Kittle-Cat

I'm kinda upset tonite. Our kitty, Skittles, is under the weather... Well, I shouldn't say our kitty, he's really Ean's cat. Ean has always been a cat-lover! When he was 3, he wore me down and I caved (after seeing a mouse in our basement) and agreed to let him have a kitty. In a conversation with my cousin Tonya, I mentioned this. Tonya is the one to talk to about getting pets! She's helped me find not only Skittles but:

Kota--Mr. Peyton and my 1st dog together. He was a cinnamon colored pure-bred Chow Chow. He was the cutest puppy we've ever owned! He was definitely a 1 man dog and despite our best efforts to socialize him, he stayed true to the typical Chow personality. He was a sweetheart though and a big chicken! lol--scared to death of thunderstorms! He died less than a week after we had Evan, at 13 years old.

Tucker--MY BABY! My 1st baby! Ahhhh, Tucky D! He was my 1st Peke, and the apple of my eye! Tonya even helped me with his AKC registration, naming him Peyton's Tucker Boy. I will be forever thankful to Tonya for leading me his way, as he greatly enriched and blessed our lives for 13 years. (13 seems to be our UNLUCKY number)

I have to also give Tonya the props for Atticus too... Mr. Peyton and I wanted a Lab for years. Tonya had 2 prior to her Chocolate, Mocha, whom I absolutely fell in love with, thru pictures Tonya shared with me of her as a puppy. This and Dietz (one of my client's black Labs who was the sweetest goofball I'd ever met) pushed me over the edge and we made the plunge for Atti Christmas Eve about 5 years ago. Atticus is truly an amazing, wonderful dog. And the most beautiful chocolate Lab in the whole world! His personality (and eyes) will turn even the biggest animal-hater into a pile of mush! Thankfully, he's still with us, I don't even wanna think about the 13 year mark...

But back to Skittles... Tonya called me a couple of days after our conversation saying to me that she knew a guy that had some Himalayan-mixed kittens, that (quote) "I use for target practice, if the dogs don't get 'em". Yeah, nice huh... I often picture a toothless hillbilly in ratty bib overalls sitting on his porch, spitting Red-Man thru pickets shooting his sawed-off shotgun at defenseless kittens. Now that's a real man... ugh!!!!!!! So, needless to say, Tonya goes and gets all the kittens! I told her to save the cutest for us! One friday nite, after Mr. P gets off from work, with an over the top excited Ean in tow, we head across Afton mountain to Staunton to pick up this kitten.

I'll admit, when I get there, I was kinda disappointed. Tonya had told me that this kitten looked like Gizmo from The Gremlins. She said that he had a lot of Persian and/or Himalayan in him. I didn't see any of it... I know, I know, that's not important, but I was not a cat person at all at this time. I was getting this cat strictly for Ean (uh, and the mouse problem too, I won't lie). The least that could come from my graciousness, could be a pretty kitten. This kitten was skinny and not really cute at all. He did have blue eyes, that were crazed looking, but kinda pretty, but I figured he'd outgrow them. And as if his looks weren't bad enough, he was a SPAZ! Gosh, I don't even know if spaz covers it. Tonya had to run around the porch a few times to finally catch him, then he hissed and spit at her, while she informed us that he'd bitten her quite a few times in the couple of days since she'd rescued him. Nice...I thought. But, Ean was gone--hook, line and sinker! He couldn't have cared less that this mangy little thing was hissing and it's fur was sticking porcupine like all over it's body! All he knew was that this was a kitty, his own pet, that he'd been pining for, for a long time! (Especially to a 3 year old) So, into our mini-van we climb, yowling kitten and all and over the mountain we trek back to Orange.

Immediately, as soon as the drive home that nite, I could tell Skittles wasn't fond of me. Heck, who am I kidding, Skittles pretty much hated me. Still to this day, I'm his absolute least fave here. Anyway, the next day Skittles (who coined his name from Ean's fave candy at the time), hid and scampered all day. He ended up hiding underneath our hutch in the dining room and it took us a couple of hours to find him, then get him out. I must say, I was regretting my push-overness. But, Ean in all his youthful glory, was one proud cat owner! About a week after getting Skittles, we went to the beach for a week. He was alone, in his new home. Something miraculous happened this week--he decided we weren't that bad. Well, I guess Ean, Mr. Peyton and Tucker weren't that bad, he still hated me. We came home to a cat transformed. I was truly expecting to come home to a cat--4 feet up, but he greeted us with meows and rubs. Almost scaring me, I was expecting this demon cat to be fooling us into some sort of surprise death trap, but from our first day back from vacation after having him about 2 weeks, he was King of the House! He tolerated Ean and all his over-loving and began a tremendous keen-ness for Mr. Peyton! He still, to this day loves Daddy! And then came Evan, I remember the day we brought Evan home, Tucker and Skittles peering over into his Moses basket and us chuckling and snapping pics. Skittles, in his typical aloof way, didn't pay much attention to Evan at all, until about the past 2 years. Skittles prefers to sleep with Evy. If Evy's spending the nite at Gramma's, Skittles will meow in the hall, waiting for his bed-buddy. If it's time to go to sleep, and Evy's not already in the bed, Skittles will meow, "It's time, brother", and he's content, once they are both snug in Evy's bed. It's uncanny how he likes Evy, and typical that he still dislikes me! I tell him that I know he doesn't like me, but I like him anyway. I like him because he's turned into this beautiful lion of a cat! He's got long grey hair and he's kept those magnificent blue eyes! I like him because he's a "mean kitty" as I always call him. He's got a personality unlike any pet I've had. He's mean and bossy, making sure all the dogs (even Atti, who out weighs him by at least 110 pounds) know he's the King of this domain. He's funny, loving banana peels and soft dog treats. He's sweet, in still tolerating Ean's "over loving" and his loyal-ness to his master (Ean). I love him because he's made Ean very happy. I love him because he loves us. Yeah, I think he loves me, he may not like me, but he loves me...I think...

