Ch Ch Changes....

So it has been a while since I posted. Work has been crazy... by the way, anybody want to hire me? I have a B.A. in Journalism, Public Relations! My best friend Sadie and her husband Mr. Incredible packed up and moved to Aspen. Yes, Aspen! As in Colorado! 1 dog, 2 cats, 2 cars and a moving van. Packed up and gone! It happened so fast that it doesn't seem real. So here is my pictorial goodbye to them. Their last hour or so in Memphis, in their home, before they hit the open road...

Max... the wonder dog!!!

Mr. I and Sadie in the front yard...

Sadie taking apart the lovely lamp...

Merlin & Dobby preparing for their car ride...

Mr. I packing up the last little bits in Harriet...

The final hug .... and kiss on the back steps...

Miss you!

My friends called him Lurch!

To most of my friends, my Dad was a large man. Most of them, and all three of us children, had to look way up when he was talking to us. Not just, tall, but he was a large, thick man. He came from very hearty stock. One side was from the hard-labored people of South Dakota (we think that they were Nordic people-maybe- both grandparents were orphans). On the other, the hard working farm families of Mississippi. I never met his Dad. My grandfather died at the age of 52, before my parents were even married. My mom only has sparse memories of him. Though she says that he was an intimidating man. But, back to Lurch. On June 16, 2007, my Dd would have been 60 years young. He died in 1998, at the age of 51 from cancer. His father also had cancer. He was the oldest of four children. He has two sisters and a brother. They all live here in the Memphis area along with my grandmother, who this year, turned 85 (as a side note- her mother lived past 100!)!

I am the oldest of my parents' three children. My sister is two years younger, my brother, 5 years younger. My parents were married for over 20 years when Daddy died. I never knew any two people who loved one another more. If I can't have that type of relationship with a man, I'd rather not be married. They were cute together, but caring and sweet. Fun, yet parental. They expected a lot from us, but didn't push too hard.

My Dad was firm, but a big teddy bear. It was important that we always tried our best. Because of him, all three of us children were very involved in sports. In fact, it was while I was playing softball that he came up with the lovely and affectionate name of Nerdine! How horrifying! We have all three grown up- yes some more than others (I'm talking about myself Erlay!) and are now adults. But on this, the year of his 60th year, I Promise to try harder, to do better, and to be a better person. For Lurchy!

My Personality.... Hehehe.

You Have A Type A- Personality

You are one of the most balanced people around Motivated and focused, you are good at getting what you want You rule at success, but success doesn't rule you. When it's playtime, you really know how to kick back Whether it's hanging out with friends or doing something you love! You live life to the fullest - encorporating the best of both worlds

Do You Have a Type A Personality?

Seniors Rawk!!!!

I stole this senior-year meme from Sadie! Hers was HILARIOUS!!! Made me hurt! Laughed out loud at the liberry! But, it is funnier because I knew/know most of the people that she luurrrvveedd! So here goes!

1. Who was your best friend?Probably Kram. Really his girlfriend and I were buddies, but somehow that fizzled and Kram and I have stayed friends since 9th grade- that's 1990 for those of you wondering.
2.What sports did you play? When I was a wee one, I played softball and was on swim team. By high school, I was a band nerd. My dad called me... wait for it..... Nerdine!
3. What kind of car did you drive? When I drove- I didn't get a car for my 16th birthday like some people- I drove mom's Ford minivan where me and 8 of my closest friends rode around Gtown. Or, dad's Ford Taurus when he was out of town on business. woohoo!
4. It's Friday night, where were you? Playing in the band at a football game.




