Just The Two of Us

New Kittens For Terrence

The other day just the two of us went over to our son Terrence's apartment. He got a couple of new kittens and was eager for us to see them. Well, you didn't have to ask me twice!

Terry's girl friend Jenny, who is a Senior at the Christian University she attends about 45 minutes drive, came down and they drove all over trying to find a little kitten. He ended up with two, because the Humans Society assured him it was better for the kittens if they have a companion and not that much more expensive to have two, while, he works such busy schedule as a Meat Cutter.

We got such a tickle over the cute little girl kittens. They are tabby calico in their markings and are caramel, tawny brown, cocoa, and white. While, they are only 12 weeks old they seemed extremely leggy to me.

Because they are sisters, they look similar, however, the lighter one with more white was much more affectionate, and the darker one was a bit more coy and playful. So, I suggested perhaps he could name them Heckle and Jeckle, or Hop and Scotch. Chrystal called, and suggested Jackie and Jill. Terry said he really liked Autumn and Amber and would talk it over with Jenny, the next time they were together. They ended up naming them Maggie and Autumn.

It wasn't long after initially meeting them that they were racing through the room, batting at their little feather that was suspended from a spring atop of the scratching post, pouncing at anything that moved, climbing right over Dennis who was laying on the floor. It was purely sweet, adorable and very entertaining . Maggie has a rip roaring purr that just reverberates throughout the room while you cuddle with her.

We were so thrilled to see Terry beaming with pride, and looking content to have Maggie and Autumn his new kittens, to come home to rather than a silent apartment.

So, it's just the two of us glad to be home with our Shih Tzu, our spoiled baby, Shivan. Trying hard to stay warm as Florida is having the coldest weather we have had all year today, and hoping someone is there to greet you and keep you warm when you walk in the door! Of course, we are all here for each other in bloggityville! *smile*

posted by Pamela @ 12:44 PM 32 comments

A Christian Gospel Concert

Had a wonderful fun filled weekend. Saturday evening I went to a Christian Gospel Concert, The Bill Gaither & Homecoming Friends~ Give It Away Tour 2007.

It turned out to be quite a challenge to get to the St Pete Times Forum where the concert was being held. The City of Tampa had their famous Gasparilla Parade. A fun tradition where pirates come in on their ships and kidnap the City Mayer Ms. Ioria, and the key to the City, and then they have a huge parade with 90 floats and 14 bands. The pirates ride up in boats or in the floats and throw
beaded necklaces to all the people.

We didn't attend this year, but have in the past and it is so very much fun! Pictured is Little Ben playing with some of the beads we have collected in past years.

Never the less, it turned the City of Tampa into an obstacle course trying to get to the concert and I ended up getting out and walking 7 or 8 blocks to meet up with my Mom and her church friends whom had called me and had already arrived.

Bill Gaither is a Grammy Award-winning gospel singer/songwriter who has written over 600 songs with his wife Gloria. Gaither was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1982. He may be 70, but he can still lay it down.

With their unique blend of powerful vocals and faith-filled entertainment, the guys offer a "Heavenly Parade" of southern gospel favorites! Including "Bread upon the Water," "Down from His Glory," "Worthy the Lamb," "I Can Only Imagine," "You're Looking at a Child Forgiven,". Give It Away includes performances from the Gaither Vocal Band, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Gordon Mote and others. They had a comedian, that for the life of me, I can't remember his name but oh my word, we laughed. The entire show is filled with comic relief, I couldn't believe how much we laughed! Bill's wife Gloria, used to ask "Where do you come up with these artist?", and Bill explained that he feels that all over in the Bible it refers to joy, happiness and laughter and so he surrounds himself with these characters that make him laugh!

The blind piano man touched my heart...accompanist for the Gaither Homecoming Tour and one of the most accomplished and sought-after recording studio session players in Nashville, TN. Gordon Mote, who was my absolute favorite!

