I neglected to acknowledge my 300th post (this is number 302), I've neglected the house and the laundry, I've neglected my dog (who needs a good brushing), I've neglected to make a Christmas list, much less begin Christmas shopping, and I've neglected my need for sleep. Oh, and did I mention that I've neglected to worry about ANY of these things? Talk about feeling out of sorts...

There ARE some things that I HAVE done...I've cut my hair, I've started a new job and I've packed my lunch every. single. day. Hmmmmm, not sure who is even reading at this point, but I'm going to make an earnest effort to get this blog up and going again. I'd hate to be banned from Blog Fest because, well, I no longer appear to be a bonafide blogger!!

Snow White comes home from college Tuesday. She will be home for almost a month. I'm hoping to become reacquainted with my daughter, as well as my groove, during the next few weeks. Any words of wisdom you wish to share would be greatly appreciated. Most days, I'm not sure whether I'm coming or going. One thing of which I am sure is that I am thankful to all of you for your ongoing support. I don't know where I'd be without you in my life!

I'm going to get up out of my pity pile now. Putting on the big girl panties, and moving right along!!! Please send the Christmas Spirit my way...I need a few moments of His time:)

For The Wordies: Part I

With credit to my Uncle R for sending this to me, and to Sandra L for sending it to him....ENJOY!

"For all you word-smithees.

The Washington Post's Mensa Invitational once again invited readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition.

Here are the winners:

1. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period of time.

2. Ignoranus: A person who's both stupid and an a$$hole.

3. Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.

4. Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly.

5. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.

6. Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.

7. Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.

8. Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.

9. Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)

10. Karmageddon: It's like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And the, like, the Earth explodes and it's like, a serious bummer.

11. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.

12. Glibido: All talk and no action.

13. Dopeler Effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.

14. Aracnoleptic Fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.

15. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.

16. Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you're eating."


Which one of these is your favorite? I'll post Part II tomorrow!

A Birthday Wish

My fabulous friend, Noe Noe Girl, is celebrating her birthday today! I want her to know how happy I am to have her in my life. She makes me laugh, she lends an ear when I need one to bend, and she is the one who is responsible for my wonky teeth fetish! What more could you ask from a friend?!

Happy Birthday, Noe! Love you BUNCHES:)

Tuesday Tid-Bits

**Snow White called today and we talked for 45 minutes. She will be home in six weeks, and I doubt there will be time to sleep....too much catching up to do!

**I'm beginning to organize my menu for our Day-After-Thanksgiving Celebration. Besides turkey, what is your favorite holiday dish?

**Yesterday evening I went out into the yard and picked up a large ziplock bag full of acorns. I plan to incorporate them into my holiday decorations this year. Move over, Martha, BHE is in town!!

**Well, ladies, it seems that our girl, Krystal Ball, is as much a fan of hijinx as the rest of the Blisters!

**There is a dead baby copperhead in my driveway. We believe our cat is responsible. She is being given extra treats this week:)

**Just say "yes" to tortellini with andouie sausage:)

**My sweet dog is not feeling well. Please keep him in your prayers, positive thoughts, good vibes or whatever it is that applies. He's almost 13, and a Mama worries:/

**Favorite summer memory? GO!

Tuesday Tid-Bits

* I've begun to realize that this blog has been inspired mostly by my daughter. Now that she is away at college, I really don't have much to write about. Sad. But true. I am, however, working on getting a life!

* We attended a funeral yesterday. Why is it that it takes a wedding or a funeral to bring certain groups of people together? Let's all promise to stay in touch with those who are important in our lives. UmK?

* It was 42 degrees at home this morning. Brrr! I'm a summer gal, but, in all honesty, I do enjoy a nice warm sweater:)

* The beautiful hummingbirds graced us with their presence from the first of May to the first of October....longest season ever! I hope it's a new trend:)

* Our pool will officially be closed on October 13. I consider that to be the beginning of the holiday season! (51 days until Thanksgiving, 81 days until Christmas)

* Our church will honor its 168th year with a Homecoming celebration this Sunday. It's humbling to be a small part of something that has served our community for so long.

* I helped cater a wedding last Saturday. The wedding was held at a local church, and the reception was at the bride's family farm. As the afternoon wore on, I noticed that no one was dancing. It was only when I went out to begin clearing the tables that I realized WHY no one was dancing.....they were all playing cornhole!! Bwahahahaha!!

* Tuesdays really aren't so bad:) Enjoy!

Fly Away Home

It's not uncommon to see dragonflies skim across the top of our pool in the summer. However, it IS uncommon to see a dragonfly on steroids the size of a BIRD attempt to skim the top of our pool. Yep. Didn't go so well for him.

I heard the kerplunk, looked over and saw the wake ripples in the water, and just KNEW something was in trouble over there. Imagine my surprise when I found this guy floating around! It was pitiful to see him struggling so hard to fly out of the pool, so I grabbed the net and rescued him. After gently setting him down, I ran to get my camera and prayed that he wouldn't fly away before I could get a few photos!

