End of a GREAT Crazy Year

Goodbye 2007. HELLO 2008!!
It was a good year.
2007 was a year filled with lots of laughs and tears.
My son started Kindergarten and turned 6 years old. He is
becoming such a loving little boy filled with giantic dreams of
grandure. It has been a pleasure to watch him grow this year. It hasn't been
easy, for him or myself. Watching him learn life experiences so early is hard for any parent to go through. I can say that I see why my mom was the way she was.
Morgan started Gymnastics this year and also started day school this year. She has grown right before my eyes. Literally!!! Two week ago, I purhcased a pair of pants size 3T. Yesterday...she is wearing 4T's. I about flipped out. All of her pants are high waters. There is only 2 more months of winter here...and I'm hoping that we will just deal with the high waters until then.
She is my little diva and the more and more time I spend with her the more I see so much of myself in her. Poor thing. ;)
Both my kids are so different. 2007 has presented those differences in good and not so good ways. We made it through! No scraps or bruises. And now I'm looking forward to the new year. I'm looking forward to making new memories and seeing what else these munctions can throw at me. I've got a new job...and will start work again on Jan. 14 2008.
I'm a little sad and happy at the same time. The kids are very happy and excited about me starting a new job. Which makes it so much easier to deal with.
My plan is to stay for 2 years until Morgan starts Kindergarten then quick and stay home for good. Plans may change...but for now...I couldn't be happier.
2007 was also the year I was saved and finally let Jesus Christ into my heart and life. I couldn't have made it through this year without him.
2007 was the year my Nanny turned 80.
Looking back...my life is pretty boring. I don't have a lot of friends that hang out with me. It's hard to find parents my age that don't work and want to hang. I'm not complaining, I've had a lot of time to myself and to my children. I've learned so much about all of us and we are really looking forward to making more
memories together next year.
My hope/wish for next year...is that Daddy/Kirtus will be able to share more time with us. We are looking forward to Daddy staying home this year!!! (I'm crossing my fingers and praying to God that my wish/prayer/hope is answered.) We really need you Kirtus!!!

Good Bye 2007
Hello 2008!

Christmas

HOpe everyone had a Merry Christmas. I'm a little busy...so I won't be posting until this weekend...like Sunday night.
I'll get pictures of our christmas uploaded. We didn't do much...but it was nice spending some special time with just the kids and I. We made Christmas cookies and hot cocco...the kids call it hot chocolate. EVer seen The Polar Express!!! So, yeah...we watched that a million times. And then we read the night before Christmas. When it got dark we went out side on the back porch and looked for Santa's sleigh..when we saw it...we all ran upstairs and straight to bed to get ready for Santa!
The kids had a blast.
I hope it made up for Dad not being here.
We miss him.
Can't wait for him to be home.
I'm going back to work. Yep...you heard me. I'm going back to work on Jan. 14th. I've talked to Kirtus and the kids...and well...I'm going a bit stir crazy with no me time...so...I'm going back to work. I got a really great job...and it pays very very well. so...daycare will take about 1/2 of that. ;) He He!
I thought the kids would be upset about being away from mom. Nah!!! They love being in "daycare" I was so totally different. Makes me going back to work much easier.
So...anyway...I'm off to get the kids. Yes...I already have them in...because I want them to get use to being there and well...they seem to really like it. It will be an adjustment...but Kirtus will be home on Jan 10th or sometime around then. He will be working from home...so he will be able to run kids around for cheerleading and gymnasstics and soccer.
yippee!!!
I'll give more details later.

Tomorrow

Well...tomorrow is the big day.
Yep...my birthday.
I'm proud to announce that I am 36...but still feel like I'm 17. Why is that the mind stays young...but the body doesn't? Obviously, I'm more mature than 17, but I still have the same attitude that I can do anything anytime anywhere. I wonder when that goes if I'm nearing the end?
;)
Well...don't cry for me. It's only 4 years until the big 40. WOW. That sounds so old. I remember when my mom turned 40 and my dad turned 40. Man!!

A thought to ponder. If you could look back at all the books and characters that you've read through your years...what character is most like your personality?
Would you like to know mine?
Scarlett O'Hara.
Not joking...I wasn't raised on a farm in Georgia...or rich...but my mother, father, grandfather, grandmother, Aunts and Uncles...spoiled me beyond belief. Anything I asked for I got. Yes...I admit. I was spoiled...I like to think my husband spoils me now. ;) But, that is not the personality that is most like Scarlett...her spunk, and the way she fought through everything...even though she didn't want to. She dug in and came out on top every time. Even in the end...when she thought she lost the man of her dreams...she still had hope!
That is just like me. I'm always clinging on to some kind of hope that everything will work itself out. I dig in when needed even if I can't stand it.
And I always seem to come out on top. I'm so blessed in my life and I thank God for giving me the strenth to make it through anything that is put in front of me.
So....who are you most like?
Can you think of one? It doesn't have to be from a classic novel. Mine just happens to be...and from my favorite book and movie of all times.

