What's Been Happening on The 22?

We have a stealth camera and generally capture a deer, coon, dog, Scout, one of us...on the memory card. We got lucky this morning!

When you live in the country, you find all sorts of prizes out in the woods. Scout and I were walking one day and he ran up behind me with a feral hog head. Recycling at its best.

On the other side of the pond, Paul has been building a 24 x 32 barn to house his tractor, boat, trailer, etc. A man can't have too many barns, you know. And, yes, he's done this all by himself. I'll post a picture in a couple of days of the finished barn.

Dear Santa

I've been a very good girl this year. So good that I decided to give you my Ultimate Christmas Wish List. I don't really expect you to give me any of these things, but it's fun to dream! I mean, if you want to, then that would be great - maybe just one or two????

1. Starbucks in La Grange. You can place it on Hwy 71 so the folks going from Houston to Austin can enjoy it, too. Right now, I have to drive all the way to Bastrop and that's just too inconvenient for early morning Latte cravings.
2. Target in Bastrop. I make it to Bastrop about once a month and I would be content with hitting my fave store about that often. You have obviously seen the growth in that little suburb of Austin and I think a Target would suit Fayette, Bastrop and Lee counties just fine.
3. Swimming pool. My husband is very anti-swimming pool and I would really love it if you could just pop one in the back yard and also include a cabana boy to care for it. Oh, and maybe pay the additional electricity involved in owning a pool. I promise that I would swim in it every day.
4. Fully-loaded black Lincoln Navigator. This is the ultimate vehicle as far as I'm concerned ever since I rode in one in NYC - and it was a taxi! If you think this is too showy for La Grange, you can substitute a fully-loaded black Tahoe or even a Yukon.
5. State 3A championship for the La Grange Leopards. I know, I know.....you'll have to bring this gift a bit early - like on December 19. They are such a nice bunch of boys and it would be just great for them - and all of us.
6. National Championship for The University of Texas Longhorns. 'Nuf said.
7. One carat Tiffany diamond studs. That's a carat in EACH year. And, I wouldn't mind a one carat Tiffany solitaire ring, either. Simply elegant.
8. Weight loss of at least 30 pounds for me. Then, I can look fabulous in my Tiffany diamonds, fully-loaded black Lincoln Navigator and black pencil skirt - just above the knee, white silk blouse, black Louboutin pumps, sheer black hose - WOW.
9. Black bag - your choice of designers. I'll leave it to you to decide. Just make sure it looks good with all items in #8.
10. Ultimate cruise vacation. If you'll just leave me a gift certificate from Royal Caribbean, I'll plan the itinerary. I'm thinking Tahiti, Hawaii, Antarctica - not sure at this point.

Santa, I know the above list is rather extravagant and materialistic in places. But, I also know it's good to dream. I'll make up a more realistic list in the next few days. And, of course, I will write up my list of serious requests. But, that one will be addressed to a power greater than you, Santa.

Much love,

Bobbie

Buster

Yes, Paul and I have been officially adopted. We said this wouldn't happen. We said we wouldn't allow ourselves to become attached to an animal that would depend on us for food, shelter, love........but, alas, it is so. Buster first appeared at our back door months ago. No offense if your name is Buster, but his big ears and not all that attractive appearance led me to call him "Buster." It was a rainy day and coolish (well, coolish if you weigh less than 10 pounds). He sat there and shook all day. When it quit raining, he left! We had printed "lost dog" notices to post on our road, but never got them up. A day or two later, we saw him at the house on the adjacent property, hanging with their two dogs. He seemed content and would always run out and bark at us when we passed. And, there he stayed until earlier this week.

Who knows why he decided to roam again. Perhaps, Buck and Cowboy next door got tired of him stealing their food and ran him off. Maybe he just got a wild hair and decided to take a road trip. Anyway, he appeared and the rest is history.

He now has two homemade beds - one for cool weather and one for really cool weather. Please don't tell him that one is just a cardboard box and one is an old recycle bin with a hole cut out for a door. It is quite stylishly lined with carpet to make it warmer. And, tonight, he's sleeping in the laundry room. Don't think I'm ready to look out and see a Buster popsicle.

He eats dog food, has a chew toy and gets lots of love and attention. I am, however, officially putting this in writing. HE WILL NOT BECOME A HOUSE DOG, UNDERSTAND? Did you hear that, Buster?

ps If he doesn't stop whining and barking in the laundry room, he may have to stay outside - even if it is below freezing!

My First Tag!!!!!

Well, my dear little friend Stacey tagged me! I guess I've really hit the big time now.

The rules: List five things you are currently obsessed with. Then in return, tag five bloggers whose blogs you are obsessed with reading. So, here goes:

