Boonie Chick in Texas

How do you know you are a comedian…?

2010-06-13T16:49:00.000-05:00

I always tease my youngest son that he should grow up to be a comedian. I originally started saying this only because he was the funniest in our family. But as time went on, he was “really funny”. He has this way with facial expressions and one liners that just crack’s me up. Maybe he can’t be a comedian for a living… but could be a great second job and have lots of fun doing it. I know I would go watch him with an extra pair of depends.

So a couple of months ago, he made this facial expression like Jim Carey did in the movie The Mask… you know the one when he says “Smok’n” and he points his chin out, dropping his jaw with a smile. Well I nearly fell out of my chair… perfect impression. I guess I made too big of deal because he won’t do it for me again.

Last month, I got a new table set for my birthday and was putting together the chairs. Because this is a repeated process, I turned on the TV to keep me company. Well there it was… Ace Ventura… OMG! Jim Carey did a great impersonation of my son. I could not look at the movie without thinking of my very own comedian. The funniest was when my son came downstairs later, I commented that I saw him on TV and he replied “oh, really, did you watch Ace Ventura?” Even he thinks he is funny.

I don’t mind my little comedian keeping me in stitches but I wish he would stop being a comic long enough so I can take a family photograph. Every family picture he is making some funny facial expression or pretending he is asleep. Now he thinks that is funny… me… not so much!!

Here’s laughing at ya’ll !!!

NASCAR Diehards…

2010-04-17T10:40:00.000-05:00

Well I never consider myself a Diehard NASCAR Fan… but I sure love the fun. It was an incredible weekend with family and friends camping at Texas Motor Speedway. Even if you are not into the racing part… you are automatically sucked in to the excitement by just being around the crew. We tell the same stories, have a similar agenda, but it really doesn’t matter because each year a little something is added and the memories keep get better.

I honor my drivers by the sponsor and the number of the car. So I have lots of favorites. I like #2 because it’s the Miller Lite Car, then, #7 Danica Patrick because my favorite number is 7, plus she's a chick!! Then there is Budweiser… cause it is Beer, Crown Royal… cause it’s a cool color & whiskey, Geico… for the “here lizard, lizard, lizard”, Aflac… just because we love making that duck sound, and of course M&Ms… cause who doesn’t like those little chocolate guys!!

Well this year was definitely the year of rain… both Saturday and Sunday’s race got rained out and proposed to Monday. A lot of people lost money on their tickets including us. It spoiled the “big” fun but we still had fun. Saturday afternoon while waiting for the rain to clear we played “Redneck Horseshoes”. Yup, medal hockey sticks as the stakes and commercial grade toilet seats as the shoes. Absolutely hilarious!!! We even gain spectator traffic. The champions where of course Marc and I!! This was one of many events that entertained us. Then you can’t forget the food… food… and more food!

Another great year, thanks ya’ll… can’t wait to do it again!! But next year, I am buying myself some rubber boots.

It's All Fun and Games Until Someone Gets Annoying

2010-03-20T11:04:00.000-05:00

All my boyz have the ability to make others laugh. I tried to instill in them to laugh at themselves and find humor in life. We are known to do practical jokes and scare the bajeebers on each other.

My youngest is scared to go into the ally to take the garbage out. So he has to do it early in the evening to avoid this certain fate. So one evening he forgot to take out the trash and we was stuck having to do it at dusk. We convinced him that there was nothing in the ally to hurt him and he needed to do his chore. So off he tromped, out the garage door and down the driveway to the edge of the ally. In the meantime, I darted out the front door and around the house to the back. He was still at the garbage cans. Apparently he put the recycle bag in the garbage can and hand to fish it out. This was taking extra time… in the dark. Then he swiftly walks back to the garage and as he took the first step inside the garage, I jumped out from around the house growling. All I saw was him drop behind my car. By the time I got to him, I was laughing so hard that I could barely speak. It was hilarious, to me… but not for him, he was pretty upset with me, but it was worth it. I wanted to console him but I couldn’t stop laughing. He was very annoyed with me and walked back into the house. Lesson learned… now, he manages to get the trash out early and we still tease him.

Then, my middle son’s phobia of spiders. He absolutely screams like crazy and runs with no directional knowledge. One day in the kitchen, he saw a spider on the floor; he jumped so high, he almost hit the ceiling. Then, I went to look for the spider and it was so small that I could barely see it, so I pretended to pick it up as I motioned to throw it at him. Needless to say, he was gone, running, and screaming, leaving us laughing until our bellies hurt.

Now my oldest, is a little harder to scare. You can do the old “Boo” from around the corner but you better duck, he is known to swing his arms. He has more fun laughing at me scare the others.

As far as Ray, I like to run up to the door of the room he is exiting in the dark, and growl. He just jumps back and howls a little, but still scared. I like the power you feel.

Now as for me, I don’t scare easily, but I get startled. I do have to say, my girlfriend at work got me good in the parking garage at 8:00 o’clock in the morning. I was getting my things out of the back seat of my car like I do every day and someone approached me then pointed something in my back. I screamed like a baby, as I quickly turned around to see her giggling. What a rush, she got me good, my adrenaline was pumping. I guess for all my scares I do… this is how “pay it forward” works.

I love my family… we got a sense of humor… LMAO!

My Haunted House Experience…

2010-02-22T23:29:00.006-06:00

Nested in the heart of San Antonio is the Victoria’s Black Swan Inn. It is 35 acres of lawns, gardens, cottages, barns, gazebos and woodlands. It sits along side the Salado Creek where the Battle of Salado occurred in 1842. This southern mansion was built in 1867 and was home to some of the most prestigious people of San Antonio’s history.

Victoria’s Black Swan Inn is also known to be one of the most haunted inns in the area. The original owners, a German immigrant by the name of Heinrich, are known to still roam the dairy barn. As well as, the prominent attorney who was found dead with his hands bind to his back and ruled a suicide. This battle was a bloody massacre leaving 100’s dead, many Texas army men, countless Mexican and Cherokee soldiers as part of the battle for the Republic of Texas.

There have been plenty of unexplained phenomena, including lights turning on and off, sightings, cold spots, music playing, doors locking or unlocking on their own.

Even during the day it was dark and creepy, the house is hidden by a mass of 100 year old oak and pecan trees which makes it hard to see from the road. We drove slowly up to the Inn and got a feeling we where living a horror movie. The place looked deserted, and there was an eerie quietness while I walked the grounds.

This is a great place for amateur ghost hunters to practice their craft. We are here with The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS ParaLab) Beyond Reality Events who is holding a Paranormal Boot Camp at the Inn. They conducted a class session with a hands-on investigation. In the class we learned about the equipment, theories, experiences and the scientific explanation. The class was very informative and the team was quite funny with their stories.

