Pie's Piece of the World

good medicine

2012-01-31T08:13:00.000-06:00

"A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22

"As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. ..." Romans 14:1-23

XOXOXOXOXO

hope this is me

2012-01-30T13:57:00.000-06:00

"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." I John 3:18

Have a good week

XOXOXOXOXO

WOW

2012-01-27T07:55:00.001-06:00

Wow this week has flown by ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." James 1:22

"A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back." Proverbs 29:11

"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy & empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, & not according to Christ." Colossians 2:8

Hope you have a wonderful Friday ! ! !

XOXOXOXO

short & sweet

2012-01-26T08:44:00.002-06:00

Happy Thursday. Gonna keep it short & sweet today.
"The Lord is near to the borkenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18
XOXOXOXOXO

Let it rain ~ ~ ~

2012-01-25T07:51:00.002-06:00

Enjoying the rain ~ hope you are too.

"Hatred stires up strife, but love covers all offenses." Proverbs 10:12

"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance & through the encouragment of the Scriptures we might have hope." Romans 15:4
(I really like this one)
XOXOXO

I have fallen behind

2012-01-24T08:14:00.000-06:00

Have you missed me? Was gone on vacation last week. Enjoyed not having a TV or internet. Feel like my mind had time to unwind.

Here is yesterday's:
"The lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

Today's smarted a little:

"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be3 liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire." Matthew 5:21-22
From Joyce Meyer this morning we have: "Get God's plan before making your own plans."

The healing continues. . . . .

T G I F ! ! !

2012-01-13T10:02:00.002-06:00

Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upong the host. ~ Mayo Angelou

"Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all." Romans 12:17

"Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." Colossians 3:13

It's almost Friday

2012-01-12T22:59:00.000-06:00

"A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish." Proverbs 19:9

"Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil." 2 Timothy 2:23-24

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28

the healing continues

2012-01-10T08:03:00.000-06:00

Good Tuesday morning. As I told you yesterday I would share with you what I read so here it is:

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:32

"Then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment." 2 Peter 2:9

"There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. " Proverbs 6:16-19

The healing continues

Healing my own Heart

2012-01-09T11:30:00.000-06:00

I'm not one to go to church, that doesn't mean that I don't believe in God & that Jesus was sent to save us. I also believe that the road to Heaven does not include how many times I am at the church but more about how I do & treat others. Hopefully that others may see that I am a believer fo this; "And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them" (Luke 6:31).
With that being said I am asking for forgiveness for allowing myself to fall short of that way this past week. I prayed last night & this morning for Jesus to help me with this & ask for guidance from the Bible. Here is what He showed me this morning:
"He who brings trouble on his family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise." Proverbs 11:29
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." James 5:16

"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." 1 John 1:18

Be prepared as I will be sharing with you this week what Jesus shares with me & it may even go on longer than that.

Not Quitting

2011-09-30T09:25:00.000-05:00

Hello my name is Pie, my last blog about my weight was in March...really? It's an everyday battle, why have I not been talking about it? Oh yea, cuz it hasn't gone anywhere. Jim Bob did great on Nutri-Systems, me not so much. I wanted the same results he was getting, but that didn't happen. I've been doing the yo-yo trick with watching what I eat & exercise.
But 3 weeks ago I signed up with a trainer (we will call him Bruno) that I have lunch with 2 or 3 times a week. I've really enjoyed getting my sweat on & look forward to my workout sessions. I've also teamed up with a couple of friends to be each others encouragement. We are using a web site to track our food & exercise. It's amazing what you won't put in your mouth when you have to keep up with it.
I have also been reading blogs & websites about eating clean. I'm realistic enough to know that I won't completely rid myself of junk food, but I am trying to concentrate on the good stuff.
So no I haven't QUIT my battle against the bulge just haven't been keeping up a good defense. Keep me in your thoughts & prayers as I forge on. Only 53 more pounds before April 21, 2012, that's when we are planning a trip to Jamaica ! ! !

Why you ask?

2011-09-02T10:36:00.000-05:00

Why you ask?

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and is the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide.

Nearly 1.4 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer globally each year.

More than 458,000 people worldwide die from the disease each year.

Somewhere in the world, a woman dies from breast cancer every 69 seconds.

Over the last 25 years, breast cancer incidence rates have risen about 30 percent in westernized countries, although incidence rates decreased in the U.S. from 1999-2006 in part due to lower use of postmenopausal combined hormone use.

I have a mom, cousins, daugters, granddaughters, neices and girlfriends.

Because everybody deserves a life time.

These are just some of the reasons why I have walked in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure and will be doing it again in November 2012.

My 3-Day page

Aaryn Leenae

2011-08-30T18:09:00.000-05:00

On August 26 our family was blessed with Aaryn Leenae Vanderburg. Weighing in at 7lbs 10oz 18"long. Here she is:

and here is her daddy when he was a day old:

I do believe the do look a lot a like.
And so big sis doesn't feel left out here she is with baby sis:

looking foward to watching her grow.

Double the Good Deed

2011-05-28T06:26:00.000-05:00

As you all know I did the Susan G Komen Walk For the Cure 2 years in a row. Once in Dallas and the other in Washington DC. No, I'm not doing it again this year (hopefully next year) butttttt I do have a way you can help a great cause.

My Granddaughter, Adison Rose Vanderburg, is entering A Crown for a Cure which is a pageant that will be held during The Sandbass Festival in Madill June 11. There are several categories she will be doing including going for the title of Tiny Miss Sand Bass. Winning that title is based on who raises the most funds toward breast cancer research. This is where you my friends come in.

The team sponsoring the pageant is The Hooter Heroes who will be walking Dallas in November. The team is selling raffle tickets at the price of $25 each for a mini XRX or ATV 150. I have those tickets & will be happy to put your name on one (or 2) for a donation. Or you can go the The Hooter Heroes web-page to make a donation. (Instructions to follow).

So come on help me help Adison Rose start young donating herself to a great cause and hopefully finding a cure before she has to worry about this terrible disease!

Thank you,

Kathy Laird aka Pie

To buy raffle tickets mail check/mo payable to: Susan G Komen 3-Day for the Cure. Mail them to me: RR 3 Box 99A Madill, OK 73446.

To make a donation to The Hooter Heroes go to: http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/2011/DallasFortWorthEvent2011?px=5933311&pg=personal&fr_id=1622

Click to DONATE on the top left, choose the amount you would like to donate, (THIS IS IMPORTANT) near the bottom of the donation page in the box [PERSONAL NOTE FOR THE PARTICIPANT] simply put Adison Vanderburg in the box. That way the credit for the donation will go towards her title of Little Miss Sand Bass.

ALL $$ MUST BE IN BY JUNE 9, 2011

Slow & Steady

2011-03-28T08:42:00.000-05:00

Slow and steady wins the race, right? Well that is how the weight is coming off. We started our second box of nurtrisystems last week. I have been loosing right at 3 lbs per week, except for last week. I weigh in on Mondays so last Monday was not a good day at all. We had gone to a music festival, there was food & there was beer, 2 of my favorite things . . . well that lead to a 2 lb gain last week. But instead of giving up I pulled up my big girl panties (cuz that is all that fits) and went on. We walked morning & evenings last week, was doing pretty good.
Saturday we met some friends in Dallas at Greek restaurant ~ it was WONDERFUL!!! I did not hold back getting my Greek on. Who knew I liked lamb?
Which brings me to the weigh-in this morning. I have to admit I was neverous, I just couldn't take another gain . . . so both feet on the scale, eyes closed with head slowly tilting downwards, opened the eyes only to see that not only had I lost the 2 lbs but I had lost an additional 3 lbs. OH HAPPY DAY ! ! ! A wonderful way to start a Monday.
Slow & steady - yep I will take it.

DAY 1

2011-02-23T10:39:00.000-06:00

YIPPEE ! ! ! Made it through day 1 without cheating. I know 1 day, but ya got to know that is an accomplishment for me.

The Nutrisystems food is good. I had eggs with vegetables for breakfast, tortilla soup for lunch and cheese & spinach ravilo with meat sauce for supper. Oh and not to mention the wonderful chocolate fudge brownie for dessert.

I also got my exercise in yesterday. Not just the 5 AM workout, or the 2 miles Jim Bob & I walked but all those trips up a flight of stairs to rid myself of the water I am drinking. Not sure who came up with the brillant idea that we need all that water, but I'm going to need them to buy me some toilet paper.

Want to share this quote with you I saw this morning: "What you do today can improve all your tomorrows." by Ralph Marston. I like it.

New Attitude

2011-02-22T09:39:00.000-06:00

Hi my name is Kathy & I'm an over-eater. Like you couldn't tell by looking at me. There is not anything about food that I don't like, well except maybe beets. I like to cook, try new things, go out to eat, eat at home, eat in the car, eat at my desk...you get the picture. I have tried most everything to loose the weight but so far to no avail.
A few years ago Jim Bob decided to try Nutrisystems & it worked, he lost over 70 pounds. And he kept it off, well for awhile he did. So last Monday we decided we would do it together this time. Our food came in yesterday and I didn't know I could be so excited about a box of food. I've read the literature that came with it and told Jim Bob that Marie Osmond & I will be as one. He wanted to make sure that I knew that eating this food will not help me to sing like Marie. I've been grocery shopping for the additional food I will need the rest of the week, no excuses.
Also there will be exercise. When Jim Bob is home he & I will walk in the evenings. In the mornings Stephanie comes over at 5:00 for us to workout together. I figure if a pregnant woman can get up that early to exercise than I should have no room to complain.
So begins day 1 of Nutrisystems. Doing this together with Jim Bob will be much better than doing it alone. I'm looking forward to not weighing 3.078 pounds per inch.

Stay tuned and see if I can be one of the ones that will have "results not typical" under my picture.

I heard them call out to me

2010-07-03T20:15:00.000-05:00

OK, so we know about my obession with shoes. I went to look at flip flops Wednesday & what happened? I heard a pair of shoes call out to me. Really it was more like a whisper, but I heard them. Tried them on, walked around the store in them & tried to figure out where I would ever wear them. Common sense was telling me no, but the shoes were stronger & they won. So what does my new love look like? Here they are:

but, but they have my name on them

2010-06-02T12:31:00.000-05:00

I LIKE:

Kathy by

Justin

Why am I obessed with SHOES ? ? ?

2010-06-02T08:05:00.000-05:00

Just take a look at these babes.......

but I don't wear those ~ I wear these.

Now don't get me wrong, I like the ones I wear, they have a cute parrot on the bottom. But I really want an excuse to wear those on the top. Except they cost $250, do you know how many pair of flip flops I can buy for that?

What I would really like right now

2010-05-25T20:22:00.000-05:00

No more checking out the cooking section of The Pioneer Woman. Why you ask? Because of this:

Salted Caramel Brownie......oh my. Good thing I don't have all the ingredients to make this cuz I'm pretty sure I could eat the whole pan.....

rain, rain go away . . .

