Lovin' my iPad

For my birthday, DH bought me an iPad. He even encouraged me to get it early and get it "loaded up". I'm pretty sure my kids were pleased to know that an iTunes gift certificate would become the perfect gift. I'm apparently pretty hard to shop for...

I have purchased a few "apps for that" and several of them have come in handy. There's one that finds your location and then you can speak the type of food you're interested in and it will identify restaurants within a set number of miles. I played with the speech portion for a while and it even parses my dreadful Texas drawl. Very cool.

But the best thing about my new iPad is that I can listen to audio books for HOURS... it has a ten hour battery life. It's been really fun. As I clean house, do chores or sew, I'm listening to audio books. So convenient.

At our family reunion, I managed to entertain the grandbabies with their favorite games. Sneezies and Paper Toss will keep two and three year olds entertained for a long, long time. And that means sitting on Grandee's lap the whole time!

I've never been happier with a large purchase. I've loved my computers, but there was always a frustration factor associated with getting them loaded with my information. The iPad was easy to get information installed on. Even when I accidentally put a bunch of music on it. As soon as I figured out what went wrong, I selected a single check mark and it all got backed off. Very nice sync function.

I had a buddy rave about this device. I thought he'd drunk the Koolaid. Now that I've had a couple of months to play with mine, I've drunk it too.

--Sandee Wagner

The Simple Life Meets Project Runway

The only reality show that I've gotten hooked on is Project Runway. The Great Race left me in the dust, Dancing with the Stars makes me yawn and I can't work up any enthusiasm for American Idol. But when you get a bunch of emotional designers into a room and make them all sew haute couture, then that's worth watching.

So, last night, I videochatted up my good friend as we both watched Project Runway together. When she lived in town, she always came over on Thursday nights and we watched it together. When she moved to the East Coast, we decided that technology meant we didn't have to forgo the tradition.

I have given a lot of thought to why I love this show. I'm pretty sure that it's because it's a creative process. It's all about the fashions. I'm not a fashionista. I don't know what's in and what's not. But I do make clothing. I know how hard it is to draw a pattern and make a garment. The fact that they do what they do in such a short time period is stunning to me.

Last season, the one hour Project Runway show was followed by a half hour Models of the Runway show. If you can imagine skinny, pretty girls carping about their lot in life while they live in LA or NYC, then you can see why that show didn't make it. Who cares about the hangars the clothing comes on?

This season, they extended Project Runway to a 90 minute show. So my friend and I spent the same amount of time online, but it was all the runway drama. Very fun. During one commercial break, I noticed that two previous contestants who finaled in their season had a show on. I stayed tuned for On the Road with Austin & Santino (http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/on-the-road-with-austin-santino).

All I can say is wow. This really flashed me back to Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie doing "The Simple Life". Two people who don't belong are dropped into some community where they stick out like a sore thumb. In the case of the Simple Life, they did stupid things and spoke inanely. In the case of On The Road, they make a fabulous dress for some local chick out of only the fabric and notions locally available.

And there you have it. My fascination.

You see, when they are able to make a fabulous creation out of the lovely stuff available at Mood, I'm not surprised. Mood is like Mecca for a cloth lover or seamstress.

When they can make fashion out of the fabric available in a small town variety store... now that's talent. Last night, Austin and Santino made a party dress for a cowgirl in Weatherford, TX. I've been to Weatherford and I've known cowgirls like that. What those two crazy designers did for that little lady was amazing. And they did it with crap from the boot and bridle store and the local drug store. Really.

The juxtaposition of these crazy gay/straight designers and cowboy society was so interesting. They treated it like a fascinating gift--or another dimension. And they were gracious and kind, not stupid. So when I say it's like The Simple Life, I mean in the 'fish out of water' way, not in the Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie dumb way.

As always, these two designers understand how to make a woman look lovely in a dress. They both get a woman's form and how to maximize the good parts and minimize the flaws. They could not have picked a more interesting duo for this show. Both of these characters were full of drama and sass in their seasons on PR. Now, seeing them with their own venue is fun. I can't wait to see where all they end up.

--Sandee Wagner

If You Love Me...

I did a little road tripping last week. Going through small town America is fun, but there are always physical needs that one must see to. Women through history have been challenged with the search for clean restrooms.

Of all the purveyors of fast food and large inexpensive drinks, McDonald's leads the crowd in clean restrooms. They are not always pretty or new, but you can count on them being clean. That has weight in my book.

