Where Are You Christmas?

I don't know why but for some reason this year I cannot get excited about Christmas. The family is healthy, there are 4 little ones (3, 2, 16 months, 1 month) and both Jason and I are employed.

Since Taylor has passed away (15 years now) every few years I get uninspired. The 2 Christmas after she passed away we left town for Christmas. I really wish we could do it this year, but Jason and my Christmas present to each other is 2 days of inshore fishing on January 2nd and 3rd. Maybe if we go ahead and get the Christmas tree up inside (and hope Pepper don't get in it too much) that will get me going....probably not though.

Oh well.....I wish everybody a very Merry Christmas!

Where has it gone?

Today is November 24th, 2009. Time sure flies...whether you are having fun or not!

Why?????

Why? That is a pretty simple question that can be so frigging complicated.

Why is it that I don't have any kids.......but yet I care so much for what is not really mine?

Why is it that meaningless words can stick you in your heart and just don't seem to be able to be removed?

Why is it that we don't realize what we have as far as family until they are no longer here.....why don't we have that realization while they are here & in front of us?

Why is it that I care??? My soul is not at peace.......

Nothing in Particular

This week started off by me going to see Dr. Cathey for my post op check-up with Dr. Cathey. He has released me to do whatever I want....bowl, ride my trike and mow. I worked 1/2 days this week and will start back full time this coming Monday. The mowing went okay, as long as I didn't hit the bumps in the yard too fast. Riding the trike was wonderful. Will try bowling for the first time next week.

Anthony, Kelly and Nora Claire is coming in the end of next week and I am SOOOO looking forward to seeing Nora Claire. Easter Sunday we are having everbody out by us for lunch. Stuffed pork loin, German potato salad, green bean bundles, steamed cauliflower, roma tomato/cauliflower/olive salad, and a couple different deserts. Jason makes the best stuffed pork loin......

The weekend of April 18th Jason will be putting our motorcycles in Motor Cycle Mania in Little Rock and I will be bowling in the women's state bowling tournament. The Thursday after that is the Track & Field Special Olympic games for Area 12. Then on Sunday my brother, Ked, Haley, Abriana and I are going to see Disney on Ice.

The first Saturday in May we will be attending Bikes, Bugs and Blues in El Dorado. We are putting our motorcycles in the bike show. The second weekend we are joining other Honda VTX owners and doing a ride around Hot Springs. The third weekend we will be going to Magnolia for a motorcycle show and steak cook-off. The Wednesday before Memorial Day we will be going to Searcy for the Special Olympic Summer Games. Both Jason and I will be riding our motorcyles during the ride in during opening ceremonies.

June is pretty quite. July 4th we may be riding the bikes down to Lake Livingston for the weekend. August 15th is Jason's 40th birtday. We will travel to Venice, LA for a day of inshore and a day of offshore fishing. We will actually be in the Gulf of Mexico fishing for tuna on his birthday. September is pretty busy.....one weekend we will have our bikes in a bike show in Hot Springs and then we will be going to Bikes, Blues & BBQ in Fayetteville from Thursday through Sunday.

If you notice there is really one thing missing from my schedule......bowling. After July I will no longer be Arkansas Women's State Board. Being on the board has become a job instead of something I love. I am taking the summer off from bowling and HOPE that when next year starts I will LOVE bowling.

Also, on March 31st we celebrated my oldest neice Ked's birthday. On Monday April 6th is Kelly's birthday and on April 22nd is Haley's birthday. To top this off, this year we have 4 big birthdays....June 8th mother turns 75, on December 23 my brother turns 50, on August 15th Jason turns 40 and in August Nora Claire turns 1. We will be having one big birthday party at the end of August.

Well that's it for now!

My Saturday

My goal for this morning was to sleep at least until 9 a.m. Well I got to do it...but the phone rang at 9:09 a.m. I guess I shouldn't complain because it was past 9!

Around 9:30 I was hungry and wanted to go eat breakfast but the co-worker who wanted to buy our old lawn mowers called and he was coming over within the hour to pick them up. I guess I shouldn't coplain because we did sell the old mowers.

