What the.....????

There have been some things I did not understand.  I just didn't get it.  Here are the ones that popped into my widdle head.....

1.     Pinterest
Really?  What the heck? 
Let me understand this concept....you find pictures, of what other people have posted, and you put them on your imaginary webified board.  You take pictures and "pin" them on a board that only exists in your imagination.  You spend half of your day going through other peoples pictures and deciding what you like and pin them onto your board. 
Currently, I have 20 boards and 423 pins. 
I'm not entirely sure I still get it, but I like it!

2.    Downton Abbey
This series is on PBS.  Yuck.  What do you watch on PBS?  Nothing.
This series is set in England.  Yuck.  Who likes British television?  No one.
This series started in 1912.  Yuck.  Who likes period pieces?  No one.
This series is about classes and classes within classes.  Yuck.  Who likes to be judged and classed?  No one.
Currently, I have just finished the 3rd Season and anxiously awaiting the 4th Season.  In fact, the 4th season cannot come fast enough.  I check every Sunday night to see if there is a new episode on.  I wonder if indeed one of my favorite characters is dead.  I wonder if Downton Abbey can overcome all of the sadness and deep grief that have been bestowed upon the house.  I wonder if the economic status of the estate will turn around.  I wonder....okay, I think you get it.  I love Downton Abbey.

3.   Pajama Pants in Public
Okay...I am not okay with this and I never will be. 
There is a time and place for pajama pants, my grocery store is not one of them. 
Please, please, please, take 3 minutes of your precious time and put on a real pair of pants before you leave the house.  THREE MINUTES!!!

4.  Yoga Pants in Public
Unlike #3, I believe that yoga pants are entirely acceptable outerwear.  I would never wear my yoga pants in public because I like to cover up the imperfections in my body, not exploit them.  But hey, if you feel good enough to wear your yoga pants in public, go right ahead.  I am not offended by it.  If you have just worked out, more power to you.  If you have just woke up, well heck, it looks like you just worked out, so more power to you!!  If you have just had a seven-course meal and are stuffed beyond all belief and these are the only pants you can breathe in, well, again, it looks like you just worked out, so more power to you!!

5.  Bra Straps
No one wants to see your bra straps.  No one.  If you are wearing a tube top (yuck) and a full bra, I judge your intelligence and your sense of fashion. 

6.  Flip Flops AND a Coat
Guilty. 
What?!?!? 
My toes are pretty and polished, my heels are not dry and cracked and disgusting (there is a whole nuther topic!),  and I have pretty toe jewelry that must be seen!
But, alas, I am cold.  I am always cold.  The only time I am not cold and not with goosebumps on my arms is when the temperature hits about 90 degrees F .  Perfect weather for me.  At 90 degrees, I can wear flip flops without a coat ...and I might break out the cute capris as well. 
Don't judge me nor my intelligence nor my sense of fashion!  It all makes sense...at least in my head!!

Okay...that should cover it for today.  (On a side note -- I had a wonderful #7 but I had to delete it because I could not come up with a #8 and I can't leave something odd and not even, my whole mojo would be off and no telling what bad thing would have happened!! -- again, a whole nuther topic!) 

XOXO

Velvet 

Maybe, someday.

I was channel surfing on Sunday night waiting for "Downton Abbey" to come on and I came across a Tom Cruise film that I don't think I had seen before.  It was called, "Knight and Day" with Cameron Diaz.  I didn't watch the whole thing but there was a line that kinda stuck with me.  "Someday. That's a dangerous word. It's really just a code for 'never'."

Oh my gosh, how true is THAT?!?!?  How may times in a year do I say "Someday?"  Someday this will happen.  Someday I'll travel here with you.  Someday that will happen.  I never thought as I was saying it that I really meant this was never going to happen.

It made me think about the "other code word" I use a lot...."Maybe."  Generally, maybe means no.  "Are you going to go to Moo Moo's for lunch?"  "Maybe," I reply.  Knowing that I am surely not going out for lunch and I am surely not going to Moo Moo's alone if I do.  Sometimes I may ask myself, "I wonder if this dream will ever come true?" I answer with a "Maybe."  Perhaps dreaming that it may, but in my heart knowing it wont.

So, I thought again (I know...Tom Cruise brought on all this deep pondering?!?), about the times I have have said, "Maybe, someday."  Oh my heck....what a double negative!!  "Will we ever travel to Paris and have a wonderful, romantic time?"  "Maybe...someday."  I guess, that means we will never, never make it there.  I hope the one I ask of that will not reply with the same response.  I want the guy I love with all my heart to answer, "Oh yes, my love, we will certainly be there one day."  No someday...no maybe.  

With all that said, I will still, without a doubt, reply with a "Someday" and with a "Maybe."  However, I hope as I am uttering those words, I will really think about what I am saying and change the code.  When I say those words, especially together, I will smile to myself and think, "Yes, Velvet, you will.  No code words here."

