MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

It's been a short but long holiday season so far. I am honestly ready for it to be over. Maybe it's because I am not suffering from the infamous "crud" that everyone else in the family had. I really thought it was going to miss me, and yesterday morning - BAM! I have more Mucinex, psuedafed and Delsym in me than any one person should be allowed. But today is already better - Now I have a runny nose, but this handy little Vick's inhaler is working on that.

I'll be posting pictures of the Patranella Christmas soon, no time today - I am cooking for part of Dave's family. Paula and Todd and Danielle are coming over with their kids. It will be fun. I've got the turkey on (it's my first time to cook one of those) and everything else is ready on my part - Paula is in charge of all potatoes.

I'm going to go rest now.

Have a Blessed Christmas Day.

The President has come and gone, all in a span of 2 hours!

Wow, 3 posts in 3 days. I will need a vacation after this!

Well, the President of the United States was in Aggieland today. Marine 1 flew right over our building. While we didn't have a chance to get good pictures, my coworker's husband had a great view from his office window. He didn't know that they would be landing right outside his office, but it was a great surprise. Here are some pictures he was able to get. He sent a cute note apologizing for the fuzzy pictures - They wre taken through the window as he didn't think it was a good day to try to tgo to the roof!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY HONEY!

Four years ago, I said "I DO."

Some days it seems like yesterday, some days it seems like forever ago. However, everyday is a new adventure.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!!!

WOW! We woke up this morning to a winter wonderland. It was cold and snowing!

After a day of chilly weather, it started snowing AGAIN! About 3:00 we were watching it through the windows at work. It hasn't stopped yet. It's not sticking to the roadways, but the yards look amazing! Here are some great pictures and a video of our December Winter Wonderland

Where did November go????

Wow, it's been a while since my last post. Was I busy, or did time just get away from me? Probably a little of both.

Work was crazy. People were out for various reasons and there were lots of proposals to mail.

We did have some fun - Went to Ren Fest, saw some good shows. It's just not my favorite place in the world, so if I don't go next year, my feelings won't be hurt.

Thanksgiving was nice - Shopping on Black Friday was better!

Dave gave me my Anniversary/Christmas gift early - I got a Wii!!! However, it's still not hooked up. Dave was sick on Thanksgiving, he's just now over it.

We did get our blow-up yard art out yesterday, there is more in the attic, we just haven't crawled up there to get it down! Maybe I will work on that this afternoon - then again, maybe not.

This past weekend we went to Houston for an early anniversary get-away. I've been wanting to take Dave to Dave & Busters! He did have fun, and the food was good. We then had a sweet deal at a hotel in Katy - With the stay, we got a $10 gas card and a $50 gift card to the Katy Mills Mall. SWEET!!!! Did some shopping, ate at the Rainforest Cafe - It was fun - The kids would love going there!

OK, I need to get - I'll do better at updating in December.

Football, Falling Leaves and Radiology- What a Combination

Wow, I could only hope many of you didn't watch that football game on Saturday. It was so incredibly sad. They tried, you must give them credit for that. But, it was sooooo ugly. The offense just coudn't catch a break, or the ball for that matter.

I have some pictures, I'll try to get them posted once I decide to download them from the camera. It's not hard to do, I just don't do it as often as I should.

Yesterday was relaxing - right up until the moment that I really thought I needed to go bag the leaves in the yard. HOW MANY LEAVES CAN ONE YARD HAVE? I have 9 33-gallon bags of leaves and it doesn't look as if I touched anything. I didn't even get to the front yard, that was just a tiny (and I do mean tiny) section of the backyard. I have been trying to figure out how to make all the leaves just disappear. If the street sweeper guy would come by, that would help with my curb issue. But I think he only makes it around twice a year. Now that is putting my tax dollars to good use.

I was thinking Dave could get on the riding mower and mow right over the leaves, then the mulching blades would "eat them up" and I wouldn't notice the leaves. I say Dave needs to mow because I am not allowed on the riding mower. Could it be because I told him that before we were married, I'd go through a mower a season??? I don't know - mowers just dont like me. But, you must admit, it was a smart thing to tell him.

