'Cos Cinderella Says So!

Thought y'all would love this...

Meet Becky, my young friend who will marry the love of her life, Kyle, on Saturday. I snapped this picture at her bridesmaids' dinner last night.

Women Who Read

Lately, people have been sending me jokes. Today, you get this one!

One morning the husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, and reads her book.

Along comes a game warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says, Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?

Reading a book, she replies. (thinking, isn't that obvious?')

You're in a Restricted Fishing Area, he informs her.

I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading.

Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment.
I'll have to take you in and write you up.

For reading a book??? she replies.

You're in a Restricted Fishing Area, he informs her again

...I'm sorry, Officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading! she replies AGAIN..

Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start atany moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up.'

If you do that, she adds, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault! says the woman.

But I haven't even touched you! says the game warden.

That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment.

Have a nice day ma'am, and he left.

On another note entirely, some women who blog might get together tonight for a little vino.  Care to venture a guess as to the players?

Whiny Whiny Whiny

I’m having a hard time blogging these days, for a myriad of reasons.  I even have considered closing the blog, since I’m not being as faithful as I was before.  But I know I'd miss y'all!!

My industry, oil and gas, is taking a hard, hard hit these days, as are lots of industries.  All of my friends and some of my coworkers have been laid off.  The lucky ones have taken reductions in pay.  It’s depressing, and as some of you know, my job is finding people jobs!  Argggggh!  It's hard to do when everyone has basically stopped drilling/completing wells.

I keep a smile on my face, and keep beating the streets (salesman talk!) to try to find opportunities for people.  When I get home, I’m wiped out, and don’t want to go anywhere or visit with anyone.

Workwise, I’m trying to deal with things I can affect.  Industry meetings; introductions; taking care of business to the best of my ability.  Homewise, same thing.  My husband, my family, my wonder dogs.  I really have lots to be thankful for, and I am thankful.

Another thing I’ve taken on is a diet, starting today.  Wish me well.  It’s hard to diet when 1/2 of your job is taking people out for meals!  But I’m determined.

I’ll be in a wedding this weekend in the DFW area.  From all accounts, it’s going to be a beautiful one.  The daughter of my friend, Suzan, is getting married.  And it’s going to be a big shindig.  And I have to speak at the wedding.  I know what I want to say, and I’m trying to put it together in a clear, concise way, keeping it short and sweet.  I plan on fine-tuning it tomorrow.  If I get it down, I’ll share it with you after the wedding.  I believe that what I want to say has been the very foundation for ThatManILove’s and my marriage...though I wasn’t able to identify it until some years ago.  It’s such a God deal.

Anyway, if you wonder why I’ve not been trekking around your blogs as much, now you know I’ve been working myself to exhaustion.

And you know, girls just gotta have fun!!

I Left My Heart in N'awlins...

I'm having a little trouble writing today. So, pictures you get. Latest trip to New Orleans. I was shocked to see what little has been done in the 9th Ward. This once vibrant part of New Orleans is still struggling for survival, and may not make it. Hardly anyone is living there, since most of the infrastructure is gone. It is so sad.

Update:
I had a commenter drop by. I'd like to introduce you to Editilla of New Orleans Ladder, who sweetly commented on this post and said, "Janie, thanks for keeping the light on for all of us nolafugees.T'anks youz,Editilla~New Orleans Ladder". Fire Station. Being run out of a FEMA trailer. Noone is in the Fire Station at all. It has not been renovated yet.

One of the houses that's not been renovated. The houses were like this one, or had been torn down to the slab. Not much remodeling.

This is the Fats Domino Music Studio. It's directly to the left of the house pictured above. It has not been remodeled, it just better withstood the storm*.

*Update:
Editilla of New Orleans Ladder sweetly corrected me on this statement as well, and said... pss- I stood in front of Fat's house during the flood of '05 after the Corps' levees failed. It was considerably damaged and has definitely been repaired. There was a white grand piano, floating on its side, just inside the front door and Fat's stuff floating all over the front yard.I'm talking Gold Records and everything. Fortunately there were people there who seemed connected to Fats and interested in protecting the property from looting. Unfortunately at the time, Fat's Domino was lost in the evacuation. No one could find him. Finally a group of musicians tracked him down in an internment camp in Alabama, alone.That was a close call.

See the waterline across the side of the house? Water stood that high for some 29 days.

Mother's Restaurant. Though it was not hit, they searched out all their employees, and had FEMA trailers put in the parking lot for housing for their employees. They lived in that parking lot for over a year.

Mother's is known for their collard greens, which is what this young man is pouring into another container. And, again, Editilla corrected me:- that is the Pot Liqueur from the Greens that he is pouring. It is considered as valuable as the Greens. Put it in a glass with a Big Chunk of Cornbread. Mmmmmmm!

I'll post more upbeat pictures later, I really did take some good ones! Suffice it to say that New Orleans broke my heart.

Ouch!!

I received this via e-mail, and it cracked me up.

A study worth sharing with friends both male and female: A study conducted by UCLA's Department of Psychiatry has revealed that the kind of face a woman finds attractive on a man can differ depending on where she is in her menstrual cycle. For example: If she is ovulating, she is attracted to men with rugged and masculine features. However, if she is menstruating or menopausal, she tends to be more attracted to a man with duct tape over his mouth and a spear lodged in his chest while he is on fire. No further studies are expected.

Now.  I must get up and get ready for my 6:15 a.m. breakfast date.  WTH was I thinking??

How About This? Wanna Play Giveaway?

ThatManILove is on me HARD about the amount of books that have stacked up in my closet.

Thus begins "The Great Book Giveaway".

I'll probably give away 3 at a time.  Good news - they'll all be popular authors.  Bad news - they have most likely been around two beautiful German Shorthairs, so if you're allergic to dogs, you cannot play.  I will not be responsible for your emergency trip to el hospitale.

I promise the books will be in good shape when I send them to you!

If you're interested, be watching!

PS - Emily's Mom...if you're still lurking, please drop me an e-mail!

A Day At The Park

We're back from N'awlins. We had a good time, overall. I'll tell you more later, but in the meantime, here's pix of the Wonderdogs, having fun at our local Hogan's Run Dog Park.
Zack and Zanna, trying to cool off a little after hard play and lots of running! Zanna the Wonderpup, trying to decide what kind of stuff she can stir up next.
Like this - our funny friend, Buddy, digging, and Zanna knowing - just knowing!- that she's not allowed to dig. So, she's enjoying it vicariously. And if we don't watch her, she Will.Be.In.There. Right alongside her friend.
While Buddy shows no conviction whatsoever, and is going after that varmint that has to be in that hole!

And here they are, exhausted, but looking back towards the dog park as if saying, "Do we really have to leave, Mom? Do we?" Check out those smiles.