Big Daddy's Gift

Here is a photo of my beautiful "Be in the band ring" that Cliff got me for my birthday. I absolutly love it !!! Happy Birthday to me!!!

High Handed

We took a day trip up to Utah today with the Mexicans. We drove up to the Mountain Meadows Massacre site. Sobering and Sickening. Then back to St George. We had to pick up a new mic stand we had ordered. Then we went to Walmart and bought some poker chips and came home and played Texas hold em.

The Mexican ended up winning over all but Big Daddy had an amazing hand. Now if someone told me this story, I would call them a big fat fibber, but I swear this happened.

When the first 2 cards were dealt, Cliff said "I am not even going to look at my cards" The first 3 cards out were the 10 of spades. the king of spades, 5 of diamonds. Then the flop was ace of spades and the river was the jack of spades. Cliff said " I know I have the Queen of spades in my hand". We all just laughed, remember he had not looked at his hand well I will be damned, he had it! A royal flush in spades.I bet we never see that again and without even looking at the cards! Cool!!

Now everyone has gone home and it's quiet again, Oh yes we put up the first of our Christmas decorations, our little Nascar tree in the office. It looks so cool. We got a few new ornaments for it this year. Little mini Jeff Gordon pit crew guys Sweet

Behold the Gay Indians

Happy Thanksgiving!! As you can see, we went for a Gay Indian Theme this year. Big Daddy and I decided that we would make Indian feathers (like when we were in grade school) and everyone had to wear them to eat dinner.

The funny thing was, none of our crew even thought it was odd. Everyone just put on their feathers and we pigged out. As you can see, Big Daddy was the Indian Chief so he had a war bonnet head dress which we spent a great deal of time crafting. It had to be very elaborate to reflect his high stature and important standing with the tribe. I, as head squaw, had a few extra feathers in my head dress and then it went down hill from there. Pretty funny and we had a blast.

For anyone who doesn't know, the guy with Teddi ,is Marty, her new boy friend. He's a keeper and didn't even blink about putting on the gay Indian attire. We knew he was all right, when we explained that we were celebrating "Happy Let's Screw the Indians and Take their Land Day." and he just nodded and put on his feathers!! Entrance into this tribe can be intimidating at the least but Marty has proved his bravery by taking Teddi firmly in hand (that little squaw needs a spanking once in a while) and loving our little papoose Oli Butt.

Well now everyone has gone to Cha & Leo's to spend the night and Big Daddy and I have decided that THAT is what we are most thankful for!! We love em' all so much, bit silence is still golden, and these tribal councils can be exhausting. Love you guys!!!

Big Chief

Big Chief and his war bonnet

Thanksgiving Eve

Well I got up early and put the turkey in the brine. This is the first year I have used a brine and I hope it's good. My all accounts it's the only way to go. We'll see. Made the cranberry relish, boiled eggs for deviled eggs. Now tonight I am going to make the chicken and homemade noodles, pies, and dressing. Then it will be a snap tomorrow. Ted & Marty will be here about 2:30 and then we can pig out.

Cha Cha and Gabbi have been sick I hope they feel better tomorrow. I told them to come over for brunch so she won't have to cook at all tomorrow. It is raining and has been since about 9:00 this morning. Suppose to be tomorrow too. Yeah, it's fall.

Foiled

Well, Nanny and I got up to walk this morning but we didn't make it too far. She had been sick to her tummy all night and was a trooper to even try to walk. We only got about a 1/4 mile when she got so sick and hurled. So much for that. Back home we went and I got some house work done. If she feels better we will try again tonight.

Poor baby Gouda is sick. I think she has allergies. She coughs all the time poor baby ; especially at night. Cha took her to the Pediatrician (who I think is a nit wit and who knows how to do Nada but refer you to a specialist.. nice , since the kids have no insurance)She is taking her to another DR today and we will see what they say.

Well, today is Cliff's last day at work so things should get dicey from this point till after the new year, but hey it keeps life interesting!! Getting ready for Thanksgiving and looking forward to it. Can't wait to decorate and get ready for Christmas. Clifford has made me swear that I will wait till the first weekend in Dec, but I want it done for Oli's birthday on Dec 4. I know since it's for Sweet Baby Oli he will give in. He is a push over for the babies. All she has to do is say, "Dad Dad and run give him a hug and it's all over.