I did get to use the new weed eater last time - only because Dave had that groin pull (post below) and he could "ride" the mower, but not hold the weed eater. As a reward for a good job, he tried to kill me, yes, if I turn up dead, look at the husband first. (mom always jokes about that) While he was cruising on the mower, he rounded a corner and shot a rock out from the blade thingy and it nailed me right in the upper shoulder. I thought I'd been shot. It took the breath right out of me. I did cry - because it did hurt, BAD.... It was bruised for about 2 weeks. Needless to say, I will NOT weed eat anymore while he is mowing. Better yet, I will not weed eat.... I will stick to raking and weeding the flower beds, no flying objects there.

About that groin pull - Yes, I MADE him go to the ER - Why? Because the urgent care doctor said that if it wasn't better in 2 weeks, go to the ER to have a CT scan done to make sure there was no kidney stone... Because we know that can be fun.... Well, there was stone, but a tiny one, not doing any damage. The diagnosis - after 5 hours in ER - A groin pull... All of you with a husband know how happy Dave was to hear he already knew what was wrong with him.

So, the next week, Dave gets a call from our family doctor. Seems ER sent all the stuff to them. Well, according to the radiologist, there is an untidentifyable cyst on the left kidney. Now tell me why were they looking at the left side? We went in for the right... Well, doctor says we really need an ultrasound to make sure it's nothing. For those of you who know me, this was not good - I must think the worst until someone tells my it's all okay. I was worried sick for the 4 days it took to schedule this appointment. So we go on a Wednesday.... Dave gets a call on Friday..... Now we have 2 leisions on the left kidney.... Still can't identify what they are, please make another appointment with the radiology place to have a CT scan with that dye stuff so they can get to the bottom of this. URGHHHHH

By now, we don't worry, we're mad, because each time we walk into the Radiology place, it is a $50 co-pay. Well, got the call last week - I just don't get it. Seems the one spot on the left, that turned into two spots, is now nothing to worry about - We have one cyst on the left, one cyst on the right and a kidney stone. Now... I don't get how one spot on one kidney turned into one on each and a stone.... All I know is that the doctor told Dave when he's ready to pass it, call them and they'll give him some pain medication. Isn't that something to look forward to in the future?????

I've rambled enough. Look for pictures one day soon.

O-crap

There are no words to even begin to describe how I feel this morning. Maybe those of us so anti-O will be proven wrong, but I doubt it.

What has happened here is that the uneducated, self-centered, hypocritical, lazy American's got off their ass and went and voted for a "change" they know absolutely nothing about. If they think the economy is bad now, don't come bitching to me in 6 months about how bad things are. I didn't choose this "change."

How so many people bought into an Infomercial that was a crock of shit, totally amazes me. Have you not learned that a person will say - or do - ANYTHING to get elected to a public office??? He is nothing more than a glorified preacher on a Sunday morning. As the Democracy our people have worked so hard to create and keep safe is turned into a Socialist Republic, don't whine to me. Idiots bought into the charisma and oratory hypnotism of one man, with absolutely no interest in helping this country.

If you think times are bad now, just wait. And if you didn't vote, you will have no right to bitch later! My high school government teacher taught us that - Voting is a priviledge, if you choose not to exercise your right to vote for what you believe in, then you have no right to bitch about the outcome of the election process! - Thanks Mrs. T (she'd be so proud to know I remembered that!)

Here is the best one yet - from my cousin, D'Anna....

Well heck. Looks like we have a new engineer driving this freight train to hell. I've decided to take the wiener dog approach. When we bring a new animal or foster child into our home, Astro the wiener refuses to acknowledge the newcomer. He pretends not to notice the newcomer even exists, refusing to admit that his life is about to change. After a while, when it is clear the newcomer isn't going anywhere, he starts displaying random acts of aggression. He may chew something belonging to the newcomer, hide various items under the bed or out in the yard, snarl and show his teeth when the newcomer gets too close, and then....and then...he hikes his leg and pees on something belonging to the newcomer. He has been known to actually pee on the newcomer. If I refuse to acknowledge our new president-elect will he simply go away? Or do I have to pee on something?

