Visitors

Had several visitors yesterday.   My sister Lynette brought cheese sticks from Bert's and Cinnamelts from McDonald's.   My niece Jessie stopped by after getting off work at Wil-Sav Drugs.  She was going to bring supper but I had saved Cinnamelts for that.  Then my nephew Jamey and Jennifer,  Chelsea and Bella came by. Great day!

Flowers

I got two bouquets of flowers in the past two days.. 

Diamonds

My friend Leslie came to Nashville to stay with me during my night in the hospital after surgery.  Before surgery Leslie told me that since I was losing the implants Chris needed to buy me something to go above my chest and pointed to her diamond earrings.

Chris laughed and said, "No, Marna wouldn't want those.  She'd want to be dropped off in the middle of Africa to pet tigers."

Once again I told Chris that tigers aren't in Africa.  They are in India.  And I don't want to go there.

Leggie Thingies

These are my compression leggie thingies.   The nurse unhook them from the pump to take me for a walk.  Something felt funny as I scooted to edge of the bed.  Looking down I saw that instead of connecting the tubes up on my calf to keep me from stepping on them she had accidentally connected them one to the other.   It was so funny and I laughed so hard.  Until!  I realized I would have fallen flat on my face if I had stood up.  Hmmmm.....not that being uncoordinated is anything new.  

But this time wouldn't have been my fault.

Game Tickets

What a great surprise!  A wonderful friend gave us three free tickets To the game.  So Tanner, Net and I had a way to go to the game.  Tanner has asked for years to go.  Cool that a game was the night before my surgery. Worked perfect for opportunity for Tanner to go to a Preds game and a distraction for me to not think about my surgery tomorrow. 

At the game!   Let's go Predators!!!

"Deacon" from the show "Nashville"

Entertainment between periods.

I was very tired and not feeling the greatest so we left before the third period started.

More Tomorrow. ..

More surgery tomorrow but hopefully no more...ever.  After my doctor's appointment Lynette, Tanner and I ate at my favorite place downtown Nashville.  Used to be The Big River.

Afterwards we walked to Bridgestone Arena and looked around the Nashville Predators store.

I jokingly wrote on Facebook that we needed three free tickets for tonight's game against the Ducks.  Thirty minutes later I got a text message from our friend Dawn Hargett that we have tickets waiting at Will Call!!!!  Thank you Dawn!!!

The Predators haven't been doing so well.  But I told Tanner they would win for us tonight. 

Chris' s Cousin Passed

Chris's cousin passed away today.  His sudden illness and death have both been a great shock.  His poor father is heartbreaking....I'm not sure how he'll cope.

Hello Molly

Me before Molly's performance of jazz.  There isn't a pic of me and Molly after.  Had to buy the CD to have a pic and autograph.   Ahhh....the life of a big star.   I believe both Chris and I felt the afternoon was a waste.  Wish we hadn't gone.  Now my memory of the 80's Molly is forever marred....

Praying Across Tennessee

"Praying Across Tennessee" 

Monroe County Today

Great Lunch!

After the doctors appointment in Nashville Chris treated me to lunch at our favorite Downtown Nashville.   The name was The Big River but now it's Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery.  Same food though.  Thank goodness!!!

Id already dug in before 

remembering to snap a pic.

I had my regular chicken fried chicken with double order of their delicious mashed potatoes.

Chris had the turkey/Italian sausage meatloaf and mashed potatoes and mac and cheese with a very good crust on top. He had already dug in before the pic too.  We were hungry I guess.

POPCORN SUTTON!!!

How cool!

Downtown Nashville in a parking lot

next to the restaurant we ate at.

I Want.....Please!!

North Face patriotic vest!!!

Tomorrow

I asked a devout friend to pray for calmness for me and for the doctor to know exactly what I need.  He gave me this verse for tonight and tomorrow:

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and very courageous. Do not be afraid nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Supper Waiting

Oven skillet fried potatoes and corn bread waiting on Chris to get back from the hospital.   He is visiting his cousin who is extremely sick and is in ICU at Tennova at Turkey Creek. The past couple months have been so hard on so many I know.  Death.  Illness.  Divorce.   I don't know what to do for so very many of them.

