A moment of silence please....

I am sorry to tell you that our beloved Louie has passed on the the palm tress in the sky. Some of you knew him, but most did not. Louie was an 12 year old, 6ft long, green iguana that lived in the lap of luxury in a pool house on Dauphin Island. It was October of 1997 when I bought him for $20 in Maryville, TN. He picked me by jumping out of the tank and onto my head. It was then that I had to have him too. I brought him home with all of the supplies that we would need. Dad made a home for him in my built in bookcase which he quickly outgrew. I was in college by that time. Mom and dad moved down here (Mobile, AL) and brought Louie along too.

Dad built him a huge window box to live in that looked out over Mobile Bay. When my parents moved to Dauphin Island, my husband made him an indoor/outdoor atrium in mom and dads pool house. That is where he has lived for the past 6 years. He has gotten out twice. The first time was in the summer. I called the police department on the Island and let them know if someone found him, he belonged to my parents. A cop found him sunning in the road and thought he was an alligator. It's Dauphin Island. It doesn't take much to be a cop there. They closed the road off on both sides and called my dad, who just walked up to him, picked him up and put him in the truck for the ride home.

The hole was fixed in the fence and Louie was given a good talking to by my mother. The next time he got out was just a week or so ago and it would prove to be his last. He crawled out of the hole he had made in the fence, climbed a tree that hung over and never came back. My mother looked for days and I even helped. Pacing the fence row looking in the brush and everything. Yesterday as she made her rounds, she found him, but he was already gone. Now all we have are the memories of the lizard who would bob his head for mom. Gorge himself on watermelon and turn his head like a dog when you talked to him.

We will never know what was going through that hard head of his as he escaped from his palace, but we will think of him often and know that he was given the best care that any iguana could hope for.

I'm sure you all think a little crazy for writing this about a lizard, but he was part of the family and meant a great deal to my mom. I'm getting choked up now just thinking about it. He was a hard headed and mean beast that would swat you with his tail when you were trying to feed him, but he didn't do that to mom. She made sure he had fresh fruit and water and heaters in the winter. Anything he needed he had it. She really did love that damn lizard.

Happy Wednesday!

Well I have a meeting tonight with my Mardi Gras group. It is a mandatory meeting so I have to be there. The parade is coming up fast and I haven't even bought throws yet. I'm sure I will wait until the night before to run to Toomy's, buy throws and then pack my saddle bags.

I'm excited though. My house on the Island will be open for friends and family to hang out and watch as we creep up Bienville Blvd. Really by the time I pass my house, my butt really hurts and my legs are numb. I also will be craving a beer and lots of it. That is when I wish I was on a float instead of a horse, but not really. As carsick as I get, I don't think the rocking of the float would be much fun.

I'm hoping that one day I will be queen! I know mom would love to take that idea and run with it. I would have a huge train and a custom made crown with my name on it! My train would have an ornate anchor right in the middle and sparrows with my loved ones names on it. It will be very elaborate and beautiful! I have been in this organization for 7 years now so my number should be up in a couple years or so. My Birmingham family will definitely have to come down for that!

If you want to come to the parade it is January 24, 2009 on Dauphin Island. Be there early or won't find a place to park!

PS: Check out my new blog http://southernfoodette.blogspot.com/

Love to all...

We Survived!!

War Eagle!!

I am proud to say that we survived Christmas with little damage! Actually no damage at all. JW has more toys than Toys R Us keeps in stock! His toy room is for tip toeing only! With the train set, Hot Wheels town, Ben 10 alien maker, D-Rex, blocks, stuffed animals and animated panda bear, there is no room to walk. He is such a wonderful and special child. He really is loved and spoiled by all!

I had a great Christmas thanks to Too Tall, Big Brother and T-Fin! It is not about receiving the gifts, it is the thought that counts. I am so thankful to be thought of so much!

Too Tall seems to be happy with the gifts he got. I sort of went overboard, but he deserves it. He is such a great husband and a wonderful father.


Christmas was spent in Grand Bay at Nanny's house where we had way too much food for such a small family. Mom and I made stuffed shrimp wrapped in bacon and stuffed crabs. There was turkey, ham and all of the trimmings. Barbara brought lots of goodies too!


The day after Christmas, I de-Christmased the house. The tree is gone, cards are off the mantle, stockings are put away and all of the other crap is now back in the attic for another year. Now we can look forward to a new year and hopefully new doors will open promising a better year for all. Even though times have been tough this year, I can only see things getting better. When you think things are going bad, stop and look around you. You are probably better than some. At least you know you have a friend in me! That should mean something!!!