2010-05-14T10:22:00.000-05:00

With all the rain we have been & will be getting my mind seems to wonder back to February 2009. We went to Mexico with our friends Phillip & Tricia. We all had such a great time, we even made plans for this year. But that wasn't meant to be......
But still on this rainy day this is where I wish we were, with Phillip:

yes I still miss my friend. "I'm not crying for him, I'm crying for me."

ahhhh shoes

2010-05-13T13:08:00.000-05:00

Shoes have always been a weekness for me. I like shoes. All shoes. But I honestly have no place to wear the ones I really like. For example:

I LIKE:

Tart N Soul by

Kenneth Cole Reaction

there is nothing about this shoe that I don't like. Do I have someplace to where them? NO. Do I need them? NO. Will I continue to breath if I don't have them? Yes. So you won't be finding them in my closet, they will live on in my dreams....along with these:

I LIKE:

Kamacozy by

Jessica Simpson

just don't think either pair would look good on the boat fishing.

I'm with this fella

2010-05-05T08:12:00.002-05:00

I got this in an email today & just had to share it.

Dear American liberals, leftists, social progressives, socialists, Marxists and Obama
supporters, et al:

We have stuck together since the late 1950's for the sake of the kids, but the whole of this latest election process has made me realize that I want a divorce.... I know we tolerated each other for many years for the sake of future generations, but sadly, this relationship has clearly run its course.

Our two ideological sides of America cannot and will not ever agree on what is right for us all, so let's just end it on friendly terms. We can smile and chalk it up to irreconcilable differences and go our own way.

Here is a model separation agreement:

Our two groups can equitably divide up the country by landmass each taking a similar portion.

That will be the difficult part, but I am sure our two sides can come to a friendly agreement. After that, it should be relatively easy! Our respective representatives can effortlessly divide other assets since both sides have such distinct and disparate tastes.

We don't like redistributive taxes so you can keep them. You are welcome to the liberal judges and the ACLU. Since you hate guns and war, we'll take our firearms, the cops, the NRA and the military. We'll take the nasty, smelly oil industry and you can go with wind, solar and bio-diesel. You can keep Oprah, Michael Moore and Rosie O'Donnell (You are, however, responsible for finding a bio-diesel vehicle big enough to move all three of them).

We'll keep capitalism, greedy corporations, pharmaceutical companies, Wal-Mart and Wall Street. You can have your beloved lifelong welfare dwellers, food stamps, homeless, homeboys, hippies, druggies and illegal aliens. We'll keep the hot Alaskan hockey moms, greedy CEO's and rednecks. We'll keep the Bibles and give you NBC and Hollywood ..

You can make nice with Iran and Palestine and we'll retain the right to invade and hammer places that threaten us. You can have the peaceniks and war protesters. When our allies or our way of life are under assault, we'll help provide them security.

We'll keep our Judeo-Christian values.. You are welcome to Islam, Scientology, Humanism, political correctness and Shirley McClain. You can also have the U.N.. but we will no longer be paying the bill.

We'll keep the SUV's, pickup trucks and over sized luxury cars. You can take every Subaru station wagon you can find.

You can give everyone health care if you can find any practicing doctors. We'll continue to believe health care is a luxury and not a right. We'll keep The Battle Hymn of the Republic and the National Anthem. I'm sure you'll be happy to substitute Imagine, I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing, Kum Ba Ya or We Are the World.

We'll practice trickle down economics and you can continue to give trickle up poverty your best shot.

Since it often so offends you, we'll keep our history, our name and our flag.
Would you agree to this? If so, please pass it along to other like minded liberal and conservative patriots and if you do not agree, just hit delete. In the spirit of friendly parting, I'll bet you answer which one of us will need whose help in 15 years.

Sincerely,
John J. Wall
Law Student and an American

P. S. Also, please take Ted Turner, Sean Penn, Martin Sheen, Barbara Streisand, & Jane
Fonda with you.P. S. S. And you won't have to press 1 for English when you call our country.

What's one more day?

2010-03-18T09:50:00.003-05:00

Really I was going to get up @ 5 am, I didn't hit the snooze, I reset the alarm before it ever went off. When I finally rolled out of bed I fixed myself a cup of coffee with sugar-free vanilla coffee-mate, then got ready for work. I let the dogs out one more time, got my breakfast (baked egg muffins w/veggies) out of the frig & put them on the bar so I could let the dogs in. Put the gates up for the dogs, grabbed my coffee & out the door I went. Yes, my breakfast is still on the bar & I am at work. So what did I do? Went to Love's & got myself a biscuit & a 1/2 regular-1/2 died Dr. Pepper.

My attitude SUCKS big time. Thinking I my have to turn to pharmaceuticals to help with that. That's what they are for right? Better life thru chemistry is what I am thinking. Better give the doctor's office a call. There that's done, have an appointment today @ 4.

I am still going to weigh & measure this evening when I get home & start on that organizing the workout DVDs & equipment. Who knows, I might even try to attempt to work out to one of them or I may go for a walk since the weather is soooo nice.

But then again I could just sit in my big comfy chair & start on my application for The Biggest Loser.

Always put off today . . .

2010-03-17T09:37:00.001-05:00

Always put off today what should have been done yesterday seems to be my motto on my eating & exercise habits. Everyday is the day I am going to start eating healthier & exercising more, but ya know it can wait till tomorrow, right?

I have got to quit putting it off & get started, but I just can’t seem to find the motivation. Do they sell that at Wal-Mart? If not, then where do I get it? You would think with the health issues in my family that I would be thinking long term. Eat to live not live to eat is what I should be doing. But we all know I’m not.

So what am I going to do about it? I’m open for suggestions on how to get on the right path, guess I am tired of this bumpy one (and that is a pun towards my full-figure). It’s time to either do something about it or embrace my curves and quit fretting about it. I know that it would be best for me physically & mentally to loose the weight & get in better shape. Knowing it & doing it are two totally different matters.

I’ve got the exercise DVDs, books on emotional eating, exercise equipment & even some cute work out clothes. Guess what? They don’t seem do be doing me any good collecting dust. Well except for the workout clothes, those are comfy when I’m sitting in the recliner watching TV, surfing the web & putting food in my mouth.

Maybe by making this battle public & talking about it I can start on that path. Have to start somewhere. I’m going to ask you, my family & friends that read my blog & notes on Facebook for your help. Suggestions on how to stay motivated will be what I will need to start with. Then I will need encouragement to continue past the first day on this journey.

Tomorrow I will be taking my measurements, weight and before pictures (hope I can find my wide angle lens). Saturday will be dedicated to cleaning out the pantry & fridge of all the evil that lurks in there. Going to set the equipment next to the TV with the DVDs, then actually use them. The alarm will be set for 5am (no snooze button allowed) which will give me 30 minutes to get my groove on before getting ready for work.

All that is left is to get ready, set, gooooooooooooo! ! !

This Years Fight Against Cancer

2010-02-24T07:02:00.000-06:00

As you know the last 2 years I have participated in the 3Day 60 mile Breast Cancer Walk in Dallas & Washington DC. Both of those events were something I will never forget and feel honored to have been a part of.
So you ask, what is Kathy doing this time? Well this year I will be doing my walking in Madill. Yep will be traveling all the way to Madill High School Football Field and doing the Relay for Life in Marshall County. With my team of Loretta's Ladies.
This time instead of walking 60 miles in 3 days, I will be walking all night because cancer never sleeps. I have had too many family members & friends affected by cancer & am doing my part to help keep anymore of them from this awful disease.
So yes once again I am asking for a donation to help the battle against cancer.
The Relay will be April 23-24 7:00pm-7:00am and will be another new experience for me. I'm more of a morning person, not really a night-owl so this should be interesting.
Go to http://main.acsevents.org/goto/kathyhatescancer and make your tax deductible donation. The sooner you do it, the fewer emails you will get from me.

only 10 days ago

2010-01-10T16:19:00.005-06:00

So 10 days ago I decided that I wouldn't be making any resolutions this year. I'm still not going to do it. I know I want to loose weight, eat healthy, exercise more, spend less money...you know the same ones most people state over & over during their life's.

But there is one that we seem to mention every year, you know that one about being a better person. That's the one I'm going to focus on not just as a resolution but as a way of life.

I went to a funeral yesterday to one of those folks that was a better person. He was unselfish, charming, loving, caring and every bodies friend. Always ready to teach something from his vast knowledge of more than 10 people knows. I only knew him a few years, but felt closer to him than many of my own family.

We went to Mexico with Phillip & Tricia last year just before Phillip found out he had cancer. Looking at pictures this morning from that trip brought tears & smiles. A trip that will always be packed up in a special place in my heart.

Phillip didn't ask "why me'. He didn't know when he was going to die, but he knew what was killing him. And he told everyone that he had been blessed with a long goodbye and he made sure he told you that he loved you.

The church was full during the service yesterday with family, friends & business associates. All missing Phillip and knowing that we had know one of those better people. The music was not your traditional hymns but was great including Jim Bob doing his version of Toby Keith's "Cryin for me". The cars that followed the Hearst to the cemetery were many even though it was cold there was a warmth with all of us huddling together to send our friend off.

I am proud that I was your friend. Goodbye Phillip.

Susan B Koman 2010 3-Day

2009-10-22T08:36:00.003-05:00

Look out Chicago this Okie girl is coming to your town August 2010.

Yep I've made my decision to be on the 3-Day Crew for 2010.

Don't worry there will be more info coming soon.

THINGS I LEARNED

2009-10-16T12:20:00.002-05:00

First I want to thank each & every one of you for putting up with my emails about the Breast Cancer 3 Day. I am truly blessed to have such generous & loving family & friends.

Now on to things I learned during the Washington DC Breast Cancer 3 Day.
1. I can pull 2 suitcases behind me @ one time. My carry-on & my huge bag with all my camping stuff.
2. When I ask the Metro ticket machine a question, it won't answer ~ but the person next to you will look at you in a weird tone.
3. Metro doors shut very fast...not to worry I got thru them before they closed.
4. There is a Metro Station exit & a Metro SW exit...yes I was temporally misplaced in DC...not lost mind you because I knew I was in DC just not on the right street.
5. You can't see where the sun is because of all the tall buildings when you are misplaced in DC....so don't try to figure out which way to go.
6. Taxi drivers in DC are very nice & will take you where you want to go, for a price.
7. Elevators in the DC hotel require the use of your card-key to work. Oh to see my face as I stood there pushing the button wondering why the elevator wouldn't work...but I did figure it out all by myself.
8. The men in DC all wear suits & ties. The women only wear black suits/dresses & shoes. I thought maybe somebody had died, but nope that's the way they dress everyday. And they are all very serious.
9. That I was on an amazing team of ladies & gentlemen that have raised almost $158,000. I did however have to explain to most of them that I'm not a saint & can't really bless anyone just because I kept saying "well, bless their heart". And that "fixin to" is a verb. Also if I start a sentence with "I'm just saying" it's probably not going to be very nice & will end with "bless their heart".
10. Taking a tour of the Capital is worth the time. Wish I would have had time to see all of the museums, but riding on top of the double decker bus you can see the outside of the museums.
11. There are hills in the DC & Maryland area. There are a gobillion crosswalks in DC. That Georgetown has houses older than the state of Oklahoma & brick sidewalks with very small yards that they must cut with scissors.
12. When approaching a church where people are gathering for a funeral, it's respectful to turn down the song "Taking Care of Business" blaring from your speakers.
13. There is a difference between a regular mile & a 3 Day mile. 3 Day miles are longer, I know they must be. And that you can walk those miles with tiara & Ms America TaTa sash.
14. The 3 Day staff & crew take really good care of the walkers. The showers were hot, the food was great & their encouragement was abundant.
15. Sleeping in a pink tent isn't any different than sleeping in any other tent. But being prepared for the weather is a good thing. And listening to your outdoorsy husband can help you be prepared.
16. Even if you aren't a crier when you finish the walk (which by the way, I did walk all 60 miles) & during closing ceremony one can cry like a big ole baby & all that will happen is someone will hug you.
17. Cancer patients & survivors are some of the strongest people I have ever meet.
18. Finally, it's hard leaving new friends after such an experience, but we will stay in touch.