As we headed to Branson, MO last week, we stopped at a Brand Spanking New McDonald's restaurant. Not newly remodeled, or new management. Brand new physical building with the 'Now Open' banner flying high.

This restaurant had that new, retro 50's look, lots of sleek horizontal lines, soothing green and brown colors. Comfy chairs as well as the obligatory booths and tables. It was a shiny thing of loveliness. Until I got into the restroom.

I comprehend that people will steal toilet paper. Theft of the stuff is a real issue for fast food joints. They are always on the hunt for some new gadget that will keep the paper secure and still feed it out as needed. Some places have gone to the Huge Rolls that they assume no one can use at home. Others with a locked stacking device where normal sized rolls descend in a chute arrangement as they are used. This shiny new McDonald's had the latter setup.

Each individual roll of toilet paper had no tube or center hole (thus making it less attractive for theft and home use, I guess) and they stacked up with the bottom one available to 'unroll' and use.

In case you are wondering, I need the quote marks around unroll. Because it wasn't that easy.

With all the money spent on the amazing physical plant, the McDonald's management must have run out of pennies, because this bathroom was stocked with the cheapest single ply toilet paper ever made. The kind of toilet paper you get when you're in a third world country. With the weight of the rolls above sitting on the bottom one, you could not roll out the paper. It was too fragile to pull on. If you used one hand to elevate the above rolls, and tried to spin the lowest one, you couldn't gain a purchase and tug out a bit of paper.

Others had been as frustrated as I because that roll appeared to have been mauled by a mountain lion. I found myself scratching and searching for a end, a perforation, anything to allow me to gently (oh so gently) tug against the whisper thin paper.

What I found was myself cussing and screaming in a family restaurant bathroom stall. Yes, that angry and frustrated. I finally shredded off enough paper to make a difference, then bolted from the stall to wash my hands. I exited the glamorous bathroom and looked immediately for the 'tell us what you think' brochure or number. I really wanted to tell them something: if you want people to think your place is nice, don't scrimp on the toilet paper.

If you love me, buy two ply toilet paper. I'm worth it. I thought McDonald's was the place to stop, buy a drink or an ice cream and use the facilities. I may have to rethink that idea.

--Sandee Wagner

Dress for Success

You all know I'm clearing out closets in preparation for the Great Migration into Northern Africa.

A couple of weeks ago, I eyed my dusty collection of work attire. Now, I'd by lying if I didn't say that it spans several sizes. Before we moved to SoCal, I cleared out a bunch of the smaller clothes (having gained a bunch of weight in menopause). What I had left was a half of closet rod of my favorite, nicest suits sized in such a way that it was a realistic goal to wear them again.

I have the shells and t-shirts I wore under the suits and the matching pumps. What I don't have is a job in a corporate atmosphere where you dress for success. And with my forced inactivity of the next couple of years staring me in the face, I decided it was time to let them go.

I could have just pitched them all at GoodWill or the AmVets nearby. Instead, I carried them into the local Dress for Success storefront.

Dress for Success is an organization that establishes not only stores for getting professional interview clothing, but when the job seeker accepts the position, they give them some separates and mix and match outfits for them to give them the basis of a professional wardrobe. They give jewelry and accessory advice and even provide pantyhose. This nonprofit recognizes that first impressions are important and a lot of jobs (the nicer paying ones certainly) require a wardrobe that most women can't afford until after they've received a few paychecks.

I liked what the website said about this organization. They don't open their doors and sell stuff you donate. No, they make appointments with women who are referred to them and then give them the star treatment by allowing them to 'shop' for anything they'd like.

All Dress for Success requires is that the suits be clean and on hangers. Check. They want the clothing to all be 'interview appropriate'. Check.

So, I made an appointment. I cleared out my closet. Checked to make sure that all the matching accessories were included and then loaded the car. I took all the professional clothing into Dress for Success this morning and they were so thankful and appreciative. The set up there is like a small boutique and I could envision a young person, right out of some federally funded job training program being shown how to present themselves in the best possible light.

I like this charity. I'm glad to have made a donation to something that will help other women get a job in a tough job market. It feels good to give to a good cause.

--Sandee Wagner

The Circle of Life

I sat at the hospital last night with a dear friend while her mother lay dying. Her mom was quite old and had lived the past four years in a nursing home suffering with dementia. She didn't even recognize her daughters for the past two years.

The hospital identified that her organs were shut down--there was no possibility of recovery or treatment. They offered palliative care and a quiet place for the family to gather and say their goodbyes.