Kittle Cat has been sniffing and sneezing for a couple of weeks. He's been shaking his head, as if he's got mites. I got some OTC drops for his (and Atti's) ears and we put those in a couple of nites ago--to HIS dismay, I may LOUDLY add. Well, he's been pretty lethargic for the past 2 days. I didn't think a whole lot of it, until this evening when I noticed I hadn't really seen him all day. Ean found him sleeping outside by the front porch and brought him onto the carport where I was reading. I could almost tell, just by his fur, that he wasn't up to par. Skittles is very particular about his appearance, and has always, always kept himself in pristine condition--well, he was looking a little scruffy. Then when Ean turned him around to face me as I cooed at him, I saw his eye. It looks almost like he's blind out of it. It's swollen underneath. I don't know if he's gotten into a fight with the neighborhood alley cats or if God forbid, he's gotten hit by something. Anyway, I'm worried, as is Ean. I will call the vet, first thing in the morning and hopefully get him in, ASAP!

Please pray that "ole mean kitty" will be ok!

God is Love--Peace Out

Picture of the week

Ok, this should be fun! I've decided to dedicate to my blog, one day a week, as PICTURE OF THE WEEK day... I'm going to pick a picture out of the masses and post it and write a little something about it. Sooooo, here goes

This is Evy in the ER at the Martha Jefferson Hospital. He had swallowed a penny. The saga goes as follows:

Ean started his 1st day of 6th grade at Louisa County Middle School. I was very jittery about this new stage in his life. Not because he was starting middle school, but because of the bus ride he will endure the rest of his school days. He was boarding the school bus at 6:40am that morning and not getting off that un-airconditioned bus until 4:20pm. That's a long day for my little guy. And if that wasn't bad enough, it's the same route I took from 6th grade on, and it wasn't that long ago that I don't remember all the trouble we stirred up to and fro. Gladly enough, Ean survived his 1st day of middle school and actually enjoyed the bus, the driver and the ride! Thank you God!

Allen was into his 4th or so week of training for Embarq, in Wake Forest, North Carolina. He would be gone for 12 weeks... Even though he was able to come home on weekends, that didn't lighten the load or help with the daily goings on here... I had chatted with him about 4:30pm, when he got back to the hotel from class.

It was about 8:00pm and I was on the patio, chatting on the phone. Out runs Evan, eyes bugging out of his head, look of horror on his face, crying hysterically.

"What's wrong"? I practically scream.

"I got a penny stuck in my throat", he is barely understandable. He's sweating, drooling and just plain out freaking! I couldn't believe what I was hearing or seeing! I pick him up and take him into the kitchen and try water, maybe it'll go down. Nope. I try a small crust of bread, I remember getting choked on an ice cube when I was 8 and did the bread thing and it worked. Not this time. I quick call Mom, she runs over. Evan is totally panicking now. I call 911, they tell me to take him myself to the ER because by the time the squad gets here, I could have him up there already. So, out we go...

I tried and tried to get in touch with Allen in NC. I know, there was NOTHING he could do, but I needed to hear his voice. I needed to hear him tell me our baby boy was going to be ok. I couldn't get him. I ended up calling one of his co-worker's spouse to tell her to tell Allen to call me. I knew they were all out together eating. Needless to say, by this point I was ballistic! When he called, and said they were at a Chinese restaurant in Raleigh I lost it! I know he couldn't help it, but I just felt so alone and needless to say, SCARED to death! As I was pretty much cussing him out, into the ER entrance we skidded.

I got out and went to the carseat to get Evy. His shirt was soaked from drool, he had said NOTHING all the way to the hospital. He was terrified, as were Mom and I! Mom parked the truck as I ran in with him whimpering in my arms. In triage, they asked all the regular questions, then took his blood pressure, then ushered us VERY swiftly into a room in the ER.

I had put Evan down so the nurse could check him over and then she went out to get the doctor. As Evan climbed onto the bed...He looked up at me and said the sweetest (and 1st words since he swallowed the penny). "Mommy, that penny went down into my tummy"... Mom and I both, finally breathed! As he was climbing into the bed and was flipping over from his knees onto his backside, I guess he jarred himself enough to jar the penny out of his throat! Sure enough, the doctor x-rayed him and there it was, big as life, in his tummy!

Whew...what an evening! The doctor said it would pass... I couldn't help but think of the old saying--THIS TOO SHALL PASS. I thanked God for all His marvelous and plentiful blessings on my family and most importantly for saving my precious baby boy! Then I called Allen and told him the good news...and apologized...