Play and Pay

We went to see Randy Linder in a Credence Clearwater tribute band last night at the Eureka. We only went cause we had free tickets but boy was he great. This guy can play the guitar like none other; just smoking. His voice was a dead ringer for John Fogerty also. We really enjoyed it.

Had dinner at Gregory's ; Chateaubriand for two. Wonderful. All during dinner Cliff kept singing " Don't feel bad if you see me out with painted women, but if I need a lady I'll call you" Maybe I wore a touch too much makeup........................

Played the penny slots for a while at the Eureka then went over to the Virgin River and listened to the band there. A real let down after Randy Linder. They were OK but their sound was so out of balance it sucked. All you could hear was rhythm guitar and drums. The lead guitar, bass, and the lead singer you could not hear at all. It was weird. Plus the chick singer was a crack up. She was all over the place and if you could shake it, she could play it. Sometimes two tambourines and a little set of chimes at the same time. It was kind of funny. She could sing but you couldn't hear her so it wasn't that enjoyable, just funny watching her sing and it was like no sound was coming out then working all her hand instruments like a wild woman, kind of surreal.

All the usual suspects were there and as funny as ever. Cliff gives them all nicknames it's so funny. There is Mr. Alan Jackson wanna be( except he is about as short as a midget), Franko the Mexican dance man, Grandpa Money Bags and his hot mama (they bring a younger guy for her to dance with while the old husband sits and watches), Old Skeezer Cliff calls Queenie (for Queen of the Silver Dollar),the little short fat chick Cliff calls Pork Rind and her new boy friend who's name I cannot convey in mixed company, Ken the Rico Suave cowboy who dances all the girls. So funny to watch all the players. We got home about 2:00 am and I slept till 8.

We ran to St. George today, washed the car, Cha and I walked pushing the Gouda up and down hills till my butt cheeks hurt. Glad the day is almost over.

"Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez"

Last night was league bowling night and we won all 4 games. Now that sounds like the shiznits but we won the 1st game by 7 pins, the 2nd game by 56 pins, and the last game by 1 pin. We also won pin fall. Hopefully that will put us back in 3 rd place because we had dropped to 4th and Big Daddy was not happy to say the least. He is so funny, you would think we were on the World Bowling Tour not just knocking over sticks at the Virgin River (HA) He is just that passionate about everything, it's fabulous!!



Poor Tooboocoo Bill is the clean up man and it's a good thing he has been bowling for 50 years and is up to the task. It is so fun bowling with these guys they are a riot. No matter what happens, good or bad, they call for a beer frame. It is a crack up. Big Daddy stuck with his plan and didn't have a beer till we started and bowled much better. We went to the Eureka for awhile and played the penny slots but I got tired and made Big Dad and Leo bring me home, then they went back out. Don't know what time BD got home but it's 8:16 and he is still sleeping like a baby.



We are going to see a Creedence Clearwater cover band tonight and have dinner at Gregory's. This is diet sabotage!!! How can it be my birthday and then Thanksgiving and me on a diet. We all know my level of self control so let's not pretend that I am even going to be reasonably good. As they say in New Orleans, "Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez"

Happy Birthday to Me

Well I am now officially 56 years old. I can't imagine. Seems like it was only yesterday blah blah blah. I tell you one thing it's been a hell of a ride.

We went up to White Rock with the kids and dutch oven ed chicken, potatoes, and baked beans. Had a big fire and it was so much fun. Oli and Tony had a blast but Gabbi wasn't too happy with it all. She's at that stage where she wants to get down and motor around and there was no way in all that dirt. She did good and lets us eat so that was fine. Leo was still in Vegas and didn't get to come up on the mountain with us but met us back at the house and we had Tres Leche's cake with peach filling and coffee. It was to die for. There is a Mexican bakery in town and the woman makes the most amazing cakes I have ever seen. All decorated beautifully with fresh fruit fillings and whipped cream for frosting. They are more like a torte than a cake but look like a cake. (As you can tell, I am impressed with her).

Just wished Toby, Traci, Alecia, and Shi could have been there, then it would have been perfect. I know they would all have had fun. I think everyone is going to be here for Christmas and I am so excited.

We are going to have a fabulous Christmas this year filled with lots of lights, our beautiful Christmas tree ( decorated with chili pepper lights, red twinkly lights, vintage blown glass cowboy ornaments, and country and western music star blown glass balls. All topped off with an old west style cowboy hat for a topper and lots of raffia that looks like hay. I love our tree, it is so us and beautiful to boot. I love Christmas music and can't wait to hear Thistle Hair the Christmas Bear, Christmas in Dixie, all George Straits stuff, Motown Christmas, oh hells yeah it's gonna be fun. A nice hot cup of Irish coffee and I will be the happiest girl in town.