For lunch we went to Topp's and my brother joined us. After lunch it was off to Wal-Mart to buy stuff to make mini- burgers for supper. We also bought a palm tree. This is the third time this week we've been to Wal-Mart mainly for flowers, pots and soil.

After we ade it back home Jason re-potted 2 ferns, 2 small palm bushes, 1 palm tree and 3 calla lily bulbs. Next it was time to clean the back porch. It is amazing how much darn pollen made it to our outside table. Not only did Jason use the blower to clean the table he then grabbed the water hose and washed it off. I'm anxious to see how uch pollen will be back on the table tomorrow afternoon.

The wind was blowing pretty good so Jason pulled out the kite (bought so that Abriana could enjoy it). WELL......the kite is a big butterfly with long tails. The kite would make it up then it would vere to the right and then down it went. That happened a few more times and then Jason started getting pissed. By this time I was taking the kite up toward the higher part of our back yard and Jason would take off running with the kite. Worked...once. Okay...I was walking back up the hill and one of my boot shoe strings (were loosly tied I might add) got tangled with the other boot. Well when that happens I fall. I landed on my knees and hands and that scared the crap out of me. I was very still for a few seconds and was praying that I hadn't hurt my neck. Once I realized all was well I started laughing (this is the 2nd time this same exact thing had happend EXCEPT the first time was in the house and it hurt like h--- that time). Jason come up and was like...are you okay...how's your neck...you need to go ahead and go inside. Well Jason just had to take a picture of me!

For dinner we had mini-burgers and I put together fresh strawberries, blackberries, blue berries and kiwi and let them sit with suger over them. We put them on top of angel food cake with cool whip.

Right now I'm on my laptop and Jason is on his. It has truly been a great/relaxing/non stressful Saturday and my neck can sure tell ;). Tomorrow we are going to Hot Springs to take Jason's fuel tank back to the painter and Monday I have a follow up appointment in Little Rock.

Yes today was great!

Surgery

Made it to the Arkansas Surgical Hospital yesterday morning at 6:30 a.m. Got taken back to pre-op about 7:00. After stripping down to my birthday suit and putting the wonderful gown on I settled into my bed. EKG went good, drawing blood was painless and then come the dreaded blood pressure check. I take bp medicine everyday. Low and behold my bp was 118/83. I can't tell you the last time it was that low. Through the whole waiting time my bp never went up much. Donna (pre-op nurse) got my iv in & started without any problems. Jason come in and then the waiting began (surgery was at 8:30). Got to meet the anethesiologist (gas passer) and then the nurse anethesiologist. After that I HAD to go use the bathroom, which meant walking in pre-op in that wonderful gown. Got snuggled back into the bed and the OR nurse stopped by. FINALLY Dr. Cathey stopped in and explained what would be done. He headed back to OR and the nurse come and got me. Said by to Jason and was on my way. I am very interested in medicine & stuff like that. I was totally awake when they moved me to the OR table. They gave me some medicine that was to relax me and started asking me questions. I told them real quick "yea...give me drugs and then ask me questions!". I had everybody laughing...well that is the last thing I remember.

I got a cd of the surgery and Jason and I are going to watch it tonight....can't wait.

The thought was that the disc was bulging mainly on the right and that the bone spur was mostly on the right...well during surgery it was discovered that it was just as much on the left as on the right. Dr. Cathey was really surprised that I didn't complain about having problems on the left not just the right. Dr. Cathey told Jason that I was one of the easiest, non-complicated surgery he has performed in a while.

I am really feeling like I had surgery...my neck is sore, my shoulders are sore, my throat is sore. None of this is any more than what I've felt since September of last year. I just keep in mind that once I am over the soreness from surgery that I will feel great. I just have to wonder though...the metal plate & screws in my neck...will it make the alarm sound when I go through screening at the airport???