Have a Merry Christmas everyone...not a Happy Holiday..because dang it...Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Christ...it's not just a "Holiday" FYI...when people at Walmart, Target, Toys R US say Happy Holiday...I smiled and say very politely...don't you mean Merry Christmas? Or I just say "Merry Christmas!!" Okay...that's all I'm going to say about that. I'm done. :)

Merry Christmas everyone!

update

Okay, so let's see. I'm done with my Christmas shopping yippee!!! Finally.
The kids are going to have a great Christmas all by ourselves. I'm so excited to start some special Christmas traditions just for "our" family.
So...my novel/novels are coming along slow but good. I've been reading some books to help me with building better characters and how to make them more real and believable. Stuff...I'm sure that I did in college, and my creative writing class..but forgotten. It's funny the things that you remember when you start writing...like what freakin' tense...1st person, 3rd person...blah blah.
Okay..and my ideas just keep jumping off the page. I'm really good at brain storming...It's just getting it all organized in my head. Creating the world...is the hardest part...seeing it...and then my antagonist (did I spell that right?) I keep going back and forth on that. My hero...is actually a heroine. I was really having a hard time with her and then last night it hit me. Why should I struggle so much and make her like someone I don't know...instead make her like someone do know...very well...myself. Well..not exactly like me...but personalities that I have...things I've encountered in life and how I handled them during that time of my life. I couldn't believe how this got me writing again...just really cool stuff started coming out of the pen onto the paper. So...my heroine's name....Ferona. I haven't yet decided to spell it like Ferona or Farona. I think Ferona is more likely...but anyways...now...I have to figure out what she is going to do. ;) Ha ha Ha!!! I have a bunch of different ideas...but they are all over the place...so I'm going to sleep on it for a couple of days...get an idea of what she looks. Her birthday is my daughters and my brothers. 2/10. But...she turns 10 on 2/10/2010...Ferona that is...which is probably what I'm going to focus more on that time in her life....so...like I said...it's slow going...but I'm having fun with it.
The other novel is a love story set during the time of Revolution in the colony of Williamsburg.
This one...I have developed much more quickly...I think mainly because the place is real...I've been there and can see it more clearly...as well as the characters...and the time in America. Anywho....I'm rabling too much.
Need to go.
Christmas is around the corner and my 36 birthday! Uggg...4 more years and I'm 40.
It's scary!!!

GL's 6th Birthday

Well...I'm late posting these picturs. I didn't get any good Christmas pagent pics. They just suck. Garrett was on the last row...and some idiot had a brilliant idea of letting all the children wear reindeer antlers that were 12 inches tall. So, if you weren't on the front row...you didn't get seen because of all of the antlers. Or if you were lucky and got in front of someone with a santa hat. Uggg...I complained a bit...not much...just made more of a sarcastic joke to his teacher that who ever was so brilliant to make the antlers so stall...might want to re-think that next year. Hey...I said it with a SMILE! So...one more week and it's my birthday and then X-mas. I'm going to Zincs on my birthday with some girl friends. It's a wine bar. i can't wait. I need a drink...like 10 to be exact...just kidding...I'll be driving so..only 1!!!! But, it's just an awesome place to kick back and relax.
Well...hope everyone has a great weekend.

A Novel by Dana

Okay, I'm writing a novel. Actually I'm writing 2 novels.
I've been writing for the past year and I'm no where near done. But, mainly most of the time was spent researching and making up the world that I'm writing about.
I'm sure I will never publish. I'm writing for the pleasure. I get an itch to be creative and this is what poors out.
One is a story about a young girl sailing across the sea to the New World in 1774. Write before the dawn of the American Revolution. Her father is a loyalist and when she arrives in Williamsburg she meets and falls in love with a young man. The Governor's son who is a Revolutionary is the young man she falls for. It's a love story. I've mainly been doing the research on this one and defining the characters and their personalities. This one will take me awhile because there is so much to the timeline and history...and the stlye of dress, how things were done back then. It's pretty cool...since I've actually been to Williamsburg before and can draw from that. I'm still working on some other things too....like...do I want this to be a tragedy type love story...like Romeo and Juliet? Anyway...you get my point.
The other I'm working on is a Wizard and Witch...type fantasy novel. This one is my favorite. I'm still creating the world...haven't got a plot or even a story per say...just busy describing the types of Wizards...how they become wizards...how long they live...witches...same thing. I was thinking about making this for children...but I think I'm going to make it more adult fantasy/sci-fi type stuff.
Anyway...something that many people don't know I do...is write. I use a Thesarus a lot because my vocabulary sucks...but has gotten much better since I started doing this...
Yes...Wade...my brother writes too...but he is so much more out there than I am. We should co-author something one day. Hmmmmmmm....
I also have writeen some children stories when Garrett was a baby about horses. I used my mom's horses as the inspiration. I just need an illustrator...and a publisher.

