I think this guy came up with a GREAT idea!



I love Doritos (Cool Ranch... MMMMM) and I love acts of generosity and I LOVE (and I do mean LOVE) kicking Cancer's can. Mr. Stewart is working it in all of the above mentioned areas.

So this is what I'm thinking (yes, I think occasionally)... most of us have a spare minute to watch a video, right? Some Tweet and some are Facebook addicts fans. Considering that you are reading this, you are at least somewhat technical (unless you are reading a printout of my blog in the library's periodical section... left it there myself, I did). We are hooked up! We can click a mouse (HERE) to vote and we can tell a friend. Let's help this guy win 250,000 dollars to give away!

*Brief pause for Jen to shake pom poms, wiggle her spirit fingers, eat a Cool Ranch Dorito, and wipe cheesy spirit fingers on her pajama bottoms.


I hope you have a nice weekend. I'm heading home to visit my Grandpa and hug my Mom.

Be blessed Y'all!

As promised... the ridiculous.

Hello Citizen!

I am the Masked Blogger!

My mission is to restore order to Dust Bunny Hostage. I have defeated DBH's nemesis, Debbie Downer; I stabbed Debbie repeatedly using a decorative pick from a cupcake ( with sprinkles! ) until she ran from the blog complaining, "But I didn't get to tell them about my dentist appointment!"

Good times.

The Masked Blogger's work is never done. I must protect Dust Bunny Hostage from villains like Wilhelmina Whiner, Robin Rantsalot, and Paula "Suck all of the joy from the Blogosphere" Smith. Their very existence depends on wollering in bad moods and sad situations. The Masked Blogger banishes them with Silly, a very effective weapon (I may hurl a few beads at them while I'm at it).

As I bring light to dark blog sites, I am being watched. Fearlessly blogging, not acknowledging the force lurking beyond this door...



...I am aware that The Watcher observes me through the broken blind.


*shudder* A little scary, isn't it?

The Watcher thinks she is cute.



She isn't (ish).

Moving on...



What is that I see with my super sonic (mask impeded) vision? Why it's...



pre-killed roadkill.



Much like the roadkill joke, this...


...was okay, but not THAT good. Sorry Jack's, no blog, but I appreciate the shout out to bloggers... wait a minute. I did just blog about it! You tricky tricky burger joint. I'll get you next time Jacks, with a Blue Bell chocolate shake on the side!

Oh well, let's do this right... the Big Bacon and Fries from Jack's was absolutely delicious, an awesome value, and probably should have it's own blog. It was THAT good (and the roadkill joke is pathetic).

*Stay with me Citizen, I'm digging deep.


These are girl Peeps.



"Because they are pink?" you ask (I heard you with my super-sonic-nosy ears).

No, not because they are pink. It's because these....


are boy Peeps.


Let's see that again... girls...



...and boys.


I've always felt that Bunny Peeps were to be consumed ears first - it is imperative now.

*I'm suddenly so thankful for this mask and my hidden identity.

And finally, a message to the one Dust Bunny Hostage reader in middle America (per Statcounter)...



I'm sure you feel even more isolated after reading this post. In your case, it appears that the cheese truly does stand alone. Be strong... and thank you, Lone Reader.


Be blessed Y'all... er, I mean... Have a great day Citizen!

Debbie Downer has hijacked my blog.

*I am going to post one more update. Tomorrow I will be perkier, possibly even ridiculous (you have been warned).

My Grandpa is still in the hospital. He was diagnosed with acute Colitis. He is feeling better but the doctor wants him to check into a nursing home/rehab facility for 21 days. This is the same facility where my grandmother passed away during what was to be, a temporary stay. As you can imagine, this dredges up some heavy emotions for my mother, who was the one to check my grandmother into the nursing home.

At this point I'm not sure if Grandpa will agree to the arrangement, although his decision will not have anything to do with my grandmother's death. He was never there during her stay.

The day that my mother checked Nanny into the temporary care nursing home, her father was in the hospital being treated for a stroke, and her sister was in another hospital due to colon and liver cancer. Since Nanny had Alzheimer's, she was unable to stay by herself and the facility was my mother's best (if not only) option. I met my mother at the facility that morning and stayed with my grandmother while the paperwork was filled out. As Mother and I walked Nanny to her room, she became agitated. Nanny obviously didn't want to be there.

It was terrible for Mom, admitting that she couldn't take care of her mother. The last thing she ever wanted to do was place her in a nursing home, even temporarily. When it was time for us to leave, two nurses had to restrain my Nanny. She was yelling and telling the women to let her go. Unfortunately, that was the last time I saw my grandmother alive.

Can you picture an abandoned concrete building that is beginning to crumble?

Something that was once solid but has become deteriorated and sort of haunted? That was what my mother looked like the day she left her mother behind. My mother was stoic. She was strong, and yet horribly weakened. As the next few months played out... burying my grandmother, sitting vigil with my aunt and then burying her too... that appearance of dilapidated strength remained.

It took a long time for my mother to... well, live again.

I have a lot of confidence that Grandpa is going to be fine. He may be 91 years old but he is one of the strongest men that I know (his one weakness is the ladies). He has buried five daughters and a wife, and he is still able to smile. He is one tough old guy and I think he will be back home, sitting in his recliner, soon.

