It's Christmas Time!!!

This is my favorite time of the year. I start getting Christmas tunes in my head in July or August. So when it actually comes around, I'm super duper happy about it.

To dispell the gloom this weekend, hubby and I put up the tree and it really did brighten the day. Now we just need to decorate it. LOL! And decorate everything else. I think we'll finish it off this weekend. I've been a little under the weather, so we just couldn't get it finished yet.

I tried to convince hubby we need to do something like the guy in the video below. And while he's all about working out the technical aspects, I think he's afraid of the prospect of climbing up on our roof (it's steep). So I told him we'd skip it and just do what we usually do. Of course that whole proposition could have back fired on me because he could have been all for it, then where would I be? Probably on You Tube like this guy. LOL!



What about you? Planning any "show" staging for the holidays?

April

What I'm Thankful For...

I'm thankful for my family and all of the friends and loved ones I have or have had in my life. I'm thankful for the time I get to spend with them. I'm thankful for those special people who enter my life and leave me a different, maybe better person.

One of those people is a friend of my husband. And yesterday he lost his battle with lung cancer. It was a relatively short battle, his having been diagnosed just this past spring with stage IV cancer. Short did not mean painless. Through treatments which nearly cut his life even shorter, he persevered and continued to pray for healing and have faith that all would happen as was meant to be.

In June we even celebrated a short remission. However, it was discovered the remission was to be short lived. News that he would be undergoing a procedure spread recently and we all began the prayers for another miracle. However, it simply was not meant to be.

Chris' life itself was a miracle. A talented musician, he's been touching lives for a very long time and when he was diagnosed with lung cancer, he made it his mission to make clubs smoke free.

You see Chris had not been a smoker for MANY years. However, as a musician, he had no choice but to be in smokey places. Thanks to him and his tenacity, we now have an organization for a smoke free SC. And he's raised awareness among local people who thought being under 40 and a non-smoker meant there was no reason to get screened for lung cancer.

So on this day of family and thankfullness, I celebrate the life of Chris Conner and the many ways he touched those around him. And I pray his son who is much too young to understand what is going on will know what an amazing person his father was and will be able to celebrate the legacy he left.

I also pray you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and you were able to cherish the time spent with family and friends for the gift that it is...

Love,
April

Does Anyone Smell Turkey?

Well, I know I've been a bad Blogger AGAIN! I am dreadfully sorry for that. My reasons for being such a terrible blogger will hopefully be better explained soon.

In the meantime, Thursday is Thanksgiving for those of us in the U.S. And this will be the first year hubby and I host Thanksgiving dinner at our house. We'll be hosting both of our families and possibly my sister's MIL. So there will be 11 or 12 of us (including a precocious 8 year-old)

My mother, lovely and wonderful person that she is, is bringing the turkey. I think it's because she's scared I can't cook one, but she says it's because she wants to help. She is the helper sort, so who knows... I still think I scare her. LOL! And my MIL is bringing dressing and pumpkin pies...

So that leaves sides (which run the gamut in our family) It seems no one likes the same thing and so there's always a bevy of sides. Mashed potatoes, corn, mac and cheese (for the nephew) and then the traditional biscuits and cranberry sauce. Then, half the family likes pumpkin pie, the other half coconut cake... So baking will need to be done...

And usually there's a fruit tray for appetizers... We're going to be up to our ears in food!

So here's my question. Really two... First, what is your BEST tip for hosting Thanksgiving (large quantities of alcohol excluded) and can you think of anything I've forgotten?

April
(who will try not to have a coronary this week. LOL!)

The Life & Times...

A good friend of mine got married this weekend. It was a lovely ceremony and a very enjoyable and yummy reception. I ate too much... what's new. But I had a good time and that's what matters. Ok, THE COUPLE had a good time and THAT'S what matters...

My darling hubby couldn't attend with me, but it's inevitable at a wedding you're going to start thinking about your own nuptuals, right? Or am I the only sap? Standing there in my bridesmaids dress watching them commit to loving and supporting each other for the rest of their lives I thought back two and a half years ago to when the hubster and I did the same.

We'd dated for over 11 years. I thought we were as close as we could be without living together. But I was wrong. Each year has brough hubby and I closer and the last two are no exception. We've faced our fair share of trials and tribulations, but we've faced them together and I'm thankful to have him here with me.

We found each other so early in life (I was 16 and he was 17), I think we were both fairly skeptical as to whether it was real or puppy love. We often joke that if there is a such thing as past lives, we must have been searching for each other for a long time in the last and that's why we found each other so early this time.

Whatever it was, it was a Blessing. I guess the Lord knew we'd need each other early on and so He provided. And whew, am I thankful.

So I wish Bethany and Steve the same joy and love hubby and I share and I pray they have a long and happy marriage!

Am I the only sap, say I'm not... please!!!!

April

Visit Me

Visit me over at Word Flirts where my characters are costing me sleep!

April

Get Me A Straight Jacket Please...

Things have been nuts! I know, I know... I've been saying that for a while now. But they just seem to stay nuts!

Last week, my best friend gave birth to a precious little baby boy. He's soooooooo sweet. On top of that we've been going to pre-wedding events for a friend who's getting married on Nov 3rd and another friend who got married yesterday.

I'm hoping after the 3rd things will slow down. Hahahahaha yeah right.

The wedding this past weekend was in the mountains, so hubby and I took off Friday and went up early to have a mini-vacation. It was great! We relaxed, did a little shopping, ate some GREAT food that is NOT on the list of approved foods I'm supposed to be eating from :o), and had an overall great time.

