Spring Cleaning

It was such a beautiful day that we took advantage of it and cleaned out our shed and all the other junk that had accumulated around here and took two loads to the dump today. We filled up 1 pickup and the Mexicans filled up the other 1. I always love to get rid of junk. We cleaned up around the place a little bit but are going to do most of it tomorrow morning before the super bowl.

We were both just beat by around 4 o'clock. Moaning and Groaning, poor old things. I told Cliff he was too young to be sore and creaky but he just laughed and said too many years spend plumbing on his knees. I had gone to Papa Murphy's and got a pizza so we ate pizza and both promptly feel asleep in front of the TV. I just woke up a few minutes ago and it was 10:30!

Cliff is playing some old Play Station l games he found when we were cleaning stuff out and we are laughing about how bad the graphics are. It is so funny to watch him play video games. He is so competitive and just talks mad smack to the TV while he is playing. It is hysterical, Right now his character is winning so he is calling the other player his bizzatch. I love it!!!!! That tune will change when he starts losing and then he will be yelling naughty words !

We bowled our last games in league last night and won all 4 games. We are still going to end up about 5th but that's pretty good for how crappy we did most of the time!!! Just no consistency.Oh well we will get em next year. We have so much fun it doesn't matter to me if we win or not, but old Mr. Competitive Pants has a fit.

Oli Came to Visit

Teddi, Marty, and Oli came to visit last night and we had lots of fun. Grilled chicken and made homemade mac and cheese. Yummy. Cha took baby Gabbi home and we took Tony and Leo with us and went bowling. Oli was so funny, she kept lifting the bowling balls and saying , "too heavy".

While we were still at the house Oli was so enthralled with Gabbi and being so sweet to her. Gabbi was walking around and Oli climbed up in my lap. When Gabbi saw her sitting on me she freaked out. She let out a holler and headed straight for me. She climbed up on my lap and just glared at Olivia. It was so funny. It was obvious she was not sharing her Mima without a fight. Then Olivia climbed down and went over to were Cliff was standing and he picked her up. When Gabbi saw that she let out another squeal and just dove for Cliff. She is so darn cute. We had a good laugh. Gabbi is walking so well now, she just totters around everywhere. She is a little cautious on our wood floors but does really good. Olivia is just talking up a storm. She knows all her colors and can count to ten. Not bad for just turning 2. They are so sweet.

Tony is growing up so much and is such a good boy. He is getting to that age where the testosterone is setting in. He spent all night at the bowling alley trying to wrestle with Cliff or Leo. Leo finally got him down on the floor and was poking him and he started to get mad. Aunt Teddi went to the rescue and said she had been tickle torturing him for 11 yrs but nobody else was going to torment him. Then he came over and acted like he was going to punch me in the tummy. I said, " Don't punch your poor old Mima." He just grabbed me in a hug (he is taller than me now) and said, " I was only teasing Mimi, I would never hit my sweet Mimi." He is such a good boy. He did not want to go home when we left and tried to talk us in to playing Risk but it was a school night and already 8:30 so I vetoed that and sent him home to bed. Teenagers!

Cold Cold Cold

It has been cold and rainy here all week. This has been an unusual winter for moisture. None of the big gully washer rains we usually get, just gentle rain that last a few days. Also it seems to have been colder than usual. Charlee and I have been walking in the morning and Monday morning it was windy and cold, we about froze. It's not pleasant at 4:30 in the morning. This morning it was only 26 degrees so we called it a day and cancelled. I did go tan and then went home and cleaned house. Trying hard not to wake Cliff up at that horrible time of day.

It was nice just to sit and drink coffee in the quiet of the morning. I was thinking about some of my friends who are having sorrow in their lives. Kenny and Claiborne are in Florida as Kenny's Dad, Robert, passed away on Sunday. My heart and thoughts are with them so much this week. They are old and dear friends. Claiborne is like my sister and such a warm loving person. Kenny is just her rock, such a fine man. I hope their hearts are comforted as well as the rest of the family.

Then my other old friend Karen called this morning. Her ex-husband called her and told her he is dying of liver cancer. It just broke her heart. They really only divorced because he had such a drinking problem and she was trying to shock him into sobriety. He has several children most are grown but he does still have a 16 year old daughter at home. He has asked Karen to take her when he passes. Luckily Karen's new man friend Roger, (that she lives with) is willing to have her and help finish raising her ,which speaks volumes for him. It is just a sad situation and is really breaking Karen's heart. So my thoughts and prayers are with her also.