God is Love--Peace Out

Father's Day

">OMG! I can't believe I didn't even mention Father's Day or Fu-Fu or anything about it in my last post! It took me a couple of days to write it and by now it's very early Thursday morning, so Sunday seems like a month ago! Anyway, Allen's Father's Day gift for at least the next 3 years is the GODDESS! But Ean and Evy fixed him breakfast on Sunday morning and we all got him cards. We had celebrated w/ my Dad the weekend before, but I did call him and told him that I love him and I hoped he had a wonderful day! Allen enjoyed playing on the Goddess and then like I said in my prior blog, we went to Mark and T's for WAFFLE NITE. We all enjoy that, Mark fixes yummy waffles and we all bring a bunch of toppings and just eat like pigs! Loads of fun (and calories)!

Happy June

What is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer, the fulfillment of the promise of the earlier months, and with as yet, no sign to remind one that its fresh, young beauty will ever fade.
--Gertrude Jekyll

Hootie Happenings

Ok, I haven't blogged in a bit, so I'll fill ya in on what's been going on here at Southern Comfort.



Saturday Evy started to complain about his tummy hurting. I didn't think a whole lot of it. Ean is my complainer, my melodramatic one. His headaches are always migraines, his tummy aches are always the flu, he stubbs his toe--it's broken. See where I'm going with this? Evy is the tough one (like his Dad). He seldom complains about stuff, but he does have somewhat of a tender tummy, which his horrible eating habits don't cater to! So, when he said his tummy was hurting, I just figured the 5th chocolate pop tart of the day was the culprit. Well, he got into his bed and took a nap and woke smoking hot with a fever. I gave him Tylenol and about and hour later he was feeling better, but that only lasted till the meds wore off. So went the remainder of the weekend.



We did go to Mark and T's at Stumblinn Farm for dinner on both Saturday and Sunday nites. Saturday night was a lot of fun, we cooked out and sat at the pond and caught up. It had been a long time since we'd spent any time with them. Mark is Mr. Peyton's BFF--and a total trip! The boys, Evan especially love going to their place. There's 91 acres of land to romp and run. There's 2 ponds to fish in and look for for frogs. There's farm animals, turkeys and 2 dogs and a very cool cat. Speaking of the animals there, I have never seen animals love a child that's not "theirs" like the ones inhabiting Stumblinn! Tocoa is Mark and T's border collie. He acts like Evy's protector! It's uncanny! He plays with Evan the entire time we are there and if Evy gets out of his sight, you can bet he's not settle until he finds him! Once when Evy was still in diapers, he was heading out toward the horses, well Tocoa grabbed Evy by the seat of his pants and would not let him go any further! So cute! Evy didn't think so! lol And the horses! OMG, they have 3, 2 of which have more personality than any horse and most dogs I've ever known! Rush (Brush, as Evan used to call him) and Paxton absolutely love Evan and Evan loves them! He's never been shy of them (as is Ean) and I guess they know that he loves them. It's hilarious, when we get there, if we don't "speak" to them in their field, they will neigh until we do! Sometimes speaking isn't enough, and Evy will traipse over and give them the rub on the nose that they are waiting for. As much of a haven as Stumblinn Farm is for us, it holds one of the saddest and most horrible memories of my life. That's for another time though.

As I said, Evy was funky feeling the whole weekend, then as it usually is, the dreaded bug musta hit me Sunday night. I got into the bed and was FREEZING! I snuggled up the the hot potato (hubster) to no avail. I had to ask him to snuggle, as by this time was I actually shivering. I didn't feel bad though. However, when I got up Monday morning to go help out one of my fave clients I felt bad... ugh! The remainder of the day was pretty much spent in bed. I couldn't take it any longer, so in the late afternoon I willed myself better and by Monday night I was pretty much up to snuff. So on Tuesday we went to the pool with my friend Lisa and her Evan as planned. Lisa and I met when she was Evy's pre-k teacher and my Evan and her Evan hit it off right away! It was awesome hanging out with them at the Hollymead pool. (sidenote--when Mom and I lived in Hollymead, when I was 9, I swam in that same pool) Evy (my Evy that is) had a blast and as he's famous for, sought out a "cool guy" (teenager) and was trying to do the same double and triple flips off the diving board. This sweet teenager, Brian, was even helping Evy learn to dive. Evy hasn't mastered that yet, and boy does it chap him to no end!

Unfortunately today, Evan was suffering with a terrible ear ache! ugh! I hate that, because I know how painful those stupid things are! I guess it was water in his ear, but he's better after pumping him full of Tylenol and Motrin and sweet oil in his ear. We aren't gonna do the pool for a few days.

For some reason, Ean's been exceptionally helpful today! THERE IS A GOD! lol I'm loving it, and hoping it lasts for a little while, at the very least! He helped me cook dinner, even! He must be really bored...

