We opened today!

My big project that I have been killing myself over for the last month finally came together and the end of last week and we opened up the doctor's new office.  We got the new furniture, they finally got the right ceiling tiles, we got the signage on the door, the movers showed up and we got the pictures on the walls.  The new refrigerator came damaged, and they sent a new one on time.  Ads went in the paper, notices went to patients, insurance companies got notified, phone systems were put in and work!- and even new computers.  There was so much to do in only a month's time.  I can't beleive it worked out and the place looks WONDERFUL!  I am very happy.

Here is a view of the waiting room.  The doc wasn't happy how small the plasma screen TV was, but the patients liked it this morning.

The doctor loves purple.  Purple chairs, purple accent walls, purple in the carpet, but believe it or not, it doesn't look like Barney lives here.  It really isn't overpowering and looks good.

View down the hall.  There are 6 exam rooms.  We worked hard to get things on the wall, things in place.  The ceiling went in late wed. night.  The place was dirty on Friday, but by Monday (today) it is gorgeous.

I love the nurses station the best.  Nice and big and can see down the hall.  See those cabinets?  I had to fight for those.  As of last Monday, we weren't going to get them, but we needed the storage. The boss finally gave in. There is another set to the left that you can't see.

Surprise Party

We went to Shreveport yesterday.  After work we ran up to Shreveport to join in on Lynn's surprise Birthday Party.  She was surprised.  We had such a good time.   We ended up staying until about 11:30 last night and didn't get back home until 1:30 a.m this morning. 

(above) Frank, Lynn, Page and me.  We laughed all  night talking about old times, complaining about kids, you know, the usual stuff!  We had hamburgers, chips & dips, and soda.  At the end of the night we had ice cream cake, but the best part was good friends all getting together for a fun evening. (below) Here is the gang:  Brent Martin is in front, then left to right:  Leta, Deborah, Frank, Lynn, me and Brent Merrill.  B. Martin and Frank were my counselors when I was Bishop in Bossier.  Lynn was my Relief Society President.  Leta was in Primary and Young Women.  Deborah was my music chairman and seminary teacher and B. Merrill is still the Stake President.  (Page is taking the picture).  We love these guys!

Lions, Tigers and Bears.... Oh my!

Lacey took Brandon to the Zoo today. She said they were the only people there except for the three zoo workers. So they had all the animals to themselves. Here you see they braved the wild Lions and lived to tell about it.

National Honor Society

We are so proud of Sean. He was inducted into the National Honor Society at his High School tonight. They had a nice ceremony honoring the inductees. Out of 2500 students, 85 were allowed into the Honor Society tonight. Lacey came too (she is taking the picture).

There is our talented son, getting inducted into the National Honor Society.

Letterman

Sean came home with a letterman's jacket from school today.  At his high school, all academic honor students get a letterman's jacket... free!... as a gift from the school. He also found out today that they accepted his application into the National Honor Society.  There will be a special induction ceremony on Thursday night.  Good job, Sean!

President Bush is right on Israel

US President George W. Bush said he hoped to resolve the nuclear dispute with Iran with diplomacy, but warned Tehran he would "use military might" if necessary to defend Israel.
"The threat from Iran is, of course, their stated objective to destroy our strong ally Israel. That's a threat, a serious threat. It's a threat to world peace," the US president said after a speech defending the war in Iraq.

"I made it clear, and I'll make it clear again, that we will use military might to protect our ally Israel," said Bush, who was apparently referring to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's call for the destruction of Israel.

******
The above was on the Drudgereport tonight. I'm afraid it is going to come down to this eventually...a horrific war on the soil of Israel. But I agree with the President. We have to stand by Israel. He had to make that clear to the Iranians and others that want to destroy Israel. I couldn't imagine living in Israel, knowing everyone around you wants to see you dead...trying to raise your family there to live in peace and finding none. But the President was bold today in his declaration. We will defend Israel.

How about an Irish Disney Movie

to end our Paddy Party- we watched Darby.... great movie! Made in 1959, it's fun to see Sean Connery, young and singing. The best is Albert Sharpe as Darby. The Irish countryside is breathtaking. King Brian and the leprechauns are fun. But I can't believe how scary the banshee is. Sean said he used to be scared of that part. I don't blame him. If that is how death really is, what an aweful experience. But King Brian outsmarts her. Sean says leprechauns are smarter than banshees. I never knew that...