BUSY, BUSY WEEKEND

We were in Cameron this weekend. Things were hectic. Saturday started with a baby shower for Andrea. Baby girl Bailey Jo is due in November. Mom was a hostess, so she went early and then I joined her. Trenton was supposed to go with me, but he chose to go to the BBQ with Dave.

Quick change and left town at 12:30 to go to the final playday of the year. The kids had so much fun. Sam bought Presley a horse. Star is her name. Here is a picture of Presley cleaning her

hoof. The other is her riding the horse ALL BY HERSELF!~!

Here is Trenton on his horse, he named her Molly.... POOR BABY TRENTON!!!

Here are Trenton and Mason... Poor guys, little do they know that this photo will resurface in 10 years when their moms put it in the Football program....

And, the best news of the week - Vic Vince Valero, III (TRE) was born on Thursday, October 23 at 9:52 am. He was 19 1/4 inches long and weighed 6 lbs 10 oz. What a cutie!

At least there are pretty pictures

So, let's not talk Aggie Football. It's a rebuilding year, yeah, we get it! Now that I've said my peace, I can post the pretty pictures from the game.

Here is Dave - The calm before the storm: See that yellow bar? Hee is the Yellow Bar Police - "YOU CANNOT CROSS THE YELLOW BAR" He says that about 1000 times each game!

The Former President was on hand. We only wish the game would have been better and the outcome different!

Some before and during shots! there were 76,000+ fans on hand.

Long Time, No Post

So, it has been a while. Not much has happened. A couple of football games, not worth rahashing. Dave pulled something and he's been hurting since the middle of September. We made our semi-annual trip to the ER last Thursday. The doctor from urgent care had told him if it wasn't better in 2 weeks to go to the ER and have them run a scan in case it was kidney stones... Lovely! So, how bad can ER be in the middle of a Thursday afternoon??? Well after nearly 5 hours, you tell me.

We got back to a room in record time, but then it took FOREVER (or so it seemed). Everything came back clear, so the doctor concluded what we thought, pulled groin muscle. He rested all weekend, and went back to work today.

I am hoping he gets well soon, I am tired of the mood swings and everything wrong conveniently being my fault. Okay, enough for tonight, I'd better stop while I am ahead.

Is it Friday yet???

It's been over a week since I posted anything, not that it's been a dull week, but I've been a little busy. Work is really picking up. I was able to make contact with most of my Galveston researchers last week, so I feel better knowing they are all okay. Many of them still have not returned to the Island to see what, if anything, is left of their homes. Other's live off the Island, so other than no power, they were getting back to normal.

I keep thinking about our last visit to Galveston. August 16. We took the kids and didn't spend a lot of time at the beach itself. They wanted to play in the pool at the hotel. When they wanted to go back to the beach on Sunday, I told them no becuase it was too late and we had to get home so everyone could go to work on Monday. What a bad Aunt. Now there is no beach to visit. I was sad when I told Dave this last night, but we know that Galveston will be all right. They will have everything up and running by next summer. Some parts are already regaining electricity, so it's only a matter of time.

It's times like this that I realize how lucky I am and how my problem are small in contrast to the hell some people are living in right now.

DEVASTATING

So, I've been sitting in front of the TV for almost 2 days and can't take my eyes off it. If one channel goes to commercial, I simply find another. The Galveston we love visiting is twisted rubble right now. I'm speechless. Dave and I look at the piles of mess in the streets and recognize pieces of debris.

We were just there 3 weeks ago with Mom, Dad and the kids. You've seen the post! I remember pointing out the Hooters to Dave - I'd never notice it before. Now, it's no longer there. Dave and I went to the Balinese Room once when we were vactationing - no more... I remember our first vacation there together - the horse carriage ride through the Strand. I just heard it's under 7 feet of water right now.

I work with people down there. I've talked to a couple of them, so I know they are okay. But it doesn't make it easier. Where will they go? TAMUG is still underwater. What about my professors and their families? I know these people. That makes it so much more personal.

I ask my friends who read this to pray for my friends working their way through this horrible natural disaster. May God bless and keep them and their families safe through this ordeal and may the sun soon shine on them again.

shelly

I'm Telling.... Gran's in trouble now....