TGIF

Something humerous...well to at least me

Okay....I use to work at this company called Walk The Talk....yep. It's called "The Walk The Talk Co." I'm not going to say anything bad in fear that they might sue me. :)
But, I was in customer service and we had this stupid ass ACD thing. "ACD...calls are in que." I wanted to strangle the thing. I mean...when that went off...the entire office would freak out. I mean...come on...there were only two people and if we were on the phone...we couldn't answer the damn phone. Then we would get...why didn't you guys answer didn't you hear the ACD go off?
Okay...well that wasn't the humerous part.
We use to have to make cold calls and we would say, "Hi, this is Dana from the walk the talk company...blah blah blah...I would then be cut off and hear this...WHAT? Walk the Sock What? What did you say? I would then have to very nicely...and very slowly...repeat WALK THE TALK. Still I would get WALK THE TALK? What's that!? Okay at this point...I want to scream and say...if you'd shut the f*** up I could tell you. I swear about every freakin' call was like this. At the end of the day I was freakin' exhausted and wanted to bitch slap some people...We won't mention any names. ;)
I soon learned to talk very slow. W A L K The T A L K!!! Once I even tried...Hi...I'm Dana from Walk W A L K.....the T H e....Talk....T A L K company...and I want to sell you some human resources books on how you should treat your employees better. Yeah...that went over real well. :)
Is my Texas accent that bad? Do I really speak that fast? I mean they treated us like we were from India or something. What's up with that? I'm glad I have a good sense of humor and was able to get off the phone and laugh my ass off at the crazy people I was having to call.
I'm not sure why I remebered that...but I thought I would share. That was a very interesting company to work for. I have a lot of funny stories about that place!!! And all the strange people. :)

I'll post GL's b-day pictures and Christmas program pictures later.

I'm tired.

This is my family. 4 Generations of women and one boy.

These are our family photos. We are so lucky to have 4 generations of women and our little boy Garrett. We took tons, but I think these are my favorites.
We did this over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Happy Birthday Garrett Lane Barton

My son is 6 today. Ahhh...can't believe it was 6 years ago I was holding a tiny baby. I remember of only thinking about what he would be like. The person he would become. And now!!! Well, so far he's a great little boy. Growing up so fast.
Here are some pictures of his journey so far.

Pictures of the kids.
As you can see Ryan is 6'3....this was at his basketball game. They lost but he did so good. He is so talented.
Garrett and Morgan are growing up so fast.
This was some pictures of this thanksgiving at NaNa's.

Forever and Always Band Geek at Heart

For those that are not aware...I was in band from 6th grade until my Sophmore year in high school. Life in Band was interesting to say the least. I met some pretty amazing friends. I have some pretty amazing stories that maybe one day I will share if you are interested. Once I transferred to Lakeview my Sophmore year I quit band. I had a lot of fun in band For those not familiar with Band I have added the Band dictionary so you can familiarize yourself with some band lingo. Oh...and also a little something I know about each of them.



The Best Band Dictionary Ever.

Alto Saxophone: An instrument that likes to annoy the band director by playing even after he stops the song. Squeaks on purpose and usually likes to make fun of every other section in the band. (I dated an alto sax guy once, well for my entire freshman year at high school. Todd Garrett was his name. What a cutie he was. But, yes the Alto's squeaks use to drive me nuts.)

Attention: Standing completely still, even if bees fly into your shako or your contact lens rolls behind your eyeball. (Even if a kricket flies into your mouth while playing during UIL competition...it really happened..funny to an alto sax player I knew...Kevin Dance.)

Band Camp: At least one week of marching on a sort of material considered by some to be considered dead grass and dirt while the staff attempts to train the drummers.
(Ummm...we never did the whole away band camp thing... think drum majors did this and maybe flag corp...but marching band on a whole did a band camp at the high school during the month of August. Jez...hot as heck out there on the concrete)

Band Member: One who willingly gives up their free time to spend endless hours marching on a football field with no apparent destination. (I hated marching season with a passion. The hats messed up my hair and I just hated marching...here is a secret I never told you...but I never played the songs while marching...shhhh...don't tell anyone.)

Band Mommy: A member of the boosters extremely proficient in keeping track of minute details and making band members angry a little too often. (My mom was not part of booster club...didn't have the time or the patience.)

Band 'Ten Hut: Sharp verbal command given by those in charge, immediately responded to with a shout of, "One!" and stiff (correct) posture. (I having flash backs to my freshman year in marching band)

Bari Saxophone: A.K.A. "The Pig," named for its tendancy to resemble an obese sacrificial sow with a head cold, tone-wise. (And the guy I knew that played this beast well...he was quite a character that is for sure. Funny guy...but...he was a bit of an ass at times.)

Baritone: Instrument played by those who began on trumpet, but could not achieve a big enough head. (Baritone...this is a baby tuba...I had a really good friend once...well...he is still a good friend...David Page.)

Basics: Warmup before competitions and rehearsal; marching back and forth in a 5-by-whatever block, paying attention to posture, heel position, phasing, and staying in step, among other things. (I don't ever remember doing this?? We sat around in the stands watching other bands and cutting up.)

Bus: Home away from home on trips. Good place for watching Monty Python and Drumline and listening to Bohemian Rhapsody, but bad for swing dancing. (I don't remember going on away from home trips with the band...but I wasn't in band durig my whole high school experience. Football games were interesting and UIL...in middle school we did six flags and sandy lake and then we even got to go and play at SMU..that was cool.)

Caffeine: The fuel that keeps sleep-deprived musicians functioning (relatively) normally. (I do remember Jolt Cola!!)

Cards: Small, rectangular pieces of plastic-coated paper which will keep band geeks entertained for hours on end. (What is this? I'm not sure what they are talking about here...what was I left out?)