Gordon, has played on recording sessions for the likes of Martina McBride, Trace Adkins, Randy Travis, Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Mark Lowry, the Gaither Vocal Band, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, The Martins, and Alan Jackson, just to name a few. He may be blind but he is sensational on the ivory's. They showed clips of his beautiful wife and two children a boy and girl all while he shared a song he wrote for his wife titled, "If They Could See You Through My Eyes"! It was so endearing and brought tears to my eyes! Incredible!

Bill Gaither explains, "The "Give It Away Tour is an opportunity for us to "throw our hearts wide open" and share the things that are best enjoyed when we give them away, like faith, friendship and music." It was so powerfully uplifting and full of joy and happiness!

So, it's just the two of us delighted that Dennis was able to get me to the concert and that I was able to have experienced a cavalcade of singers, musicians and comedians, whose collective talents have been honored with countless awards, including Grammys, Doves, and many others. Hoping if you ever get a chance, Bill Gaither leaves you feeling lighthearted, hopeful and blessed to have heard one of the best Babara shop quartets with a fabulously talented Baritone, and are worth their weight in gold!

posted by Pamela @ 2:21 AM 25 comments

Photo Hunt ~ SILVER

It is fun to participate in the Saturday Photo Hunt that is hosted by tnchick. This week's photo hunt theme is: SILVER. If you would like to play along click on the link below.

Grab the Scavenger Hunt code.

Photo Theme. Join the blogroll. Visit participants.So

posted by Pamela @ 1:58 AM 41 comments

Favorite Ingredients Friday~Super Bowl Edition

posted by Pamela @ 2:36 AM 17 comments

Pamela's Practically Pleasant Publication

Scattegories


I saw this at Gail's of More Than a Song, and thought it looked like fun so I swiped it to do! We enjoy playing Scattegories; this was a little harder than I first thought it might be.

Rules: Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following…They must be REAL places, names, things…NOTHING made up! If you can’t think of anything, skip it. Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same 1st initial. You CAN’T use your name for the boy/girl name question.

Your name:

1. Famous Athlete: Phil Mickelson
2. 4 letter word: post, pail, pear, peek,
3. Street name: Park Place
4. Color: pink
5. Gifts/presents: Photos
6. Vehicles: Porsche'
7. Tropical Locations: Paradise Island
8. College Majors: Photography
9. Dairy Products: Philadelphia Cream Cheese
10. Things in a Souvenir Shop: plates
11. Boy Name: Paul, Peter
12. Girl Name: Princess, Penelope
13. Movie Titles: Pride and Prejudice
14. Alcohol: Purified ethanol
15. Occupations: Physician, Physcologist
16. Flowers: Pansy, Petunia
17. Celebrities: Patricia Keaton, Paul Newman,
18. Magazines: People Magazine
19. U.S. Cities: Phoenix
20. Pro Sports Teams: Philadelphia Eagles
21. Something Found in a kitchen: pitcher, processor
22. Reason for Being Late: pressed for time, putting on make-up
23. Something You Throw Away: potato peels
24 Things You Shout: Please
25. Cartoon Character: Pepé Le Pew

I won’t tag anyone specifically but I hope some of you will play along! Let me know so I can come read your answers.

So it's just the two of us proud & particularly pleased, playing & practicing polite phrases, picking petals, preparing plans plus...puzzled people prance pointedly past Pamela's prominent published post.

Today is a sweet blogger friend's Birthday. We'd like to wish a very Blessed andHappy Birthday to Tammy of Family Doin's. She is a wife and mother of two cute little girls. She is so sweet and very uplifting, she loves musicals so on that note... if you get a chance drop by and wish her a Happy Birthday!

posted by Pamela @ 1:59 AM 29 comments

Leaping Lizards and a Baby Shower

Today, is my sweet Sister-in-law, Debbie's birthday! She and her hubby Noel have three beautiful and well mannered children, our nephews and niece and are named Samuel, Sawyer and Victoria. We miss them all and we'd like to wish her a wonderful birthday filled with blessings to last the whole year through!

