I'm baaaack (again)

Hey. How YOU doin?

It's been a long time, huh?

I apologize. I completely forgot my password until this morning and then, POOF, there it was in the front of my brain. I was shocked, happy, and a little embarrassed. I decided just to post something... anything... I've missed this. A LOT.

Soooo... how are ya? How's your mom-n-em? What cha been up to? Me? Work, kids, The Walking Dead.. yadda yadda yadda. The same ol' same ol'.

Not happy with Blogger at the moment. I'm at work typing this up and it won't let me do it in "compose" mode... doing this in HTML. I am SOOO not good at it. Please excuse any and all spacing issues. I think once I get back into this, I'll be doing it from home so the Web Po-Po won't be watching me.

I'm hoping to have some good stories and fodder for you soon. Bug continues to crack me up, and Jarrett (aka J-man) is about to graduate from High School. GULP. When did that happen? They are both a challenge,but I do love them so.

On that note... later taters!

Be still my heart...

This is some of the cast of The Walking Dead. I LOVE random, silly pictures of these people. They always seem to be having the best time. I know most by real name, but I will give you characters and how I feel about them.

Michonne (in the veeeery back with red wig) - biggest female badazz on the show. She was introduced in Season 3 and I squealed when I saw her. In the comics she is a force to be reckoned with. They haven't quite got to that point yet with her, but I can see it coming. She carries a Katana and uses the walkers for pets. Soooo cool.

The Governor (shooting a bird with Mickey Mouse glove) - his character is cray-cray, but I love him. He and Rick Grimes hate one another and it was the battle between the Governor's Woodbury and Rick's Prison that was the focus of Season 3. He and Michonne hate, hate, hate one another, but I guess you would hate Michonne, too, if she killed off your creepy-azz zombie daughter.

Tyreese (Thundercat) - he is a newbie to the show, but in the comic book he is larger than life. Cannot WAIT to see what they do with him next season.

Glenn (with the bow/arrow) - dawwww... love him so much! He is engaged to Maggie (the one with the space bowl on her head). They are a great couple and so sweet together. Their story will be pivotal next season. Glenn is becoming a leader and I fear he will leave the safety of the prison... we shall see!

Darryl Dixon (bear hat and axe) - LOVE him. He is, by far, my favorite character on the show. Every girl loves the bad boy. If I were ever in a zombie apocolypse... this redneck is who I want to be with... oh yeah.

Herschel (with the beard and the arrow thru his head) - Maggie's dad... veterinarian... lost a leg. He is the moral compass of the group. I'm afraid his time is coming to an end this season and, gawd, if it happens I will miss him. Brilliant actor.

Greg Nicotero (sunglasses in front) - Executive Producer, Director, Special Effects Guru... he is brilliant and makes this show what it is.

Rick Grimes (silly hat and sword) - The MAIN character of the show - and one sexy beast. I wish you could see more of him here. GAH. He plays a Sheriff's deputy that was shot prior to the ZA. He wakes up in the hospital to a crazy world. He was going through a mental breakdown in Season 3, but seems to have gotten out of it with his run-in with the Governor. Next season may see his group splinter... I know what happens in the comic... curious to see if they take the same course. I just hope he reigns in his psychopathic kid before it is too late.

I wish more of the cast were in this picture, but my faves are here... Darryl... Tyreese... Michonne... The Guvnah...

Come on October 13th! (And yes... this picture is now my screensaver)

Fiction and Research

I am reading Dan Brown's latest novel, Inferno, and am totally engrossed in the story. If you have never read one of his books - The Davinci Code, Angels and Demons, or The Lost Symbol - I highly recommend them. He takes real world places and writes mysteries around them. Yes... I know they are fiction, but do you know what I REALLY love about them? They make me curious.
I spend A LOT of time on Wikipedia, Google, etc. looking up the people, places and things he writes about. I become fascinated with the real people from history and do a lot of reaseach on them. I learn so much and enjoy it. I was never a history buff in high school, but as I've gotten older I find myself wanting to know more and more.
What I love about the research is I keep branching off into other topics. I started research Dante (the focus on Inferno) and had NO idea he loved a woman named Beatrice since the age of 9 and was denied the ability to marry her. SOOO, I researched Beatrice. Which had a painting of her... which led to the research of the artist... and on and on and on.
Now I am researching St. Marks Cathedral in Venice. Beautiful and so full of wonder.
Off to read some more and see what is next.

