HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wasn't it just a couple of years ago that we were getting ready to celebrate 2000? The New year, the Millennium and all that went with that hoopla? Well, here it is, 2007 tomorrow. What happens to the years???? They say it flies by when you are having fun.

I must be having the time of my life!

Let's hope and pray that 2007 is a wonderful year, full of love and good things.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Right after Christmas every year since I can remember my thoughts turned from Santa to getting another year older. Yikes..have I had a lot of thoughts!!!! My mother always treated my birthday as if it were in the summer, or at least a few months from the Christmas presents that were opened just a day before! That was nice, as I have a daughter whose birthday is the first part of January, and it is hard to think Christmas/birthday in separate thoughts.

We left for Plano right after Christmas, and spent two wonderful days with Grandchildren and children. It was too fun. We ate two dinners and a wonderful lunch at Dave and Busters. I like that place. We also went out to Harry Hines. I love to get my calogne out there, as it is somewhat cheaper, and get watches and batteries and necklaces..it was a Longhorn trip this year. I guess I came home with a few Longhorn necklaces and bracelets. I will sort through them, and figure who best I can share them with! I have a lot of Longhorn (freaks) friends. We all love our Texas Longhorns way too much.

Grandson Greg and Holly will be spending next year in Italy. Actually, the next 3 years. Greg is a Medic, and will be going to Iraq very soon after they arrive in Italy. I think he has to be gone a year. I am hoping Holly will not be too lonesome. We will get her back to Texas, if it gets too bad. I am sure the 13 hour trip will seem short, if she gets to come back home. Good luck Greg..and Holly...God speed.

The trip was over before it began, but we are back home, and now looking forward to the Alamo Bowl. Texas and Iowa are playing. We saw some Iowa people on the way home, so they are going to have a few fans...that is to follow their team, and to get somewhere that isn't freezing, I bet. We had 70 degrees yesterday, and although 69 right now, it is raining like crazy. This rain will wear you down!!!!!

Ok, the New Year is nearly here. Can not believe 2006 is over. It was a very good year.

WE ARE A 2 BLUE STAR FAMILY

Now there are two.

Yesterday at 6:00 P.M. I dropped Grandson, Geoff off at the Air Force recruiting office. Wow! He has an exciting 6 years ahead of him. I think he is going into the service with a happy heart. He has seen the support that Gregory has gotten from all, and I think he is looking forward to some positive feedback from family and friends. He was the only one leaving from Austin, yesterday, so he bussed to San Antonio alone! Probably with a little trepidation in his heart! Excitment, and anticipation...all those things that we cannot control inside our throbing hearts.

He has waited since March for the AF to find him a job. They have "job drops" every so often (I don't know how often) and the jobs that come with that drop are your choices. Finally, he got a call 5 days ago...YOU are going on December 19th, and here is the job. He sure got busy and did all the (well, most, as I will discuss later in this post) necessary things to leave.....

We left for the drug store to get a "few"things. 5:00 traffic in Austin is about as good as anywhere I have ever been...too many cars, too little road! It took us from 4:45 to 5:10 to get to the drug store on Burnet Road. He shopped for a few things... soap, toothpaste, shaving cream, soap for clothes...notebook, prepaid calling card, deodorant, and a few other miscellaneous necessaries. He couldn't find any flip flops for shower, but called the recruiting office, and found he could get them at PX on base. Lackland Air Force Base, is on the South side of San Antonio. The closest I have ever been to it, was playing golf, and we could hear the plane's roar. February 2, 2007 we will be watching him Graduate from Basic.

When I dropped him off, I told the recruiting sargent that this would be like having a baby. His life would never be the same ....(in a positive way) .. The recruiter said he joined the AF not knowing anything...and here it is 19 years later. So, perhaps there will be a future after the 6 years for Geoff.

He scored a 98% on the test. He is special. I hope the AF knows that. Even more important, I hope Airman Geoffrey Young thinks the Air Force is the greatest!!!!!!!

God love you, Geoff...you make us so very proud. Keep your spirits high, and your life going down the right paths. Foolish as it sounds..this is the first day of the rest of your life...A brand new life.