Special Olympics Area 12 Basketball

This Friday starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Drew Central Multi-Purpose Facility the Area 12 will be holding their basketball tournament. As of right not officials and score keepers might still be needed. The director for Area 12 is Ked Donham.

If you arent' busy I highly recommend that you try to stop by.

Be A Fan

The next few posts will be tidbits of information on Special Olympics

BE A FAN..Special Olympics believes in creating communities around the world - placew where each person, regardless of ability or disability, is accepted and welcomed and where every individual contributes to the strength and vibrancy of the whole. The movement envisions unity built by the bonds of common acceptance, natural inclusion and joyful celebration of the intrinsic world where attitudes of FEAR, EMBARRASSMENT, PREJUDICE, PITY and INDIFFERENCE have given away to a prevailing atmosphere of GENUINE ACCEPTANCE, DIGINITY and CELEBRATION OF THE HUMAN RACE.

With sports at the core, Special Olympics has grown to be a movement that is not just about the largest disability population in the world, but about all of us. Sports is a universal language which unites people on and off the field of play, cutting across lines of race, religion, ethnicity, education level, social status and economic background.

The movement invites everyone to share in values that EVERYONE can appreciate: UNITY, ACCEPTANCE, EMPOWERMENT, DIGNITY, COURAGE, STRENGTH, INSPIRATION, DETERMINATION, PRIDE, CONFIDENCE and FUN. If you are a fan of sports that create unity, athletes who inspire and connections that foster acceptance, then YOU are already a fan of Special Olympics.

All around the world, peoples' lives have been changed for the BETTER as a result of their involvement in Special Olympics.

To celebrate this global vision of unity, Special Olympics has laucned the Be a fan (trademarked) campaign, a fully-integrated marketing campaign which invites the world to connect through sport.

"Be a fan" (trademarked) is the theme of the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games and will be seen throughout the world in advertising, at events, on uniforms, throughout our website (www.specialolympics.org) and more. It is the goal of Special Olympics to reach more people who will not only celebrate dignity, acceptance and the human race, but will join and commit to our movement of change.

Special Olympic 2009 World Games

LET ME WIN, BUT IF I CANNOT WIN, LET ME BE BRAVE IN THE ATTEMPT

I CANNOT begin to cover what all happened this past week. I want to start off by saying CONGRATULATIONS to Team USA White (Arkansas). They were the only USA Floor Hockey team that played for gold. While they did not win the gold the smile on their faces as they received their silver medal showed different. Arkansas, probably like most of the USA teams were picked to play together. They come from different cities and had about 3 months to prepare for these games. After watching some of the games involving foreign teams it was obvious that some teams have been together for a while. Didn't make a difference. Team USA White played with heart, determination and pride. When they scored they would start chanting USA USA.

I've learned a couple of things while I've at the games. Jordan, Kuwait, Korea, China, Germany, France...no matter what language there are a few things that are "universal" in language: a smile, a camera, a trading pin, a high five after a game and music. With those things friendships are made.

I would like everybody who reads this post to try to make time and attend a local Special Olympic event. Coming up soon will be basketball & track and field games. I will post when these are going on. Attend, go out and and support, give a high five, exchange a smile and change your life!

Well this is my post for now....or at least until I get my pictures downloaded.

Opening Ceremonies

What a day!!!!!!!!!!!!

This morning as I was leaving the hotel there were a contenciency of German atheletes in the lobby. One of the athelets come up and looked at my creditial and noticed I was family. He said good morning and (in German) I said good morning to him. He was very shocked that I spoke German (and it wasn't much). He went and found one of his coaches and we started talking. I was able to tell him (in German) that my mother was from Heidelburg and that I spoke a little German. He was able to tell me that he spoke a little English. Well in the 5 minutes I talked to the gentleman I found out that one of his brothers was married in Heidelburg and that he had a twin brother that lived in Pennsylvania and he created chocolate candy designs (sounds like Willie Wonka to me). That experience was so awesome.