Howdeeee!

Tons and tons of stuff going on at Pug Manor. I apologize - AGAIN - for not posting that often but work, kids, school (their's not mine), travel... it piles up and I just don't post. I read all of my blogs every day, but cannot find time to write anything.

With that said, here are just some random thoughts going thru my head...

• My baby girl, Bug, is going to be 15 in two weeks. GAH! When did THAT happen?
• And J-man? In a month he will be 18. EIGHTEEN! A man!
• With that being said... 18 is an adult. I won't call him J-man... I don't think I need to make him anonymous any longer. His name is Jarrett and I am his proud mama.
• Jarrett has signed up for the Future Soldiers program... that means when he graduates at the end of this coming year (fingers crossed) he is going in the Army.
• Am I scared for him? HELL YES.
• Is it what HE wants to do? Hell yes.
• Because of that I will proudly sport an Army Mom sticker on the bumper of my car.
• This time next year I will need therapy.
• Bug is getting her learner's license in a couple of weeks...
• That therapy may need to start earlier.
• I'm going to Indianapolis this weekend for work. What the heck is there to do in Indy beside visit the racetrack?
• I still love my job. My team and the folks we train are the most awesome folks around. I wouldn't trade it for the world.
• I actually applied for a position that would have been a promotion. It was for the same group I work for, but I would be writing sales training. BLECH. I decided I love my team so much I withdrew my application.
• Best decision
• Considering where I was this time two years ago... I am so happy.
• Our little town has had it rough the past few weeks... murders, drive-by shootings, stabbings, robberies... I just want Carl to be safe. Folks are cray-cray out there.
• I miss The Walking Dead.... BAD
• Dozer is getting so old... I worry about him. We think he is almost deaf and blind. My sweet boy.
• Walker, on the other hand, is the sweetest, funniest, most loving pupper. He loves his snuggles and will catch a ball as long as you will throw it.

That's all I've got for now. Miss you all.

Credible Sources

I called Carl this afternoon to let him know that George Jones had passed away.

C: Awww man. Where did you hear that?
M: From TMZ
C: Well, I don't know how credible they are.
M: I trust them. I don't think they would report someone's death without checking and double-checking their sources. Harvey Levin is an attorney, ya know.
C: Maybe.

So we hang up and a couple of minutes later my phone rings.

C: Hey. Yep it's true. He passed away.
M: I know... but where did you get YOUR information from?
C: Blake Shelton and Luke Bryant's Twitter feed.

*Face palm*

Heading back

I am heading back to Chicago in a couple of weeks. I totally dropped the ball on posting about my last trip (hey, Starr!) and need to do that. Starr was an awesome host the night we met for dinner... the rest of the time I spent in/around the hotel.

This time will be much of the same, but I don't plan on venturing far from the hotel ONLY because of the weather. Me... in Chicago... in February. Hooo boy. I checked the high today and it is going to be 23 with flurries. Ermehgerd. I'm a Southern Girl... the 40's are too much for me. So single digits??? I'm gonna freeze.

I fly up on Super Bowl Sunday. Fine. I know where a bar is located (Ditka's - imagine that) and if I feel adventurous that is where I will be watching the game. If it is too cold, I'm sure my hotel will be showing the game.

I fly back on my birthday. Joy. Just what I want to be doing. BUT I made the flight early enough that I will be home by lunch so my family can shower me with hugs, kisses and love. HAHAHAHAHA!

I guess I need to go back to the store and grab some thermals to wear under everything. Wish me luck! And send some sunshine or warmth to the mid-west.

Lurv y'all!

Happy Almost 2013

Today is the last day of 2012 and I am ready to see what 2013 has to bring. This year was pretty crazy with travel for my job, J-man getting his license, a new puppy in the house, and a tons of other stuff. Next year may be chock full of more travel, J-man will turn 18 and Bug will get her learners. Oy... not ready for that.

Tonight I plan on watching the ball drop in New York - or maybe the Peach from my town. I'll reflect on all that has happened and feel pretty happy with the year. Tomorrow I will make a crockpot full of chili... and yes I know that means the greens and black-eyed peas tradition will be missed... while relaxing with Carl and the kids. Then Wednesday I hit the ground running for work... it is gonna be craaazy.

Buh-ring it.

Happy New Year to anyone that may still read this blog. I miss you guys!