Just thankful today for all our blessings and for my sweetheart, Cliff. Talk about God's gift to me. It makes life so wonderful to have someone as funny, sweet, charming, tuff, smart, and sexy: a cowboy who is a damn fine dancer. Larry McMurty has a line in his book "Duane's Depressed" (an excellent read for anyone interested) that tells it all. One of the books main character's, Carla, is talking about one of her friends and states, "She's so damn dumb she married a man who couldn't dance." Glad I was smarter than that!!!!

40's Review

The show was fun but I am glad it's over. I have done way too much lately. Working full time, kids, grand kids, rehearsal, I am tired. I decided not to do the musical "Cowgirls." Just didn't feel like spending the time, plus it comes off the week of spring break when we will have the kids. I just didn't feel like taking it all on. I am still doing the Cowboy poetry festival in April and they have asked me to do a new benefit concert they are having at the Casablanca showroom the end of March. I think it is going to be an annual thing. Should be fun they are going to televise it on Channel 9 so should be fun. I need to lose some weight before then. Back to walking and starving. Boo Hiss,

This is Mr. Guiterrez. He is the sweetest little man and blows a mean Saxophone. He played with the 47 th Fleet Orchestra during World War Two and still plays a swinging sax. He played a medley of 40's music and then all the theme songs from the 5 branches of the military. He asked all the veterans to stand when their branch of the military's song was played. I was surprised at how many women stood. It was really touching. He was my favorite part of the whole show. So here is a shout out to Edward Guiterrez, soul man, old school rocker, and a snappy dresser to boot.



Irving Berlin's "White Christmas"

Back in the Swing

Well I am finally recovered from our Idaho trip. Nice to be home. It is a nice rainy day today and I am enjoying it. Justin and Lana, Cliff's brother and sister in law are in town and we have been having a ball visiting with them. We really have a lot of fun together. Cliff and Justin are a lot alike, Lot's of fun, and Lana is such a sweetheart. We have been casino hopping and eating Chinese last night, then home to cook bacon and eggs at midnight, good stuff.

We bought a used truck today for Cliff to have a work truck. It is a 1997 GMC, and not a bad little truck for hauling plumbing pipe. When I called the insurance to add it to our policy, she asked if there was any damage. I just laughed and said "it's a plumbing work truck you'd be better to ask if there is any where on it that's not damaged." Scratches in the paint everywhere. It is one of the trucks Tri-Force Mechanical had and was liquidating so I got a smoking deal. It was so filthy inside, I don't know why construction guys can't seem to clean out a vehicle once in awhile. There was receipts, food wrappers, junk parts, old coffee cups clear up to the seat in the floor. Not to mention soda spilled everywhere with dirt ground in. It took me an hour just to half way clean up the inside of it so we could drive it home. This weekend we will have to do a complete clean up so my baby can have a clean truck.

I do my little thing for the community tonight in the Tribute to the 40's night for the Arts Council. Should be fun. There is the cutest little man who is playing the sax in the show. He was in some kind of military swing band in the 40's and can really "cut a rug". I am going to get a picture with him tonight in my Marilyn Monroe dress. He is 85 and so cute; Mr. Gutierrez.

Now I am off to have lunch with my sweetheart!

Me & Miss Marnie

I didn't get a picture of Marnie and I together but wanted to add her to this page. How could I not ? This is the promotional press photo that was used for the show. She is fabulous and so funny. Such a hoot and a true professional. We had a ball and hopefully not for the last time. I love ya girl!!

Home Again Home Again Jiggity Jog

Lawson sent me a couple more pictures so here they are

Patsy and the Bodacious Bobcats! The guys had taken off their costumes but I still had to have a picture. From left is Steve Wall- bass guitar-Hoss Bob-band leader, Roger Kennedy-lead guitar, Lawson Hill-drummer extraordinaire, The chunky little country girl Patsy, Robert Sutherland-keyboards! They were fabulous and walked that tight rope without a net!!!

Me telling some BS story or giving direction, what a laugh!!!!

We got home from Idaho this afternoon about 1:00 . We were both so glad to be home it was unbelievable. It was wonderful to see everyone and the show was great, but it was so cold and dreary the whole time I could barely stand it. It was just foggy and misty and you couldn't see 100 feet. We did not see the sun for 4 days. Yuck!