Go ahead ask me~~~~"will I do it again?" In a heartbeat! Wanna a join me? Just have to decide where I'm going next year.

Again thank you for allowing me this experience.
love & hugs to all, Kathy

DC for bust

2009-10-01T12:46:00.000-05:00

I would like to thank each of you for putting up with the emails & blogs the last few months about the Breast Cancer 3 Day. I will be leaving next Wednesday morning for DC and coming home on Monday (sore & tired).

Thank you also for the donations & the well-wishes. Keep me in your thoughts & prayers next week. The next email from me will be about my adventures & maybe to let you know where I'm going next year.

I have included the info that I received on the route that we will be taking. I'm sure for those that have been to the area before you know more than I what I'm in store for.
Until I get back, love & hugs to all,

Kathy
www.the3day.org/goto/kathyl09

Friday: Approximately 20 milesThe Washington, DC Breast Cancer 3-Day will send us all off with a moving Opening Ceremony at the new Washington Nationals Baseball Stadium. This important time will give a chance for us all to reflect on our friends and family who battle every day against this terrible disease. As we walk through some of the most moving parts of our nation’s capital, our hearts and minds will be strong while seeing the Washington Monument, Union Station and historic Georgetown. The day will conclude in Maryland with a short 6-mile bus ride into our beautiful campsite.

Saturday: Approximately 22.5 milesAs the sun shines down in the morning sky, we’ll begin our second day’s journey through beautiful wooded trails in a gorgeous section of Maryland. We will pass by stores and restaurants, bustling streets and calm, serene parks. A little bit of everything Maryland has to offer will be waiting for us on this day as we wind our way back to camp for a nice sunset and the sound of the calm fall air.

Sunday: Approximately 16 milesFollowing another short 6-mile bus trip to a drop-off location, the final day holds many spectacular views from the road. We’ll be sure and catch our fill of urban living in Dupont Circle and wave hello to the amazing animal collection at the Smithsonian National Zoo. All of this and more awaits us as we head towards the National Mall for the Closing Ceremony in front of one of the most revered monuments in DC, the Lincoln Memorial.

CANCER SUCKS ! ! !

2009-08-28T08:38:00.000-05:00

CANCER SUCKS ! ! !
I have 2 very dear friends that are fighting for their lives right now. No it’s not breast cancer, it doesn’t matter where it is, it SUCKS. When I think about how many of my family & my friends that have been affected by cancer it just breaks my heart.

That is part of the reason I did the 60 mile 3 Day Breast Cancer walk last year & am doing it again this year. I’ve also started making my plans to do it again next year in Arizona. The walk may be focused on breast cancer, but if we can find a cure for breast cancer then surely all that is learned from that can help other cancers.

If you don’t donate to the 3 Day please do donate in some way to end this terrible disease. It doesn’t have to be monetary, give your self to help those that are fighting for their lives. There is a website (www.chmoangels.net) that you can sign up to send cards to someone going through chemo. Just a thought.

I will get off my soapbox for now.

Hugs to all,
Kathy
Ms Oklahoma of Ms America TaTa’s
Walking 60 in DC Oct 9-11.
www.the3day.org/goto/kathyl

The Country of TEXOARKLA

2009-08-27T10:08:00.004-05:00

THE COUNTRY of TEXOARKLA In case things get a little tougher during the next few months, we In LOUISIANA, TEXAS , OKLAHOMA & ARKANSAS have a plan.

Maybe you don't know it, but LOUISIANA , TEXAS , OKLAHOMA , & ARKANSAS have a legal right to secede from the Union. (Reference the Texas/Louisiana-American Annexation Treaty of 1848.)

Us TEXOARKLANS love y'all Americans, but we'll probably have to take action since Barack Obama won the election and is now the President of the U.S.A. We'll miss ya'll though.

Here is what can happen:
1. Barack Hussein Obama, after becoming the President of the United States , begins to try and create a socialist country, then TEXAS , LOUISIANA , ARKANSAS and OKLAHOMA announces that they are going to secede from the Union .
2. George W. Bush becomes the President of the Republic of TEXOARKLA . You might think that he doesn't talk too pretty, but we haven't had another terrorist attack and the economy was fine until the effects of Barney Frank and the Democrats lowering the qualifications for home loans came home to roost.
So what does TEXOARKLA have to do to survive as a Republic?
1. NASA is just south of Houston, Texas. We will control the space industry.
2. We refine over 90% of the gasoline in the United States .
3. Defense Industry--we have over 65% of it. The term "Don't mess with TEXAS," will take on a whole new meaning.
4. Oil - we can supply all the oil that the Republic of TEXOARKLA will need for the next 300 years. What will the other states do? Gee, we don't know. Why not ask Obama?
5. Natural Gas - again, we have all we need and it's too bad about those Northern States. John Kerry and AlGore will just have to figure out a way to keep them warm...
6. Computer Industry - we lead the nation in producing computer chips and communications equipment - small companies like Texas Instruments, Dell Computer, EDS, Raytheon, National Semiconductor, Motorola, Intel, AMD, Nortel, Alcatel, etc. The list goes on and on.
7. Medical Care - We have the research centers for cancer research, the best burn centers and the top trauma units in the world, as well as other large health centers.
8. We have enough colleges to keep educating and making smarter citizens: University of Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, UL-Lafayette, UL-Monroe, University of Arkansas, LSU, Arkansas State University, Baylor, Rice, TCU, SMU and MANY more.
9. We have an intelligent and energetic work force and it isn't restricted by a bunch of unions. Here in TEXOARKLA, we are a Right-to-Work State and, therefore, it's every man and woman for themselves. We just go out and get the job done.. And if we don't like the way one company operates, we get a job somewhere else.
10. We have essential control of the paper, plastics, and insurance industries, etc.
11. In case of a foreign invasion, we have the TEXOARKLA National Guard, the TEXOARKLA Air National Guard, and several military bases. We don't have an Army, but since everybody down here has at least six guns and a pile of ammo, we can raise an Army in 24 hours if we need one. If the situation really gets bad, we can always call the Department of Public Safety and ask them to send over the Texas Rangers.
12. We are totally self-sufficient in beef, poultry, hogs, and several types of grain, fruit and vegetables and let's not forget seafood from the Gulf. Also, everybody down here knows how to cook them so that they taste good. We don't need any food from somewhere else.
13. FIVE of the ten largest cities in the United States and THIRTY TWO of the 100 largest cities in the United States are located in TEXOARKLA. And TEXOARKLA also has more land than California , New York , New Jersey , Connecticut , Delaware , Hawaii , Massachusetts , Maryland , Rhode Island and Vermont combined.
14. Trade: FIVE of the ten largest ports in the United States are located in TEXOARKLA.
15. We also manufacture cars down here, but we don't need to. You see, nothing rusts in TEXOARKLA so our vehicles stay beautiful and run well for decades.

This just names a few of the items that will keep the Republic of TEXOARKLA in good shape. There isn't a thing out there that we need and don't have.

Now to the rest of you folks in the United States under President Obama:
Since you won't have the refineries to get gas for your cars, only President Obama will be able to drive around in his big 9 mpg SUV. The rest of the United States will have to walk or ride bikes.

You won't have any TV as the Space Center in Houston will cut off satellite communications.

You won't have any natural gas to heat your homes, but since AlGore has predicted global warming, you will not need the gas as long as you survive the 2000 years it will take to get enough heat from Global Warming.

In other words, the rest of ya'll in the USA are in big trouble!

Signed, The People of TEXOARKLA

P.S. This is not a threatening letter - just a note to give you something to think about!
Sleep well tonight 'cause the eyes of TEXOARKLA are on YOU!!

I'm as giddy as a school girl in love

2009-08-26T14:36:00.002-05:00

I found out last week that I am going to have a granddaughter in January, which gives me even more incentive to put an end to breast cancer.
And today I received an email with the information where the 3Day opening & closing ceremonies will be. Opening on Friday morning, Oct 9 will be @ the Washington Nationals Stadium and closing will be Sunday, Oct 11 @ Lincoln memorial on the National Mall. Now for this small town Okie, that is exciting.
We don’t know the route we will be walking until we get there, but from the rumors I am hearing we will be walking by many of the sites that come to mind when you think of Washington DC .
And if that’s not enough, one of my dear friends was kind enough to donate frequent flyer miles to me for my flights. (Don’t worry Mike Minter, I won’t let anybody know that you are a nice guy – would hate to ruin your reputation)
My hotel reservations are made @ the Residence Inn Washing DC/Capital. And some of my new friends on my team, Ms. America TaTa’s, will be my roommates. We will be getting together Thursday evening for TaTaTinis to get the weekend started.
I’m still training & training hard. Thank goodness the weather is taking a turn for the better.
Now 2 things, first, don’t forget to send me my fan mail. Here is the address:
Breast Cancer 3-Day Camp Post Office
ATTN: KATHY LAIRD
P.O. BOX 299
Gore, VA 22637-0299
Envelopes only, no boxes or large packages & needs to be postmarked no later than September 29.
Secondly, and you know this was coming, please make your donation. It’s really easy to do. Go to www.the3day.org/goto/kathyl and click on the donate button. If you want to mail in you donation you can print off a donation form or I can send you one. All donations will be greatly appreciated no matter the amount.