As an outsider, it was easy for me to judge the hospital staff's kindness and care. I could view the whole thing objectively. She lived a long life, she was 82 when she passed. For the family, it's an enormous loss. A loss of the relationship, the parent, the opportunities to forgive and reconcile.

Because, you see, she was not a nice woman. She had many flaws. She was a substance abuser and she desperately sought love while ignoring her obligations to her kids. At one point in time, she left her high school aged daughter to care for the younger kids and moved in to live with a boyfriend. Nowadays, a neighbor would call Social Services and report such behavior. Her kids raised each other with very little help from their alcoholic mother.

So, it wasn't that loving bedside scene you see in the movies. This woman didn't really appreciate her daughters when she knew who they were. Her mind had checked out and I'm sure she was looking at strangers around her bedside, if she saw anyone at all.

I was there for my friend. No one should have to go through that alone. But sometimes, you're glad when a person dies. It ends bad treatment and allows people to get beyond bad memories.

As I face getting older, I am coming to realize that it's the relationships with people in my life that I need to focus on. That's what's really important in life. Not the stuff. Not the accomplishments. The love.

The circle of life reminds us that each life ends with spiritual rebirth. Babies start out and begin a life, full of promise. Some folks die full of regret. I don't want to be that guy. I want my children to have better memories of me when I pass. Because once her mother is buried, all my friend will have left are tragic memories. It makes me sad.

--Sandee Wagner

Outdoor Gear

This is the time of year to buy stuff for the patio. All the stores are marking it down, getting rid of it and stocking school supplies in that big seasonal section of the store.

I had my eye on a combination umbrella stand drink cooler table. I got it $40 cheaper than the sale price I saw at the first of the summer. Do I really need it? Probably not, but the moment I saw it, I thought it was genius. I wanted it. I don't even own an umbrella--I'll have to buy one to use with it. But I'm sure going to be rigged for outdoor entertaining any minute now.

I only feel like a 'winner' when I buy something on sale. If I pay full price, I feel like I've caved or missed out on something. When I get a bargain, I feel like I've won the lottery. I know there are a lot of things that I should buy right when I see them (like anything at Sam's or Costco) because they are liable to be out when I get around to making the decision to buy them. I tend to use my parents' rule for acquisitions. They would see something they really liked and pass it by. If, four days later, they still wanted it, they went and bought it.

A lot of time, if I can wait four days, I don't really want something that bad. Or I completely forget about it. A mind is a terrible thing to waste...

I'm focused on outdoor gear because I'm moving to the desert and I know that outdoors is where the entertaining is done. Patios, gardens and courtyards are where people gather. I need to have my gear collected so I can make friends and engage the locals.

So, cooler table, check. Now off to Academy to buy an umbrella.

--Sandee Wagner

Lakes and the Good of the Many

I've been driving my sister around looking at lakes. We've been to MO, AR and OK lakes looking at the water quality, the shoreline and whether the lake was residential or not.

I don't guess I had ever thought about whether or not a lake was privately owned or public. There are lots of lakes that I've gone boating on where people had properties that reached to the shore. They built docks, boat houses, zip lines into the shallows. In short, they owned a slice of the shoreline.

Other lakes have no houses on them. The state or Corps of Engineers maintains the property rights along the shore of the lake and they provide camping spaces or picnic areas. No one owns shoreline and no houses are built on the waterfront.

Since my sister wants that boat dock, we're looking for a lake where lots are available on the shoreline. When we were chatting about it yesterday, I mentioned a couple of lakes that appear NOT to be residential (DeGray in AR, and Tenkiller in OK) and how pleasant they were to look at from the water. Big sis said, "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few".

Now, don't get me wrong, whenever someone can work a Spock reference into the conversation, I'm completely entertained; however, it did make me think. That's exactly what the state/government/Corps of Engineers are doing. A lot of these lakes were engineered for flood control or for power generation. They dammed up streams or rivers so that they could harness the running water to turn some turbines. Since they made these bodies of water, if there is flooding, they could be blamed for loss of property. So they don't allow anyone to live below the "Corps line" or to build below a specific flood plain.

Keeping a lake pristine, or a shoreline free from commercial buildings is aesthetically pleasing for outdoorsman. Anyone can enjoy the lake and imagine they are out there alone. With no structures to impede the view, it's a more pleasant natural experience.

I've been on both kinds of lakes, in and out of the water. I can't say that I like one better than the other. Does having houses along a lake shore keep you from enjoying water sports on a lake? Inquiring minds want to know.