It's so wonderful to be back to the sunshine. It is 70 degrees and we have the doors open watching the football game. Every once in awhile Cliff will look over at me; smile and wink and say, "Man is it good to be home." Amen. I am going to cook us a nice steak for dinner and life is GREAT!

The show was fun but nerve racking. I am too old to do that show with no rehearsal. We got there Thursday and ran through the show 1 time with the band, then opened Friday night. We had a great crowd and they just loved the show, in fact we got 2 standing ovations. If they only knew!!! It was a train wreck but we got out of every mess in a way that made it even funnier.

Then on Saturday, Marnie and I were both so nervous because of the screw ups on Friday that we were having a fit. The fact that the crowd was wild and it took us over an hour to get out of the meet and greet after the show, seemed to have escaped us. But, the Sat show went off perfectly. It was great but probably not as much fun. Amazing how that works. I think they video taped it so hopefully I can get a copy without too much trouble.

The bad thing is our camera batteries (rechargeable) would not hold a charge so I only got two photo's, that will make the video even more important as we can take stills off that. But until then here are the two photos I have.

I got a nice surprise while in Idaho. My girlfriend Shirley Martindale that I have not seen in 15 years called and then brought her family and came to the show Friday night. It was so nice to see her again. We met her for coffee on Saturday morning and got to reminise a bit. She looked great and hopefully we can keep in touch.

Another Patsy Moment

We leave in the morning to go to Idaho to do APC. I was thinking last night that it seems like I have done this show 50 times, then I realized I have!!! You'd think after all that I would have it etched in my memory but I have to re-learn it every time. I must admit it does get easier every time. I think the hard part is I never get any rehearsal time with the band. It is not easy to do 27 songs with a new band, many of which are medleys, with usually 1 rehearsal. I always just pray they remember to give me some sort of pick up when we segue out of the vamping for lines and back into the song. If not, I just go and they just have to find a way to go with me.

It is nerve racking though. My dream would be to do the show and actually have a couple days to work with the musicians. But the good news is Miss Marnie and I always have each others backs and it works out. Sometimes for the better cause the train wreck is usually hysterical.
I have come up with a few new costumes that I like better for this show. I figured I'd go all out since this may be the last time I do it, Who knows!

As soon as we get back I have to do two songs in a 40's revue. "Diamonds are a girls best friend "and "White Christmas." I ordered a dress for Diamonds but it looked like crap, the fabric looked like a pepto-parachute. So now, I have no idea what to wear. Channel Marilyn Monroe I guess.

They have asked me to do a show called "Cowgirls". It's a hokey musical but looks fun. I told them last night I'd do it so now I guess I'm committed. The character Mickey is actually the only one I would be willing to play and she is the youngest, go figure HA! Hope it's not too bad. I have a hard time with theatre politics sometimes. We are also doing the cowboy poetry festival for two days in April. I am really looking forward to that. So with it all I hope we"break a leg". Tell ya all about it later.

Big Daddy's A Star

Big D got the back splash and counter tops done in the kitchen and it is just beautiful. What a talented guy! The house looks totally different than it did when we bought it. So nice now.

We bowled last night and Leo bowled a 214, What a score! He closed every frame!!! My best was a 170 which is really good for me. Cliff had an off night but will get em next time. I actually didn't bowl that great other than that one game. Then we all went to Fat Cats and had chicken wings and played 20 dollars on a poker machine, then on to the Eureka. They had the funniest slot machine we played. It was called "Hot Flashes". Instead of lemons & cherries etc, it had lipstick, a credit card, pain pills, a dog house with a guy in it, and a picture of a blonde in a frame. To hit the bonus you had to have 3 mood swings ( How funny). If you ever got 3 of the blonde in the picture she would say things like ( in a really ditsy New York accent) "I just want you to change your underwear!", or "You need a bigger car!" I about laughed myself sick.

We got home about 1 in the morning and I actually slept till 8:30 which is lateeeeeeeeee for me. Now I have cleaned house and rehearsed for the show and I am tired. Think I will take a nap. We are going to Gregory's for dinner tonight, can't wait!!!

I am looking at another show they brought to me and asked me to do, it's called "Cowgirls" They want me to play the part of Mickey, I had to laugh cause she is the youngest character in the show!! Score!!!

