Free Flowing Friday

Most of you have probably noticed my lack of posts this week - I've been under the weather. Not H1N1 flu, just plain old cold symptoms. Keeping my fingers crossed this swine flu passes over my family!

1.) My thoughts and prayers go out the the soldiers and families living at Fort Hood. It is inconceivable that an army psychologist could protest going to Iraq by killing so many people and injuring so many more. I'll continue to watch this story with a heavy heart.

2.) Two pieces of great news this week - first, I got the call from the Ragged Edge Community Theatre I've been waiting for - they offered me the job of Office Administrator! I was starting to get anxious that I'd blown the last interview, so my patience (and lots of prayers) paid off. I start my newest job on Monday.

3.) Second piece of great news - a story I submitted to NEW SOUTHERNER magazine for their latest contest was selected as a winner! It will be published later this spring. I am excited, overwhelmed and oh, so happy!

4.) Baby Desiree Carter is growing by leaps and bounds - heard to believe she will be 10 days old tomorrow. Of course, I haven't gotten to see her or hold her for 2 days because I'm afraid I'll make her sick. Hopefully this weekend I can see her again.

5.) Please keep my Uncle Curtis in your thoughts and prayers. He went in for a routine colonoscopy this week and they found cancer - taking him immediately into surgery. So far, so good, but it will be several days before we learn the biopsy results.

6.) I've been reading the House of Night young adult series this week by P.C. Cast and her daughter Kristin Cast. I have finished MARKED and will be finished with BETRAYED today. This is an interesting series about fledgling vampires and the school they go to. Call it TWILIGHT meets HARRY POTTER - very good fantasy fun.

7.) The Kentucky Book Fair is tomorrow in Frankfort and I was so looking forward to going. I think I'm going to end up having to stay home - I still don't feel 100% and I sure don't want to make anyone else sick.

8.) Last, but not least, Happy Birthday to my Mom - Brenda Carolyn Sallee. Happy Birthday, Mom - I love you bunches!!

Electric Roaster Giveaway

Check out this cool give away my friend Liz, the Easy Meals Examiner, is having:



Along with information on how to be entered for this great give away - Liz is also offering her recipe for Herb Roasted Turkey - she even has a slideshow to show you how.

So, go on over, check her out - tell her Bobbi sent ya!

New Baby

Because it has been so long since we've had a new baby in our family - 16+ years - we were overjoyed last week to welcome Desiree Carter Semones into our family. Desiree is the daughter of my youngest niece, Ashley - Ashley is the only child of my late sister, Amy.

So, if you'll allow me one proud moment, I'd like to share a poem I work this weekend for my precious new great niece.

Amy Kisses

She spoke to me like a flicker of air swept by in a dream
Gentle kisses in the ear making me feel wanted and loved;
She’s been gone so long it’s been almost five years
And yet I can still feel her in my heart.
She caresses the inner sanctity opens my wounds with a flick of her wings,
Then she smiles and says, “thank you for being there today.”
Her first grandchild she will never know,
but will watch from her chair high above.
Every kiss, every prayer, every loving moment in time
Captured internally and filed away, ready to recapture the joy.
We will give her earthly love and vigor,
You will give her angel kisses;
She will grow and thrive and capture the light
Fulfilling her destiny unwritten.
She’ll have much hugged awards, atta girls, aren’t you sweet
But she’ll also have memories and history and cherishments.
Yes, we will raise her and see she does right
And she will know the grandmotherly love,
though the package may seem strange
She will know the love you are giving
You don’t have to worry we will make sure she knows,
That granny’s my sis and we all miss her so,
But she’ll live in your heart and your soul.

This week's Food Friday - Hearty Pumpkin Stew:
http://ping.fm/EfabF

Free Flowing Friday

There have been so many fabulous things that have happened this week, I almost don't know where to begin! So let me start with ...

1.)... I'M GOING TO BE A GRANDMOTHER IN 2010!! Yes, my middle daughter, Marie is expecting her first child on June 6, 2010 and I am so excited. I have been wanting grandchildren for several years now so this is wonderful news - makes me happy, happy, happy!

2.) I had a great niece born on Wednesday - Desiree Carter Semones made her appearance at 6:41pm, weighed 7 pounds and 10 ounces and was 21 inches long. Because of the swine flu, the hospital is not allowing visitors, so we've only been able to see her through the glass. My mom, Desiree's great Grandma has my camera so I should have some pictures later today. My niece, Ashley, did well during labor, but she was really missing her momma. I know my sister, Amy, is looking down and cuddling little Desiree with love.

3.) I sent my first freelance piece to KENTUCKY MONTHLY magazine this week - I'm so excited it will be in the Christmas issue. I've also sent several of my gifts for them to photograph, so I can't wait to see what they look like.

4.) I have finished my personal essay and my Super 70s article for the December issue of MERCER'S MAGAZINE. Now I have to start thinking about the new year - oh goody, a grandbaby!!!

5.) I'm on pins and needles about the job with the Ragged Edge Theatre. It's been over a week since the second interview and I know they are busy, but I'm getting nervous. The Theatre is putting on "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and the board has to discuss the candidates - maybe I'll hear the first of the week.

