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Tuesday, August 7, 2012

A Boy and His Grandmother

Recently I ran across an old picture.
This would be Danny Dearest with his grandmother, Momma May (I hope the spelling of that is correct), about 57 years ago when he was about one year old.  Doesn't he seem happy to be  with his gramdmother.

Flash forward about 45 or so years and you get this...
That is me with Mr. Jacob at about the same age as Danny Dearest with HIS grandmother.

Grandma's just love those little boys.




Thursday, August 2, 2012

Memories, Pressed Between the something of the something

On our recent trip to Kentucky (see previous post) something that had been hidden for 37 years rose to the top.  I give you...
Danny Dearest and I the Christmas before we were married (that would be 1974 by the way).  My, my, my how impossibly young we look.  And my, my, my how impossibly THIN we look.  But you have to be thin to wear snazzy double knit bell bottoms like I am in this picture.

Just look at the way Danny Dearest is gazing at me with adoring eyes and I, of course, am looking modestly downward.  That would be me... always modest, shy and retiring.

Now, in contrast, the other day I posted on Facebook some age progression pictures of Danny Dearest and I.




















These photos show how Danny Dearest and I will look in another 35 years,  Now when I posted these to Facebook there were several questions about what Danny Dearest is wearing around his neck.  I can assure you that it is neither a beaded eyeglass holder or a string of pearls (as was suggested by his "friends" on Facebook).  This picture was taken in New Orleans and those would be Mardi Gras beads a-swinging around his neck.

So look at the first picture and the second set of pictures.  Which would you rather be?  The impossibly young (and thin) 20 year olds or the more experienced folks of 93 in the second set of pictures.  Given all that Danny Dearest and I have done, seen, lived through, and loved, I vote for the second set. 

I can't wait to be 93 with him.

Monday, July 30, 2012

My Old Kentucky Home

So Danny Dearest and I returned yesterday afternoon from our yearly trip to Kentucky.  We visited with family and attended my 40th (gasp!) high school reunion.  Baby Susan joined us there with Mr. Jacob and Miss Emily.  ATVs were rode, fish were caught, and stories (true, untrue, and simply exaggerated) told.

But one of the highlights was...

the four generation pedicure.

This would be Baby Susan, Miss Emily, Mamagran (my mom), and me.  This was interesting for all kinds of reasons but the primary one was that this was my mom's FIRST pedicure EVER!  And she loved it. I expect her next one to have sparkles on her big toe!

And then there was our four generation picture.

SO HOW CUTE IS THIS!!!

But I could not leave Mr. Jacob and Daddygran out of the fun.

Betcha wish you had one of these pictures!

(Photography and computer skills...credit goes to Danny Dearest. He can be handy to have around)








Thursday, June 28, 2012

NKOTB

When Baby Susan reached the dreaded middle school years she developed, as most young girls do, a crush on some sort of celebrity.  Her celebrity of choice was a boy band.  New Kids On the Block.  Hereafter to be referred to as NKOTB (just to show how amazing HIP and WITH IT her mom is).

Danny Dearest and I tolerated this obsession as well as two HIP and WITH IT parents could who also happen to have a little taste in music.  We sort of cultivated an altitude that this too will pass.

Except it didn't, pass that is.  Baby Susan has recently attended reunion concerts at which these aging "boy" band members sing and attempt to get their bodies to recreate the moves of their youth.

And she loves every minute.

And then yesterday I saw this on the web.

Baby Susan, this is for you.


And remember.  He sings this Old Navy catalog for YOU.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Mr. Jacob

Eleven years ago today something very special happened.  Mr. Jacob came into our lives and nothing has been the same since.


He was a sweet baby who is growing into a sweet young man.  And I can't be prouder of  him.
I can't wait to see what kind of adult he will be.  But if this is any indication, perhaps he will be a lot like his memaw.

I love you my little man.

Monday, June 25, 2012

Excitement in the Southwest

**As a side note. I had numerous technological problems while trying to write this post.  But I didn't want to disappoint my fans (All two of you.  Hi, Mom!) so I persevered and managed to get this on line.**  

So Saturday, Danny Dearest and I loaded up the family truckster and headed up the highway towards the metropolis of Hatch. 

Along the way we did a little geocaching.  If you don't know what geocaching is I have heard it described as using multi-million dollar satellites to find tupperware in the woods.  Or, as I like to call it, hiking for geeks.  It is fun and we DO enjoy it.

