Southern By Grace

See ya later, Blogger...

Jaime n Nick hike
Originally uploaded by sthrngrace.

posted by Gracie @ 8/27/2006 08:49:00 PM 0 comments

Sherlock Grace

I used to smoke. I was among the population who thought their sense of taste and smell was never affected by the fact they smoked. But I'm here to tell you how misguided I was. :) There is a smell in my house that only I can smell. NO ONE else in my house can smell it. The neighbors can't smell it (unless they're just being polite). My mom can't smell it (and she's never smoked). But this smell is driving me NUTS. When I wake up at night, I smell it. When I come out of my bedroom I smell it. When I first walk in the house, it overwhelms my senses. It is not a pleasant smell. I am getting headaches from this smell! It kind of smells like when you leave damp clothes in the washer overnight. But there's nothing there. It's a cross between mildewy and moldy. I've taken everything out from under the sink. I've gotten down on my hands and knees and personally smelled under my refrigerator. I've sniffed around the washer. I've sniffed the dishwasher. I've sniffed the drain. I'm completely obsessed with finding the reason for this odor. All I need is my little cape, hat, and pipe and you ,might confuse me with Sherlock Holmes. *wink* I CAN NOT FIND THE SOURCE OF THIS ODOR AND I'M GOING NUTS. Tomorrow I am going to solve this mystery if it's the last thing I do. Wish me luck... and wish my family patience and understanding. :)

posted by Gracie @ 8/11/2006 10:36:00 PM 18 comments

Saying "Thanks"

I'm not really a political person. I won't generally discuss my views. Not because I don't want to argue, but just because they're mine. And I like it like that. So, don't think I'm implying anything in one way or another by posting this. "It is what it is." Kristine? Shaun? Everyone? Are you cringing yet? LOL I cringed when I typed it, but that statement sums up what. this. is. It's not a political thumping. It's not a pro-war shout out. It's not an anti-war slam. It's not anything more than wanting to share with you something that you can do that is...nice. If you go to the web site http://www.letssaythanks.com/ you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services. This isn't about whether you think the war in Iraq is right or not. It's not about whether you like President Bush or think he did the right thing. It IS about supporting our troops and making sure they know, no matter the circumstances, that you support THEM--as human beings doing a job they volunteered to do. And it's about thanking them...and letting them know that it's not only their families & friends who think about them and pray for them and hope they come home alive and well. It is FREE and it only takes a second. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these? I sent mine, now you send one too! And here's the link to a sister-site: http://www.give2thetroops.org/

posted by Gracie @ 8/10/2006 05:07:00 PM 7 comments

Firsts & Lasts

Here we have the TaterTots on their very first official first day of school as a group--

And here they are today--Their very first official First Day of School with all of them as students!

I waved and blew a kiss to a retreating backside. His teacher smiled indulgently and reassured me this child she'd only met the night before was in "good hands" and that he would "be fine". She's not a mother. She is clueless. But I left him in her care anyway.

No, this wasn't the first time I'd done this, but it was the last. My baby is no longer a baby yet he will remain so for the rest of his life. I'm not much of a gusher or sentimental "fool" but this hit me hard. Lil Guy is great. And I'll be fine...

(PS: And if they screw him up, I'm gonna hurt someone!)

posted by Gracie @ 8/09/2006 06:55:00 PM 8 comments

Exhausted.

I got lots to say and no time in which to say it. Today is the first day of school and I have three kids and myself to get ready and out of here within a shorter-than-humanly-possible time. I am wasting 10 minutes drinking coffee and blogging! Running on 4.5 hours of sleep. LONG day ahead. Details and hopefully a picture of the FIRST time ALL THREE of my boys GO TO SCHOOL. YIKES! ...off to the races again :)

posted by Gracie @ 8/09/2006 05:59:00 AM 2 comments

100 Blogs Old!

Welp, THIS is the actual 100th post. Yippee! Yahoo! Aah-Oooga! C'mon in! We've got... Party Hats! Party Horns! Balloons! Cake! Punch! Musical Chairs! Pin the Tail on the Gracie Donkey! (whoops!) C'mon! You can dance! For inspiration! (I know you know that one, Cheeky!!) http://factsofgrace.blogspot.com/ Check 'em out! ;)

