my Nan (a prayer request)

My grandmother (who many of you know as Nan from my stories) slipped in her kitchen a couple of weeks ago and fell on her tile floor. X-rays a few days later showed a fractured spine, but today more results came back that showed the bone is broken in two places. She is in a ton of pain and can't do much (the can't do much is the worst part for her, even at 81 1/2), so please keep her in your prayers. The doctor's giving it a few weeks to see how it heals itself, then will possibly have to concrete the bone. (Yes, I said concrete. What in the WORLD?!)
I'd really appreciate your remembering her in prayer - she's active and quite a trooper, but her favorite thing in the world is getting outside in the yard and making weeds into gorgeous flowers, which is a no-no right now (and in prime weather for it, no less).

Thanks so much - hope you're all well.

rebekah :-)


4:23 PM - 2 Comments - 0 Kudos

Grandparents are such a blessing. I will be sure to keep her in my prayers! Maybe during her recovery, you could pay a visit and plant her a little something :)
Posted by Susan on May 1, 2008 - Thursday 10:36 PM

hissy fit

I just finished reading a great piece of chick lit by Mary Kay Andrews, Hissy Fit. (If you're into fun reads and aren't offended by a little colorful language, I recommend it.)

The book is about a Southern girl who -- no spoilers here -- goes through some life junk. And, predictably, throws a hissy fit or two.

We all know that Southern women are known for many things, particularly our manners, cooking, accents, attempts at charm, and...yes...hissy fits.

Unfortunately, being a redhead has certainly not tamed my tendency toward those little outburts (or at least that's what they tell me I can blame it on).
In my very protective-of-the-real-South opinion, Mary Kay Andrews does a great job of expounding on the atmosphere and ambiance without giving it a cheap Hollywoodish fake accent. (This is when books are way better than movies.) She details things that really happen (being questioned about a date's "people") and helped me giggle about exaggerations of the things that really happen (not daring to cancel a hair appointment before an event, even if said event was scandalously cancelled).

In fact, I enjoyed (related to? connected with? resembled?) Hissy Fit so much that I visited the library after finishing it to snatch up the other MKA novellas I could find. Two are about Savannah, and wouldn't you know that my Savannah-bred boyfriend has confirmed that the author had her details spot-on, even down to which turns and shortcuts one can take from the downtown squares to Tybee Island. I like that.

But back to hissy fits (not the book, but the real thing). I don't generally like myself when I throw one. And I don't generally throw them in public. But it has happened, and I'm not proud of it.

However, why is it that sometimes that's the only time people take a girl seriously? Thankfully, it's been a while for me...well, since my carpet was installed. (I think I blogged about that with something PLB-related in the title.) I'm not necessarily on a tirade about it tonight, but I did want to share about the books and author, and openly question you...why does it sometimes take a hissy fit for a Southern girl to be taken seriously?

Whatever the answer, when I grow up, that's one Southern tradition I hope to outgrow. Good riddance, redheaded temper.


2 Comments - 2 Kudos

Cute, very cute. I have been looking for something new to read. I will have to check it out, cannot wait!!!
Posted by RE RE on April 28, 2008 - Monday 3:05 PM

Sounds perfect. Been looking for a light read. I wish I knew the answer to your question, but can only agree with you I'm afraid... and hope you find the answer. You know what's worse? When people think it's "cute" when I throw a hissy fit. Ugh!
Posted by Susan on May 1, 2008 - Thursday 10:33 PM

random

Once you have been tagged, you have to write a blog with 10 weird, random things, facts, habits, or goals about yourself. At the end, choose 5 people to be tagged, listing their names and why you chose them. Don't forget to leave them a comment (you're it) and tell them to read your blog. You can't tag the person that tagged you. Since you can't tag me back, let me know when you've posted your blog so I can see your answers.

1. I've been writing my name in lower case letters since high school, and I have no idea why. But when people question me about it, it makes me want to do it forever. Which I probably will.
   
2. Most of the time, I feel like a silly little kid deep down inside. I love that feeling.
   
3. I was never diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, but it's really hard for me to stay in the same place all the time. Perhaps I'm a gypsy at heart.
   
4. When I see a roach, I spray it with an entire can of Raid while screaming at the top of my lungs, "Die! Die! Die!"
   
5. I loved anchoring a mini-news show at Nissan. I never knew I would love that so much! I actually miss being on camera.
   
6. I am a perfectionist when it comes to my own work and personal life, but don't ever hold others to the same standards.
   
7. I have always loved to watch sports, but have recently become the biggest college football fanatic you have ever met. (Thanks, Baton Rouge.)
   
8. When I was a little girl, I wanted black hair like Elizabeth Taylor's. I think I associated it with "Black Beauty" and thought I would naturally get a horse if my hair were black.
   
