The Truth Shall Set You Free

I am so crushin' on Meghan Trainor right now!

 

Okay, I know that sounds really stupid coming from me, the classic rock/heavy metal/ hair band lover that I am. Who knew this girl had such insight?  When her album drops January 2015, I will be first in line to get it.

 

Another ditty, sure to be a classic,

 

 

 

 

 

"Lips Are Movin'" ~ Meghan Trainor

(single) 2014 - Epic

 

 

Too bad this song is a year late.

~EnJOY!



Greetings From The Loveliest Village on the Plains

Today was the last home game down in The Loveliest Village on the Plains. It was also Senior Day.

I drove down with a coworker, whom we all call Gator, and her daughter, Nici, meeting up with other coworkers and tailgated in style near the quad.

 

The Quad ready for tailgating.

 

 

I set up my spot and settled in to enjoy a day of college football atmosphere.

 

 



Speaking of atmosphere, despite being sunny, it was far from warm and really windy

I was glad to have my new raincoat with the warm, tiger fleece lining.

 

Later in the day, we took a stroll around town, taking in the sites. Neither Gator, nor Nici had ever been there before and I was all too happy to extol the rich Auburn traditions, and history.

This is one of three statues in front of the stadium. The first of three Auburn Heisman Trophy winners, Pat Sullivan. Today, Auburn faces the Sanford Bulldogs, coached now by Sullivan.

From the paw print at Toomer's Corner and the new wires, hung for the victory rolling until there are oaks once again, grown from saplings of the storied Toomer's Oaks. You may remember the original oaks died after being poisoned by a rabid bammer back in 2010.

To Sanford Hall, the oldest building on campus. I always enjoy mingling with other like-minded Auburn fans  but especially love people-watching.

 

Sometimes, you can actually spot a celebrity there, taking time out of their busy schedule to take in the ambience.

 

(I will keep your secret, Santa)

 

I also ran into my brother, Dooder, and his buddy PJ.

 

We took a minute to grab a (rare) quick pic together.

While we were waiting in line, the boys, friends since they were small, decided to clown around with my phone

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

But when the time came to actually take our picture, I was happy that my brother actually behaved and we have a really nice photo memory.

 

 

 

Soon it was time to make our way to the stadium.

 

 

Now despite The Boss being a huge bammer fan, she is married to an Auburn man.  He is also a coach. Because Gator had a bum ankle, and all the walking around in the increasingly cold temperatures was starting to tax it, he offered to give us his coaches tickets so that we didn't have to climb to our own seats at the top of the stadium.  He was going to sit with a friend in the end zone. This was a win/win for us all.

These were possibly the best seats I had ever had in Jordan Hare. We were eight rows behind the hedges.

The view was amazing and we settled in to watch the game. The opening ceremony was Senior recognition, and Senior band members lined the sideline. You can see them behind me. This was followed by Senior cheerleaders and finally the football team.  Aubie seemed to have a time keeping still.

I can't say that I blame him. The next part of the pregame is probably the most anticipated and most exciting in of college football today.

The flight of War Eagle.

 

They released Nova, one of two eagles currently trained to fly within the stadium, just over my right shoulder.  I had chills as he swooped down over the field, in a large graceful arc. I almost forgot to take a picture, and only got this one. 

  Watching this eagle soaring gracefully overhead was truly a breathtaking sight. 

 

 

The eagles are trained to make a loop over the crowd and then hit a target with a treat at center field. It is often said that the eagles do still possess free will, and every release is somewhat questionable. Nova decided to give the crowd one last thrill and circled overhead once more.  This time he was much lower, almost close enough to touch. Also close enough to poop on the fans two rows back.

He hit his mark and collected his reward.

 

Afterward the band took the field for The National Anthem.

 

 

As a former majorette myself, I always love to watch the majorettes, and was delighted when they were on my end of the field.

 

 

As the game started,  it also started to sprinkle. Not bad at first. The eagle handlers passed in front of us with Nova, the golden eagle and Spirit, the bald eagle.

 

 

Nova

 

 

Spirit

 

Sometime into the 2nd quarter, the rain picked up considerably and we decided that we had seen enough.

 

We packed up and headed for home.

 

Next week we face our instate rivals. one of the most fierce rivals in college football.

 

The Iron Bowl.

 

Until then, All In, All Family, All Auburn  All the time.

It's An Esteem Thing

Right now I an loving this song.

 

 

All About That Bass (single)  - Meghan Trainor - Epic 2014

 

(ya gotta love the guy in the pink shirt!)

This little ditty is the brain-child of 20 year old rising star (or future one hit wonder...who knows) Meghan Trainor. It's catchy beat, doo-wop undertone and Meghan's baby doll voice has made this song a hit. Throw in the "love your body" message and this one keeps everyone humming.

