Well... Bye-Bye 2008

Once again, another year passes, and I sit here thinking of HOW QUICKLY it really flew by! I am so very thankful for everything this year has brought me. It has been a very trying year to say the least. But I have loved every moment of it. I am one of those people that don't won't to look back and say, "Wow, I am ashamed I did that." I look at everything as an 'opportunity to learn.' Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Some milestones I have endeavored this year include:

-My best friend moving to England!!! Oh, wait, maybe I should start over. My best friend getting married, then moving to England.

In case you might not be 100% on what I am saying, this means... very little talk time at all. I mean, you really realize how much you take for granted just picking up the phone and talking about a 'bad day,' or something that made you laugh. Emails are just so impersonal at times.

-Me, I moved 3 times this year. Well, technically only 2, but had three different 'homes.'

-I started dating my current boyfriend. Almost 1 year ago. WOW. He is amazing to me, and I love him very much.

-I found out who my friends are. Lost a few, got back an old good one, grew shaky with some.

-Grew CLOSER to Melissa, regardless of the thousands of miles in between, and the huge pond seperating us. Amazing huh? I feel like she is a super cool pen pal, that lives very far away. It makes things fun for me.

-Feel absolutely in love with the whole Hutton Family. It's amazing. I'm so happy for Melissa.

-Acquired my first little boy... Boudreaux dog. :) He's my 2nd fav. boy!!!


Now for a few pictures to high-light some of my favorite times in 2008... Enjoy.








snow in december









Levee fun









Liz's birthday at Tsunami's





So, Melissa came to visit... DURING GUSTAV!!!




fun with wigs at the apartment




hot air balloon festival




Ever growing puppy man



the day i brought my boy home




girls night of fun...




Circus... thanks Scottie



camping trip to gulf shores with scottie... FUN





night bass pro opened!!! :)





st. pattys day parade






Beth got married....




Beths bachlorette party in MS, Hard rock








Scottie didn't like mushrooms... too bad i cooked with em!!!








some hutton loving before the big move to the UK




Mardi Gras with Scottie...




Beautiful couple...





getting all ready...

Jan. 4, 2008... Great start to the new year.


Lets see what 2009 has in store. Love, happiness, peace!!! What a year!!!!!!!!!!!

December in a flash...

Yet again, It has been a while for an update. I am really getting good at this whole neglecting my blog deal.

The holiday season is almost over. December has flown by. Heck, the whole year of 2008 has flown by. It has been a good year though. More on the 'looking back of the year' in a later blog.

I recently had to have my moms dog put down. We acquired Rocky right after hurricane Rita hit. Back in September of 2005. He was dropped off right down the road from where we live. Sad thing is, the owners lived about 1.5 miles away from where they dropped him off, if that. Well, we had to put my boy down. He was the most faithful, and loyal dog around. I loved him, and still do. It has been almost 3 weeks since he was put down. He had heartworms, and we had no idea. I really had no idea how heartworms are contracted. I thought I knew, but I was totally wrong. All it takes is one mosquito bite, and for that mosquito to be infected with microflaria and BAM the dog contracts it. That simple. I feel horrible that we learned this story at Rocky's cost. :( The vet clinic was super supportive, and each day gets a little more bearable. Its hard to pull up and not have Rocky running up to my car, doing his little vocal talk he did. It was so hard to explain what that noise was, but it was the sweetest talk around. Seriously, he had this 'coo' he did. No other dog has ever done it, I am sure.






He was a lab mix. He was a sweetheart, and a good 'watch dog'



I laugh when I look at this picture. He kept flicking the hat off. I am holding his head up.



Its always hard when you loose an animal.

Ok, so the RECORD was broken shortly after we had to have Rocky put down. Two days to be exact. We got SNOW. The boy would of loved it. I know he would of. It was about 8 inches where we live. Maybe even more. I think it was close to 11 or so. My friend right down the road had 12 inches of snow.

Here are a few shots...






My dog loved the snow... its ashame this was probably his one and only time he will get to experience it. Its just funny to watch the way he reacted to it.