posted by Gracie @ 8/07/2006 07:21:00 PM 5 comments

Facts of Grace

Okay...this is it...Part ONE! http://factsofgrace.blogspot.com/ Better hurry up and race over there if you want the answers to some of the questions that keep you up at night! Shoo! Git! Scat! *wink*

posted by Gracie @ 8/06/2006 01:20:00 PM 4 comments

Busy Busy Busy

How do women who work outside the home all the time do it? I don't get it. I feel like all I ever do is play "catch-up" and that sucks. I'm the kinda girl who likes to bust booty to get things done then have some relaxation time and kick back and enjoy the day/evening/night/weekend. I can't seem to get that last part anymore. There is always one-more-thing-to-do. Then I fall asleep. Even when I had a newborn baby I didn't feel this busy. Maybe it was because at least then, I could guarantee myself at 20 minutes or so to "rest" every few hours while I was nursing. LOL All I know is that I'm not particularly happy with this busyness. And I'm the only one who can change it. **Edit: My FIL is only 73--NOT 75! Heaven forbid I age him before his time!! Yikes.** This weekend (Sat), the family is giving my FIL a birthday party. He'll be 75. He's an interesting man, but I don't know him well. He was born into a sharecropper's family. Joined the Army when he was 17, fought in Korea, came home, got married, worked for a yam farmer, managed to raise 6 children, buy land, a house, a new (used) car every 3 years, and retire with some comfort. His health is declining with age, but he can still give my MIL hell if he decides to! LOL I'm married to #4 in the line-up/ #2 Son. He's always been friendly in a standoffish type way. He's typical of his generation, I suppose. I'm a woman, so unless he needs something from me, he isn't going to engage me in conversation. Women weren't to be educated on the "ways of the world" in a manner that was worthy of debate or intelligent conversation in his day. They were only good for sex, having babies, raising babies, and cooking-n-cleaning. If you wanted to discuss world politics, the weather, or anything of substance, you did it with your male counterparts--not wife, your friends' wives, and by all means, not your sons' wives. *shrug* We'll go, celebrate his birth, eat way too much food, "enjoy" the company of ALL. THE. SIBLINGS. AND. THEIR. CHILDREN. and come home and hopefully pass out. :) This is also the last weekend before school starts. I need to hem pants, finish buying school supples (for my kids) and finish Lil Guy's "nap blanket". Yep, doesn't look like things will be slowing down anytime soon...! How long til Thanksgiving break?

posted by Gracie @ 8/04/2006 06:43:00 AM 8 comments

23 Skidoo

23 skidoo (sometimes 23 skiddoo) is an American slang phrase popularized in the early Twentieth Century (first appearing before World War I and becoming popular in the Roaring Twenties). It generally refers to leaving quickly. And that means I'm going to try to be brief and get this done quickly! I had my first full night of sleep last night. Let me tell ya...that was GREAT! I have no guarantees about tonight or any other nights, and I can't tell you what was so different about last night, but it felt good to sleep straight through the night (and only get up to pee once)! School! School! School! Here is my latest list of requests. As the acting Admissions Coordinator, I'm getting to know a whole different side of people; Up close and personal, ya might say... Number 1: Please, people, do your local school Admissions Coordinator a HUGE favor--register before the week before school starts. P L E A S E. Number 2: If the door to the Admissions Office is locked. Take a hint. Come back tomorrow during the hours posted on the outside of the door. Just because there is a frazzled looking woman standing in there talking on the phone is no reason to continuously bang on the door and look in the window while shouting through the sound-proof (mostly) glass telling her that you're here to register your child. K? Thanks. Number 3: If there happens to be a cute lil basket with peppermints in it on the corner of the desk, feel free to take ONE. Really. Other people might enjoy having one too. :) Number 4: If you walk into an office and you see someone is on the phone, there are several people waiting to be helped, and the person on the phone happens to be the person you need to see, please refrain from shoving the person standing in front of the counter out of the way and tapping on the desk and asking loudly, "Hey! Is this where I needa come to get my kid registered?" (Um, no. You "needa" go down the street to the public school that really has no choice but to accept your rude ways and the children who will likely be as rude as you... ) And most important of all--Number 5: Please, please, PLEASE if your child needs to have their diaper changed, by ALL MEANS, feel free to utilize the bathroom facilities BEFORE squishing the ooze sitting them down on the countertop. And also--feel free to say "excuse the mess" before you leave with your 3 yr old Tasmanian Devil child, too. Thank you for your time. *painted on grin* (I really do love my job--just sometimes the people are a bit over the top!) Ciao* PS: I've begun workin' on my 100th post...those "burning questions" will all be answered! If there are any late takers...get them to me! *wink*

posted by Gracie @ 8/02/2006 09:06:00 PM 3 comments

I've been tagged!