--Sandee Wagner

Money Matters

We recently had a big family reunion, and as one of the organizers, I was on the contracts and helped pay for the fete. Then I got to collect money from the attendees. Now, it's time to settle up.

Have I ever mentioned that I'm not that great with numbers? Math does not come easily to me, I struggle with the most mundane figures.

I opened a spreadsheet. First, I made sure that only those folks that showed up were listed. Then I put in all the monies that I collected from them at the event. Then I divided up all the final costs and divvied it up among the attendees. Comparing the shortfall to each person who paid, I determined who to tap for more money.

Then I started taking out the money I owed from the amount to collect (by paying in advance for the whole gig, part of that payment is my money against my family's bill, right?) Next, I had to deduct the amount that my sister paid because we split the bill.

Then I looked at the stack of checks and cash and thought, "how do I back into the amount that I need to pay to her?" Since we split the charges, I figured we should split the amount collected too. But she had to pay in less than I did because her family is smaller. So the amount she paid to the resort (not her portion) was actually more than mine.

This whole exercise made my brain hurt. We scratched and figured, flipped pages, subtracted, added in, and came up with numbers. None of which was actually the amount I needed to give to her to settle up. You know how sometimes you're too close to a problem? You work too hard and make it too difficult?

Well, that's what I did. I had this stack of checks and cash. The checks were all made out to me and I kept trying to figure out how I was going to split it up with my DS. Finally, it occurred to me... cash the checks. Then split the cash 50/50.

Sometimes, the depth of my stupidity scares me.

--Sandee Wagner

Family Fun at Great Wolf Lodge

Every five years, my family meets somewhere for a family reunion. This is just my folks, my brothers and sisters and their families. This year, we did it at the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, TX. Great Wolf is an indoor (and outdoor) water park. For the price of your room, you get admission into the attraction for up to four people. At first glance, the price of the room seems steep, but if you factor in the entry into the water park, it's cheap at twice the price.

This year, we didn't have a great turnout. Half of the family didn't bother to come. Everyone blamed the economy. So, it was kind of sad. I missed seeing all the cousins. It made the gathering more poignant, because this is probably the last time we'll ever be able to gather everyone together in one place.

Five years ago, we met at the DeGray State Park lodge. The only two people that didn't make it were my husband and my son. Both had work issues that kept them from attending. So, I'm sensitive to attendance because I was the one that let the family down last time.

This year, we booked a conference room and shared three meals together. The rest of the time, we just took over spots in the restaurants and lobbies and enjoyed catching up with each other. My DILs took tons of photos and posted them online. I've been vicariously reliving all the good times.

I enjoy getting to spend time chatting with all the nieces and nephews. I've watched them grow up and now as adults, they have their own children. I'm entertained seeing how good they are at parenting their own young children. It's the circle of life, baby.

I highly recommend the Great Wolf Lodge to anyone with children. It was good clean fun. All the water slides were exciting and I screamed myself hoarse. All rides are more fun when you're yelling.

--Sandee Wagner

Chunking Stuff at the Wall

When I first published this blog, I figured it'd be a great outlet for my rants. At the time, my empty nest provided me with little audience for my soapbox lectures.

Instead, I find myself using this column to ruminate about things that occur to me. I don't do a lot of ranting, I do more conjecturing. I wonder if I need to rename this site? I kind of like 'chunking things', it's easy to remember.

I have been known to launch a poorly written or plotted book against a wall. Especially after reading all the words and being so disappointed. Once when I was travelling, I read an incredibly dreadful novel. When I stepped out of the jetway, I pushed it into a trash can. The gentleman behind me said, "you know, if you just leave the book on one of the tables, another traveler can read it." I spun around and said, "I specifically threw that book in the trash so no one would EVER read it again."

Had I been at home, I would have winged it at a wall. It makes me feel better.

I know you're wondering what the name of the book was... usually, I feel very strongly about protecting the innocent, but in this case, I'll name names. The book was Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco. I had read his The Name of the Rose and loved it so much, I could NOT wait until I got my hands on this book. Then as I read and read FP, I kept waiting for it to get better. And it never did.

I spent the next 5 years quizzing every reader I knew, "did you read Foucault's Pendulum"? Most people said that they quit part way through. I only ever met one person who had finished the book, and he LOVED it. I'm sure I stared at this guy like he was an alien.

My father didn't even read the whole book, and he finishes almost every book he starts. He told me it was a waste of his time. I couldn't agree more. Only the fact that I was in Logan Airport kept me from chunking that book at a wall.

