Merry Christmas and happy holidays to the Viewpoints family!!

I'm happy to say that I have all my Christmas shopping done!  Yay!  Now I just need to get everything all wrapped up and under the tree!  What a job!  I wrapped for over an hour and barely put a dent in things.  And that is with using bags also!

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Is everyone ready for turkey day?  I'm ready to eat -- but have some shopping to do first since everyone is coming to MY house.  And, I have to work at least a half a day Wednesday...groan!!

But, I do have a good handle on my Christmas shopping.  It is at least 80% done!  Woohoo!

 

On the newsstand November 4, 2009!  Chicken Soup for the Soul:  Count Your Blessings!  Check out my story!

Count Your Blessings...and remember
that each day holds something
to be thankful for.

Every day is a great day!
Put a spring in your step as you reflect on
the many blessings in your life and read
these inspirational stories of gratitude,
fortitude and...silver linings.

Read about the new Dove ice cream recall here:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2332634/doves_caramel_pecan_perfection_ice.html?cat=5

Read about Bayou Country Superfest:  http://www.examiner.com/x-6681-New-Orleans-Headlines-Examiner~y2009m10d22-Kenny-Chesney-Taylor-Swift-and-Keith-Urban-Headline-Bayou-Country-Superfest-Spring-2010

Here is another link for those of you that would like to know the truth about PETA:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/134549

Did you know that PETA kills animals?  That's right, they don't practice what they preach at all.  Boycott stores and companies that support them. E.L.F. is one of them.

Read this story:  http://www.petakillsanimals.com/

It's been a rainy week and a rainy start to the weekend...uggg.  When the rain moves out we have a cold front.  Temps will drip into the 50's....

Looks like Fall won't be here much longer and a chilly winter to come....brrrr.

Can you believe it is October already? Almost time for the ghosts and goblins....

 

Happy weekend everyone!  I hope you all have a fun weekend.  I'm looking forward to LSU football today :)  Geaux Tigers!

Autumn is almost here (probably already where you are)!!  Anxiously awaiting cooler temps here!

Get an early Christmas gift of FREE music at www.associatedcontent.com/article/2186809/how_to_get_4_free_christmas_songs_from.html?cat=33 from Ernie Haaus & Signature Sound.  Read my article to find out how!

Read my latest article at http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2167143/lsu_tiger_band_to_be_inducted_into.html?cat=33 to see the latest award the LSU Tiger Band received!

Happy Labor Day Weekend everyone!

I can't believe it is September already! I guess Fall will be here soon..yay!

Happy Weekend everyone!  Mine starts on Friday--I have the day off to chauffer my dad to dialysis.  I get to go shopping while he is on the machine, so a good way to spend a few hours to wind down the week!

Tc, everybody!

Brad Pitt sets the record straight:

http://www.examiner.com/x-6681-New-Orleans-Headlines-Examiner~y2009m8d18-Brad-Pitt-talks-about-New-Orleans-mayor-race-on-The-Today-Show

Wow!  I just went over 100,000 hits here on reviews!  Go VP!

See what is going on in New Orleans, LA:

http://www.examiner.com/x-6681-New-Orleans-Headlines-Examiner~y2009m8d11-Corey-CMurder-Miller-found-guilty-not-once-but-twice-today

Whew, we are still having some really hot days with temps in the high 90's. Work has been crazy with a new boss and combined with getting Dad settled at home and the dialysis schedule handled, I think I'm about brain fried! It's a gorgeous sunny morning so we are heading back to Louisiana to work on old house and pack up some more things (yes, we still have lots of stuff to move) and head over to moms to help with housework! Enjoy your weekend!

After 45 + days in the hospital my Dad is scheduled to come home tomorrow!  Please continue your prayers.  This will be a hard upcoming week as everyone's schedule is turned upside down.

I'll be checking in as much as possible.

Brad Pitt for Mayor!

www.examiner.com/examiner/x-6681-New-Orleans-Headlines-Examiner~y2009m7d2-Brad-Pitt-for-Mayor--Internet-campaign-kicks-off

Check out my latest article on Examiner.com for things to do to celebrate the 4th of July in the New Orleans, LA area:

http://www.examiner.com/x-6681-New-Orleans-Headlines-Examiner~y2009m7d1-Fourth-of-July-events-in-the-New-Orleans-area

Here is my community annoucement for the day--

SEAT BELTS SAVE LIVES!  Buckle up!