Clarinet: An instrument used solely when the music calls for sound effects of cats in blenders. (Okay...this is BS...maybe in 6th grade we sounded like this...but actually, the instrument is used solely when the music calls for violins and there are none. We do not sound like cats in blenders...maybe shrieking rabbits in hot boiling water, but not cats)

Coffee: A hot, brown liquid containing large amounts of caffeine of great value to tired band members. (I never drank coffee...this is more for the college band geek)

Colorguard: Wannabe musicians who are used as distractions to keep the audience from noticing band members who are off-step. Dance around the field, waving flags, sabers, and rifles. (I was never in flag corp..but I wanted to be...I thought it looked so much more feminine.)

Competition: A day when every local high school band comes out and performs in hopes of beating Mead. A chance for band mommies, parents, and interested administrators to come and see just why band members have no lives. (UIL)

Conducting: Waving one's arms wildly about in the air to make the audience think something is going on, while, in truth, the band already knows what they're doing and the drummers won't pay attention anyway. (Oh most of the time so right...I rarely looked up...so sad)

Conductor: One who takes the place of the colorguard during a concert, entertaining the audience with new and astounding dance moves. (huh?)

Crayons: Sticks of colored wax used for artistic endeavors, particularily on long bus rides. (I used my headphones and walkman)

Denny's: Open-All-Night restauaunt chain favored by band and drama students prior to their exile. (I did the Denny's thing...regardless of band or not)

Director: The person who claims to be in charge when everything is going well and claims denial when things go wrong. (I got lucky and had some pretty cool directors...well until I got to LC. I hated Mr. JOnes)

Dollar Bill: A piece of paper used to repair clarinet pads and purchase caffeinated beverages. (Never used that for my clarinet pads...hmmm.)

Drill: Sheets of paper showing little black dots making pretty pictures. Good bonfire fodder. (Drills...??? I'm at a loss here)

Drum Corps: How over-devoted musicians spend their summer vacations when they're forced to go out into the "real world." (I had a thing for drummers...after my thing for sax players)

Drum Major: The student singled out by the staff to color on poker chips, lug stereo equipment, and run for coffee so they can be the ones to conduct the band on the field. (I had no soft heart for our drum majors...oh...but I did have a thing for Greg my Sophmore year...he was a cutie...but I only dated him once...it was weird.)

Drummers: 1: A group of reality-impaired individuals who go around constantly beating on things, allowing themselves to think that they are a highly-evolved group of musicians when indeed, neither of those terms apply. 2: The synonym for "stupid", "dumb", and "brainless." Often used in the phrase, "You're such a drummer!" (ummm....the drum corp at LC rocked...I dated Michael Cox when I first trasferred for a couple of months...then there was a really awakard moment between he and I where he called something Shamu and I laughed. :) Sorry...it was funny!

Duct Tape: Grey cloth of amazing strength backed with heavy-duty adhesive; an integral part of band philosophy and solution to every problem known to man.
(I'm not sure why this is in the band dictionary of terms...I never used Duck Tape...and I still refuse to use it...just fix the damn thing...or buy a new one.)

Dynamics: Volume of the music; inversely proportional to the number of clarinets on the field. (Okay..whom ever wrote this...must be a brass man...woodwinds rock people.)

Early: Impossible


Field: 100 yards in length, this is a wide expanse of mud, or more often dirt, on which bands perform. Contained within the area of this expanse are frequent sprinklers with occasional patches of grass. (We had astroturf...HBJ...unless at williams or high land park)

Flags: Large, floaty, shiny pieces of cloth on sticks waved by members of the colorguard. Good for "accidentally" thwacking annoying field judges. (Did this actually happen? I remember a couple of flag girls running into like the trombone section...I often wondered if it was on purpose.)

Flute: A silver pipe, immensely popular with beginning band students as it is the only instrument in which one can cross her legs while playing sitting down. (Also, used quite often at band camp)

Football Team: Those who would take over the band field. (Never had this problem since we were made to practice in the fucking parking lot on concrete!!!)

Football Game: The band's pre-show warm-up. (So true!)

Groupies: Those who are not in band yet wish they were cool enough to be. Often seen sitting in the hall by the band room or near the band section in the bleachers. (I was never a band groupie!) ( I was rolling down the hill at HBJ!! Oh come on...you know you wanted to...or at least you tried!!)

Halt: Command in which everyone stops three beats afterwards. (was it 3 or 2)

Hell: Band Camp Week (Entire Marching season)

Home: A place existing only in band members' imaginations as it is often described yet rarely seen. This might have been true during August.

Instructor: One who spends three months telling you everything you're doing wrong, then congratulates your excellence. (You mean private instructor)

Interval: The space between two band members, often changing in an amoebic fashion. (Often you could here our director screaming at people to close in a space...yet...there was mass confusion on the field when this happened...because everyone thought he was talking to them. Then he would come out of his little metal tower and walk over and show them how to do it. Crazy stuff...man...crazy stuff.

Late: Death (I don't remember ever being late or anyone being late for that matter...I never saw what happened if you were.)

Life: Supposedly it exists, but has yet to be discovered by band members.

Marking Time: Marching without going anywhere. (Okay...this is just plane stupid..but we were made to do this a lot...I mean...a lot.