It's caught on tape - and they didn't know I was doing it. It seems that when Gran picks up Presley, she gets to "drive" back to town. Granted, it's only a couple of miles until she gets to the Country Club, I thought people would like to know. It seems that these 2 can get into a lot of trouble when they are together. You can hear poor little Trenton in the video saying "we're gonna crash" too cute!

OK, I am finished tattling for the day. You can see for your self.

On a side note, I signed 5 years away yesterday. After searching for a used truck, we said "What the hell?" and bought a new Dodge Quad Cab. 0% financing and Lifetime Powertrain warranty, we could get a better deal anywhere else - not to mention that truck was 50% off! Yes, there were really no gimmicks to that TV ad!

P-A-T-H-E-T-I-C

That is the summary of last night's ballgame. I woke up yesterday so excited - After 9 months of blah, it was Aggie Game Day, the first of this season. New year, new team, new Coach. Well, we thought. I heard so many fans say "I thought we paid big money to get rid of Fran last year, if I didn't know better, I'd think he was down there calling the plays." My favorite was "What the hell, I thought this man once coached for the pros."

It was BAD.... After the display of no-talent-playing football last night, if the Aggies win 1 game this season, it will be something to cheer about. We have no offensive line, the quarterback still sucks. Oh, and about that - we have NO receivers - unless you count the 2 backup quarterbacks. Now, they can catch a ball - I am not complaining. Tannehill and Johnson are awesome players, but we need them at Quarterback!!!!! They want to bring back the old Wrecking Crew... Honey, they have a long way to go.... This team from middle of nowhere Arkansas kick their ass, on our home field in front of 78,600 people!

Javorskie Lane saw 3 whole plays... OK Mike, what point are you trying to prove here. I know, the pros don't want a 300 pound RB, but maybe he doesn't want to play pro, so just let us win!!!! With the announcer saying "hand-off to Goodsosn, over and over, don't you think the other team will eventually figure out your next play?!?!?

To top that off, I was taking a picture of the crowd thinning out as the Aggies fumbled for the 3rd time with 1:16 left on the clock and the darn camera broke! Yes, it was the one that Dave found at the Gay Concert, but I loved that camera!

Here's one of the last pictures it took - Jana and Evan stopped by to say hi to me!

Gran gets BUSTED! Shelly gets "Best Aunt" Award

So, mom thinks she can be sneaky. I got a call Wednesday that she and Trenton were skipping town and meeting Mimi Gayle and Little Ray to go tour Blue Bell. Poor Presley, she was in school. But, somehow, she found out. Mom says she would not speak to her that afternoon. She doesn't like the thought of Gran spending alone time with Trenton. However, after Gran reminded her about Disneyland and Elvis' house, she changed her tune. It's amazing how those kids gravitate to Mom.

Where are their parents?!?!?!?

I'll be the cool Aunt (as always) Yesterday my name was drawn by a local radio station to win 4 tickets to the Pooh on Ice Show at Reed Arena. Of course, Dave has no interest in seeing Pooh on Ice, and since I need children, I called Mom to bring my adoptive 2 down for the show. We decided that Dad and Dave can have a date while we're watching Pooh and Tigger too!

Roller Coaster of Emotions

So, for those of you who have known us for a while, you all know about the 101 day headache Dave developed exactly 3 years ago on August 12. Well, after a warm November night in the hospital and plenty of drugs, it went away. He was put on preventative meds and has an injection he can take if it comes back.

Well, it came back.... Somewhere around August 3, he developed a headache and it hasn't let up since. The doctor wanted a new CAT scan to make sure all the pieces of the brain were in the right spots and there wasn't anything there that didn't need to be. As you know, I can get a little emotional at times, and while I held up well, I have been a nervous wreck for the last week waiting for this CAT scan. We spent 3 hours at the hospital this morning and the results just came in... Everything is NORMAL... Dave knew it would be okay. I did too, but I was preparing myself just in case. I've sometimes said, I don't want anything there, but at least if they find something, then we have something to blame it on.

Now, we find ourselves were we were 3 years ago - at the beginning - new drugs, test drugs, blah, blah, blah... My boss's sister had horrible headaches and they put her on a new drug that has completely stopped them. We've given the doctor the name of the drug. Now we wait to see if he thinks it will help Dave.

Just pray that something works.

Rain, Rain go Away....