One of my daughters was in a car accident this weekent.  The car is totaled.  The witness quit counting how many times the car rolled over after 6 times.  Both passengers in the car are alive and have no broken bones.  Christy, my daughter, was pretty banged up but doesn't have a concussion (just very bad headache), bruised ribs and a couple of fractured ribs, and bruises all over.

Dad has been moved to a skilled nursing facility within a hospital here.  He has a good day and then takes two steps back.  Your continued prayers are very much appreciated!!

I miss you guys!

Update:

My dad has not been doing well at all.  He was moved to ICU last week and back to a regular room yesterday.  He's stable now but there isn't a whole lot they can do for him since he is in stage 5 of renal failure.

Keep those prayers going!

Karen

Just as we got my mother in law home from the hospital and back into a normal routine, we had to admit my dad to hospital.  He has multiple issues--congestive heart failure and pneumonia to name two.  It's been a long week!  

Prayers appreciated!

I just wanted to post a note to let you guys know where I've been.  I'm trying to check in here as often as I can. 

Quick update---

Whew!  It's been a long week!  My mother in law is finally out of the hospital and staying with her sister for a couple of days.  That gives us a little relief from running back and forth to the hospital multiple times a day...yay!

I'm in charge of going by her house every day to feed the dog and bird.

And speaking of dogs....guess what?

We have a new stray dog at the house.  I should say another injured stray.  This one is a small dog that I noticed sitting on the hill behind the graveyard across the street Saturday.  By the end of the day he had wandered on over and I found that he had been in a fight and had a chewed up and bloody ear.  So we got him all cleaned up.  He's made friends with Oreo and we have a "Found Dog" sign up at the Co-op in town.  

I should just go ahead and start a rescue.  Geesh!

Just a quick note to let you guys know that I'll be out of pocket for a bit during the next couple of weeks.  My mother in law just had open heart surgery (yesterday).  She is doing fine but still in ICU.  Prayers appreciated!!

Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's on VP!  I hope you all have a wonderful day!

 

 

Life has been a bit crazy the last couple of weeks and why I haven't been seen around the site much.  Family stuff has come up with my Dad's health, my MIL will be having open heart surgery in May, and one of my daughters was in a motorcycle accident.  She is recovering and going to be fine, thank goodness!

Hoping those May flowers bring a bit of sunshine and happiness to all!

Somebody want to trade weather with me for the weekend?  Rain starts this evening throughout the night--heavy thunderstorms all day Saturday, into Saturday night and Sunday morning.  Clearing Sunday afternoon with only a scattered chance of thunderstorms.  Overnight partly cloudy.  Hummm...sounds like a great weekend to stay indoors and watch movies!!

Happy Easter everyone!  I hope you all have a blessed day!

I wanted to share a new site with other freelance writers here.  I've been here for only two weeks and it is a fun site!  Linking here to one of my latest articles, as I  am the New Orleans Headlines Examiner.  If you are interested in applyiing, I would appreciate it if you used me as your referral!  TIA :)

I believe there are a few more VP writers there as well...


http://www.examiner.com/x-6681-New-Orleans-Headlines-Examiner~y2009m4d7-Regis-and-Kelly-love-from-New-Orleans

It's a great day in the south--lots of sunshine today!!

Wow--it's April already!  I wanted to share a little news with you guys.  I have just been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul:  Twins and More!  It was released on March 10th so, if you see a copy when you are browsing in the bookstore, pick up a copy :)

For those inspiring writers out there, they have lots of new books in the makings.  Check out the titles on their website at www.chickensoupforthesoul.com

Now back to your regular programming....

Hi all--

I hope you are all experiencing SPRING!  I love this time of the year.  Everything is bright and flowers are blooming, grass is coming back--although I am going to miss the bright rye grass as it dies out, and blue skies!

Enjoy the gorgeous weather while you can and plan some outdoor events!

Guess what?  Flowers are blooming here!!  Spring is on the way...woohooo!  We have azaleas blooming, wild daffodils on the roadside, and those tiny white wedding bells.  Things are starting to look up and warm up a bit here.  YAY!