When you read this, you'll get the idea that I throw things when I'm mad. I don't. My house actually has a lot of breakables in it and I don't fling things around willy-nilly. I don't throw things at people routinely. But I have flung a can of tuna and a fork at my #1 son. He insists that he's emotionally damaged for life. I tell him he's just lucky that I'm a lousy throw. I didn't HIT him with that can of tuna or that fork. They both hit the wall next to him. Got his attention, though.

When I'm mad, I scream and cuss. I'm the kind of person that gets red faced and crazy. Out of control. But I don't punch or hit. And I don't throw things in anger. When I chunk something at a wall, it is a studied response. I give thought to the process and then throw.

It makes me feel better. Much like writing the blog provides an emotional outlet for me. Sometimes you just need to vent. Chunking things is a pressure valve for my very unstable psyche. You're just along for the ride.

--Sandee Wagner

Anniversaries

Some anniversaries are happy occasions. My daughter's first wedding anniversary is in a week or so. Very happy memories of the leopard print wedding we threw last summer.

Other anniversaries are less joyful occasions. My brother lost his life in a car accident three years ago today. It was Friday the 13th. I've never considered myself to be superstitious, but that one stunned me.

Michael Joseph Hart was everything a little girl wants in a big brother. He was a madcap, laughing teen. He drove us around in his blue Corvair with the radio blasting. He took us to parking lot carnivals and convinced us that the rides were more fun if we screamed our heads off--even on the rides that weren't that scary.

As an adult, he was the uncle that my kids adored. He thought nothing of taking 10 kids to Toys R Us and fitting them all out with super soakers so they could have the water gun fight of their lives. He was generous with his time, his money and most of all, his love. Mike was the best of us. Not perfect. No one is. But he was a goal driven business man. He was a devoted husband and father. His family meant more to him than anything else.

His legacy is that love. He modeled it for his kids and all his nieces and nephews. My kids learned at his knee about giving care to family members and making time to visit. When he was faced with a long drive, or boring travel, he went down his phone directory and called everyone in the family to 'touch base'. Just to talk. I have two other brothers and they don't do that. But Mike did. My sisters and I used to joke about it.

We'd compare notes, "did he call you?"
"Yeah, last night, talked for 45 minutes."
"He must have had a long drive."
We'd laugh, but we felt cherished and remembered. That was a gift he gave us. I don't care if the other side of the coin was he was keeping himself awake during a boring drive. He gave me a gift with each call he made.

I'm not sure that I'm as good a sibling to my other brothers and sisters. I certainly try to be. It's hard to find time. As we get older and our nuclear family expands, we have less time to devote to each member of the family. It takes work. But Mike was devoted to our family staying in contact. He spearheaded our original family reunions.

We're having a family reunion this weekend. I'll get the chance to BE the sibling I remember Mike being to me. I'll get the chance to treat my nieces and nephews with the importance and respect they deserve. I'll get to take the time to listen and laugh and remember.

Because that's the legacy that Mike left to us. We all have to remember to honor that.
Michael Joseph Hart, I miss you.

--Sandee Wagner

DeMilitarized Zone

We are going to be moving soon and I'm focused on decluttering the house. One of the more interesting aspects to moving to a third world country is having all your stuff tossed by customs inspectors. We've been warned about things NOT to try and take into the country.

My husband was advised not to take any of his military gear or memorabilia into this country. Better that they think him a humble oilfield worker than a crazed Western soldier. Culling out the military stuff is harder than it sounds.

First, DH spent 31 years in the USMC. 15 active duty as a helicopter pilot and 16 as a reservist. Each unit you leave gives you a plaque or gift, most are unit themed. Then there are the pictures of helicopters, flight crews and ships. When you start looking for military stuff, you find it everywhere.

I went to U-Haul and bought some wardrobe boxes. Then I went through all the closets and pulled out all the uniforms and gear. It filled two wardrobes. I stripped all the pictures off the "I love me" wall/hallway and wrapped them in bubble wrap. For the uninitiated, the "I love me" wall is a traditional military man's display of all the afore mentioned plaques and awards....

We took all the gear and pictures and stored them in the attic at my daughter's house. Our house is beginning to look a little sparse. But I guess that's the idea. I have one more 'military' item that will need to reside somewhere else while we are overseas. It's a hand carved helicopter. An art piece. And it can't be in anyone's attic. It needs a home high atop a bookcase where little hands can't touch it. It's lovely. Our foray into the SoCal desert was hard enough on it. Most of the glue let go. It needs major reconstruction. I can't imagine what shape it'd be in if we stuck it in an attic somewhere. No, this sculpture needs an indoor, climate controlled home.