Now for the best happening lately... Harris Teeter Online shopping!!!!!!!!! OMG! I have a smile on my face that can't be slapped off! I ordered my groceries online late last night, paid for them and Mr. Peyton picked them up on his way home from work today! BLISS, I tell you! I don't know if I can put into words how much I completely and utterly DESPISE going grocery shopping... I'd scrub funky, crap stained toilets all day before I'd go to the grocery store. Enough said... So, lemme tell you, this is like a dream come true for me! Where has this been all my life? LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!! And if all that's not wonderful enough, Mark's niece (Mr. Peyton's BFF is Mark, remember) works at Teet and told him she can get us a DISCOUNT! OMG! What have I done to deserve all this??? Thank you Lord!

God is Love--Peace Out

Jingles!

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I've said before that we are the nickname family! Yeah, well we're the singing family too! Actually, let me quit lying, I'm the singer in my little family, but if you've got Birckhead blood in ya, you're gonna sing! Especially when you're the least bit happy. We sing while we work, we sing in the car, we sing a lot! I think my favorite thing about singing is making up fun songs about "us"! The absolute best ones are when we replace the words of real songs with our own words!

For example: Remember the song Peggy Sue by the Hollies? Well, I changed up a few words and sing it to Atticus...it goes a little something like this...

Atti Boo, Atti Boo, Atti, Atti, Atti, Atti, Atti Boo

My Atti, my Atti Boo (oooo)

Well I love you Atti, I love you Atti Boo!

Remember the Muffin Man from your childhood? Well, before I cut Allen's hair I always serenade him with my rendition of that fave...

Do you know the Mullet Man, the Mullet Man, the Mullet Man

Do you know the Mullet Man that lives on Klockner Road

--for some reason that's not one of Hubster's faves

Of course there's always silly songs that I make up, usually as I go.

His name is Rascal, they call him Rascal, his name is Rascal, they call him Rascal

(this is for Evy, of course)

I've been belting out, E, E goes to school, school, since Ean started Pre-School.

I have boys, as you know, and my oldest has to be told to brush his teeth, constantly. So just to torture him for having to be told, I scream out:

Brush your teeth, round and round, circle small, gums and all! --doing the motions too--that really disgusts them! HOLLA! I love it! The brush your teeth song started with Barry though! Gramma Birckhead used to have to scream at him to brush his teeth too, so I would make fun of him getting in trouble about it and sing it while he scrubbed his fangs! Of course, I'd have to hide before he finished!

Both of my boys were huge Barney fans when they were little, so you can only imagine all the fun I had with those songs! I remember one in particular that Ean and I would sing and it would piss Evan off soooo bad! I have no idea why it made him soooo mad when Ean and I would harmonize to:

There's cats in the jungle and cats in the city

Some are really big and some are itty bitty

but it would and of course that only made Ean and I sing even louder! And laugh our butts off as Evan would swing his fist at us or kick and scream in the car seat as we sang it coming home from the pool to try to keep him awake! ahhh, good times! lol

So now to the new song I came up with just a few minutes ago! I think it's awesome! Hubster rolled his eyes... This one's for Fat Girl (our #2 cat) and I think it fits her well! See if you can recognize this one.

Fat Girl in the city, running wild and looking pretty

Fat Girl in the city, Fat Girl's a pretty kitty

If you guessed Hot Child in the City by Nick Glider (from the late 70's I think) you're today's winner!!!!!

God is love--Peace Out!

Loyalties

So, I get a call from my MawMaw yesterday... what a bummer of a call it was...

When my Mom and I were over there last week, I asked MawMaw if she'd like to do a trade. She has this groovy, funky green velveteen chair in her tv room. Her tv room is blue. I have a nice blue chair in my bedroom. I love the funky green chair. It would be super in my new office. So, I suggested that I give her my blue chair for her green one. She was on board! Yippee--I was stoked!

My aunt was in for a little visit with my MawMaw and the rest of the crew for a few days. This aunt and I have never been remotely close. This aunt has a major chip on her shoulder toward me. Truly, I have never figured it out. The only iota of a clue that I have about that is that she knows that JoAnne (my paternal aunt) and I are extremely close and that must bother her. Mind you, this aunt has never attempted to have any sort of relationship with me. One of the most vivid memories I have of her, is at Christmas one year when I was probably 12 or 13, her looking at my cousins and I in utter disgust saying "I hope my kids don't turn out like yall"... (I'm kinda smiling right now, cuz poetic justice hit hard with her 2 kids) Anyho, this aunt is the family "pot stirrer", among other things.

Back to the 2 minute long phone call with MawMaw.
me--HELLO
MawMaw--ANGIE???? WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
me--NOTHING, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
MawMaw--LAYING IN BED, LISTEN, I HATE TO BE THE ONE TO TELL YOU THIS, BUT I CAN'T GIVE YOU THAT CHAIR.
me--OK
MawMaw--DALTON'S GONNA BE ON THE RADIO TOMORROW.
me--UH HUH
MawMaw--WHAT'S THE BOYS DOING?
me--THEY ARE DOWNSTAIRS.
MawMaw--WELL, LIKE I SAID, I CAN'T GIVE YOU THAT CHAIR.
me--WHAT'S GOING ON? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
MawMaw--SOMEBODY TOLD ME THAT I CAN'T GIVE ANYTHING AWAY, CUZ THAT'S WHAT JOHN SAID, HE SAID AFTER HE DIES NOTHING IS LEAVING THIS HOUSE, IF SOMEBODY WANTS SOMETHING THEY'VE GOTTA BUY IT AT THE SALE. SO, DON'T BE MAD AT ME.
me--WHATEVER
MawMaw--OK, BYE