We are gearing up for my grandson's second birthday this Saturday.  I can't believe he is 2 already! 

Thanks everyone who sent well wishes for my Dad.  He is doing good and I'm hoping that this is the last surgery--or at least for a long time! 

We had a wonderful weekend!  I got some new artwork for the house for Valentine's Day--yeah a little untraditional, but I'll have it forever :)  And my daughter and grandson came to visit on Sunday.  We had a fun day!

Speaking of the grandson, he is becoming a great cook!  My daughter called this morning to say he had put his cheerios in his cooking pot and emptied his sippy cup full of apple juice in there too!   What a nice soup!  LOL!  I told her she was lucky it all stayed in the pot and not on the floor or furniture! 

My Dad is having surgery this afternoon.  Thoughts and prayers appreciated! 

Yay, it's the weekend!  Have fun in your adventures!  Going to be low-key here working at the old house on Saturday and hanging out here Sunday.  My daughter is supposed to be dropping by with my little grandson.  Can't believe he will be two in just a couple of weeks!  Time flies!

Mardi Gras Madness begins soon!  Our first parade in Baton Rouge rolls on Saturday, Feb. 7th!  Throw me somethin'--Mista!!!  What a fun month and lots of King Cake to eat too!  There goes my diet!

Well Groundhog Day has come and gone and we are in for 6 more weeks of winter!  What??  You expected SPRING?  You dummy...it's February, a winter month--how else could you not expect at least 4 more weeks of winter? 

LOL--sorry, couldn't resist that one!  But spring will be here soon...well sort of!  April is not that far away!  I'm hoping we will officially be done with the cold stuff in March here :)  We did break a record last week with a high temperature of 81!  Can you believe that???  This week we are back to winter again...lows in the 20's and 30's.  No wonder everyone is sick!!

Have a great day!  We have sunshine here today so that helps!

January is almost over!  Can you belive it? 

We have been doing a bit of antique shopping the last two weekend.  I wanted a couple of old type pictures for the house.  I found the perfect print for over the fireplace in the den.  It's an old barn with a horse drawn buggy, a man about to hitch the horse and a lady walking up the lane with a basket on her arm.  It has some trees in the background and in the front part of the pictures you can see fencing and an old quilt airing in the sun.  I think it fits in perfectly!

The other find was a print of an old general store.  Since there used to be a general store out by the road that the original owners of the house ran, I thought this was appropriate for my kitchen.  Still need a few things for the bedrooms now!

Another dog adopted us. This one appears to have been hit by a car or truck.  His wound has healed but he is very leary of people.  I think he may have been abused.  He is now letting us get near him and starting to trust us.  At first it was a standoff with lots of growls and barking, especially toward my hubby.  He is now putting on some weight and looks to be much happier!  He gets so excited to see us now.  We have named him Oreo.  Picture coming soon!

It's COLD here in the south.  I don't see how you guys survive in those temps that have been in the MINUS this past week.  Brrrrr!

Stay warm everyone!

Typical winter weather has set in here...damp, cold, rain, and mushy ground.  Ewww!  I want 7 days in a row of sunshine!!

Happy New Year!!  Wishing everyone a successful new year and a wonderful journey!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and holiday!  I am enjoying my time off work (university closes) and hopefully will be catching up on some writing! 

Finally all the shopping is done, tree is up (and decorated!), and gifts wrapped and under the tree!  Countdown until Christmas!  I hope each and every one of you have a wonderful holiday season! 

The last of our snow melted yesterday and we have a high of 70 today!  The weather is CRAZY!  Looks like countdown to Christmas.  My goal this week is to get the shopping done..haha.  Yes, you heard me right!  I've only put a small dent in the Christmas shopping so far so this will be a very busy week!  The tree is up (artificial) and hopefully we will get it decorated tonight.  I have to make a trip to the other house and get back in the attic.  The new lights are missing and the tree skirt. 

So please tell me I am not the only one that is still shopping!!??

Winter storm brings SNOW to Louisiana!  We ended up with a day off work today due to snow, sleet and hail most of the day today.  I posted a picture of the scene out my window today.  We planned on going to work today and headed that way.  I decided that I would stay at my mother in laws after the drive in from Mississippi.  Too many wrecks!  We still have a couple of inches on the ground here and a hard freeze tonight.  Brrrrr!