Where shall I take it??

--Sandee Wagner

DeCluttering My Life

Part of the stress of moving is making sure that my household goods will come in under the volume that the company will pay to move. When in the military, it was always based on pounds. As you went up in rank, you rated more pounds moved at government expense. This move will not be based on weight, but on volume. We will be allowed to have a 40 ft shipping container filled to the max, weight is no object. We could opt to have only a 20 ft shipping container and company paid long term storage. We're opting to take all our stuff with us.

So, as I look at my stuff, I'm driven to get the most for my volume.

First, we won't have a garage, or a yard to take care of. So I want to eliminate the tools and all the yard stuff. DH is home for a short visit, so I've put him to work. Three piles. One for each child. Stuff we are giving to them. Stuff we are hoping they will store for us until we return to the States.

It takes hours and hours to go through all the stuff. We have a 1200 square foot storage building and a two car garage attached to the house. I don't know about you guys, but we always expand to fill the space we're allotted. Now, we're moving into a house of equivalent size, but no garages.

We are trying to go through all our stuff and make a decision: does it go overseas, or not?
We spent hours and hours loading the truck and trailer today.

First load of many to be delivered to the kids... it's a beginning--on decluttering my life. What is the minimum amount of stuff that you need in order to feel comfortable in your home? I've given it a lot of thought lately. I need my family photos and my books. That's what it takes for me. The rest is gravy. So I'm culling through everything else and trying to decide if I need it or not.

Since I'm of the firm belief that if I can live without it for two years, I don't need it anyway, I'm not driven to take advantage of the offered long term storage. However, it's very hard to look at things and make a decision about keeping or getting rid of stuff forever. What if I need it later? So stressful.

Thank goodness DH is here to help out. We're just about a third of the way through the process. Probably, we'll be at this for months.

--Sandee Wagner

Birthday Bash 2010

Well, it was wonderful. If you were wondering where I was for the past week, I took a few days off for me... and my granddaughter, Zoey.

I drove down to Rockwall, TX just in time for Zoey's 2nd birthday party. It was a big time and all about her. She blew out the candles, but not until her father gave her a straw to blow through. I think it's the first time I've ever seen anyone blow out birthday candles with a straw. Zoey got that all the pretty bags had tissue paper between her and the fun toys and cool books. She tore that tissue out and threw it around her. It was like a multicolored blizzard. It took two adults to fetch the paper she was flinging about her.

Then on the next day, I drove on down to Houston to pick up DH at the airport. The tail end of tropical storm Alex was basting the bayou city in about 9" of rain. So the airport was very exciting. Lots of roads were down to a single lane and traffic was going extra slow. There was really only one spot where I thought we were in danger of becoming more 'boat like' than 'car like'. But we ended up keeping the tires in contact with the asphalt... good times.

We got to my son's home and spent some quality time hugging our grandbabies and eating fajitas and drinking Negro Modelo. We were treated like cherished visitors by my son and daughter in law. They are very accommodating hosts.

The next day, we drove an hour down the road to spend the afternoon with my BFF Lisa and her family. DH's sister and her family met us down there, and an old buddy from the USMC flew into Hobby and showed up for the festivities. We grazed in BFF's kitchen all afternoon and were treated to a wonderful homemade fajita dinner. I knocked together my killer guacamole and got rave reviews.

The next day was my 50th birthday party. I spent an hour and a half at the 'doc in a box' trying to get treatment for DH, who was in a decline... He picked up some kind of bug overseas and it was threatening to ruin my big day. We saw the doc at the minor emergency center, filled the three prescriptions and then headed over to Humble, TX for the big party.

Lots of friends and family showed up to swim, eat and visit with each other. It's traditional to have a backyard barbeque on the 4th of July. I'm sure we could not have picked a more idyllic backyard to use for the celebration. The Burgess' house sits on Lake Houston and has a huge green lawn area, hammock and deck. There is also a lovely pool and cooking area. We had a big group, but all day long they kept circulating in and outside, and it never felt crowded.

I'm pretty sure I had Happy Birthday sung to me two or three times during the day. It was wonderful. I had burgers, hot dogs, watermelon and cake! What could be more exciting?? Nothing.

I'm so blessed to have had the number of people drive in from out of town to celebrate this big day with me. If you didn't make it, I promise I did miss you. Maybe next year, I'll see you there!!

--Sandee Wagner