Hi Phi Kappa Phi!

Well, well, well, can you believe it?  Got inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society this weekend out in Arlington at my good old alma mater the University of Texas at Arlington.  It was a lot of fun!

Felt good to receive this honor and it was nice to be with other students that have worked hard for this achievement.  Met some great nurses, just like me, who were advancing their education and, hopefully, their careers!  Will wear my pin with the knowledge that hard work and persistence pays off!

Had a great time in Ft. Worth -- went downtown for dinner and a walkabout.  It's a really nice, clean, friendly city -- lots of neat art deco architecture mixed in with newer buildings.  It almost brought tears to my eyes to be walking around below some beautiful really high-rise buildings -- made me home sick!

Here are some pictures -- not great -- but fun.  Thanks to Matt for helping me make up my mind to just go and have a good time!

Me and some professor buddies!  Ha! Maybe someday...

Looking a little tired?  Probably all that studying...ha, again!

Matt helped this all happen...what a Guy!

A couple of characters...I'll make anything out of any thing!!

What is cuter than a...Tiger Pig!!

world's biggest chihuahua

I thought I had the world's biggest chihuahua!!! This guy makes Roadie look like a little tiny bug!

MERRY CHRISTMAS...

School Daze, School Daze, Happy Back to School Days!

Well, it's back to school days. Studying for BSN at UT Arlington. Figure I might as well gain all the knowledge I can while I still have a brain!

Can't tell you how much fun it is to learn...learn...learn! They say you "can't take it with you", but you get to keep all the stuff you learn...good and the bad! Well, I'm trying to crowd out my brain with GOOD stuff!

Haven't figured out what I'll do next in nursing, probably go on to Masters for Education or Nurse Therapist, but first, I guess, I'll finish this phase of the program...

WISH ME WELL!!

WE GOT MARRIED...

Geraldine did a NICE job...made it very comfortable and NICE!!

WE DID IT!!

Matt's Family: Chuck, Tracey, Matt, and Rocky

The GARZA!!! The Post Rodeo Days Parade went by in the afternoon, before the wedding...I thought it was a parade for Matt...wishing him GOOD LUCK!!

Some of our work friends: James in the front, Lynn and Ruby behind Matt...thanks for coming!

My sister Laura and brother-in-law Rick! Thanks you guys for making it
down to the Land of Post!

Rick -- always helping me out!

The CAKE!

Matt's brothers and sisters: Chuck and Beth, Brady and Tracey, Matt and me, and Rocky and Linda....thanks to everybody!

Matt and Me -- HAPPY!

...Yahoody! It's true...got married August 8, 2009 in Post, Texas. What? You've never heard of Post, Texas...well, neither have a lot of people. Population: 2,000. Claim to Fame: Named after the guy who created good crunchy breakfast cereal!

Married at the Hotel Garza...great place...highly recommended. It's a little B&B (11 rooms) that was built in the early 20th century. Owned by a great couple who are very sweet and accommodating!

Special thanks to our families and friends for making this a beautiful wedding...everything was perfect and so, so nice. It was cozy and comfortable thanks to all of you. Thanks also to our guests for sharing this special time with us...it was kind of out of the way, but you guys made it and we love you for it!

I WENT SOMEWHERE!!!

Above is Boz and Below is Palo Duro...pretty, no?

Went to see Boz Skaggs last night at the Palo Duro Canyon Amphitheatre (Palo Duro Canyon is kind of like a 1/10 scale model of the Grand Canyon...it is very pretty, but has no river running through it). He was GREAT! Sounds just like he did 30 years ago...great band, full sound, with a beautiful background. His back-up singer, Miss Monet, was also EXCELLENT...she could have had a solo show herself! Nice Big Texan steak dinner beforehand and then on with the show. It was really nice to get out of Lubbock and go where we had to drive up and down some seriously curvy and steep hills...kinda made me homesick...you know, a hill...

If you have time, watch the short film below...

This is a very touching short documentary about some people in Los Angeles, who decided to do something small, but very big...in the long run. They simply listened to the people's voices, gave them a place to rest for two hours one night a week, and sat back and clapped...not for themselves, but for them...

SnagFilms Film Widget

One of the things I LOVE about West Texas...

This is Why I Miss Home...

You know you've been in Texas too long when...

YEE HAA!!! Waylon Jennings is my NEW favorite. Unfortunately, he's dead, but he lives on! Born in Littlefield, which is not that far away. I especially like when he sings with Willie Nelson and Jessie Colter. Yes, he gave up his seat on Buddy Holly's fateful flight and he was with Johnny Cash almost from the beginning. It might take a while to get used to the way he sings, but man, can he sing!

Okay, one more thing...

...when you don't have kids, you have to make due! Here's a funny little video of some pretty runty little mutts!

New Animal Trick...

Matt has mastered a new animal trick...it's called "How many animals can you stand on your lap at one time!" It's scary and horrifying, it's dangerous, you must have nerves of steel, and requires a highly skilled sense of balance...but, he's mastered it!

LONG TIME NO SEE...