Love to all!


PS: I forgot about Elvis! Elvis is JW's new guinea pig! Too freaking cute. He makes the funniest noises and he loves to be loved on.

Christmas morning at 6:30am!

Goofing around at the store
Elvis is in the building!


Waiting for New Years!!

Been a While

Hey Guys!! Remember me? I have been so busy trying to get Christmas stuff done and working all the time that I haven't been able to blog. I have missed you all! So....what's been going on?

I finally got finished with the Christmas shopping!!!!!! Now Too Tall is painting the house so it will look nice when his family comes for the Boltz Family (Disaster) Christmas. Come Sunday we will be over run with wild children and adults that yell over each other to be heard. We have 5 new babies in our family this year. It is going to be interesting. I will be drinking, so don't worry about me.

Friday night Too Tall and I headed down to the Blues Tavern to watch the drunk bikers play dirty Santa. Always fun!! I think I peed my pants a little. Saturday night we went to Ryan and Angelique's Christmas party. It was nice to have everyone together. Hopefully all of the girls will get together soon to break in the wine glasses.

Well....Mom just came into my office wanting to go to lunch, so I will talk to y'all later.

Love to all!!

Coming home from the camp.

JW's Christmas List

Last night we had dessert with Santa at JW's school. He could not wait to sit on his lap and tell him what he wants for Christmas. When it was his turn and Santa asked him what he wants JW told him that he wants LOTS of toys. Not just one or two specific things but LOTS of toys.

Here is a list of things that he has seen in the stores or on TV that he says he wants.

Clone Trooper Voice Changer

Anything to do with Transformers

What boy doesn't like Hot Wheels? He likes the one with the loopty loops.
Portable DVD player for kids

Waterproof digital camera. He loves to take pictures!

Of course this is not all of the things he wants. He wants a boat bed, moon sand, Spiderman anything, remote controlled dinosaur, leapfrog stuff, his own Nintendo DS, games......the list goes on. He is at the age that he understands that you get presents for Christmas, but he isn't demanding, yet. I give it a year or so before he starts making the list himself. Wish me luck.

Did I mention that he loves books and anything he can play with outside? My work is never done.

Love to all!

Top of the Orange

New video of my favorite local band. I really love these guys. They are wonderful performers and friends. Hope you enjoy it. Pass it on if you do. Check out their Myspace page www.myspace.com/topoftheorange

Love to all!

Great Weekend!!!

So...How was your Thanksgiving weekend?


Ours was wonderful! After making the trek to Birmingham from Mobile, Big Brother ordered pizza and T-Fin started mixing drinks. I, of course, was drinking beer! JW was greeted with loads of toys T-Fin had picked up from Books-A-Million. Including, but not limited to, a pop guns that flings foam balls all over the place and a pooping sheep. He was in heaven. The next day was Thanksgiving so Big Brother and I started bright and early on the turkey and fixings. His $8 turkey was great. Nanny's dressing was on spot and the green bean casserole, after the burnt top was removed, was tasty. The ham was the best in my book!



I really enjoyed watching Too Tall, Big Brother and JW playing in the yard with the pop gun. After eating way too much, we resided to the fireplace outside, lovely. Spiderman and the Green Goblin played for hours. Tiff came to visit, along with her brother. They were given the grand tour of 11 and I drank way too much!


Friday we drove to Lake Martin to spend time with the sisters, Homeboy and the cripple. We played all kinds of games and drank tons of alcohol, listened to the rain and ate loads of leftovers. The chef for the weekend was Homegirl and I have to say that I was very impressed with the egg sandwich and ravioli's. Did I mention that there were 4 dogs there? Sam, Roscoe, Layla and Jake. They all were great to have around except for the Cujo moment, but how can I be mad at that face?


Hopefully we will be able to visit again really soon. The lake house was just great. I love Big Brother and T-Fin like crazy. JW has a new best friend (who buys him chocolate). I love the girls and Homeboy also.


I will leave you with a few words from the weekend:
Roots
Julia Roberts
Stinky Boobs
Giblets
Subway
Dunce Hat


PS: I am on Twitter! Check it out! Love it!

Go rent/buy Get Smart. I laughed my butt off, which I needed after this weekend. Cellulite City, I'm already there!!

Love to all!!

View from the lake house. Thanks Amy!

We share the same genes!

YUMMY?


My weirdo child. At least he is cute :)

I think we already knew he was a turkey!