I cannot make cornbread without 

Three Rivers Corn Meal!!!!  Seriously.   Since 2009 it's been horrible. Real cornmeal the

rural Depression Era folks in Corntassel and Soak used is no more.  Growing up we had cornbread every night.  There couldn't be supper without cornbread and milk.  Mixed together of course.  So with the losing of Three Rivers there is a loss of part of our area's rural history and a connection with it.

Knoxville News Sentinel article from 2009 

about the ending of Three Rivers Corn Meal:

Ending of Three Rivers

Ice Dancing

February 6th.  Can't wait.  Winter Olympics.   Hockey, skiing, ice skating, snowboarding.  The curling i can skip.  During the bob-sledding I hold my breath the whole time.  I'm not very good at that so watching it is an ordeal.

If I tried bob-sledding I'd so slip and fall while pushing the sled to get going.  Would be like the nightmarish time I tried snow skiig around 1993ish.  I was perfectly happy STANDING at the bunny slopes while Chris was off going down a mountain.  . Or was I even at the bunny slope?  I may have only been five feet away from the little area Chris and I got that worthless waste of time instruction we got.  I only remember being told that skiers do not like to be ran into.  Okay I thought.  Let me turn my poles in now because I already see where this day is going.   Where is the fireplace, hot chocolate and a book?

So.  I was standing there and one of the men we went with came up.  He was our friend's dad and a good skier.   He booger'ed the fire out of me until I agreed to get on the lift.  He said there was real snow and it was soft with no ice.  Perfect for learning and I couldn't learn in the toddler area.  I don't think he understood I didn't care to learn.

So I finally relented.  What. A . Disaster.  I fell getting OFF the lift.  I barely made it to the actual cliff area. (Okay. Hill.)  It was terrible.   Fred went on skiing.   Guess he thought I'd just follow along and learn on my way down.  Guess he didn't really know me that well.  Goes down as one of the worst days of my life.  Chris enjoyed it. He did well.  Course everything he tries he picks up pretty fast.  Good thing I was already in love with the Winter Olympics or I'd for sure hate them after that day.

Ahhhh.... Okay.  Not planning to leave the TV much during that time. Which is nothing new. Why couldn't I be recuperating during the Olympics? I'm going to have to plan this whole problem-after-surgery crap I keep running into better.  Chemo freaking wrecked my body from the moment it first entered that stupid port. Both my sister and Chris said "NO more surgery! Ever....."  (I tend to agree.)

I have another doctor's appointment in Nashville tomorrow.   I'm thinking he will cut away some more infection.   Ewww.... but it will be okay.   I kinda felt sorry for the ole doctor and his nurse last week.  He had been out of town and hadn't seen the wreck the breast cancer reconstruction revision had become till last Friday.  Yes. Revision.  He was trying to fix the wreck made at another hospital from two years ago.

He was pretty upset as he cut some icky stuff away. (No worries.  Not too bad.  Didn't hurt as much as some would think.  But I'm very nervous about tomorrow.   The infection is more gross looking and I don't want him to touch it. I'm afraid he'll hurt me! )

The doctor left the room for a minute last week and the nurse said they hated for this to happen to someone like me.  She said they of course don't want complications for any patient.  But especially one sweet like me and who has been through cancer.  (How sweet she is herself.  I think Chris might argue about my sweetness.)  I think she meant because I wasn't a typical plastic surgery patient???  I'm a cancer survivor. This isn't a choice.  (BTW.  I'm not a pink fan. Off subject. Again.  I know.  Sorry.  Isn't this supposed to be about the Olympics? Yes....Maybe I'll blog post about pink someday....)

I'll think I'll make Chris take me Downtown for lunch at Big River after the doctor.  Our favorite so I doubt I'll have to twist his arm.  It's not very far either from where we will be.   Or maybe Demos?   Nah....Big River.  Chicken Fried Chicken.  I can taste it now and may start salivating like Pavlo's dogs if I don't stop daydreaming about my love of it.

Anyways.  Back to the Winter Olympics.   I'm watching a free trial of the Universal Sports Network this week.  Lots of coverage of events leading up to February 6th.