I sat there looking at the phone in disbelief. I know you're probably wondering about this "sale". See, in my Mom's family, they have a big auction when someone dies. Nothing is ever left to anyone. If someone wants a family heirloom they have to purchase it at this auction. Then the proceeds from the auction is split between the surviving children of the deceased. Not the grandchildren, either! (let's keep that straight) So, for example, my mother has to BUY items that she's grown up with from an auctioneer after MawMaw passes away, but I guess in someones mind that's all good, cuz Mom will get a 1/3 of that money back... I think it's the most shameful and greedy thing ever. Of course, like in a lot of families, there's favored ones. Needless to say, I'm NOT a favored one in this clan! One of my cousins has my grandfather's easy chair, a stereo and a rad kitchen cabinet from MawMaw--just given to her! I can't even do a tradesy... ugh! I'm so chapped! I'm also hurt! I'm certain the aunt, you know the one with the BIG WART on the end of her nose, has something to do with MawMaw's change of heart. Everything was a-ok, till she came in, wart and all!

So what to do... I wanted to call MawMaw back and say, "hey, you aren't GIVING me anything, we're trading, remember", I wanted to call warty aunt and tell her to stick the chair up her skinny butt sideways. Instead, I've done nothing. I did call my 1 cousin (Tonya), the only family member from my Mom's clan that I am close to and tell her about it and bitch to her about the unfairness and ridiculousness of it all (and felt better too). I, of course, called Mom and raised cain about it! I'm not sure what to do or say, if anything, from here on out to MawMaw. ugh...

My sweet, thoughtful and protective hubster told me tonight that he'd buy me a green chair for my office! Man, I love that boy!

Oh, I asked Mom again, Do you see why my loyalties lie with the Birckheads? Do you see why they always have?

God is Love--Peace Out

Ramblin...

Ok, so I just remembered what I forgot to write about yesterday! ugh! I started rambling a little and totally forgot to say what I wanted to about Dad's lack of emotion... Remember when I was saying how we were reminiscing so much about stories of our loved ones. Well, Dad was extremely sentimental. I saw tears well up in his eyes on quite a few times. I was kinda shocked about it. I know that my Dad can get very nostalgic. I also know that my father misses the times of his childhood. My Dad was lucky, he got the Camelot years. My 2 younger uncles (one of which is Barry and he's only 5 years older than me and we're more like brother/sister than uncle/niece) weren't as lucky. My Dad is the oldest of the children. He was a youngster when Birckhead Electric was in it's prime. My Dad was lucky enough to have a new car (a 1965 Ford Mustang, no less) given to him, along with the best years of Gramma and Grandpa's marriage. Unfortunately, trust was put into the wrong person and my Grandpa's business suffered, tremendously. At the same time, my grandparents' marriage fell apart (as did my Mom and Dad's--but for unrelated reasons). John David, my uncle, started having behavior and drug problems, of which my grandfather could not and would not tolerate. (I am the offspring of EXTREMELY CONSERVATIVE southern folk, remember and disrespect (in any and all forms) was NOT acceptable) Needless to say, Grandpa Birckhead and John David's relationship was practically null and void, which sparked problems with the entire family. It was a volatile and sad time. My father, of course, had started his life with my mother and me, so he wasn't as much in the thick of the family drama as the rest of the children. However, he did deal with his own drama with my grandfather, as he was the vice-president (in his very early 20's) of Birckhead Electric. It was extremely devastating to my father to see his father, this larger than life man, slowly break and then eventually turn into basically a hermit. I know that Dad battles a lot of demons about being the one to care for my grandfather in the end. He doesn't think he did as good a job as he should have, as he was going thru yet another divorce. He did the best he could--I've told him so, but I guess you never think you do enough. Especially for someone you love and idolize as much as Dad did Grandpa. I guess that's why he can get very melancholy when speaks of "the past" lately. At one point, he was telling me about my Great Uncle Eddie (Grandpa Birckhead's brother) losing a child only a couple of days after child birth. Another story I didn't know, by the way. The baby was a boy... It took my father a couple of times to say "I remember Uncle Eddie always saying he wished he had a little Jack"... I didn't know what hurt my heart more, the fact that Uncle Eddie lost and longed for his baby son or that my Dad choked up and couldn't hardly tell us that story and how much he misses those days.

God is Love--Peace Out

Tap Dancing and Hand Grenades

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Yesterday the boys and I went to Dad's house to celebrate his upcoming birthday--it's a biggie, 6-0 and Fathers Day. We had a very nice time, we grilled out and had cake and presented him with some presents. All in typical celebration fashion. And we reminised-- that's in typical Birckhead fashion too! We always love to talk about funny memories we all have of each other. You know me, always wanting to hear a story! Seems like my Dads' people have the best stories! Most are hilarious, some are heartwarming, a few are really sad. But I love them all, just the same.