Happy 1st Birthday Gouda Cheese

Happy, Happy Birthday. It's our babies birthday. Gabbi is now officially 1 yr old, YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!! This was Gabbi after she had played Bite It with the Birthday Cake

Gabbi on her new motorcycle/4 wheeler. It kind of scared her but she had fun

Mama and her sweet big girl

We had Gabbi's birthday party last night. She was so cute. Of course Olivia had to help open all the presents but Gabbi didn't seem to mind. Teddi and Martin came along with, Angelo, Darci and her kids, Josh and Kelly and their kids, us and the Mexicans of course with the baby of honor. I made homemade chicken and noodles for the babies and we ordered pizza for everyone else. Of course Dig Daddy had to eat chicken and noodles also as it is one of his favorites. Another fabulous Mexican Tres Leches cake with walnut filling topped off the evening.

We just let the kids run wild (other than Big D blocked off his music room and kept them out of his guitars. Tony did give us an impromptu guitar concert which was great. Teddi and Martin spent the night and we all ended up eating bacon and eggs late at night. Then I crashed and they stayed up and watched Eagle Eye.

Bowling tonight and I feel like a 200 game is possible. (Yeah right)

Warming Up

I have felt better and better every day this week. It's a good thing. Cliff and I leave next Wednesday to go to Idaho for the Patsy Cline show. http://www.nampaciviccenter.com/events_each.cfm?EventID=1032

I have not rehearsed one minute so I better get cracking. Hopefully I can fit my big behind into the costumes. That ought to be a show in it's self. Will her fat ass split out the gold lame pants or will it stay contained therein? Stay tuned to find out! I am looking forward to the trip. Hopefully some of the bad weather will be over and the roads will be good. I do not look forward to the 11 hr drive, but it will be nice to see everyone.

Hopefully we will get to go out to Ben's Crow Inn and have clams. They are the absolute best anywhere. They fly them in from New England and I swear they are better than when you are in New England! So Meaty!!!! Also ,I am hoping that the Saloonatics are playing at the Buffalo Club would love to see all the guys again. So onward and forward!!

Yucky weekend

I started feeling sick Saturday afternoon, then got a little better so Cliff and I went out Saturday night to the VR and listened to Randy Anderson's mess of a band. Mostly I just laugh they are so silly. They have a great drummer and he really saves the show, but the rest is juvenile. It amazes me that they bring in a crowd, but they do. All the usual suspects and more. I have decided that most people wouldn't know good music if it hit them in the head.

I woke up Sunday morning sick as a dog, just so nauseous. I did not get out of bed all day and that is unheard of for me. Talked to the girls on the phone and just could hardly hold my head up. Cliff had to fend for himself all day, poor baby. He finally came in late in the afternoon and said he was going to get a hamburger so I had him bring me one and it actually tasted good. I started feeling a little better and this morning I was 85%. So I am at work and glad to be out of the house. It is hard for me to stay home and do nothing. I HATE IT.

Alone Again, Naturally

The big girls left Friday morning and so now we are all alone. Seems quiet around here. I have been cleaning and changing the beds all morning.

Cliff has been working on finishing the back splash and counter tops in the kitchen. It is going to be beautiful when it's finished. I ordered some new plug and switch covers for the back splash. They are iron with brands on them, super cool. Can't wait to see it all put together. I scrubbed all the cabinet fronts and they were filthy. I told Cliff he should spank me for letting them get so dirty.HA

The weather is so pretty today, cool but sunny. Cha called and when Gabbi wakes up we are going to take her to the park. Wish Ted was here with Oli butt. We are going out tonight to get out of the house. Seems like we haven't left the house in a week, boring. Hope the band at the VR is worth listening to!!

1st Night 2009

Well this picture says it all. Yes, we partied like it was 2009, as you can see by the aftermath I was sweeping up. If you notice, there is a baby pacifier right in the middle of the party debris. That's how we party these days HA! We stayed home and sang karakoe with the girls and Tony and babysat Gabbi so the Mexicans could go out. We had a lot of fun. Gabbi made it to 10:00 before she knocked out, Cha came and got Tony and Gabbi about 10:30 then it was just us . Cliff was ready to go to bed but Traci shamed him into staying up till midnight. She informed him it was HER year as she turns 18 and graduates this year. She says she has been waiting for this year since she was 5 yrs old. We told her that anything you look forward to that long is bound to be a big disapointment!! We hope 2009 is everything she hoped it would be!

Big Daddy and Mima Parting like Rock a Bye Baby Stars

Traci and Alecia New Years Eve 2008-2009

The Mexicans say goodbye to 2008

Sweet Baby Gabbi partying with Big Dad and Mima

Tony ringing in the New Year