How much healthier would my self-esteem be today if ths song was around when I was growing up?

Even when I was thin, there was someone pointing out things I shouldn't love about myself. When I became a big girl, I just wanted to hide and become one of those people that you read about when they are cutting the wall out of their house to remove their dead bodies with a forklift.  Now Miss Meghan is far from what I would call "fat." As a matter of fact, the only person in the whole video who would possibly benefit from that description might just be the fella in the pink shirt, and he is getting his groove on like nobody's business.

It took me nearly my whole life to decide to be happy with myself and it took just that action.
Deciding to be happy.

Now don't think that I am going to let myself go or anything. I am having to watch what I eat for my ticker, and to keep my diabetes in check because Lord help me, I will NOT be put on dialasys when I am old.  I am just more forgiving of myself.  The added dilligence has rewarded me with a much smaller pants size and a surprisingly younger-looking, healthier appearance.  Many have commented about how much better I look now than I did ten years ago. And trust me, I am getting no complaints.

Of course, there is a "bass" worthy girl trapped inside, screaming for cake, cookies and bread. She and I dance on a daily basis. She wants to fudge and eat bbq and white cheddar cheese dip every day. I take her Whole Foods and shut her up with steamed kale and grilled portabello mushrooms.

The struggle is real.

I know that I am good for at least 17 years....

...and then they move on to the next meal ticket.

I had occasion to run into a former relative of mine (read: a relative of D/H) a few days ago, who told me that the whole family thought I would make D/H "respectable and responsible", but he again, had disappointed everyone. All had agreed he had married up. This person went onto say that  I "was (D/H's) only redeeming quality", and now he is "with trash of his own kind"  and how that spoke to his classlessness, not mine.

It's sad when ones own flesh and blood view you as a low life.

 A friend tagged me in this article today. They prefaced it with "Sounds like someone you used to know"  Even my friends recognized it.

Blessed Life

So THIS keeps happening.

Now before you think there is some magic money fairy somewhere who keeps paying my bills, you are wrong. I am responsible for myself. No need to mooch off anyone, or try to sweet talk my way into someone's wallet.  But somehow, I keep paying ahead!

I pay all my bills on line. Ther box where the "amount due" amount appears is different from website to website. For some reason, I keep paying an amount from the wrong area, thus overpaying my bill and creating this interesting credit situation with the gas company. How fortuitous!

There is no telling what the utility companies are thinking about right now given that when I had a family of five living in my house the bills were NEVER paid on time,  Kinda like The Hecks in "The Middle."

I stumbled upon "The Middle" late one night during one of my bouts of insomnia. I laughed til I cried because I could relate to so much of what the character, tv mom Frankie Heck (aka Patricia Heaton of "Everybody Loves Raymond" {excpet me}fame) was going through.  I had to laugh when "Mike's" lost wallet is finally "found" and the first thing he pulls out is the "credit card that we pay for all the other credit cards."

I know that God has been doing some miraculous things in my life lately. Like I am being rewarded for remaining faithful to His Word. For being a "Proverbs 31" wife and mother, despite what ultimately happened.

I am so humbled and truly grateful.

Yep, it's a blessed life.

Goodbye Mrs Wolowitz

The world has lost another famous TV mother.

Carol Ann Susi, that actress famous for being the unseen, but never unheard, tv mother of The Big Bang Theory's character "Howard Wolowitz" has died.  She was 62 and had played the ever elusive Mrs Wolowitz for eight seasons.

You can read more about it HERE.

Rest in peace "Mrs W."

Happy Veteran's Day

 Happy  Veteran's Day to all our military personnel, Active, Reserve, and Retired.

Our country is that great place it is because of your willingness to serve.

I salute two of my favorite military men. 

A former Air Force man, my little brother Dooder.

And his son, a future Army man, The Masonator, who completed his boot camp this summer and will go into his chosen field after his high school graduation.

 

And to the countless other miltary men and women, I salute you!

Go Vote!!

Those who don't vote on November 4th have no right to compain on November 5th.

As big a fan of Lady GaGa as I am (yes, I am a "Little  Monster") I had to laugh when I found this spoof of "Bad Romance" on suffrage.  My generation takes this for granted, but give a listen and learn something. Every woman of voting age should do it.

But Aaron G pretty much sums it up here.

Get out, Go Vote, Be Heard

Here We Go Again

Well, here we go again, my favorite time of the year...NOT.

Yes, this is the time that we "fall back" to normal time.

But there seems to be a little hope on the horizon.  Alabama Senator Rusty Glover wants to introduce a bill that will finally do away with the antiquated practice of changing time in Alabama.

HOORAY!!!!

I do not know anything else about Rusty Glover but if he pulls this off, I will vote for him for the rest of his political career.

In the meantime, I will be adjusting my blasted clock.

~EnJoy