Baby Love, My Baby Love...

Georgia had her first dance recital this past Saturday. She's only been taking dance since the last week in March, but she was as good as the others in her class. Of course, we are talking about 3-5 year olds so "good" is all relative. Regardless, I was very proud of my little girl.

The theme was Billboard's Top 100. Her class danced to "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and "Baby Love." Since I was a backstage mom, I only got to see her class perform. The rest of my time was spent dressing the 3-5 year olds for their next number, and keeping them from having a meltdown until performance time. Most of them skipped their naps, so keeping them content for several hours was a chore in itself.

We had fun, though, and Georgia told me she so was happy on the stage. This just confirmed what I had already suspected -- she is a drama queen. Being the former Queen of all Drama Queens myself, I totally get where she's coming from. It's exhiliarating to be on stage giving it your all. Hearing the applause after you've done your best is a priceless reward. Best of all? She loves it!

I feel bad for always discussing the challenges that she brings to our family. In all honesty, our lives would be empty and boring without her. She is strong, determined, smart, and funny. She is not afraid to go after what she wants. She is a natural leader with phenomenal intuition. She works hard, and plays harder. All in all, she is the total package.

Watch out world! One of God's most precious gifts is developing with great beauty and talent. Love her or leave her; she is my Georgia B.!

Fallyn and Georgia sharing a pre-show hug!


Georgia backstage practicing her tap dance.

They really don't get any more beautiful than this!

Mean Girls Turn Into Mean Women

Why are women so complex? Why are we so competitive and critical at times then loving and nurturing at others? We are our own worst enemies! You never have to worry about a man making you feel bad about yourself because there's always a "girlfriend" to help you out with that.

I don't expect to be BFFs with every woman I know. I have absolutely nothing in common with some. We have different life experiences and cannot connect. I get that, and it doesn't bother me. It is human nature to surround yourself with people whose company you actually enjoy. I like to be liked, but I don't necessarily need to be on everyone's speed dial. I don't expect to receive baked goods at Christmas. I am not even expecting my female acquaintances to acknowledge my birthday. I do, however, expect them to be polite. When they are not, it freakin' PISSES ME OFF!

NEWSFLASH. We are not in high school anymore, people! So why do some women insist on being rude? I'm not talking about Emily Post and her rules on proper etiquette. I'm just talking about human decency! Seriously...

If you see someone you know in the grocery store, don't just go about your business without acknowledging them. Don't avoid making eye contact or pretend you don't see them especially when you know that they see you. If you don't want to talk to folks because you look like death on a cracker, hide in the cereal aisle. But DON'T, I repeat, DON'T walk by them without so much as a smile or nod. That is just plain rude and not very nice.

I admit that I can be a bitch at times. I shoot straight from the hip, and am not a good liar. If there's an opinion to be had, I definitely have one. However, I do not purposefully shun people. If I hurt someone's feelings, I do not do it intentionally. And once I discover that I have hurt someone's feelings, I am truly apologetic. I am sarcastic and quick-witted, but I am not MEAN! Furthermore, I don't like MEAN people.

I think the next time I run into a rude female acquaintance at the Piggly Wiggly, I will loudly and boisterously go over and greet her with a great, big hug. I may even use a very loud voice to ask for a cigarette (even though neither of us smokes) just to see the mortified look on her face. Wouldn't that be hilarious??

We all know an uptight woman so just visualize it. Can you just see her face pucker up with disdain? I can't help but smile just thinking about it. I figure it serves her right for being rude. Maybe next time instead of pretending I don't exist, she'll hide behind the Diet Coke display on aisle 13...

Food Is Supposed to be Fun...

When I gave blood at school last month, I found out my cholesterol was up. I'd gotten a few high readings last year, but it was back down to normal when I had my OB visit in December. I thought I was in the clear...but no!


I went to my family doctor to have it tested yet again only to discover that it is 239!!! For those of you who have no idea to what I am referring, your cholesterol should be under 200. Cholesterol from 201-239 puts one at borderline high risk, and anything over 240 means that you are high risk. Oh, and the "risk" is developing heart disease and DYING of a heart attack. No biggie, right?



My doctor said to eat better, exercise more, and come back for a retest in three months. Easy enough, huh? Not exactly. First of all, I HATE to exercise. I go a few times a week, but I'd rather have all my fingernails ripped off. Seriously...I don't consider sweating like a whore in church while my flabby butt jiggles an exhilirating experience. I envy those people who enjoy working out, but I suspect they are big, fat LIARS. No amount of positive self-talk can make me like exercising.


Secondly, a low cholesterol diet sucks! While I don't eat many fried foods because I'm too lazy to cook them, I love bread, eggs, magarine, 2% milk, beef, and anything with high fructose corn syrup! I just love food and dessert and cereal and candy and Coke and... Now my diet must consist of lots of fruit, vegetables, fiber, whole grain, fish, bran, and anything without flavor.