Couples ice skating is on now.  I really like watching.  However I much prefer ice dancing-I think that's what it's called.  I like how fluid it is and how the couple touch each other-almost the entire time.   It's beautiful.   I wish it were on.  I think it may not be as popular?   Seems the competitions for ice dancing are not covered like ice skating.

Countdown to  Sochi.   Enjoying very much....

Calendar

Our calendars arrived today for those who would like one when they come pay taxes.  They are the small sticky back calendars that are easy to put on a refrigerator or car dash or just wherever.  I've ordered some for the past couple of years after many folks would stop by and ask offices if they had any.  Not many businesses give them out anymore.

Daddy loved the small calendars.  I can't remember who he got them from.  I think maybe from Mutual Insurance.

When Daddy died in 2008 when he was 82 he had a calendar stuck on the dash of his truck as always.  I kinda flipped through it.  There was one date circled.  Only one.  May 13th.   The day Momma died in 1990.  If I were a betting woman I'd bet he had circled that date on every little calendar from that fateful Mother's Day from so many, many years ago.

Seeing that and then hearing people asking about calendars since 2008 at the courthouse made me decide to start offering them.   Some widower out there in Monroe County may have lost a beloved life companion.  A beloved wife who could never be replaced.  Like Momma was to Daddy who never dated or probably never even considered doing so after her death.  That widower may want a small sticky calendar to stick to his truck dash with an important, life changing event of losing their one true love circled in remembrance.

Lucy sticks one on her 

printer at her counter.

Take to Heart

One of my favorite Bible verses.  The verse has brought comfort at many points in my life.

Jeremiah 29:11 

11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Knoxville Ice Bears Trade

The Knoxville Ice Bears traded two players to Mississippi for two.  This is a dad background story on the one.  Well.  More sad for the other.

Fulton Story.....

Zac Efron

I would never dance with Zac Efron.....

Again........

Well, "It's Behind The Scenes" night on "The Bachelor".....and I'm watching.  

Hey.  It counts as quality time with my husband right?  Quality time where we are already at odds on which dates would be no goes for me but goes for him.  We are already proving we are totally opposites as usual. 

Niece Amber

My niece Amber loves her sushi.   I love family time but will pass on sharing.   Amber can enjoy that all to herself. 

Chris's Cousin

Chris's cousin is in ICU at Tennova and is not doing well.  Hoping everyone will keep the family in their prayers.

Dinner Bell

Chris took me to the Dinner Bell in Sweetwater for supper.  Yum!

I cleaned my plate.

Chris loves their chili.

Had some home made cake for dessert.

We Going?

Can't leave a hooked up hay trailer sitting.  The kids think they are going somewhere.   They've been on there for two hours.  

She's my......

friend...........

Eating at Planet Hollywood in Seattle. 2000.

The two photos of Darlene and I were taken in Seattle, WA in 2000.  I have cork boards in my closet and hang a few photos of family and close friends on them.  Yes, I know, that is kinda teenager'ish.  But I like it.  The photos are of happy times and put a smile on my face at the times I pause to look at a few before starting my day.  

Darlene and I grew up in Corntassel/Hopewell, and are somehow cousins.  Not sure 4th or 5th or ???  But I love to tell people she is my friend AND cousin.

Darlene went to Vonore to school and I to Madisonville.  But we attended Hopewell Springs Missionary Baptist Church together.  We were friends in childhood.  Not the tightest but friends.  

Grown up and out of college for a few years I was blessed.  Blessed to have Darlene become a co-worker.  She sat at a desk directly across from me.  We weren't in the office much.  Mostly late afternoons.  One thing we did was travel.  Once a year our job had national training conferences.  At many of those we were presenters of programs we created.  

Darlene and I traveled to San Diego (what a story we have there), Orlando, Seattle, and I'm not sure where else.  That may be it.  

We know how to hit a town.  Geez.  She would wear me flat out!  During our conferences, in between teaching and attending class, there wasn't much time to visit/see the surrounding sites.  I remember in Orlando.  Wow, I've NEVER been so tired at the end of a day.  Darlene and I went to DisneyWorld, Epcot and MGM in ONE DAY!  One day was all we had and we used it.

In San Diego we went to Sea World, Disneyland (where some girls she had went on a mission trip with worked), California Dreaming,  and San Diego Zoo in one day.  Or maybe it was one and a half.  I don't remember.  Whirlwind trip!  Tired that day too.  But not as tired as Orlando.  