Well, yes, I'm still alive. Busy, busy working...working at night can be difficult to live during the day.

Christmas was very nice...got engaged to wonderful Matt! Will be married sometime in August (probably the 8th), not sure yet. I'm very happy...we get along pretty darn good. All dogs doing okay.

We found another sweet girl...we named her "lulu". Cute as can be, advertised all over the place, but no one would claim her. I shouldn't say that we found her, she actually found us: One day Matt was going in and out of the front door...I was on the computer and felt somebody looking at me, looked down, and there she was! Just sitting there and looking at me. Now she's not a little thing and seeing her right there was kind of a shock! But, she is sweet and cute and loves to play. I don't think she's much older than a year.

Poor Matt, he's got the three big dogs (of course, Boo wants to bite lulu's face off any chance she gets), and I've got the three small dogs (and two cats)! Wow...that's eight animals, we'll have to find a farm to live on! More later.

Santa Came Early This Year...

...and instead of leaving a bag of coal...he left me a...bag...of KIDNEY STONES (and for the technical term that they led to: HYDRONEPHROSIS!) That's right! I'll definitely be a good girl from now on. Those things HURT! Had to go to the hospital...and happily the doctor told me....THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH MORE laying around in there. Anyway, recovering (did I mention that those things HURT!) and waiting for more fun to come! So repeat after me...DRINK WATER!! and lots of it!

Christmas Time is Here...

Well, I have put up a little tree and put all my favorite ornaments on it. As you can see, I don't have a large assortment -- but, I do have my big Rudolf ornaments on it. I got this little tree for only $4.00 a couple of years ago -- it even had lights already attached! The lights are sparkly, especially in the dark and if I squeeze my eyes closed a little, I can almost imagine my little tree growing and growing...remind you of anything? Best wishes to everybody and I'll have some pictures of my creations coming up really soon!

May the Sun Shine on You Too...

Well, I guess Winter is here and all my lovely leaves are now lying deep on the grass -- rake time, here I come! It was 19 degrees yesterday in the beautiful city of Lubbock, TX. The skies are clear, though, and the stars have been shining bright! Mama likes soaking up the sun, but she would much rather be in the warm house -- too bad! Work is going well -- I hope we can all pray for those less fortunate than us this season. There are more than you think...

One more thing...

I'm still looking for my camera so I can begin to show some of my work. I know it's around here somewhere and I'm bound and determined to find it. So, until then, you'll have to look at all these old pictures...I'll find it soon, I just know it!

The Wind is Blowing the Leaves Around...

Today is a windy, sunny day. The weather is cooler, but still beautiful. The leaves are blowing all around and the pecans are falling off the tree. I guess it's time to pick them up and give them away. My doggies sure like breaking into them and getting the good stuff out.

I work as a charge nurse at a psychiatric hospital and things are going well. I have learned a lot of new things about myself...especially that it's a whole new ball of wax being "in charge"! I love my patients, though, and learn so much from them. I really see how truly blessed I am. This job gives me the opportunity to help others as so many have helped me throughout the years. It's amazing how time passes, failures go and successes come. Here's a poem that one of the patients wrote to our night shift...it will give you pause, I hope:

Thank you God for the little things
that often come my way
the things I take for granted
and not mention as I pray.

It's that unexpected courtesy
or that thoughtful kindly deed
and the hand reached out
to help me in a time of sudden need.

Make me more aware Lord of
life's simple daily graces that come
to me with great surprise
from never dreamed of places

Life is an interesting prospect, full of challenges and opportunities. I've always claimed to "hate" Lubbock, but I'm beginning to realize that its not where you are that really matters, it's who you are...and what you do with the blessings that God has given each of us. I've been given time to slow down...to stop and think about what matters to me, why things happen the way they do, and how my relationships with others impacts both them and me.

Needless to say, I'm waxing nostalgic...this happens to me sometimes, on a windy Autumn afternoon, when the leaves are blowing, and the acorns have fallen from the tree. Well, enough of that...

Just a thanks to my niece for posting pictures of my favoritest little people in the world. Also, to all my family I miss and love you all.

Been sewing, beading, creating, painting, drawing, and crocheting...you know what is coming up and I AM GOING TO BE READY! Have a great week.

Still working on it...

Today's been so sunny and nice...perfect Autumn weather. I guess I have to say that it's nice to have four distinct seasons. This is my favorite time of year...cool breezes, the turning leaves, and Halloween, soon to be followed by Thanksgiving. It's a calming time, time for reflection about the year behind. Time to tie up loose ends and prepare for the coming Winter. I love the colors and smells this time of year...hope yours is filled with the warmth of the colors of red, yellow, and orange!

This is very much a work in progress. I haven't had this much trouble with something since I first used a computer...and that was in the 1980's when they finally got small enough that common folk could put them on a desk! Look for upcoming pictures of the results of my semi-creative endeavors. Got to find my camera first, though...

Phew...made it through the Holiday weekend

Had a lot of fun at the lake...swimming, boating, jet skiing. It's great to see trees and water together again!