Corned Beef and Cabbage

Ok- have to show you our St. Pat's feast.  Corned beef and Cabbage with potatoes and Irish Soda Bread.  The beef was delicious.  It cooked in a slow cooker all day in a gravy of onions, potatoes, cabbage, cider vinegar, sugar and pepper. Mmmmmm!  The Irish bread was heavy.  If you were a starving Irishman, a piece of that bread would give you comfort.  It's dense wheat bread and fills your tummy.  Do you like our green glasses?  We tried to celebrate our Irish roots today.

Page's yummy dessert.  Chocolate pudding and green whipped cream!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

It's great to be Irish!

Dogwoods

I got so excited today driving back from Jasper.  I noticed hundreds of dogwoods in full bloom along the highway in the Angelina Forest.  They are so beautiful.  Spring has arrived in the Piney Woods.  Dogwood is my most favorite tree and now is the time to enjoy them.  I pulled over and snapped this shot with my cell phone.

Brandon (Lacey's friend) got baptized on Sunday

Bachelor Days Ending

Page comes home tomorrow after a two week trip to CA to help out with her Mom. Her Mom is doing a lot better, but still is recovering. I know Page will be happy to come home (we miss her too), but it will be hard to leave her Mom and Dad. So I guess I will have to learn to share the bed again. It's been fun stretching out and hogging all the covers.

Yesterday the Huntsmans invited me and the kids to dinner, feeling sorry for us being without a wife and mother. It was really fun. Jared went to Spain on his mission too, so we ended up talking a lot about missions, plus he is the ward mission leader. Afterwards Sean said he likes listening to adults talk and get involved with the conversation. He isn't a kid anymore.

Lacey's friend Brandon got baptized yesterday too and Lacey gave the closing prayer at the baptism. They asked Brandon who he wanted to stand in the circle to be confirmed next Sunday and he said, "Lacey". We all got a chuckle, and had to explain that it had to be somebody with the priesthood. I think Lacey was flattered.

Lacey turned in some applications today to work at two local movie theaters. Hope she gets a job soon. Sean went to the zoo with some of his friends from church. You can see the pictures below...

Sean's day at the Zoo

Sean had to go see the Hippo

and found a Lion!  Ride 'em Sean

Todd got a turn

and Jared just decided to snuggle.

If my head wasn't attached....

Yesterday I had to make a visit to one of my clinics. The Plant Operations Manager had to go too, so he drove. He picked me up and I jumped in his truck and away we went. While down at the clinic, I took of my jacket and layed it down in one of the offices. When we were ready to go I walked out without my jacket. Didn't realize it until we got back to my office over 50 miles away. As I get out of his truck, I reach into my pants pocket for my office keys.... not there! I then realize my keys are in my jacket, but where is the coat? I look in his backseat... nope. I ask him if he remembers me even wearing the jacket (maybe I left it in my office here?). He said I was wearing a jacket earlier. Oh my! My jacket with my house, car, church and work keys is in an office over an hour away. He offers to drive me back, but I tell him no. I know an employee that lives here in town and can bring it up at the end of the day. I get spare keys from the business office to get in my office. I have a plastic key I carry in my wallet that can actually start up the truck. So I'm feeling less stressed.

This morning I get a call from the employee that was going to bring me my jacket. She forgot it last night! Sorry. So I have to drive down and get it, so I thought. I just got a call. A patient has to come up for x-rays and she is going to leave it at the hospital in the x-ray department. So I should have my keys and coat sometime today. I'm so absent minded sometimes.

Bad, Bad Dog

The dogs have been banished from inside the house for two days. I know it's Liberty's fault, but just can't prove it! For weeks, loaves of bread have been missing from the counter. We can set a big loaf of bread on the counter, and when we come back home from somewhere, there is an empty wrapper on the floor. At first I'm like, "how did that wrapper get on the floor?" thinking that the dogs pulled an empty wrapper from the trash. After a couple times I figured out one of the dogs is jumping up onto the counter (I mean front paws) and reaching over and grabbing the bread with its teeth and pulling it down to the floor and eating the bread! So I have been putting the loaves of bread out of their reach.