Tidbits about Oklahoma Towns

2009-04-17T13:47:00.004-05:00

Love The Summer?
Poolville , Oklahoma
Sunray, Oklahoma

Want Something To Eat?
Corn, Oklahoma
Grainola, Oklahoma
Hominy, Oklahoma
Olive, Oklahoma
South Coffeeville, Oklahoma
Sweetwater, Oklahoma
Cookietown, Oklahoma

Why Travel To Other Cities? Oklahoma Has Them All!
Cleveland, Oklahoma
Orlando, Oklahoma
Miami, Oklahoma
Pittsburgh, Oklahoma
Santa Fe, Oklahoma
St. Louis, Oklahoma
Chattanooga, Oklahoma
Peoria, Oklahoma
Burbank, Oklahoma
Fargo, Oklahoma

Don't Forget The Wildlife!
Wolfe , Oklahoma
Eagle, Oklahoma
Buffalo , Oklahoma
Fox, Oklahoma
Bison, Oklahoma
Deer Creek , Oklahoma
Elk City, Oklahoma

We Have A Town Named After A Number... Forty-One, Oklahoma

And A Town Who's Letter's Don't Spell Anything... IXL, Oklahoma

And For The Sportsman Who Wants To Get Away From It All...
Fisherman's Paradise , Oklahoma

We Even Have A City Named After Earth's Only Satellite!
Moon, Oklahoma

And A City Named After Our State!
Oklahoma City , Oklahoma

Feeling A Bit Chilly?
Snow, Oklahoma
Slick, Oklahoma
Cold Springs, Oklahoma

Oklahoma Is Full Of Love!
Lovedale , Oklahoma
Loveland , Oklahoma
Lovell , Oklahoma
Bigheart , Oklahoma
Loyal, Oklahoma

Like To Read About The Presidents?
Adams, Oklahoma
Taylor, Oklahoma
Fillmore, Oklahoma
Grant, Oklahoma
Taft, Oklahoma
Johnson, Oklahoma
Lincoln, Oklahoma
Jefferson, Oklahoma
Reagan, Oklahoma
Wilson, Oklahoma
Roosevelt, Oklahoma
Carter, Oklahoma
Clinton, Oklahoma
Washington, Oklahoma

Other City Names In Oklahoma To Make You Smile.....
Frogville, Oklahoma
Loco, Oklahoma
Bushyhead, Oklahoma
Bugtussle, Oklahoma
Hooker, Oklahoma
Slaughterville, Oklahoma
Bowlegs, Oklahoma
Slapout, Oklahoma

And Regardless What Side Of The Fence You're On...
Gay , Oklahoma Straight, Oklahoma

Here Are Some Little Known But Very Interesting Facts About Oklahoma .
1. The bread twist tie was invented in Maysville.
2. The shopping cart was invented in Ardmore in 1936.
3. The nation's first parking meter was intalled in Oklahoma City in 1935.
4. The first Girl Scout Cookie was sold in Muskogee in 1917.
5. Cimarron County , located in the Oklahoma Panhandle, is the only county in the U.S. bordered by 4 separate states.... Texas , New Mexico , Colorado & Kansas .
6. The Oklahoma State Capital is the only capital in the U.S. with working oil wells on its grounds.
7. Boise City , Oklahoma was the only city in the United States to be bombed during World War II. On Monday night, July 5, 1943, at 12:30 a.m., a B-17 Bomber based at Dalhart Army Air Base, Texas , dropped six practice bombs on the sleeping town, mistaking the city lights as target lights.
8. WKY Radio in Oklahoma City was the first radio station transmitting west of the Mississippi River .
9. The nation's first 'Tornado Warning' was issued on March 25, 1948 in Oklahoma City minutes before a devastating tornado. Because of the warning, no lives were lost.
10. Oklahoma has the largest Native American population of any state in the U.S.
11. The name ' Oklahoma ' comes from two Choctaw words... okla meaning 'people' andhumma meaning 'red'. So the name means, 'Red People.' The name was approved in 1890.
12. Oklahoma produced more astronauts than any other state.
13. Oklahoma has more man made lakes than any other state.
14. During the 'Land Rush', Oklahoma City went from a vast, open prairie to a city of over 10,000 in a single day.
15. The nation's first traffic 'Yield' sign was erected in Tulsa on a trial basis.
16. Pensacola Dam is the longest multi-arched dam in the world at 6,565 feet.
17. The ' Port of Catoosa ' (just north of Tulsa ) is the largest inland port in America .
18. The aerosol can was invented in Bartlesville .
19. Per square mile, Oklahoma has more tornadoes than any other place in the world.
20. The highest wind speed ever recorded on earth was in Moore , Oklahoma on May 3rd. 1999 during the Oklahoma City F-5 tornado. Wind speed was clocked at 318 mph.
21. The ' Will Rogers World Airport ' and the ' Wiley Post Airport ' are both named after two famous Okies....both killed in an airplane crash!!!

Cowboy's Ten Commandments
(1) Just one God.
(2) Honor yer Ma & Pa.
(3) No telling tales or gossipin'.
(4) Git yourself to Sunday meeting.
(5) Put nothin' before God.
(6) No foolin' around with another fellow's gal.
(7) No killin'.
(8) Watch yer mouth.
(9) Don't take what ain't yers.
(10) Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff

Now that's plain an' simple don'tcha think?

I do, I do, I do, I do ...................

2009-02-19T14:19:00.004-06:00

OK, so I am resorting back to items I find interesting in the news. This one should have been done on Valentines.
Linda Lou Taylor, a 68-year-old Anderson, Ind., woman has had many names over the past 50+ years. That's because she's been hitched 23 times,(yes twenty-three) making her the most married women in history. I'm sure her mom is so proud.
Linda can't remember her husbands in order, but she remembers the first one vividly. She and George Scott married in 1957, when she was just 16 and he was 31. They stayed together for seven years, making the marriage her longest.
Her shortest marriage? Thirty-six hours to Fred Chadwick, what could be so bad that it only lasted 36 hours?
Linda now goes by the surname Wolfe. She and husband Glynn "Scotty" Wolfe did not marry for love, however. The two wed in Arizona in 1996 as part of a publicity stunt. Scotty was the most married man in the world, and Linda was his 29th bride. Scotty died just a few days before their one-year anniversary. So did they live together during that year, or did they go their separate ways after the "I do"?
If you think your ex-spouse story is bad, imagine having 23 of them.
Linda has been married to a convict, a preacher, a musician, bartenders, homeless men, electricians, and even two gay men. One husband beat her. More than one deserted her.
But this hasn't discouraged her from walking down the aisle again.
"I would get married again," Linda told The Indianapolis Star, "because, you know, it gets lonely, well get a dog honey . . . anybody that would marry you at this point is nuts ! ! !

My 3 Day Experience

2009-01-26T21:15:00.000-06:00

As you all know I walked in the 60 mile 3-Day Breast Cancer event last November. I did send out an email telling you that I made all 60 miles & that it was physically the hardest thing I ever did. But what I didn’t tell you were some of the adventures I had along the way. I’m not the story teller Jim Bob is, but I will do my best.
There were a couple of incidents even before we took our first step on the walk that most people would take as an omen not to do the walk. As we were waiting in line for the bus, I decide to step over a pretty flower bed. Well I stepped on one of those pretty little flowers & promptly took a seat on the curb, I’m sure it was a site to see. Then our bus driver goes west instead of east to opening ceremonies, yes we were the last to arrive, we weren’t deterred. The first half of Day 1 was not bad, I knew I had trained & believed I was prepared, made it through lunch, even through the last pit-stop. When I saw the sign, “one mile to camp”, I thought woo-hoo I made it. Well some sick individual was a little premature with that sign & I’m thinking that I may not make it to camp, that this is the longest mile I’ve ever walked. Later found out that it was actually 3 miles to camp from that sign, whew, thought I was a weenie. Ate supper, had a shower & was in bed by 8 pm that night, with some aching from many parts of my body.
We didn’t start Day 2 with as much enthusiasm, but started none-the-less. By lunch my feet were starting to wonder what they had ever done to the rest of my body to deserve this. It was hard to stop & get going again, but had to worship at the little blue castles, yep the port-o-potties. They became my friend & were always happy to see them. During the 3-Day hydration is pushed & pushed hard, so the castles were very important. Making it to camp was a great relief more so that evening. Again had supper, shower & was ready for bed, but had to get some of my thing ready to pack the next morning, but still made it to bed by 8:30.
Had to convince my body to get up on Day 3, it was saying no but I was saying yes, I won. After breakfast we packed our duffle bags & headed out. Closing ceremonies was a goal, there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Now let me tell you, I trained & trained hard for this event, but I can say that I was not prepared for the physical strain along with the emotional highs & lows that I went through. I met ladies along the walk that had been through chemo, radiation or had lost someone to breast cancer and yet they were still there, doing their part to stop this disease, which made me even more determined to finish the 60 miles. The last ½ of day 3 was hard, very hard. There were times I wanted to quit, but I couldn’t. I had told all of you that I would do it & I couldn’t let you, or myself for that matter, down. I am not an overly emotional person, but as I crossed the end of my journey the tears came & I couldn’t stop them. They came out of joy for finishing, they came out of exhaustion, they came for those who couldn’t make the journey and they came for reasons I can’t explain.
It was then that I knew I would be doing it all over again. So be prepared for the emails, the letters, the phone calls, what ever it takes to raise the $2300 so I can cry again.
I didn’t mean to ramble on, thanks for reading along. Hugs to all & don’t forget to have your mammies grammed . . . .
Kathy Laird

“We walk because we must. We are strong because the journey demands it. Together in body & united in spirit, we lay down our foot steps for this generation and the next. This is our promise; a world without breast cancer.”
WWW.THE3DAY.ORG/GOTO/KATHYL09 to donate.

BIG FUNK

2009-01-24T07:52:00.002-06:00

I'm really in a hug BIG FUNK. Jim Bob is on NutriSystems again & has lost 15 pounds since Jan 1. It's just not far. I keep losing & gaining the same 5 lbs. We leave 4 weeks from today for Mexico & the way I'm going I should be 10 lbs heavier than I am now. I try real hard to stay on an eating plan, but after about 3 days I loose that battle. I'm thinking if I was to put in an induced coma & given nothing but IVs for a couple of weeks I might loose a couple of pounds.

Yesterday I so wanted a taco salad, so I walked .4 of a mile to get one. I ordered it without beans or sour cream & extra lettuce. Then walked back to the office. Total .8 of a mile & a happy tummy. Today I'm going to meet with a fitness consultant at a gym in Durant. Not only exercise equipment, they alo have a infarred sauna, hyrdro message & tanning bed. I'm looking forward to it.

What's they new plan for today? I'm going to try my best to eat sensible, exercise to tone my body and quit stressing over every bite I put in my mouth. God loves me, my husband loves me, my family loves me not matter how much I weigh. I know that I will feel better when I do loose some weight & start toning. But knowing how much I'm loved will make it easier to happen.

So thank you for letting me ramble & thank you for your support. hugs to all. I'm off to change into my workout clothes . . . I'll let you know how it goes.

It's a new week with a better attitude

2009-01-12T09:59:00.003-06:00

Happy Monday! Wow what a difference a week makes. Last Monday I wouldn't have cared if I gained 300 pounds & became the circus fat lady. I feel so much better today & very optimistic. I know I'm not going to loose the 20 lbs I wanted to before we go to Mexico, but that's ok. I'm not going to beat myself up about it & will do my best to loose as much as I can by then. I'm looking at the long range here of being healthier & feeling better.
We are going to a music camp out this weekend, I know there will be GOOD food & yes I will have a tottie or two, but just to stay warm. I will watch what I eat this week & enjoy my weekend. Don't I sound all grown up? So you ask what is the plan this week? No fast food, no processed food, only fresh that I prepare myself. Lean protein, crunchy veggies. Today for lunch I mixed up a can of water packed tuna with some lite Italian dressing, celery, red onion & bell pepper. I'm going to roll it up in romaine lettuce leafs. For breakfast I had a protein shake made out of the best whey based protein powder I've ever had. I got it GNC (it's their brand) chocolate, mixed with instant coffee, water & ice, then I put it in the freezer till time to leave for work. It was yumm-o. I also got the vanilla flavored & looking forward to trying it with Crystal Lite's Sunrise.
I am also looking forward to doing a little physical activity this evening. Yep that's right, I'm going to exercise. I have my Leslie Samsone walk/jog DVD all ready to go. If you haven't heard of her or tried any of DVDs it's worth the look. She doesn't try to kill you with any fancy foot work & she is easy to follow. So new week, new attitude - I feel better all ready.
Nothing to do with the battle of the bulge ~ we went to Tulsa yesterday for a visit with Jesse. "We" included Jim Bob, AJ, Stephanie & myself. He seems to be in good spirits. He will be finished with the program on February 18. Please continue to keep him in your prayers. (I will post a few pics tonight).
Again, Happy Monday to all ! ! !

