Everything has to start somewhere and we'll begin this 6 months into our marriage. It would be too tiring to start from scratch so I'll just say that Friday Night Fish Fry derives from what we've referred our Friday nights as for the past 3 years. Its been our night to make our own. Sometimes it has included friends, lots of Fridays we've danced alone in the candlelight, but it's always been a party. And since our menu has always included shrimp, salmon, or some other seafood we made it our Friday Night Fish Fry. Our weblog name signifies something unique to our relationship and lifestyle
Lilly in better days.
Tell ya what: This is a bigger post. So I am leaving it up until Wednesday night. I'm taking a break....and you have more time....and I can just visit for a few days. You can read in segments if you want. It is huge, so sorry!
To know me.... the enneagram personality is interesting and with me just hits a lot of the nail on the head....the above is my number and page.
My biggest fear is being harmed or controlled by others. That includes my loved ones being harmed. Control is a big issue for me.
A few other things about me:
I believe what comes around goes around. I believe in karma but I am one that believes God actually controls that instead of just the "universe" itself. Or that it all comes from God.
I never faked calling in sick for work for fear I would get sick.
What I don't discuss: mainly religion or personal family things.
I support a woman's right to choose. Though I don't think it should be used for your form of birth control. Most women will be so emotionally hurt over the process that is will only happen once. I believe that.
I dislike weakness in adults of healthy mind. I don' t feel sorry for those that should be able to help themselves.
I do pull for the under dogs. 
Why I blog? The real reason and what I would do without it....
To answer my friend PJ- Honestly I started blogging because my brother had Life in Mayberry. He had that before blogs were even really going. It was a web site that he had to journal their lives and the family, esp. Amy's that lived away from here could stay in touch with them.
I loved having the photos and everything put together for you like that and I wanted it bad after I got married. I wanted to document my life. I had kept a journal when I was young and I wanted this computer kind of journal with pictures.
When I left work at Perry's and was staying home Delane helped me start my own site. It helped me still feel apart of things and not so isolated here in Stuart. It is a diary for me. When the pups came along it was like an album of our life together. I love having the kids recorded right here on these pages. It validates my life and my family. I love that.
A lot of my readers are not bloggers. When people started coming around to talk to me it was weird at first. Other than Dena. I was used to her from Delane's and had actually been to her site as a non-blogger. I thought she was very realistic, funny and sarcastic. If you look at my blog roll you can see who I knew first. She would be right under Life in Mayberry if she hadn't gone away for the summer. Then I had to add her back at the bottom. I am glad she is back at it.
If I didn't have it: Sometimes I wish I could stop it. Sometimes you get so behind and it is hard to catch up. But even if I stopped publicly blogging I would keep a photo blog and visit friends when I could. I would miss the friends I have made.
Honestly there are some blogs I visited that I disliked....just like the real world some folks and I don't hit it off and that's fine. For different reasons I like each blog on my blog roll. And others of course that I don't visit as much.
Just like the real world I like it when you can disagree and move on and it doesn't stop you from liking each other. I like intelligent people. I don't like wimps. I like people who have heart. I like people who are strong in their beliefs whatever they are. I like people who make me see things in a different life. Blogging has really helped me open up to different ideas and people.
My first readers and friends and a little description: (The ones left from the beginnings..lol) to celebrate!
Joe- My friends know Joe in Vegas. My family knows Joe. Toonces knows Joe. He is my oldest blog buddy. Even though he can be a bit sassy to me. Joe is smart and informed. I seldom disagree with his posts, especially when it comes to politics. But unlike me Joe is articulate and clear in his posts. And he has the sweetest granddaughter. Now he could use a little color but he does have some pretty cool bling.
Chatty- I got attached to her dog Fenway and felt like I was going right through the ordeal with them as he was dying. She has been a huge support in our own ordeal with Lilly. Chatty is sassy, smart and intelligent. Like I said I like smart people with smart things to say.
Colleen- Most of you already know Colleen. I can't stand it if I don't know what is happening on her site. I think since she is close by I am afraid I will miss something. I admire her as a person and a writer. She is so charming and beautiful in real life and it shows through on her blog. She is the real deal as we say and I just love her. She can have some very different views from me but I always respect her opinions. Very talented lady.
Naomi- Old Lady in the hills- Toonces has heard as many stories from Naomi's posts as anyone. I love her stories and her site. This lady has lived the life. She is one of the most interesting people I have met and she makes me feel apart of Hollywood. I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who would say something bad about Naomi. I am adding Hollywood and LA to my trip list and would love to one day meet this fabulous lady. BTW- her answer:
Toonces is from Toonces the driving cat from the old days on Saturday Night Live. Martin holds his hands driving like Toonces plus they have the same head and big eyes.
Also Martin is a circuit court judge here in Virginia and an author. His books are on my sidebar. He is finishing up number 3 and I am very excited. I love the book process when things get going. Though I miss him when he tours. Martin is the most intelligent person I have ever known...especially to have so much common sense. He is good at what he does.....
