Let's Go!

Boy howdie, that last post really got y'all all flustered! I've had calls from all sorts of long lost folks wondering what in the world was about to change. I'm afraid you may be sorely disappointed. It's not that exciting! Thanks to my friend Tiffany I got the itch for a change of scenery. I felt a little outdated and well, perhaps a bit blah. I needed some updating and a new look... a different look. So I contacted Jennisa and got the ball rolling. It's been about 3 months in the making (she's very good & apparently popular) and today is moving day. So let's go! We're moving. No... not just me and my family... ALL of US... you too. Yes, you. Let's go!

CLICK HERE! CLICK HERE!

How do y'all feel about Change?

Stay Tuned....

China Trip Tuesdays

Today we're going to talk about something that is not a mainstream American habit but is quite common in China: CARRYING UMBRELLAS to protect yourself from the sun. Unless you are a modern-day Scarlett O'Hara and don't want your fair skin tanned by the sun, most of us here the in States walk out in the mid-day sun with little more than sunglasses or a ball cap to protect (mainly our eyes) from the blaring sun. We drive cars with A/C... we take buses with A/C... we don't walk anywhere very far... we wear shorts, tank tops or sundresses to stay cool... we have good accessibility to swimming pools, sprinklers and clean lakes... we're addicted to sunscreen and icy drinks... we have battery operated fans that spray mist... our buildings have central air... and most adults and lots of children wear sunglasses. In China, the preceeding statements, are not true for most citizens. And thus, they use umbrellas to shade themselves from the hot summer sun. In Guangdong Province in Southern China where the climate is sub-tropical, the summertime heat brings afternoon thundershowers. Our guide Connie said the ladies of Guangzhou always carry an umbrella in their purse for both the sun and the rain.

Carrying an umbrella isn't just for the ladies. Here a group of men shade themselves while shooting the breeze. Notice how none of them have on shorts.

Here's another group I captured. I love the sweet guy holding the umbrella for his girl. I was lucky Big Daddy T gave me a couple yuan for a bottle of water. (I kid.)

Camp Summertime

(This post will make my Mother's skin crawl. My Dad will wonder where he went wrong. And Big Daddy T thinks I'm ridiculous. )

The summer is quickly slipping away here in way-too-hot Georgia and that means before long we'll have to close down Camp Summertime to get ready to go "Back-to-School." I am a single mom most of the work week while Big Daddy T is in Hotlanta chasing his entrepreneurial dreams. Instead of all my kiddos piling in my bed while Daddy's away, I established Camp Summertime. You see, I gave birth to 3 little nighttime scaredy cats. When the sun goes down the jitters rise up. Heck, I remember being nervous at night when I was a kid. And I suppose if I were honest, where the kids sleep at night... specifically in their own assigned beds... is not a battle I care to fight. As long as they get sound, restful sleep... especially in the summertime when we tend to live life a little freer... I'm happy. So, I started in my big girls room, which they share, with a twin bed for each. Then I rounded up all the extra comforters from over the years and made 2 very soft... very thick pallets on the floor. Little Lilly Lu is in her crib across the hall... I'm not that nuts... and with the 2 beds & 2 pallets... all 4 of us can sleep in the same room. No nighttime jitters, no scary dreams, the kiddos get better sleep which means I get better sleep. I get 1 bed... again, I'm not that nuts... and would you believe the 3 fight over the pallets instead of the other bed? We have had such great summertime slumbers all cozy & cool in the room together... I'm actually going to miss Camp Sumemrtime when we get back in the school routine.

I'm not sure who came up with these, but my favorite brother-in-law "Chief" passed them along to me. Girls... you know it's true!

9 WORDS WOMEN USE

1. "Fine:" This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

2. "Five Minutes:" If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

3. "Nothing:" This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.

4. "Go Ahead:" This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!

5. Loud Sigh: This is actually not a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of nothing.)

6. "That's Okay:" This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

7. "Thanks:" A woman is thanking you, do not question, or Faint. Just say you're welcome. (I want to add in a clause here - This is true, unless she says "Thanks a lot" - that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say 'you're welcome' ... that will bring on a 'whatever').

8. "Whatever:" Is a woman's way of saying "Kiss my GRITS!"

9. "Don't worry about it, I got it:" Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking 'What's wrong?' For the woman's response refer to # 3.*

(Unfortunately)
I LOVE IT!!!

People, there's a reason I'm not fitting into my old clothes. Well, actually more than 1... more like 790 reasons. Yep... 790 filthy, dirty, wicked calories. And to my detriment... I'm addicted to each and every one of them! If you haven't tried Chic-fil-a's new Cookies & Cream HomeSpun Milkshake get up in the morning and go get you one. Especially you skinny folks! And you gotta go tomorrow 'cause the next day will be Sunday and then you'll have to wait another WHOLE 24 hours to enjoy the sinfulness of this beloved dessert. I have to cut back... I think I probably had 4 of them this week... perhaps 5... and I'm feeling the urge to purge... no I'm lying... looking at this picture is making my mouth water and I'm trying to justify in my mind going back for a 5th or 6th tomorrow! They might think I'm the Chic-fil-A cow and ask me to hold a sign and stand out by the road trying to get the folks driving by to "Eat More Chikin!" But that's my problem... you get shakin' (no pun intended) and go try one!

Look What My Baby Girl Can Do!

It took her a few weeks to get the mechanics and rhythm of crawling down, but last week she took off. Now she's crawling around and pulling up on everything... and this week, falling down less... getting more steady on her feet. We are in love!

Here

she

comes

to

Mama!!!

And up my leg she climbs!