It's just not fair

2009-01-09T13:49:00.002-06:00

So much to talk about & not sure where to start... I am feeling better, have part of my voice back, still have a lot of funk coming out of my nose but my throat isn't as sore. So I've gotten no exercise this week & was feeling pretty good about the 5 lbs I've lost until Jim Bob weighed last night. It's just not fair that men can say the word "diet" and drop a pound for every letter. But I'm proud of him & his 10 lbs.
Question: why is when we go to Mexico we will see all kinds of men with their little/big bellies hanging over their bathing suits & it's ok, but when I take off my cover all I will hear is look at the harpooned hippo?
I got my book from Amazon, Crack the Fat-loss Code yesterday. I tried to read at it while the Sooners were playing (not going to talk about that). The only thing I got out of it was that even though the author, Wendy Chant, doesn't call the program in it's entirety a diet, the first week she does. It has to be followed the first 7 days without any deviations. So I failed the first week, remember my soup the other night? And I've had a few cherries yesterday (not suppose to have fruit the first week).
I have to start over, but looking at the calendar it's going to be the 20th before I will have 7 days that I can begin again. But that's ok, I'm going to still watch what I eat, not going to Taco Casa for lunch anytime soon & will stay with the healthy stuff.
New plan: eat 5 small sensible meals a day, get up off my big butt for some exercise and read the book from cover to cover to prep myself for the 20th. Keep reminding myself that the weight didn't come fast & that taking it off reasonably will give me a better chance of keeping it off. Don't I sound smart?
I have a feeling before I reach a comfortable weight, there will be several "new plans". But hang in there with me and thanks for the encouraging words.

Excellent Tulsa Adventure

2008-12-28T10:29:00.008-06:00

I've already said, Christmas isn't what it use to be. So why let this year be any different. We had a small gathering for Christmas Eve. Mine & Jim Bob's mothers, AJ & Stephanie set around Christmas Eve afternoon & played with the dogs. AJ brought Duece over to see his dad, Frisco. Tatum made sure they both new she was in charge.

AJ & Stephanie opened their presents & went on to her folks house.

Shanna & family came by for some food, fun & presents. It was a good evening

Christmas day was a new experience. Jim Bob went to work in Decatur. I went to Tulsa to spend the day with Jesse. His face when he saw me was worth the trip, he was thrilled to be able to get away for the day with his mommy.

Mom even let Jesse drive us around Tulsa

Doesn't our Chirstmas dinner look yumm-o?

Mom & Jesse had an excellent Tulsa Adventure ! ! !

Merry Christmas from the fam-o-lee

2008-12-23T12:45:00.003-06:00

Here is hoping that you & yours have a wonderful blessed Christmas. I think I'm ready. I have my list on the frig with what I'm going to serve & in what order I start preparing. I have actually deligated out others to bring snicky-snacks with them. I wrapped presents last night & wondered "what if we had not cut back on gifts this year?" I have to work tomorrow which made me wonder why I can't trade the day after Thanksgiving as a holiday for Christmas Eve?
When I was little (yes along time ago) Christmas was a month long celebration. No school, no rules about what you could or couldn't eat during the holiday. I want that back. I don't like Christmas getting treated like Columbus Day. I'm low on the totem pole at work so there is no way I can get Christmas week as vacation (even if I had any left), but it should feel more special. How do I get that back?
This year we will do our food & presents on Christmas Eve. It will be my mom, Grando, AJ, Stephanie, Shanna & family, Jim Bob & me. I look forward to seeing the kids face as they open presents, that's always fun. Jim Bob will be getting up before Santa gets back to the North Pole to go to work, I will be heading to Tulsa for a visit with Jesse. It just isn't right, but I guess that is the direction our life's have taken. I will try to take pictures of our little gathering & post them here soon.
So until then, Merry Christmas from the fam-0-lee. . . . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uR9awfpxvLo

Get on the list

2008-11-25T14:47:00.003-06:00

I got this as an email & thought it deserved to be on my blog also.

The election of Obama comes down to this. Your grandmother and I , your mother and other productive wage earning tax payers will have their taxes increased and that means less income. Less income means we will have to cut back on basic purchases , gifts and handouts. That includes firing the Hispanic lady who cleans our house twice a month. She just lost her job. We can't afford her anymore.

What is the economic effect of Obama's election on you personally? Over the years , your grandmother and I have given you thousands of dollars in food , housing , cash , clothing , gifts , etc. , etc. By your vote , you have chosen another family over ours for help. So in the future , if you need assistance with your rent , money for gas , tires for you car , someone to bring you lunch , etc. ... call 202-456-1111. That's the telephone number for the Office of the President of the United States . I'm sure Mr. Obama will be happy to send a check from his personal or business accounts or leave cash in an envelope taped to his front door.It's like this.

Those who vote for the president should consider what the impact of an election will be on the nation as a whole and not just be concerned with what they can get for themselves (welfare , etc.). What Obama voters don't seem to realize is that the government's money comes from taxes collected from tax paying families. Raising taxes on productive people means they will have less money to spend on their families.

Congratulations on your choice. For future reference , you might attempt to add up all you've received from us , your mom , your dad's parents and others and compare it to what you expect to get over the next four years from Mr. Obama.
To congratulate Mr. Obama and to make sure you're on the list for handouts , write to:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington , DC 20500

Love you Lauren , but call the number listed above when you need help.

Granddad

2 times in 1 day ?

2008-11-05T15:21:00.002-06:00

Police say a man was arrested on drunken driving charges in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, twice in less than six hours.
The man's first arrest came just before 11 a.m. after police said his car hit the back of a stopped vehicle. The man was arrested for suspected DUI. After being processed, he was released to his girlfriend.
The man was arrested again just before 4 p.m. after police said a second accident happened after he turned left in front of another vehicle.
The 50-year-old was arraigned by a judge after the second crash and was sent to the county jail.
There were no serious injuries in either crash, which is a miracle
Maybe that's why in Oklahoma they keep the drunks in jail for 6 hours before releasing them.

A name is a name is a name . . .

2008-10-24T11:54:00.003-05:00

I have a cousin on my dad's side that was somewhat of a stink & yes his middle name was Wayne. Guess what I'm getting at, is don't use Wayne as a middle name for your sons. Why you ask? Well read on:
Arrested recently and awaiting trial for murder: Nathaniel Wayne Lee, Attalla, Ala. (September); Michael Wayne Wood Sr. (arrested in Michigan in August as a fugitive from a 2005 Oklahoma murder warrant); Jeffrey Wayne Riebe, Myrtle Beach, S.C. (August); Barry Wayne Kaalund, Durham, N.C. (August); Joseph Wayne Keeler, Largo, Fla. (August). Captured after escaping while serving time for murder: Marlow Wayne Reynolds, Rosharon, Texas (September). Fugitive warrant issued: suspected murderer Larry Wayne Brucke Jr., Lenoir, N.C. (September). Lee: [WSB-TV (Atlanta)-AP, 9-9-08] Wood: [Grand Junction Free Press (Grand Junction, Colo.), 8-15-08] Riebe: [The State (Columbia)-AP, 8-30-08] Kaalund: [WTVD-TV (Durham), 8-31-08] Keeler: [St. Petersburg Times, 8-8-08] Reynolds: [Washington Post-AP, 9-30-08] Brucke: [Charlotte Observer, 9-22-08] {by the way I read this on another blog, but now I can't find it to give them credit}
But I also had a cousin on mom's side that shared this middle name & he was a sweetheart, but don't think I would take the chance.

Living in a paint shed

2008-07-28T19:11:00.002-05:00

A New York reporter says a maintenance man who earned $100,000 last year working at a psychiatric center has been living for free in a paint shed on company grounds and even had his mail delivered there.
A report issued Monday by the inspector general's office says the worker lived on the grounds of the Rockland Psychiatric Center in New York City's northern suburbs for three years. It says he stayed in a back room of the shed and had a couch, microwave and refrigerator.
The center's executive director told inspectors he didn't know the worker was living in the shed.The worker is being charged $2,500 for the time he lived there. Now he's living with his wife at a home in Pearl River, about 3 miles away.
So where was his wife while he was living in the paint shed?

roughing it

2008-07-22T08:31:00.002-05:00

My pawpaw use to say he had seen life go from horse & buggy to spaceships & he wouldn't be surprised seeing life go back to horse & buggy. A Bob Skelding from Deerfield, NH is doing his part to make pawpaw's statement true. Bob is heading out on a trek across country with his homemade RV and 3 horses.
Bob wants to take the worst things that exist in life, like bills and drudgery and doing the same old things everyday & make the best of it. Skelding is going to see the country at 3 mph. On Saturday morning, he'll strike out from Deerfield under three horsepower and head west -- traveling 10 miles a day for a destination unknown.
"I'm not going nowhere," he said. "I'm not trying to make the West Coast at such and such a time or the East Coast. I'm not supporting a cause. I'm just going out and seeing everybody and having a good time."
Skelding decided in February to take the things he likes most -- horses and meeting people -- and combine them. He has two college-age children, is recently divorced and in May, quit his 15-year job in electrical maintenance.
He's built a horse-drawn camper that has a lot of creature comforts, including a hot water shower and a small kitchen, as well as an easy-up electrical fence to pen his horses at night.
If he has a message in his trip, it's that life moves too fast these days.
"Slow down," he said. "The SUV doesn't have to go down the street 70 mph, blowing everything out of the sky. And if you really slowed down, you'd wonder what you were in a hurry for the last time."
I think I'm jealous of old Bob & hope to hear how his travels go.

I like the occasional pedicure

2008-07-21T14:21:00.003-05:00

Now I'm not a girly-girl for the most part. I do however like the occasional pedicure. What is about having a stranger rub on your feet feels so good?
Let me ask a couple of questions before I continue. How many times have you been at the lake & had little fish nibble on your back, legs or arms? Did you know that in Washington DC people are now paying for that?
Let me explain how the two are connected. Fish pedicures are creating something of a splash in the D.C. area, where a northern Virginia spa has been offering them for the past four months. John Ho, who runs the Yvonne Hair and Nails salon with his wife, Yvonne Le, said 5,000 people have taken the plunge so far.
He said he wanted to come up with something unique while finding a replacement for pedicures that use razors to scrape off dead skin. The razors have fallen out of favor with state regulators because of concerns about whether they're sanitary. Ho was skeptical at first about the fish, which are called garra rufa but typically known as doctor fish. They were first used in Turkey and have become popular in some Asian countries.
Ho said the hot water in which the fish thrive doesn't support much plant or aquatic life, so they learned to feed on whatever food sources were available -- including dead, flaking skin. They leave live skin alone because, without teeth, they can't bite it off. The fish don't do the job alone. After 15 to 30 minutes in the tank, customers get a standard pedicure, made easier by the soft skin the doctor fish leave behind.
So now do I go see my Asian friends for a pedicure or do I just go to the lake? If I could get Jim Bob to rub my feet & polish my toe nails I would be saving money. But I guess until that happens I will meet you in the back of the nail salon.