But then we arrived in...


 And whenever we travel to Hatch we have to visit Sparky's.

 Let's go in for a closer look.

So how cute is that! We go there for..

Yes, we go there for the green chile cheeseburger.  Danny Dearest and I ordered our burgers and sat down to eat.  I had every intention of snapping a picture of that delicious burger to share with you but...
I am sorry to report that my appetite over ruled my brain and this is what was left when I remembered that I wanted to take a picture.  Oops, so sorry!

So after our Sparky's green chile cheeseburger we headed back down the highway to home. And then we sat at home digesting.  

I know.  Will the excitement ever end?


Saturday, June 23, 2012

I Can Fly! I Can Fly! I Can Fly!

Well, I did it. 

I signed up for the Tinkerbell Half-Marathon. Plucked down an exorbitant amount of money in registration fees (It IS Disney, after all. Someone has to pay for all that cute.) and made reservations at The Disneyland Hotel.

When I cross the finish line in January, I will be a 58 year old diabetic memaw with hypertension and fibromylagia who has a had a stroke.

And I will get one of these...
I can fly!  I can fly!  I can fly!

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Kentucky Wild Cat???

So Danny and I have returned from our medical mission to Nicaragua.  Our hearts have been touched in ways we can not even explain.  I suspect I will be writing more about the physical and spiritual blessings that occurred on that trip but for now...

One evening, after clinic, we were walking to see one of our former interpreters who had recently had a baby.  Along the way, we saw a man with a small animal on a string.  I, of course, had to hold it.

 Let's go in for a closer look, shall we?

Sure looks like a little fox doesn't it?

But the Nicaraguan who was trying to sell it to us assured us that it was a "wild cat from the mountains".

So, since I am a Kentucky girl and I am holding a "wild cat" could I caption this photo "Kentucky Wild Cat"?

Just asking.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

America's Game

When most people are asked to name a few major holidays the answers will usually include Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, or Fourth of July.  Danny Dearest would add one more.
  Opening day of Major League Baseball.

Now just to be clear, before I married Danny Dearest I didn't know Major League Baseball had an opening day, a closing day, or any kind of day at all.  I believe Danny Dearest was shocked at my ignorance at the inner workings of the goings on of those guys with bats that ran around on a field.  But he accepted me as I was and I chose to ignore his rather limited fashion sense.

But in going through our pictures I ran across this.


Let's not even think about how impossibly skinny Danny Dearest is in this picture let's just go in for a close up of that amazing footwear he is sporting.

No baseball cleats for him.  When you are as fast and sure-footed as a deer you don't need cleats. Rather, he is wearing the original low top converse basketball shoes.  It turns out he was a fashion trend setter way back in 19-something or other.  And while I can accept his footwear choice, the dark socks with athletic wear does give me pause.  (I am pausing here. For the socks, you understand.)

Now for the whole team proudly representing Youngblood's of Mayfield Kentucky on the baseball diamond.

You got to wonder why that one coach has a bandage on his nose.  Errant baseball perhaps?

Monday, April 23, 2012

These Are the Days of Our Lives

When Baby Susan was growing up, she had all the typical teenage crushes on actors, singers, etc.  But one that stood out was...

Bryan Datlilo, better known as Lucas (Roberts) Horton on Days of Our Lives.

Now according to She Knows Soaps.com, this bad boy
1. has forgiven Sami a million times but done his fair share of bad deeds.
2. had helped Kate frame Sami for the murder of Franco Kelley,
3. attempted to kill Sami himself.
4. has kidnapped his son, Will, once.

And that is just a partial lists of Lucas' exploits on this soap.

And Baby Susan thought he was the cat's pajamas.  The bee's knees.,  All that and a bag of chips. (Let's see how many out of date metaphors I can name.)

And then good fortune struck for Baby Susan,

The local minor league baseball team was having soap night when various soap stars would be in attendance and play one inning of baseball to raise money for charity. Before this, Baby Susan's interest in baseball could be measured by the flavors of ice cream being served at the concession stand.

 But suddenly Baby Susan developed an overnight interest in baseball so being the over indulgent parents we were, we took her.

And Lucas was there.

And we got this rather out of focus shot.
It was love at first sight.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

I Can Say All the New Testament Books!