Mellophone: A french horn re-designed so that the sound, which intentionally goes backwards in concert band, may be redirected at the audience to inflict pain and suffering. (We had a couple of these, but they looked like crap and belonged to the school...so...you know they were like a million years old)

Melody: Whatever is being played the loudest, usually the trumpets by default.
(yes...the trumpets...well...it sucked...because even though we normally had the same part melody wise...they were always heard over us.)

Monty Python: A British comedy troupe with such cultural productions as "The Search for the Holy Grail," "The Ministry of Silly Walks," and the infamous "Spam Sketch."

Mountain Dew: A cold, green liquid containing great amounts of caffeine. The Nectar of Life during marching band season. (I preferred Jolt Cola at the time)

Mouthpiece: A critical component of any brass instrument which has a tendency to sprout legs and wander off of its own accord. Punishable by 'shups. (I'm so glad I never had to worry about keeping up with my mouthpiece.)

Music: 1. Paper containing lots of lines and little dots which supposedly tell you what the show should sound like. A killjoy for those who enjoy improvisation. 2. That noise which can be heard emanating from the bandroom or rehearsal field at any odd hour of the day. (Marching music...sucked)

Notes: The language of music, just as clarinetists speak English and drummers bang their heads against things. (See..what's up with ragging on the clarinetists?)

On Time: Impossible

Parade Rest: Standing at attention with one's hands clasped in front and legs apart. Usual position during retreat. (Labor Day parade...uggg...is all I have to say.)

Parents: Adult figures seen only occasionally, usually at home.

Pass-Through: A move in which two lines cross paths, often resulting in bruises and dented and/or broken instruments for both parties involved. (Scarry passing through trombones)

Pep Band: A group of musicians who get free admission to basketball and football games so they can play music during time-outs, blow bubbles, annoy the players, and see how many rules they can break. (We all got to be in the pep band)

Piccolo: A small flute with a tone that only a banshee could love. Cannot be tuned, and is therefore relegated to the extremities of the field. Used to torture indolent sophomores. (One piccolo is enough...try 3 or 5 or 9)

Plume: A large, highly-flammable feathered rod vaguely resembling a taxidermified cat's tail. Rubbed for good luck prior to competition. (The very reason why I hated marching season)

Poker Chip: A small plastic disc emblazoned with one's drill number, used for marking sets during rehearsal. (never used these)

Rain: Drops of water which fall from the sky; nature's way of telling musicians to practice indoors. Will not stop rehearsal. (Rain means...woodwinds put up your instruments...yippee...brass can always play in the rain)

Rehearsal Arc: A loose semi-circle in which the band stands for long periods of time while waiting for flutes to tune. (Flutes always take forever to tune...yikes!)

Rehearsal: Three or six hours spent marching around the back field while under constant secrutiny by the staff. (We did this??? funny how I forget things)

Retreat: The last part of a competition, in which bands stand at parade rest for indeterminate periods of time while waiting for the announcer to call one school's name a bunch of times so they can go home. (I dont' remember going on a retreat.)

Rifle: A gun made out of white wood tossed by the colorguard. Though bullet-less, can cause serious damage.

Roll-Step: A method of walking in which one's head does not bounce. Good for preventing lunch-tray-spillage in a crowded cafeteria. (God help me I'm having flashbacks)

Saber: An artificial sword made out of plastic, used by colorguard members to show, via force, who's boss. (The colonel had a sword)

Scale: A pattern of notes progressing in a logical order to, in theory, sound relatively pleasant. (okay, we were made to learn our major and minor scales and the big long one....at LC...not so much was asked from us.)

Section Leader: One who thinks they are in charge, though they have just as much trouble remembering music as anyone else. (Did we have section leaders in band? I remember them in Drill Team...but not in band)

Shako: Headwear of choice, never to be set with the top on the ground. Decorated with plumes. (Again...the main reason why I hated marching season.)

Shoe: That which can be used as ammunition for target practice by the director. (I remember having to wear my marching shoes to school for initiation. I was so embarassed. All my none band friends didn't get it...either did I...but I was so freakin' embarassed)

Sight-Reading: The first time playing a new piece of music. Usually sounds as if the composer had intended their music to be played during a train wreck. (Sight reading was the most nerve racking part of competition....but we always got pretty good marks.)

Slide: 1. Device used by trombone players to change notes. Excellent disguise for poking innocent woodwinds in the backs. 2. A marching maneuver in which the torso is parallel to the stands while the feet are pointed another direction. Saves band members from frequent chiropractic visits. (Again...I told you it was scarry passing through Trombones or standing near them. They loved to hit their slide in my back or in the back of my head.)

Solo: A chance for a few special musicians to play the melody themselves, sitting out during rehearsal and laughing at the poor saps who have to march. (I was never lucky enough to get a solo, except one time my freshman year with the E-flat clarinet and the note was too high for me to hit and I cracked it...oh...the horror.)

Sousaphone: A large, low-pitched brass instrument which makes an exceptional hula-hoop. Goes crunch when sat upon by floutists. (We never had one)

Squeak: Clarinet section's tuning note of choice. (Okay...I never squeaked...please!)

