‘Fro Me to You—The “S” Word

My how time flies in the blog world! Can you believe it’s time again for Kristen’s Sincerely ‘Fro Me to You blog carnival??

I think it’s only appropriate to share these photos with you this week.

I know a lot of my bloggy peeps are currently bound by the death grip of Old Man Winter. Snow, ice and freezing temperatures.

This Southern girl types that with SLIGHT jealousy in her heart. Because we rarely have a winter event in these here parts. And we like to experience just a bit of it every now and again.

I am not holding my breath, but the “S” word has been uttered as a POSSIBILITY in the 5 day forecast.

We’ve got a saying around these parts when it comes to the “S” word. It goes something like this: “I won’t believe it until I see it!"

Take a look at my kids this time last year on a COLD Saturday morning here in God’s country:

Just cold enough for the white stuff to fall from the sky, but not cold enough to change out of pajamas!

So excited we had to call grandparents and let them know!

And one of us couldn’t keep our mouth closed!

Here’s to hoping that we at least get a chance to update our GRITS snow pictures for 2009.

For more ‘Fro Me to You fun, click here to head on over to We Are THAT Family where you will find more than enough photos that have never graced the pages of any scrapbook!

One Dream At A Time

In honor of National Nurse Anesthetists Week, I thought I would introduce you to MY profession!

This year’s theme:

“Dream a Little Dream With Us”

What is a nurse anesthetist you might ask??

Nurse anesthetists are advanced practice nurses who administer approximately 30 million anesthetics in the United States each year. They are at the forefront of anesthesia patient safety, practicing in every type of setting where anesthesia is needed. CRNAs are the sole anesthesia providers in nearly two-thirds of all rural hospitals, and have been the main provider of anesthesia care to U.S. service men and women on the front lines of battle since World War I. (AANA.com)

How about a little glance into my work world.

My Office:

My Desk:

My Instruments:

My “Goodie” Drawer:

Safety is ALWAYS first:

FYI: NEVER, I repeat, NEVER take a photo of yourself and send it to a co-worker. She just might upload it to EVERY computer screen in your office. I am just sayin’.

Master of my domain:

My name is Tammy, and I am proud to be a Nurse Anesthetist!

For more information on visit the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists website, HERE.

Dear John

 

By the time you read this, I will be gone.

It’s been a great three years, but it’s time for us to part ways.

You were a great friend for the first couple years.

However, over the last year I have developed less of a love for you.

Every time we met, it just wasn’t right for me anymore.

Our meetings became boring and monotonous.

I felt like we weren’t going anywhere together.

It’s nothing that YOU did, it was all me.

I wish only the best for you as you move on to someone else.

I hope they develop the immediate love for you that I once had. 

May their love for you be strong and long lasting.

I only wish you the best.  You know that.

Good-bye old friend.

 

Boxers or Briefs

Just a little laugh to get your week started:

God is SO good

 

First I would just like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who stopped by here and left such kind words of encouragement, for lifting me and my family up in your prayers.  It meant so much to me. 

 

I wanted to let you know that Yaya came through her surgery without any major complications.  She is currently in the ICU and will remain there throughout the weekend so she can be watched carefully.

 

Your prayers were truly felt as I sat in that waiting room.  It’s quite different being on the other side of a patient having heart surgery.  I am used the one being in the operating room, NOT in the waiting room.

 

At one point, we were taken to the conference room to meet with the surgeon when a surgeon’s assistant came to inform us that they had to reopen Yaya’s chest because her blood pressure had dropped.  And we were sent back to the waiting room for what seemed like eternity.

 

Let me tell you, I was StRessEd!  Her explanation made NO sense to me.  This was the point that a little bit of knowledge was a dangerous thing. 

 

And about this time the Greek priest showed up.  I panicked on the inside.  Did God send him here or did he coincidentally show up during this seemingly critical time.

 

We all sat and waited, but not without the wringing of hands and serious fidgetiness.  I know a lot of silent prayers went up from my chair!  A lot.

 

But a little over and hour later, the handsome Greek surgeon with the nice accent came to tell the family the surgery went great, and the unstable incident was short and not serious!  He also spoke to me in MY (nurse) language and I felt good about it all.

 

We saw her in the ICU briefly and, of course, I had to eyeball all the monitors and ask a few pertinent (to me) questions.  I was satisfied with all her numbers and the answers I received from the ICU nurse. 

