Day 109: 'Cowboys make me a happy fan!!'

Hey all,

So today (Thursday) was the NFL Draft and I have to say that my Dallas Cowboys came thourgh for me. I am ecstatic that we chose wide receiver Dez Bryant from Oklahoma St. Even though the NCAA didn't allow Dez to play for most of his senior season because of what they deemed as him taking an improper benefit, he is still rated as the most electric and talented receiver to come along in many years. The Cowboys have made this apparent by also announcing Bryant will be given the legendary No. 88 that was last worn by Cowboys legend Michael Irvin. I am dying to get this season going!!

Day 110: 'A happy kitty'

I know I often do posts about our pets here but this picture of a very relaxed and happy Smudge was too great to pass up. I hope you enjoy.

Day 107: 'New garbage can camouflage!'

Hey all,

So at the end of our driveway, near the yard, is where we put our garbage and recycling bins. Well, Barbara and I have agreed for some time that it is not very appealing to pull into our driveway or to pass our house and see the cans sitting there. So, Barbara and I bought some lumber at Home Depot and, voila, we have a new alcove built for our trashcans. We really like it and it looks great from the road or driveway now.

Day 108: 'Mom and some of my first roses of the season'

Mom came over again as she does every Wednesday night and we had a great time eating Barbara's wonderful cooking and talking about our week.

As Mom was leaving I went out and cut roses from my two climbing rosebushes I planted last year. The red is called a Don Juan and the orange and pink one is called a Joseph's Coat. I am very proud of them and plan on adding more rosebushes this summer.

Day 106: 'I am ... *gasp* ... COOKING?!?!'

Barbara put me to work today cooking dinner. We had chicken from on the grill, boiled salt potatoes, and Caesar salad. I didn't do as well as Barbara would have (nor I promise you, would I ever), but I did pretty good and it did indeed taste delicious!

Day 105: 'A great way to give back to Mother Earth... and clean up the yard at the same time'

Saturday night, one of my closest friends Mikey had his 30th birthday party at his house. It was insanely fun and a bunch of people from work and our group of friends showed up. We played beer pong and sat around a fire pit and laughed and hung out until very late. My kudos and thanks to Mikey and his wife Jessica, for having such a great event. Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures because I was, um, having too much fun. Not for lack of trying though as Barbara said she asked me 3 times if I wanted the camera.

So Sunday was a day to relax and do a little yard work, although not as much as Barbara would have liked me to do (sorry baby). We did open up something which we hope will make our yard a bit cleaner and give nutrients back to the Earth:


Yep, we are going to put this in the ground and dispose of Pooh's um... poo. I'll have to dig a deep hole and put this down and then when we shovel the waste in we take little tablets and toss them in to help break down the waste. I think its a good idea and will help our yard to not be a minefield, ha ha.

I was not able to install it because we had to go buy a post hole digger in order to dig the hole. Hopefully I can get to it this week or next.

Day 104: 'Martin family reunion'

Hello everyone,

Last Saturday, my Uncle Frank and Aunt Gloria hosted a lunch which served as a reunion for the Martin family. The Martin family is my Mom's side and originates from my great grandparents, whose oldest daughter is my beloved and aforementioned Grandma Womble. My Grandma had 3 siblings, all brothers, and they would be my Great Uncles Archie, George, and Alvah Jr. I never knew my Uncle Alvah because sadly he passed away at a fairly young age, but I was fortunate enough to get to know his wife, my aunt Essie for many years before her passing just a few years ago. I have also enjoyed being watched over and doted upon through the years by Alvah's daughters Brenda and Lynn who are my Mom's first cousins. Lynn and Brenda's children including my cousin Cindy, have also been wonderful to Matthew and I. I was able to get to know for many years my Uncle Archie and his wife my Aunt Geraldine. Archie was a quiet man with a great sense of humor and Geraldine was so nice and sweet to me whenever we got to see them. (On a personal note, my Aunt Geraldine was the first person I ever knew in my life to succumb to cancer. The weekend she passed I was scheduled to go hike the Appalachian Trail with the Boy Scouts. Well, I was ready to cancel and attend her funeral when someone (I can't remember but I believe it may have been my Mom) said that Aunt Geraldine would not at all want me to miss such a great opportunity like hiking the Appalachian Trail. So I went on the trip and missed her funeral. However, I remember one morning on the trail, stopping as one of my fellow scouts led us in prayer for Aunt Geraldine, and the sun burst through the tree cover and shined on my face, It is one of those moments I remember vividly and will never forget, because I know it was her smiling down on me and letting me know that I was experiencing the world like few will ever get to, and to tell me that she was just fine.) I am eternally blessed that i actually have a great relationship with all of my family members and Archie and I got along real well. As with other family members I have fond memories of being with his son Jerry and his family and daughter Jean and her family (since I can't remember everyone's names I won't try and put just some of them down here). My Uncle George and his wife Aunt Ruth are still alive, although like my Grandma, age has taken some of George's faculties and has slowed Ruth a bit, but apparently not by much. George and Ruth are such fun people and I always had a blast when I saw them. They traveled a lot in retirement and had some of the best stories. I am embarrassed that I can't remember their son's name (I think it's Mike), but I will say I went up in an airplane with Mike and his girlfriend one year at the beach when I was little. The pilot let me briefly take the controls and at a Mike's strong urging I promptly flipped the plane upside down much to his joy and his girlfriend's fervent dismay. George and Ruth's daughter Dottie has been close to us for as long as I can remember and I enjoy seeing her and her family when we get together.