The weekend was filled with all kinds of fun! My Mom came down early on Saturday so that we could visit before going over to Heather's for Renee's baby shower. Mom and I have been so busy that it has been hard to get together once a week like we usually do. It was fun to see her and show her my new blog design, well, it was new to her since she hasn't been over for about a month.

We all had a good time playing the new Monopoly game again. She brought over a Christmas gift that had evidentially been overlooked, and was for me! He He! It was kind of funny opening it here in late January. It was a darling Gingerbread boy riding on a sleigh. Very cute!

We both had agreed to bring a side item of finger food. Mom made homemade cream puffs stuffed with homemade chicken salad. I made three dozen deviled eggs. Luckily, Barb came over shortly before we were ready to leave and gave me better directions, cause let me tell you when they say go past the red barn and then take two curvy "S's" in the road and look for the tree that has berries on it...you get the point. Yikes! This city girl and country roads don't do that well together! lol Now my hubby he is a whiz on a dirt road!

The baby shower was fun! We played all the typical games but the funnest one to me was Pictionary using baby sayings. However, as much as I like to draw, we only got 60 seconds and my word was "infant". So, I drew four characters starting with an infant and going up. Someone said, "the stages of life", and I tried to egg her on but all they would say is "baby". We weren't allowed to use jesters.

Mom won a lovely basket full of lotions and potions from "Body Works". She was tickled and tried hard to give it to me but I wouldn't let her. I know she is going to enjoy that. We had to leave the party early as it seemed like it was going to go on forever and Mom had an hour and a half drive home with going back to my house first.

Therefore, we didn't get to see my DIL, Renee open the cute gifts I gave her. I had more fun getting her the cutest little pink frilly sundress that said "Princess" on it with a matching blanket, bibs and booties, and then I also got her the same type of things in lavender. I couldn't leave my little grand baby Ben out so I got him a little Dinosaur bib overall outfit so he would have something new too.

So, it's just the two of us letting you know that the little rubber ducky that you all said you liked by our pool in the previous post... is actually used to hold the chlorine tablets that slowly dissolve and keep the water clean. lol Someone asked about seeing something that looked like a lizard crawling on the tree in the background and yes, there were actually two lizards and they were crawling on the pool cage screen. My hubby and I couldn't believe how observant you all were! lol Lizards are everywhere here in Florida. Hope you all have a wonderful Monday!

posted by Pamela @ 5:15 AM 25 comments

Photo Hunters ~ Wild

It is fun to participate in the Saturday Photo Hunt that is hosted by tnchick. This week's photo hunt theme is: WILD. If you would like to play along click on the link below, or on the button on my sidebar where you will also find the blogroll.

Grab the Scavenger Hunt code.

Photo Theme. Join the blogroll. Visit participants.

posted by Pamela @ 2:04 AM 46 comments

The Ultimate Blog Party

• (Janice and Susan have always loved BIG parties – the bigger the better. They dislike being exclusive – so EVERYONE is invited!)

  So if you would like to join in on all the fun simply click on the button on my sidebar, and get all the details. You can then copy and paste the code into your sidebar and send out your own invites.
  

• Come on over to the party
  It will be a week long bash starting March 2, 2007 and ending with the big prize giveaway on March 9, 2007.

  All party guests who sign the Mr. Linky by 12pm Eastern on March 8, 2007 and who invited guests (invited friends via a post and have an Invitation Button on their blog) are eligible for our random draw prizes. Prizes will be announced at 5 Minutes for Mom at 7pm Eastern on March 9, 2007.

  Note: Please use only the central Mr. Linky at 5 Minutes for Mom. Since only bloggers listed on this Linky will be eligible for prizes, we don’t want anyone to miss out by adding their name to another Linky. Please link directly to your Ultimate Blog Party post or have your Ultimate Blog Party post as a sticky at the top of your home page.