On Sunday, I made a pot roast for the kids and me for after church on Fast Sunday. It was really good! I also made a red velvet cake, double layer, with butter creme frosting. We all had a piece. I had the cake sitting on a plate on the counter. I didn't even think! Well Monday morning, I come home for lunch and I walk in the kitchen and the cake is gone. I mean, not even a crumb! No crumbs on the floor! nothing. I ask Lacey where the cake was. She said she just woke up and didn't know. I knew! Those bad dogs! They ate half a cake. I was so mad. They got banished from the house for two days. It is supposed to rain tonight so they will be back in, but I can't beleive it! And you never see them doing it, they wait until everyone is asleep or out of the house..... bad, doggie, bad, bad dogs!

Must See Penguins

Yesterday in the local paper there was an article about the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler receiving 5 pairs of African Penguins. Lacey is nuts about Penguins and I knew this was a trip she would want to take. I asked Lacey and Sean if they wanted to go to the zoo today. They both were very interested in going. Tyler is about 1 1/2 hours from home, so we got ready and headed out to Tyler. The parking lot was packed. I guess a lot of people heard about the new Penguins. We went there first and the exhibit house was packed. We did manage to get some pictures, then I somehow deleted the shots, so we had to head back and take more pictures of the penguins. It's actually a nice zoo with lots of animals. We rushed passed the deer and buffalo (been there done that! living in Montana). We saw elephants, lions, giraffes, panthers, chetahs, leopards, monkeys, rhinos, aligators, flamingos, parrots, tucans, anteaters, warthogs, ostriches, otters, eagles, mountain lions, zebras, and many other interesting animals. We actually had a good time together. It was a really nice day.

A Day at the Zoo

Sean and Lacey with the Giraffes

Lacey is in love with the Penguins

This Ostrich was really funny- banging on the glass

This bird was busy building a nestT

The Lioness was feeling a little lazy today

Not a big surprise

You are a Social Conservative (31% permissive) and an... Economic Conservative (63% permissive) You are best described as a: Republican Link: The Politics Test on OkCupid Free Online Dating Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

Liberal Teachers Gone Wild

Have you noticed the increased news stories about liberal teachers bashing Bush? The teacher in CO that compared Bush to Hitler and the American Flag to the Nazi flag is one example. One of the students was taping his lecture or we would not know anything about it. He was suspended by the school board. His lawyer was on TV last night saying that the teacher was let go unfairly and the school board took away the guy's 1st amendment rights. I'm all for the first amendment, but do we keep kids hostage in class to spew our political opinions? Maybe in a Political Science class.... but this guy was a Geography teacher. And from what I understand, he only gave his liberal opinons. No conservative viewpoint was discussed. Shouldn't he teach both sides and remain objective? It was so obviously a propoganda tool for him. I wonder what liberals would think if a teacher was endoctrinating his students to the conservative movement? Or worse, Christianity? There would be marches in the street if a teacher was saying Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the World and everyone must come unto Christ, but doesn't a teacher have a right to teach it based on his 1st amendment rights? It will be interesting how this thing plays out, but I saw on the Drudge Report today that another teacher held a Trial in his classroom on Bush's crimes. Hmmmm, I wonder if the teacher is pro-Bush or anti_Bush????

Going Texan

Yesterday, I finally registered the cars in Texas. Hey, it's only been 6 1/2 months, what's the rush. I actually tried to do it on Tuesday, but I guess I didn't have all the paperwork. I was missing my title for the truck. So Lacey and I left empty handed. So yesterday, I showed back up with all the necessary paperwork, and got my new license plates for both vehicles, minus $350. It was a little tough taking off the Montana plates. Such good memories.

This morning, I decided to keep the ball rolling and stopped into the DMV for a Texas Driver's License. I thought I was all ready to go with my registration, proof of insurance, MT license, and social security card, but oh no, that isn't enough, I need some other type of ID, like marriage license, birth certificate, school records, divorce papers, gun license, or vehicle title (which I just gave to the tax office when I registered the truck, so that they can re-issue a title from Texas instead of Montanna..... ugh, the frustration). So needless to say, I didn't get my license today. Maybe tomorrow. Sean has the most hoops to jump through since he is a minor. I have to get a letter from Park High in Montana (on their letterhead) stating he went to drivers training and the hours he put into classroom and driving time, plus he has to get verification from his current High School that he is enrolled. I guess minors in Texas cannot have a license unless they are going to school. He also has to take a driving test. AND, it is only good for one year (if he gets it now, he has to re-apply in May on his birthday- I think I might have him wait until May to transfer over the license to avoid applying now and then in 2 months again), and he has to go through the process every year until he is 18. He also will have restrictions on the license as a minor. In MT, he got his license at age 15 with no restrictions.... don't think he is going to be thrilled when I tell him.