This was my Christmas Card this year. Boudreaux loves his "Santa" hat. And I made some old fashioned reindeer ears. Everyone loved the cards!





Our homefront. It is Thomas Kinkade worthy in my opionion.



My snowman was taller than me... and I gave her hair by putting pine needles in her head!!!





my second favorite picture from the day.

I needed that day like crazy. I haven't had a vacation in ages.

I will blog more later...

See what happens

So, everything has been going great living back at the mothers. All except one thing. The neighbor that has a thing for killing and poisoning animals. Ok, so we all know, I love my dog to pieces. He is with me everywhere and is with me constantly, unless i'm at work or something to that effect.

let me try to explain this to the best extent, without making this too long. We were out yesterday raking leaves, and getting ready to burn them. I told Reaghan, lets go close the gate so the boys (Boudreaux, and his brother CoChise) won't go to the road. Lets just face it, CoChise loves the ditch outside the fence, and he will sometimes go down the road if he sees a dog. BUT we always watch him, and catch him in the act. We walk out there and are trying to get to the gate, and the dogs took off to the ditch. CoChise instigates, and Boudreaux follows. This is how it goes about 99% of the time. Get the dogs in the fence, and close the gate. Well the neighbors across the street were seeing us struggling with the dogs, and of course I think they did it on purpose, hung around the edge of their property, and talked loudly and got our dogs attention. I'm at the back with the burn pile, I see whats going on, I take off the the front yard, and CoChise barrels and busts through the gate, Boudreaux follows. Im darting up there, and I get to the gate, and unhook things, and get it undone, and the 'man' is talking loudly so I can hear him. He says, "They are such stupid people, that gate has never held any dog in it, and they are morons for thinking it will hold those dumb dogs." The wife is saying just poison them with those hot dogs like you did the others. He says, no I will just get my rifle and take care of them. I get out the gate, the boys are barking at them. They scuffled trying to 'scare' them away. I get there and I try to get them, then the man is very ugly to me telling me to keep them off his land or he will kill them, yada yada. I'm fed up, I say "You know what!? I'm sorry, you see me struggling, you see me ATTEMPTING to keep the dogs out your yard, this is the first time I have seen them go to your yard, and I appologize!!!!" Well you need to keep them in your yard. Yall have way too many animals to begin with. I was thinking whats your def. of too many animals? I mean I can say you have TOO Many gray hairs, which is both in the minut. You get the drift. I tell him, I have tried to be nice to you, I have tried. But I am curious why every other dog in the neighborhood is allowed to roam free, but my dog darts out very quickly and you raise hell? Well, my wife is scared of labs. Well I am sorry, I will try to keep him out of yalls yard. He said you better because I have a rifle. Meanwhile, he is holding it over his right shoulder. I turned and got the dogs, who were still barking. and turned around. I was fuming. You have no idea. As I am walking back to the house dragging on 50lb lab, Reaghan grabs CoChise, the one who won't even acknowledge that you are there. They are both whimpering, and whining. I wasn't showing any mercy to either of them. They knew they did wrong.

It was much worse than just reading this, it really was. They were yelling and saying obsurd things, and saying they would kill the dogs while I was walking up there, and walking back to the house. I am not dumb, and it took everything within me to be civil to them. This man has lied about numerous things in the past... he is a different breed of person that what I am. Not a nice breed either. I wanted to tell him the reason the boys were barking at him is, they aren't used to ugly, and unjust people. But I didn't, haha.

Anyway.... yeah, it all makes sense about the lab years ago that was Poisoned. Through the grapevine, it is said he put poison in the ditch that he would drink out of to kill him. Very clever and very slick. His daughter spilt the beans on that one. I'm very uneasy right now. He has killed several animals, and where will it stop? I mean I can name 3 off the top of my head that have died in his yard, or crawled to ours and died. One being Tyco, the beautiful lab a few years ago that passed. I was heartbroken. What can be done about him killing animals? As far as I know, there is no law about the leash law in Livingston? What can I do as an individual to make sure he doesn't kill any more animals and get away with it? I am concerned about the other lab dogs down the road. They obviously don't like labs. Not that any of them have been ugly. I mean, I am concerned about these other dogs too. I don't want these people to one day wake up to a lethargic dog, clenching for its life, and them have no idea what kind of neighbor it is that poisons animals, particularly dogs, esp. labs.