Are you pulling my leg, naw just letting it go

2008-07-19T14:52:00.003-05:00

A few years ago while a music festival on the Brazos river there was a guy who lost his titanium leg. The group he was with all went tubing, he took the leg off & fastened it to an ice chest. Somewhere along the trip it got loose & was gone. Just think your fishing on a quite Sunday afternoon when you get a bite & reel in a leg ~ can't be good a feeling.
Now another man in New York went sky diving & lost his prosthetic leg. The lower leg below the knee, with a foot clad in a running shoe, flew off after he jumped from the plane but before the parachute opened. He has distributed fliers throughout upstate New York and hopes someone will find his prosthetic leg and call him. So your driving down the road when you hear a thud on the top of your car. . .
It's bad enough these guys lost their foot & leg once but twice ? ? ? Hopefully third times the charm ! ! !

MIA dog figurine is back

2008-07-18T09:20:00.000-05:00

Really I didn't do this, but I will keep it in mind. A month ago a woman in Oregon noticed that the little dog figurine she had in her garden was missing. She thought that some kid might have taken it. Then she starts getting postcards from the dog & even an occasionly picture of the dog @ some landmarks across the US. Last week she is out in the garden & the dog is back with more pictures, a letter detailing it's adventours & friends. That's right along the way the statue picked up some friends (other figurines) to bring back with him. Thje woman thinks it's funny & hopes the little fella & its traveling companions had a great time.

So if your garden gnome comes up missing while I'm on vacation, I didn't take it . . . or did I?

It's twins - but why

2008-07-07T10:31:00.003-05:00

In India a 70-year-old woman has delivered twins, becomming the world's oldest woman to give birth. (WHY?) Omkari Panwar, from Muzaffarnagar, India, delivered a boy and a girl one month premature by emergency caesarean section. (WHY?) Panwar, who already has two adult daughters and five grandchildren, underwent in-vitro fertility treatment so she could produce a male heir.(WHY?) Her husband, Charan Singh Panwar, 77, mortgaged his land and spent his life savings to finance the treatment. (WHY?) But he says it was all worth it."At last we have a son and heir," he said. (WHY?) "We prayed to God, went to saints and visited religious places to pray for an heir."
WHY WHY WHY - who is going to raise this heir. I can hear it now, "No sir I can't come into work today, I have to take care of my great uncle". No sir, he's not in a nursing home, he is at
daycare". WHY? WHY? WHY?

Back to walking . . .

2008-07-01T11:57:00.003-05:00

Monday's are rest day on the training schedule, so I didn't walk. But I did spend 5 hours at the hospital with my mom. She is ok now, had some chest pains & it worried her. She has ever right to worry, she already has stint & her mom did die of heart problems.
I have a question, do all doctors the first day of medical school learn the words: "you must loose weight"? I know most of us need to (not Lana or Grando), but I think no matter what you are seeing a doctor for that's the 1st words out of their mouth.
The doc also said that we all need to walk, walk, walk. At least I have that one covered. I've almost hit 100 miles ~ yea me.
Gotta go, it's time for lunch, guess I forgot what the doctor told mom . . . but's it for energy so I can walk this evening . . . that's my story & I'm sticking to it.

Oldest profession hit by high fuel cost ?

2008-06-30T08:17:00.002-05:00

In Nevada where prostitution is legal, fuel prices are putting a pinch on the world's oldest profession. It's the brothels that cater to long-haul truckers that are being affected the most. Of Nevada's 28 legal brothels, 16 are located in rural areas that are being hurt by trucker's higher diseal cost. One of the promotions being offered is $50 gas cards to clients who spend $300 & $100 to those who spend $500. Also at the BunnyRanch if a client brings in the government stimulus checks they receive twice the services for the same price. Gives a new meaning to "stimulus" doesn't it?

But there is good (sarcasim) news for those brothel's that don't depend on truckers. Due to a booming local economy driven by mining & rising gold prices, business is "up".

The president of the Nevada Brothel Owner's Association says that customers won't be spending as much, but the brothel's will still be there. Sex is not going away. . .

I'm not even going to start commenting on this news report, I just don't have the time or energy that it will take today.

These boobs are made for walking

2008-06-28T12:58:00.002-05:00

Update from yesterday ~ I did it. I hoofed off 10 miles today ! ! ! I took off from the house & headed east to Little Glasses, which I found out this morning is almost 7 miles from my house. My mom was my hero, aka road crew. She showed up about an hour after I left the house & checked on me. She would then drive to the next spot where she could pull over & wait for me. When I got to Little Glasses store, did I mention that was 7 miles from my house) mom was there with a Gatorade waiting on me. Had a little pit stop, shoes off, had snack, put shoes back on, used the facilities & took off again. When I hit the 10 miles I pumped my arms & mom honked her horn ~ yea me. My road crew pulled over in the next field entrance & drove me the rest of the way home.
So now here I sit, trying to get up the strength to walk to the pool & take a dip.
TEN MILES ~ 1/2 of what I will be walking a day during the 3Day in November.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend & I'll rest up for my next adventure.

I'm tooting my own horn

2008-06-27T08:20:00.003-05:00

In case you didn't know, I'm walking in the 60 mile 3Day Breast Cancer Walk November 7-9. Getting donations so far hasn't been that difficult. I'm better at giving than receiving, but it's a great cause. I'm really close to the minimum of $2200 donations, I've got $2048 so I know I will make it. The hard part is the training. Maybe it's because I'm pretty good @ sitting on the couch or that I don't like to sweat. But I've made this commitment & I'm gonna do it. My training walks so far have consisted of walking around the 1 1/8 mile trail around the city lake up to 5 times. Last Sunday I walked an official 5 mile training walk in Arlington with 70 other walkers. It was amazing how quick it went by & it was a good feeling to know that I can keep up with other walkers (besides keeping up with Jim Bob).
So yesterday I decided that I wanted to walk 5 miles but not on the trail. I have one of those Nike iPod sensors attached to the top of my shoe (no I didn't buy the Nike's that go with it). It's really great to help keep of with how far you've walked. It can be programed how far I want to walk & it will tells me each mile how far I've gone & will tell you when you are 1/2 way. It also keeps track of your pace. (that was my commercial break) Now back to my walk: I left my mom's house walked 6th street to Mc Arthur (@ the school), down by the hospital, out to 12th street & headed to the city lake. Took a peepee break, turned around & walked back to mom's. That's a total of 5 1/2 miles - yea me ! ! ! I've walked that far before around the track, but doing it on the streets just felt so much more like an accomplishment.
I'm looking forward to adding miles to training, up to 80 since May 27. I think tomorrow I will walk to Little Glasses & back from the house (that will be a total of 10 miles). Say a prayer for me in the morning & I'll let you know how it goes. . . .

It only took 5 ?

2008-06-16T12:09:00.002-05:00

Police in North Carolina are investigating 76-year-0ld Betty Neusmar for one count of solication of murder back in 1986. Seems this sweet old lady has had FIVE (5) husbands that have died. Back in 1986 a would-be hitman notified police that Betty was looking for someone to kill her husband, but no one took him seriously.
Betty has been married five times since the 1950's, but each union ended with the death of her husband. Investigators in North Caroline are urging police elsewhere to look into those deaths.
Here are just a few questions I have:
1. Shouldn't any report about someone trying to hire a hitman be taken seriously?
2. Wouldn't some of her family think it odd that she had "lost" so many husbands?
3. Could you marry someone that had already lost 2, 3 or 4 spouses?
4. Had this woman ever heard of Divorce Court?
5. How many children did she have & by which husband?
I'm sure there are more, but that's enough for now. Gonna have to try to follow up on this one.

Happy Monday, hope you have a great week.

Who needs inside plumbing

2008-06-09T19:19:00.002-05:00

Well not an ailing 79 year old retired farmer, Lew Preston in Ohio. He refused to give up his outhouse after authorities declared it to be a public nuisance. Seems Lew outlasted the city till a nonprofit group came & built a new-fangled sturdy outhouse with a waste tank underneath, complete with a crescent moon on its door. Did I mention it's made out of wood?
Lew lives near a busy shopping area & has 175 acres of potentially lucrative real estate but didn't want to go the expense & complications of installing a septic system.
He has suffered by diabetes and has colon problems (wouldn't that be a good reason for indoor plumbing). He has used an outside toilet for 40 years ago & likes the privacy of a privy. The old one was even picked up & carried into his garden by a tornado without major damage.
I had an uncle who lived in eastern Oklahoma who thought outhouse business didn't belong inside. Mr. Preston says "when you're in a house, sounds carry, everybody knows your business".
Guess everybody visiting my house will know my business.

Posterior injury in mooning accident

2008-06-03T13:38:00.002-05:00

I've done it, I've seen it done. Yep I'm guilty of "mooning". Also have a really cute picture of AJ & Jesse mooning me while we were camping in Colorado a few years back.
A poor chap in the Netherlands should have kept his pants up earlier today when he & two others ran down a street with his pants pulled down in the back & pushed his behind against the window of a restaurant. The window broke and resulted in deep wounds to his derriere.
The good news is the cafe owner decided not to press charges after the men agreed to pay for the broken window. The injured chap was treated for his injuries at a nearby hospital.
OK how hard did he push his butt against that window - gotta go, just a got a visual & wish I hadn't have. May all your moons be the one in space.

The monoster under the bed or the closet

2008-06-01T20:09:00.003-05:00

We all know I'm no house keeper, but I think I would know if someone was living in my closet. Tokyo, Japan a homeless woman who sneaked into a man's house & lived undetected in his closet for a year was arrested after he became suspicious when food mysteriously began disappearing.
The 58-year-old woman was hiding in the top compartment of the man's closet & was arrested for trespassing. Either his closet was bigger than my house & he didn't go in there very often or the woman looked like ET & the stuffed animals.
Have a great week.

Marshall County Bricks

2008-05-29T21:18:00.002-05:00

Nothing but respect for these people. John M Laird Jr is Jim Bob's dad. AJ is my oldest boy, James Vanderburg is AJ & Jesse's grandfather & Charles Vanderburg is their uncle. These bricks are on the south side of the square in Madill O& will be infront of the War Memorial Stones when they are set.

Granny get your gun

2008-05-26T20:34:00.003-05:00

A church near Rockingham, NC was evacuated Sunday morning after a man walked in with a gun. Police are still searching for the suspect. Seems the gunman entered through a back door during the Sunday service. No shots were fired, and no on was hurt & the gunman left before the police arrived.
At least this time nobody was hurt or killed. Seems like there are more stories along this line. Here's my suggestion, let's all go back to strapping on our six guns. That way some punk walks into a 7-11 & pulls a gun on the clerk, a customer pulls out their gun & ask politely for the punk to put his away. Why should just the crooks have the guns? ? ?

It's a miracle - no a real one

2008-05-23T14:55:00.002-05:00

http://www.newsnet5.com/health/16363548/detail.html
Check out the above article about an Ohio woman whose family had said their goodbyes & tubes pulled when she wakes up. Her words: "I know God has something in store for me, another purpose. I don't know what it is but I'm sure he'll tell me," she said.

Whoa mule

2008-05-23T08:51:00.002-05:00

Let me start with HAPPY FRIDAY ! ! ! Gas prices are crazy, $3.79 this morning on the way to work & the news said on the lake it's $4.25.
Because of the high price of gas there is a farmer in Tennesse that has hitched his tractor rake to a team of mules to gather hay from the fields. He bought Dolly & Molly last year. The farmer's sons trained them to pull the rake & modified the rake. says the mules are slower than a petroleum-powered tractor, but there are benefits.
The fuel's so high, the farmer can't afford it, but he can feed these mules cheaper than he can buy fuel. Besides they just like having the mules around the farm & have been using them quite a bit. They believe it's the way of the future.
My grandfather told me that he had seen life go from horse & buggy to space ship & wouldn't be surprised if he or his kids saw it go back ~ ~ ~ guess once again he knew what he was talking about.
Everybody have a safe weekend. Hugs to all.

