Love Note to Straight Shooter

My Best Friend and Loving Wife,


After 17 years of marriage I wanted to write down my thoughts to tell you how much you mean to me. And post it for all of your bloggy friends to see. I searched through cards, books, and online to find the perfect words to describe my feelings for you. Nothing I read even came close, although, I did come across some pretty good porn sites.

There is no way to adequately express my feelings. Saying you are my best friend and loving wife is not enough, because you are more than that. I guess the only thing I can say is “I love you.”

Those are powerful words. Words I never say to anyone with any meaning behind them. I even go so far as to avoid them. But for you, they are the only words that I can think of using.

You hold my hand through sickness and health, and occasionally kick my ass when I whine a bit too much. You listen to me bitch and do not judge me for being an idiot. I find peace when I am around you. I draw on your incredible storehouse of strength. You keep me sane during periods of total insanity.

Moments I spend in your company may seem insignificant to you, but for me, they are life changing because I know I am safe. I was truly blessed the day I met you. You are the person I know I can turn to when I need help, or need to smile.

You are more stunning than I could ever describe. Whenever I look at you, I am overwhelmed with your beauty. You are perfect in every way. You are my angel. You allow me to be a part of your life. You allow me to be your friend. And on occasion you allow me to be your big studly man. (OK maybe not studly, or big anymore, and not nearly as often as you want, but you still let me be the MAN.) You listen and laugh with me, and more often than not, laugh at me. But that is ok, because I know I am a dork.

I know that I do not deserve you, but for whatever reason, God showed me a glimpse of heaven in your heart. You are the most amazing person I have ever known.

I love you. I will always love you.

Happy Anniversary Sweetie.


NOTE TO BLOGGY HUSBANDS:
Sorry dudes, I know I broke the man code and did something romantic. Good luck on your efforts to measure up.

Bah Hum Bug Anyone?

First, it was Girl Child who wondered about the lack of Christmas lights on our street. Then it was Boy who commented on our own house lacking any real Holiday Cheer. Now tonight, it was Big Shooter who made mention of the slim pickins' in the way of Christmas cards we've received this year. At first I just pooh poohed it as people seem to have been caught off guard by Christmas this year. Me included in that by the way. (Please keep that in mind Mom and Dad as you sit and wait for the UPS guy...)
But then as we were out tonight running some errands that couldn't be put off any longer, I began really looking around. Houses that have had their decorations up and flashing for the past 20+ years on Black Friday are bare this time around. The downtown building that usually leaves certain office lights on on each floor to form a skyscraper sized Christmas tree on the facade is dark. The extra merchandise the stores stocked their shelves with seem to still be overstocked. I, myself, have been trying to come up with a believable excuse to not do our annual New Year's letter.
What is it?

The obvious reason is the economy.
But could it be something else?
Are people finally getting tired of seeing Christmas in July? Or being made to feel guilty if they didn't buy everyone they know and their dogs a gift? Or grown just plain weary of the whole dang thing??
We've all cut back, out, down and around this year. But I, personally, feel it is more than that. I think as we have had to give up, we are giving in to so much more.
We,the Shooter family, are spending more at the grocery store. But that is because we are spending less time on the road running between here and yonder while grabbing a quick bite out. Which means we are spending more time around the dinner table conversing and less in the car on the cell... We're finding all this extra time in the evenings for "just hangin' out with Daddy" or takin' a quick walk around the block and over the highway in "the cool caged bridge". (What can I say? We live in the bad part of town...)
One of the errands tonight was The Santa Visit. As I listened to my most precious gifts telling St. Nick what they'd like I had another epiphany. Their views were changing too. Boy Child asked for a Monopoly game and a bike. Girl Child asked for a bow with arrows and also a bike. These choices screamed out two words to me: Family Time.
If having a national Bah Hum Bug crisis is what it takes for us all to start treasuring each other again...then I'm all for it!
So, "Bah Hum Bug to each and everyone of you! I love ya!"

Love Note to my Big Shooter: 12???? 12 Glorious years! ...ain't bad outta 17, huh? Happy Anniversary, Love of my Life.

Crumb Snatcher #1 Speak

Since Plainsville is experiencing record lows the last few days, Boy Child informed his father when getting back into the vehicle he was "now so cold, I am suffering from hydrofoamia". Big Shooter later told me he wasn't sure whether to rehydrate him for the hydro part or turn him over to the pound in case he had rabies from the foamia...

Love Note to Big Shooter: Thank you for sharing with me. I know you know how much I treasure Crumb Speak...so thanks for remembering Big Guy.