New topic... I got my volunteer application in for Baton Rouge General. I will be volunteering at the MidCity Hospital in the ER. I am so excited, but very nervous. Not only the location of it, but the crowd I will be dealing with. If you know what I mean. But the lady said she thinks I am fit for it, and thinks I would make a difference there. We will see what she sees in me. She is super nice, and I am very excited.

Hope everyone has a good weekend. Mine has been very relaxing despite the rude words from the neighbor.

-xo

Gotta be Sombody...

Been a while, once again.

I have found these past few weeks a lot of things. I think I have really defined myself as an individual. I just feel well educated. Its wierd. Wow. I wonder what brought this on? I think the fact of the holiday season being here has really opened my eyes to a lot of things. It's crazy how life can be at times. I have felt extremely forgotten about, not appreciated, and in some days I feel I am the center of the universe. It's wierd. I don't know. I have been really battling my appearance. I wonder if I look good with make-up on, or better without. I am totally comfortable in my own skin, as far as looks. But there are some days, I feel the whole worlds supply of make-up won't do me any justice. I need to get back to working out hardcore. My ego gets really boosted then. Maybe thats my whole problem. Ahh the joys of being a woman.

So, I spent this Thanksgiving with Scottie's family. I have pretty much met all the family. I felt really retarded, we all said what we are thankful for, and like a little kid I simply said, "My friends and family." No Duh Erica, really? Haha. So, I got the scoop on Melissa's Thanksgiving celebrations over in London. :) It made me smile. Really primative area over there, I tell ya that. Still had the feet on the turkey and all. I feel she was a real pilgrim over there. There are so many things I am thankful for. I think the thing I am most thankful for is my country and my freedoms I have as an individual. Like that ole country song says...

Little bit of a chicken fried,
Cold beer on a Friday night,
Pair of jeans that fit just right... and the radio Uppppppp.

But my favorite part is the thankful for "the stars and stripes"

Now, I am thankful for all those things... especially the jeans that fit just right.... and especially my boots. God help me. Lol. But nothing makes me more prideful, and happy than those Stars and Stripes, and what all this country has been built upon, and what the USA stands for, and all the people that have sacraficed to make this country what it is. Obviously I am thankful for my Friends and Family too. Just a thought though. :)

So, I did some shopping today. Forget Black Friday. I did make a quick dart to Bass Pro, and PetCo yesterday. Can you say redneck? Lol... and you better believe the dog was with me. I love my boy so much. He got a new collar today. Gotta love Old Navy, and their section for animals. :) He looks super stylish now. We are currently 're beautifying' his black collar.

Oh, and by the way, I got some gooooood deals today. Like I said, who needs black Friday? Really. This girl is happy. I got a pair of Blue jeans, and a few gifts. But the blue jeans that fit just right makes me the happiest. I'm easy to please. ":)

My day was all lovely and fantastic until I went to Auto Zone to get a new lightbulb for my brake light. It was blown. I haven't been treated so rudely in quite a while. Obviously I am the only woman in the whole store. This man behind the counter was really ugly to me when I asked him if the bulb I had picked up was the right one for my car. Long story short, he treated me ugly, and acted like I was an idiot. This may be where my conceitedness comes in very handy. I am sitting here thinking Dude, don't mess with me. You many think I am dumb, but for crying outloud I am going to school for Radiology. I mean shit. Give me a break, I think I know what year my car is, what model it is, and ohhhhh here's the real tricky part... if my car is a 2.5L or a 1.8L. Yeah, so I will be calling up there and talking to a manager. I mean I am a woman and all, but that doesn't make me a complete idiot. Yeaht I wanted to make sure my bulb was the right one, but that behavior wasn't necessary at all. The guy behind me was kind of picking up that I was reallllllly distraught. He chased me down when I got to my car and changed my bulb out for me. I mean yeah, I might know some things, but the fact of changing a tail light isn't one of them. I was borderline in tears by the time he got out there. :( God Bless that man.... Seriously. That employee really upset me. And that man helping me out was exactly what I needed to boost my crummy experience. Anyway, that was just upsetting....
Until next time....