5. Were you a party animal? Ummm hello. I was in the BAND! We partied all the time! Ok, not really...
6. Were you considered a flirt? No. I was a big chicken. Still am!
7. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? Band and choir. Band was my world though.
8. Were you a nerd? See question 7.
9. Did you get suspended/expelled? Hell NO. I never even had detention. Unlike my sister and brother who both lived in Saturday school in high school.
10. Can you sing the fight song? No. But, I could probably play it for you on my French horn! I think it was Washington & Lee swing?!?!
11. Who was your favorite teacher? Mr. Byrd, the band director who let us get away with murder. I spent wayyy to much time in the band room. We'd miss (ok, skip) class and listen to band music all day. Ahhh.
12. What was your relationship status? One boyfriend for a couple of months. I was sooo chicken... still am. Did I mention that already?
13. School mascot? Red Devils!! Go Germantown.
14. Did you go to Prom? Yes. With the pilot.
15. If you could go back and do it over, would you? Sometimes, yes. Sometimes, no. I wouldn't have been so chicken about things. I was always worried about impressing people and being the good girl.
16. What do you remember most about graduation? Kram and I rode together. We were late getting to my party afterwards. We decided to drive around and talk. It was kinda nice. I started to get a little weepy when, on the radio, came "Bohemian Rhapsody" came on the radio. We started head-banging. This was the year "Wayne's World" came out. It was the perfect way to wrap up the evening. Then on to the party at my house. The pilot broke into the house to let everyone in for the party. Apparently my parents were late too.
17. Where were you on senior skip day? If there was one, I wasn't invited.
18. Did you have a job your senior year? Yes. I worked at Holliday's Fashions in Gtown.
19. Where did you go most often for lunch? Cafeteria. I had last lunch and we had a salad bar. I ate a lot of salad!
20. Have you gained weight since then? Umm hello. You're not supposed to ask a lady her age nor her weight! How rude!
21. What did you do after graduation? I went to the University of Memphis. My family moved to Oklahoma!
22. When did you graduate? May 1994.
23. Who was your Senior prom date? The pilot. He's a daddy now (see earlier post).
24. Are you going to your 10 year reunion? I did not. We had a happy non-reunion at F & H. Me, Kram, the pilot, and the gtb. From what I understand, less than 40 people attended the reunion- including spouses.
25. Who was your home room teacher? I have no clue. We rarely had home room.
26. Who will repost this after you? Not sure.

Sadness...Happiness

My best friend is moving away. Don't go... ok, you can go. If Momma and the most favoritest godmother can stay friends - since 6th grade- and live in several different states, we can too. At least we have the summer. All I have to say is - never forget Random Naked Man. Right Kram?!

Owie!

So last week I had a crick in my neck. I don't know what happened. I've been sleeping lately - and anyone who knows me, knows that isn't always the case. But, nonetheless, I woke up with a horrible crick in my neck. It was kinda funny, at work I turned my head to the right just so and I looked kinda silly, but I was ok. For the next couple of days I used the heating pad before I went to bed and everything seemed to be okay. So Tuesday night, all of a sudden, my right shoulder, up my neck and down to my elbow is killing me. I go to the bathroom- and being a righty- it hurt like I've never felt. I got in bed and rolled over- holy hell! I yelled for the momma- yes I AM a big baby and live at home still- and burst into tears. I don't remember the last time I cried that hard. Probably after my Dad died in 1998. I didn't even cry when I had to have the spider bite surgery- 2 year anniversary next month!!. Soooooooo. Wednesday, after sleeping with the heating pad on high and taking way more than the suggest dosage requirements of Tylenol and Aleve, I was at work at the liberry ready to do my Summer Reading Club tie dye program with the teens. I'll post the best picture later- they turned out great! I am a master tie-dyer! By Wednesday night, I'm screaming again and having trouble putting my pajamas on to go to bed. I make an executive decision. I am going to call the doctor's office and beg for an appointment. Amazingly enough my Mom already scheduled for the next day that she had made the previous week. I get to work Thursday morning, call the doc office and get an appointment with the nurse practitioner. Choruses of Hallelujah are ringing in my head! I teach 7 'senior' adults computer basics for two hours, check some email, shuffle some papers around and get the heck out of dodge! I run home, get the momma and we head off to our respective appointments. A note on the momma. She has finally started to feel more like herself since the pneumonia back at Spring break. She was just so very exhausted for so long that I really worried she would relapse. But, she needed to go for routine stuff anyway. Back in 1998, before Daddy died, Momma was in a car wreck where she flipped several times. A man fell asleep, crossed a median and nearly hit her head-on. Since then, she has had back and arm pains off and on. So she also mentioned to the doctor that her arm was acting up again. So they beat her up in the x-ray room to see what was going on with her. In my opinion, they were checking her lungs for the pneumonia, maybe a little TB (hey- she deals with lots of people as a teacher and it seems to be in the news a lot now!!) and also, I think, to look for other stuff that could be pressing up there like the tumor that Daddy had when they thought he had just pulled a muscle. Anywho---- momma is good. She just hyper-extended her shoulder and received a big old shot in the booty. I on the other hand have pulled/strained a muscle and must keep using my arm-there goes my plans of getting a sling from Walgreens and walking around all pitiful- and am taking an anti-inflammatory as well as a muscle relaxer to see if it can get worked out. Good grief. What a mess! So, at our house, we were both doped up for shoulder/arm problems last night. We were a sight. Mom was dozing off while I called Erlay in OKC to let her momma snore while talking mid-sentence. Yes, Erlay did get onto me for being a mean daughter, so no nasty messages yall. Oh, by the way, it is my right arm- momma's left arm. Aren't we a pair!

