What are you doing this New Year's Eve?

Since my Eddie is not feeling too well right now, we will be spending a quiet evening at home. We might watch a movie and we might not. We are having steak for supper and probably will go to bed before midnight, with no shooting of fireworks.

Tomorrow I will be making ham, black-eyed peas, collards, and cornbread. Yum!

Here's to a wonderful, blessed, and prosperous New Year to you and yours in 2009! Happy New Year!

Christmas photos

We went to my brother's for our family get together. We had a great time playing Dirty Santa and the food consisted: of ham; potato salad; turkey; green beans; rolls; sausage balls; tea; soft drinks; pecan pie; cookies; and 4 layer chocolate delight. The little kids opened presents and it was so warm they were able to play outside riding Sarah's new "Trike" and scooter.

The final answers to your burning questions...

Kelly asked???
What was the deciding point for you to get Gastric Bypass? What was your heaviest weight? What do you do for a living? Where did you attend college? Have you lived anywhere besides Alabama?

I was experiencing hematuria (blood in urine) secondary to diabetes and was referred to a kidney specialist. He diagnosed me as having diabetic neuropathy (pain and numbness in my feet). He told me that if I didn't do something to lose weight that I would end up as a double amputee with my husband pushing me around in a wheelchair. I didn't like the picture of that in my mind, so I started the process for GBS. Wish I had done this years ago! When I went to the GB surgeon, he weighed me at 278.9. In 2006, my family doctor weighed me at 291. I really believe the picture on my blog with the Pecan Delight boxes is over 300, but I couldn't tell you an exact weight. Most heavies don't weigh themselves much.

I am a federal government worker. I write disability decisions.

I did not attend college. I started work right out of high school and got my Social Security knowledge and experience on-the-job.

I lived in Texas for two years and Kentucky for four years. I would go back to either place and the houses I lived in again in a heartbeat, but just not with the man I lived in them with.

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DysFUNctional Mom asked???
I have one! Why does your title say "The Ramblings of an un-inebriated mind"? Any significance to that?

I think my ramblings on this blog are much like a drunkard (stumbling all over (myself) and not making any sense), but I wanted everyone to know that all of my thoughts and craziness are not encumbered by any trace of alcohol, that's just how my little brain works all on it's own. Not that there's anything wrong with imbibing every now and again. I don't anymore since my surgery and really didn't much before then either. I'm quite capable of getting into crazy situations without the added benefit of "LIKKER." Although, I think a Long Island Iced Tea or a Frozen Strawberry Margarita would taste nice.

Christmas pictures

Ahhhh, a hefty Books-A-Million gift card!!!!!
Eddie was so happy with his three volume complete set of Calvin and Hobbes comic strips
A candy thermometer
Clothes
I Love You too!
Mmmmmm, now this is a great Christmas dinner!
Homemade is much better than McDonald's

Just ask me?

A friend of mine just posted a blog where she had people "ask questions" and she donated a post to answering them, so I figured I'd give it a go. Have anything you want to know about me???? ASK ME! No question is off limits.

It's just probable that I won't get asked any questions, because I am pretty much an open book on my blog as it is...and you may not have any desire to know more, but if you do, just ask.

I think this could be fun and funny. I will try to be as truthful and candid as possible without embarrassing myself silly.

So ask away.

Talk about a "Surprise!"

I have been very busy taking my husband to the doctor and have not checked my emails. I had no idea until about two minutes ago that it was my "Happy SITS Day!" Yea! Thanks for all the love and all the comments. I am so excited.

Here are some of the photos from the office "Winter Wonderland" decorations

Reading, reading, reading

My daughter gave me some books, my friend at work gave me some books, so guess what I have been doing? I am sorry, but I am a bookhound as most of you know. If I have a choice between reading and blogging, I will pick reading. Sorry you guys, it's not that I don't love you, but I just can't put a good book down.

I hope to have even more books after Christmas, but I will try to stay in touch as much as possible.

It was mine and my husband's fifth wedding anniversary Friday. We had spaghetti and we swapped cards and we got the new Incredible Hulk DVD.

I have been a busy little bee...

I have been cooking, baking, and making jewelry for our annual office-wide Charity Bake Sale and Silent Auction.

Peanut butter cookies with chocolate covered peanuts
Turtle Caramel Pecan cookies
Old-Fashioned Fudge with pecans
Old-Fashioned Fudge - plain
Eddie's Pecan Pie

Sorry I haven't posted in a while...

but I have been working and also decorating the office for our Christmas party (I will try to post pics of the "Winter Wonderland" within the next few days.