When we purchased our current home, one of the selling points was a 900 square foot permanent garage/storage building that was located on the property.

We promptly began filling that building with 1,000 square feet of junk.

So recently I began to try to sift through all the "treasures" and keep the good and dispose of the not so good.  And in doing so I have run across some real gems.  Like this.
Yes, that would be Baby Susan"s button from kindergarten Bible School after she had learned all the books of the New Testament.  Not only did she receive the button, she also received a small New Testament of her own.  Sadly, that little Bible has not been found in my excavation of the storage building but hope springs eternal and perhaps it will turn up.

And just let me say, that button and Bible were not easily earned.  We sang the "Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John" song over and over and over and over.  Until she finally had it down and could sing/say the books of the New Testament.  It was a proud moment in her young life.

 This is a picture of Baby Susan the first day of that Sunday School class.  Doesn't she look happy to be there?  And since this was pre-digital , there was a back to this picture. Here is what Baby
Susan put on the back of this picture...
Perhaps only a mother would say this but...isn't that cute!

Monday, April 16, 2012

Look At Those Smiles!

So recently some family members have been bugging me about not writing on my blog so to satisfy that massive fan  base (all three of you), I will attempt to write again.

Since my last post we did complete the Bataan Memorial Death March and attended the Final Four basketball tournament in New Orleans.  I will describe both of those events in excruciating detail at a later time.  But right now I would like to talk about another life event that has occurred.

A little over a week ago, my father in law passed away.

The whole week was a bittersweet experience.  It was bitter in that we lost a marvelous man who was 82 years old and would have been married to my mother in law for 60 years this week. 
A young Danny Dearest with my father in law.


It was sweet in that we had a family reunion with all the cousins and in laws.  I met some of Danny Dearest's cousins that I had never seen before.  At one time all the brothers and their families were eating at a local restaurant when my mother in law leaned over to me and said that,"He would have loved this."  And he would have.  The laughing, the talking, and the eating.  He would have truly loved it.

Toward the end of the week, Baby Susan posted a new profile picture to her Facebook account.
When Danny Dearest saw it, his first comment was, "Look at those smiles!"  And that is how I choose to remember him...smiling with a grandchild on his lap.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Well, Apparently I AM Bilingual

Today, after a delightful morning of teaching preschoolers, I had several errands to run.  Now, as we all know, a lady cannot be expected to face the rigors of the retail world, on a empty stomach.  So I decided to stop at that fine Mexican eating establishment...
Yes, Taco Bell,  Don't judge me.  I was hungry and had very limited funds...so Taco  Bell it was.

The young lady who was taking orders was finishing up with the customer in front of me.  Now at our Taco Bell they ask for your name so that they can yell out your name when your order is complete. You can then scurry up to the counter and retrieve your food. And then you can begin to savor the goodness that can only be found at Taco Bell.

But I digress.

The order taker asked the (who by the way, had a British accent.  My little Las Cruces is becoming so worldly) customer her name.  The problem?  The customer spoke no English, only Spanish.

So I whipped out my superhero cape and said, in my best Spanish, "Como se llamas?"  (Spanish speakers...I know that I don't have the correct Spanish punctuation.  But my computer is apparently English only.)

The lady gave her name and tragedy was averted by...

SUPER TRANSLATOR!!! (that would be me)

But one warning.  That's all the Spanish I know.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Weekend Roundup

I realize that I have been taking a little bloggy break, but I am back now and thought I would bore you with a play by play of the (Imagine a group of brass instruments loudly playing "Da-Dah!") WEEKEND OF PAM AND DANNY DEAREST.

(Yes, the caps were necessary)

(Just to let you know how important this weekend was...or was not.)

Let's start with Friday because with me the weekend begins on Friday.  As my last post said, Danny Dearest and I are planning to walk the Bataan Memorial Death March.  So Friday evening we walked 10 miles.  Now that should be easy for someone who has RUN (I know, I know.  Caps again.  It's just a caps kind of day.) a half marathon.  But there is one key difference.  I ran the half marathon alone.  At my own speed.  Fast when I wanted, slow when I wanted. 

I walked the 10 miles with Danny Dearest.  Not alone.  Not at my speed.  Not fast when I wanted.  Not slow when I wanted. 

Just to give you an idea of what walking with Danny Dearest is like, when he was in Basic Training at Fort Knox they wouldn't let him lead marches.  Why, you say.  Because he led then to stinking fast, that's why. In other words, he led the marches TO FAST FOR THE ARMY.  ( Caps again.  What can I say?)

