Maybe They Are Getting It!

Today when Cecily got in the car at carpool the first words out of her mouth were, "Tyler said that he wanted me to be his girlfriend, but I told him, no chance, not until I'm 16 so keep dreaming."
All I could do was laugh and say, "That's right. He can keep dreaming." LOL.
Let's hope she just remembers this year, after year!

We Really Do Need to Be Concerned...

that these same individuals in the video below will probably be voting in the up coming election!

I'm scared, I really am.

I have always said, the only thing worst than someone not voting is for someone to have an uneducated vote.

You know what I mean. They vote because they think it is the cool thing to do,or that it seems like everyone else is behind the issue or person so it must be okay. However, they don't really know the issues.

I think Penn and Teller illustrate my point the best in the video below. My friend, Dara, sent me this video, and although I did initially laugh at these idiots (sorry, I know that's not Christ-like, but really they are). I got scared because I know there are a million more people out there just like them.

The video is a little long, but well worth watching. If you don't want to watch the whole thing, at least let it download and drag the play button to a little over half-way when they actually get these environmental activist to sign a petition to BAN H2O. Yes, that's right. They jump on the "BAN" wagon and all sign petitions to BAN WATER. It's pretty funny how they do it too!

It is funny, but also so sad. Check it out and let me know if you are as scared as I am. Oh, and don't forget to shut off my playlist at the bottom of my blog.




To semi-quote one of the girls in the video, "something that would definitely keep me up at night" is that there are individuals out there like those in the video above voting in politicians who will be running our country.

We definitely need to be concerned and praying too!

P.S. I don't want people to think that I am against helping the environment. I'm not. Yeah for all of you who are trying to do your part. What I am saying though, is that if you want to jump on a "Ban"wagon or any other wagon for that matter, PLEASE know what you are jumping on before you jump. Don't just say what everyone else is saying because we all know that the truth can be twisted. Do the research.

Mosiac of Me

Susan tagged me on her blog to do this. Basically, I answered the following questions and found pictures to match my answers.

Here are the questions:

1. Name? (Andrea)

2. Favorite Color? (Yellow)

3. High School? (Crestview Bulldogs)

4. Favorite Food? (Lamb Gyro)

5. Celebrity Crush? (I really don't have one b/c I rarely watch movies and really what is the purpose? But to play along I said Ben Affleck)

6. Favorite Drink? (Water)

7. Dream Vacation? (Australia)

8. Favorite Dessert? (Heath Bar Blizzard)

9. What you want to be when you grow up? (I misunderstood this question, I thought it meant when you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?--so I said Flight attendant which is funny because I am so scared of the thought to even get on a plane. However now, I'm happy to be a mom!)

10. Your favorite thing in this world? (My Family)

11. One word to describe you? (talkative--o.k. this picture at the top did say chatterbox, that's why I chose it, but it cut off the words.)

12. Your Nickname? (Andy-the picture is horrid! If you tried to guess what it was you'd probably say ragged old lady, huh, but it is the only picture of an Andy (Andy Rooney) that I could find, or had patience enough to find)

If you would like to do this, have at it:

• Go to Flickr search and pick out a photo for each one of your answers to the questions below. Click on the picture you want and copy the URL


• Open another browser, Mosaic Maker, and paste the URL for each picture into the desired space. (You'll see directions)


• Once you have selected, copied and pasted all of your pictures, click Create to make your Mosaic Click Share ( at this point you can copy the html and paste it into your post but when I tried, my mosaic turned out very small. So, I saved the mosaic to my computer by clicking the little disk under the mosaic. Then, I uploaded it to the post just like a regular photo. Does that make sense? You may find a better way...)

A Different Kind of Sabbath

Yesterday, we received a phone call from the Bishop (and Ann) letting us know that church was going to be cancelled due to the impending Tropical Storm Faye. There were warnings of flooding and heavy rains, and I guess after Hurricane Katrina precautions were being taken. We even got a phone call recording from the City of Mobile letting us know to be safe, and if we lived in a trailer we should find shelter (they also gave a list of shelters).