So I'm tryin to go Texan, really. Just a little bumpy....

Mardi Gras

Today is Fat Tuesday. We all got up early to get Page up and out to the airport in Houston. She flew back to Seal Beach to help her Mom as she gets home from the hospital. My Mom picked her up at LAX. Her parents didnt know she was coming. Her Dad walked into the house and was so surprised.... and called her a poop (I think). They are glad she is there. She will be there for 2 weeks. Lacey drove her to the airport (2 hours away) and back by herself. Sean had to go to seminary and school, and I had to get Sean to school then off to work. Work is so busy. I am trying to put a new doctors office together in less than 30 days - order furniture, equipment, phone systems, notify patients, ads in the paper, hiring new staff for the office... (see my entry on stress previously..) and that is just one project. I have two others very similar to that and trying to juggle the demands of my boss and doctors, and staff. This project is really stressful because she has to be out of her current space before the end of March because another doctor leased the space. I had 4 weeks to order furniture that normally takes at least 6 weeks to make. Somehow, they say they can have it ready for me.

Anyway, back to Mardi Gras. This morning before work, I put some red beans, bell pepper, onion and celery with beef sausage into the crockpot. By the time I got home tonight, it was ready. I cooked up a pot of rice and we had red beans & rice, a Louisiana favorite in honor of Mardi Gras. I made "crescent" rolls, since New Orleans is also known as the Crescent City. I had the King Cake on display on my Mardi Gras tray. I used Lacey's purple spoons and knives. I had Mardi Gras cups, beads and mardi gras doll on the table. It was fun. But only Lacey and I enjoyed it. Page is in California and Sean had to go to tennis practice. (He did eat when he got home). I used my Wheat Montana Bowls for the beans and rice, for a nice touch of our home in the Rockies. The beans and rice were delicious. The King Cake was lousy! haha. Last week we got one from Julie Anne's Bakery of cream cheese and strawberry (yummy) this one was from Tubbs and was praline. It sounded good but did not compare to the cream cheese cake. Next year we will stick with Julie Anne's.

Well Mardi Gras isn't over for me yet. I'm on my way out the door. I am serving Mardi Gras dinner to the night shift employees at the hospital from 10 - 11 p.m. Then I can come home and crash before work tomorrow. Happy Mardi Gras everyone!

Mardi Gras Feast

I have my Louisiana apron on to get in the spirit

Lacey gets into the spirit of Mardi Gras too

My feast.  Red Beans and Rice and King Cake

Lacey getting into the Mardi Gras fun

Krewe of Gemini- Let the Good Times Roll

The last float rolls by

Looking across the Red River into Bossier City and the Horseshoe

Krewe of Gemini

Well Shreveport celebrated Mardi Gras again this weekend when the Krewe of Gemini took to the streets. The weather was a lot warmer this weekend compared to last weekend. Only Lacey and I went to the parade. Sean went to a party given by a couple girls from church. Page was frantically getting ready for New Beginnings and couldn't spare a minute, plus she got word Friday night her Mom was admitted to the hospital with dehydration and she was monitoring her condition.

Well, the parade was a good one. We caught alot of beads and a lot more toys (stuffed animals, balls, etc) compared to last week. I caught some really cool rope beads with a mardi gras doll head on it. Really cool. And Lacey caught a vodoo doll. We went and picked up some of Lacey's friends- Samantha, Layne, Shawn and Porter. After the parade we went over to the Louisiana Boardwalk and ate at the Buffalo Stop. Seeing all the buffalo artwork reminded me of Montana. We got another King Cake and we will have it on Tuesday (actual Mardi Gras).

We had a good time- but that two hour drive back home is not really that much fun. But gas in Shreveport is only $1.95 compared to $2.15 back home.

Lacey and her high school friends after the parade

Lacey kisses the cook.  We ate at Louisiana Boardwalk

Me and the Mardi Gras tree at the Boardwalk

One of the floats- throw me something mister!

Here is the Krewe Captain kicking off the parade

Just Lacey and I went to the parade in Shreveport

I slept through the night

I actually slept all night last night. I guess talking about the things that stressed me out, helped aleve it. Poor Page had to hear me ramble for awhile to get it all off my chest. I also went out on splits with the Elders last night, so maybe I got some blessings for that, and watched the Olympics. Too bad Sasha fell, but Silver is still something to be proud of.

Stress

I have never been good at handling stress very well. I internalize everything and personalize it too. Look at my gray hair. Is that from stress? I've been graying since my 20's. My twin has no gray hair at all. Nobody grayed early in my family, but me. Look at my weight, I can't remember being thin since I was a teenager, except when I was on my mission in Spain and preparing to run in a 10k run in Long Beach when I was in my early 20's. The rest of the time, I stress eat myself into being overweight. I really don't take good care of myself. Last night I had a stress attack.... pounding headache and body tension, which lead to lack of sleep. Why do I get myself in a tizzy? I'm trying some relaxation techniques, where I close my eyes and think of a happy calm place, while taking deap breaths. I did that this morning, thinking about sitting on my old dock at the Colorado River on the CA-AZ border. It helped a little, I could feel my shoulders kind of relaxing. I let everything stress me out: work, church, money, family, house... that about covers everything in my life. I'm really afraid I will keel over from a heart attack one of these days, sooner rather than later. Life has never been really easy for me, and I'm sure it's not for most people, but I truly can't remember a time in my life, where everything just hummed along. Is that normal? I have to fight for everything it seems, and I usually don't win. Thank goodness for the love of my family, especially Page. If I didn't have that, I don't know where I would be. (see I told you I was stressed today).

Saturday in Shreveport for Mardi Gras

Look at the beads we caught.  Here we are eating at Pepes.

King Cake-  Lacey found the baby in her piece!

30 degrees before the parade

Krewe of Centaur parade

We ran into Lynn & Deborah

Sean in mask

Lacey in mask

Sean enjoying world's best eclair from Julie Anne's

Lacey says Happy Mardi Gras

USC 71 UCLA 68

You know I have to post something like this, when USC beats UCLA at anything. USC beat UCLA last night in basketball at the Sports Center in downtown LA. They showed it on TV, so Sean and I were able to watch it. This is the only USC basketball game I have been able to see and it was a thriller. We beat them by 3 points, and without our #2 scorer in the game. We lost to UCLA about a month ago by a lot of points, so we were the underdogs, and still pulled it out. It also was the last time we will be playing UCLA in the sports center. USC is building a new on-campus facility. UCLA was #1 in the Pac-10 before the game. After we beat them, they are now tied for first with Cal. We are still down at #6 but happy to beat our rival.

Krewe of Centaur

After a two year haitus (living in Montana), I found myself on Clyde Fant Parkway on Saturday, waiting for the Krewe of Centaur's Mardi Gras Parade. This year, I brought the Montana weather with me. It was 30 degrees at parade time and we had to wear coats, gloves and hats. The parade was a lot of fun. Lacey and Sean came with me and Page stayed back in Texas taking advantage of a quiet house. We caught a kazillion beads, but only a couple of good ones.... you know the bigger beads! But Lacey and Sean caught some toys and stuffed animals too. Sean also got a moonpie and was nice enough to give it to his dad. My favorite float was the Star Wars float. It had Darth Vader on it throwing beads. Pretty cool! Sean was able to grab a cup from that float that has Star Wars written on it. In fact, we brought home about 20 cups from the various floats. We won't have any trouble having something to drink out of. The sponge bob square pants float was cute too. After the parade, we headed out to our old neighborhood in Haughton to eat at Pepes. I havent eaten there in 3 years. Pepes serves the best Mexican food outside of California. It was a great way to end our Mardi Gras day. On the way into town we stopped at another favorite place. Julie Annes Bakery in Shreveport, where they sell the world's best chocolate eclairs. Eating one is an experience. We all got one and were in heaven. We brought one home for Page. We also got a King Cake with Strawberry and Cream Cheese Filling. King Cakes are traditional for Mardi Gras. They are decorated with green, gold and purple sprinkles (the colors of Mardi Gras). Inside is hidden a small platic baby. Whoever gets the piece with the baby in it is supposed to host next year's Mardi Gras Party and buy the King Cake. That honor goes to Lacey this year.

I almost hit one of these Armadillos on the road. But don't worry, the little guy is safe now.

