The Great Niece Again

Buddy for the night.  Great niece Bella who loves to fix my hair.

 

Chris's Mom

Chris's mom went through her surgery very well.  Chris is spending the night to care for her.  If all is well she will be coming home.

Bald River Falls with the Great Niece

Chelsea and I drove up to the falls tonight and of course stopped for a burger at The Beach after. Too cold outside to eat by the river but still tasted good sitting in the car with the heater.  

Because They're Sisters?

Chelsea's night.  Why can't I get my great nieces to spend the night with me on the same nights?  Maybe because they're sisters??

Red Dawn

Tonight is my great niece Chelsea's night to spend the night with me since she refuses to come on Bella's nights this week.  They are so funny.

Chelz and I went to Fuentes after we both got off work.  Then to rent a movie.  I forced her to go into an actual video rental store and not just a Red Box.  The reason?   Red Box doesn't have the movie "Red Dawn" which I forced her to watch and she loved.

Chelsea loved the movie so much I told her she needed to watch the original "Red Dawn" from the 80's.  Her response?   "I'd be bored Marna."

Really?  Did she just say that?

Chelsea's id badge 

which she bedazzled. 

Lessons about Popcorn and Propel part 2...

Taught Chelsea and now Bella how to love popcorn and Propel!

Great Niece Night

Great niece night.   I'm having to watch soccer bloopers and silly You Tube videos. She does have a cool Confessions of  Soccerholics t-shirt tonight...

Wasabi's with Staff

One of my employees will be starting her new job as Vonore City Recorder on Monday.  I'm very excited and proud of her for accomplishment.  It has been wonderful working with Courtney and 

we will sorely miss her.

My office staff went to Wasabi's in Knoxville after work today to celebrate Courtney's new job and to spend some fun, last time as coworkers.

Four of the most dedicated, hardworking staff a person could ever dream of.  It's such a pleasure working with and spending time with them.  Jennifer (Tax Relief Coordinator) couldn't be with us and she was missed!  Left to right: Ashley (Chief Deputy Trustee), Courtney,  Lucy and Bridget (Deputy Trustees)

Us

Courtney and Bridget

Courtney and Lucy

Me and Court

Courtney and Ashley

Lucy, me and Ashley

Yum!!

I can never tell or show them enough appreciation for their dedication.  My staff doesn't miss work other than vacation days.  I can depend on them to always be there.  I can also depend on them to go over and beyond their job duties in order to help one another and keep the Trustee's office a reliable service to community.   The proof of their greatness has really been evident in the past four years as I battled breast cancer and still continue my battle with after effects of the cancer.  During a sick and very scary time in my life there was one thing that helped keep at least some stress off from me.  My staff stepped up and worked hard and were knowledgeable enough that the times I was out sick or having surgery I didn't have to worry about the office because I have the most trustworthy workers one can dream of.

Lessons about popcorn and Propel

I'm teaching my great niece Chelsea to eat

popcorn and have a Propel before bedtime. 

Breakfast

Bella, my 12 year old great niece, asked about breakfast for the next morning when she spent the night last night.  I told her that I had bread. She said "do you have butter?"  I said yes.  She said "do you have cinnamon?"  I knew where that was going so told her "ummm...I'm not making you cinnamon toast.  But I will put the bread in the toaster and give you some grape jelly."   I'm awful....

Chelsea

My great niece Chelsea is spending the night with me tonight.  I'm trying to get her to do her college homework.  It's not working so great.  She wants to talk.  Hmmm...was easy to get her sister to finish 7th grade homework last night.  What's the difference?  The difference may be calculus homework vs a short five paragraph paper.  Although I did tell the younger one she had two misspelled words in her last paragraph.   She didn't see that as a problem and stuck it in her notebook.
Silly girl.

Chelsea and I

Nashville with Amber

Treating my niece Amber to Chinese after 

taking me to Nashville for doctor's appointment. 

Red Ink Pen

Should I break out the ole trusty red ink pen for Bella's homework?   Better not.   I think I've crushed her that there's no breakfast at her auntie's house.  I told her I do have bread....

T-shirts

Goofing off pulling out Hull for Trustee t-shirts.  They've been in a plastic tote for about four years so will need a wash before wear!