Congratulations... part deux!

So the secret is now out! Kram and Eli are now engaged! We are all so very happy. Here is a picture taken of the amazing moment! YAY!

Congratulations!!

I'm not sure I am supposed to be sharing this-- so until I'm sure...

Congratulations to you know who for you know what.... Love yall!

Today in History....

In honor of my friend E, who is now studying for the CPA, I give you this day in history.

In 2004, the largest known prime number at the time of its discovery, 224036583 − 1, is found by Josh Findley and the GIMPS collaborative effort.

E loves prime numbers. Yes, quirky, but fun!

Hungry

I'm starving!

It is 53 days until A and the gtb get married. Do we remember the bridesmaid's dress? I am well on my way to fitting into the pool-colored beauty! As of yesterday, I am officially down 27 pounds since starting the 'diet'. I really do miss dinner rolls. I miss pasta. And I really miss McDonald's french fries... yum-o! I mess up every once in a while and actually stop at the McD's to get the french fries, but I get the small. Whereas before I ALWAYS got the LARGE. But, seriously 27 pounds. Yes, I am still overweight, but I am no longer carrying around 27 pounds. That is more than 5 bags of sugar. That's a toddler! Or at least the last couple Harry Potter books- you know the ones that are a bajillion pages long! So, go me! And can a girl get a cheeseburger delivered to her at the liberry?? I'm starving!

The baby.. and her parents

Here is the pilot and his wife! The proud poppa just emailed us pictures and I thought I'd pass one on to the masses!

My friend the pilot and his wife are now the proud parents of a beautiful baby girl! She was born Sunday in Houston, TX. She was kinda stubborn- much like her dad- and finally was delivered by C-Section Sunday night about 7 p.m. Momma is doing well and both sets of grandparents were present for the new arrival. The pilot's dad said that she is beautiful! She looks just like her Momma! Beautiful dark hair with pretty dainty features. Thank goodness for Mom's genes!

New blog

So I have found a new blog! To all my friends who think I go to work, sit at a desk and read all day- yea right! Check out this librarian blog!

Happy Easter!!!

What more is there to say! Happy Easter!

Date? Anyone? Bueller?

Ok, I have had bad thoughts about the married ex-boyfriend. Seriously bad! I really need a date! Really. seriously. badly. He has called several times since we met for drinks and it stirred up some stuff in me. Now, I know he is bad news! BAD NEWS! I know he is married. I DO! But, I'm just lonely. YES- LONELY! We dated off and on for nearly 7 years. I honestly didn't think about dating again until recently. I was with the same person the entire time I was in college and afterwards. Also, both our fathers died while we were together. There was a lot of firsts. A lot of baggage, a lot of good times, and a lot of tears. But, I need to move on! I'm ready to do that- now where's the man to help me move there? I know I have a lot of great friends. I have some fantastic close friends! But, I haven't been on a date in a LONGGGG time. I need male companionship. I'm also over the clubbing until all hours of the night. I want to go to a nice dinner, see a movie and then go home. Or grab a pizza and rent movies and lay on the couch watching them all night. I'm ready for calmness. Relaxation. Us time. I'm ready for double dates to the Orpheum shows. A night in Tunica. A weekend getaway to somewhere! I'm ready! So for now- now I need to get a personal life again.

London's calling!

My friend, the groom-to-be (gtb), went to London on business. Here is a link to his fabulous photos! So jealous!! How can I get paid to go to Europe for business?! Is there a liberry convention out there in jolly 'ol England?

Happy Stinky... ummm Spring

Spring is in the air and so is the smell of little kids after recess. Oh, for the love of all that is good- if you have a child over the age of 10, please teach them about good personal hygiene! Don't be the parent of the stinky kid! (Yes, this is a reference to Big Daddy)

Monday!

So after much contemplation I have decided to stay in liberry land. For the thousand bucks more a year, I decided to stick it out here at the liberry.