Will I see my father again....Maybe someday.
Will we find happiness beyond measure....Maybe someday.
Will this dark cloud of deep depression ever move away from above me....Maybe someday.
Will I get my fairytale ending....Maybe someday. 

Oh yes, that felt good.

XOXO

Rest In Peace

Death is never easy for those who are left behind.  I think, personally, when someone dies I wonder what I could have done differently in my life to them or for them.  I know in almost every case, I could have done nothing to prevent the death, that is not want I am talking about.  I am talking about those little, every day things.  I am talking about telling that person how you felt about them or how they made you feel.  Maybe telling them how important they were to you.  Maybe telling them, just once, that you loved them.  They get to leave this world and enter the next knowing all the truths, while we are stuck here and wonder why we didn't tell them or show them and suffer the great guilt associated with it. 

Death has never really been something I have had to deal with a whole lot.  My dad's mom died when I was very, very young and I didn't really know her well.  My dad's dad died while I was in high school, again, I never knew him.  My dad had a brother and a sister as well as nephews and nieces who passed on and as sad as I was about those passings, they just didn't really affect me much.   I had friends die while I was in school and my parents had friends who had passed away.  I was saddened by them leaving, but I was young and felt that those I was closest to, loved the most, were still here.

Death started becoming something that I truly recognized when one of my son's good friends died while they were riding bicycles in an accident when they were 11 (my son was three days shy of turning 11).  It was a great loss suffered by my family.  I loved having that little girl come to my house and play with my kids.  I loved the spirit she had and the joy she brought my family.  I will never forget her or the impact she had on my son's life.  Still has, I think.

Then, my grandfather passed away in December 2007.  I knew him.  I loved him.  I shared things with him.  We laughed.  We were friends.  He was the first dead body I ever touched.  I put my hand on his, mine warm, his not so much.  He was at peace. 

My dad then passed away in August 2010.  Far too soon.  This death has affected me in ways I will never explain.  Everyday, to this day, I am affected by this.  There is nothing that happens in my life that I don't wish I could call my dad and tell him about.  The little things...the big things.  I miss him every single day. 

We had very good friends who lost their son a day before I lost my father, far, far too soon, and other friends who lost their son a few months later. Great tragedies.  Great sadness. 

Trent lost his dad in December 2011.  Selfishly, his death left me fatherless.  I miss him, a lot.  I think a lot of the things he had done for me and the things he had said.  The way he made me laugh and the way he never made me feel anything less then "real" Wood!

Lastly, we had to say goodbye to my uncle yesterday, 02/03/13.  My dad's only living sibling.  He was a constant fixture in my life.  Every weekend, rain or shine, he would come over or my dad would go over there.  He was lonely and often times found himself "drop" by unexpectedly at dinner time! He was a great guy and I am sure never met anyone that wasn't a friend.  I like to think that my dad greeted him yesterday at the Pearly Gates and told him to come on in and watch the big game.  Uncle Jimmie, may there be a big ol' flea market that has the best deals up in heaven for you. 

I have a cousin who told me once that as the older we get we start to say goodbye more then we say hello. Death, as much as it so saddens my heart, is a part of life.  And, as I get older with each passing year, I find myself saying goodbye for the last time to people who I love beyond measure, people who have touched my life, people who I find it hard to live without. 

XOXO

Honey Boo Boo

I wrote out this blog once and erased it and then decided to go ahead and share.  It's not one of my finest moments, but it is me. 

Okay.  There has been lots o' fuss about Honey Boo Boo.  I have never watched it.  I didn't even really know what channel it was on or what time or what day.  I had, of course, heard about it.  About this rather redneck family with a little girl who does pageants. Not really my type of show...but (darn it!) curiosity got the best of me!!

Last night (Sunday), I was alone and channel surfing and I had just read on Facebook where one of my friends was watching Honey Boo Boo, so I knew it was on.  So, I found it.  It was kinda of a review of the past season, not a regular episode.  I loved the subtitles!!  In fact, there were a couple of times that I really needed them.  But some of the things kinda grossed me out.

As most of you know, I have a very, very, very weak stomach.  I mean, I am kinda ashamed of how weak a tummy I have.  If someone is telling me something gross, I gag.  I mean, I literally gag.  Sometimes dry heaving is involved.  If I smell something gross, I gag.  If I see something gross....well, that is totally different!!  Hearing something, smelling something, I can maybe get past it with a gag and a slight dry heave and hopefully it will pass quickly.  Seeing something?  I can't just unsee it!  Having said all of that.... this is what I saw on Honey Boo Boo last night:  WARNING:  DO NOT VIEW if you have a weak tummy!! (I wish they would have given this warning before I had to watch this last night!)

Okay!  I threw up after I saw this.  I threw up a little in my mouth and then I knew there was more coming!  I ran to the bathroom and  Tossed.  My.  Cookies.  Just thinking about it...I am gagging.  I cannot even look at the picture because my mouth starts to water and I find myself swallowing a lot to get the moment to pass.