In chatting around the kitchen table yesterday, amidst a fog of cigarette smoke and bottomless cups of coffee, I heard a few stories that I didn't know. Two brought me to tears. JoAnne (my Dad's sister and my FAVORITE aunt) was there as well, and as we usually do, we started reminiscing about Gramma Birckhead. We all miss her terribly. The first year or so after her death, I kinda felt like Dad couldn't really talk about her or maybe I should say I felt like he didn't want to talk about her. I don't think he did this out of callous, he just has a really hard time dealing with emotions. I can't believe during my whole 38 years I've never seen him cry. I've seen him tear up, but never cry. I remember standing on the other side of the vestibule in the Church before he walked me down the isle on my wedding day because I was scared to death that he may start to cry. If he had of, I don't know what I would have done! My father is a private man in so many ways, but he's also extremely prideful, so I guess both of those play a part in his lack of showing those kinds of emotions. However, he's always been the first to say he loves me, even to this day. I am like that with my boys, I don't think you can ever tell your children enough how much you love them. So anyway, JoAnne started talking about a trunk that my Great Gramma Taylor had that held Gramma Birckhead's tap shoes... Tap Shoes? Gramma Birckhead tap danced? Of course she did, piped up Dad and JoAnne, she even tap danced on a radio show when she was a little girl! I tell you, I almost fell outta the chair. I immediately teared up and a lump formed in my throat at the thought of my Gramma, as a little girl with her platinum curls tapping away in front of an old timey microphone for the whole Albemarle/Charlottesville area to hear! I can see her now, with those brilliant blue eyes beaming, as she stole the heart of everyone on set--I'm sure! I can't believe I didn't know that until yesterday! I did know how much she loved Shirley Temple and my Dad said that he felt like she loved her so much, because Shirley reminded Gramma of herself when she was young... ahhhh...



So, as if that wasn't enough, we somehow happened upon solider stories. None of the Birckheads, really, were veterans. My Mom's family holds those ranks. My PawPaw Halterman (Mom's father) and my uncle Johnny (Mom's brother) were both in wars. PawPaw was in WWII, parachuting into the Battle of the Bulge and fighting in Normandy and Johnny got a purple heart for his courage in the Vietnam war. My father (well, EVERYONE that knew him) loved my PawPaw. When the preacher described him as a GENTLE MAN, he pegged PawPaw in every sense of the word! Dad proceeded to tell me that one time PawPaw told him that he threw a hand grenade into a snipers hole and took it out, while the snipers' gun was pointed right at him. "The best throw of my life", PawPaw told Dad... Again, the waterworks began. Another amazing story that I didn't know. Heck, I didn't know that PawPaw was in the Battle of the Bulge until after his death. PawPaw was a quiet soul, and WWII was something he didn't speak of much at all. I can't tell you how proud I am to be his grand-daughter.



It's amazing to me, to hear these AWESOME stories about my people. What's even more amazing to me is to hear them from others. My Gramma and PawPaw could have drilled these things into our memories. Instead, they let us make our own memories. They didn't have to do these things, of course, and I would have still idolized them because of the people they were to me! Unreal...just when you think you know pretty much all there is to know about someone, 38 years later, you find out more! I love it! And boy, do I miss those 2 important people in my life!

God is Love--Peace out

Life is full of Blessings

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I took a little break from blogging, not really cuz I wanted to, but because for one; I was so dang frustrated w/ the "photo editing" deal last time (a huge thank you again to the awesome SANDI) and for two; I've been pretty busy. Busy in the random sorta way, you know, just life stuff... and too tired to feel even a wee bit creative (or whatever).

Ok, so I'll start with yesterday--pretty normal (in the Southern Comfort kinda way--if we even have a normal here) until the afternoon. The Rascal (one of Evy's many nicknames--we are BIG nicknamers in this house) was in a lovey-dovey mood. Ahhhh! I love it! Those moods are coming less and less now that he's the ripe old age of seven, so I totally relish them when they do hit! So he was really huggy and kissy and I was eating it up--sniffing the back of his neck (one of my fave things ever to do and my favorite smell in the whole world). I can still smell a faint hint of baby there and I'm dreading the day when I can't! I was in the office, which is right next to his bedroom when he yelled for me to come quick! I went in to see the biggest, toothless smile coming from THAT FACE--"Look, I can tie my own shoes now"! I had to have him untie and show me again--we are both so proud! Then he was in the tub after dinner and he was talking to himself and I hear him say "It's not good to be rude"...ahhh! Joyous! Then at tuck in time, he planted the best 7 year old kiss on my lips and literally hung onto my neck, laughing the whole time. I swear, it's times like this that I just wanna freeze everything and keep it this way!

Ok, so today was a lonnnng one! Mom was taking MawMaw to the doctor in Fishersville at 9:00am and I offered to drive. My Mom and MawMaw (my maternal grandmother)have a funky relationship. I won't go into that today, but I kinda keep things to a low growl, so I go as much as I can when they are gonna be together. MawMaw lives in Churchville, Va. Boy I love it over there! It's in the Shenendoah Valley and absolutely serene! I feel like when you start heading down the other side of Afton mountain, you begin to go back in time at least 20 years. Churchville is my second home. When Mom left Dad the summer before I started 3rd grade, her and I moved in with MawMaw and PawPaw and I lived there until the end of that school year. I always spent 2 to 3 weeks a summer there thru-out my childhood. All of my Mom's family is from Augusta county, all of them practically live within 5 miles of one another. Churchville is a very small town, but the amount of heart that resides there is bigger than any New York city! So, while there I get to visit with my great aunt and uncle (who has Alzheimers) and MawMaw's neighbors (of course the same neighbors she's had since the late 60's) and it was so nice! My peeps in Churchville never cease to make me feel as much a part of there town as always! Lots of hugs--lots of memories! Ean loves Churchville as well! I'm glad they get to experience that little town (I imagine Churchville whenever I read To Kill a Mockingbird) and all our family and friends there!