6.) I've read 3 very different books this week. The first one is by a Kentucky writing group - the KaBooM Writing Collective - entitled WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS. This is a beautiful book of poetry and personal essays. The next book is a young adult fiction book, HOW TO BE A VAMPIRE by Amy Gray.. This is a campy little book with all the ins and outs of vampires. The last one was THE MURDER OF KING TUT by James Patterson.. I have mixed feelings on this one - it is a good story, but it is supposed to be non-fiction and I think it drags in that area.

7.) Taught 2 pumpkin carving classes this week - one to a mother-to-mother group and one to the English as a Second Language class. Kids and Japanese ladies - both groups were fun and interesting!

8.) I'm getting excited about the Kentucky Book Fair coming up next week - I will be in bookworm heaven! I am already making a list of the authors I want to meet and the books I want to buy. It starts at 9am next Saturday, November 7th.

9.) I have to do something about my chocolate consumption - it has gotten totally out of control! With all the Halloween candy laying around, I can't resist. I'm going to have to summon up the willpower to quit eating chocolate and lose this weight!

10.) Last, but not least, I'm going to an awards ceremony for my daughter this morning at school. She is being honored for having a 3.7 GPA. Senior year is bringing me lots of "last things" - this will be the last award ceremony and spring time will bring scholarship awards.

Jethro Tull vs. The Eagles

Did you know The Eagles wrote "Hotel California" in 1976. Ironically, they used to open for Jethro Tull in the early '70's and Jethro Tull has a song called "We Used To Know" (from the album STAND UP) which was writen in 1969. If you listen to "We Used to Know" you will see how much like "Hotel California" it sounds. I love Jethro Tull and I also love the Eagles - but it makes me wonder ....

Check it out for yourself!

Pumpkin Carving

Here's a photo from the HARRODSBURG HERALD of the pumpkin carving I did with the English as a Second Language (ESL) class for Harrodsburg Baptist Church. I'll have more photos to post later. Thank you, Rachel Dean, for photographing the class!

It's not too late to buy a pumpkin for Halloween - check out these different varieties:
http://ping.fm/ARQoY

New Baby

My niece, Ashley, just had her baby tonight - 6:14 pm. Desiree Carter weighs 7 pounds and 10 ounces and is 21 inches long. She has a head full of hair and a great set of lungs.

Because of the flu precautions at the hospital, we are not able to visit with me niece or my great niece, so I'll post pictures as soon as I can.

It's going to be so exciting - the first baby in our family for several years. The 2 youngest grandchildren are 16 and 17. We'll have a baby again for Christmas - it will be so fun. Next year, with the addition of my new grandbaby, we'll have 2 little ones for Christmas!

Oh, did I forget to tell you? I'm going to be a GRANNY!! My middle daughter, Marie, just told me last night she is expecting in June 2010. I am over-the-moon excited and I can't wait!!

What's growing around the Bluegrass? Amur Honeysuckle is aggressively invasive:
http://ping.fm/1Y4Ph

Way Back Wednesday - It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Okay, call me cheesy, call me campy, but my favorite Halloween movie is still IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN CHARLIE BROWN. There's just something about sweet little Linus waiting in the dark pumpkin patch that appeals to me.

Isn't it funny here in 2009 with DVR, iPhone and webcasts when we can watch anything and everything at the touch of a button, some classics are still best left for the holiday season. I still enjoy watching this great show.

There's just something cute about watching Charlie Brown and Snoopy rake leaves, only to have Linus jump in the pile while holding a sucker.

"Never jump into a pile of leaves with a wet sucker."

And does Lucy never get tired of pulling the football away from Charlie Brown at the last minute?

Poor Linus - will he never learn there is no Great Pumpkin? Oh, and this year he finally convinces Sally to forgo tricks-or-treats to wait with him in the pumpkin patch.



I think I like this episode so much because Snoopy (wearing his World War I flying ace gear) climbs aboard his Sopwith Camel (in reality, his doghouse) to battle the Red Baron. I love Snoopy!



In the end, Sally feels betrayed for listening to Linus and Linus feels glum because the Great Pumpkin didn't show up. But good characters keep going, so Linus perks up, leaving us with the proclamation that he knows the Great Pumpkin will come next year.

Dexter vs. Trinity

The Trinity killer is really just like Dexter! I sure didn't see that coming. I know it's strange to be rooting for a bad guy like Dexter, but come on, Michael C. Hall just embodies this character and you can't help but like him.

All this time I thought the deliciously evil John Lithgow was playing a wack-out, deranged killer, but he turns out to be a family man - just like Dexter.

This season of Dexter is shaping up to be a real nail bitter and I'm eagerly awaiting each week's new episode. I also have the new Jeff Lindsay novel - DEXTER BY DESIGN - to keep me entertained. Also, Showtime is also presenting 2 "webisodes" of Dexter, produced to show us some of Dexter's origins. Check out Showtime's Early Cuts.

Many Halloween traditions started in the garden: http://ping.fm/R9Xql

Really ...

... I'm not much for conspiracy theories and I have a background in health care - BUT - is anyone else worried about this mad dash to get the H1N1 vaccine? Part of my brain says this is exactly what we need to do to protect ourselves and our families from the swine flu. But there's another part - the dark and scary part of my brain - that's saying, "Wait a minute - why are we all rushing to let the government inject us with a medication."


I don't know, maybe I'm bonkers - maybe it's lack of sleep and too much news coverage.