9. Smelling salty air immediately takes me home, even if I'm thousands of miles away from the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
   
10. Cooking, dancing, singing and exercising give me indescribable adrenaline rushes.
    

I'm tagging Greg because I know his answers will crack me up, Bethanie and Skye because I'd just love to see their lists, Liz because I think I can guess some items on her list and want to see how good I am (or am not), and Susan because I love reading her blogs, no matter the content.


2:57 PM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos

baton rouge will make anyone a college football fan....its contagious
Posted by monica on April 24, 2008 - Thursday 6:56 AM

Hey Gal! I cut my hand bad so it's hard for me to type. I'll get back 2 u on this. How was LA? Cute pic :)
Posted by Susan on April 24, 2008 - Thursday 4:42 PM

what a girl wants

I just heard some beautiful words that every girl would LOVE to hear at least once in their lifetime...and more is even better!

I am packing for the upcoming West Coast tour (vacay starts tomorrow after work -- woohoo!!!), and realized I'd stuffed my suitcase to the gills without packing a coat (it's supposed to be in the 50s at night in L.A. this week). So I called C to make sure he was bringing a coat, and to sort out this dilemma.
And he said to me....

::happy sigh::...

"Don't worry - there's plenty of room in my suitcase for any of your extras. In fact, I had to add more to my suitcase because it looked so empty."

Ahhh, the bliss! No paring down of shoe or clothes choices, no exiting of extra accessories that may come in handy...

I am one happy girl.


4:25 PM - 1 Comments

That is good! You're right about that!!
Posted by Susan on April 14, 2008 - Monday 5:08 PM

April showers

One of my best friends in the universe is marrying the love of her life next month. So naturally, showers are in order (as are bridesmaids' dresses, bachelorette weekends, and getting myself in shape to wear said bridesmaid's dress).

A few weekends ago, I went to Jane's first wedding shower. It was held at her home church in Gulfport, and it was the sweetest thing. I loved it for many reasons, the primary one being that my sweet Jane was honored and truly showered with many gifts to mark the beginning of her married life to Matt.

Another reason I loved this shower was because it reminded me so much of home. Yes, I am from the MS Gulf Coast myself, but this shower just felt like...home. The sweet ladies who gave it could have taught me Sunday School at any point, the finger sandwiches could have come right out of the WBC kitchen, and the lovely comraderie was like a YouTube video of days gone by in the Christian Life Center. I don't think that anything has reminded me so much of my home church since we stopped going there. So that, obviously, was very heartwarming.

Selfishly, I also loved catching up with old friends I haven't seen in way too long -- namely Amy, who helped me break all Jane's rules about not talking while she was opening gifts. (Oops! For the record, we did try. Hard!)

The most emtional facet of this shower for me was the fact that Jane's mother was so there in spirit. I think everyone knew it...and it was just another reminder that the beautiful wedding and life to come for sweet Jane will be more life experiences that her mother goes through with her, even though she'll go through them from a different angle.

So all of these things combined tell me that good times are definitely ahead. I can't wait to experience the May flowers this April shower will bring...and I'll be one of many pink peonies standing by with a big grin to watch! :-)


8:08 PM - 1 Comments

It sounds like you guys all had a wonderful time. I am so sad that I was unable to make it. I don't even know if I will be able to make it to the wedding, because Kyle will be gone tdy to atlanta all next month, and the girls don't get out of school until the 23rd of May.
Posted by Çhr阮ïñå on April 16, 2008 - Wednesday 5:42 AM

a streetcar named inspire

Being from the MS Gulf Coast allowed me more familiarity with New Orleans than any redhead could ever deserve, so now that I get to do some work there as well with the bank, it’s even more fun to tromp around the city occasionally and see what’s what.

Last week, I was in Lafayette Square for the first of what will be a series of twelve concerts. Outdoor music, food, fun, people, pets...what more could anyone ask for? The event is hosted by the New Orleans Young Leadership Council (YLC), and when they introduced a new project they’re implementing, I could have squealed with delight.

When I lived in Jackson, I vividly remember a campaign/fundraiser that was held downtown using big (concrete? plaster? metal?) catfish. Business would, I believe, pay a fee to paint their catfish just the way they liked (or the way that best represented their organization), and display it on the streets of Jackson. This resulted in a fun, colorful fest-for-all while running typically mundane errands.

Well don’t worry, because New Orleans is doing the same thing...but with little streetcar replicas! I say they’re little, but of course, they’re probably as big as me laying down, but isn’t that too cute?! So soon, we’ll see streetcar replicas all around the city, painted uniquely and denoting businesses who are giving back to N.O. via the YLC. And I so wish I had thought of the name: A Streetcar Named Inspire.

Too classic.


4:59 PM - 2 Comments

This sounds of interest... I'll have to look it up on the net & find out about attending. Enjoy!!
Posted by Susan on April 8, 2008 - Tuesday 4:27 PM