Life N Storms N Senior Pics N Stuff

What a weekend!  Saturday, we had Natalie's birthday dinner at Mom's...TatorTot casserole and Oreo Berzert (sorry, family joke.)  It was awesome; I ate too much, and went home miserable (the good, overeating kind of miserable.)  We came home so Kevin could nap (the pain pills knock him out) and I could laze around on the couch.  The puppy was a NIGHTMARE!  She would pee on the floor (linoleum, thank goodness) minutes after being taken outside, bite when you tried to pet her (she's a puppy, you know) and run from us when we tried to catch her.  Sheesh, I said some AWFUL things to that dog.  Things about giving her away, shooting her, and beating her senseless.  I did none of those things, but my mouth, when angry, says ugly things.

Yesterday, the girls went to church, and we (mostly Kevin) did some housework.  I tried to take some pictures of Brett, since I can't afford a photographer right now.  The poses worked OK, but the skin tones were yuck and I blew out the highlights.  Damn.  The dog?  She was an angel!  Coming when we called her, peeing and pooping outside only, and being generally endearing.  Damn dog!  Make a liar out of ME will you!?!?  Just kidding.   I told her she was sweet, and that I wouldn't shoot her.  Maybe we've reached an understanding?  Probably not, just an off day for her, but she was quite sweet.

Then, the storms came.  The news mentioned our little town more than it's been mentioned in the last 100 years.  We were famous!  Famous, and close to death, to hear them tell about it.  We prepared a basket to take downstairs (flashlights, candles, cell phones, sodas, a battery radio, cigarettes and lighter, and the like.  Things we would need if it all went bad, you know?  We made the girls put shoes on, in case of walking over a disaster area) and I called Mom.  She was watching the news, and they were fine, so we stood outside like stupid hicks and watched it coming.  The kids were downstairs and the dogs were NOT leaving a human, no matter what.  The sirens FREAKED Hawkeye out.  We finally joined the kids downstairs for a bit, butmore for them than us.  We could tell it was south of us, and no tornado ever touched down around here.  It DID make for an exciting evening though.

The downfall was missing the first 1/4 of Big Brother.  With the Emmy's being so *incredibly* boring, I needed more than one hour of moronic reality nonsense.  No luck.  We finally went to bed at 9ish, and I soon moved to the couch.  Kevin's health and joint issues (no, he's not a druggie, he just has issues with the joints in his body) was causing RLS (restless leg syndrome) so he jerked about every 45 seconds. I was NOT going to get any sleep in there.  I'm so thankful that our couch is comfortable.

I'm thankful that our home (and that of my parents) is safe.  I'm thankful for a basement.  I'm thankful for a man who works hard through all manner of pain. I'm thankful for my darling children, the youngest of whom will be 9 tomorrow (am I THAT old?) and I'm thankful for my life.  We make it through so much, and never lose sight of what we have.  We have everything. 

Sleep in peace tonight, my friends.  Sleep knowing that somewhere in Missouri, there is someone wishing the best for you.  Someone is pulling for you.  Someone wants you to be as happy as I am.  Someone who wants you to find peace in a storm, peace in your family, and peace in yourself.  I am happy, blessed, and thankful.  I love you, my friends.