I was thinking last night that I must be the luckiest woman alive. How I got so blessed is just beyond me. As we stood by the fire last night watching the kids running around Cliff looked over and started singing to me and I got tears in my eyes and told him "Baby, I wouldn't have missed it for the world." His response was to give me a big fat kiss and say, " You're the one ,Wyatt" (see Tombstone for further reference)

BOWLING BALL

Well, I have finally had to admit my bowling does not suck because of my bowling ball. Like Napoelan Dynamite it's my lack of skills.

Cliff and I went bowling and I used my new ball and bowled a 150. I have bowled so bad lately that I was sure it was my new ball. I have been using a lane ball to bowl during league hoping that would help. Negative. So now I am back to my tornado and hoping I don't bowl like a spaz this weekend.

Still walking everyday and it feels fabulous. Kness just getting better and better. I am even eating right. Hope it lasts awhile. Cha & Leo are ordering a tres leches cake with peach filling for my bday so I am sure I will be screwed there but oh well. It's my B-day what ya gonna do ?

Faux Anniversary

What a nice weekend!

Started out with dinner at Ruth's Chris. Fabulous food but ridicules prices ( what ya gonna do?) Cliff had a T-bone and I had a Fillet. Perfect in every way. We finished eating and were having a cup of coffee when the waiter came over to the table with a piece of chocolate cheese cake (yes Alecia, it was smothered in real whipped cream with chocolate drizzled over it and chocolate truffle sprinkles yummmmmmm Dad said to tell you it was freaking awesome.) with a candle and sat it on the table and , with a big smile said "Happy Anniversary!!" We looked at each other and said "Thanks!" Who knew. So now we are excited cause we finally know when our anniversary is, we kept wondering cause neither one of us could remember. It was pretty funny. Whoever's anniversary it really was got ripped off for a fabulous piece of cheese cake which we enjoyed very much.

Tracy Lawrence was rocking as usual. Man can he put on a show. Just puts everything in to it and brings the audience along for the sweet ride. He was just wringing wet with sweat by the time it was over. Side note: The last three times we have seen him he has been wearing the same shirt! I can't figure out if it's
1. Coincidence
2. His only shirt
3. His lucky shirt
4. His Vegas shirt
5. Coincidently his only lucky Vegas shirt
hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

The Railhead is such a great venue and so intimate. We had great seats up front and had so much fun. Half the fun is watching the skeezers trying to get the bands attention by their crazy dancing as close to the band stand as they can get. Seems like they get fatter and trashier every year. I told Cliff, I need to start a school for skeezers and show them how to dress. Like Miss Dolly Parton says, "It costs a lot of money to look this cheap."

There was an after party with a band called Stetson. It was one of those things where you want to like the band, and by all rights, you should like the band, but their energy was so whacked that you just didn't. For one thing ,the chick fronting the band (my age and very classy cowgirl) was so busy being fabulous she forgot about the music. She could sing.... but moved so stiff as to not mess up her hair or work up sweat and mess up her make up that I wanted to slap her. Needless to stay we only stayed about 30 minutes and then just could not take anymore. Also, they were either too freaking loud or me an Big Daddy are getting old.

Had breakfast this morning with our sweet Olivia and Teddi and Martin. When Olivia saw us she said ,OH, Mimi and Dad Dad with the biggest smile. She is so sweet and cute. Teddi had Oli's hair in a pony tail with her golden curls . She had on some cream colored jeans with UGG boots and a little puffy vest. She looked sooooooooooooooo cute.

So now we are home and waiting for the race to start, Big Daddy is already napping and I am not far behind................................

OMG

Well bowling did not go quite as planned. I did OK but Clifford did not.

According to him he did not just bowl unacceptable it was unforgivable. I suggested that he flog himself till he had flayed all the skin off his back, then wear sack cloth and ashes. He didn't want to go that route feeling it was far to lenient a punishment for his sins.

Instead he has decided that he can't start drinking beer until we start bowling as apposed to two hours before. I feel that is far to great a sacrifice and suggested the punishment described above but he insists on this ultimate sacrifice. Go figure.

He did tell me last night that my birthday surprise is on it's way. Ohhhhhh sweet.

TGIF

Finally, Friday!