Seattle was great.  Darlene had more friends in Seattle she had gone with on mission trips.  The husband worked for Microsoft.  Her friends visited with us for dinner.  The biggest things in Seattle were eating at Planet Hollywood. visiting the Farmer's Market-wow, a dinner train, walking to the pier to eat at Red Robin twice (better than the now-a-days chain), a ferry ride with Darlene's friend to an island (late in the day so all the shops were closed.  That was a little disappointing.) and the Space Needle.  Not much time in Seattle either and we crammed all the sites in a day and a half.  I would have LOVED to see the outdoors around Seattle.

Darlene and I have came into and out of each other's lives all of our lives at different times - as far as times we get to spend actually time together.  There may be a year or so go by and we don't really get together to do anything.  Just talk in passing or get together for a trip to her favorite place to eat-The OG.  It was easier when we worked together, as far as time.    

The most important thing about Darlene?  I've never had or known of a friend like her.  And probably don't have a friend I neglect more but most depend on when I am in need.  I feel I use her.  But Darlene says that's what real friends are for.  I believe Darlene sees friendship as forever and never changing.  That maybe we don't have to see or speak to each other every day or every week or every month or so on in order to pick up where we left off and to continue to love one another.

I remember at one of tough situations i was dealing with calling Darlene about twelve at night or so.  I hadn't talked to Darlene in a long time.  I can't even remember how long it had been.  Maybe a year?  I called her and she came to me.  No hesitation.  "Where are you? I'll be there in about 30 minutes."  And she was.  And without her that night and the next few would have been so hard.

Coming to my aid isn't what makes her so special.  I'm really so blessed with many friends who will drop things to come talk when I call. Darlene is different.  Darlene is a devout Christian.  We have many or similar views on life, love, family, achieving happiness, the purpose of life, religion, God, Grace, Salvation, and on and on.  She is much more than a friend who'll come over and listen and give their two cents in.  Always two cents that are one sided-siding with you.  (Sometimes you need that too.) Darlene is truthful.  Faith truthful.  She is a rock of faith.  Darlene is the type of friend who is there for you at any, any hour, any, any day, any, any situation.  And not only is she there for you she is able to help you see how things are.  How things are supposed to be in God's plan.  Darlene's council is priceless.  What she pours out is council.  Wise council.  Not opinions, not theories, not words to calm, not words to provoke, not words to stroke an ego.  

I love her.  I wish we saw each other more than those times I call her when I'm in need.  Darlene is one of the very, very few people I'll not say "I'm fine" too.  Maybe the only one I'll say that too and then follow with the whole truth of the situation.  I trust her.  She is a great confident. And once again wise council.  Never one to tell you what you should do.  Never one to judge anything about the situation.  At all.  Just one to help talk through what is going on and discuss how God fits into the equation.  Not one to build you up personally about how you are going to fix your own issues.  Darlene builds up the fact that I need God to get through any situation I may find myself in.

 Ferry ride in Seattle. 2000.

Everyone needs a "Darlene" in their lives.  The world would be a better place........I hope you have at least one like her.  Truthfully God has blessed me with so many great friends and family.  I'm very lucky

I love you Darlene.
Thank you for being my friend.

I'm fine....

"I'm fine." My response when someone asks how I am during tough periods in my life.  Emotionally or physically.

I'm fine.  And usually I am.  I've had periods of darkness, as all of us do, of feeling almost to the point of hopelessness.  But those times are few and far between.  I can remember crying, maybe, oh, five times during the breast cancer treatments.  This trial I'm in now with my health.  I think I've cried twice.  I don't believe my "I'm fine" is a "I'm in denial".  I've used "I'm fine" my whole life.  I am.  I can do this.  This thing called life.  I don't like to be a burden and the words "I'm fine" assure that I won't be to those I love.

The only person that ignores the "I'm fine" is God.  I don't think he likes "I'm fine".  I can look back over my 42 years.  During the emotionally hard times I've really grown closer to God.  But it seems now that I'm older and during the physically hard times have appeared I grow further away.  I throw the "I'm fine" at God.  And like I said, I don't think He likes that.