But if something were to happen to him, there is no doubt in my mind that my mother would have peace. She has been absolutely focused on my Grandpa, setting aside many things to take care of him. She has gone out of her way to put love in action and show honor to her family - honor for her father, and honor for her deceased mother and sister.


On a lighter note (which could weigh a ton and still be lighter), The Boy got his sports goggles today...



...and showed us how well they stay on...


...and made himself drunk as a wheelbarrow

(a little comic relief).

He returned to school today and aside from a nasty cough, seems to be feeling great! I appreciate your prayers and well wishes - y'all are the best.

Swine Flu is still flying...

I wrote HERE and HERE about Swine Flu landing at our house. It liked us so much that it has returned.

The Boy was the perfect patient at the doctor's office. After a nasal swab, a finger prick, and a chest X-ray, the diagnosis was Swine Flu.

He may have balked when the nurse said she had to prick his finger but that chick was quick. She had The Boy pricked and was milking his finger before he could add a "Hoo" to the "Boo." Not that The Boy would cry. I mean DUDE, he's NINE.... he would never whine about shots or needles, right?

Riiiiiiiight.

Seriously though, he may have looked scared for a second but the nurse was fast. When The Boy realized it didn't hurt, he became Joe Cool. I just know the cute blond nurse thought he was beast.

*I may have spent too much time with a nine year old boy.... who is flippin' awesome Dude!

The nurse asked me if we had gotten the flu vaccine. When I answered no, she said "Don't feel bad. It doesn't seem to be making much difference. We've had people diagnosed who took the vaccine and some who didn't." Uh huh. We all know that "Don't feel bad" is code for "You bloomin' idiot. It serves you right that you have a sick kid. You SO could have prevented this."

What can I say at this point except "Hello Tamiflu, good bye cash H1N1." Please say a prayer that The Boy is over the worst of it and that everyone in our family doesn't get sick (since none of us took the vaccine).

Also, I spoke with my Grandpa on the phone. Although he has to stay in the hospital another night, he sounded much better. My mom said he looks 100% better than he did yesterday. Praise God! I appreciate all that have prayed! Hopefully tomorrow, he will get to go home.

So many blogs, so little time...

The Boy is home from school. He ran a fever and coughed all weekend. He basically feels crummy. We have an appointment with the doctor this afternoon. I hope it isn't the flu (although the symptoms lead me to believe it may very well be).

My Grandpa turned 91 yesterday. He celebrated with a trip to the hospital. He was kept overnight and seems to be feeling better today. I haven't heard when he will be released.

Needless to say, prayers, especially for my grandfather, would be appreciated. I look forward to reading blogs when things are normal healthier around here.

Be blessed Y'all!

*Smile*

12:55 PM Thursday...



3:15 PM Thursday... one set of braces and one ice cream cone later...



Have a good weekend Y'all!

THRIFTY THURSDAY

It's Thrifty Thursday with Leigh of Bloggeritaville! This post is brought to you from my messy house by the blogger dressed in red.

TJ shared information about 2 1/2 year old Jackson HERE (prayer request) and HERE (an update). He is battling a brain tumor. His friends and family are "rockin' the red" in support of Jackson, who has chemotherapy on Thursdays. I support him (in red) and I've lifted him up in prayer... his family too. I would love it if you would slip over and read about Jackson.

Funds from sales in my Etsy shop during the month of March will be donated to Jackson's family. If you feel so inclined, take a look. I will get with the program (there are still cards that I need to add) and make some things over the next few days to sell. Check back if you don't see anything you like today as it will be subject to change.

Thanks!

Now, on to my thrifty finds...

I had been using a plastic and metal folding table in our house for about a year. It. Drove. Me. Nuts. I may not keep the nicest house around but I like to pretend that it can be pretty. And the plastic and metal table was NOT pretty.

I found a table and 5 1/2 chairs (6 when Bryan gets one chair fixed) at a yard sale for 40 bucks! The table is heavy and has a leaf.



It comfortably seats six, uncomfortably eight, and if we need more seating? I've got a folding table handy.

I am more enthusiastic about using a centerpiece now that I have a nice table. In a candle holder, I replaced the tea lights with eggs shells and planted flowers in each one.



It lasted about two days before the flowers died. I replaced the egg shells with paper mache' eggs that I decorated this week.





Until I have a full set of six chairs, two ladder back chairs on the end will have to suffice. Not perfect yet buuuut.... YEAH! 40 bucks and bye bye plastic!

There is the sweetest little church-run thrift store in Daphne Alabama. I found these two chairs there last week.



The blue one was five dollars



and the yellow one was two dollars.



I jerked them up like a twenty dollar bill laying on the sidewalk. All of the bottoms in our household are way too big for these two little chairs so I put them up. Way up (read "away from The Boy").

I placed the blue chair on top of the television cabinet





and the yellow chair on top of my Hoosier cabinet.



Hat's off to ya if you made it this far. You'll be glad to know this is the end!

Well, almost.

Be blessed Y'all!

Now it's the end.