 

I definitely felt at peace as I left the ICU.

 

I would greatly appreciate your continued prayers as Yaya now enters the recovery phase.  She has always been a very independent and strong woman!  Please pray for good pain control, good healing of her surgical wound, and the return of physical strength.  

Blessings to you all!

Heart of Gold

I’ve not yet dedicated a post to this very special person in my life. But tonight I feel that I must.

I want to introduce to you my Yaya. She is my paternal grandmother and the matriarch of my big fat Greek family.

This past October she celebrated her 93rd birthday. That’s right NINETY-THREE!

She was born in 1915 in New Jersey to Greek immigrants who were in the chocolate manufacturing business. (Oh how I wish that was still the family business!)

She married Papou (my grandfather) in 1938.

She’s the mother of three, the Yaya to 8, and the Great-Yaya to 10.

There is so much more I could tell you about her, but I am choosing to share her in photos:

Summer 2008

The Princess and her name sake

Her kids: Nick (my father), Yaya, Maria, George

My brother’s graduation from the Naval Academy 2000

Yaya with almost all of her grandkids at her 90th birthday

Yaya with all the great-grand kids

Yaya and me on her 90th birthday

And the reason I want you to meet her?? Tomorrow at 7:30am this woman with a heart of gold will be undergoing open heart surgery to replace a bad valve in her heart.

Believe me, I KNOW how crazy it sounds to operate on the heart of a 93 year old woman. I do!

However, surgery is not an option. If the valve is not replaced she would spend the rest of her life in the hospital.

I am asking for everyone here to lift up Yaya in your prayers as she undergoes this surgery and as she recovers.

Please pray for the entire Greek family.

Pray for the doctors, nurses and everyone else who will be caring for her.

My heart is heavy tonight, and I think I can say the same for the rest of the family.

I know God is in control of this situation.

One Bible verse comes to my mind:

1 Peter 5:7,

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

The GRITS family will be leaving early Friday to spend the weekend with my family. Thank you for your prayers and I will keep you posted.

‘Fro Me to You – Stylin’ and Profilin’

Welcome to the best day in blog land. I bring to you another crazy rendition of Kristen’s Sincerely ‘Fro Me to You.

Because we’ve not had enough photos of the 80’s, this week I present to you another 80’s blast from the past.

As soon as I found this photo, a flood of memories came back to me from over 20 years ago.

Weird how that happens, especially since I can’t tell you what I ate for lunch.

Anyway, take a look at these hot mama’s:

(Karen, Tappy, and me)

Just look at us dolled up here in our Panama Jack t-shirts for our youth group 24-hour “lock-in” at a local YMCA.

** flashback alert **

Did you read that??? PANAMA JACK t-shirt!

Here’s another part of the memory. I did not OWN a PJ t-shirt and one of my lovely friends let me wear one of theirs. Because we all HAD to match! And weren’t we so cute?!

While we are here, go ahead and notice my early adoration of the “Mom” jean. Niiiiice.

For a lot more ‘Fro Me to You fun click HERE!

Better yet, grab a photo and join in the fun.

Inauguration Day

 

Today will go down in the history books. 

Barack Obama will become the 44th President of the United States.  The first African-American US President.

Whether you voted for him or not is now irrelevant. 

The Bible instructs us, as Christians to pray for our leaders:

 

Pray for rulers and for all who have authority so that we can have quiet and peaceful lives full of worship and respect for God.

1 Timothy 2:2

Max Lucado, the author, has organized the website “Pray for President-elect Barack Obama”.   Over 201,000 have committed to pray for Obama and the leaders of our nation.  He has even included a downloadable prayer guide.

 

Please join with me and pray for our new President, his family and those that will be leading our country over the next 4 years!

Huh?

 

I find myself often saying that when I have conversations with my little 7 year old Princess. 

The other day, she wanted me to know that she has decided that she does not want to go to college.

Huh?

I asked her what about her current dream of becoming a veterinarian one day.

She was quick to let me know that she still wanted to become a veterinarian; however, she doesn’t want to go to college first.

Ohhhh……

aviatophobia

 

By now, I’m sure most of you have watched the videos and seen the interviews from the US Airways flight 1549 that crashed into the Hudson River last week.

 

I’ve seen a little bit of the video and some of the interviews.  But I just can’t watch too much.

My name is Tammy and I have aviatophobia.