That is the song we heard in the van all weekend. Yes, we have decided it's the worst drought ever, but send us to the beach and you will get your rain!

We did get a couple of hours in, and the kids had a good time, but it could have been better.

We went ot the Aquarium at Moody Gardens on Sunday. They seemed to like that.

Here they are with uncle Dave in the Shark Cage.

So, for the video: one question my brother and I have....

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE IN THE OCEAN??? WE KNOW OUR PARENTS WOULD NEVER TAKE US OUT TO PLAY LIKE THIS.......Send us out there, alone with the sharks maybe, but play with us, I think not!

How many men... Question of the weekend

Be sure to check out the videos at the end!

So, it was Trenton's 3rd birthday - A couple of questions... How many men does it take to put
together a new bike? Answer - It seems to be 2 1/2

Gran wasn't there, but he called her to tell her about his new bike!

So, then we move to the party... How many men does it take to inflate a new Double Blaster Water Slide? Here are 3 of my 4 favorite men...

The kids had a absolute blast! But remember, even if it's your birthday - You can still get in trouble....
Oh man, Come on Gran, give me a break!! It's my Birthday!

It's a boy thing.

No News is Good News

That is what Mom always said... We have done absolutely nothing for the past couple of weeks. It's too darn hot! I want to clean out the garage so that my car can go back in there, but I don't see that happening too soon.

The lawnmower needs a new belt, so until Dave can drive it back to the storage building, it must stay in my car's house! Not to mention, there is too much junk accumulating out there. If there was some sort of organiztion to it all, my car would fit, but until cooler weather, I am just SOOL.

We do have our annual meeting for TAMU Football ushers this weekend. What a joy - a couple of hours of learning various ways of how to tell people that if they don't have a ticket for this section, then vaminos!

Trenton turns 3 on Sunday, we are going to Cameron for his party. I had to go pick up one of those humongous inflatable waterslides yesterday, so we know what the kids will be doing at this party.

We're going to the beach on the 16th. I should have lots of pictures and stories after that. I may also have some pictures of the new cleaners. Mom is thinking of having the "Grand Opening" on that Tuesday. I had taken off Monday and Tuesday, so I will probably go up for the big event.

It's been a while

So, we have been busy over the last couple of weeks. On the 12th we cooked BBQ for a benefit to help one of Dave's friends involved ina motorcycle accident. The food raised over $500 dollars and the entire benefit collected about $8000. I would venture to say, it was a great success.

On Sunday, we finally decided to take all of the moeny we'd been saving and go buy our new TV. Dave finally got his 42" plasma! Now we have to save up for the HD receiver box. Maybe next race season! It was ok until we got home to put it all together. Our friend, Chris, come over to help. Actually I bribed him with beer and dinner. Anyway, he and Dave start putting the TV stand together and there are no instructions. They decided the instruction must be in the box with the glass panels. Well, upon removing the tape, there was a small glass explosion all over my livingroom floor! It seem that every piece of glass in the box had shattered and a portion of it was in my carpet! So we load it all back up and head to WalMart - That becomes a whole new story for a novel... After arguing with them for 30+ minutes, we jsut got our money back and went to Best Buy to get me a TV stand. It was actually $50 cheaper and only took Dave and Chris about 20 minutes to put together. Here's the new set up.. I've since painted the DVD shelf balck and hung 2 pictures above the TV. The boys didn't even notice that huge bare space on the wall... MEN!!!!!

We had our Passion Party Thursday night - What fun that was! There were 5 couples and we had a blast! But we shall remember, what happed at the party, stays at the party... mmmm is the word!

Mom and Dad came down yesterday. We sold one of our sofas. Mom was going to sell her big green reclining one and I snatched it up. I love that couch, recliner/massager. It is great and totally coordinated with the other sofa we own.

BUSY WEEKEND

What a great 3-day weekend it was - All we did was party.

The July 4th Party at the Smith's was a lot of fun. We had a great time. Here are some pictures: Dave and his pit, of course... And then there is Morgan. Dear, sweet, cute, loveable Morgan... He's a Senior now, has been for a while, so Laura ordered him a special pitcher and he dunked his Aggie Ring. 66.5 Seconds - WOW! He didn't even get sick. Afterwards, he and Dave celebrated with a shot of Jim Beam!