Next, while I was waiting in line to get into the Expo Center there was a contengency from Austria, Japan and Sweden near. It was so cool to hear them speak in their native language. I did have to wonder though why the one Japanese lady was wearing a doctor's mask....as a matter of fact there were a few others.

Since I cannot download my pictures from my camera to my new laptop (didn't think about bringing the 35mm camera disc with me) I will hit the highlights. Sudan, Jordan, Saudia Arabia, Kuwait, Kazakstan, Trinidad & Tobago, Morocco...these are just a few countries to start off. There were even some countries that I've never heard of before. Some countries had 20 atheletes and some only had 1. While the United States was coming in I found my brother and "neices" Marie & Neece.

Kenny G composed a song specially for the Opening Ceremonies and while I am not a Kenny G fan it was great. There were other celebraties also: Bart Conner, Nadia Comanechi, Scott Hamilton, Donna Devero, Kristi Yamaguchi, motivational speaker Tony Robinson, and of course Maria, Bobby and Tim Shriver.

The entertainment was also good. A group called Flame from NY performed. Each member is a special need person. The bass player is confined to a wheel chair. The drummer is blind (and he could play!), the back-up singers also had disabilities and then the lead singer is autistic. She could sing your socks off. There were a few other artists but I cannot remember their names.

Right before the torch made its way into the center various law enforcement officers come down onto the floor. They had atheletes from the continents run the torch and then an athelete whose brother is serving overseas got to light the cauldrin.

It was so cool to see the atheletes from different countries dancing & having a great time. There were some dance moves I've NEVER seen! Well the competitions start tomorrow and I can't wait. Of course I am here to see floor hockey but I also want to see speed skating, ice skating and snowshoeing. I guess I want to see it all. I also want to take just a little bit of time to see Boise and McCall. Downtown Boise is just so cozy. Lots of neat little shop and eating places. I look forward to going to McCall since that is in the mountains....with snow! There is an 80% chance of snow here on Tuesday.

Well it's 10:50 here and I have to be up at 6:30 in the morning so that is it for tonight....so much to say that it just jumbles in my head.

To top off this trip......Taylor's birthday is tomorrow.....she would be 16!

5:51 a.m. Friday Morning

My flight to Boise is out this morning @ 8:12 a.m. Jason dropped me off at the airport and is headed back to work. Therefore I've been at the airport since 4:45 a.m. Now I must ask....why are there so many friggin people at the airport @ 4:45 a.m.? There was a group going to Honduras....the Bryant Cheerleaders are headed somewhere. It was very hectic here for a while, but here at 5:54 a.m. all is quiet.

I am patiently waiting to check in. The Starbucks Cafe in the lower section does not open until 6:00 a.m. I must say that the pastries look good from where I sit.

Today I have a better outlook on my brother's "retirement". I am a true believer that everything happens for a reason and I definately see it with this. Sometimes when you are not happy, but not necessarily willing to make a change, it takes a little PUSH to finally move forward. With my brother's "retirement" I think this is the little push he needed. There is one other push my brother needs, but I truly feel that will happen sooner than later. After leaving work last night @ 7:15 p.m. sometimes I would get the prevurbial push.

Anyway, I am happy to be able to spend one of my vacations with my brother, which is something that.....well I can't even remember the last time we did this. On the other hand I am sad that Jason did not want to go. I am sure he will miss me......yea right!!

Well keep checking back through February 14th as I will TRY to update my blog every night with my days activities.

Hope everybody has a great weekend!

OH....The lady Volunteers game Pat Summitt her 1,000th win last night!

Busy!!!!!!

In 5 days from today I will be close to landing in Boise, ID. This morning I decided to go ahead and start washing and packing the items I know I will be taking but I won't need to wear this week. This week is a short work week (which I don't need) which means staying late for me. On Thursday night I bowl and on Thursday night I will also pay bills.

Jason will be taking me to the airport Friday morning. In order for him to make it back to Monticello in time to get to work at 7:00 a.m. he will drop me off at the airport around 5:00 a.m. That means getting up early (after bowling & paying bills) and leaving the house no later than 3:15 a.m. This wouldn't be so bad but my flight isn't out until 8:00 a.m. All of this so that when I fly in on February 14th (yes Valentine's Day) Jason and I can celebrate Valentine's Day in Little Rock and spend the night. The very next day I bowl in Maumelle.