Christmas Tag

I so love my friend Flea. Have I ever told you how I met her in for real life? I was at Sashi's doin' some JBF gig when Flea's family came to get some natural fertilizer (the real good stuff from the pasture) and I recognized her name from the comments section of the The Pioneer Woman. I asked her if she was a blogger and...the rest is history as they say. Anywhoo, she tagged me last week for a holiday meme and today is a perfect day just for that!

So just when you thought you knew all there was to know about me - I subject you to some more titillating facts. I know you are chomping at the bit. So with out further ado...



The Holiday Version Meme

Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?

See, here's where we run into our first problem. I am a hot choc kinda gal in any kind of weather. But egg nog y'all? If it is just the right kind...well, then bar the door Sally Jean cause I am bustin' it down to get me some of that yummy stuff. So I don't know what to say.

Does Santa wrap presents or set them under the tree?

Mrs Claus's a wrapper. A fat white wrapper. Prolong the agony, I say. I plan, prepare and organize every year to wrap as I go. Never happens. I end up wrapping in one room while Santa wraps in another after midnight on Dec. 23 every stinkin' year cause my middle names are "Procrastinator" and "I think it will only take a few minutes to finish like 30 gifts..."

Colored lights on tree or white?

Not long ago, it was white only. Now, with the Crumbs and their utter delight with a Charlie Brown tree...colored is just fine-o-ree

When do you put your decorations up?

Here we go again with the "used to" again. I used to want the decos up Thanksgiving day or Black Friday. Now, we are lucky to have a tree. (We just decorated it yesterday.)

What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?

Any thing Granny Grunt cooked. Any thing.

Favorite Holiday memory as a child:

I have two: Going to sleep (or should I say, trying to go to sleep) at Granny Grunts with all my cousins on Christmas Eve night. The anticipation of waking up to see if I had indeed been good enough to get a gift from the big man was over the top! And, watching Grandpa Bozo shake, squeeze, rattle and violate each and every gift before opening it. He would guess correctly 75% of the time before he opened it. Drove us all nuts! We'd try to fool him every year.

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?

What truth? What are you talking about?

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?

Nope, not one. All of them.

I think this must have started from the fact I would rotate Christmas Eve with my mom and dad each year. So I'd celebrate it with whomever I was with, then go to the other's house on Christmas. Or it could have been the fact that both of my parents are the world's worst when it comes time to show a little restraint with the present opening... To this day, they both pretend it's no big deal. Trust me. It is. They love present opening time. Which, of course, makes everyone around them love present opening time!

How do you decorate your Christmas tree?

I don't. Big Shooter is the Christmas decorator. He should have an entry in the Tree Festival each year. It may help him, focus his passion, give him a healthy outlet for his over abundant creativity. (Oh, that made me chuckle and gag at the same time!) Although, the last two years we've let the Crumbs have their Charlie Brown tree since he hasn't felt up to the whole Christmas Extravaganza and he's been real cool with the whole gig. I secretly hope he'll feel more into it next year. I kinda miss all the holiday cheer our house usually oozes with.

Snow... Love it or Dread it?

Lllllllloooove it! Missssss it! Would love some more of it!!

We have the best sledding hill in Plainsville a few blocks away. The Crumbs have been scouting out new sleds for the last couple weeks like no one's business.

Can you ice skate?

That would be a big fat negatory on that one.

Do you remember your favorite gift?

Yep...it's this Christmas's miracle. My Big Shooter is here. It will forever and ever be my most precious answered prayer.

What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?

Family

What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?

Braum's egg nog. If that's not counted as a real dessert than I'd have to say the sweet chex mix my mom makes with the coconut, butter, almonds, butter, chex and butter...Mmmmmmm.

What is your favorite tradition?

Don't tell Big Shooter...but, I don't really mind the whole stupid "Mall Walking Day" on Black Friday as much as I'd like him to think I do...

Which do you prefer, Giving or Receiving?

Oh, I so wish I had a kazillion $$$$ to spend. I fantasize all the time about how I'd give gifts away. Do any of you play the If I was a Kazillionaire Game?

What is your favorite Christmas Song?

All of them!

Although, I will have to say the one about chestnuts roasting on an open fire has a special place b/c Big Shooter sings that one year round in the shower...

Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?

I played a game with myself when I was a kid. I always tried to see how small and sharp I could make the candy cane before it broke off. The smell of candy canes could transport me to Christmas time immediately. Now. I am not a huge candy cane fan. I don't know what changed.

Ever recycled a Christmas present?

Lalalala! Wh...what? I didn't hear you!



Don't Be A Scrooge! Tag 7 friends to Deck the Halls...

