I just took a look at my schedule for the day. It's absolutely crazy! It looks like a game of Tetris gone wild! AHHHH...Calgon! Take me away!

On another note, Jeff and I figured out all of our upcoming expenses. We're going to start talking to landscapers about helping us with design ideas for the house. I'm very excited! Of course, we're going to do as much of it ourselves as we can. Money is tight you know! We don't need an HGTV backyard or anything, just a place for Gavin to run around without having to worry about poison ivy...or snakes crawling through ivy...you know, stuff like that.

Stepping into the Twilight Zone

I hate it when Blogger loses my entry- I just finished writing one, I guess I took too long, and when I went to check it out, the site gave me an error. I lost everything I had written. So annoying.

Anyway- this weekend, I had a pretty big shock. Remember when I mentioned that my neighbor had passed away? And I was feeling all guilty for not seeing her for over a year? Well, I finally made it over to the house when someone was there. Her daughter in-law opened the door. I told her that I'd heard what happened. She ushered me in. As I was asking if there was anything I could do, she said, "no, but she's in the other room."

Um..."she's in the other room"?!??!?!?!?!?! WTF!!?!?!?

Lo and behold, sitting on her green, plastic, 1970s reject couch, was my little old neighbor...ALIVE and KICKING!!!

Apparently, she fell down and broke a bone. The ambulance came and picked her up. My stupid tenant saw this, and assumed that she passed away, probably because of her age.

Fortunately, after my initial shock, I went out to the car and grabbed Gavin and Jeff. We were able to spend a little time with her and I felt much better. Her son told us that they were moving her down to a home just outside of Columbus. She has another son that lives there. They're moving her a week from today.

Sadly, I know once she moves, I'll probably never see her again. I did tell the son that we'd be happy to help with anything. I'm going to go by there this weekend to say goodbye.

Now I'm feeling all nostalgic.

Ahhh...what a great weekend! We were busy and all over the place. It started Friday night, we went out for a nice b-day dinner at one of our fav restaurants in East Atlanta. Unfortunately, like so many others in the city, it was boarded up. It's so disappointing to drive around town lately and see a handful of eateries shut down. We ended up at a place called La Casita- also in East Atlanta. Very kid-friendly and great tacos! So, I got my fix!

Saturday, we just hung around the house and got ready for everyone to come over. We went back to the Yellow River Game Ranch with a fairly large group. It was a blast! I was a little disappointed that the animals weren't eating as hardily as before. * Note to self: Go in the morning hours next time!*

Once we made it back to the house, people starting arriving for the cook out. We had a nice turnout of folks- about 20. It was fun, we all hadn't been together like that in awhile. Mark stayed until the UGA game was over (go Dawgs!). That was fun too.

Sunday we went to the last Braves home game. I got free tickets through one of my contacts- hello, can we say AWESOME seats!!! We were right behind home plate- under the overhang. Gavin made it until about the 7th inning before we had to bail because Mr. ansty pants was ready to go.

All in all, it was a great birthday weekend!

Today I am exhausted. No, wait, not exhausted...not mentally, but physically. My body aches all over- I need a massage! Yesterday was a full day- 8a-8p- but a good day. Our station event was incredible- we figure over 55,000 people came out to celebrate Mexican Independence Day. Pretty impressive.

Later this week is my birthday. So, as an early birthday present, Jeff gave me faucets. "Faucets?!?!?" you ask, yes, faucets. Believe me, since we moved into our new house last October, we've talked about replacing all the sink faucets in the house. It was just too expensive and we didn't want to tackle the job. Two things I stay away from fixing in a house- plumbing and electrical, I just don't want to mess with either. So, we finally found a good, CHEAP, plumber who quoted us a crazy low price on installing the fixtures. We kept putting it off and putting it off until yesterday, when Jeff decided it'd make a good birthday present.

I've got to tell you, it does. I LOVE our new fixtures! And, I'm not one of those women who has to have all the fru-fru presents for her birthday. I'm more practical (plus, I know our budget lately) and I really did want new faucets. Hell, I'd even be happy with a new dishwasher!