The wedding was outdoors at dusk and it was beautiful! It looked like a setting out of Southern Living with grapevine balls strung from ribbons in the trees and everything lit up with candles and little white lights. It was a little bit chilly, but I'd prefer that over hot and humid anytime!

What have you been up to recently?

April

And here she is....

April Andretti...
That's me and my over-sized bottom in a racing suit. I wore shorts because I knew it would be warm... but Whew is it warm in that suit. And the helmets are really heavy. When I put it on I thought my neck might collapse. It made turning my head feel funny though...

After every other driver, this guy checked out the cars. He checked the engine and tires. It was funny because he rolled the cars and the guys buckling people in through the windows would stumble to go along. In the background you can see a leader car and a rookie like me. Actually, my darling hubby who is reading over my shoulder told me that IS me. LOL! So there I am whipping around the track!

I thought at first this was me crossing the finish line. But if you look closely, the little flag guy has a rolled up green flag that he's waving like a nut. He's telling me to catch up to my lead car. But I felt I was going fast enough ;o)

And this is me pulling in to the pit, thanking God I made it without wrecking and praying I don't run over the poor little guy waving me in because the breaks don't really seem to stop on a dime... LOL!

Most of the pics my hubby took were of my car going around the track. But if you've seen one, you've kind of seen them all, you know? Our video camera gave out right after I got buckled in, so he switched to pics. I'm trying to figure out how to get the video off our camcorder so you guys can see them shove my big head through the window. LOL!

Happy Racing!
April (Andretti)

Just Call Me April Andretti...

Racing was FABULOUS! It was the biggest fright and exhilaration all wrapped into one.

We had to leave home around 8AM and my "driving experience" started at 11AM. When we got there it was neat because we drove through the tunnel out onto the asphalt in the center of the track. It's quite an overwhelming place!

First we watched a short video, then they broke us into groups and sent us out with instructors. My group toured the track first. I got to sit shot-gun in the van and they take us out and drove us around stopping where they need to point out certain things. Which can be disturbing when you're in a loaded van on a track tilted to 24%.

They have markers for your driving line painted on the track. If you stay between them you get the most bang for the buck. Then they have cones for where you take your foot off the gas going into a turn and for where you speed back up. After pointing everything out they take the van around the track at about 85mph. Which may not have been so scary if my instructor hadn't been talking over his shoulder to everyone and turning around looking back.

Then we went for in car instruction. This is where they tell you everything to do if something goes wrong. There's a million and one releases, a fire extinguisher pointed at you, and a low oil pressure gage I'm sad to say I never even looked at during my drive.

From then on it's waiting for your turn. I was almost at the end of the list which permitted my nerves to settle a little. Well, until they called my name at least. Then they suited me up with a helmet (they put you in a driving suit first thing) and a neck brace... The ones they came out with after Dale Earnhardt's accident.

We didn't practice getting in to the car. No doors, you know. So I'm standing there fearing my big fat butt won't fit through the window, despite all assurances that it will. Surprise surprise, it wasn't my butt that got stuck, it was my head. With the neck brace on you can't turn your head to the side and I needed to. They just pushed on it and popped me in.

After scooting all the way back in the seat I look up to discover this window is nothing like the one on my car. It's plexi-glass so it's sort of warpy and it was dirty. Meanwhile I'm being strapped in with 5 seat belts, a steering wheel is being put on and my pulse has increased from it's usual 75 bpm to around 250. That's what it felt like at least.

Terrified my sweaty palms would cause the wheel to slip, I convulsively wiped them on my jump suit jerking them back to the 10 and 4 position on the wheel (easier for turning) and watch for my signal. There was no one else in the car, but an instructor drove a car in front of me. I was supposed to follow at a 3-5 car distance, but he really wanted to go really fast so that was hard.

After a little trouble with 4th gear, I set out around the track. The drive was over before I knew it. I took one turn a little faster than I meant to, and I kept getting the flag to get closer to my instructor, but I was plenty happy with my top speed of 124. It's not the 140 another student did, but he'd done it before.

When I got out I was shaking. A lot. And there was this mix of excitement and appreciation that it was over.

They have a camera in the car that records you. We gave in and ordered the dvd... It should be interesting. I think I swore twice... When I couldn't get it into 4th and when I took that turn to fast. But there shouldn't be any sound.

There ARE pictures and I promise to post some as soon as my hubby gives them to me. I knew I should have taken MY camera ;o)

Hubby turned down my offer to drive home... Which meant I got a nap.

It was the experience of a life time. I'm not sure if I'll ever do it again. One minute I think, "oh yeah..." Then the next I think, "Mmmm, maybe not." LOL!

I will say if you ever get the chance, take it!

April

Look Another Post

I'm setting a new record... Two posts in ONE week!!!! Look at me go! Check out my post at Word Flirts :o)

April

Rad Racer, Here I Come....

Things around here have been nuts. I turned 30 this past weekend. For my birthday, my darling husband got me a Richard Petty Driving Experience.

For those unfamiliar, the experience means I go to a race track, probably Lowe's Motor Speedway because it's close, and take a class on how to drive the cars and safety instructions. Then I'm unleashed for 8 timed laps driving a race car around the track. The student with the best time wins! My family even gets to go and watch... To my mother's relief. She's not as happy as me about this gift. :o)

I had joked some time ago that I would be REALLY GOOD at this. And hubby thought it was time I made good on that boast. And to be honest, I'm REALLY excited! This definately ranks in the top 3 best B-day presents ever.

How about you? What's your most favorite present ever?

April