We had no idea what we where about to experience. As we broke up into teams we separated into different areas of the property. We first went into the dairy barn, where they experienced things being thrown and people being pushed. Then off to the main house, where music is heard, doors open and close. Unfortunately, it started to rain, so we where unable to go to the gazebo where soldiers have appeared. So, they sent us back to the dairy barn. For our final location we went to the cottage where it was originally a slaughter house.

I experienced something in every location. From hearing the voices using the enhanced recording and playback equipment, to a sickness feeling, to the music playing and the door opening & closing on demand.

When I sat on the sofa in the cottage, an incredible sensation came over me that I was going to be sick, but when I stood up and walked to the other side of the room the feeling stopped. Maybe it was just the old smells, animal urine, mold and wood rot. In the main house, the sound of music playing happened at least three times. Everyone in the group of 20 people heard it at least twice and we all confirmed it wasn’t our cell phones ringing. Creepy! Then as we sat in the ballroom, someone asked the spirit to open the door. The door did not have a doorknob on the outside of the building and it only locked from the inside. They asked about three times and on command the door opened partially ever so slowly. Then they asked to close the door and with the same effort the door closed. I quickly got up to investigate the door and I knew the back and side doors where open. It could have been easily the wind or draft pulling the door or maybe not.

In the famous closet where the owner of the house continuously kept getting scared and the door locking on its own, I sat quietly waiting for some experience. As I sat there with my eyes open, I thought to myself, do I really want to experience this… what if something appeared in front of me. I waited about five minutes and got out, the closest gave me the creeps. I decided, I would leave this experience to someone else.

The most incredible experience was in the dairy barn. The TAPS Paralab had their equipment that would enhance the volume of any EVPs so you could hear it easier. As well as an ultraviolet camera to capture any images. It wasn’t more than 5-10 minutes when things began to happen. I am in the room with 20+ people who all shared this with me. The link below is the sounds of Sophia, who is a 14 year old girl, who constantly plays tricks on the owner in mischievous ways. I am sitting right in front of Andy who has the voice magnifier and Michelle is on my left who is asking the questions. There is high static on the clip because this is the energy in the room. If you turn up your volume and try to ignore the static you will hear the voice of a little girl who giggles and answers all Michelle’s questions. You may have to listen a couple of times so you can learn how to hear over the static. Sophia Talking

This is only one of many voices we experienced. As I get the other EVPs I will upload under my links section of my blog. As you can hear, we laugh with the responses of the giggling, with no fear, totally comfortable and participate as if it’s a conversation amongst friends. We also heard, Don, Steve, and Tobias Samson.

Believe it or not, but it was awesome to begin the day with 80 strangers and end the evening at 2:00 am the next day with people who now are your friends who shared something which many people do not get this opportunity.

I had a memorable experience and I was blessed to share it with my good friend Carla. We laughed throughout the day to help calm our nervous from creepiness to the sigh of amazement with every experience. I can cross this off my bucket list… I completed my ghost hunt. Now only time will tell if we brought any home with us… I hope not, my motorcycle only has a solo seat.

Other EVP Recordings:
I'm Here (listen closely at 17-18 secs)
Milk Barn (inaudible sound)

Feb 12... Snow Day… in Texas

2010-02-22T20:17:00.005-06:00

Growing up in Nova Scotia, a snow day was every other day. A snow day in Texas, normally is once a year. Well now we are in day three and the snow is still on the ground. It snowed for 24 hours straight giving us 9 inches in our hometown but 12.5 inches in Dallas. That is a lot of snow for Texas. The kids really like the cancellation of school and the snowball fights with their friends. As parents, I loved the fact that they where outside playing instead of hanging around the video games. The lack of winter attire created a challenge but the boys didn’t seem to mind the cold ankles (no boots) or cold hands (99 cent gloves).

We didn’t make any snowmen or snow forts but we went tobogganing at the golf course. We actually own a sled that we purchase in New Mexico on our family ski trip. This turned out fun… and fast down the hill. Then we had to improvise because there were too many kids for one sled. So we blew up the pool tubes. It worked pretty good, not as fast but just as fun. They beat down the snow to the point of mud.

We ended the day in fun but it didn’t start out that way. We woke up to a little backyard disaster. Our canvas gazebo could not withstand the weight of the snow and came crashing down on all the furniture stored underneath. So with the help of the boyz we managed to clear the gazebo and shake all the snow from the trees. It didn’t take me but a few seconds to remember shoveling snow in Nova Scotia. Glad this only happens once a year in Texas. It was fun while it lasted... yea-ha!

Sense of Humor…

2010-01-25T20:08:00.001-06:00

Do you think you have a sense of humor? Everyone likes to think they do, because otherwise you wouldn’t be any fun to hang with. You can ask anyone, I love to play jokes or tease other people. I believe once people are able to relax, you become more creative and able to solve problems easier. Laughter is the perfect medicine for stress. Share your embarrassment with other and laugh at yourself. Especially pay attention to children as they take life lightly.

My oldest wonders where do I come up with this stuff… because my mind is always working and I seem to never rest. I am always on guard for a good ‘zinger’ to disarm my focus into laughter. Some call it wit, but I call it being observant to my surroundings looking for the next joke or sarcastic remark.

I believe my two youngest sons; have my ability to ‘zing’. Their humor is similar to mine and always makes me laugh. For example, the other night I text messaged them that supper was ready. Then, in less than 30 seconds the doorbell rang. There they where, huffing and puffing… “Mom, we got the message and ran home”. Impossible, they where at least a 5 min walk away. There attempt at Humor, it was pretty funny… and made me giggle.

My youngest has the funniest facial expressions and when you make fun of him he has this little mutter of “mum, um, mun…(sp?) that he says that you can’t spell but it’s hilarious. Then he has his amazing trick of slamming the back of this right hand to his chest while trying to bit his left ear… LMAO! Try it… then you will know. Oh, we can’t forget how funny it is when he takes the trash out in the dark ally and his parents run round around the house from the other door only to scare the bageebers out of him. It brings tears to my eyes…

Then the middle son, always loving a good laugh when the joke is not on him. It’s pretty funny when you fake a spider just to watch him run for his life. My favorite is jumping around the corner at him and to hear him squeal. It’s getting tougher to do now that he towers over me. He is full of pranks and enjoys laughing with you.

As for my oldest, loves to watch the shenanigans going on around him. I think he just thinks we are all crazy but is happy just to watch the show then participate in the production.

The LeBlanc household is one to experience but you are always guaranteed laughter and fun.

What time is your curfew…?

2010-01-24T11:09:00.001-06:00

If you asked our boyz what time is curfew… you would get the answer: “I don’t know” It is not because they don’t have a curfew, it’s because it depends on what they are doing.

If you Google this topic, “teenage curfews”. Parents you should be surprised… today’s kids generally don’t have a curfew… wtf? Did you hear the news today? The ages of offender, victims, and criminals are getting younger and younger. For example, just recently a 16 yr old boy rolled his truck in a mall parking lot, in the middle of the day and one of the four teens died. Can you imagine what this boy is going to go through for the rest of his life? This young man’s actions affect not only him but those in the vehicle and their families. Apparently he was speeding and lost control. Parents are supposed to protect their children until they are older and wiser to be able to make responsible decisions to avoid major life altering situation. This newscast really scared me on how easy this could happen to anyone. Just educating your teens and constantly telling them the “what ifs” of life. Yes, parents don’t know everything but I do have 25 years more experience than my children!!

