A New Face on an Old Place

Previously in my blog I have talked about my local watering hole. Due to the new "anti-smoking" legislation many smaller bars have suffered and some have even had to close their doors.

But my watering hole fought to beat the system and have come out victorious. The pictures here are of the new and improved Wendy Jack's Hidaway. They have created what I can only say is a wonderful outdoor smoking area that is almost completely enclosed except for one wall that is solar screened in. These screens will hold in the A/C and heat but allows the smoke out.

A pool table, jukebox, 3 plasma TV's and karoake at night makes this a sure bet for a new hot spot on the westside of town. So pull up a bar stool, order a drink and light a smoke. Everything is as it should be again.

~Darlin~

Keith's Gifts

I think the final Helium gift has arrived and Sophie could not be more tickled about it. This one came in a big brown envelope with "Air Mail" stamped on it. She had tears in her eyes as she realized, once again, that Mama's friends on Helium were thinking of her.

She loves the book Keith. She refuses to use the pen because she doesn't want to use it up and the post cards are proudly displayed on her bedroom wall where she shows everyone that comes over.

Again I am humbled to my friends at Helium. You have all surprised me with your support and encouragement to a friend and her young daughter that you have never met. I have to be honest...Sophie did not receive a lot from our immediate family, but our family at Helium made her feel so cared for and she wanted to make you all proud with her quick recovery. She is doing very well now, she actually wants to go back to school. She should finally be able to take her brace off for the first time on the 28th of September. I will make sure and post pictures of that.

Thank you again all my friends who sent gifts and well wishes. You are greatly appreciated.

The Sunshine After the Rain

Just wanted to share with everyone a bit of why I love Arizona. I know it can be terrible hot during the summer (110 degrees +) but it is also a dry heat and very beautiful. This is a picture I took right after a really hard downpour. The colors here are like none I have seen anywhere else and I have lived/been to a lot of places. Enjoy.

~Darlin~

The Gifts Keep On Comin"

"It's here....IT'S HERE!" The words rang through the house like a bomb going off. We didn't even see it tucked behind the pillar next to our front door at first but as I returned to the car for the second load of groceries today there is was. The Helium gift.

My younger two clamored to be the one to deliver it to Sophie. They had been told it was coming and not to tell her. They amazingly did not. But soon Sophie was roused from her room by all the ruckus. "Whats here'" she asked spying the package I had wrestled away from my son.

I held it out to her and asked her if she remembered all the friends I talked about on Helium, the ones who's stories we read and who's blogs we visited. Her eyes lit up as she shook her head vigorously up and down. "This is from them," I said setting it on the counter for her to examine. I grabbed a knife and carefully (yes carefully CD) cut through the tape and held back the flaps as she pushed through the styrofoam peanuts to retrieve her present. She tried her hardest to pull the box out and finally looked at me with a lack of patience.

I pulled it out to a squeal of delight.
I think dogs started to go crazy for at
least a mile around. "Oh mama...LOOK! Its perfect. It's my
first music thing for my music room!"


Really and truly my friends you could not have done a better job on selecting a gift. It is truly something that will stay with her always....perhaps now she will even take up the drums.

Wait a minute....YOU GUYS DID THIS ON PURPOSE DIDN'T YOU?!?!?

Thanks to all who put in for this. I don't know what else I can say except you all made us feel very special and loved.

~Darlin & Sophie~

What Are You Passionate About?

I recently asked this question to a friend of mine. His response....

"I don't think anyone has ever asked me that before."

He was unable to give me an answer. This distressed me even more because this person is amazing and even I could think of some answers for him, but I did not provide them because I want him to hopefully really ponder this question. Maybe in doing so he will discover a little more about himself than he knew.

So I pose this question to all who visit my blog....

What are you passionate about?

I think that the answer to this question can tell you so much about a person and I want to know as much as I can about the people who are thoughtful enough to take time out of their day and visit me here.

My answer:
My children....making sure they receive the upbringing they deserve and that they are able to choose who they become.

Pit Bulls....Most who know me know who Butter is and the "issues" I have had to face since having her. I am determined to try and convince as many people as possible that it is the deed you blame, not this wonderful, loving breed.

Illegal immigration....I live in a state where I have to deal daily with illegals. I have personally felt the results of having someone steal you identity (actually it was my 11 year old daughter's) and I believe strongly that they have no right to be here if they did not go through the right channels. I don't care how difficult those channels may be.

Those would be my top three. I can't wait to hear all of yours.

~Darlin~