• We are all hosting!
  This Blog Party is all about meeting people – so put out some food, turn up the music and tell us a bit about yourself.

  Yes – what would a party be without small talk? Be as funny, creative or straight forward as you like. Include a recipe or two, stream some music or videos, add a voice post or video of yourself, decorate your place – whatever will put you in a party mood. Be creative and have fun!

• You can sign up to host a free prize for the random drawing they are having too!
  
  
• They are encouraging us to get out there and MINGLE!
  Don’t sit in a corner and only chat with people you know! Search the Linky and look for names you don’t recognize and head on over to their place to meet some new people.
• And Then… and this is so fun we are just so excited…
  The week after the Blog Party, they want you to write a post and introduce some of the new bloggers you meet at the party.

Edited to add: Just to clarify, everyone is invited, regardless of parental status, gender, religious affiliations, etc. This party is about having fun with friends and meeting new people.

My goodness, but technology is just soaring to new heights! I know I keep going on about the new Mac computer my daughter got for Christmas but today, she made my heart happy again by sharing one more little feature on her computer. It came with a built in video camera so today, while we were instant messaging each other she connected us and I was able to see her interact with the two baby's she was sitting. Watch her make them lunch, Mac and Cheese, and just had more fun listening to her talk and laugh while I typed away, (no camera on my end)! lol Living 23 hours away from each other can be really hard and today it felt like I was right there with her. I can't tell you how much this meant. *smile*

Apple has recently announced that they are coming out with the i phone. Friends, let me tell you this is like a mini computer, i pod, and a traveling map...all in one. No keyboard, unless you pull it up. Everything is available via the touch screen...watch the keynote. Check it out here !

So, it is just the two of us looking forward to having oodles of fun at the blog party and hoping you will be there too!

posted by Pamela @ 4:23 AM 21 comments

The Business of Life

Today was just a sweet day! It was the first day since my surgery that I felt like a breath of fresh air. Like the feeling you have when fresh fallen dew drops on a soft petal and life just feels good again. I got a little of my spunk and my laugh back. He He!

Have to admit that between the surgery and not being able to be around some of my favorite people because of colds or viruses that have been going around, my hubby and I realized that with the coming of the new year, we have been taking care of a lot of business and not much play.
Hopefully, we will be turning that little dilemma around!

So, tonight we watched American Idol again. Where do they get those people!!! Ha Ha! Do they really think they can sing. If I have to listen to that song one more time "Don't You Wish Your Girl Friend Was Hot Like Me", I think I'm going to croak! lol Thank goodness, for that sweet girl Jordan at the end, she saved the day! I hope she goes far!

My DIL Renee's sister, Heather, called and is having a baby shower for Renee. I was surprised they are having a baby shower for the second baby. I didn't think people usually had showers for the second or third baby's. After all, they already have all the big stuff and all she really needs is the newborn stuff in "pink". Where is "Miss Manners " when you need her? We had a fun conversation and I agreed to bring deviled eggs. I just hope we don't have to wrap each other up in diapers made out of toilet paper. *sigh*

Can you believe it, Renee is due in the next two weeks! Originally it was to be Feb 7th, however, the Doctor said she was ready to go anytime now! I will taking care of Little Ben when she goes into labor. I am so excited! This Friday, just the two of us are going to take him to the park and maybe out to dinner with us. Dennis and I just love this Grandma and Grandpa business!

So, it's just the two of us waiting eagerly for the arrival of our second little grand baby to arrive. As we are so excited it is a little girl and just happy things are going so well and hope they are going your way too!

posted by Pamela @ 2:50 AM 16 comments

Here & Now...