I love you guys. Every one of ya.

Been a while....

So, alot has happened since my last blog.

I have very well mistreated my blog. But between the stresses of school, moving back home with mom, and just getting in the swing of things, I haven't had the time of day to sit down and update this blog.

So, yeah. I'm back "Home." I always laugh when people say, 'are you back at home now?' Well, 'home' has been my apartment for the past 2 years. Whether it was the 707, or the 1609. :) You get the drift. Home is mostly referred to as the parentals. Lol. It always makes me chuckle. My home is the apartment... but now its the 'parental home.' Honestly it hasn't been as bad as what I anticipated. I am excited. Maybe I can save money to go to the UK to see Melissa. It's not as horrible as what I made it seem in the beginning. Maybe I was being a 'slight' drama queen.

Also, dropped the AP II class. Much went down with that. I have to say, I am not a happy person to know, that someone that isn't fully 'qualified' for the job is doing that job. Not a good subject. I was struggling SO bad in that class. And I completly understand the material and info. I have heard through the grapevine, and a very good source that her tests are the equivilant of a 1st year medical student. Stuff in the books, and worksheets she gave us weren't on the test. For me to make 60s and 50s and even 40s on a test is not the legit thing. I make A's. So, long story short, after my "Instructor" proposed to me that maybe I study 'too much' that I dropped the class. Not a happy camper. I am probably going to talk to someone about the money I pay, and don't even get a qualified instructor. UGH! That's not right in the least. This lady had NO Background in Human Anatomy and Physiology!!! Anyway Its a done deal.

The election.... ohhhhh the election. Let's say, I was a firm McCain supporter, and was very heartbroken to see Obama get the vote. But I am curious to see how it turns out. I cried when McCain made his speech. Lol. I have come to see, it has been a very* radical change in the American History... but none the less, I have been here to see a new milestone in American history. We shall see....


I will add pics from the good times at 1609, and devote a blog to it. Then the LSU game we went to last week against Tulane. Yeah, we won that one. Curious to see how the game against Saban goes today. Fingers are crossed!

Until next time.....

Autumn's in the air...

Wow, what a weekend. And it's not even over yet.

We won against S. Carolina! Yeah! This weekend has been jam packed. Today I am going to just clean some, and do a little shopping. Not too much. I know one thing, Boudreaux will get a bath today. The boy is dirty. He is always filthy when he makes a visit there. Perfect place for him to be a DOG! Mud, dirt, water trough to play in, cats, cats and trees*, oh and other dogs. Sounds like doggie haven huh?

Anyway, so Friday night we went to the 'Corn Maze.' Every year we say we want to go, but never go. I never feel like hunting it down across the river. Well, I heard a commercial the other day on the radio that said it was moved to Pine Grove. So no excuse this year. Thats more of my neck of the woods. ;) let the pictures tell the story.....




The official, lets take pictures in the corn maze deal. We do this whenever we go somewhere new, different, or exciting. I mean come on, we are girls... and I love taking pictures. :) Oh, and I look like a total bumm, my clothes are baggy and big.







Here is little shot of them trying to figure out where we were, and where we needed to go. You can kind of see the maze pattern. Its a cow, and a baby calve.





there they go. Scottie was all about leaving us behind. Guess his Eagle Scout instincts were kicking in. (I was being brave by hanging back, to get this shot!) It was 'haunted' for crying out loud!





This fella was all about stalking Amanda, literally. I snapped a picture of him. Or her... they have some really pretty eyes. I think it was a girl. Who knows....