(this is Ean and MawMaw about 3 years ago at Wright's in Staunton)

After the doctor appt. and visiting we left and headed to my new favorite joint, Sonic! Lawd--I'm addicted to the Cherry Lime-ade. We also did a little shopping at this awesome store in Stuarts Draft called Country Connections! I could get into soooo much trouble there... I did good today though and even bought Dad one of his birthday/Fathers day gifts!

Needless to say, when we got home--the boys headed to their rooms and I to mine. We were pooped! While napping, my great friend Patti (also known as Chicken, Rosalie or Ro) called. Of course, I was z'ing, so I didn't get to chat with her till just a few minutes ago. Her and her whole family were in a car accident up in Maine today! OMG! Thank God, everyone is ok! She thinks her van is totalled though... ugh! I'm sitting here thinking how fleeting everything is. Also, I'm thinking how special Ro and her family are to me. Ro is truly my soul-mate friend. I don't know if I connect with anyone (other than the hubster of course)as much as I do her. It's almost uncanny how alike we are and how alike our minds work! She's been my friend for a long time and we've been thru a lot. I love her so very much and the most important part is that I know she loves me. I can't say that about all of my friends, but I surely can say that about my Ro Chicken--she's proven that to me over and over again! As for her family--Bill, William, Ray and my love-bucket Brigid, they might as well be of my own flesh and blood. I can not imagine my life without them--thank you again, God, for being with them today and please continue to bless them, all. We need to remember all of our blessings, all the time, not just when we realize how fast something can be taken away from us!

God is Love--Peace Out...

You are looking at the face of one happy Mr. Peyton! Sunday she arrived! The girl of his dreams! I'm referring to her as the Goddess!

Allen's been wanting a tractor for so long! The Goddess has a belly mower, 4wheel drive and wait for it...A BUCKET (for lifting and pushing--ohh, ahh)! Definately, the girl of his dreams... He was so thrilled, he had a little "drink" to celebrate the occasion! Let me tell ya--Mr. Peyton very rarely ever drinks! I guess he had to calm his nerves...

The whole neighborhood came out to rejoice the Goddess.

Grandaddy couldn't stand it any longer--he had to take her for a spin! I did too, Mr. Peyton insisited! I will admit, she drives like a caddy!

So, I have to say that I am so very happy for the hubster! I'll share him with the Goddess for a little while... In case you're wondering...yeah, I DO think his tractors' sexy!

fyi--sorry this blog is boring--especially for such an event, but this is like the 5th time I've try to post this. I'm having MAJOR difficulties trying to download pics in a sequence order... and if they are not, it's cuz I couldn't do it again! ugh!

*another point of interest today--Evy tied his shoes all on his own! Big deals here! Yeah, he's 7...took a while...

A Grrrrrreat Read

In all my ranting I forgot to add something! I have been hearing and reading that this book, The Life of Pi is soooooo good. Well I just finished it up after supper and boy, it's worth a read!!!!!!!!!! I give it 2 fat thumbs up!

Temper Tantrums and such...

I should be blogging about Mr. Peyton's new John Deere tractor! He's so excited about it and I have pics too! Heck, we're all excited about it!

Unforunately, I can't do that today.

I hate to admit this, but I'm gonna--I've never, ever said I was perfect, not even close! But I have said that I LOVE being Mommy and Wife-ster! I have said that I love being the glue that holds EVERYTHING around here together. And I really do! I do! Especially now that I've calmed down...

I have always openly admitted that I have about 2 major melt-downs a year. I used to have way more! So, in my mind, 2 a year ain't that bad! I'm sure though, if you spoke to my family they would totally disagree! Anyho, about twice a year I wig out and show my butt and end up feeling like the scum at the bottom of the lowliest life form's feet at the bottom of the deepest, crungiest pond... Today was #1 for this year. I won't go into a lot of details, trust me they are horrid and I'm ashamed of myself, but it started by coming home to a wrecked house, no left-over pizza and Ean dropping a whole gallon of unopened milk, it busting open and he just standing there looking at it--then of course in his teen-age way, getting crappy about it to me. I was tired from cleaning the biggest house of them all, hot and hungry. No excuses, but dang, cut a gal a break here... Anyway, I went completely bonkers on him, then on Evan (because his room looked like a hurricane spinned around in there for about an hour) and the rage didn't stop till I called Mr. Peyton at work and went off on him. He wasn't happy. I didn't care, I wasn't either. Then I calmed down. Then I cried. I cried for a lot of reasons. I could cry now for being such a freak! I hate it when this happens... Anyway, apologies have been made. I hope everybody knows that I'm sorry! I also hope they know they need to help me out some around here. I kinda doubt that though--old habits are hard to break...

So there you have it. It was a funky afternoon! I have a slamming headache--guess I deserve it for being so ugly! I hope and pray tomorrow is better!