Amazing that in 1935 an unemployed Charles B. Darrow of Germantown, PA changed history. While the Depression was hovering over peoples lives and slowly draining their dreams and assets. It was then that Darrow invented the game Monopoly. In order to make it appealing he centered the game in Atlantic City using street names and such as this was the popular place to go on vacation back in the day. Now, more than 70 years later, they have created a new version.

Just the two of us had more fun playing Monopoly ~ Here & Now edition. It was a hoot! Hasbro, Parker Brothers and Monopoly, basically let the public vote and the cities and attractions that got the most votes were placed on the game board. It sports 22 of today's most popular traveling destinations across America, all selected by online votes back in May 2006.

The cities or locations that got the most votes: Disney World, The Gateway Arch, and Johnson's Space Center. Some of the Landmarks were much the same, with the exclusion of Jacobs Field, which won by a small percentage of points; Pioneer Square in Seattle. The railroads have been replaced with airports. The Utilities have been replaced with Cell phone service and Internet service. The tokens include a laptop, and McDonald's fries for some, we really had fun! One of my chance cards said I had sold something on E bay and collect $450,000. lol

Ironically, my hubby didn't really want to play at first. It was only with my incessant pleading that he agreed. Then, wouldn't you know he won! Yes, this was a real ego boaster for him. I tend to win more times than not whenever we play anything. We both are so competitive! When I realized how happy it made him, and I am talking a state of EUPHORIA, I thought perhaps, I should let him win more often...poor guy. However, the thought, quickly fleeted, silly me it must have been a moment of weakness! lol

We also saw the movie "The Painted Veil". An independent movie that we caught down at Channel Side, and upscale and modern Shopping Center loaded with night clubs, live music, Nostalgic shops, gourmet candy stores, and a unique bowling alley called Splitsville. Splitsville s has lanes set up in a 3-D fashion. Lanes that criss cross and angle in different directions over each other. They have live entertainment and a game room that is just plain cool! You can watch the ships out on the Bay and at night the place just comes alive with huge romantic white lights that light up the place that dangle from the trees in the courtyard around the fountains. It is so lovely! We enjoyed delicious Mexican food and had so much fun talking, laughing and teasing one another. It is one of the few places that people really dress up in Tampa.

So it's just the two of us feeling oh so glad to have been able to steal a few dreamy moments together and hoping that you all are taking a few minutes for yourselves, as well.

For Kelli, a sweet blogger, needs a kidney transplant. Desperately. She is currently on daily dialysis, though she can’t continue with it indefinitely. She has made her way through the bulk of the process to become an organ transplant candidate, and on the medical end of things, the prospects look pretty good. She needs a donor, of course, but in terms of her being a suitable candidate, everything looks fine. She’s been poked, prodded, questioned and tested - and she’s passed with flying colors.

Boo Mama has set up a special account through Amazon. Please click on the button on my sidebar, for Kelli and contribute what you can to help. Being as she had to quit her job she is in jeopardy of loosing her expensive health insurance through Cobra. It is urgent that she keeps this insurance, as she has qualified for the transplant. Through God all things are possible.

posted by Pamela @ 1:34 AM 23 comments

Maxillary Facial Oral Surgery

My oral surgery was quite something, but was apparently, considered an emergency after the infection went up to just under my eye and into my sinus'. Rather than taking 2 1/2 - 3 hours it took 5 hours, actually 10 minutes shy of 5 hours. There was a complication in that they had to cut bone out of my face and then in turn, sand it down. I received 10 stitches. The Doctor worked through her lunch. They were teasing me saying, "it's Pamela exclusive day".

Immediately, I felt intense pain and throbbing. With my purse on my shoulder the Doctor gave me another shot for the pain. I don't know how I got to the Pharmacy but did, and when I got home my hubby was right there waiting for me. The pain was excruciating at first but all of your sweet prayers and well wishes must have worked. I am so much better.

The swelling in my cheek is still there but is going down. I do still have a fever, but I feel so much better. Dr. M, cancelled so many of her patients just to take care of me and I am so grateful. The pain meds knock me out, however, I have a thing about taking pain meds. If I can, I would rather not take them, I have a fear of addictions.