Staff: Band alumni who cannot, no matter how hard they try, give up marching band and eventually try to eke out a living by being in charge. (I will never be in staff)

Telephone: A device whose sound is often mistaken for that of a doorbell, though the doors in the band hall have no bells... (It never failed the phone would always go off during practice)

Tempo: Speed of the music; directly proportional to the amount of Mountain Dew consumed before rehearsal. (the drummers loved to speed up the tempo on us...just for fun.)

Tenor Saxophone: A larger version of an alto sax, but sounds like a German cat in a large food processor. (I knew a really cool Tenor Sax guy...but not sure what happened to him.)

Theory: A two-hour annual lecture from the director, explaining why key signatures are relevant in the whole scheme of Life, the Universe, and Everything. (Never had to take this..thank goodness)

Trombone: A brass instrument with a slide instead of valves, as even three buttons were completely baffling. (Tromboners rock!)

Trumpet: A brass instrument which, strangely, has a tendency to swell the head of the player. At the moment, there is no scientific evidence to prove this, but it's under way... (My step brother played the trumpet for North Mesquite. I couldn't stand him..not because he was a pain in my ass..but because he was a trumpet player.)

Tune: A time for the band to rest while waiting for the piccolos. )(We always tuned to the oboe.

Uniform Violation: jacket not zipped, hanger backwards, junk in shako boxes, happy zippers, placed on wrong racks. (I think that the only uniform violation we had was not getting it cleaned at the cleaners.)

Valves: Sort of like woodwind buttons, but greatly simplified for brass mentalities.
(This is a brass term)

Visuals: Futile attempts to turn the band into a colorguard. (We didn't have many of these. Flags and twillers.

Vocals: When the band attempts to yell louder than all the talking audience in the stands. (I think I remember yelling chants...between songs.)

Woodwinds: Proof that God has a sense of humor. (Once again...woodwinds rock and the person that did this was a trumpet player...has to be.)

Xylophone: A percussion instument who's keys seem to draw the player's eyes so that they do not look up at their conductor.

Well...hope you enjoyed my little tid bits about life in band. Being in Band was fun for awhile and then it just got old. But, I have a lot of good memories. I'll tell more later...I have some really wild stories that probably people have no idea about. ;)

Turkey Day

Our Turkey Day was great. We spent a week at my mom's and I got to see Ryan play basketball and we had our family pictures done. We had 4 generations of women and 3 generations of women taken and then family and all kinds of stuff. They looked really nice on the digital camera. I had my grandmother's 80th portrait done and they turned out great! I'm so excited.
I can't wait to see what the pictures look like.
We had turkey on Turkey day...it was a Martha Stewart receipe. OMG! It was the best bird I have ever tasted.
Well...I'll post some pictures later.
We had a great time.
Hope everyone had a great Holiday.

Pretty Boring

I'm taking this week to get ready for next week.
Yep...well...we are over all of our sickness now. Thank the Lord, Garrett did not get the virius that Morgan and I had!!
So, I've been doing clothes like a bat out of hell. I don't want any clothes except what is in our luggage to do when we get back!!! I'M ON A MISSION FROM GOD!
(Ever seen Blue's Brother's?)
One of my favorite movies in the world!!!
Ummmm.....Let's see....well....Garrett is doing great in school and both kids are doing realy good in Gymnastics.
I have Garrett in only one thing now and Morgan in two. So...looks like it is working out great so far. My weekends are free!!! Yippee!!! No games....well not until March when we start up Soccer again.
We got some new games on the Wii....this game is so much fun. But, I only allow Garrett to play for 1 hour each day and his homework must be done before and he has to read at least 1 book to me before he can play.
Recently...while the weather was still good, I was making him go outside with me and play basketball or work in the yard. At least he was getting some outside time.
He seems to be okay with everything...though sometimes...he complains because he wants to play longer.
The other day...I asked him what he was learning from his Wii games?
He said, "To play them...duh!" I said, and will that help you become an astronaut?
He said, "I don't think so." I said, well you are right...this is for fun...and you really don't learn anything from them. I told him it is better to read a book or go outside and play then sit on your tushie and play this game.
He actually agreed and we have had less complaining since.

One more thing...sorry if I hurt anyone...but...I have to say it.
My daughter had to cut her hair recently because her brother cut it for her and didn't do such a good job. When I took her in to the hair cut place we gave her the cutest little cut. Then about a month ago she starts telling me she hates her hair because she looks like a boy!!!! Who in the hell told her this?
Sorry...I am so mad! She does not look like a little boy!!! So...I asked her very calmly, has someone said that to you? And she named off a bunch of girls and boys in her class at school. I'm not sure why I was mortified, but I was. My daughter had no idea of the beautfiul sterotype that all girls should have long hair. Well, she does now and she is very sensitive and made at me and herself about her hair.
I just wanted to cry. So, I talked to her teacher and asked that if she heard any kids saying this to please correct them right away!!!
Then, again...we went to Gymnastics this past week and a little boy about 2 years old came up to her and asked if she was a boy or girl!!! It was very innocent...but I had to wonder is this something that is learned in the home or is it just natural for boys and girls to think that boys have short hair and girls have long hair!!
So, today we went to get Morgan's hair cut and she didn't want to cut it. I showed her a picture of a bunch of girls with their hair short!!! And that seemed to help.
Heather I showed her a picture of you too...and she was like "IS SHE A GIRL?" I was like oh yeah!!
Poor thing!!!
I just hate to see her so worried about something so silly this young.