I am scared to death of flying.

Do I let my fear consume me and prevent me from boarding planes??

No.

Do I load up on anti-anxiety drugs to get me from Point A to Point B??

No.  But on my last two long flights I’ve had them in my bag.  One hint of in-flight trouble and I would have guzzled them all.

I’m not exactly sure when or why my fear of flying began. 

I’ve been a worrier since the beginning of time, so perhaps it’s the “what if….” factor.

I’ve taken physics, so I know how it works.   But there’s still the mental hang up of a large heavy METAL object flying through the air. 

I am “Type-A” and like to be in control, so maybe it’s the complete lack of control I have while riding in that seat.

From takeoff until landing, with every turbulence and turn, and each *ding* of the bell…. I am on the edge of my seat, my knuckles are white and my stomach is queasy.

Whatever the reason, I don’t like to be a passenger on an airplane.  And the footage from last weeks crash just makes my fear more real.

Yet it confirms the presence of God’s hand in our everyday lives.   It’s a complete miracle that all 155 lives on board were spared.

And props to the Pilot, Chesley B. Sullenberger III.  Sir, YOU ROCK!  And I want you to be the pilot on all my flights.

So, if you ever sit next to me on an airplane and I happen to step on your foot during the landing.  Think nothing of it, I’m merely helping the pilot with the brakes!

‘Fro Me to You – Curly Cuties

 

 

In this week’s edition of Kristen’s Thursday Fun-day carnival, I am going to keep it short, sweet, and to the point! 

As I scrolled through my photos, I came across these two photos.  One of me, one of the Princess; but both taken with the same exact hairdo.

 

See for yourself:

 

 

The Princess

 

 

 

Yours truly, circa ~ 1973

 

 

Let me just say, we’ve come a long way over the last three decades in the soft curler department. 

Raise your hand if you remember how incredibly uncomfortable the pink sponge rollers were?!  And how many of you actually woke up with more than 3 curlers still in your hair???

The Princess doesn’t know how good she has it with her new-age soft curlers! 

 

For more ‘Fro Me to You goodness, click HERE to head over to Kristen’s place where you are guaranteed a few good chuckles, snickers, and at least one snort!

This Is

 

 

All I have to say is YIPEE!  And YA-HOO!   WoOt!

 

I must confess I am a late convert to the AI-mania.  I did not watch the first few seasons of the show, but got reeled in once the Alabama gang began to represent!  You know Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks. 

As all you fans know, the first couple of weeks provide us with non-stop entertainment as we watch the auditions.  Many will say, including myself, this is the best part of the show. 

Tonight was NO different than any other year.  I found myself laughing hysterically, gasping and asking my husband, “do these people actually think they can sing???”

I also had the pleasure of listening to my son interject his comments at some of the more ghastly auditions.  Some dude came out and began singing like a chick and Lego-Man slapped his forehead and said, “OH NO!”  I think I snorted.

Of course there were a couple of awkward moments as we watched as a family.  The Princess actually asked, at the right moment, “Uhhh, is that a boy because HE looks like a girl”.    We had to explain to her that some people are not right different and don’t bring folks like these home to meet the parents!

MOST AWKWARD MOMENT OF THE NIGHT:  Someone’s daughter actually auditioned in a teensy-weensy bikini.  And in true Hollywood style, she got a lot of air time in her slingshot and tiny-triangles ensemble. 

Thanks to you, Hoochie-Mama of all Hoochie-Mamas, I had to explain to my 7 year old daughter why your choice of dress, or lack thereof, is not appropriate when trying to get something you want.

And you want to see some kids sent to bed quickly.  Just have an African-American man come out with undue attention brought to his “Sexual Chocolate” tattoo. 

And why is the remote NEVER handy when this happens.

All in all tonight’s auditions where highly entertaining with a few good singers headed to Hollywood.  I look forward to the rest of the season!

What about you??

We've got talent....

NOTE SENT HOME FROM SCHOOL:

Auditions for school Talent Show...coming soon!



Discussion with the Princess:

Princess: I want to do gymnastics with all the other girls in my class

Me: That is not exactly the type of talent they are probably looking for...blah blah blah....a talent is something like dancing or singing, twirling a baton, musical instruments...yada yada yada

Princess: But it's the ONLY thing I know how to do (insert serious whining)

Me: Why don't you sing a song from High School Musical or something like that

Princess: I don't know any

**I MUST interject here THIS is false, the child knows all the words from all 3 HSM sound tracks**




Discussion with Lego-Man

Me: So you want to enter the talent show too?