Each time the boyz ask to attend an event, to be out late, etc. Us as parents can weight the danger and analyze the risk to ensure they come home safely. For example, to drive across town on a Friday night, threw an area with restaurants or bars between the hours of 11:00 – 1:00 am. The answer would be no…”to drive”. It may not be “no” to the event… but the compromise would be “I’ll drive you”. We just reduced the risk. I can remember as a teenager thinking my Mother was wrong and didn’t understand… but she was right way more than she was wrong.

Children do not have the street smarts, nor the ‘lesson’s learned’ to make these responsible decisions. When do you let them be adults? When they are adults, duh! My boyz all have curfews… yes even the 21 year old. The times vary depending on the activity and the dangers involved. Our house is usually grand central station… which I love. Teenagers are going in and out of the house up to 11 – 12 o’clock at night during the weekend. It doesn’t matter to me, because they know this is a safe environment and I know where my hoodlums are. Trust is an important factor. They do not have to have a 3 am curfew to prove there are trusted. We can have trust anytime during the day… but nothing good ever happens after midnight.

Do you know where you children are?

Christmas 2009… not kids anymore…

2010-01-21T20:03:00.001-06:00

So, here we are, keeping the same traditions as we have for years… Santa lists taped to the refrigerator, making Santa Cookies, hanging Stockings, tracking Christmas Eve with the Advent Bear, Decorating the Tree, Singing Silent Night & Happy Birthday at the Nativity Scene on Christmas Eve…

It’s a little different now that they are not kids anymore. Trying to keep the traditions fresh in their minds so they can carry them on to their families. I am amazed every year how they remember things. So the tree decorating day turns in to a day of memories, of who gave which ornament to whom, early school days crafts, vacations we have taken, people in their past lives, and the constant nagging that “Mom” has too many things to hang on the tree. Hey, what can I tell you…I love my Christmas tree or Memory Tree.

I told them this year, it’s up to them. They can be as fast or as slow as they want, it’s all up to them. So, they started with great enthusiasm… then as an hour passed and the giggling amongst themselves over ornaments, I reminded them that they are dilly dallying. So after two or more hours, it didn’t matter how much time it took, they where having fun and they didn’t seem to mind how much time it was taking to decorate the tree. We do have a new tradition that started a couple of years ago, but this year we made it official. Our middle son traditionally falls asleep while hanging ornaments and the others devilishly pile tissue paper and pillows over him. Actually, it’s pretty funny and we got the pictures.

My favorite two things of our Christmas traditions are making and baking of our famous Egg Nog cookies for Santa. Everyone is involved and it’s a great family time. My second is the running, throwing, and jumping in the Christmas paper pile on Christmas Day. This year was a little more difficult since they are all getting so tall. Still, we managed not to break anything or anyone.

It was a great family Christmas, but they are not kids anymore but they will always be their Mothers pride and joy… my little boyz.

Stop Time... I need to catch up on my blogging...

2009-12-23T07:29:00.003-06:00

Well it’s been too long since I last blogged… so, I guess I will need to put it on my calendar as a task so I don’t miss so much time again. A lot has happened since September 6th, so I am going to stop the clock and backup time.

Well to start, September was a busy month. Ray & I were busy planning for the High Seas Rally Cruise and school was just getting started. The boyz were trying to find there place, with new teachers and lesson plans. I think they are surprised that it is getting harder or that marks matter. We imposed a new school grade reward contract. It was not complicated but if certain levels where not met, the reward was not favorable. Of course, computer time and video gaming was the reward for good marks. We also added if they exceed expectations there was other rewards, so that minimum should not be your goal. Since the school system works on a decimal system, I had too as well. Yes, that means 84.6% does not mean 85.00%... if you didn’t get 85%, then you missed your target. Our school systems has an on-line daily tracker of grades, assignments, tests and attendance. It is a great tool for the parents to keep on top of their kiddos before it’s too late. So if the boyz missed their target, rewards where removed and they scrambled to get their marks where they should be and with the aid of technology we can change there status daily. The new contract is working for us and I am sure the boys will thank us later in life. So, school is off to a good start and we are settling into a routine. Life is good!

How early SHOULD you drive a car?

2009-09-06T16:02:00.003-05:00

In my life growing up, getting a drivers license before you had a car was not a priority. We were in no rush until you turned sixteen. I was almost seventeen before I even went for my test and after my seventeenth birthday before I got my license. In my day, there was no such thing as graduated driver license program like there is now. The day you got your license, you could pile your friends in the car, unbelted, after midnight, with packs of smokes, and head to the bootleggers for some liquid beverages. Now I didn’t do that, it’s just an example… but I could have. My parents had no opinion about me having my license or not, it was understood that I would not have access to the family vehicle. Then for the next year or so, didn’t drive very often. When I did, it was a friend’s car or my sister’s car. It wasn’t common for parents to purchase a car for their teenager; you had to work to get your own. So, because I didn’t have enough money to buy a car, at the age of nineteen, I got my motorcycle license and bought a bike. It wasn’t until I was about twenty-three did I buy my first car. It was a used 1984 Toyota Corolla SR5, hatchback sport coupe. It was a sports car with popup headlights and I thought it was awesome.

So, my question is “How early should you drive a car?” Legally you can start driving at fifteen years old but should you? My oldest started the driver’s course when he was sixteen and never got his license until he was seventeen. Now my middle son started just after his sixteenth birthday and had his license for a while but really doesn’t have a need to drive on his own. Except of course, him wanting to cruise around town… not! He gets driven or walks to work, bused to school, and most of his friends are in walking distance. So, where is the need to drive?

Now, its son #3, he wants his license today… but he is only fifteen. I don’t see the need to drive so early. He has two brothers that can drive him were he needs to go, doesn’t have a job and can take the bus to school. Plus, the laws changed so upon the time he gets his learners permit, he is automatically on my car insurance. So, do I pay the high cost of insurance on a driver that will only drive a couple hours a month? Do I get another junker car for them to share? Or do I just say, “not now” and try to encourage him to resist the extra responsibility or until he gets older with a job? Questions… questions… questions…

Why are kids in such a rush to grow up? Could it be they don’t want to be told what to do anymore? Could it be they want to do whatever they want? Could it be they want to go anywhere they want to go? Could it be they have no choice because society is demanding them to mature before they are ready? It could be any one of these reasons or many other explanations. So, the question remains: How do we keep our kids from wanting to grow up to fast?

Summer is Over… School has begun

2009-09-06T09:27:00.006-05:00

I had several friends with little ones who were starting school for the first time. It was exciting to watch them go through the emotions and preparations. Now for me, the oldest is still in college, so he does his own thing and the other two are still in high school. This is my middle son’s Senior Year, so I was a little sad. In twelve years of his school years I don’t remember feeling emotional with him. He was the middle child, so he never was the one, who triggered the “first” or “last” because there was a brother before and after him. This year was a little different for me. My sophomore and senior accompanied me on the first day of school. I had to go to the high school to drop off some parent paperwork and I was feeling fine. We exited the car and my senior shot me a wave with “see ya, have a good day Mom”. I could feel my heart sink… this five foot, eleven inch tall young man, shuffles off in the other direction of me to meet up with friends. As my sophomore and I walk towards the front door, my senior was lagging behind as more and more friends gather around him. There is no way he will acknowledge me as his Mom.

Meanwhile, my youngest didn’t mind me walking with him into the school. As my son directed me to the area down the hall I needed to go drop off my papers, he said, “bye, Mom” and ran off towards his friends. I walked down the hall to the office to drop off my papers and the attendant looked up at me and said, “Ah Darlene, you have a senior, this is the last year of school for him”. Then it hit me, my middle son now had his “first” and “last” moment… today was his "last first day of school". I couldn’t speak, I was afraid if I made any movement the tears would start flowing. She continued to look over the paperwork making sure everything was in order. I thanked for her time and wished her a great day and turned towards the door. I could see all these kids racing pass the door to meet up with friends they haven’t seen all summer long. Now, my biggest worry of the moment… to see one of my boys. Please, God, let me make to the parking lot before I become a blubbering idiot. I stepped into the hall and I can hear the giggles of excitement amongst the kids. I made my way down the hall, trying not to focus on anyone’s face. One part of me wanted to recognize one of the faces as my boys so I can wave one more time and then the other part was hoping I wouldn’t with the fear they wouldn’t wave back because it was un-cool.

I made it to the front door but it was jammed with kids trying to get in. I finally made it through the crowd and headed across the parking lot. As I made it to the car, I looked back and silently wished my boys an awesome day and school year, then the tears start rolling down my cheek. This was an incredible day in the “Memories of Mom”, it was an awesome “last first” moment in my book of life.

High School – Senior Year

2009-06-24T17:36:00.003-05:00

Well, our second son is now officially a High School Senior. The other day he went to his photo session to have his yearbook, grad cap & gown, and contemporary portrait taken. What a memorial event. I thought our son would have a hard time with this process because he is not always keen on having his picture taken. Then you add formality into the mix… oh no!! So, I was pleasantly surprised. He picked out his two outfits that he wanted to wear for the casual photos. Yes, I said it correctly… Outfits… they take 14 photos in total. We were busy getting ready, showering, fixing hair, ironing shirts, borrowing ties and shinning shoes. Then, I read the instructions again… “Props”… he could bring props? I thought about it and he is not in any school sports or ivy league stuff… what could he use for his props. Could it be a picture of him sitting at the computer gaming, skateboarding down the street, hoodie pulled over his head shuffling, or asleep. Gnaw, that didn’t make sense, all those things he does at home, so what is he known for at school. Hummmm!

I got it… “Him and his iPod”. A picture of him sitting there with those white headphones dangling out of his ears as he rocks to the music. This is how he spends his time traveling to and from school… as he drags his heels up the sidewalk jamming! The photographer was pretty excited about the picture suggestion. It’s not a normal prop used for high school senior photos. I am sure the photographer felt a little creative as he remember the symbolic commercial of U2 that made those white wires famous and an instant recognition of product.

Senior photos… the boy is growing up!

Love Is… Summer Vacations!

2009-06-17T22:26:00.004-05:00

Sitting here thinking about what it was like when I was a kid. I couldn’t wait until summer vacation, knowing schools out and spending time with my friends. I grew up on the Atlantic coast so swimming and water sports were a big part of my summer fun. We couldn’t go swimming in the ocean until the end of June, actually we would take our native dive the long weekend in May and we quickly remembered that we need to wait until the water and air temperature was a little warmer. Average air temp in Nova Scotia in May is 60 F and the water is not any warmer…. Brrrrr!

So, I spent my days according to the high tide schedules. We would coordinate our day with the time of the tide and swim until the water turned. So sometime this would leave the morning open. Today, this differs for my boyz, but my house as a child; sleeping in was not a normal occurrence. You got woken by the noise of the daily house activities. My father worked shift work and my Mom was a domestic goddess, so there was no 8 to 5 in our house. It was easier to get up and do something with the day.

First you would contact your girlfriends and find out what was going on. If swimming schedule was for the afternoon, then we would try to get enough coins to head to the penny store. Sometimes we would walk the main road and look for lost money and if you found a quarter… you just won the kid-lotto and you had money for everyone. When I was young both of my parents smoked cigarettes; my Dad his whole life until I was a teenager and my Mom started in her forties until she was in her seventies. Then, all my siblings and in-laws smoked. My Dad also smoked the pipe and chewed bar tobacco (not snuff). So because I was so young my family would buy me Candy Cigarettes. Can you imagine this as a role model but it was very accepted during the time. I even bought the “candy sticks” (current name) for my kids when they where little just cause it was a fun memory for me. Each package contained ten white candy sticks with red tips. I sat after dinner and eat my cigarette with my family. Then we had the licorice cigars, I didn’t eat them because I don’t like licorice. Then you can’t forget the Cracker Jacks when it had a real prize worth digging for!

We would hope that the tide water wasn’t high early on a Saturday mornings. You couldn’t miss Saturday morning cartoons. This was the time I would curl up on the “couch” in front of our 12 inch black and white TV with 2 channels (CBC & CTV - no cable in the country). I would look forward to Casper the Friendly Ghost, Bug Bunny & Road Runner Hour, Quick Draw McGraw, Jetsons, Yogi’s Gang, Woody Woodpecker, Pink Panther, Gumby & Pokey, and my favorite H. R. Pufnstuf. Then, we all loved Scooby-Doo & Shaggy in that Mystery Machine Van, who ran around solving mysteries. So, what was in those Scoobie Snacks that made them see ghosts and monsters, as well as a talking dog. As I grew older I had a different understanding for these snacks where actually a metaphor for cannabis. As a child, I didn’t have a clue and actually Bugs Bunny & Road Runner was pretty violent if you really analyze it. To me, it was great animated fun and imagination.

As the youngest of three girls, I got all the Barbie hand-me-downs. I did like playing Barbies but my favorite doll was the Flatsys Doll made by Ideal. They where made of a soft vinyl with wires inside the limbs, neck and body so that it can be posed. Another great metaphor for children. What would it be today? Realistic Teenage Barbie ...complete with flat chest, braces and acne; pull her string and hear an outpouring of sassy, bratty phrases. Or, CyberBarbie... complete with sports car, iPhone and impants. My favorite toy was to irritate my parents with the Klick-Klacks or Clackers. It was two hard balls on a string with a ring in the middle. The point was to get the two balls swinging back and forth against each other. It was hard to get started but after you mastered it and got fastest the louder the noise which drove my family crazy. It was common to get hurt or hurt others walking by and eventually taken off the market.

I use to enjoy sitting and drawing the “Love Is…” comic strip. I drew, so many of these cartoons which I couldn’t tell you how many. As an adult, I realized that these characters are naked; you know definitely which are the boy and girl. As a child, I didn’t think anything of it. I remember being curious why the man would change hair color from straight black to curly blonde and sometimes have a mustache.

Then of course, we can’t forget the 8 Bit Atari gaming system. The three major players during my childhood were Apple, Atari and Commodore. My brother was the first one to own one. He had the Atari Pong… Wow!! It was a two dimensional game that simulated table tennis. You had a controller paddle to move the ball back and forth across the screen with a pong sound and try to score. You could play solo or against another player. I can’t tell you that I played it for hours but I was fascinated by the game and loved the funny sound it made when it hit the ball back.

So, back to summer vacation… my school break activities is completely different than our house today. They still hang with their buds but running down the street to knock on their door of their friends house to find out what the day will changed to text messaging “waz up?”. Plus, getting up early has been replaced with staying up late and sleeping in to noon. I am sure my boyz are having just as much fun as I did… but differently.

“Love Is… what makes life come alive”

Friendships

2009-06-14T12:32:00.003-05:00

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you", known as the "golden rule. In my family we where all brought up learning the golden rule. I had a wooden ruler during grade school that had the rule engraved on it. The golden rule is usually associated with Christianity even though it was a code of behavior that many religions adopted. On the surface, it seems like a good principal to live by; after all, why treat anyone in a way that you wouldn’t want to be treated.

As I got older and experienced different personalities, I found the rule didn’t completely apply to all. It depended on how others interpreted it. So let’s break down the phrase. The rule states that you should treat others the way you want to be treated. For this to be successful, it would require everyone to be the same. I know the way I want to be treated is not the same as my friends do.

Instead of “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” let’s try “Do unto others as they would do unto themselves.” In other words, treat people the way they want to be treated, not the way you would want to be treated. I believe that we have the responsibility to “educate” our friends and family about how we want to be treated. If you don’t like the way people are treating you, then you have to do something about it. They do have your best interests at heart, so they should be receptive. It is also our responsibility to ask others how they want to be treated by us. So, I modified my rule to state: “Do unto others as THEY want to be treated”.

I am open to criticism. Those who know me well can stop laughing and others, don’t listen to them. I do encourage my friends to be honest and express your feelings. Well, I may not always like what people say but I do want to hear it. How can we grow and become a better friend if we don’t know what doesn’t work. It is also a learning process to understand more about the people you share your lives with. I am a woman of strong opinions but I am also a human being that needs to understand others. I know my ability to speak without thinking gets me in trouble and sometimes I am too honest. I do know a Friend is someone who knows all about you and loves you anyway! The only way to have a friend is to be one.

We are truly blessed with those in my life. We are honored to have people who care and give their heart to us. I am comforted by the blanket of kindness I receive in times of need and everyday life. I only hope I return the love and thoughtfulness to those who touch my soul.

It is great to have your world full of angels and we must remember a friend is someone who reaches for your hand, but touches your heart.

Birthdays…

2009-06-09T22:32:00.002-05:00

Why do we have birthdays… sure, it happens the same time every year… but is it social tradition, is it our zodiac sign making the yearly occurrence, is it celebrating our future or documenting our past, but why do we celebrate it. I know I get more excited celebrating my son’s birthdays possibly because I am celebrating the anniversary of their birth. Birthdays are good for you, statistically showing the person who has the most, lives the longest.

So, I have already concluded that age doesn’t determine maturity… but what does the number of years really mean. Is it a timeline just like cars… to know when you need to change the oil, replace the tires, or when the transmission is ready to break down. This timeline contains variables such as what model it is, where it lives it life, and how well it is maintained.

As a child, I remember birthday parties and the excitement leading up to the big day. I know with each birthday, I was allowed a special incentive for triumph. Like being allowed to stay up later, extended curfew, increase in allowance, added privileges and more independent freedom. As an adult, unless it’s a milestone, it’s really just another day to give opportunity for family and friends to recognize you and to feel their love. Birthdays as a child represented growing up. Like when I was “10” I was in the double digits, then “12” I was a pre-teen, then “13” yeah a real teenager… then the big step “16” I could get my drivers license. Then it goes on, to be old enough to buy alcohol, get into restricted movies, and get your own place. I think as an adult we think of it as “our day” a special day to be honored and rewarded for your accomplishments. Birthdays are just another way for us to celebrate who we are and where we came from.

So, I celebrated my birthday a few days ago with my family and it was a wonderful day and I wouldn’t have change a thing. We kind of make our birthdays roll into weekends or a week depending on what day it lands on in the calendar. It’s more fun that way and it’s our family tradition.

You know you are getting old when getting luck means, you can find your car in the parking lot. Happy days!

Mother of Boys…

2009-06-02T18:23:00.004-05:00

Being a mother of three boyz has its challenges and awards. I usually get the question, “Do you wish you had a girl?” So, I answer honestly, “No, I would not change a thing”. I wasn’t a tiniest bit disappointed with having a third boy, actually I was ecstatic. I will wait for granddaughters, cause then I can hand them back to their parents when the drama starts. Believe me, I’m a girl, so I know what drama is!

I have several moments that I refer too as “Mommy Moments” over the years of raising my boyz. If you are wondering why I spell the word “boyz” with a “z” is because when I refer to my sons, they are my boyz, boys in general are spelled with an “s”. This is exceptionally cute when they sign a card for me and spell it with a “z”. It is our secret code between Mother and Sons. Some of these Mommy Moments make me cry and others I am overwhelmed with joy. On May, 27th, I was watching American Idol with my oldest son, when my youngest came charging up the stairs screaming “Mom… I love you!” Sounds heart warming, doesn’t it… should make every Mother’s heart explode with pride, especially because he is almost 15 years old.

So before, I tell you the remaining of the story, let me fill you in on what it is like to be the Mother of three boyz. I was one of those moms who volunteered to do anything and everything that my boyz were interested in. Like being a Cub Scout Leader, Sunday School Teacher, PTA Mom, Classroom Mom, Sport Teams Mom, and everything else in between. Some times I had over committed but I struggled through it with my husband as my best helper. Being a mother of boys, you are also a mother of men. I enjoyed the low maintenance boys only requiring mud puddles, torn blue jeans, toads, and worms. You where always guaranteed to hear the car noises, shooting noises, and pretend bomb explosions. Also, the surprise of the mystery night that transformed your little boy to no longer want to go into the women’s bathroom with you, or let you see him in the bath. What happened to our little boyz… they grow up to be bigger boyz.

So, back to the story… I was sitting on a rolling stool in front of the sofa as my son came careening across the room with his arms wide open. I am assuming he thought we would crash into the sofa for a soft landing. His attempt to be playfully by hugging and squishing me went from giggles to cries but not by him. He accidentally kicked me in the cheek with his heel as I wrestled to get him off me in fun. I hit the floor and faked the cry of “You hurt me”… and in a second I sat up with, “Just kidding, it didn’t hurt that much”. His eyes widened as he starred into my face. Trusting his reaction was not acting, I reached for my cheek and felt a lump the size of a golf ball. Now the joke was on me. He quickly ran for ice to put on my cheek. It took a day before the swelling went down and 4 days later, I had a black eye. It was all in fun; I wore the shiner proudly and wouldn’t have changed the “Mommy Moment”.

So don’t worry my son is not aggressive but he does enjoy the rough and tumble play. I guess it’s a guy thing to show his strength but he always does it with a smile and in fun. As the saying goes, it is all fun and games until someone looses a wiener!

Are you A Mother… Or Are You "Your" Mother?

2009-05-16T11:32:00.006-05:00

Does the birth of a mother begin at conception, or when you hear the heart beat or when you hold your child’s hand and kiss them on the forehead for the first time. When does motherhood start? How do you learn the art of motherhood? Are you in training to be a mother when you are a little girl playing house, with your dolls, and dressing up. Is this mother natures way of preparing us for adulthood. When is it too old or too young to start having families?

As all little girls, I too, played house and dreamed of my world with a family. I never really had a ideal dream, with all the detail of where, with who, and how. I did generalize it, to a house, husband, two children and in the city. I think when you are a child you have a good idea of what you don’t want in your life. For me, it was the examples my siblings and what my parents where doing. Your childhood experiences influences your life decisions. I was an Aunt before I was born because I had a much older brother. Actually my nephew and I are less than a month apart. My parents raised us the best way they knew how… not always the best way… but you can’t hold them at fault. We all do things as parents that if we have known more about the behaviors of these creatures we call children, we would have done things differently.

I knew as a child that I was going to work and have a career. As a young child my Mother worked part-time but as I got older she was at home. I loved the fact my mom was there in the morning and after school greeting me with a pop-tart with ice cream. She had time to sit, play cards, games, craft, joke, and test her dictionary skills. This is one of many things I thought was really cool about my Mom… she could spell and pronounce any word in the dictionary. See my Mom was born in 1920, took her school notes on slate stone and the only books she owned was a dictionary and a Bible. She read both cover to cover many times. I knew this wouldn’t be enough for me, that I need the social interaction that comes with working outside the home. We balanced our lives with me working evenings so our children always had a parent home. We were very fortunate to have this opportunity.

I also knew I wanted my own car… not a shared car with my husband but my own. My Mom never drove, tried many times even owned a Volkswagen Bug but unfortunately never felt the independence and freedom. Then my thoughts as a child was “When I grow up how many children would I have?”… my oldest brother had 5 children (2 girls/3 boys), then my other brother had 2 boys, my oldest sister had 4 girls (second child passed at infancy) and my other sister had 2 boys. So my Mom use to wish me all girls so I would know what it was like to bear the drama. Drama? I definitely didn’t want the drama in my house like it was in my Moms with 3 sisters. I wasn’t a “prissy” girl, growing up. I was fishing with my Dad, rabbit hunting with my brother-in-laws, fixing cars, camping, riding recreational vehicles, sports and anything that happened outdoors. I did learn to cook thanks to my Mom, I was the only daughter that could successfully bake a pie or loaf of bread from scratch. I feared that if I had a daughter by the time she was a teenager I would understand why some animals eat their young.

Well I wasn’t sorry to disappoint her by having 3 boys and no girls. I am sure my turn will come with grand-daughters but at least I can give those back. By the time I was having children so where my niece and nephews. So, I had kids around me my whole young life. I was very happy to have all boys, because I knew I would have fun doing all the stuff boys like to do. I focused on understanding each of them as individuals and not to group them together because none of them are the same nor look or act alike. All of them are my favorite in different ways. One thing as a child I wanted to eliminate from my household was the sibling fighting. Minimize the arguing but never to strike each other and always loving each other no matter what. I grew up in a generation where fighting with fists solved issues instead of battling with words. It is very important for my boys to understand family is forever, you didn’t pick who’s in your family. You need to look inside yourself to learn how to get along and live together cohesively. I am proud to see my young men respecting their brothers and working together as a family. To be a “good” mother you will in turn have a “good” child… well mine didn’t come with directions and a guarantee but I am doing the best I can with what I know. All I had is a paperback of “Dr Spock” Baby Care and willingness try to learn a little more each day.

I do have a lot of inspiration from my Mom about being a Mother. She was an awesome lady and she gave me skills that I forward on to my boys. So, Moms, if you think you know every thing… think again… because until you help your child with 4th grade math… believe me you don’t. Also, if you think you can control your car better than anyone else… think again… because until you rode in a car driven by a teenager with a learners permit… you haven’t ridden. And if you think your mother knows you love her and you don’t need to tell her… think again and tell her. One thing as a mother, you can learn many things from your children ... like how much patience you have.

I like to think I am “A Loving Mother” with the fore sisters of Mothers before me, all contributing to my existence which I am blessed and give thanks every day. As a mother, I am not raising 3 sons, I am hopefully raising 3 young men to be better Husbands, Fathers and Mentors to the next generation.

My mother taught me about the WISDOM of AGE..."When you get to be my age, you will understand." and my all time favorite thing - JUSTICE..."One day you will have kids, and I hope they turn out just like YOU. then you'll see what it's like to be me.“

In honor of all the Mothers who contributed
in teaching me to be a Mom… Thank you!

Think of your Children As Pets - The Cat Years

2009-05-16T10:33:00.004-05:00

In honor of Mother's Day --

I just realized that while children are dogs - loyal and affectionate - teenagers are cats. It's so easy to be a dog owner. You feed it, train it, boss it around. It puts it's head on your knee and gazes at you as if you were a Rembrandt painting. It bounds indoors with enthusiasm when you call it.

Then around age 13, your adoring little puppy turns into a big old cat. When you tell it to come inside, it looks amazed, as if wondering who died and made you emperor. Instead of dogging your doorsteps, it disappears. You won't see it again until it gets hungry -- then it pauses on its sprint through the kitchen long enough to turn its nose up at whatever you're serving.

When you reach out to ruffle its head, in that old affectionate gesture, it twists away from you, then gives you a blank stare, as if trying to remember where it has seen you before. You, not realizing that the dog is now a cat, think something must be desperately wrong with it. It seems so antisocial, so distant, sort of depressed. It won't go on family outings.

Since you're the one who raised it, taught it to fetch and stay and sit on command, you assume that you did something wrong. Flooded with guilt and fear, you redouble your efforts to make your pet behave. Only now you're dealing with a cat, so everything that worked before now produces the opposite of the desired result. Call it, and it runs away. Tell it to sit, and it jumps on the counter. The more you go toward it, wringing your hands, the more it moves away.

Instead of continuing to act like a dog owner, you can learn to behave like a cat owner. Put a dish of food near the door, and let it come to you. But remember that a cat needs your help and your affection too. Sit still, and it will come, seeking that warm, comforting lap it has not entirely forgotten. Be there to open the door for it.

One day your grown-up child will walk into the kitchen, give you a big kiss and say, "You've been on your feet all day. Let me get those dishes for you."

Then you'll realize your cat is a dog again.

(Author Unknown)

Found this article online and just had to add it to my blog for history sake!

New Generation of Music, Or is it Re-Labeled…

2009-05-03T07:49:00.011-05:00

I graduated from high school in 1981 and had the privilege of having older siblings who graduated in the early 70’s. So, I had the advantage of genres of music spanning over a large portion of time. Then to add to the mix, my father played “Country & Western” music. No not Country music or Country Rock which is known today as Country. I mean Country & Western, such as, Gene Autry, Johnny Cash, Roy Clark, Merle Haggard, Kitty Wells, Conway Twitty, Hank Williams (not Jr), Jim Reeves, Roy Rodgers, Ernest Tubb, Hank Snow, Grandpa Jones and many more. So between the Country music, Elvis Presley, Monkees, Beach Boys, Beatles and all the Rock & Roll singers, I had great musical influences from my family.

Then, I had to switch it up, entering my high school years I was intrigued by the fast pace and beat jumping music of disco. Disco is a style of dance music which took the world by storm around 1972 and reached its peak around 1979 just in time for me to experience the excitement. If you loved to dance and listen to Disco, it was a part of your life. Forget the downloads of today's music - this is the real deal, it was Disco and we all loved the Disco era. While I can't go back to those days dancing the Hustle at the Disco inferno, and re-live my favorite Saturday Night Fever with the Bee Gees.

I am able to walk into my kitchen, and witness the new generation of music craze. But then again, is it just history repeating itself with a new label or is it really “New”. As I see myself in the images of my middle son getting all caught up by the electronic music. Where he shuffles on hardwood floors which is great for the sliding and stomping style of dance. I watch him mimic the “running man”, “robot” or currently known as "popping", “moonwalk”, “sidewinding”, “break dancing” with the “four on the floor” beat. His moves or shuffles are free styling patterned dance. Hey, just a second… is that Disco he is doing? Or is it the evolution of Funk, Techno and Hip-Hop. Not sure what it is but he call it, the Melbourne Shuffle. This style of dance, originating in the late 1980s in the Melbourne Australia in the underground scene. The movements are typical jazz dance steps incorporated with a modern twist. It’s a combination of fast footwork by sliding, shuffling on the spot, and in a triangular pattern with a very energetic step. There are 5 basic moves: the running man, shuffle, slides, spins and kicks. Then you add in the miming, popping, locking, liquiding, running man and breaking to get the modern rave dance called “Hard Style Dance”. This phenomenon gives this generation of dancers an opportunity for competition or show off their style which being creative as an individual style representing their own personality. This Hardstyle music genre is beating in my kitchen today… as I did in my bedroom in front of my full-length mirror 30 years ago.

So, is history repeating its self or is the New Rage something completely different. I feel this is just revolving, that the music behind us influences and molds into modern time. It’s fun to watch my son, as he spins, shuffles and collapse to the chair with exhaustion. Now it’s the next step… getting the clothes to go with the dance. Yup, you guessed it; fashion styles also repeat themselves too. Do you remember the “Parachute Pants”, “Jumpsuits”, “Phat Pants” or “Baggies”? Well then you know what I am referring to, but now they are “Rave Pants”… same style just different fabric and embellishments.

Its fun growing old, cuz I can watch our children repeat our fads but with a different twist. So “Rock On”, “Gnarly Dude!”, “That's Lame” to “I got skillz”, “that’s tight”, and “chill”. So, parents out there in the same situation… enjoy and keep smiling… and think how your parents thought about you!

Define Adulthood…

2009-04-24T20:11:00.004-05:00

Today is April 24th… therefore, tomorrow is April 25th… the 21st Birthday of my eldest son. The magical year, where you are supposed to enter Adulthood. So really, what does 21 years have to do with it? I have a 16 year old that thinks he’s been an adult for the passed couple of years and the other son, well I’m not sure he knows how old he is, he just likes to play it cool, hang with his friends and enjoy loving life.

The term adult has at least three distinct meanings. It can indicate a biologically grown person. It may also mean a person who alternatively is capable of reproduction, or a person who has attained the legally fixed age of majority; as opposed to a minor.

These different aspects of adulthood are often inconsistent and contradictory to the behavior… see “me” for example! One may legally be an adult but possess none of the maturity and responsibility that define adult character. Note to self: “Age is no guarantee of maturity” but I must remember, I am not young enough to know everything.

As our eldest prepares for the journey to adulthood, because obviously it will not occur though the night, therefore, some time shall pass first. He will move through the emotional process to arrive at his own self and be comfortable in the direction he has chosen.

I am proud to say my son is now an adult; he can legally make decisions for himself, and choose his own destiny. Then, we as parents, will continue to be by his side, trying to nudge him in the direction we think is right and I am sure he will resist sometimes and that’s okay because it is all part of growing up.

So salut to my son, Happy 21st Birthday and hope you never wake up screaming “I don’t wanna be an adult! I’ve heard horrible stories about bran and strange undergarments!”
Cheers, Love Mom xo

Roses are Red, Bluebonnets are Blue!

2009-04-19T17:41:00.005-05:00

Well the Wildflower Ride weekend took a different turn with the threat of severe weather south of Dallas. I’m not scared of the rain but I am a little nervous about the hail that sometimes accompanies the severe storms in Texas. I figured it would be kinda hard to look at the beautiful flowers by the roadside as I am dodging hail pellets and raindrops, so we decided to stay home.

I had taken Friday off work for the ride, but I wasn’t gonna let the day to go to waste. I gave myself permission to have that well deserved vacation day, so, I did absolutely “nothing”. Except if you count the sipping of coffee made by Ray, or the lunch made by Ray, or surfed the internet for awhile, or checked my work email (ya, I know, but I didn’t answer any of them), or the 3 movies I watched all by myself, or the time spent “guitar hero-ing” with the boyz. Although it was a full day of nothing, none of it was scheduled… well except the Miller Lite that I popped open at noon… I planned that.

Then, the weekend continued… starting off Saturday by cutting through the bathroom wall to install a second plug so we can have a lamp closer to the throne. See, the powder room or better known as the “Reading Room” requires some modification. We installed a small chandalier over the sink (I know sounds funny but it’s really pretty). The light does not cast anything more than shadows which prohibit the ability to read for long spells, thus, requiring a reading lamp to supplement the insufficient light. Well for something that should have taken an hour and a half… max two hours… took us all afternoon. Blame it on lack of proper tools or Ray spending an hour trying to find the circuit breaker “by means of brail” because if he would have read the electrical panel he may have noticed it was already marked. What kind of fool am I, to think that men would read anything that resembled a map or instructions? Trust me, I know, I’m a professional because I live in the household with four males. As the saying goes, “boyz just grow up to be bigger boyz”. All joking aside, the result is perfect, exactly what I envisioned and now it’s on to the next step to complete the “Reading Room”.