That is about all I have.
Pretty Boring!

Sick

We are all sick. Well...except Garrett...so far.
I have a horible sore throat and Morgan was up all night pucking and dry heaving!!!
She seems to be over it this morning.
But...no church for me. I'm just not up for it today. I'm sure God will understand.

If I don't blog for awhile, please forgive me...I am exhausted and I have fallen behind on my normal chores because of illness for the past 3 days.

Enjoy your week.

Turkey day is around the corner.

My new Hair cut

Here are some side profile and a frontal of my new hair cut.
Notice the dark color?
Yep...that is my natural color. I love it.
I'm going to get some low lights on Friday...should really look good.

My Life

Okay, I am going to write a book about my life.
I know it may be pretty boring to some, but it would be more
of a reflection of my life then and now and how much God has
truely changed, not only my life, but my heart and mind as well.
About two weeks ago my mom calls and asks me for a time line of my life.
Like bullet points, dates, years of my life experiences. I was like...MOM,
you really don't want to know what I did and where I was. She was like, well
it's not for me...it will be for you. I told my mom that I has surpressed all
that so I would never ever remember it again. I don't want to remember it. So, I
sort of blew her off. I mean..who wants to go and relive their past. Mine was not the most pleasant past to relive. Well, at least from 1990 - until 2000.
But the more I thought about it...the more I thought...well maybe there is something
to learn here. So, I started in 1990. Of course, mom wants me to start back in like middle school. Why?? I think she forgets when I was in school.
Anywho! I started in 1989 when I left home to go live with my dad, ended up getting pregnant and giving my child up for adoption, going on to then graduate from high school in Grapevine.
At this point my life takes a downward spiral that I do not really recover from it until the year 2000. What I mean by recover is actually starting to work my way back to GOD. Yep...loooking back, I can totally see what life is like with out God. Now, don't think that I was like a "Non-believer" Because I always believed in God and Jesus Christ as my savior. The difference was that I didn't live or love in the truth. I didn't bask in his glory. I didn't have a one on one relationship with him as I do now. Thinking back about my state of mind during this time...and remember not ever praying or talking to him. I was so lost. I can remember how I felt, always running away from something. When I say run, I litteraly would disappear. I would run to a different city and just try starting new and try to figure things out, and then end up right back where I started. I did this numerous times from 1991 - 1995. I finally gave in and went to my mom and asked for help. We talked and I went back to school. (1995 - 1997) Thinking that I might find myself in school and get away from some negative influences that kept surrounding me. Again, still running, but not the right direction. It did help a little. I was able to at least stablize myself and get a better grasp on my life. However, I made a big mistake and ended up right back again where I started. Two years after I married, I was divorced. I had met up with an old friend during this time and she sort of re-introduced me to God. I wasn't ready yet...but it got the ball rolling. I realized that the person I was married to was not heading in the same direction as I was and I was desperate to get out. However, I promised to stay with him no matter what, in front of God, and that meant a lot to me. I stuck in there until I couldn't take it anymore and left. It was the best thing at that time to ever happen to me. I met my husband two months after I moved out and we started dating seriously after the divorce.
Again, I felt lost and alone and not sure what to do with my life. I was scared. I started reading the bible and remember the talks Heather and I had working together. I got a bible from my Aunt that X-mas before 2000. One day I picked it up and started reading. I was back on the right road, I just didn't know it yet.
In May of 2000 Kirtus and I were dating pretty regularly and I was feeling that itch to run again...and was about to break it off with him. On June 10, 2000 Kirtus and I were driving to Dublin and we had a head on collison. (Dublin Texas, Ya'll)
I had just gotten a new job...and was about to put in my 2 week notice.
It was crazy. I was the only one to walk away from that crash. I should have been dead. The truck that we hit head on was actually going to broad side us and hit my side head on. I remember feeling like I was not ready to die. This all happened within seconds but playing it back in my mind it was all slow motion.
WHY? Why did I walk away? Well...Kirtus broke his ankle and had to have 2 surgeries on it. He shattered his femur and has a metal rod shoved down the middle of it now. His knee cap...well they made him a new one where the femur exploded. His left hip had broke, but it was a clean break and has two long ass screws in him there. He was in bed for two weeks in the hospital. They thought he would be in longer, but my husband heals pretty quickly. Thanks be to God.
I took care of him for the next 4 or 5 months. I worked and paid both of our apartment rents and his child support,food, bills. I fed, and bathed him and basically took care of him. All on my own.
The man in the truck we hit had severe brain injury and the woman in the passenger seat was pregnant and died.
So, I see now why I lived. I still had much to learn about myself and God.
Of course I thought of running and getting the heck out of dodge when I saw Kirtus out cold in the hospital bed. Thoughts went through my mind...your not married, you have no obligation. But, I see now that Satan was feeding me that fear.
I loved this man so much that I did feel obligated to stay and take care of him. And it wasn't about loving him in a marital sense...it was about loving him because he was a human being that needed help. I think now that maybe God touchd my heart in a way at that time I didn't understand.
God has a plan. I'm not sure that this is all his plan for me. I'm sure there is more to his plan that hasn't been revealed to me yet.
So, after the crash, I started having major pains and thought that it might be due to the crash and went to the doctor. I had a cyst the size of a grapefruit on my ovary. It had totally crushed my ovary and fallopian tube and all was removed except the right ovary and tube and my uterus. I thought that I would never have kids again.
Time went on and Kirtus and I got closer. Now, I'm not perfect. I had premarital sex and yes...I got pregnant. Kirtus and I had just started talking about marriage and well...bam!!! So...there wasn't a shot gun wedding. I wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing and so was he!!! Garrett was born 12/02/01...I was married 5/03/02.
Not many people know that. I guess I've just been a bit ashamed, but we loved each other and were committed even before we took our vows before God.
Oh...and I still haven't totally committed myself at this point...so all is forgiven. ;) (that is a little joke)
Well...I won't get into it much futher than this. 6 years later on 5/13/07 I was washed in the baptismal waters. All those fears of what will be is gone. I've given my life to God and to serve him.
He has touched my life and made me whole again.
I sometimes sit in my bible study class and feel like I have nothing to give, nothing to show how God has touched my life.
Well, I am a walking miracle. I just never realized it until tonight when i started doing that crazy time line for my mother.
Isn't God amazing, how he uses othe people in our life to knock some sense into us?
My faith is strong!
There is so much more to my crazy life that I didn't share, sex, drugs and rock and roll. Crazy trips to no where and people I met. Things I did. The horrible things I did and said to my family and friends. 10 years I was lost.
If anyone ever questions God's patience...tell them about me.
Thanks for reading. I know it was really long and a little deep. I may have gotten off track a bit...but I feel like I need to put it down in writing so that I can remember this moment and share with others.

