Santa Claus is coming to town...

Normally I dread the holidays, especially Christmas.  The stores ALWAYS put the decorations out way too early and start playing Christmas music on Halloween.  That is exactly why I don't like Christmas music.  It doesn't matter where you go, the local pharmacy, walmart, target, boutiques, doctor's offices, even hunting & fishing stores...the Christmas music is playing.  And most of the time, it doesn't matter what radio station you listen to, either. 

Now, I used to be the kind of person that had every nook and crannie decorated w/ Christmas nick nacks.  It would take me hours to unpack and put up in just the right place.  The tree (artifical) had to be perfectly decorated w/ about a thousand white lights along with every Christmas ornament I could find and a star on top.  Every window had a beautifully docorated wreath on it positioned perfectly.  The mailbox even had some Christmas ribbon on it.  Once all that was set up, I couldn't wait for Christmas to get here.  The joy of opening those gifts and seeing the faces of those you loved because they got just what they were wanting.  Then the agony of having to put all those decorations back up until the next year.

Well, reality set in a few years back.  I no longer have the time nor want to spend time decking my house out in all that "stuff" when I could be putting my time towards something else....like spending it with my daughter.  So, last year, we decided to have a real tree for the very first time ever!!  It was a little bit of a hassle to have to make sure it had plenty of water, but we LOVED it!!  I still decorate it in white lights, but now my ornaments consist mostly of things my daughter has made over the years.  I cherish being able to pull those items out every year and let her put them on our tree.  I don't get stressed out if the ornaments aren't spaced perfectly or aren't facing foward.  Once the tree is decorated, then goes the wreath on the front door.  And that, my dear, is our decorations.  My daughter and I decided that we don't need all those fancy decorations to be happy. 

Every since my daughter was born, I have gone overboard on showering her w/ Christmas gifts.  She always has gotten tons and tons of stuff.  So much so, that the past couple years, it has taken her a couple days just to go through them all.  Well, a light bulb went off last year...."mom, your buying her way too many things!". Besides the fact that she can't open them all on Christmas, she just doesn't have the room for all those things in her bedroom.  So, this year....I have decided to skim that list down dramatically!! 

And I've also decided that I'm going to be completely done shopping by mid-October.  And...I've almost got that accomplished!  YAY me!!  Just a couple more things for my daughter and my boyfriend's daughter and then I'm done!!  Already done shopping for my boyfriend (great surprises for him).  And I ordered most of the stuff online.  Ahhh, the ease and joy of shopping from your computer.  No need to fight the cold weather, those crowds of swinging arms, cursing mouths, angry mobs, and long lines only to get a gift you're really not sure that someone special will even like or want.  Plus, buying it now, pretty much guarantees that the item will be in stock and that it will be delivered to my door. 

It's College Football time...

It surely is that time of year again.  The time that so many of us have been waiting on, College Football.  SEC football to be exact...at least for those of us down here in the south.  We take our football serious!  We love a good game even if our team loses.  We have lots of great sportsmanship.  There's about nothing else that can keep us glued to the TV or at the games for a solid 3 months.  Just waiting on that next touchdown so we can jump up and down while chanting the Fight Song. 

I'm just going to go ahead and say it....I'm an Ole Miss fan and have been for many a year. 

ARE....YOU....READY????
Hotty Toddy, Gosh all Mighty,
Who the Hell are we?...hey!
Flem Flam, Bem Bam
Ole Miss by Damn!

Just something about being a fan of a true southern college....or what used to be, anyway!  We are no longer the Rebels, but have been down-graded to the "Bears".  Really????  I'm still confused on why exactly our mascot changed, but I will ALWAYS be a REBEL at heart.  And no one or nothing will ever take that from me.  Besides, the school's colors are RED, WHITE & BLUE!!

So, for those of us that take college football as serious as we do, it's hard not to want to give a few words of advice to those that supposedly don't follow it, but want to complain about it.  As I was in a meeting at work, we began talking about football games from this past weekend (while we were waiting on everyone to arrive to the meeting).  One person was asked why they were so quiet about the games while everyone else was throwing their "2 cents" in.  The reply was, "Oh, I don't follow college football, but I hate Ole Miss and Tennessee".  Really?  I mean, REALLY???  How can you hate a team, but yet you don't even follow any football teams?  This person was asked that as well and the response was, "I can't stand to see anyone all decked out from head to toe in Ole Miss or TN gear".  I say you best be moving to a foreign country and a remote one at that because around these here parts, that's just what we do.  My vehicle is even decked out from front to back.  And I dare you....no, I double dog dare you to say anything about that!! 

I think I'll come to work all decked out in Ole Miss gear every Friday until the end of November, complete w/ my face stickers...just for the heck of it!!

GO REBELS!!! (and yes, I already know they suck!)

Never Forgotten...Forever Grateful

I got up yesterday morning feeling a little different than I normally do.  I knew it was the 10 year anniversary of when America was attacked and the souls of the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and Flight 93 had no idea what was coming (as did the rest of America).  Somehow, I feel as though, even with us not knowing what was coming or really...what was happening when it happened, the people of the towers, pentagon and flight 93 fought for each and every one else in America.  They did their civil duties by standing up to these terriorist.  I actually remember where I was when the attacks were happening.  Quite a few of us went to watch it all on the only...barely working...tv in the company.  As I stood there with the rest of my co-workers and watched in absolute horror, all I could think was, "What is going on?  How could someone do this?".  My life, along with just about everyone else in America and across the world, had been changed forever. 