God is love--Peace out!

Rainy Daze

Wow...it's been raining for like 3 days... ugh! I've had enough! Don't get me wrong, it's Gods' work and I'm always thankful for His doings, but man, can I get any lazier? Here's what my day consisted of:

--woke up by Allen at about 7:00am "Good-bye, see ya later", me--hardly remember

--woke up again by Evan--"You said you're gonna order those Goosebump books off of Ebay for me today, right"?, me--grrrrr

--woke up again by phone ringing "Wake up, I've been working for over 2 hours and you're still sleeping"? me--"Nah, I've been up"... *winky, wink

--after wallowing in the bed for about another hour, I get up to go get coffee and a cig. I stare intently at the rain. I think, dang, I need to shave my legs! I need to brush and floss! (yuck, breath was KICKIN) I'm not gonna be a bum today!

--go inside to the melody of Ean and Evan screaming at each other. I also see the sink pleading w/ me to get the dirty dishes out of it! I smile sadly at the kitchen sink...poor lil guy! He's not used to that! But to make him happy means I'd have to unload the dishwasher... Nah, I'll do that later.

--get on Facebook and nose around on there for about an hour and a half.

--get back into the bed, cuz Ean has already treated himself and Evan to lunch by this point and cut on Remember the Night w/ Barbara Stynwick. (great movie, btw). Decide I have the warm fuzzies--nap till around 5:00pm.

--around 5:00pm, Colby and Bentley are in my bed barking their fool heads off! I whack them both off the bed and roll over, cover my head w/ the body pillow.

--still shrill yappy dog barks...WHAT THE... open my eyes to see the kid that lives down the road standing in my hall staring at me. WHAT THE...

--cover head w/ body pillow again, hoping I'm dreaming...

--pretend to be asleep for another 20 minutes.

--get up-more coffee-call Mr. P and ask can we order out.

Now readers--that is a serious case of RAINY DAZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ugh!!!!!!!!! I can not have another day like this! I feel like a daggone slug! Who am I kidding, I AM a slug!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, so I am finally pulling myself together about 8:00pm. (that's a start, right?) We eat the dinner I agreed to at least ride w/ Mr. Peyton to go pick up and get back on FB--yeah, I'm an addict. I email a friend from high school that lives across country from me and ask can I call her sometime. She says OF COURSE (yay) and she says I can call her tonite to boot! SWEET--so you know me, being the phone bug I am, I quick dial her up! And we talk...sooooo awesome! I ask her all kinds of weird (I'm sure that's what she was thinking--she did a lot of giggling) questions and she humored me by answering and elaborating! It was bliss! Even more blissful--not even a week ago, I went out w/ 2 great friends from HS to a concert! One of which, I hadn't hung out w/ since we graduated! FABULOUSOOO! I'm feeling soooo blessed right now! We've grown up--not apart! What a gift!

So, now I don't feel as bad--I didn't waste this day--I was saving all my energy for my chat w/ a sweet friend! (and maybe this blog)

But, I surely do hope the sun comes out tomorrow--Mr. Kitchen Sink is gonna be really chapped! Heck, maybe I'll go help him out now...

God is Love--Peace out!

Just gettin started--cut me some slack...

Ok, so here I go! My first blog entry... what to say... what to write about... hmmm... Welp, already it's boring! lol I guess I'll start w/ a little bit about me: I'm a Mom of 2 boys and Wife! I am happily consumed w/ the title of just those 2 things! Allen, my dear hubster, or Fu-Fu, or Mr. Peyton (as I'm sure he'll be referred to the majority of the time on my blogspot is my high school sweetheart! Yep--we're one of the few who made it! And you can trust me on this--not a lot of folks thought we would! I was 13 when the Fu and I started dating (in 1984--yeah, I'm old--38). We got married in 1992 on our 8 year anniversary in a small ceremony in our hometown of Gordonsville, VA. He's my rock, my best friend and my soul-mate! I am very lucky and blessed to have him! Oh no, it's not always a walk in the park--but I love him so very much! Then in November of 1994 we had our first son, Ean Cole! The Fu didn't want kids... But with the grace of God, I convienced him! Ean has always been a great child! Sleeping thru the night by the time he was 8 weeks old, etc. etc.! Mr. Ean is very smart and very senstive! I am very proud of him! After a short time (almost 7 years), Evan Caine was born in September of 2001. The baby! Different in every way possible from his older brother, but absolutely scrumcious! Very wild--very loveable! He's got me so totally wrapped, it's pathetic!

So now we're back in G'town, living right beside my Mom and Step-dad and it's great! *well, 99% of the time anyway My kids are going to LCPS and it's so wild to be kinda walking down memory lane whenever we go to football games and stuff! I figured we'd stay in Orange (our "adopted" home town) but we're again Greasers from Louiser--and lovin it!

So, that's a little bit for now! I'll post soon about Allen's new tractor he's getting this weekend, Evan's riding lessons, the pool and hanging this summer w/ my OC Gurls and all the goings on w/ us! I wanna post some pics on here too--once I learn how too... very, very computer illiterate! ugh! Sorry about this boring one--hopefully there will be something worth reading!

God is love--Peace Out!