I too have been cooking and getting ready for my friends Christmas party held yesterday in Bham. Two of our group were unable to make it and I miss seeing them, but here are some of the pics from yesterday for the one's who were in attendance. We had such a wonderful time together and as you can see my lovely, pregnant daughter was able to go with me to the party, so I had it doubly nice. I made a Splenda and fat free 4 layer chocolate delight and layered fat free mexican salad. Eddie made a pecan pie for the occasion as well. Our hostess, Janice made Sante Fe soup, a Splenda caramel cheesecake pie (mmmmmmm!!!) and had apple slices with a Splenda peanut butter dip and graham cracker (Scooby) snacks (which I indulged in). I must say it was very nice to be able to eat a little of just about everything that was offered. Susan made pigs-n-blankets; Joan made a peanut butter pie; and Dianna brought some Apple Cider. Wow, the friendship, fellowship, and food was fantastic.

Playing Dirty Santa with this group is almost (I said almost) as dirty as how my family plays it. I love this game. The singing doggie Janice is holding was taken several times, but she wound up getting it back before the game ended. She seemed pleased with her capture.

The Story of Smurfette

Once upon a time, this fair lady had a Toy Taco (Toyota Tacoma) and Paco (said vehicle) was but three years of age. And although Paco was a good boy, he had a growl in his throat that no one could figure out what was causing it from day one. Also, Paco had lately started being onery and not shifting gears when he should. So lady went to town just to look at other carriages, but lo and behold a beautiful girl, Smurfette (as she has been so aptly named) winked and smiled at her and with her winsome charms made the fair lady want to purchase her. The carriage dealer set lady up with no money down and enticed her with the knowledge that her monthly payment would actually be less than what she was paying for Paco. Poor Paco was traded, but he went quietly and hopefully he will be repurchased by a loving, caring owner. So goodbye Paco the Toy Taco and Hello Smurfette.

I'm ecstatic...Yipee!!!!!

Alabama beat Auburn 36-0. I'm a rockin' and a rollin'. Roll Tide!!!! This game knocked/rocked my socks off. Saban is great. So are JPW/Coffee/Ingram/Johnson/Mt. Cody, etc., etc., etc. I am so glad we won. The seniors should be so proud. Now it's on to Atlanta to beat them 'Gators. I hope we T-bone Tebow and get a chance to play in Miami. WooHoo!

Christmas Edition of Getting to Know You

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your blogging friends. Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! Copy this blog post and then post it on your blog with the changes in answers so that they apply to you......Tis the Season to be NICE!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? a little of both, but I don't wrap very good

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial

3. When do you put up the tree? used to be the day after Thanksgiving, now it happens whenever I get a whim

4. When do you take the tree down? The day after Christmas or at least before New Year's

5. Do you like eggnog? no

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Easy Bake Oven

7. Hardest person to buy for? everybody, I don't like to shop

8. Easiest person to buy for? Eddie, he gives me hints all year long

9. Do you have a nativity scene? yes Mother's Home Interiors set and a white nativity that Mother bought years ago which has a few broken pieces that we glued back together

10.Do you send cards or email cards? both, but only if I feel like it

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? a pair of socks from one of my SIL's

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It's a Wonderful Life

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? usually as early as possible, but I haven't even started this year

14. Ever recycled a Christmas present? no not really for years I have been getting a lot of snowmen from family and friends and since I collect snowmen I would never get rid of them

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Momma's old fashioned fudge and divinity, but if I ate that now I might end up in the Emergency Room

16. Lights on the tree? Yes – blinking white lights

17. Favorite Christmas song? Oh Holy Night by Celine Dion

8. Travel at Christmas or stay home? go look at Christmas lights on Christmas eve and stay at home on Christmas Day

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning, but always let Shannon open one on Christmas eve, but it was always a new pair of Christmas pajamas

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Scrooge's (Bah Humbug) people

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Snowmen, but then I have a set of ceramic ornaments that Momma painted that I will always treasure.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Momma always had to have ham and potato salad for Christmas. Turkey was for Thanksgiving

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? a piercing meat tenderizer (Jakarta) and the new Dean Koontz book.

26. Who is most likely to respond to this? Tracy, Kelly, and Blarney

27. Who is least likely to respond to this? Shelly

Happy Thanksgiving

Butterflies are Free...

The Blarney Spot bestowed upon me this beautiful award.
Tradition states I must award 7 blogs alike. So I am spreading the love to:
Kelly
Amanda
Tracy
Renee
Jennifer Miller
Ginger
DysFUNctional Mom

Love you guys and your blogs.

The Ultimate Color Test

The Ultimate Color Test

When I am at peace, I am: Deeply stable When I am moved to act, I am: Giving and warm When I am inspired, I am: Flexible and experimental When my life is perfectly balanced, I am: Philosophical and expressive My life's purpose is: To change the world

The Ultimate Color Test

I told you so...