So, this morning it was odd to wake up to sunshine! We did have rain off and on all day though, but nothing major. Let's just pray no other storms come our way!

Anyway, yesterday after the Bishop called, I was like, "YEAH, no church tomorrow!" I know to many of you that sounds bad, but hey, I did think that. I was glad for the break, Sunday's seldom seem like a day of rest. No sense in hiding it because the only one that really matters is the Lord and He knows my thoughts. And my thoughts were, "A Day Off".

However, as the the night went on I began thinking about a talk that Bro. Applegate gave a few weeks back in church. It was such a great talk on Raising a Righteous Family. The part that stuck out in my mind was a story he told about when his family lived in Africa. In the part of Africa where they lived, there was no church, but every Sunday their family had the sacrament in their home.

With this thought in my mind, I thought, "Hmm. There's no reason why we shouldn't have sacrament either. I mean, Mike holds the priesthood and he can bless the bread and water." So I talked to Mike and he said, "Yes we could have the sacrament."

Anyway, this morning when I woke up, I guess the girls thought was that it was a day off too because I heard the cartoons on.

Let me stop and say, I don't want anyone to think we are perfect with me posting this post. We are not. The girls fight, no matter how much we try to teach "Love At Home", I yell way too much and my entire family has so many flaws that I just don't want to list. So please know that. In fact while you are reading this, we are probably trying to overcome one of those flaws, or either that doing something we should not be doing.

However, we are always TRYING to be better. One of the things we are tyring to be better at is keeping the Sabbath Day Holy. Mike is really big on this. Even when we go on vacations, we go to church and Sunday's are our day off. We sit in the hotel. And I'm not going to judge you if your family does different. Everyone has there own way of keeping the Sabbath Holy and what is right for you, may not be right for us and vice versa. Our family has too many of our own problems to worry about how others may or may not be living the gospel. Trust me.

That being said, we are making baby steps in trying to be better at keeping the Sabbath more holy for our family. We don't go out shopping, out to eat, b-day parties, to the park, or do anything that would keep someone else from keeping the Sabbath holy, and we try to fill our day with good things. However, TV and the computer have been hard to completely give up (look, I'm typing right this very moment. Although, I like to think of this as keeping up with my personal history). But we don't do these things until the afternoon.

Anyway, back to my point, I know I have one. Oh yeah, the girls were watching cartoons. So I got up and said, "Girls what are you watching?"

They said, "Cartoons."

I said, "You know if you watch anything on Sunday mornings, it has to be one of the church videos like "Book of Mormon Reader".

They were like, "but we don't have church today."

Then it hit me. Why aren't we having church? Just because we are not meeting at the building, doesn't mean we can't have church. We were going to have sacrament, so why not everything else. So that's what we did.

We set up the den to look a little more reverent. We put on our Sunday clothes. Yes, we did. Mike even put on his suit. Then we had primary.

For singing time, we sang the songs from the CSMP, and we realized what we need to work on more. For sharing time, Mike shared with the girls that there are people all around the world who may not have a building to meet in, but that doesn't mean we can't worship Heavenly Father. He told of those who live in countries where it is illegal to go to church, and of those in the military that are in war zones and still take time to partake of the sacrament. We also talked about the fact that we never know what circumstances may come our way in the years to come, but how wonderful it is to know that we can always worship the Lord anywhere, especially in our home. It was very spiritual. The girls even participated in the discussion.

Then Mike took Ariel and taught her Primary class, and I taught Cecily. (Don't worry Ann, I guess you are a lesson ahead because Ariel said half way through her lesson, that she realized it was the lesson you taught last week.)

Then we met back together and had our short family sacrament meeting. This was really different and probably the biggest challenge for the girls. As we sang the sacrament hymn, Mike broke the bread and after blessed it and then continued with the water. When there are only 4 people, it doesn't take much to break the reverence, and if we had to meet like this every week,...well, reverence would definitely be something we would have to remind the girls about. Mike ended with an impromptu talk on reverence. Then we ended with prayer.