Now, if you really, really know me, you know that throwing up is probably one of my very least favorite things to do in the whole wide world.  I will do absolutely anything to avoid throwing up (like now, swallowing a lot and taking deep breaths....).  I will lie on the bathroom floor for HOURS and moan and writhe in pain and cry before throwing up.  I know.... I know...I have heard it a million times, "If you throw up you will feel better....."  Blah, blah, blah.  I just hate throwing up.






Sorry...I have to scroll down enough so I could not see the picture anymore!!!! LOL!!!!

So, knowing what you know about me now...you must know that gagging is kinda a common thing for me but throwing up is not.  That should tell you A LOT about that above video!  Just sayin'!  I saw, I gagged, I blew chunks, I changed the channel!  There will be no more Honey Boo Boo for Velvet...ever! 

And, THAT, my dear, dear friends is how I spent my Sunday night.

XOXO

A Post By Maggie....

Hey, hey, hey -- It's me, Maggie May Wood. 

Mama left with daddy in the fast wind maker, so I thought I sit and write a bit.  Some confusing things going on here.

Let me start with room names.  I don't get it.  Mama calls the food room the kitchen.  I don't know what a kitchen is, but I know what the food room is!  She calls the yarn room the family room.  There ain't no family in there.  Just mama, using that really fun yarn stuff  and wooden little sticks.  Sometimes that stuff makes her really happy and she smiles a lot, but sometimes she is ripping that yarn stuff out and yelling and saying some pretty bad words.  They are so bad, I best not repeat -- you know, that rolled up paper hurts! Then there is the garage...I don't know but it sounds a lot of garbage but I can't find the garbage in there, just the fast wind maker!  I love that thing!  Mama takes me on rides and we go super duper fast.  I stick my widdle head out in the air and smell so many things!  Good times in the fast wind maker!  Good times.  Then there is a yard, the back yard specifically.  I don't know what they are talking about but when they talk about it, dad cleans up my toilet room!!  I like a clean toilet room.  After he cleans it all up, I usually go back out there and make more fun to him to clean up; he really seems to enjoy it.  Then there is the ... *whispers* bathroom.... shhhhhh.  I like water, the river water, but not that stupid bathroom water place.  But, on the bright side, there is often a cold drink of water in there for me!

Okay on to other things.  Here's the deal...I go outside in my toilet room and I play around and chat with the neighbor dogs and chase the birds and sometimes, I just catch some rays!  Every once in a while the tree will drop a stick for me to play with.  I bring the stick into the house through my doggy door and mama gets mad.  She takes my present from the tree and throws it back outside.  Well...hello?  She throws, I bring back.  Isn't that the game?  So, I bring it back in.  She acts angry with me and tells me I have to stay outside with my stick, BUT, then she throws it again!  So...I go get it.  This goes on a few times until mom takes the stick away and throws it in the trash.  Don't worry, as soon as she goes upstairs I will dig in the trash and get it back out along with other things.  She says the trash is not my personal restaurant; I don't know what that means, but I know there is food in there and its good and its mine!  Back to the stick thing...mama doesn't like sticks in the house, apparently, but she just brought in a tree?  Not a stick but a whole tree!  I don't get it.  I was told that if I touch that tree my life is on the line.  I'm not sure what that means, but she was pointing her finger at me and talking in that very stern voice, so I pretended to know what she was saying, but I didn't know.  I just know there is a tree in the house with BALLS on it.  Yeah, I know!  Balls.  Tree.  Sticks.  All in the house but I get in trouble if I get too close.   Don't worry, as soon as she goes upstairs, I take the balls off and play with them.  Hello? They're balls!  They want to be played it.  I know it.  And now, there are boxes with bows on them under the tree.  I'm not allowed to touch those either, but I love ripping paper!  I love chewing boxes.  I can't figure out why she would put them on the floor if they are not for me.  Everything on the floor is for me!  Right? 

Okay, I'll make this part quick because when mama starts gagging, she gets water in her eyes and then I have to go kiss her, but when she is picking up my puke, she doesn't want a kiss.  I don't understand this.  She also gets mad because I puke on the rug.  Well, of course I puke on the rug, its cushiony on my feeties!  The tile floor is cool in the summer time when the sun is hot, but I would never throw up on the tile!  I like throwing up on the rugs!  I can always tell where my puke used to be on the rugs because it leaves what mama calls a stupid stain.  I can't tell on the tile.  So, duh.  I puke on the rug so I can enjoy the pretty colors all year long!  I can't figure out why mama gets mad about that, it's really an improvement on the old boring rugs.  Really. 

Well, that's all I got to say today.  Well, except that I love mama and she loves me.  She says I am her mostest favoritest baby Maggie girl in the whole wide world and I believe her.  She lets me sleep with her and keep her warm.  She lets me love her when she is sad.  She says, "Bless you," when I sneeze (that's a whole nother blog!).  She tells me I am the bestest foot warmer in the whole world and she's got some cold feeties!  It's just Maggie and Mama - together forever!  I love her and she loves me. 

XOXO