So it is just the two of us thanking you all for your well wishes and much appreciated prayers. We are in good hands as He takes such good care of us. Hoping to catch up with all of you, here and there, when I can and no need to comment, I know you all care! ((hugs of gratitude))


* Middle and lateral facial edema (swelling)

o Buccal space infection is typically indicated by cheek edema and is due to infection of posterior teeth, usually premolar or molar.

o Canine space infection is evidenced by anterior cheek swelling with loss of the nasolabial fold and possible extension to the infraorbital region. This is due to infection of the maxillary canine and potentially may spread to the cavernous sinus.

Cellulitis may follow apical periodontitis if the infection spreads into the surrounding tissues. Diffuse, tense, painful swelling of the affected tissues occurs. Regional lymphadenopathy is common, and fever may be present. The infection can spread into the major fascial spaces of the head and neck, with the attendant risk of airway compromise. Maxillary infection also may spread to the periorbital area, increasing the risk of serious complications that include loss of vision, cavernous sinus thrombosis, and central nervous system involvement.

posted by Pamela @ 1:28 AM 31 comments

Happy Birthday to a Sweet Blogger Friend!

Today is Larae's Birthday! She is a very kind, thoughtful, and uplifting blogger friend. She always makes me smile. She's the kind of person that just brightens your day! She is such an incredible and talented young lady and often offers helpful hints that make life so much easier on her blog, The Everyday Ramblings of a Northern Southerner. She never ceases to amaze me! The word has it that there might be wedding plans in the near future, as well. Woo hoo! So if you get a chance please go over and help make her day by wishing her a Happy Birthday!

posted by Pamela @ 3:04 AM 27 comments

WFMW ~ Crispy Tuna Steaks in Citrus Sauce

Blogger would not let me on my blog or anyone else's blog today! he he! In fact, blogger said I was not authorized to even visit my blog! lol Too Funny! So, in the midst of it all, I upgraded to the new version of Firefox and finally tonight it is working! The new Firefox has it's own built in spell check! woohoo! I think I like it!

Hope you all enjoy this tasty and healthy little number as much as we do. lol I will be in and out of the Dental office this week while they fix me up and make me look pretty. he he! I am so out of my comfort zone whenever I have to go to the Dentist so I tend to joke and tease with them and today, I just had them all in stitches, my way of dealing with it! So, it's just the two of us hoping you remember to keep it lite, and eat healthy!

posted by Pamela @ 2:33 AM 17 comments

Is Your Computer a Girl or Boy...

So many of us in bloggityville use our laptops or computers on a daily basis and it just boggles my mind that I have never given my computer a pet name. After all, I call my car "Chile Pepper"...lol. Never the less, I thought you all might enjoy this.

A Spanish teacher was explaining to her class that in Spanish, unlike English, nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine. "House," for instance, is feminine: "la casa." "Pencil", however, is masculine; "el la'piz."

A student asked, "What gender is 'computer'"? Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups, male and female, and asked them to decide for themselves whether "computer" should be a masculine or a feminine noun. Each group was asked to give four reasons for its recommendation.

The men's group decided that "computer" should definitely be of the feminine gender ("la computadora") because of the following:

1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic.

2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else.

3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long-term memory for possible later retrieval.

4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.

The women's group, however, concluded that computers should be masculine ("el computador"), because of these reasons:

1. In Order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on.

2. They have a lot of data but still can't think for themselves.

3. They are suppose to help you solve problems, but half the time they are the problem.

4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better model. The women won...(Guys, that's a joke!)

So, it's just the two of us doing a little reading, talking about possible vacation plans and squeezing in every precious moment we can fit in together, which, have been far and few between these days. Hoping you all are making a few plans for yourselves so you all have something to look forward to.

posted by Pamela @ 1:51 AM 23 comments