LM: I was thinking about it

Me: What are you going to do as your talent....singing or dancing or something like that??

LM: NO WAY! I was thinking about doing some comedy

Me: OH, really???

LM: Yea, I was thinking about running into walls and talking on a banana like a phone.

Me: Uh huh, that sounds, ummm, good.

**NOTE: this is the child who does not welcome any attention drawn to himself**


I have talked until I am blue in the face about the talent show. The tryouts, the stage, the people watching...not to discourage but for understanding and clarification. And perhaps to prevent embarrassment.

Sure, my kids have talents, but we don't excel in those that usually grace the stages of any talent show.

I mean, my kids would win hands down if they are looking for kids that can put together 3 large Lego sets in ONE day or change the American Girl doll's clothes 10 times in 15 minutes.

Currently, THOSE are our talents.....and I am proud!

Facebook is:

 

1.  A highly addictive wonderful site on the internet where I have caught up with friends from middle school through college.

2.  A place to keep up with current friends.

3.  A good way to keep up with extended family members who live all across the U.S.

4.  A fun place to get to know some of your bloggy peeps even better.

5.  A great place to post photos of your family to share with all your friends.

6. An even better place to drag out photo albums from college, learn how to work your scanner, upload the photos and enjoy the comments.

7.  A place where you may find a photo of your bum posted by a friend; who then requests the owner of the bum “tag” them self so all can know exactly whose bum is being viewed.

 

8.  A place where you can “Super Poke” your friends whenever you desire.   Here’s a couple of favorites:

 

    “get your hair did with”     

 

    “work what yo mama gave ya”  

 

9.  Is a great place for me to exercise my sense of humor or lack thereof by placing comments on friend’s status updates and freshly uploaded photos.

 

10.  And my most recent discovery, thanks to Facebook:

After playing a few of the online word games (PathWords, Scramble, Scrabble), I have discovered that my vocabulary is SERIOUSLY lacking compared to my friends.  I guess all those years of not participating in extra-curricular reading is now catching up with me. 

And note to self: just because BooMama rocks the PathWords does not mean you can.

‘Fro Me to You—Well I ain’t first class

 

I am pleased as punch and tickled pink that it is once again time for Kristen’s Sincerely ‘Fro Me to You carnival.

In case you are new, you can click HERE to find out the guidelines.

 

 

This week I bring to you photos, that have actually made it to a scrapbook; however, the scrapbook is digital and has yet to be printed by yours truly. 

Because that’s the way I roll now that all my photos are on digital “film”.

Should I even tell you this album is from my trip to Japan in October of 2007?!  My immediate family and I flew over to attend my brother’s Japanese wedding.  That trip is why I started this blog, so my kids and other family could keep up with us.

Anywhoo, these first photos were taken on our flight TO Japan.  It was only a 14 hour direct flight from Houston to Tokyo.  Thankfully, the flight was not full and the hubby and I had all three of our seats to ourselves. 

Let me just say, the leg room was certainly lacking and my legs are short by most standards.  However, we had room to roam in the stretching your upper body out department. 

 

 

 

We spent 10 fun days in Japan and I was dreading the flight home.  What if the flight was full?  What if there is NO extra elbow room?  We had been spoiled on our flight over.

Upon our arrival to the Tokyo airport we changed our connecting flight home from Houston for a mere $100.

At the ticket counter we were handed our boarding passes and a ticket to the “lounge”.  Huh?  In broken English we were informed we had been upgraded to FIRST CLASS!!  Double, HUH?  How?  For $100 on a FULL international flight??  I laughed and thought it was a joke.  I mean I laughed out loud.  And probably snorted a time or two.

Come out, come out wherever you are Allen Funt!

 

 

Let me just say, in first class you get REAL silverware and plates--- NO plastic sporks, or foons--- the service and food were great.  And the best part, your chair becomes a recliner at the push of a button! 

 

My First Class experience was a blessing in disguise from the Lord.  You see, I began feeling VERY BADLY a few hours into the flight. 

Long story short, I brought home a VERY nasty intestinal “bug” and my symptoms literally started 30 minutes AFTER I walked in the door of my house.  Praise the Lord!  One 30 minute delay at any point on this trip and there would have been t-r-o-u-b-l-e.