Then of course there is my Grandma, Mom, Uncle Frank, and Uncle Wayne. Simply the best family a boy could have. I love you guys.

Wow, that just came spilling out into a rather lengthy post. Well, here is a slew of pictures from our fun event Saturday and thanks again to Uncle Frank and Aunt Gloria for pulling it together. Forgive me for not labeling the pictures, but enjoy!

Day 103: 'Grandma's birthday'

Today is my Grandma Womble's 95th birthday. She is my maternal grandmother. It is impossible to adequately share in words what this wonderful woman has meant to me in my life. She has always been one of my biggest supporters and taken such good care of me over my lifetime. Her cooking was always right on point and her hugs and words of love and encouragement were the best.

Just think about this: 95 years old. I mean, we're talking almost a century of experiences here. She has regaled us with some amazing stories and I have always loved to hear those tales of my ancestors, life when she was young, and her being a Navy WAVE. She was married for over 50 years to my Grandpa. A truly charmed life indeed. Grandma, I am thrilled I could witness and share your 95th birthday weekend with you. I raise a glass to you tonight.

So today's picture is not of Grandma but is related. When my Grandpa passed away a few years ago, I was looking at pictures from their wedding and noticed my Grandpa was wearing a wedding ring. In all the years I knew him he never wore a wedding ring that I knew of. Well I remarked about that and Grandma said that she thought he should have a ring at least for the ceremony so they went out and bought one for him to wear. She also said that she guessed he never wore it or any other wedding band because he didn't want people to know he was married. Well if you knew my Grandpa, as the many people were who were in the room when Grandma said this did, you would know that was completely not true. He was so devoted to her. I remarked that I thought the ring was beautiful and wished Grandma still had it so I could see it. Well, ask and ye shall receive, because she did have it and promptly retrieved it to show me. This being the day of his funeral and amongst all the commotion, she stopped everything to get that for me. That's just who she is, a great, wonderful, caring person, and someone who dotes on her grandson. :>D Later that night, Grandma gathered my Mom, Uncle Frank, and Uncle Wayne, and asked them if she could give me Grandpa's ring. They quickly gave their blessing and it became mine; to this day I am humbled by their acceptance and love in this gesture. I am and have been, for many years, truly blessed. I had the ring re sized and wear it from time to time in loving remembrance.

So here I present a picture of that ring in honor of my Grandmother's 95th birthday. Grandma, I love you with all my heart.

At the risk of getting too emotional I will also say that I miss Grandad dearly and wish he was here to celebrate with us.

Day 102: 'Grandma's birthday luncheon'

Hey everyone,

I would like to share pictures from my Grandma's birthday luncheon today. Even though I was at work while this happened and did not actually take these pictures, I helped transport things necessary for setup and presentation. Hopefully Barbara, Grandma and Mom won't mind if I consider myself a very small part of this special event and share this on the blog.

Below are pictures of Grandma, her friends from Rich Square, NC that came today, Matthew, Barbara and Mom. Enjoy!

Day 101: 'Ready for the luncheon at Mom and Dad's'

Ok so Mom is throwing a luncheon tomorrow at her house in honor of Grandma's 95th birthday. Some of grandma's good friends from her hometown of Rich Square, NC are driving up to see her and eat a spectacular meal prepared by the most incredible Barbara.

We went over to Mom and Dad's tonight and hung out with them while Mom and Barbara prepared mostly everything. Here are some pictures of some of the setup, Matthew and I goofing around, and the table as it will look tomorrow. Pictures of the event will be up tomorrow.

Enjoy!!

Days 90 - 100: 'A week and a half at a glance, and a promise to get back on the horse'

Hey all!

I have been beset by a horrible battle with my swollen and inflamed sinuses and the allergies that love them. I know I said a few days ago i would post the last week at once. Well add a couple of more days and here we are. Here are pictures of Barbara and I at Easter, many pictures of our plants that we have planted and are blooming, and those plants that were already here that we nurtured, as well as a couple of shirts I bought myself recently. Here as well is proof that **GASP**, the little one, Smudge, is finally going outside!!!

Hope you all enjoy these photos and we'll see you tomorrow... promise!