He cooperated. I only wish I had put a ruler beside him so you could get a better idea of how FREAKISHLY LARGE he was! The big guy eventually flew away home.

I hope he comes back to visit once in a while:)

Click here to learn more about dragonfly symbolism.

You'll be glad you did!

Cotton's High

Last Saturday, I was on my way to help cater a wedding when I came across an absolute sea of cotton. (For those of you who are familiar with King & Queen County, these shots were taken down Chain Ferry Road.) As I drove down the narrow road with no centerline, I was overcome with the beauty of those cotton fields. Only a panoramic camera would be capable of capturing the vastness. While my photos don't do it justice, I hope you will enjoy a little glimpse of greatness!

And now I will leave you with a little tune to hum. It's one of my favorites from Porgy and Bess.

"Summertime"

Summertime,

And the livin' is easy

Fish are jumpin'

And the cotton is high

Your daddy's rich

And your mamma's good lookin'

So hush little baby

Don't you cry

One of these mornings

You're going to rise up singing

Then you'll spread your wings

And you'll take to the sky

But till that morning

There a'nothing can harm you

With daddy and mamma standing by

Summertime,

And the livin' is easy

Fish are jumpin'

And the cotton is high

Your daddy's rich

And your mamma's good lookin'

So hush little baby

Don't you cry

Road Trip - Savannah

The last stop on the Griswold Family Vacation trip was Savannah, Georgia. What a beautiful city! We spent what little time we had there in a wine shop chatting with the owner admiring the charm and beauty around us.

From the waterfront...

To the City Market...

To downtown...

We enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere...

The exercise...

And the laughter...

We also enjoyed the Dominos pizza we had delivered the first night.

Yeah.

Just keeping it real!

Road Trip - New Orleans

WHO DAT? DAT's WHO!

N'awlins was the next stop on our little 3,400 mile road trip. There's magic in the air, I tell ya! Or, perhaps, it's voodoo?! Little shops and museums like this were tucked all over the French Quarter.

The trolley gave us a much needed break from two days of walking, and it was a lot of fun! AND it only cost a buck twenty five...BONUS!!

Hitching posts lined the sidewalks, but I never saw a horse tied to one. A couple of drunks, maybe, but never a horse!

Bourbon Street was fun. For about two hours. After that, I was more than ready to explore the less populated areas!




This terrace was too beautiful to leave unphotographed...

It looked as if these folks were expecting to see many, many breasts later that evening. I picked beads up off of the ground and didn't have to show a thing. I'm sure the revelers on the balcony were as pleased as I was about THAT!

We saw the Saints' number one fan!

And signs, signs, everywhere there were signs...

I cannot wait to return to this fabulous city! Their stories are sad, and many, but their hearts are open and their food is over the top!

Boudin, anyone?

Road Trip - Texas

Welcome to Texas!

Home of the elusive, yet ever-lovely, bucket-stealing Grandma J!

Where husbands wither in the ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEEN degree heat!

Where sad parents drop their daughter off to pursue her dreams.

Where blog friends meet for the very first time!!

Hi, Krissa!! SQUEEEEEEE!!!

Where couples enjoy ferry rides.

Only in the beautiful state of Texas;)

GO COWBOYS!

Road Trip - Pensacola Beach

It's been almost three weeks since I have posted, and WHAT a three weeks it's been! We had a little family beach vacation, dropped our daughter off at college, visited blog friends, and ate our way across the country and back trekked through nine states! WHEW! As much as I enjoyed that 3400 mile trip, it sure is nice to be home:)

Today's post is dedicated to our beach trip. Our family has enjoyed vacationing at the beach since SW was a baby. It seemed only fitting that we hit the beach one last time before she headed off to school!

The beach was WONDERFUL, but, judging by the pictures I took, the food must have been our main focus!!!

Anybody hungry??!!

The beautiful white sand beach was a real treat! My dad told me that it would look like sugar, and it certainly did!

A BP cleanup crew was working a ways down the beach. I'm not sure exactly what they were cleaning up, but goggles and handwipes were available at every boardwalk. The water was clear, dolphins were swimming AND schools of little fish were jumping all around the area where CB and SW were wading in the water.

The day got a bit stormy, but we were not deterred from enjoying our time outdoors!

This photo was taken our last evening before departing for Texas. I LOVE this pic of my two faves;)

Look for the Texas post coming later in the week. Missed you guys!

Packing

Well, we've hit mid-week, and packing is progressing slowly. We have, however, successfully purchased a laptop and a net book, and have crossed numerous other items off of our collective to-do lists. Now, if we could JUST find out about Snow White's room assignment! GAH!

SW has been extremely organized, and there are only a dozen items remaining on her "needs" list. One more trip to Target, and we should be done spending so much freakin' money shopping for school.

The family room is a disaster. I'm confident it will get worse before it gets better!!

Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock...