Road Trip to West Virginia

I was thrilled when Buck told me he was going to West Virginia and that I could tag along. We left on Tuesday and were back on Thursday ~ whew! I saw places I've never been before and slept through a few I may never have the chance to see again.

The purpose of our trip was so Buck could check out some equipment they may buy for the coal company (Reed Energy). This is a loader....he also checked out a hoe and a something else that I forget the name of...sorry.

On Wednesday while he "shopped", so did I. I went to the Charleston Town Center Mall. It was HUGE and I had to pay to park because it was "town center". I got my walk in that day, for sure! I didn't buy anything but it was fun and I toured the downtown area.

Can you believe they had TWO Game Stop stores?

I'm looking for a new game for the PS3.

And,what's a trip to the mall without a walk through of the bookstore.

They were having a SALE!

I met one of my demons at the mall....

I was brave and walked away ~ hurrah!

West Virginia Coal miner's hat

sold at the toy store

Thursday was rainy and the drive home was WET! I started the drive and Buck took over for the section that took us through Nashville. (only fair since I did five o'clock traffic there on the way up)

The view from the P2

Look closely and you will see the tall

buildings of Nashville wrapped in FOG

We made it back around 8:30 at which time I crashed ~ oblivious to the storm that blew through that night.

Piggy-back rides

Sometimes when the boys come by after an event (ballgames) Kim will make them leave their shoes in the car. On a recent visit Jakob hitched a ride on his mom's back. Both of them seem to be enjoying the experience. Soon Jakob will be able to give Kim a ride.

With the price of gas going up up up, I am thankful that my husband wanted to buy a Prius 2. He won't have a heart attack when I head out to visit Jennifer and her family in the near future (I hope). The recent snow and nastiness left our little P2 rather grimey so today I took it through a car wash.

P2 all shiny and clean

55.6 mpg ain't too shabby

Here we go again!

Alright! I'll admit it!

I'm back to where I started in January.

I am a stress eater ~ there, I've said it.

Ice cream "speaks" to me

Pasta is my "friend"

Don't JUDGE me!

I am ready to try again.

What more can I say??

Happy Birthday Lisa!

Happy Birthday TO you

Happy Birthday to YOU

Happy BIRTHDAY dear Lisa

HAPPY birthday to you!!!!

Today you are 23

We love you very much!

Happy Valentine's Day

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart)

i am never without it (anywhere i go you go, my dear;

and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet)

. . . . . . . .

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows

higher than the soul can hope or the mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

e e cummings

Charles "Chuck" Nibler

Charles Marvin "Chuck" Nibler

January 24, 1948 ~ February 6, 2011

Chuck lost his battle with Dementia on Sunday.

"I have fought the good fight,

I have finished my course,

I have kept the faith"

II Timothy 4: 7

Donations can be made in his name to

the Dementia Care Foundation

Things I learned last week

Chuck has been in the VA Hospital in Birmingham for over a week now. We have been to visit him every day. His situation is dire. He has suffered with dementia for over two years and it has almost won. The family was happy when they finally got him placed in a nursing home in November. A couple of days after their 63rd birthday, he developed pneumonia and was admitted to the MICU. On Friday they moved him to a regular room and on Sunday they moved him to the Safe Harbor wing of the hospital. This is the hospice wing. On Thursday the doctor told them it won't be much longer but today is Saturday and he is still fighting.
I learned the VA hospital takes good care of their patients but sometimes their nurses are overworked.

Buck brought Dreamland barbecue from Tuscaloosa one evening and we learned that Celeste like ribs! Retta ates hers with a fork ~ but Celeste picks hers up (like I do). Notice the raised pinkies??

Yesterday, as we were leaving, Lisa noticed Buck's shoes were untied and she bent to tie them for him. I already knew she can be kind but it's always nice to see it in action.

Today I learned that Krispie Kreme makes a heart shaped doughnut! Kim brought Arby's roast beef sandwiches (YUM), chips, cookies and drinks to the hospital. Retta's brother brought these unusual doughnuts. (I ate two, YIKES)

I did not post a weight report because I did not lose but I did not gain. I can not NOT exercise and expect to get in better shape ~ sitting in front of the computer or game system doesn't count they only work my fingers....but my hands look pretty good! :-)

Poo on the shoe....

It was an ordinary day ~ I went to Mother's....I hung out with her and Teresa....almost choked at Ryans....did some shopping....AND THEN.... I called Buck to see if he was coming home or I was picking him up. (I picked him up) I gathered my things and headed out the door. As always, when I raised the garage door, I was greeted by the the dogs (all 5 of them). I persevered and made it to the car without dropping a thing! Five miles from the house, I detected a "distinct" odor ~ or should I say a da stink odor?? Seems I stepped in a "little something" on my way to the car. As soon as possible I stopped, hopped out, and wiped my shoe on the grass ~ today I will pull out the mat and scrape the pedals PEEEEEE UUUUUUUUU!

February Birthdays

Happy Birthday Greetings go out to:

Grace Nibler ~ age 99 ~ on the 6th

Lisa Nibler ~ age 23 ~ on the 16th

Jerry Brown ~ age 71? ~ on the 24th