So the weekend agenda of riding south of the metro-plex got rewritten. After we managed to successfully add the new plug we where off to Keller, TX to spend the evening with friends. Gotta tell ya, felt kinda weird marching up to our oldest son’s room to ask for permission to borrow his Wii controllers and games. Yes, can you imagine a bunch of old farts getting together with dual TVs in the living room to play bowling? You may think… “Ha, don’t those people have better things to do on a Saturday night?” Well yes we probably do but I have to say, it was hilarious, belly bust’n, absolutely crazy fun! Can’t wait to do it again!!

Then, Sunday, what a great day. My personal ride planner took myself and two dear friends of ours on a 180 mile ride. Hope it would have been a bigger group but we had fun for ya’ll. We are proud to say we are officially “Bar Hoppers”. Well, did I say dear friends…? I meant Ray’s hypothetical girlfriend and her girlfriend… and then ME his wife… don’t worry, I’m confused too??? Anyway, just kidding, but it was an awesome ride, lots of curvy roads, country scenery and yup, country smells too. Couldn’t of had better company to spend our day with us.

So, I guess the moral of the weekend is: Don’t always expect what is planned to go as planned. Some times change is for the better so keep your mind open, sights set on the horizons and there is always another cluster of bluebonnets around the corner! Cheers to you, and fingers up to the lady who cut Carla off on Hwy 75. Happy Trails!

The Easter Bunny does exist and I will prove it!

2009-04-12T22:23:00.003-05:00

Okay, who said there was no Easter Bunny! Well you must be out of your mind! As people get older they tend to stop believing in “Unreal” people. So I ask, why do these people stop believing? I believe if we hold on to our youthful nature then we are happier and keeps our heart more alive. As soon as you let go of the joys of your childhood, then… you are letting go of your youth.

I know, you are saying a “Rabbit” can’t get around every house in a single night through all the time zones to fill baskets and hide eggs. Well this is just a made up character to give a visual to the “spirit” of the season. Rabbits are non-threatening, cuddly, soft and very cute. They make children smile and feel happy. So believing in the Easter Bunny is not a bad thing… after all… it makes me smile and giggle too.

So, we are getting older by the minute and I don’t know about you but I am going to hold onto my youth. These memories and childhood beliefs brought joy to my world and I will continue to spread the spirit to my family.

Our Easter Sunday morning entailed Chocolate filled Baskets with a toy for each child and an adventuress Easter Egg Hunt. Yes, our 21, 16 ½, 14 ½ year old sons took part in scurrying around the house pulling open drawers and looking in every corner of the house. Ray and I spent an evening filling over 500 plastic eggs with coins and candy. I thought this was the last year for the family egg hunt. I was pleasantly surprised to see the boyz running around trying to get the most eggs… yes; even Corey… smiled all the way through it as he walked behind his brother to pick up the ones he missed. So, when I asked them, “Do you want me to keep doing the egg hunt or stop because you guys are getting older?”… In unison they all said, “No, why?” Well got the answer I was hoping for… its nice to see my boyz are holding on to their youth just as I am, now that’s the spirit… Happy Spring to Us!

So my advice to you is, Believe, Believe, Believe while it is still Tax-Free!!!

Recovering...

2009-04-07T20:45:00.001-05:00

Don’t know if it was the 45 mph winds at the Texas Motor Speedway this weekend that affecting my allergies or the % of alcohol in my beverage but after we returned home from the NASCAR races… I slept for hours… and hours… and hours…

Every year it gets better and better. One thing is true, we know somewhat to expect, plus becoming closer to the group we hang with, and we don’t get all caught up in all the commercialism but just to enjoy the event. Each time we learn a new definition of “Crazy”. This time it was a toss up between the 200 plus people partying at one campsite where one of the several bands where playing… which was just tempting the cops to come break up all the fun. OR, it was the Dude who jumped on his friends Harley Davidson Ultra Classic motorcycle just after the friend dropped it in the ditch and broke his ankle receiving two pins to repair. Then the Dude… did the unbelievable…jump on the saddle of the bike and did a burn-out in the middle of Victory Circle road, jamming it all the way to 4th gear while pivoting in a circle without dropping it and ended by accelerating out of the smoke victoriously. Then again the ride around the campground as several of us jump on the back of the pickup to see what craziness that was going on in the distance. It was a whole bunch of wild race fans that can not be explained in words but only can be described by witnessing the fun.

Then the good feeling stuff, giggling with friends, sharing meals and hearing the stories all over again. It can’t get any better than that. Thank you, Charles, Brenda and family for another great weekend at the races. Also, to Dale and Peter, we missed you this year.

Well, a trip to the doctor fixed the allergy symptoms and time corrected the tiredness but the memories of another awesome weekend at the biggest redneck party in Fort Worth, Texas… are once again… PRICELESS!

Welcome Readers!

2009-04-02T17:04:00.006-05:00

Welcome to the random rants from a redneck Boonie Chick from Halifax County, Nova Scotia, Canada. I wanted to start this blog on April first… to be the “fool” to start this “foolish” blog about nothing but as life would have it… got too busy and ran out of daylight or brain width.

Maybe I should start by defining the name “Boonie Chick” and how I got the name. The term “Boonie” has lots of meanings but the definition I derive from is The sticks, in the middle of no where. Usually associated with living out in the country e.g. Man, I live out in the boonies. It takes an hour an a half to get to the nearest gas station. Then, of course, “Chick” which is a non-derogatory slang term for the word girl.

So, when this country girl moved to the city of Dartmouth (population 65,000) which is across the harbor from Halifax the capital city of Nova Scotia with a population around 340,000 from a small town of 600 people… it was a big deal. I was born and raised on the Atlantic coast which was referred to the South Shore in a small town called Head of St. Margaret’s Bay. The bay was named after Samuel de Champlain's mother Marguerite. His map of 1612 shows the bay as St. Marguerite Baie. So growing up in spitting distance of the salt water to flats of McKinney Texas was a bit of a shock. This naive little girl from pokie dock nowhere got the nickname “Boonie Chick” after continually making errors on various topics of discussions. I do however, admit some found it cute and other I annoyed with my ignorance of the big city but I stayed true to my heritage… once a “sea-lover” always a “sea-lover” but I quickly learned the culture and tried to fit in to the hustle and bustle of the city life.

Prepare yourself for some comedy that only I laugh at and pointless to everyone else, but I manage to keep myself amused. So, thank you for reading my history blur and come back often to view life “according to me”. Cheers to my friends and future acquaintances and “Piss-off” to the old lady who gave me the-finger to me for being polite and letting an extra car merge into my lane today.