Man I am going to be B U S Y!!!!!!

This morning after we got back from grocery shopping Jason and I decided to walk out to our deer stands. Our cat Shadow decided to join us also. My area, which is the closest, looks like a pond. We've had so much rain this past year that I don't know if the ground will dry anytime soon. We then walked to Jason's area. His area is not near as wet as mine. I like walking in the woods this time of year because the trees are baron and you can actually see into the woods. Our property is very pretty. We even had 2 small deer cross the trail in front of us.

I've never seen a cat walk around with their tongue hanging out but by the time we were leaving Jason's area poor Shadow was panting something terrible. Jason picked her up and gave her a rest (Shadow is my cat and he doesn't really like her).

What Pisses Me Off!!!!!!!!

As you can tell by the title I am just a little pissed off at this moment.

I want to start by saying that I know that I have a car that has a one of a kind paint job. I also know that the paint job WAS NOT CHEAP.

Jason and I went to see Underworld 3 tonight (I loved it). There were, at the most, 15 cars in the parking lot. When we walked up to the car some f-----g -s- hole (pardon my language) had sprayed silly string on it...well just the back and top back of the car and my car was the only one that got hit. NOW, I personally know what shoe polish does to a car's paint but I do not know what the chemicals in silly string will do. Jason immediately drove to the car wash and washed the car.

Now what pisses me off the most is that some irresponsable IDIOT had decided to not take into consideration that the car has a one of a kind paint job and the only way the car can be "touched up" is to have the whole car painted again. I don't currently have an extra $5,000 on hand.

I will say this, I had a car that didn't have the expensive paint job I would probably be laughing. All I can say is that if I find out who did it......well I would not want to be them because I will not be as polite to them as I have been in this blog!

If you liked the previous Underworld's (my husband and my other neices husband thinks Kate Beckinsale is H O T) I would highly suggest going to see the movie. In the very near future I will own the first 3!

This & That

Well life at the Caldwell's is the same as it always is. Busy with work, Jason is working on his bike and we are patiently waiting to get our bike parts back from the painter.

With work, no matter how much overtime I put in or how many times I try to work from home (can't remote in from my laptop) I CANNOT get my head above water. I have so much to do that I have no ideal where to even begin.

I will be going to Dr. Steve Cathey a neurologist in NLR on Tusday for a bulging disc & bone spur in the neck. My neck now hurts more than it doesn't and it is to the point where I hurt after bowling so I don't want to bowl. I am anxious to see what he has to say and I am open to almost anything he will suggest.

The women's state bowling tournament in Ft. Smith will begin at the end of March and will run through the end of April. I will be going to Gautier/Biloxi the second weeekend in March for a tournament and I can't wait. A little bit of bowling, a little bit of seafood and maybe a little bit of gambling. I will also make time to drive to Crowley to see Kelly, Anthony and Nora Claire.

The calendar is quickly filling in with motorcycle shows. April is Motorcycle Mania in LR. May has one show in El Dorado and one in Magnolia. In May there is also the Special Olympics Summer Games. In September there is one in Hot Springs and one in Fayetteville.

Also this year the family has quite a few "special" birthdays. My mom turns 75 in June, my brother turns 50 in December, my husband turns 40 in August and my youngest great neice turns 1 in August. I am going to try to figure out a good Saturday to have a birthday party for all. My cousins from Chicago will try to come down for this.

For Jason's 40th he gets to pick what he wants to do. At first he wanted to go to Alaska to halibut fish but now he says he wants to inshore/offshore fish out of Venice.

Also, once we get the bike parts back and the bikes back together we want to do some bike trips. I am really excited about this since I've gotten my trike. I am way more comfortable on it and am very anxious to get back on my trike.

Well that's it for now. Hope everybody has been doing good!