Redneck Landscaping

Well all be!  That them there neighbors sure is nice. Mrs. M. is a sweet as rhubarb pie.  And that Mr. M well he's like a loud clap o'thunder durin' a ren storm.  Their eldest offspring and his pal, well thay all did come over one blessed afternoon(Sunday afternoon) and helped us rid our yard fom overgrown brush and small trees.  Snakes were using for homes I reckon and etin' the squirrels.  We sho did make some good progress.  Thar still is a good almost acre to clear away.  I hope the good lord give us some worm weather so we can be finishin up that there mess of a yard. I thinks wez an aclimatin' to the southern life real nice, don't you think so?

I've got Gas!!!

Yep, gas.  For the car.  See after Hurricane Ike, the Atlanta Metro area was suffering a huge gas crisis.  It seems the lawmakers mandated that a special type of gas additive be used in the area to decrease pollution.  That additive was affected by Hurricane Ike.  So one day when I noticed I was on "e", but didn't notice the gas shortage, I was driving around, on a few gallons I had left.   I was looking for a gas station that was open that actually had gas.  After I  found this remote gas station (20 minutes later) there was a line out into the street and around the corner.  A wait of at least 1 hour.  I decided to blow it off.  (John was able to get gas 10:30 at night with a 20 minute wait.) And for nearly 3 weeks this was how things were.  We were paying $4.75 for gas that you had to wait 45min. - 1 hour to get.  Meanwhile all those cars driving and idling their engines....doing what, polluting!  Yea, great policy!  So finally we have gas and guess what I just paid $2.50 a galloon. More than a $2.00 difference.  Go figure!

Too Cold for the Tooth Fairy?!

OH, M. has been so busy these past few months loosing teeth.  I think this is her 4th one she lost at school yesterday.  Actually she didn't lose it, it came out.  Well typical for us, a crazy week, hubby OOT ... and scouts and brownies etc etc etc.

The tooth fairy forgot to show up last night !  Ahhhhhhh.  M. was very concerned about it this am.  But she did rationalize the cold weather probably kept her inside instead of out collecting teeth.  Yes, it was down to 41 degrees.  Oh, that Mother Nature...she is so wicked.  How horrible for M, as we were discussing before she went to bed last night. Questions like where the tooth fairy comes from.  Of course, I said, "The window!"   Can I tell you it helps spending so many years in the drama dept. and having drama as a minor.  I can think fast and improvise at the slightest question I don't want to answer that comes out of my childs' mouth.  Like the time when S. was barely 3yrs. old and repeating everything.  We heard a man loudly exclaim,  in front of Coldstones, where we were enjoying a sweet cream icecream with raspberries and brownies mixed in.  So, this guy yells... "Candy, that's bull shit!"  Without missing a beat my son says, "Mommy, what's bullshit?"  And straight faced and honest I said, "It is a vulgar way of saying cow poop."  And that was that.

So back to mother nature making it so cold that the poor tooth fairy couldn't go out and collect the teeth of little boys and girls.  She better warm things up tonite!!!  Or else, I'll have to tell Zeus about this. :)

Fall Harvest

Oh, so cute.  Our town has a fall harvest scarecrow stuffing contest. Kids from many different schools construct a scarecrow and put them up around the square and main streets.  M. 2nd grade class won first place!  The teacher received some gift cards for school supplies, they had a free lunch party from Chic fil A, a dessert platter and a few other goodies. I have include a picture of "The Prospector".

We'll Isn't that Precious

Two nicely dressed ladies happen to start up a conversation during an 
endless wait in the LAX airport. 

The first lady was an arrogant California woman married to a wealthy man. 
The second was a well mannered elderly woman from the South. 

When the conversation centered on whether they had any children the 
California woman started by saying, 'When my first child was born, my 
husband built a beautiful mansion for me.' 

The lady from the South commented, 'Well, isn't that precious?' 

The first woman continued, 'When my second child was born, my husband 
bought me a beautiful Mercedes-Benz.' 


Again, th e lady from the South commented, 'Well, isn't that precious?' 

The first woman continued boasting, 'Then, when my third Child was born, 
my husband bought me this exquisite diamond bracelet.' 

Yet again, the Southern lady commented, 'Well, isn't that precious?' 

The first woman then asked her companion, 'What did your husband buy for 
you when you had your first child?' 

'My husband sent me to charm school,' declared the Southern lady. 

'Charm school!' the first woman cried, 'Oh my God! What on earth for?' 

The Southern lady responded, 'Well for example, instead of saying 'Who 
gives a shit?' I learned to say, 'Well, isn't that precious 

Now you know!

Surprise!!!

I've just turned 40.  A  few weeks ago I was feeling sorry for myself about having such a big milestone birthday and no one around to celebrate it with.  J. was to be o.o.t., my friends and family are in Cali. and I've only just met people here recently.  Boy, how things turn around fast.  A week before my bday J. informed me that my mom was coming as a surprise.  I am not good with SURPRISES , so really this was a great need to know early SURPRISE.  I can't even believe how fast my mood changed just knowing that.  So after a few days of mom and J. coming home after a work trip I was surprised again.  A good friend G. comes walking thru my house.  We had a great weekend, talking...really blah, blah, blahing, shopping, eating and having fun.  It was such a great time with mom, G., J. and kids.  Then the am of the big day, SURPRISE.   I awoke to a large poster on my porch announcing to my neighbors my real youthful age, a balloon on the mail box and a message on our SD board, it was all very excited and really made me feel great.  It got better.  SURPRISE,  a few neighbors and people who are becoming great friends, baked cupcakes and cake and stopped over after the bus drop and celebrated with us.  SO, my mom was here for a week and after she left a few of the ladies and I got together for lunch, to celebrate.  It was some of the best Mexican food, I've had here.  I can't believe how special the whole 40 thing turned out to be.  It just goes to show you are always more special to the people around you, even when you don't think it.  Thanks to all of you who sent cards, emails, ecards and phone calls of happy wishes to me.  It helps make this transition to Southern Living easier. I hope your day is full of SURPRISES!

  

A Cheating Heart

Well, not a real cheatin' heart.  More like a cheatin' head and hands.  See if have been spending my free computer time on Facebook!  That is why my blog has been so dated.  So for those regulars who like to check up on the Johnston Clan, I am sooo sorry!  However, I've got a lot to share as things have been busy and exciting around here.  I just hope I can get the good stuff in before Thurs.  We leave for Orlando to meet John at the tail end of a work event.  And yes, were going to Disneyworld.  I can't believe I am actually excited.  After having Disney passes for nearly 6 years you would think I'd be over the "Magical Kingdom", but I'm not.

Back to Facebook, my new love.  It is so fun.  I have connected up with people form high school that I haven't seen or heard form is ages.  It is so great to share a brief message with them and see what is going on in their life.  I'll encourage you to join Facebook, look me up and "poke" me!!! :) SO, I actually was up before sunrise, which I have a whole philosophical  & biological problem with.  ANNNDDDD....I have only had 5 hours of sleep.  See say NO Catherine, has somehow gotten into some YESsss and wouldn't you know all the stuff is this week, with J. gone and me preparing for D-World.  WHich includes a whopping 7 hour plus drive to Orlando with just me and the kids. AHHHHH...  now picture the scary lady scream from some late night tv horror movie.  That's me.  Have a great day!