God took care of me for my miserable ride home and I am truly thankful.

 

Thanks for letting me share my photos and long story with you.  For more fun photos and guaranteed laughs, head on over to Kristen’s HERE for more ‘Fro Me to You fun!

What’s new pussycat?

 

Whoa, whoa, whoa…..

 

WARNING:  Random bullet points about to begin. 

 

• I must first talk about the weather we’ve had for the last 2 weeks.  Clouds….rain….grey sky….clouds….rain….  You get the picture.  It is ON MY NERVES.  I have total sympathy for the people who live in Seattle.  I was thinking one more day of this and I was going to need a little happy pill.  Which might not be a bad idea most days, clouds or not. 

 

• Next topic….resolutions or not.  It seemed to be the topic of choice at work this week.  Everyone talking about theirs and how some have already failed at them.  I am not a resolution maker.  Sure, I’d like to be less sedentary and loose a little weight.  But that is nothing new to me this year or from any other.    Why set yourself up for failure is what I say.

 

• School started back on Monday.  WOOOOOO!  *clapping wildly*  However, to dampen the party mood around the house, homework began full force Monday afternoon.  There just has to be a better system than sending that stuff home.  I mean can’t they be in school a couple of extra hours for “homework time.” 

 

• The 4th grader came home with a project that will be completed in sections over the next 5 months on our great state of Alabama.  However, tears began flowing as he focused on the “big picture” and flipped through the State Notebook filled with endless pages of questions and blank picture boxes.  "I can’t do it all, it’s too much” he cried.  We had to do some serious S-L-O-W talking to get him to understand his wonderful teachers divided the book into sections and created a timeline.  He is still a bit panicked.  I have NO idea where he gets that from.

 

• Last night I was shocked to discover the greatest decade of my life has been merely reduced to a fraternity party.  I did a double take and even got the hubby to verify what I was seeing.  It is sad but true, the little frat boy (and I mean little boy) had the 80’s hotty, Magnum P.I., on the back of his “Tribute to the Eighties Party” t-shirt.    *sigh*

 

• Speaking of the best decade of my life, thanks to those of you who wished my friend Teresa a happy 40th birthday on Monday!  I am happy to report she is adjusting fine to her more seasoned age.  And I just have to show you all what I sent her.  I wanted to decorate her lawn with 40 pink flamingos but waited too late.  However, I did order this awesome cookie bouquet for her from Cookies by Design:

 

• I think she especially liked the tombstone that read “Happy Birthday You Buzzard”.  Good stuff.  And thanks to my tribute post, her 8 year old daughter has been like a broken record saying, “Lordy, lordy, look whose 40"!  Oops.

 

• And for some really good news…..Kristen’s ‘Fro Me to You blog party starts back tomorrow.  You all know that it’s my favorite day in blogdom.  I love getting out my old photos and sharing them with you.  If you don’t participate you should.  For more info on the blog carnival click here.

 

So, what’s new with you???

 

It bears repeating….

Because I can be obnoxious and I now have about one hundred a few more readers than this time last year, I want to wish one of my favorite people in the world a happy birthday!

LORDY, LORDY, LOOK WHO’S 40!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

To find out more about this special friend you can click here to read my original post. Because I am too lazy to cut and paste it.

Even better click here to give her some birthday wishes from the GreekGRITS blogging “family”.

After all, I owe my entire blogging career to this chick.

Happy Birthday, friend. I love you!

Halp!

 

I apologize for my obvious absence the last few days.  I’ve been busy working on a project which doesn’t seem to be going well. 

First, I give you Exhibit A:

 

 

Now for the dilemma.

Can anyone tell me how in the world I can get a photo taken while playing Guitar Hero that doesn’t show my i’ve-had-it-since-birth double chin????

 

Seriously.  *cough*

 

Now I present you with Exhibits 1-4:

 

#1.

 

Nope, that’s not it.

 

 

#2.

 

Oh, that’s better…. note to self, DISTANCE is good.

 

 

 

#3.

Hmmmm, this might work.  And it does distort the short stature factor.

 

 

 

#4.

  Looks like a combo of #2 and #3.   Not bad.

 

 

 

I’m out of answers….and 40 years later I’ve learned to embrace the chin(s).  However, I’m going to have to enforce a ban on all photos that accentuate its presence.

 

Case closed!