Now You See Her.....and Now I Don't!

My lack of holiday blogging was solely due to having Shelby home for the holidays! I just can't tell you how wonderful it was....and how fast the time went by. Now she's back at home, but not after alot of airline craziness!



Her flight from Norfolk to Atlanta was delayed to the point that she missed her connecting flight. They switched her to a different airline, but it would only take her as far as Dallas! I know it must have been so hard for her to be that close to home and not be able to get there. But she's home now and I know that, although she misses this home, she's happy to be back with Justin.



I'm just thankful that we had the time with her that we did. The first night she was home it almost seemed like a dream. I sometimes felt as though I was staring...she has the most beautiful smile.....and my jaw hurt that night from my own smiling!



I found it funny that some of the things I used to fuss about now seem so wonderful! Such as..........all of her life she has loved being in the kitchen with me...and usually she perches herself on the kitchen counter. If I had a nickel for every time I told her to "get down", I'd be pretty well off! So after she got home and dropped her bags on the floor in the foyer, she perched herself on the kitchen counter to chat.....it was a welcome sight, I'll tell you! My girl was home!

Shelby....thank you for the best Christmas ever. I love you and miss you! Mom XOXOXO

Oh Christmas Tree......

I'm ashamed of myself......I have cheated myself of quite a few days of staring at our Christmas tree. Normally it goes up the weekend after Thanksgiving, but this year we just couldn't see to get to it. Well, now it's done.....I'm wondering if I could possibly convince Dennis to leave it up a little longer this year......
....after all, it isn't a real tree. Until last year I've always had real trees in our house....and on this particular tree Dennis would throw tons and tons of fake snow on it...it was the most gorgeous tree you've ever seen. He doesn't do that anymore because it could damage our prelit tree lights....geez, what's happening to me????

Yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus.....

....and he's bringing our girl home to us!!! Shelby will be arrive on Monday at Norfolk International Airport for a WHOLE WEEK!!! I am so excited.....I can hardly wait to feel her hug!!! Now I have exactly what I wanted for Christmas...my girl!

Can't wait to see you, Shelby....I love you! Mom XOXOXO

I've Got Gas!!!!

That's right......I have a full tank and it cost LESS than $1.50 per gallon! Awesome!

It makes me want to drive somewhere......how about San Antonio, Texas!!!?

I'm Not Advertising................

..........well, maybe a little...but not just for me....for you! As you all know, I've just celebrated 35 years since I first worked at a mortgage company. It was a bank then known as Virginia National Bank....which is NOW Bank of America! Isn't it funny that I've come full circle and am now a part of the Bank of America family.

Anyway...let me get to the point here....business has been slow for mortgage bankers. If I had to guess, I'd say that 35% of loan officers are now selling Schwan's steaks and ice cream, Herbalife or they are ringing up your Slurpee at 7-11! Well, I don't mind bragging to say that my clients are not part of this big fat mortgage mess! I have always been very conscientious in advising my clients about the most sound financing options available to them (ok, I'm starting to ramble...let me jump down off of this box!)

What I'm really here to say is that RATES ARE AT AN ALL TIME LOW (hovering right at 5%!!!!!).....HOME PRICES ARE AT AN ALL TIME LOW.....this is a GREAT time to refinance your current mortgage for future savings OR buy a home of your own! I know you may be thinking that the mortgage money is all dried up...it isn't and it never was. Of course, if you have never paid a bill on time and don't have a job, you can't get a mortgage anymore (that was so ridiculous!!!). But there's money here and plenty of it....and it's CHEAP!!!

If you or anyone you know is looking to buy a new home or refinance the mortgage on their current home, please consider calling me or passing along my name...I can lend in all 50 states!!! Everything can be handled via phone, email and FedEx....no need to worry!

Anyway, that's what I came back in here to say...yes, I feel a little guilty, but not completely. If I don't pass the word, who will??

I can be reached 24 x 7 x 365 at (757)718-6424 or at colaregister@gmail.com! (slinking away....with a smile...I've done my duty to help get this economy back rolling AND try to help people make/save money!)

Recession Tip!

I don't even think I've shared this one with Shelby....it really didn't seem to be a big deal before. But with today's economy, little savings can add up. When I was refilling my foam hand soap container, I realized that everyone may not know that you don't have to throw out the old one and buy a new one!

They don't match the bath stuff in my bathrooms, but I always peel away the label....and you could always decoupage it with colored tissue paper or pictures! I prefer it plain....so what if it doesn't match the soap dish!

I can't remember how I figured it out, but all you have to do is add about two tablespoons of the antibacterial refill soap and fill the rest up with water! I prefer the foam soap because it's not so concentrated, but it's a huge savings over the regular soap pump. I've had this refill container for about a year and we have four foam soap pumps in our house that I keep filled. What a savings!

Be Careful What You Ask For!!

Soooo....while Dennis and his buddies were out fishing "Rock Around the Clock" (the Thanksgiving Rockfish Tournament), Melinda and I decided to head up to the cabin for a "Girl's Weekend"!!! The first night was great.....Jessica and Adam and his Mom and Dad were going to the UVA/VA Tech game the next day, so they came by the cabin right after we got there to spend the evening with us!

We had a rough start to the weekend because a ball valve joint (did I get that right?) had busted and we had no water, but with Melinda's great friends and contacts, it wasn't long that we had running water and started dinner, Cabin Chicken Chili!!! It was a fun evening since I hadn't seen any of them since Graves Mountain!

The next day they left bright and early to do a breakfast tailgate and Melinda and I took our time getting out of PJs before we headed to Floyd to check out some shops that looked kinda cute....we took Shugs with us (Chloe had to stay home cuz she was sick :o( ) and had a great time! The shops were fun!

We went back to the cabin and had more of the chili (can never get enough), then had the neighbors over for a little too much wine.....well, maybe not too much! Then we had ourselves a nice little non-Thanksgiving dinner (filet mignon, asparagus and a nice blue cheese salad!). We got back into our flannels and settled down to watch a little of Oprah's Anniversary collection, but I was OUT before the count of 10!

When we woke up the next morning and pulled back the curtains, this is what we saw!!!!!

Look, all I asked for was a few snow flurries....I just happen to think it's prettier in the mountains! What you're looking at in that picture is ice.....and lots of it! It covered everything!!!! We needed skates to even get to the car! No injuries, but Melin did have one little fall!

So, if that wasn't enough.....not more than an hour later we looked out the window and THIS was what we saw::::

That's right.....fog so thick you almost couldn't see your hand in front of your face! AND to make matters worse, we had the sudden realization that we wouldn't be making a trip back home that day! :o)

Melinda very carefully lowered herself off of the porch and we started an assembly line to get more wood from beneath the porch....we were stuck....oh dang!! We made a pot of French Onion soup and made the best of it....lots of great music, more wine....a couple of gimlets....and we worked on a very secret project we have going on. It actually wasn't so bad!! :o)

On Monday morning we woke up and the temps had dropped a little....you could hear ice cracking and falling up and down the mountain, which drove Shugs nuts! She was sure there were tons of deer up that mountain just waiting for her to come out and play! It wasn't long though that the snow started......and it was coming down pretty good! I finally got my wish......even though I got a little more than I bargained for, it was beautiful!!! What a fabulous weekend............thanks, Melinda!!! I love you!

Here are a few more pics:

And a good time was had by all................................