Okie Dokie! I tag Sheila @ Somebody Loved cause she has a Fabulous Spirit all year round, Soliloquy @ She Just Had to Say It cause she needs a break from rusty cookie sheets, Marcy from The Glamorous Life because she is the only one I know who can get a hangover at a cookie exchange, June from June Cleaver after a Six Pack cause her hubby is serving our country and she really needs to get laid, I mean catch a break and she is stinkin' hilarious, Rachel @ Huse Blog is it Anyway? cause she also just needs a no brainer break (although not in the same way June does...), Mama Belle @ The Bayou Belles and Their Beau because Mama had a BIG weekend last week, The lady who wants my twerpy kids and I to visit her @ Clan of the Cave Mice.

Love Note to my Big Shooter: Thank you for making the Crumbs think their Charlie Brown tree was the most beautiful tree in the world. If you only knew the agony I, I meant we, went through this afternoon to make it "just perfect for Daddy" you'd know how willing I'd be to kiss your feet since you said all the perfect compliments when you walked in and saw the monstrosity. You rock Daddy-O.

Any one send?

We sent out our letters on Saturday. We are hoping our soldier will receive them before Christmas so he knows we are thinking of him.

I am posting Girl and Boy Child's letters in their original spelling and entirety.

Dear Soldier,

Thank you for fighting so hard for our contry! We all realy aprishyate it. And everyone in are family hopes that you come home safely and we are all jeering you on as best we can in our prayers. We all can't wait to here from you. Keep up the good work out there and never give up. May the lord be with you.

Sincerely,

Girl Child

Is there eny thing you need from home?

THANKS a LOT!

Okay, so she is a 3rd grader and he's a 4th grader. Don't judge. She loves writing, english and he...doesn't.

Dear Soldier,

Thanks for fiting for Americas freedom. We all are thankfol of it! We are all praying for you. I hope you get home safly and quickly. You are a hero to us.

I'm a ten year old boy who likes videogames and star Wars and Legos. I got a wii (and yes that is how it is spelled.) from my grandparents and I all ready have a new game.

If thir is any thin you want just rite right back and we will hurry it to you.

Sinsirly Boy Child

Thanks for fiting!!

Big Shooter wrote one too. He asked me not to publish it. He said it was just for the young man it was intended for. It made me cry.

If you or your family wrote one or are writing one, I'd be so humbled if you'd share your favorite line in the comments.

Have a fabulous Monday!

Love Note to My Big Shooter: We are so very lucky to call you Daddy and Hubby...

It was like pushing the Rewind button...

Each time I took the camera out of it's case one of the Crumbs would comment, "Did ya see some thing else that reminds ya of when you were our age that ya need to blog about?"

Apparently, we drove them nuts with our eager beaver sharing of childhood stories...little twits.

I mean who wouldn't want to take a picture of one of the many tumble weeds traveling on it's way across the state???

Or our old swimming hole?

Big Shooter's comment was, "Did they re-do it out here? I remember that dock being a whole lot further out than that..."

It's amazing finding out how small our enormous childhoods really were.

They didn't say a word about me taking their pictures. Just struck a pose.

I didn't think to get a picture of my Aunt Kathy's pancakes. She's made them for Big Shooter and I now for 20+ years when we travel through Wyoming. They are the Best on the Planet. I have only tasted one other person's who come close. It was a little dive in a not so good part of Plainsville. One day they were open, the next day they were arrested for selling drugs out the back door. No, I am not kidding. No more pancakes unless we happen to be in Cheyenne. My sweet auntie is in charge of the dispatch office for the Cheyenne sheriff's department. I drove with her from Denver to Cheyenne and heard her in action. We encountered a situation that was getting more dangerous by the second so she immediately called 911 and reported, "Yes Ma'am, I've got a 120 involving a tractor trailer license number yada, yada, yada on Colorado I-80 northbound, mile marker 23 at 75 mph, please advise CHP units in the location." Thank goodness she was in the car or here would have been mine, "...uh yeah, there's a really big truck weaving in front of me that doesn't have any lights..."
I wish I'd thought ahead and taken a pic of those golden circles...but in there place I can share a picture of her son. I posted this pic just to get his goad. We're kissin' cousins. Our names rhyme. He just earned his doctorate. I still call him Butthead. That's his little Southern Belle-soon-to-be-wife. I love her. I want to marry her.
Also, since I didn't get pics of the pancakes I get to sneak in others that kinda, sorta have to do with my sweet auntie. This is her newest grandbaby.

My cute as a button girl cousin was big preg-GO when we went through Denver the first time. The day we left she had this little beauty. So the Crumbs and I got to snuggle with her on our way home.

Girl Child was in Hog Heaven.
I kid you not, I about fell over when Boy Child asked to hold her.
It was 10 seconds longer than he's ever held a baby before.
Ever.


Showing the Crumbs the Canyon was a highlight for both of us to revel and enjoy. We both have incredibly fond memories of the canyon as children and then dating.