Valentines Day

I think I did good this year. Got Page 2 cards, peanut brittle, and tulips. She got me sugar free chocolates. We got the kids some candy too. Not as big as in years past, but still fun. Page and I did get off to see a movie after work. We went and saw Last Holiday with Queen Latifah. I loved it! It was just what I needed. I was tired from moving furniture at one of our new clinics all day. It was very entertaining and fun. In fact, in the middle of the movie I turned to Page and said, "ok, I like this movie!". I was thinking, if I only had 3 weeks to live, what would I want to do? I know I would not want to do that sky diving thing off a dam like Queen Latifah did. no way! But getting away to a beautiful spot would be nice. I was thinking about some things I want to do before I die:
1. Go back to Spain
2. go Whale watching
3. Denmark (ok- better make it a European tour!)
4. Pachu Pichu in Peru
5. Cancun
6. White House tour
7. another USC-Notre Dame football game
8. watch the Colorado River roll on by, sitting on a dock at Walter's Camp
9. see the Hill Commorah and Sacred Grove
10. Sing in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

ok- i will leave it at 10. I'm sure there are a lot more things I want to do, and of course, without saying, I would want to do these things with my family, and be with them. Oh my gosh! I need a #11

#11- Meet Paula Deen and eat at her resturant in Savannah!!!! How could I leave that off the list!!!!!

Elizabethtown

I finally got to see Elizabethtown on Thursday. We rented the video. As you may know, I really like Paula Deen, and she is in this movie as a crazy aunt. The movie was pretty good. I found myself wanting to be a part of a huge, loud, caotic family. I could relate how Orlando Bloom's character had to adjust from coming from an urban west coast environment out to the heartland and how different life is there. I could relate to how he put his heart and soul into his work, and how fast he fell from success and have to start over again. How he was expected to be the "stong" one when his dad died, and yet still try to make everyone happy too. I could reltate to how he really didn't know his dad, and how he made peace with him on that long road trip. I don't usually like Susan Ssarandon, but her final scene when she is on stage talking to the tough crowd (her husband's clan) she became human and she won me over (like she did the rest of the crowd in the ballroom). And one last thing, Orlando's character learns, (like I already know), that the love of a good woman can save you and get you through anything. It took him long enough to figure it out. When you have the love and support of the woman you love, anything is bearable, and life is wonderful! He finally found out what is most important in life and the secret of happiness. But hey, it's tough to remember that sometimes because life doesn't stop, adversity doesn't end, and the dragons have to be slain every single day. So it's nice to come home.

Leggett Post Office Kudos

I was in Livingston yesterday afternoon and bought my mother a Valentine's Day card. I was heading up Hwy. 59 and saw a post office in Leggett. It's a really small town of about 350 people, but they do have a small P.O.

I hurried and signed the card and addressed the envelope. I walked in about 4:45 and the door was closed to the counter (closes at 4:30). All of a sudden I hear this woman's voice from nowhere say, "I'll take your mail, they are about to pick it up" (I did notice a big USPS truck on the side of the building). I yelled back, "I don't have a stamp yet". She opened a small door in the lobby and said "give me 37 cents and I will put a stamp on it for you". I gave her 50 cents. She then came back with my change and told me she would make sure it gets on the truck. I thanked her and said "the cards for my mom!" She then said- "well we do anything for Mamas!"

I was impressed. Many people think poorly on government services and government workers, but I'm here to tell you that the workers at the Leggett Post Office are willing to go beyond the call of duty to assist their customers and make Mamas happy.

Love you, Page!

GALVESTON

Galveston, oh Galveston
I still hear your sea winds blowing
I still see her dark eyes glowing
She was twenty-one
When I left Galveston

Galveston, oh Galveston
I still hear your sea waves crashing
While I watch the cannon flashing
And I clean my gun
And I dream of Galveston

I still see her standing by the water
Standing there, looking out to sea
And is she waiting there for me?
On the beach where we used to run

Galveston, oh Galveston
I am so afraid of dying
Before I dry the tears she's crying
Before I see your sea birds flying
In the sun, at Galveston

Happy Groundhog Day

Did Phil see his shadow today? 6 more weeks of winter? or spring around the corner? I don't know, and I guess it doesn't really matter because in East Texas we didn't even have winter at all this year. Poor Phil would have been all confused. We did have a terrible thunderstorm last night. Molly was a little nervous so we let her sleep in our room. Liberty came along too.

Tornado Watch

There was a Tornado Watch for Jasper, Tyler and Polk counties today. First one of the year. And of course, I was in Jasper. Good times.

Tonight the youth had an etiquette dinner. Page and I were Mr and Mrs. Manners and did everything wrong...eating with our mouths open, using our fingers, eating out of each other's plates, Page putting on makeup, me picking at my ear. It was a lot of fun. I think they got the point.