He tries to slow down but eventually he is a couple of feet ahead of me with me trying to slow him down.  So walking 10 miles was a little difficult.

And we are going to walk 26.2 miles together during the march.

Good times will be had.

Saturday we spent the day at our church at a seminar with Bruce McLarty learning how to grow together.  It was a time well spent on how we can have an effect on each other.

Sunday morning was spent at church and then, what do you think we did Sunday evening?  Super Bowl, of course.  We joined friends at their house and watched the Super Bowl.  I wasn't sure who was playing or who won but a good time was had by all.  I spent Super Bowl time doing my traditional working on crafts.  I made some flannel board games for the preschool which I will share later.

I know you are a-tremble with anticipation.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

I Will Be Remembering

UPDATE** After I posted this, it occurred to me that I may have left the wrong impression.  I won't be walking the march all by myself.  Danny Dearest will be my side for every single step.  He may even have to push, pull, and drag me to the finish line.

When I ran my first half-marathon back in December, several people asked me what my next goal would be.  I toyed with the idea of running the El Paso half-marathon the first Sunday in February but then Danny Dearest came up an alternate plan.

The Bataan Memorial Death March.

In case you didn't quite get that, that was the Bataan Memorial Death March.  

The point of this march is to experience, in a small way, what the soldiers felt on their long, forced trek in the Philippines during World War II. 

That's a march across the desert for 26.2 miles.  Some people will, of course, run the march.  I won't be running. Some people (mostly military types) will run  it while wearing full packs.  I won't be doing that either.  I will be walking and trying not to die...or throw up.

 But the point of this march is to remember the veterans who lived through the original march.
And I will be remembering on March 25, 2012.

Friday, January 6, 2012

You Don't Look a Day Over 39

Today the state on New Mexico is 100 years old.  At 58 years of age I have been alive over half the time New Mexico has been a state.


As Danny Dearest said in his Facebook status yesterday, we have lived in Fair New Mexico one-third of the time it has been a state. All these numbers comparing me to the state of New Mexico are making me feel, well, a little old.

 This is the flag of New Mexico.  I know from experience that it is much easier for elementary students to draw than that whole two men shaking hands thing that Kentucky has going on. While I think the flag of my home state of Kentucky is very inspiring, it is difficult for your average fourth grade to draw.  I know.  From experience.

Danny Dearest and I consider New Mexico to be our home.  We have grown to love the mild winters and brutally hot summers.  We love the Organ Mountains that are, quite literally, in our backyard.  We love that we can get 3 inches of snow one day and it be melted and gone the next.  We love the southwest culture and the wonderful people we have met and grown to love.  We love Hatch chili and the Mexican food it graces.

So, in honor of the birthday of our adopted home, I present singing...corgis!
Happy 100th birthday New Mexico.  You don't look a day over 39.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

There's Treasure in That There Van

Well, who knew?

Apparently after my post yesterday about Danny Dearest loosing the catalytic converter on his twenty year old minivan, I had some comments that suggest that the roving band of thieves use these for salvage instead of reuse.

That restores some of my confidence in the intelligence level of gangs.

It seems that there is gold and platinum hiding in ye old catalytic converter.  That means that the residue metals lurking in that catalytic converter is worth more that the whole van.
Ummm....Mommy needs a new ring.
  

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

And I Thought I Knew Gangs

So when I think of gangs this is what comes to my mind...
But apparently in the LC (Las Cruces for those of you east of the Mississippi) there is another type of gang.  This gang doesn't traffic in drugs.  It's not into drive-by shootings.  It isn't into stealing cars...well not the entire car.

You see, Danny Dearest parks his car in the Lowe's parking lot to meet his vanpool for work.  He has done this for months without incident.  Until yesterday.

When he started up the old van it made a very load noise.  He drove it home and checked under it to discover his muffler was missing.  He assumed he had lost it back at the Lowe's parking lot.  He returned and found nothing.  But he stopped on his way home to check on getting the muffler replaced.  The mechanic then told him there was a gang targeting cars and stealing the muffler and catalytic converter.  It makes perfect sense except...

Danny Dearest drives a 1992 Mazda mini van.

What kind of gang would target a twenty year old van?  
Maybe it was this gang of thieves?