Don't look Ethel

2008-05-20T07:55:00.002-05:00

I'm going to look at both sides of this story in Brattleboro, Vermont. The problem seems to be that some of the residents like to walk around naked. There has been naked bicycling, naked hula-hooping and naked Dunkin' Donut eating. In December the town board voted to ban public nudity - which had been legal.
I can see where I really wouldn't want to see some out running around with all their flab flabbing (like myself). But then again wouldn't it be liberating to not have to worry about what your going to wear each morning.

Forgiveness to power of infinity

2008-05-15T13:02:00.002-05:00

You get 2 today - this one comes from CNN.com. I'm not going to put it in my words, just going to copy it, please don't get me for copywrite infringement. I really didn't want to miss anything. This woman should be an example to all of us. The headline is: WOMAN OPENS HEART TO MAN WHO SLAUGHTERED HER FAMILY. (let me know if you read it without crying)

GITARAMA, Rwanda (CNN) -- What does Macy's have to do with healing from genocide? Nothing and everything.
Fourteen years after Hutu extremists killed between 800,000 and 1 million people -- mostly Tutsis -- in a devastating slaughter, Rwandan women are weaving peace baskets for sale at Macy's in the United States. Not only does the work bring them a regular salary but the business is also fostering reconciliation between victim and perpetrator.
Iphigenia Mukantabana, a master weaver, sits in front of her house in Gitarama -- an hour from the capital Kigali -- making beautiful baskets with her friend, Epiphania Mukanyndwi.
In 1994 Mukantabana's husband and five of her children were hacked and clubbed to death by marauding Hutu militias. Among her family's killers was Jean-Bosco Bizimana, Mukanyndwi's husband.
"In my heart the dead are dead and they cannot come back again," Mukantabana said of those she lost. "So I have to get on with the others and forget what has happened."
Forgetting and forgiving everything she lost, everything she witnessed.
"Women and girls were raped and I saw it all," she told CNN. "The men and boys were beaten and then slaughtered. They told others to dig a hole get in, then they piled earth on top of them, while they were still alive."
Yet today, Mukantabana shares her future and her family meals with Bizimana, the killer she knew, and his wife, her friend Mukanyndwi.
Bizimana did spend seven years in jail. He then went before a tribal gathering, part of a return to traditional ways by the new government in 2002 with Rwanda's justice system unable to cope and process hundreds of thousands of imprisoned perpetrators.
The government decided that the master planners and worst perpetrators would face formal justice. But lower-level killers were allowed to publicly confess and apologize to the families of their victims at gacaca courts, where elders would hear grievances and decide on the punishments.
"In the gacaca court, I told them how we killed our fellow men and I asked for forgiveness in front of the court and the whole district was there," Bizimana said.
"The people who died in this very area -- I knew all of them because they were our neighbors."
He places blame squarely on the extremist Hutu government at the time, and on vile radio broadcasts that urged on the killers during the 100-day slaughter.
"They were giving instructions all the time, that was from the government and so we thought it as the right thing because we were getting this instruction from the government," Bizimana said.
He showed where he and a Hutu mob had killed 25 people, including members of Mukantabana's family, a few yards from where he had just shared lunch with her. "We used machetes, hoes and wooden clubs," he told CNN.
Mukantabana admits it was difficult to forgive. She said she did not speak to Bizimana or his wife for four years after the killings. What put her on the road to healing, she said, was the gacaca process.
"It has not just helped me, it has helped all Rwandans because someone comes and accepts what he did and he asks for forgiveness from the whole community, from all Rwandans," she said.
Bizimana said he did just that.
"You go in front of the people like we are standing here and ask for forgiveness," he said.
But despite his confession and apology, Iphigenia said reconciliation would not have happened unless she had decided to open her heart and accept his pleas.
"I am a Christian and I pray a lot," she said, the pain etched in the lines on her face and around her sad eyes.
But the basket business also played a key role in forging forgiveness and reconciliation after the horror.
"We knew how to weave baskets," Mukantabana explained. "It helped unite Rwandans in this area because they accepted me as the master weaver and I could not say 'I am not taking your basket or I am not helping you because you did something bad to me.' "
Macy's sold the first "peace baskets" in 2005 and officials say the deal generates between $300,000 and $400,000 a year. A Rwandan weaver can earn about $14 per week -- a king's ransom in a country where so many live on less than $1 per week.
The international project is a far cry from 1994, when the United States, Europe, the United Nations and the rest of the world turned away while the genocide went unchecked in Rwanda.
"They didn't care, they were totally indifferent," Rwandan President Paul Kagame told CNN in an interview in his office in Kigali.
He said the world thought Rwanda "was just another bloody African situation where people just kill each other and that's it."
Today Rwanda is an African success story. It has one of the fastest economic growth rates in the region, and one of the lowest crime rates, and lowest rate of HIV-AIDS. About one third of Rwanda's cabinet are female ministers and 48 percent of parliamentarians are women -- the highest anywhere in the world, according to the United Nations.
The country is clean because of a mandatory policy that sees even government ministers participate in clean-up once a month. Plastic bags are banned. The international business community praises Rwanda's good governance and the absence of official corruption or graft.
Kagame is credited not just with turning Rwanda around, but with also being the driving force behind rejecting revenge.
"We were in danger of having another genocide," he said.
"People were so badly aggrieved they could easily have turned on those they thought were responsible for this and actually killed them in another wave of killings. But that did not happen" he said. "We said building a nation is the most important thing."
Now no one talks about Hutus or Tutsis, he explained. "There is Rwanda, there are Rwandans and the common interest we have for a better future for this country is more important than any other interest."
In Gitarama, Bizimana said, "It hurts my heart to see that I did something wrong to friends of my family, to people who we even shared meals with," he said. "I am still asking for forgiveness from the people I hurt."
Amazingly many seem to have forgiven.
By Christiane Amanpour CNN Chief International Correspondent
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/05/15/amanpour.rwanda/index.html

Here little buggy

2008-05-15T09:18:00.004-05:00

So you work at the post office, already you have to wory about one of your co-workers going postal. . .you have to worry about amthrax going thru the mail. But to hear scratching coming from a package, must be something. In Philadelphia postal workers heard the scratching on a box labeled as toys, gifts and jellies. The postmaster suspectedt he package contained "live" organisms & notified US Customs. The package was x-rayed then opened to find beatles. Not just any beatles, some of the largest ever seen, averaging 5 to 6 inches in diameter.

In all there were around 26 Hercules, rhinoceros & Goliath beatles. Which can be hightly destructive insect pests that can cause extensive damage to vegetable crops, trees, shrubs & turf grasses. Seven of the little critters were labled as male/female as if they were intended for breeding (new idea for retirement-beetle breeder)

So what's my problem you ask? I love my dogs & they love me. I come home & they are happy to see me complete with kisses, just don't think I want any beetle kisses. . .

Gonna be gone the next few days, Jim Bob is playing at a music festival. Have a great weekend.

hugs to all.

Is more than one spouse spice

2008-05-14T08:58:00.002-05:00

If more than mouse is mice, more than one louse in lice, then more than one spouse is spice, right? Let's talk about polygamist sects. There is another besides the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint's in Texas. This one is the House of Yaheweh. Supposedly an even darker sect than the FLDS.
The leader, Yisrayl Hawkins was born Buffalo Bill Hawkins but legally changed his name. He founded the House of Yahweh in 1980, three years after the former Abilene police officer was fired for having beer in his patrol car. The group moved to rural Clyde several years later so they would have room to celebrate week long Old Testament feasts. Hawkins began preaching polygamy in the early 1990s, saying women had to accept it or leave and forfeit heaven, several former members said. Former members describe Hawkins as a zealot whose teachings are a blend of Old Testament directives on diet and cleanliness, New Testament beliefs in Jesus and Hawkins' own prophecies rooted in the Book of Revelation.
Reports are that Hawkins has as many as 2 dozen wives & fathered children with women ages 19 & 22 last year. Why is always old men with all these wives of different ages?
There have been very few times I remember seeing anything about women having more than one husband. Now don't get me wrong, sometimes we need more than one to finish off the "honey-do" list we have. But I just can't imagine having to train more than 1 to "worship" me.
Is it because women are smarter than men not divide themselves up like that. Or is it that women are stupid for allowing a man to tell them they will "share" him.
I just don't understand . . .and I don't want mice, lice or spice.

As if public restrooms weren't already scary

2008-05-13T13:52:00.002-05:00

Health Officials in Travis County Texas (Austin) urge caution in Public restrooms due to "toilet peppering". Reports indicate that the latest wave in public pranks is sprinkling spicy chili powder on public restroom toilet paper for unsuspecting patrons to later wipe you-know-where.
There have also been instances cited in Los Angeles at fast food restaurants, movie theaters & public schools.
Now dermatologist say that it doesn't cause anykind of permanant damage, just causes discomfort (ya think).
Please tell me why someone would do this? ? ? What ever happened to just unscrewing the pepper shaker lid on the table ? ? ? I have a few suggestions for anyone getting caught doing this if you are interested. . .
That's it, when I'm on an outing anymore, I will have on my Depends!

Belated Mother's Day Story

2008-05-12T13:03:00.004-05:00

EIGHTEENTH CHILD ?!?!? Is Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar completely nuts or what? This couple in Arkansas is letting God determine their family size. I'm thinking God gave me comman sense about such things. She is due in January with the newest member which will join seven sisiters, 10 brothers. Michelle is 41 and has been pregnant 11 years of her life (there are 2 sets of twins).
Joshua,20; Jana, 18; John-David, 18; Jill, 16; Jessa, 15; Jinger, 14; Joseph, 13; Josiah, 11; Joy-Anna, 10; Jeremiah, 9; Jedidiah, 9; Jason, 7; James, 6; Justin, 5; Jackson, 3; and Johannah, 2; Jennifer, 9 months. http://www.duggarfamily.com
When does she the time or the energy to get pregnant ? ? ?

Bury me under the sea

2008-05-11T13:26:00.003-05:00

For those of you who don't already know, I want to be cremated and I've found what to do with the ashes. Off the coast of Key Biscayne, Florida is The Neptune Memorial Reef. The creators think the projected 16 acrea artificial reef will hold the remains of 125,000.
The ashes are mixed cement desinged for underwater use & fitted into a mold whic a diver then places & secures in into the reef. A cooper & bronze plaque is installed with the person's name, dob & dod. The cost of a placement starts at $995 & can go to $6500 for those who want to be placed inside the base of a lion statue for all eternity.
I do believe this is one of the better things I have heard about in a very long time ~ seriously !

Low-key wedding ? ? ?

2008-05-09T08:13:00.003-05:00

She is after all the daughter of the President of the United States. So when she says the wanted something organic & low-key why do I not relate? Low-key for Jim Bob & I was getting married on his mom & dad's front porch. The next day I went to work & he played golf with his brother. Low-key for Jenna is 14 (FOURTEEN) bridesmaids. Her dress is designed by Oscar de la Renta & her sister's dress was dyed to match her eyes. . .in case your wondering I wore a dress that I already had, Jim Bob wore wranglers. They will exchange their vows in front of a giant limestone cross specially made for the wedding & will serve as a landmark for years to come. We exchanged our vows surrounded by ferns that all the little ladies from the church brought over. Oh yea low-key means only 200 friends & relatives will attend, I think we had 10. Oh well what ever floats their boat. . .Happy Friday ! ! !