Have I ever mentioned I floated in a hot air balloon in this canyon? I believe that is why I am now afraid of falling from great heights.

Y'all already heard about The Rock.

Does Boy Child look like Calvin to you? He does to me...even in his sister's purple striped hat with the flower.

What other things set off the Childhood memories?

Grandma's cookin' and playing games with her.

When Thanksgiving dinner was over she said in my ear, "You ready to play games girl? They are on the front passenger side floor board of my truck..."

She's 86.

She'd come prepared and ready to whip some tail.

The first we played is called Probe. It's been played in our family since the

early 60's. That was a blast from the past!
And the one we had been dying to do?

Eat at this hamburger joint.

They began in Twin Falls.

Now they are all over the surrounding areas.

We stopped at the first one we saw...

mmmm, they put a white sauce on their burgers instead of ketchup.

The Best on the Planet.

What do you look forward to when you visit your hometown?

What floats your boat?

What's your favorite blast from the past?

Do you ever wish you really could hit the rewind button?

Love Note to my Big Shooter: I do wish I could hit the rewind button again and again. There are so many times I'd love to re-live with you. Skiing, Chicago, Sun Valley, cookin' with your momma, havin' FIL save my butt a hundred times, seeing you walk in the Hallmark to chat, all those long drives across the states, walking the big dogs, snuggling in stormy weather, making Crumbs (wish I could remember Girl Child), watching our babies sleep...the list goes on and on. Thank you for always adding to it.

I need an air sick bag now...that got way too gag-a-rama for me...cough.

19 Random Facts in 10 Minutes

While driving the big Gas Hog some where between Wakeeny and Colby, Kansas I had this great idea to write down a bunch of facts to post about. Here's what I came up with in 10 minutes:

1. According to Girl Child, McDonald's has really thought their dips through because Sweet & Sour seals are much easier to remove than Ranch seals.


2. The Dairy Queen in Wakeeny, KS does not make chocolate ice cream on Mondays...and they could care less whether you drove 7 miles off the interstate and promised your Crumbs they could have a "Cherry Dipped-In" or not.


3. In Kansas, farm cats = road kill.


4. Not all Wal*Marts are created equal.


5. Surprisingly, a bbq joint named Frisky Brisket didn't stay in business in Russell, KS.


6. We have red dirt roads in rural OK. There is a 20 mile stretch in the middle of KS that has pure white rural dirt roads. If anyone knows why, the Crumbs and I are dying to know. They look like brilliant white chalk.


7. Wyoming is as bold, wild and rustic a frontier as it's always been...and I hope it is never tamed.


8. It is amazing to me that people driving a car that could fit in the Gas Hog's back storage area feel free to cut me off going 79 mph after I've been driving alone with an 8 and 10 yr. old for 19 hours...&$%^@*!!


9. I'd move to Denver tomorrow if Big Shooter could tolerate sudden change.


10. Kansas landscape does not grow on you.


11. If it seems I am picking on Kansas, I am. (Sorry Sashi.)


12. I do not like being away from Big Shooter. At all.


13. The smell of a fish hatchery reminded me of trips to the coast with my mom and grandparents.


14. They bale corn in round bales in Kansas. Made me wonder what else they bale.


15. Time in a moving vehicle goes rather quickly with family chit chatting. Really.


16. Seeing Idaho tags for the first time was as exciting as seeing Oklahoma tags coming back!


17. Truckers who oblige an 8 yr. old Crumb pumping her arm up and down like crazy with a long, loud honk are angels in my book.


18. God's creativity is splendid.


19. Writing in my little blog book at 79 mph is extremely s-t-u-p-i-d.

And now a few random photos for my random facts...

Enjoying a sunrise in Wyoming.

Hiding from Momma, pretending to be camera shy.

I'd forgotten about the snowdrift fences all along the interstates in Wyoming. I remember being fascinated by them as a child. Could snow really drift that high?

The answer: Oh yes, it can. And does.

The reason I put random photos in for this random post was so I could alleviate some of the pain you all are going to inevitably face reading about our trip in the next few days. I figure the more pix I can squeeze in now, the less for later. I apologize in advance.

Big Shooter and I took the Crumbs up to the area we kinda had our honeymoon. That is another post for another time. It involves me staying in a B&B by myself, pneumonia, an ambulance ride and a tiger-striped painted who-ha. (Yes, you read that correctly. Who-ha.)

Maybe if you click on this pic to enlarge it you'll be able to make out Big Shooter and the Crumbs hiking down the hill. They are directly in the middle of the picture, Girl is wearing pink. They had a blast being where Momma & Daddy had many a date...sigh.

Love Note to my Big Shooter: I love you so. I am glad to be home with you again. Just thinking about you makes my heart skip a beat and my toes curl.