Funny Story: Note, the mudd on my jeans. I totally fell and took the girls down with me/or they fell with me. However you look at it. A guy with a chainsaw came running after us, and I stepped back, and tripped over... You guessed it a CORN STALK! Then they fell with me, or were in my direct path, and came down with me. 3 of us on the muddy ground. Fun stuff. :)

We really enjoyed the corn maze. Scottie was partial... going in with 3 gals that screamed when we got spooked. We had fun. Much needed. I may be bummed about the possibility of moving back in with my mom, but i am still going to enjoy fall!!!

The next few pics are just of us, that we took after we finished the maze...








Scottie makes this picture, and Kimberly's part makes her look almost realistic with her little red dressed girl.



Ok, so that was Friday night. Saturday, Mom and I went to the very fun fair in Washington Parish... Its the Franklinton Fair. It is the *best* fair out there. Its tradition that we go every year. We have went since I was like 6. Then after Kelsey and Reaghan were born we would always go. There has only been like one year since I was 6 that we haven't been... and that was because it was hurricane related, and the damage was too bad. Needless to say, I know it is officially fall when we head to the fair. I remember one year, Ruth went with us, and we got SOAKED waiting in line for her Caramel apple. Crap! I told her I would bring her back one. Yikes! I forgot that one. :( Anyway, it's the perfect country fair, and it gets attention from all over. It's amazing. I could ramble on about it for a while.

Each year we always pass up the signs for the "Great Pumpkin Patch." We all know I am a sucker for pumpkins. So I always want to stop. This year we finally checked it out on the way back home. I was so excited. This wasn't the usual pumpkin patch. It was so cool. I loved it, and it made me miss living in the country *that much more. It was a beautiful day yesterday, and the area was gorgeous. I loved it. I learned about the pumpkins, the crops they grow there. The plans they had for the place. I just loved it. And the man who took to us, and talked to us was so friendly. They were too cute. They were all dressed up as vampires, or witches. Everyone who worked there. It was a little po dunk place. Here are just a few shots, just a few.



Some french type of Pumpkin. It has 'peanut' looking growths on it, and the color is just beautiful. I wish I would of gotten that pumpkin. I want it now. But a drive out past Amite, is it really worth it?




This little ghost was out in the pumpkin patch. He don't look too scary right?






this was our hoy ride/informative/friendly pumpkin patch shower-rounder. (Look at how beautiful that sky is! Perfect Autumn day. *Perfect*


It was just a wonderful time. I wanted to go on the hayride so bad. So mom and me did that. He took just us two out there. Mama wanted to drive the tractor. Lol. Its been a while since we have had a real good tasting of country living to that extreme. We missed it.


Now, for a shot of Boudreauxs massive over-bite... poor dog. Its huge.





That's all folks...

I'm off for a nice cool Sunday! Hope yours is well also!

Oh happy day....

When Jesus washed... Washed my sins away.

Oh happy Day, OH happy Day....


::::Humming::::


Ok, so TWO posts in one day?! I know, I know! But I had such a good day today, that I couldn't resist it!

So, I went to Mama's, and let the dogs play. They truly enjoyed themselves too much. Let the pictures tell the story...



They played so hard today.





Sir CoChise... He's B's bro.



CoChise taught Boudreaux how to really enjoy the water trough




I saw this beauty in a tree. It's a salamander, cute lil guy.




Boudreaux got SO filthy, and he had to have a bath, and pronto. (He's not too happy.)




So, Scottie suprised me with a pumpkin. I have been saying how I want to carve a pumpkin. Well, we did that tonight. Here are a few pictures of our adventure. It was fun. We had a good night... made homemade french bread pizza, then kicked it with the pumpkin carving skills. :)


About to carve our pretty pumpkin... :)





Here's the finished product. A Smiling pumpkin sticking out his tongue.




A nice close up of the lil guy.







The headless horseman came to visit. However he is pretty pale. JK! Lol.



My scarecrow on the balcony. Have I mentioned how much I really love Autumn? Today was a nice day. I got to spend it with my mom, and the dogs had a blast. Then had a nice cool afternoon at home. Hope yall's day went well. :) Until next time...