Run around Sue

2008-05-08T09:34:00.002-05:00

Today's headlines that caught my attention was an article about an argument between a husband & wife. The police found the wife outside of a bar sitting in the car without pants & missing her prosthetic leg. Her account of the event is that they got in a fight & he took off her leg & ran off with it. The husband admits to getting in a fight with the Mrs. but denies taking her leg. Maybe he didn't want her to run around on him . . .that's if for today.

Let's see

2008-05-07T14:06:00.003-05:00

I, like Lana don't think anybody reads my blog, but I've decided to start blogging about something I've read on CNN.com. Be it funny, sad, stupid or just makes ya go ummmm. Here is today's subject, just how mad do you have to be to pee in the school's ice machine? Well maybe that's not exactly what the kid did, but that's what it amounts too. Witnesses saw a Kansas boy go into the restroom then come out with a cup of yellow liquid that he poured into the ice machine. Please somebody help me understand WHY one would do that. . .the headline was actually: "Winfield Teen Admits to Contaminating Ice w/ Urine".
Well that's all for today, I'm off to the ice machine here at work. Guess we need to remember not only that we aren't suppose to eat yellow snow, but no yellow ice either. . . . . . .
Hugs to all & have a wonderful day.

More "old" pictures

2008-03-20T21:39:00.004-05:00

Here are some more pictures that came across. The first will be my mom, then me, then Shanna all of us in our early 20's. Then it will be Shanna, AJ & Jesse all @ 18 months. This is fun. Enjoy the pictures.

There will be more - keep checking back, I'm having fun now.

Found a picture

2008-03-09T20:29:00.002-05:00

So I'm going to try to scan all of my pictues to put them on disc to save forever in the saftey deposit box. While going thru pics this weekend I found the one below. This was taken at Posum Kingdom Lake. I had forgotten all about it. I didn't get many pictues scanned this weekend I was too involved at looking thru them, laughing, crying & remembering. Hope you enjoy this picture as much as I did.

A new challange

2008-02-03T18:58:00.000-06:00

Yep we all know I'm nuts, but I think this time I've lost it. I've signed up to walk 60 miles in 3 days for the fight against breast cancer. Get in touch with me if you if you need the info on how to donate cuz after all, everybody likes boobs.

Christmas wtih the Laird's

2007-12-27T08:36:00.000-06:00

The Christmas Angel finally came & put up the tree & a few decorations. We had our Christmas on Sunday due to work schedules. Had too much food, played Wii, or the kids played, they wouldn't let me have a turn. That's ok, I play when I'm alone so only the dogs can laugh at me. I'll post a few pictures for you enjoyment. Hope everybody had as good as a time over the holdiay as we did. Hugs to all.

Myra, this last picture of Jaimee is for you ~ talking about a fashion statement. She has on her "high heel" black gogo boots, wedding dress & pink cowboy hat complete with crown. Just think of the fun you have to look forward too.

I need a Christmas Angel

2007-12-09T09:24:00.000-06:00

Well it's been a long week & half. On Nov 28 we found out that our good friend Guy Bagwell was going to have a quadruple bypass. He came through that with flying colors & is hope recouping. My great-aunt Sadie passed away Friday Nov 30. She was married to my pawpaw's baby brother, Bailey. She had a very unique accent. She was born & raised in England, married my uncle when she was very young & moved to east Texas, so like I said it was unique. Then on Monday we found out that one of our very best friends in the whole world is in ICU at a hospital in Rowlett, TX. Here is a report on his condition from Mike Minter:
"As Jim Bob and Kathy have reported John is in serious trouble. One doctor described it as a rapid respiratory failure. The doctors, and he has a team of them, are puzzled about how it came on so quickly. They have taken and sent off a set of samples of the congestion to try to determine the cause. To date they cannot determine a bacterial cause and the results from the viral tests have not come back. If they can discover the cause there is hope they can alter the treatment to focus on that particular cause. Right now they are pumping him full of antibiotics and keeping him sedated allowing the respirator to breath for him. If they can get his oxygen processing up to a consistent level they may try some surgery to remove some of the fluid and congestion around his lungs. They think this will give his lungs more space in which to expand.
The drugs keep him out most of the time, on occasion he opens his eyes, he looked at me once but his eyes did not seemed focused. He responds to voices, when the nurses or his mom talked to him and touched him he seemed to know they were there. Like anyone who has been bedridden he looks swollen and pale.
On the good news front, his heart and kidneys remain in good shape. The doctors seemed encouraged by this fact and mentioned that this gave him the best chance to fight the infection. The hospital staff seems very competent and Dr. John made the comment they they were very professional and providing him excellent care. I think now it is up to him to keep fighting it, and the LORD to provide him the strength."

So please keep John, his doctors & family in your prayers & thoughts.

Now some good news. Kaleb turned 8 Saturday & had his party at the Pizza Hut. Took my camera with with & took 1 picture. Guess I got caught up in all the fun. HAPPY BIRTHDAY KALEB.

I'm almost finished with my Christmas shopping and it's only December 9. This maybe a record. I'm sure I will think of a few other things that I have forgotten but I do have time to get it. Now I need to put up my tree & decorations. I did get them out of storage yesterday & I'm looking at the tubs right now. Isn't there a Christmas Angel that will do the decorationg for me if I take a nap? Guess not so better get started. Love everybody.

The countdown is on

2007-11-24T07:24:00.000-06:00

Well, I'm sure like everybody else, I ate too much on turkey day. Gobbled till I wobbled. I stayed home yesterday all day just me & dogs in my jammies. Not gonna catch me shopping with all those people. I'm more the type of shopper that will at the mall a week before Christmas wondering why I can't find anything...isn't that the way it's suppose to be done? Thinking about putting on some real clothes today & venture out in the world. Jim Bob is working so will head to Decatur & enjoy dinner with him. I might stop by a store or two on my way, but not making any promises.

I've posted a couple of pictures taken Thursday, enjoy them. Take care & hug each other for me.

TGIF - yea

2007-10-12T15:25:00.000-05:00

Well here I am again already, glad it's Friday. A stomach bug has been going around so I took my turn yesterday. Even missed a day of work, doesn't happen much except for fun stuff. Feeling better today, back at work but afraid to eat anything, nothing even sounds good. I'm sure that will change before too long. Don't have a busy weekend ahead for us anyway. Shasta (friend, adopted neice, fella wt, whatever) is getting married tomorrow. Jim Bob is singing at the wedding (of course) and I'm dipping strawberries. This time in sweetend cream chesse then rolled in honey roasted peanuts. We have been to several weddings the last couple of years. Let's see, Jim Bob's nephews Jason & Jonathan, his neice Lana. My neice Tara, now Shasta & there were more, just can't think of them right now. I know I'm gonna get in trouble for this one, but I just don't care that much for the big wedding. I'm too practical, I start thinking about what else the $$ could be spent on, maybe a down payment for a house. But to each their own. We have seen some beautiful brides & it's always nice to see the big smiles on everybody's face. Then again my mind starts to wonder how big that smile will be the first time the bride has to pick up dirty underwear out of the floor . . . . . any way back to FRIDAY ! ! !
Hope everybody has a safe & fun weekend - hugs to all

Christmas pics

2007-10-05T14:42:00.001-05:00

Yea I know - Christmas was over 9 months ago, but wanted to share these pictures of the frist Christmas to have all my kids & grandkids together. Oh yea, my mom too. . . enjoy

Boston Terrier babies

2007-10-05T14:38:00.000-05:00

Wanted to share a picture I took of Frisco & Tatum this past spring. Aren't they cute?

Don't count on it

2007-10-05T13:51:00.000-05:00

OK - I know it's been a while since I've been here. So much has happened this year so far & nothing much. Seems like it has been the year of the weddings. It's good to know that in these days & times that there are those that still believe in marriage... We only have 3 that aren't married; Alex, AJ & Jesse. As far as I know they aren't seriouse about anyone in particular, so maybe there won't be any more weddings this year.

Well that's all for today, maybe I will try harder to BLOG mroe often, but don't count on it. If you want to see pictures of what has been going on in our lives then check out our myspace pages.

Everybody take care & hope to see ya real soon.

HUGS TO ALL & BOOMER SOONER ! ! !

I softly said “nga kitalo”

2007-01-22T15:24:00.000-06:00

The past 6 days of been full of questions without answers. Jim Bob's nephew Adam Laird Langford left us to join Papa John in Heaven. He was serving the Lord as a missionary in Africa & was so good at it. I have been "googling" his name for the last couple of days & have been in ah of all the wonderful things written about him. I know when someone passes it's easy to think of only the good, but with Adam that's all there was. I am collecting "Adam stories" & pictures for a scrapbook (or two) when first requested stories I thought there will be 10 maybe 20 good ones, well I was wrong, I'm guessing there will 10 times that. If I have not emailed you or ask you for yours please just email me & I will be happy to add yours to them. When I get the scrapbook finished & the time is right I will give it to Terry & Kathy.
So again I softly say "nga kitalo" which is a Lusoga word of lament that is solely used in the midst of death, it literally translates ‘oh no!’ . (from "the Adam report" at www.jinjamissions.org) I will miss you Adam & so will we all.

who have moved to myspace

2006-11-30T13:20:00.000-06:00

Wanted to let everybody know that Jim Bob & I both have moved to myspace.com.
Jim Bob's is www.myspace.com/jimboblaird and mine is www.myspace.com/oksweetpie.
Stop by and see us sometime, we even have pictures posted on both and Jim Bob has
some of his songs on his. Hugs to all, Kathy

is 45 middle-age?

2006-08-16T20:45:00.000-05:00

Well this Saturday I will be 45 - whew - am I middle-age? I remember my mom being my age,where did the time go? If I'm in the middle of my life, that means I will live to be 90, is that a good thing? So many questions, you would think if I had lived so long that I would have more answers by now. Guess everyday is a learning experience, wonder what I will learn this birthday . . . .hugs to all,

cruisin' for a bruisin'

2006-08-10T20:56:00.000-05:00

This past weekend we went to New Bruansfel to float the Guadalupe River.

Well try to float the river. Friday we sat in the river & enjoyed the

cool water & visiting with friends. Saturday we floated the Comal
River. But let's go back to Friday - seems Jim Bob legs were as

steady as they are long. He slipped & fell into the river, about

6'. He's gonna be ok, eventually, but didn't he get to bring home a pretty souvenir? Other than the bruise, we had a great time. We have good friends & were able to do some R & R.

This coming weekend we will be in Decatur since Jim Bob is on call. I'm sure with it as hot as it is Jim Bob will have to work, so guess I will have to hold an air mattress down at the pool.

Hope everybody has a great weekend L& if anybody knows how to do a raindance, DO IT ! ! !

Hugs to all

first things first

2006-08-08T19:03:00.000-05:00

Well here it is - our very first blog. I looked for a picture of just the two of us & couldn't find one. But this is even better with one of Jim Bob's song writing hero's, Billy Joe Shaver.
Hopefully this blog will be a good way to keep all of you posted about what's going on with my song writing hero and all of our adventures. That's all for this time.