You may look at the list and think, "that's not too bad." And in all honestly, I like fruits and vegetables. What I don't like is having to consume so many of them in place of the desserts that I prefer! Most fiber, bran, and whole grains are okay, I guess. I bought a loaf of some substance posing as "bread" the other day. It's more like some seeds and twigs with a crust. I don't know how I'll get that down with my spaghetti (made only with the leanest cuts of beef, of course). And fish?? I absolutely LOVE fish...when it's covered in a thick corn-based batter, fried in a huge vat, and served with tartar sauce and hush puppies. Not so sure that's what my doc has in mind...


Now I'm feeling depressed. I want CAKE! I want COOKIES and CHOCOLATE and ICE CREAM!!! Whaaaaa! I know I'm being a cry baby, but food is supposed to be fun and taste good, dammit! It's not meant to just nourish my body. Why do you think God invented chocolate cake??? Oooh, I could SO go for some chocolate cake...


I hope it gets better. I certainly don't want to die from heart disease. At the same time, though, can't they invent a calorie-free, sugar-free, trans fat-free candy bar? Screw a cure for the swine flu! This is far more important.


I guess I need to put a picture of a stripper on my fridge. It will serve as a reminder of what type of woman would raise my children if I died. I know my husband; he'd married the first nympho/stripper that crossed his path. Then my daughter would get her belly button pierced for her fourth birthday.


I better eat the seeds and twigs.

Saved! By The 700 Club

My mother is still the same, but working hard to build her strength. She was in good spirits today and sounded encouraged. I am so glad I got to visit with her last weekend. Enough with the depressing news...



While I was there, one of my favorite aunts came to visit. I say she's one of my favorites because she can make me laugh until I pee in my pants. When I was a kid, I used to love to go over her house. She has six kids so she never minded a few more tag alongs. I loved to hang out with my cousins, but I mostly went over her house for another ambulance-chasing adventure and a hilarious story about her youth.



Aunt Sherry is an incredible story teller. It is a God-given talent of which she is entirely unaware. However, I look forward to opportunities with her. I love her stories! I've yet to visit with her and not hear a brand, new tale. For someone who hasn't really been out of Biloxi, she's got a lot to talk about.



This past weekend she shared a story about how she found God. As expected, though, it was not your typical near-death or rock bottom experience that led her to the Lord. No, my aunt was saved by the 700 Club.


Apparently, she and my uncle would catch the 700 Club from time to time when there was nothing else on television. But one day, the message really hit her. She had to accept Jesus into her life. And she did just that... via telephone... with my uncle on the other line. She and my uncle both were saved by a phone operator working for the 700 Club.


She was so excited about being saved that she couldn't stop talk about it. She wanted to talk to anyone and everyone that would listen. She's not the type to "witness" in a formal setting, and I'd dare say that she's not been to church since she was a kid. Nonetheless, she found opportunities to preach the gospel.


At that time, she was a manager of a small ice cream shop. After being saved, she talked about Jesus to all of her customers and employees. She would turn an innocent comment about the weather into a full-fledged sermon. People she knew thought she was crazy; people she didn't know thought she was crazy. Her boss threatened to fire her if she didn't stop preaching at work.


Just as the Disciples, however, she continued to spread the word regardless of the consequences. This infuriated her boss, but he didn't have a chance to fire her. Ya see, God was working in her life. Before he could actually fire her, he went backrupt and closed down the shop...and Aunt Sherry was able to draw unemployment.


Her exact words???


See, that was God!

My Mama Is Very Sick!

My mom is sick, as many of you know. She found out about 5-6 years ago that she had Hepatitis C. She has no IDEA how she contracted it. She was never involved in any "high risk" activities. Her doctors suspect was from a blood transfusion she had back in the mid-70s. She never even knew until she was hospitalized with colitis.



Because she went undiagnosed for many years, her liver was completely ravaged by the time she went for treatment. As a result, the doctors had to stop the Hep C treatments and focus on the cirrhosis (i.e. liver disease). Ever since her health has steadily been on the decline. She is now wheelchair bound and requires around-the-clock care.

She's been under the care of the transplant doctors at UAB in Birmingham, AL, for awhile now. Each time she goes there, she spends about 3 days going through a gazillion and one tests. They rank the diseases progression on a scale from 6 to 40. A 6 is for the less ill; a 40 is for those in critical condition and near death. Those who are in the 18-20 range are placed on the donor list.

At my mom's last appointment a few days ago, her MELD score was a 23. She's considered a top priority case, and will be placed at the top of the list for a transplant. HOWEVER, the doctors say that she is too weak right now to survive the surgery!!! This means, "yes" he disease warrants a transplant. "No," she's not a candidate. I just want to SCREAM!