So, with that said, I decided to get up and find out what DeSoto County had in store to commemorate the 10 year anniversary.  To my surprise, I had a really hard time finding any kind of "celebration" if you will, going on.  Before I even left the little town that I live in, I ran across flags that were put out for all the souls (all 2977 of them...that's less the 19 hijackers) lost on that day (see pictures).  I can say that I was honored to live in a town where we recognize those people.  I had to stop and capture this because it took some time to put all those flags out and everyone lost truly deserved the recognition.  I don't know what I would do if I were ever put in that situation, but I can say that those people are heroes in my eyes. 

As I kept driving through DeSoto County, I could not find anything else to commemorate the 9/11 anniversary.  And I find that a true shame!!  I even texted my boyfriend (of whom is a firefighter and was at the FD that day) and  if they were participating in anything for the 10 year anniversary.  He said that they were not.  Amazed and Ashamed!!



On my way back home from driving all over DeSoto County, I did see the below.  I was in absolute amazement.  Someone had taken a lot of time and money to do this and it was GORGEOUS!!

"We Remember"...

 Side and Front of Trailor

Back of Trailor

Be Safe and GOD BLESS!

Lord, please let my brain work today...

Call me old, call me crazy, but these days when I say I'm taking a vacation day...well, that usually means I'm taking the day off to catch up on things.  There really is no "vacation" happening.  egh!!  I don't guess I've really taken a true vacation in probably 7 years or so.  The last "out of town" trip I've been on before taking my daughter to a water/amusement park this past weekend, was back in July.  My boyfriend and I did a little 3 day get away to Hot Springs.  We just took it easy and enjoyed our time together.  It was nice, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't sitting on the beach with the ocean waves touching your feet, sun shining on your face and a nice adult beverage in your hand at all times.  It seems as though everyone in the free world went to the beach this summer EXCEPT ME!!

Anyways, before I get off on a tangent (oh how I'd like to do that), today is my Friday.  A very short (but long) work week.  It always seems as though things fall apart at work when you try to take time off.  Why is that?  I think the sales reps catch wind of me wanting to take a day off here or there and decide to bombard me w/ one request after another.  And when they don't get their way, they get their shorts in a twist.

So, tomorrow I've decided to make it about ME!  After I drop my daughter off at school (she will be with her dad the whole weekend), I think I will go for my run (want to try to get in 8 miles).  Then me and my camera will become acquanited again.  I miss my camera after about a week of it being put up.  You know how most people feel naked w/out their cell phones and feel like the world is coming to an end....well, I'm the same way about my cell phone, but also about my camera.  I feel like sometimes when I put the lens up to my eye, the world speaks to me in a different way than it does w/out my camera.  Photography is one of my passions.  My first passion is my daughter, of course.  I'm no professional at it, but I'm aiming towards that goal.  I've had many a compliments on several of my shots and I'm proud of the work I do. Once I get it set in my head that I'm going to take my camera out, I get antsy!  I want to do it right then and there...no more wasiting time.  Only thing is....the folks at work probably wouldn't appreciate it very much if I just up and did that.  HA!! 

So, if I can get my brain to function long enough to get me through the rest of this day, then tomorrow is mine!   I might even treat myself to a new pair of shoes or boots....like I really need them, right???  Maybe just a photo of them anyways. 

The Rush of Everyday Life...

Ok, I'm new to this whole "blogging" thing, but I figured what better way to expose the everyday life of a single mom than to blog, right?  I mean...people naturally want to know about others...the good, the bad and the ugly...and the gossip.  People also naturally want to know what other people think about things....without actually having to LISTEN to them. 

Well, just to give you a little introduction about me...I'm a single, working mom of a 5 year old daughter.  Her dad and I share custody of her and we live in the same town...about 2 minutes from each other.  Yes, you read that right.  We live very close to each other, BUT that doesn't mean that we get along or that we ever see each other unless necessary.  He is remarried (6 months to the day our divorce was final).  More about all that later...when the time warrants.  I work a full time job and I also do photography on the side (you may see some pics from time to time).  I work out about 6 days a week and I run a LOT!! 

Ok...now onto the more important things.  I'll start off with things that tend to urk me.  I know I'm not perfect and sometimes I still don't know what I'm doing when it comes to parenting.  I've made mistakes and I know I will continue to make mistakes, but the way I raise my child is what I see as fit for her and to the best of my abilities.  To have someone say to me, "well you should let her have that bowl of ice cream...for lunch", just doesn't tend to sit well with me.  Just because you let your child do something does not necessarily mean that I will let my child do that same thing.  I don't let her run wild through stores, talk back, disrepect others, disrepect me, eat candy, etc, etc.  She knows the rules in momma's house.  I'm not an overly strict parent, but she understands that rules are rules and she needs to follow them.  Although, she may  not understand that she doesn't get her way all the time, she does understand what happens when she throws a fit.  Since I don't believe in disciplining with "spanking" or "whooping", I take things away (i.e. toys, babydolls, leapster) and she stands in the corner (a minute for each year of her age).  And I don't have a problem with putting her in time out if she acts out while we are out in public, either.  Just another moment for a lesson learned. 

So, to end this at this time....I raise my child the way I see fit and you raise your child the way you see fit. 

Maybe more later tonight.  Ready to spend time with baby girl.