Can't wait to go bowling tonight. It's league night and I MUST be on. We are second in our league and not to far out of first place. If you know Clifford, if you're not first, your last! Mr. Competitive. Last week I threw my ball and only knocked over 3 pins, when I came back to the table, he very sternly looked up at me and said, "That is unacceptable". I about died laughing. It was so funny. Then he gave me his funny grin. I promised to do better and at least bowled above my average of 122, so I was forgiven. Leonard and I both know we are in for it if we miss our averages.

We were so hungry after we bowled, I was almost sick. It didn't help that I had had a couple beers on an empty stomach. We had Chinese and it was wonderful. They had some old dried up hot dogs in a rack at the bowling alley and above them it said Delicious Wieners. Cliff said "Lets just have a delicious wiener, that way we can brag that we ate one and lived." I said, "I beg you not to eat a delicious wiener, cause from the looks of them you won't live." Thank heavens he listened and is around to torment Leo and I tonight.

I am looking forward to a fabulous weekend. We are going to see Tracy Lawrence at the Boulder Station on Saturday, dinner at Ruth's Chris steak house, and spending the night in Vegas. It will be nice to get away for the day. It's been awhile since we had any down time. We may try to sneak over to and see our friend Rick Champion's band at Tony Keith's I Love This Bar.

Then home Sunday for the final Nascar race of the season. Jeff is out but maybe someone can still beat Jimmy Johnson. It would be nice if Jeff could win so he doesn't end up with a win-less season, but what ever. He is still the MAN.

Old People

Charlee Ann and I have started walking at 5:00 am. It is actually not too bad as I am already up at that horrible time of day. I get up and make Cliff coffee at 3:30 when he leaves for work so 5:00 seems like half the morning is gone. That will change next week when his job ends but for now it gets me up.

I am so sore from walking. I cannot believe how fast I can get totally out of shape. It sucks! I just know that I have to get moving. My knees are so bad and I am sure the fat on my butt is not helping. Amazing how many aches and pains you can have. I just keep repeating, I won't get old, I won't get old. We'll see how that works out for me (HA) If I am gonna get in shape for the January show I better start now.

The weather has turned off beautiful, it's suppose to be 73 today and I love it.

ALways Patsy Reprise

Well, it looks like the show will go on.

Mom called last night and said she talked to Steve Wall and he and the boys are in. The Steve Wall Band has done the show with us about 30 times. They are great. Steve is a hoot, sounds just like Joe Cocker and is a rocking bass player. Haven't talked to him so I don't know if he will use Roger Kennedy on lead guitar, Lawson Childs on drums, Scot Derrer on keys or not, but that has been our normal line up. These guys are real pros and usually do the show with one rehearsal. I can't wait. Miss Marnie and I always have fun with it and it will be fun to see her.

The theatre is a 650 seats and has great acoustics. It is always fun. We are there for three nights. I have heard that our sound man Walt is no longer there and we will miss him for sure but can't wait. Now if I can lose some weight so I can get my fat ass in the costumes, it will all be good. Hopefully it will give me some motivation!!!

Wonderful Wet Weekend

We had a nice relaxing weekend.

Friday evening we went bowling for our league night. I finally bowled a decent game, I at least bowled a little over my average. We won 3 out of 4 games so that was nice. Had a few beers and then Cliff, Leo and I went and had Chinese food about 9:00. It was yummy.

Satuday we got up early and watched MAD TV for awhile and then cat-napped. In the afternoon we went to St George and bought two dutch ovens, a camping coffee pot, and a cast iron griddle. We want to take all the kids out to the hills and cook out next weekend. The weather is perfect for it. Just cool enough to make it enjoyable, but not too cold for the babies. Had dinner at Texas Roadhouse then home to our sweatpants and TV.

Sunday we woke up to beautiful rain. We really appreciate it here in the desert. I took all my house plants out to get a drink and enjoy the weather. Made Green Chili Stew from Cliff's Mom's receipe, then just layed around and watched the Nascar race in Phoenix. I was glad we weren't there, the weather was crappy, Gordon blew his engine, Jimmy Johnson won (again), and I don't like that track. Anyway, Cha & Leo brought Gouda over and had dinner with us and we got to kiss our girl. Tony was at his Dad's. After they left we watched "Windtalkers" or at least I started to watch it. I could only take so much (yes I cried, too many memories of the 60's and the war) then I went into the bedroom and watched comedy. I did notice when Cliff came in his eyes were a little misty. God I love that man