I think I should do a description of a list of blog buddies every Sunday! I have made some wonderful friends ........
Like Jade, my good friend. What makes me tick and my passions?
Actually I am passionate about life period. I am just a passionate person. I work hard, play hard, love hard. I don't think one thing in particular makes me tick I just do....I really can't explain it. I love life and just living. 95% of the time I am happy. Being sad is very hard on me so I try to avoid it. Even my vices I was passionate about....smoking, drinking.....partying.
My biggest passions........my man, my home, my pets, my horse.
Caleb, Jackson, Izzy, Ben and Seth....I am very passionate about their lives. I stay enthusiastic about their lives, their dreams. There is so much I want to show them and give them about and in life.
Photography: That is a way to take passion for life and its color and shape and put it right there for the world to see....I will be putting more and more time into this one.
Music....I am very passionate about music.
Friends: I love my friends being around me....
I can't explain it very well....Toonces could tell you I am just passionate period.
Terri, Cathy, and Alan.....Terri I was born in Mount Airy, NC btw...a real Mayberry girl.
I don't have any top posts really because it is more like a journal for me and so I can't put one day's feelings over another or the kids visits over another.
My worst experience posting was telling everyone about the "Price is Right" fiasco. (I'd link but I've gotten lazy) that was in February.
And I have commented a few times meaning it to be light hearted or a joke and then feared the person would take it seriously or I would hurt their feelings.
I have also gotten a bit too chatty on wine and written and that is not such a good idea.
Since I am all about pictures I will put some of the earlier ones and my favorites at the end.
The hardest thing is looking back and seeing Lilly's decline right there on the screen:
And how did my babies grow so?
For Claire: Photos: When my uncle got back from Vietnam he gave me his old camera...that of course I never really got to work. I remember seeing his black and whites and even that young knowing how far away he'd been and scared and he had proof. I got a pro Canon when I was 18. I never really took the time to be above an amateur but I had a knack for it. I just wanted to document my life and my friends and I am so thankful I did. I love going through the albums and seeing us so alive and ready to conquer the world.
Photos are proof of your existence and they can capture some of your spirit if it is the right shot. I think I just like recording what happened in my life.
And I think they will be very important if I make it to be an elderly person. To look back and remember...and I will have proof. The kids especially change so quickly and I want to have them with me still small to remember.
Now I want to take it to another level and add some of me to my photos...not just a snapshot but a real artsy catch.
and last Colleen....the hardest question of course!
What 3 women inspired me most and why?
I am not one to be inspired by people I have never met. I think that is the realist in me. While I know writers and musicians get inspiration from other writers and musicians I don't have that. I don't have any fancy nice sounding answers for this so here goes.
If it had been influenced I would say my mother and my nannie. Everything I am was made from those two no doubt. My sister still influences my life though I am the youngest....and Sharon...and Lisa.....But inspire... I was hard to motivate if it wasn't already something I wanted to do...
1. career- a tie- When I got out of college I went to work for a CPA firm. My direct supervisor was a women named Mary Bobbitt and she was so good at accounting. And she told me I had the knack for it...I was smarter than I let on...to get out there and show people my brains. I learned so much from here and she did inspire me to be professional and take myself seriously in Accounting.
When I went to Perry's I started in a different area but ended up in Cost Accounting under Linda Brandon. I worked for her for over 10 years moving from there to General Accounting Manager. She moved to Controller to being an invaluable part of the company. I still remember my interview and her asking me if I thought I would be okay working for a women. That was the biggest growth experience of my life....and I watched her grow too. Linda had gone back to college with two kids after her divorce and really worked her way up. She was very smart (is) and out to prove she could do it just as good as a man. She is more career oriented than me...especially considering I left and became a SAHW....but she made it hard for me to leave it. She understood how hard leaving was for me more than anyone. She was and is an inspiration. You would never guess her age either! Another inspiration. I went from a kid to a lady working with her.
She has made it to the top in a man's world. She has worked her a** off and she (along with my old CFO) really made me love my job and I hope good at it.
Suddenly I miss accounting.
2. life- my Hama. My only living grandparent. She is 86 and still going. She is so strong. She still gets out with her cows and her garden. Though it isn't as easy for her to get around and she has health problems she never lets them get her down or stop her. Hama is tough and dedicated to the family. She can cook up 20 things in no time and it be the best you ever tasted. Hama doesnt' complain, she lives and all I could wish for is to have those genes.
3. I am going to say Amy, my sister in law. Because when I think of the word inspire she always inspires me to be kinder when I am around her. She is so good and genuine. You can't help but be around her and you feel your guard going down. You feel like a better person. It is like the Grinch and how the Hoos made him nice. Amy is a Hoo. You can be around Amy and leave and end up doing something nice for someone that day.
So that is it...my blog-a-versary-
Thanks to all you guys who visit me! Thanks for the friendships I've made and thanks to my buddies in the real world for dropping in and putting up with me!
back Wednesday night....