I do understand, though. A transplant organ is a precious gift not to be wasted. If she cannot survive the surgery, then that liver has been wasted. It cannot be transplanted into another patient due to time constraints. They don't open up a couple of people and pray the organ works on one of them. (Although, I may suggest that.)

I feel so helpless right now. I live so far away from her. My poor daddy has been at it alone. He's up every few hours with her. His world revolves around her care. He doesn't even feel comfortable going to the grocery store fearing that something might happen to her while he's away. That's a lot for a 61 year old man to endure. I'm scared if he had a health exam, they'd tell him he's on death's door due to stress-related illnesses.

I am already planning a visit at the end of June, but I need to see her now. I'm driving down today to try and help my dad and spend some time with my mom. I have to see her! I feel like she may have given up. But if any of you know my mom, she's a fiesty little thing. She's not a quitter! Hopefully, I can remind her of that and help her find the motivation to GET UP and MOVE! If she doesn't get moving and build up her strength, I will be planning her funeral in 6 months.

PLEASE PRAY FOR CHERYL JADE DAVIS TIBLIER! Pray that she will put her faith in God and her trust in the transplant doctors at UAB.

Team Blue

Okay Liz, this is for you!

My pregnant friend had the BIG appointment today, and found out she's having a boy. This is her third child and her third boy. I texted her before I left school because another friend, B, and I were dying to know! B was really hoping for a girl. Of course, B only has a daughter so she hasn't yet experienced the joys of a son. Consequently, I came up with a little list of just a few of the reasons...

Why Boys Are Better

• They are crazy about their mothers! Just ask Freud...


• They are far less dramatic than girls.


• My friend won't have to "share" her royal throne with anyone else in the house.


• Boys are FUN!


• Boys are good at mowing the lawn.


• Boys can move the heavy stuff.


• Boys DO NOT turn into teenaged girls (at least, not without medical intervention).


• Boys will always get a date if they want one, but girls can go dateless for years if no one asks.


• Boys don't require make up.


• Boys get ready for school much quicker than girls.


• She won't have to share her clothes, her shoes, her jewelry, etc.


• Barbershop haircuts are cheap!


• Boys cannot get pregnant! They may get someone pregnant, but the chances are not as great that my friend will have to raise her own grandchild. Statistically, that burden typically goes to the maternal grandparents.


• Boys can get high dollar scholarships and even million dollar pro contracts if they excel in sports.


• Boys turn into men who rule the world and make more money doing it! (A reality that sucks big time!)


• Boys (and men) are putty in the hands of their mamas!

Congratulations, Liz! Go Team Blue!

Forks in the Road of Life

Today I learned that two of my former friends were arrested over the weekend. I say former, but nothing really happened to cause our parting. Our lives just went in different directions. I can't help but wonder, though, how and why do people do the things they do???

The people to which I am referring were arrested for manufacturing meth. (I'm displaying a perplexed face even as I type this.) WTH?? How do you get to that point in your life? Honestly, how do you wake up one morning and say, "Hey, I've got a good idea!" Really, was this the last resort? Did they have starving children to feed? Were they in jeopardy of becoming homeless? Did some drug dealer hold a gun to their heads and force them to make it or else? If any of these reasons were the case, I might be a bit more sympathetic.

However, as is ALWAYS the case, there were no extentuating circumstances. There was nothing noble about their make-shift lab. They weren't conducting secret experiments hoping to find a cure for cancer. It was just plain, ol' stupidity and greed mixed with a little addiction. Blagghh! It makes me sick!

Have they never seen Intervention? Meth leaves you with pus-filled scabs on your face and rotten teeth. It makes you paranoid and willing to sell your first-born child. I've seen people go from a nice home with nice cars to eating out of trash cans! (Not in real life, of course, but on the show.) They lose everything! And for what?? I don't even see the attraction.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying these folks went from an Amish lifestyle to crystal meth over night. My friends were always partiers - heck, so was I! Which brings me to my original thought... What the heck happened??? How did it go from playing cards and drinking a few beers on Sunday afternoons to snorting and making meth? When did they come to that proverbial fork in the road?

Ya know what makes the entire drama even worse (and STUPID to the 45th power)? The girl's husband (now her ex) spent some time in a federal prison for the EXACT. SAME. THING. I don't know which comedian I heard say it, but we really do need to put STUPID stickers on people. If these two don't deserve a "Jackass of the Day" award, I don't know who does.

Ridiculous... and D-U-M-B! I know it's harsh, but they belong in jail. Too bad the judge can't tack another 3 years onto their sentence for being stupid. I can hear him now:

Well, Miss E, you have been found guilty of manufacturing a control substance
with the intent to distribute. For that, I am sentencing you to 5
years. In addition, the verdict was unanimous, and you've been
convicted of being a complete idiot. Therefore, you are sentenced to
another 3 years to be served consecutively. May God have mercy on
your soul.

That last part was added for a little court room drama Law & Order style.