Lucky Aunt Day

I'm a lucky aunt today.  Look who is spending the night with her ole auntie.  It's another great niece!  We had some Bert's buffalo chicken pizza and now it's homework time. 

Love This Quote

"Always remember to fall asleep with a dream & wake up with a purpose." 

Surprise Visitors

Surprise visitors to the courthouse this morning.  My nephew Tanner, great nephew Jack and great niece Mallie Belle!

Carl Grimes

On "The Walking Dead" the survivors go on "runs" which pre-zombie take over would be called looting. Carl, the 14ish age son of Rick must hoard Proactive the way Daryl hoards an unlimited supply of arrows for his crossbow. Carl has every symptom of being a teenager except acne....

"The Walking Dead".  Ugh....How did I get wrapped up in this crazy show? Thanks Jessie Lovingood!

The Rapkings

Chris grew up with Timmy and Packy Rapking in Hiwassee Hills.  They all loved dirt bikes and bmx bikes as kids.

Every year the Rapkings and friends have went to the Atlanta Motor Cross race.  Every year i can remember.  Probably 15 years or better. This year because of Packy's cancer, they were unable to go.  His brother Timmy arranged a fun get together of friends and family to watch the motorcycle race.

The food was amazing and it was great to spend time with friends.

Me and Ava.  Timmy and Misty 

Rapking's baby girl.

Tree

I wonder how long this tree has been at Rasar Landing?  

 I think I remember it being there in the 80's.  

Boating already??!!

Chris went wake boarding yesterday while I was at work.

We had a great lunch with Packy, April and Michael first.  Poor Packy was feeling really awful.  The chemo is wearing him down.  I hate seeing someone going through the fears of cancer and chemo.   I'd much rather be the patient than watch friends or family suffer with illness or grief.

Michael, Chris and I then went to the lake.  It was actually a beautiful day.  I took my blanket as usual but didn't need the heater hose until the way back to the dock.

Painting with a Twist

I've gotta use my gift certificate to Painting with a Twist.  Chris surprised me with it two years ago!!  Hurts his feelings I haven't gone yet....

Nashville Again

Doctor's appointment in Nashville again today. My sister Lynette and nephew Tanner drove me over.  I love when they take me.  Lynette and I chat while Tanner plays my Candy Crush lives.  I had collected and saved over 300 for this trip. He used about 200!

What remains of my left breast is still stubbornly holding onto the infected dead flesh. The doctor cut a nickel size hole about an inch deep of necrotic tissue.  Now I have to pack the area twice daily.  Yuck.  I'm not made to be a nurse. Especially on myself.  It's really stressful caring for a wound such as this and not having a timetable for healing.

I forgot the packing gauze at his office so not sure what to use in morning.   Maybe something from Chris's medical bag of horse stuff?

Something good of the day.  We ate at J.Christophers which is right beside my doctor's office.  It was great.   Lynette and I split the chicken salad sandwich,  side salad and roasted potatoes.   Yummy!  Tanner had a grilled cheese and said it was very good.  He ended up eating my fried potatoes.

Me and Tanner eating at

J.Christophers. 

Stage God

A friend read my rather looong blog post "Questions I was Asked".  One thing in the post was about my being uncomfortable when asked what stage cancer I had in 2010.

My friend told me she told people her cancer is "Stage God".  He is in control of the situation.  Not some diagnostic stage.

I love "Stage God".   What a wonderful response!

Spring Flowers

Lots of skunks around this time of the year.   

They are busy making spring flowers. 

Survivor Shootout

I was a contestant in the Knoxville Ice Bears breast cancer "Survivors Shootout" at the "Pink in the Rink" game Saturday night.  I was little embarrassed.  Not that I didn't win.  But that I even went to the ice.

Chris said "just go do it.  But don't fall...."  He does know just how graceful I am!!

Thank you Knoxville Ice Bears for continuous support of breast cancer awareness.  Your community involvement is invaluable to so many organizations in East Tennessee.

Was also Nashville Predators
night.  Got a hug and kiss from
Gnash!  But no pic. :(

Ended up being a lot of
people in attendance I knew.
Like Mayor Hawkins and
his beautiful April.

My good friend Patty
was there with her
Girl Scout troop.