I've Been Tagged! I've been tagged by IrishChurchLady to: 1. Do the following WITHOUT complaint. 2. Choose five people to do this after you've completed yours. 3. Leave a tag on the person's tagboard to say he/she has been tagged. 4. Start your post with I have been tagged! Then do this. (copy and paste!) Favourites: Favourite Colour: blue--any shade I love 'em all. Favourite Food: crawfish etouffe *swoon* Favourite Movie: I waffle between "Gone With The Wind" and "My Fair Lady" and The Godfather1 & 2. Favourite Sport: to watch? college football to play? swimming Favourite Day of the Week: Wednesday Favourite Season: Spring Favourite Ice Cream: Chocolate Chip Mint Currents: Current Mood: fair Current Clothes: jammies Current Desktop: pic of my boys on Memorial Day Current Time: 5:51 am Current Surroundings: livingroom Current Annoyances: the fact I'm awake and have been for the last hour (way too early!) Current Thoughts: thinking of my friend whose mother just passed away; things to do at work; something I forgot to do yesterday; finding the tickets for the Wiggles before I leave for work, remembering to iron my shirt before I put it on and have to rush to do it before I head out the door, wondering if I'm going to have a dip n my hair from wearing it in a clip all night...Any wonders why I can't sleep?? First: First Best Friend: Janet. She moved in down the street from me when we were two. We were the only girls in our neighborhood and became friends through default, although we did enjoy each others company tremendously. Her parents divorced (quite the scandal, yet, in the early 70s), her mom got weird, we moved and I switched schools, and we grew apart. We saw each other occasionally in Jr. High, but completely lost touch when I went to 9th grade and she didn't. I haven't seen her since. Last: Last Drink: non-alcoholic? coffee; alcoholic? cosmopolitan Last Car Ride: yesterday on the way home from work Last Crush: I used to never, NEVER have celebrity crushes, but since I've hit my mid-30s, watch out! Matthew(just cuz he's so dang beautiful), Liam Neeson (only reason to watch Star Wars 1), Orlando Bloom (NOT as Legolas!!), Fabrizio Moretti (The Strokes' drummer). I don't indulge in real-time crushes. LOL Only ones that are so far out of the realm of possibility that they're "safe". ;) Last Phone Call: My sister-in-law (bday party for the FIL on Saturday) Last CD played: mix of tunes by The Floating Men Have you ever: Have you ever dated one of your best friends: yes Have you ever broken the law: yes Have you ever been arrested: nope! Have you ever been on TV: yes (the news) Have you ever kissed someone you dont know: yes--EW. (New Year's Eve 1986 at a bar--some drunk lunatic grabbed me and shoved his disgusting dragon-tongue into my mouth. I almost puked--right before I kneed him and shoved him into a wall.) *sweet smile* Things: 5 things you are good at: organizing, cooking, planning, worrying, navigating 4 things you have done today: sweated (hot flash, tyvm), gone potty, drank coffee, read blogs 3 things you can hear right now: cat crunching her food, clock ticking, hum of cpu tower Okay, since I'm really no good at tagging people (the only time I've ever done it, she'd already played!), I'm going to "recommend" that Beth do this since she's been needing things to write about and choppz...you need something to get your mind off the heat and how to entertain the kiddies! And that's the best I can do! LOL PS: Cheeky is such a sweetie! I tagged her yesterday, but she'd already done the meme. I wasn't going to tag her again today 'cause I didn't want her to feel like I was "hounding her"... Instead, she just volunteered to do this meme! What a sweetie! Thanks Cheeky!!

posted by Gracie @ 8/01/2006 05:46:00 AM 10 comments