In honor of my neighbor

Today I found out my neighbor of 36 years passed away. Actually, she and her husband lived in the house next to Audubon before my parents moved in. She was a sweet lady who I used to go over and visit all the time when I was a kid. Part of my neighborhood "rounds" to find out all the gossip. Yes, I started as a 5 year old, so go figure.

I hate that we didn't see her before she passed. That is completely my fault. It was one of those things I always said to myself, "I've got to take Gavin over to see Ms. Miller." She was getting up there in age...I think she was 94 or 95. The last time I saw her was the day we moved, so almost a year ago in October. I told her I'd bring Gavin by to see her and I never did. Can I tell you how sad that makes me feel? (and yes, guilty). I'm also sad that we didn't get a phone call from her family. I guess they figured our number had changed once we moved or something. I tried to go by there, but I'm thinking they were all at the service.

She and her husband used to raise Beagles. My dad remembers all the commotion they used to cause with their constant barking. Ms. Miller used to tell me stories of her sons hunting in the neighborhood as they were still developing it. The end of Audubon was a dirt road when she moved in and Sagamore hadn't even been built yet.

So, here's to Ms. Miller, may she rest in peace. I hope she says hello to my mom, I know she's hugging her husband.

Day of Remembrance

God Bless America. No matter what your race, political affiliation, size, shape, sex, whatever- 9/11 is one of those days where we all bow our heads and say a prayer (or think) of those lost on this infamous day.

Ahhh...Monday morning. Don't you just love a fresh start? A whole week in front of you? Bliss. (detect the sarcasm?)

Jeff and I finally got to rearrange our house yesterday. Since we moved in last October, we basically piled some rooms up with stuff that we really didn't know what to do with. Yesterday, we were able to go through a lot, move some furniture around, hang some pictures. It looks and feels so much better. There's nothing like a fresh look in a room.

This week is going to be a busy one for me. Our biggest event of the year is this weekend, Mexican Independence Day. It's basically a full day of music, food and celebration. I actually like the event, but I'm completely whipped afterwards.

I love going to the hair salon. Its one of the few "me" things I do within a year. However, can we say expensive??? I had my hair highlighted this morning- $160 later (this includes a crazy tip), my hair is a few shades lighter. I'll admit, it looks nice, but I'm beginning to think "I can do this myself." Oh well, at least it will look good for the wedding.

Tomorrow we're going to a friend's daughter's birthday party. She's having a "barnyard" themed party at a park in Cobb. Gavin is going to have so much fun! I think they're even bringing in animals for the kids to pet and run around with.

So now that my hair's all "done up," I'm ready to go out! How silly are we for not planning a date night on the day I get my hair done? Maybe the family can go out for ice cream after dinner or something. It's not glamorous, but still love it!

This weekend, the Stevenson household is sick. Not terribly sick, but stuffed up and coughing sick. Fortunately, we don't have fevers and we have a long weekend to recover. The stinky part, we have a long weekend- a holiday weekend is never a fun sacrifice to the sick gods.

We went up to my mother in-law's house on Saturday. We kind of forced ourselves because we're all sick. If Jeff's brother hadn't been in town, we probably would have cancelled. The visit was good, we're warming up to Marge's new fiancee. When I say "new", I mean it. They've only been together since the middle of July. Yes, yes, a bit quick. The wedding's in October- right after my brother's. Should be an interesting month!

On our way home, Gavin got sick. I think he'd been swallowing so much mucus that it made his stomach upset. Plus, he really hadn't eaten that much all day, so not so great a combo. However, once he got it out, he seemed to feel much better!

Right now we're sitting on the couch watching Barney. I always said I wasn't going to ever watch Barney...and, until today, I hadn't. HOWEVER, when Barney came on, my kid yells, "Barney!" and is entralled for the next 30 minutes. Um...so much for that! I guess they show it at school or something.