1. Cruising. As if you didn't know. The Husband and I first cruised on our belated honeymoon in July, 1985. We took a short cruise to the Bahamas and one of us didn't like it all that much. And, the one of us wasn't me. So, I didn't dare mention cruising again until I started working with a cruise-obsessed young engineer at ExxonMobil. I quickly became insanely jealous listening to his post-cruise reviews and booked us on a cruise to Key West, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. That was September, 2003. Fourteen cruises later, we are ADDICTED. Thank you Royal Caribbean for a lifetime of memories!
2. Mexican food. Have to have it at least once a week. Period. First meal back from the above-mentioned cruises, is a meal at our fave Tex-Mex place. And, what makes up the best Tex-Mex meal - cheese enchiladas, rice, beans and a taco (wrapped with a warm corn tortilla - try it - yummy and eliminates the taco "dump") First time I ever ate Mexican food was when we moved to Mission in the Rio Grande Valley in 1960. I was 7 and was afraid to try it at first. But, once I ate above-mentioned meal at the Palmetto Inn in McAllen, I was ADDICTED.
3. Days of Our Lives. "Like sands through the hour glass......so are the days of our lives." DOOL has been on air since November, 1965, and I do believe I have watched it since the day it first aired. Yeah, yeah, I was only 12, but hey, the storylines were pretty innocent back then. Well, except for the adultery, murder, deceptions, backstabbing....you know, all that stuff. And, let me just say, I'm so glad that Sami has finally discovered that Sydney is her baby........I was about to call her myself!!
4. So You Think You Can Dance. I know, I know.......this is the second tv show I've mentioned being addicted to - but it's my list. Let me just say that I feel so very sorry for you poor folks out there who think that Dancing With the Stars is a legitimate dancing show. WRONG-A-MUNDO. These kids on SYTYCD are AMAZING - simply AMAZING. Must admit, I'm not as enamored with the kids this season, but they are still good. Last season's dancers were out of this world.
5. La Grange, Texas. I thought to myself today as I was circling the courthouse square.....this is an amazing little town and I am so blessed to live here. I love, love, love it and am so thankful that my dear Leigh pointed us in the right direction. Conservative values, patriotism, kindness, politeness, great kolaches, Leopards football team, beautiful courthouse (with no waiting in line inside!!), Bistro 108, little over an hour's drive to Houston, Austin, Victoria, San Antonio.... I could go on and on, but then you'd want to move here and we really want to keep it small and quaint! Sorry.

I actually have many more addictions - mostly food-related - but I'll stop with the five listed above. You all realize, don't you, that my biggest addiction is my family. Love you all!

And, by the way, consider yourself tagged:

1. Cindy S.
2. Karen G.
3. Jamie C.
4. Allison C.
5. Lisa H.

MIBHS

Most of you know my children, Randy and Leigh, and many of you may have always felt like there was something just not quite right about the two of them. Sure, they are both successful, happily married, well-rounded, sociable individuals, but still.......that nagging feeling that something was amiss in their childhood. I've never felt free to discuss it and especially not in this venue, but now I feel I must. Yes, my friends, they both suffer from:

MOM INDUCED BAD HAIR SYNDROME (MIBHS)

This is much a catharsis for me as it will be for them. I was delusional for years and it was just recently that I went through photo albums and saw for myself. There it was.....MIBHS in all its ugly glory. Oh, I tried to reconcile it in my mind......all the other moms cut their sons' hair.....all the other moms gave their daughters Tonette Home Perms.......as a single Mom, I was saving money by cutting and styling their hair myself.....they look adorable (that was me at my lowest point)....blah, blah, blah. But, I could not deny the looks on these faces....

Sure, they have grown up. Perhaps, they have even forgiven me. And, Randy has sworn never to do this to his own flesh and blood. But, will Leigh be strong when she has her first? Will she be able to stop this cycle? You see, my Mom also gave me Tonette Home Perms, curled my hair by putting strips of cloth in it and twisting each strand, made me suffer in silence in those pink sponge rollers. Many a night, I tossed and turned all night trying to get comfortable. And, I still can't openly discuss the brush rollers. And, from what I hear, it was even worse for my mother. She had electric rods put in her hair and the heat turned up until her whole head smoked. I don't know if we can ever fully recover. We're all trying, but it's hard. MIBHS must be stopped. Don't be silent about this. If you see a child victim, speak up. It's your duty.

The Luau, Mission, Texas


Bobbie Placke

Hi everyone.......it's me, Bobbie! Don't be scared. It really is me and I am officially entering the world of blogging. I first heard the word "blog" several years ago during the election process. I think it was Bush v. Gore and the reporters kept talking about the "blog, blah, blah, blah......" Figured it was a passing fad. Well, folks, it's here to stay and I'd better get on the train or get left behind. (Plus, my Leigh-Leigh has been really bugging me and Cindy for months and months and since Cindy officially hopped on the train, figured it was my turn.)

So, who is this girl above, you ask? That's me, circa 1970. Decided just to include a head shot. Good grief, Charlie Brown, were my skirts REALLY that short? Did my Mom let me leave the house like that every morning or did I roll up the waistbands once I got out of eyeshot? (the latter, the latter) Life was good in 1970. Good friends, FOOTBALL, pep rallies, cute boys, awesome high school, straight hair (didn't have to iron it like my friends did), Chicago, Eagles, Beatles, Carpenters, CCR, The Kinks (shout out to Leigh-Leigh), Animals, Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, Dusty Springfield, etal. Seriously.......not a care in the world.

Oh........you wonder, what is The Luau? Well, it was just the coolest, hippest hangout in Mission, Texas! OK........it was the ONLY hangout in Mission, Texas, but it worked just fine for us. Many an important decision has been made there. Kinda like The White House, Congress, The Haig, United Nations, etc. But, on a smaller scale, I suppose. Like who likes who, who should be Most Beautiful, did she REALLY deserve Homecoming Queen, whether to go out with (fill in the blank), should I break up with Aggie boyfriend and play the field, what college to go to, what do I want to be when I grow up, etc. Don't laugh. These were seriously important questions for a 17 year old and many of the answers shaped my life forever. Would I like to go back and change some of those decisions, you bet. Am I full of regret that I can't. Of course not. My life is wonderful just like it is!

Is the Luau still there, you ask? Yes, it is and a shout out goes to my niece for snapping a pic while she was recently visiting Mission. And, you know what, I bet there are still important decisions being made there!