Brandon and Crystal are down from Alabama, so they had a birthday party for Benjamin at Tiffany Park. It was a great day. The kids had a blast at the splash pad.

No good can come from this conversation!!!

Finally - Looks like Uncle Ray an Aunt Gayle certainly have their hand full.

The Never Ending Birthday!

What a week. So, when you have as many birthdays as I've had, you stop talking about them, but this one will not end! I guess I should be happy considering that this one is the last of a decade. Oh, my, now that made me feel old... I am starting on the end of another decade!

We started at WWW last week (you remember the Gift bag story post), then Mom and Dad and Sam and Misty came down and we all went to dinner Monday night (my actual birthday). Well, this week at WWW, Laura brought that most fantastic, deliciuos, 5-layer chocolate indulgence, individually sized cheesecakes... I hope there were enough descriptive adjectives in there for you! If you close your eyes, you can actually taste how good they were.

As I think all of the birthday hoopla is over, I find out today that I won the Grand prize drawing for the Weekly Birthday party from the radio station! Party for 8 at Grand Station - It's the new bowling place here in town. Too funny!!

This will hopefully end a week of celebrating.

On to the 4th. We are having a party at Dave's boss's house tomorrow. He is doing the BBQ, and there will be fireworks at night.

My cousin who is living in Alabama is in the state, so we will spend some time with them on Saturday for their little boy's birthday.

Hopefully I will have pictures for you next week - HAPPY 4TH!

Why drunk people should not be given a sack of toys

Remember, last night was Wednesday, and instead of going to church to pray, we all go to the bar and play.
That being said, it all started with Dee giving me a "Goodie Bag" last night. We thought of it as my birthday present. It was a book on Tantric Water/Bath Tub Sex (for real, whatever!) So.... what happens, the catalogs come out and everyone decides we need to have a sex toy party. "We" as in "we will come to a party at Shelly's house" I am not real sure about this. They want it to be all inclusive - Boys too! We (as in all of us) are actually trying to find a good day. Of course, it cannot interfere with our Wednesday night outings. I think maybe the men can come for a couple of drinks, and then Dave can take them to the bar down the street (Harps, it's a real classy place - NOT). Never a dull moment on a Wednesday night. NEVER... You don't know who will say what and Lord help us on what they do. Sometimes I wonder exactly how I became involved with the group, then I remember, I am married to one and related to the other - from their our table of 8 has grown to over 20 at times. What can I say, we certainly know how to make friends and they like us so much, they keep coming back for more!

B 52s

I am having a time trying to get these videos on here, hopefully they are working for you! This one is for Mom!

VIDEO

I am having issues with one of the videos - Cyndi Lauper is on the left and Joan Jett is on the right! Dee, this is for you! Enjoy it, we sure did. Thanks 104.7!

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

What a concert! I've got video for you. The concert was a lot of fun. However, when I initially won the tickets and just wanted to go see Cyndi Lauper and Joan Jett, I had no clue what was about to happen. Let me preface by saying, I am in NO WAY a homophobe, which was a good thing, seeing that the underlying meaning of the "True Colors" concert is unity and equality for Gays, Lesbians and Transgendered people. There are no words for some of the things we saw - This is what I get for living such a sheltered life. I don't care, it was GREAT!!!

Let's start with a couple of pictures - Dave and I did have fun.

Then, there was Laura and Shonda, 2 crazy ladies!

Finally, Chris - the one who didn't want it known he went to the totally outrageous event. but oh well, I was in charge of the camera, so now everyone knows! In front of Chris, you can see the backs of Morgan, Meredith and Anna. They weren't even born when Cyndi and Joan started singing! We did sit by some girls who looked like they could have been right out of my high school year book. Morgan was fascinated with the outfits. Remember girls - big hair, layered blouses, short skirts and the leggings? That is what they wore. With the crowd, I didn't know if they were playing dress up or if that is what they actually wear everyday.

A couple of sitings - Dave loved these socks, we are trying to find him a pair! And this couple, well, they caused a nice family with a child (probably about 10) to relocate to a different section of the lawn. They should have gotten a room!