God Bless.

Dana

:)

Trick or Treat!!!

Here are some pictures of our fun filled night of Trick or Treating!
Garrett was a Vampire
And
MOrgan...well she was a kitty cat. Look at the expression on her face.
She is really playing the part.
I think she is going to be my little actor.
Enjoy.
Also...for all out there...my Great Aunt is having her biopsy today. They will not be able to removed the large mass. But, will be able to give her a time limit on how long she has to live. They informed her this past monday that she was too weak to take any type of chemo or radiation. The mass in her lungs is a very large mass and is in the upper lung. She is actually 90 years old. She's had a great life and I was honored to know her and be apart of her family. She taught elementary school for over 40+ years in the same school district. She went to college and got her undergraduate and graduate degree during a time when it wasn't cool for women to get an education. I'm going to miss her. We all are.
Right now..I'm praying that her time left here on earth is filled with Joy and good memories and then with no pain.

Today...what a day

Today, Morgan and I went to Gymnastics. Morgan took her friend JJ to the gym with her. This bear is not hers. It is actually the schools bear. They let each child take the bear and this journal home. We are suppose to write in the journal about what we did with the bear and where we took it. Okay...I think this is going a bit overboard...but Morgan is just in love with this bear. So...all day I have been working on getting my damn printer to work. And guess what...it won't work. I even have a little HP photo printer...an it won't read my cards and my wonderful new computer can't find the drivers for this damn thing. So....no pictures in the journal. Morgan is devasted. I'm so upset at her school I could scream. I had no idea about this thing until Monday when I showed up to pick her up and was blind sided. The teacher was all grins and giggles and said, "You get to take home JJ today!!" I was like excuse me? Who is JJ? Okay...can you imagine what I was thinking? I'm not taking anything alive home with me? Like a hampster or bunny rabbit. I told the teacher. I have enough animals at my house. No thank you! She looked at me odd...and then said, "No, it's a stuffed bear." I was still very taken off guard and said..."OH" Okay...I guess we can do that. Then she told me...Oh...and don't forget the journal!!! I just smiled in my gracious southern way. Meanwhile, my mind is saying all kinds of things that aren't very proper.
So...we took the bear to Gymnastics today and then to the park.
So...here is my freakin' journal... Hope you enjoy our day with f****** JJ the bear!!
If it wasn't for Morgan's pure excitement about getting to take this bear home I would have chunked it at the teacher! :)

After Gymnastics we went to the park and played in the sand. Without JJ I might add. Also, I'm not sure if they disinfect this stuff animal...but we did not let her sleep with the bear.

Soccer Game

Only one more Soccer Game.
Here are some pics from today.
He just loves Soccer.

My brother

here are some pictures of my brother and where he is working at.
This is in Africa.
And the Cheetahs...are real. Those aren't zoo animals people!!!

Kindergarten on Parade

My son's class got to dress up today and parade through the halls of their elementary school. Here are some pictures from that.
Garrett was super happy that I was there. He always loves it when mom comes up to see him in class or has lunch with him. It's a big treat...because a lot of the other parents work and can't make it. It makes him feel special. It won't be long and he will be embarassed to even be seen with me. So...I'm gettin all the moments I can.
Hope you enjoy the pictures. I've added some others of Morgan in her Tinker Bell costume. We purchased this at Disney World. We took her to this place Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and she got to get her hair, make up and dress done. She chose Tinker Bell. Since this costume along with the make up and hair cost me oh...a pretty penny...she's wearing it again for Halloween. She actually had forgotten about it and wanted to be a cat. When I pulled it out...she was so excited!