I'm always looking for lessons in life.  Lessons from God.  I believe as a Christian that is part of the point.  I'm not sure how to say all this and it's getting kinda jumbled.....I'm no theologian.  God is the Father.  Father's teach their children.  What are my lessons He is teaching?  During the good times and the bad.  Perhaps the physical problems I continually seem to come up against the past four years are God saying to me, "Those words you throw at me, the 'I'm Fine', you're not fine.  You'll never be fine without Me.  Reach for Me".  I don't know.   Like I said, I'm far from a theologian.

I don't mean to sound as if I'm asking "why God".  Why has never really been in my vocabulary toward Him.  I believe asking why and looking for lessons are two entirely different things.  At least in my thinking.  To me asking why puts some blame toward God about the situation.  Whereas looking for lessons in hardship, and even good things, is more of a searching for God and His will.

Yeah, I'm thankful during the good times.  Very.  I'm thankful and call out during the emotional lows.  And I'm close to God in both.  But the physical lows?  Why am I always, "I'm fine" toward God?  Why toward me, not Him.

How to end a very stress filled day....

Supper with my niece and her two little ones.  

Great nephew Jack and great niece Mallie Belle.  

Jack wasn't tired when we went to the lobby and he rode the horsie.

Hello Dolly!!

Dolly. Parton. May. Thompson Bowling Arena.
Must go.

My sister took me to the concert couple years back.  Dolly was amazing.   No opening act.  She performed for probably three hours.  Hope I can be that in shape at her age.  Shoot.  I wish I were now!

Tanner and Candy Crush

Please send me lives for Candy Crush so Tanner won't be so bored riding along to Nashville.

He is playing on my phone.

Big Day

Well. I have a big day tomorrow.  Appointment in Nashville to see my doctor about my infections.   I'm ready to get done whatever has to be done.  This situation is tiring and trying at the same time.

Limiting

I've been limiting my intake cheeseburgers, fries and cokes.  But I'm having serious cravings for a Lamppost burger, or a burger from Bradley's BBQ or a one from Davis' in Sweetwater.

Mustard Dog

Wanna lil mustard with that there hot dawg?  This is what you call a mustard dog.  The alternative to a chili dog when there is no chili. Course with me there'd still be a ton of mustard. Even on a chili dog.

Winter Olympics 2014 and Sports Moms

Absolutely love Winter Olympics and cannot wait until February 6.  Watched this video today which is a tribute to sports moms.  Love it and wanted to share.  I am having trouble loading the You Tube video but here's the link:

Pick Them Up Mom -Winter Olympics

Falls and Mom-in-Laws

As we were walking across the salt, sand and ice combined pavement on the bridge at Bald River Falls it hit me.....what if Chris's mom fell and broke her hip ?!  Then realty sank in.  The person most likely to slip and fall would be me.

Way too cold to sit outside and eat by the river! But that didn't stop us from a cheeseburger, fries and a hot dog!  Who can drive by The Beach on the way to the mountains without one of those???  I was terribly craving something sweet from Tellico Grains but they were closed.  Oh well.  That just means we'll have to repeat the day when they are.

The Frozen Falls

After work this afternoon I picked my mom-in-law up and we went to see Bald River Falls.   You know it's cold when rushing water and a river are froze!

The falls were still mostly frozen but breaking free.  Wish we could have gone up yesterday.  Chris and I talked about going with friends but I just didn't feel up to it.

The falls were crowded!  I miss the days, twenty years ago, when Chris and I would drive to the mountains.   We went every Sunday and when mom was alive come home and eat supper.

Chris and I mostly went to Citico. But sometimes we'd drive the loop down and around to Tellico.   Those days were wonderful!  No traffic.  No people.  Not even fishermen because all the trout had been caught at 4 am Saturday morning.   (Along with daddy and his friends help.)  We'd see a few camping holdouts in the summer months.  Kayaks?  Never.  Horses.  Rarely.  No horse camp back then in Citico.  Mountain bikes? What were those?  The only place bikes were ridden around here were on gravel back roads. Or where Chris was concerned, in town or on BMX trails.

I miss those days.  I miss late Sunday afternoons with no one around except me, Chris and my ole trusty four wheel drive Toyota with no air conditioner.   Man.  I miss that truck too....