God Bless America....God Bless our troops! God Bless President Bush.

THE SLOTS WERE GOOD

The breakfast was fun, and most of the people were leaving around noon. We headed down the road for Vinton, first stop on slot tour. Stayed there for a couple of hours, and headed for Lake Charles.

We got to our destination, checked in, and began our fun. We had 2 days of fun and good food. Annette's brother, Bill, came over to be with us from Baton Rouge. We like to visit with him, when we get to Louisiana. Baton Rouge is about 2 hours away..but he can get there easier than to Kerrville...or beach.

He plays the penny slots..I cannot understand those machines. Too many lines, and I think you can put more money into one pull than the dollar machines!!!! We had a nice visit, and wonderful meals. There was the most wonderful roast beef, and a great cherry cobbler..I did eat more than those two things, but they were the stars of the meal.

We stayed until about 9:30 and went up to the room..the pillows are so big that I felt I was sitting up all night. (Bill told us he gambled until 2:00 A.M.) I found a good machine, and sat on it for a couple of hours. It was paying enough to play and that is fun. Went back to it the next day, and won some money on it!!!!!

Woke up and we decided to go over to the other Casino that is close by. We spent about 4 hours there, ate breakfast, and gambled. They have really good corned beef hash there, and if you get a couple of over easy eggs and put them on top, it is a great breakfast. Bill and Annette grew up eating that for breakfast, and strangely enough, I did too. My mother always cooked "good for you" meals. She was an addict to Adelle Davis books. Lets Have Healthy Children, etc. etc. Hash isn't the most healthy thing, but it sure is one of the tastiest things she cooked!!!! Annette and Bill grew up in an Italian home. Annette told me her mom could really cook. I believe it, as she can cook the best meals...I would weigh about 30 more pounds if I had her cook for me!!!!

Bill left about 2:00 to head back to Baton Rouge, and we said goodbye, and continued our slot onslot! He is so sweet, and we have had a great time messaging back and forth at night..he on his computer, me on my phone.

We were walking around putting money in different machines..with no pattern at all..I found a machine that my daughter likes...stacked up gold ...anyway..I pulled once and got tripple gold 2x and a bar. I wasn't real impressed until I saw the total...$500.00. Yikes! What fun was that? I guess that was the highlight of my gambling!!!!! I had good luck, and came home with $300.00 extra dollars. Hey..that is good for me! I usually write a few checks. All in all..fun. I think our next trip will be in the Spring. (have to keep going to keep your bonus money etc. going!!! At least, that is a good excuse).

We were lucky, and our drive home was easy, and without any problems. Annette's daughter is in the hospital, and we went there first. Annette and I said goodbye, and I went home.

Back home, and my Kitty Ashby is so happy that I came back to her. Jay is happy too. I knew that!

Holly is coming by today. She is going to Debbie's (her mom in law) and will stop by for lunch with her Nanny Nan. Fun, fun, fun!!!!!! She has a birthday the 17th...I will give her her card today, so she can go to Dallas and spend some of it!!!!

AT THE BEACH

Yesterday, Annette and I drove from Austin to the beach. We will go to her annual breakfast at 10 this morning. I have been up since 5:30..It is beautiful here in the mornings. The sky was dark with a line of orange (burnt orange, I might add) strip just above the water line. The gulf is calm today, and the temperature is somewhere between cold and colder. (38 to be exact)

When you look out and see such a beautiful start to the day, you cannot help but be positive. I look out in the summer and I see the same sky, but in the winter, it seems brighter and more beautiful. I am sure if I were outside right now, I would be shivering, and my coffee would be all over the place. Thank God for warm homes.

After the breakfast we will drive a few miles to Louisiana .. too bad Texas won't let us pull slot machines ...would be closer to home, and a lot of money for the Texas economy. I think it would be something that we could enjoy! (probably not as much as now, because the travel is half the fun)

We hope to come home with jingling pockets. Actually, I always take a deposit slip with me, as you never know when the big one will come your way. (if I can live that long)

Off to breakfast and Louisiana..yahoo!