I'm Old, Leave Me Alone!!!

Doesn't tonsilitis realize I am 44 years old? Doesn't it normally like to bother the snot out of kiddos and not old people like me? On Tuesday, when I was preparing to leave my parent's house after a nice visit, I began having the worst kind of pain in my mouth and my neck. I thought my tooth was hurting, felt like it was the tooth, couldn't figure out why, but sent my hubby to get something to make the pain go away. I spent 3.5 hours in the backseat of my hubby's truck with 3 dogs driving back to Atlanta with what I thought was a toothache from hell! Wednesday is spent at the pool with Will and his girlfriend, popping tylenol like m&m's because the pain was so incredible. By the time we arrived back home, I was feverish, my neck was swollen and I couldn't swallow. Took me a good look at the 'ol throat with a penlight shoved in my mouth. OMG!!! I have never seen such a mess with my tonsils. My left tonsil was so swollen and distorted, looking alot like something Picasso may have painted. So now its been a couple of days, I'm taking meds, but I still can't eat, swallow or open my mouth very wide (hubby likes this part). So I am asking all of you, why does 'ol tonsilitis feel a need to bother me, I'm old!!!!????!!!!

Happy Father's Day

I am blessed. I am blessed by God for having an amazing man to call Daddy. And yes, I still call him daddy. Paul H. Tyree has given me so much in life. I didn't get to spend much time with him growing up as he travelled with his job. He worked as a Millwright supervisor for Daniels International Construction and was always on the road. Depending on where he was, it could be weeks or months between visits. It was hard on all of us, but it was our way of life and we dealt with it. Although being on a farm, I know Mom would have liked to have had him home more, especially during calving, etc.

My daddy is super smart. He can tell you just about anything about anything. He can do mathematical figures in his head like nothing else, he can give you directions to anywhere in this Nation you would want to go and ask him about airplanes and cars and he is in his element. I was around 12 years old when my daddy got his pilots license. I remember it well, he was working in Jacksonville, FL and he flew my mom, sister and me to visit him for a week. While there, we travelled to St. Augustine to visit, but also so that he could sit for his pilots test. It was a long hot day for us waiting for him, but when he came out, he was grinning from ear to ear. He loved flying. Our weekends were spent either on the racetrack where he was racing a little blue racecar by the name of 14Jr or at the airfield where he was flying his red and white cessna. Funny, he would never ever fly any of us. If we wanted to go flying, he would always have another pilot take us up, he said he didn't want to be responsible for anything happening to his family.

I can remember the day I graduated, he was there. I remember the day I got married, he was there to walk me down the aisle and tease me that he was going to belt me a good one with the rice bag. He was there when I told him he was going to be a grandfather for the first time, although he was in Vermont the day of my labor, but made it home only a few hours afterwards and made the nurses laugh because they could hear him all the way down the hall talking to his new granddaughter. He was there when he found out again, he was going to be a grandfather and he was there for all three of his grandsons births. He has been there for all of his grandchildren's events and special times in their lives. He has offered wisdom when needed and sometimes when I thought I didn't need it, but turned out I did. He has suffered thru the bad times, he has rejoiced thru the good times. He has smiled, he has cried, he has laughed and he has turned red with anger. But the one thing consistent thru it all has been his love.

Today I am blessed to spend time with my dad. To share one more memory, a memory that he may not remember in a few months. You see, my daddy is suffering from Alzheimers. It breaks my heart to know that this man, who seems to have all the wisdom in the world and all the love and compassion in his heart will someday soon not even recognize me. He will not remember my graduation, my wedding day, the births of all the grandchildren or the day we spent in St. Augustine. But I will.

Happy Father's Day Daddy, I love you to the sky and back.

Dancing with his only granddaughter at her wedding. I love this picture.

A New Blog, A New Start, A New Day

So much has happened in my life this past year, things that I don't care to discuss here, but issues and events that I never in my 44 years ever thought would happen to me. So I'm telling everyone right now, don't ever think you are exempt from anything bad (or good) happening to you, because you aren't. Always plan each moment as if the next, life might throw something at you that is going to change your life forever.

So with that, I am beginning things anew, or at least trying to, trying to put my life back together after it was torn apart. I am starting by beginning this fun new blog. I want to use this as an outlet to gripe, share, meet new friends, gather new ideas and insights. I want it to be my stress relief from all that is trying to take ahold. But I have news for all that darkness that wants me, I am a true southern gal, I will persevere with grace and dignity and if all else fails, I will kick it's ass.

So come on and follow me and we will have some rockin' good times with cooking, crafting, family and humor I will share my life and all the quirkiness of what that includes and I hope you share with me.

Those housewives of Orange County, et al, have nothing on this Southern gal.

WELCOME!