I think we all realized a lot today. First, it is a blessing to have the priesthood in our home so that even in dire circumstances we can partake of the sacrament, and also that we can still take time to worship Heavenly Father even if we don't meet at the chapel. But we also learned that it is nice to be able to gather with the Saints and worship, and that we all have a lot to learn. Cecily's prayer was really sweet. Here is part of what she said, "Dear Heavenly Father, please let us be able to go to church next week."

And even if it is at our house, we will.

Thanks Bro. Applegate for such a great talk and inspiring us to try to be better!

Tales of the 4th Grade Nothing...

Well, not really. It would be more appropriate for the last word to be SOMETHING.

With this being Ariel's first year with a male teacher, I thought it has been interesting to read the comments I have gotten on my blog about the topic, and I won't even begin telling you what I have heard in person about male teachers.

I guess I never thought about all the opinions out there on male teachers. Let me start off by saying I requested for Ariel to have Mr. Baker, and so far it has been AWESOME for her.

Throughout my life, I have had wonderful experience with males teachers, (well, those that were not coaches--sorry, but I'm being honest. I'm not saying there are not great male teachers who are also coaches, I just never had any. My experience was that they loved sports and were forced to teach something like geography or driver's ed.). **This is an edit. I did have one coach for a teacher that was good, that I just remembered. He taught 7th grade science--Coach Hadd. Sorry to him.**

I even wish there were more male teachers.

Some of you may be asking, "Why?" or thinking I'm crazy, and then others know why because you have had a great male teacher.

Like I said, I have been fortunate to have had many.

All of this got me to think about my VERY most favorite teacher ever. The first teacher who instilled in me a love for learning---and he was a male--the first male teacher I had ever had.

I was in the fourth grade and his name was Mr. John Darenforth. However, his students called him Mr. D.

He also became the real first father figure for me, something that I desperately needed in my life at the time. I realize that some children don't need that, but there are many who do, and I was one of them.

He was the first teacher that I can remember telling me, "You can be whatever you want to be. You will be someone important when you grow up. " I'm not so sure that the "important" part ever happened accept in the eyes of my children, but, hey I'll take that.

The point is, he played an important part in who I am today.

This man made such an impact in my life in so much that while I was in college, I wrote a paper about him. I received an A+ for that assignment with a handwritten note attached from my professor. The note said it was an inspiring essay, and that I should consider sending him a copy.
Hmm. I never thought of doing that, but her letter gave me some encouragement to do so.
I did search to try and find him to thank him personally for the impact he had on my life. However, I was never able to find him.

I am the first person in my family to have completed college, and I think part of that credit should be given to him. I wanted to prove him right, that I could be somebody, even with a life that was far from perfect.

The thing is, I know that I'm not the only child who's life he made a difference in. He was just that kind of teacher. He made learning come to life for every 9-10yr. old that entered his classroom. He taught outside of the box.

Let me explain.

When we were reading folklore, Mr. D held a Lumberjack Day. We were assigned to come dressed in jeans, checkered shirts and suspenders (if we had them)--like Paul Bunyan. He had decorated the room (quite nice), he made us all "flapjacks" that morning (and no, he never had room parents come in and help), we read the story of Paul Bunyan and his ox, Babe, as well as many other folklore's. The day ended with a huge checker tournament, in which I was first runner up!

In science, when we were studying about gravity, he let us all make paper airplanes and go outside and fly them. When we were studying about electricity, we all got to go outside and fly a kite for a short time, and then we came back inside and talked of Benjamin Franklin's discovery. His class was always far from boring. I'll let you just imagine what we did when we studied insects. Let me just say it FUN.

When we studied fables, he had yet another creative teaching tool. Mr. D put us in groups of three and we were given the assignment to write our own fable (not forgetting to end with a moral). Once we had written our fable in a play format, we made paper mache puppet heads for our character. My puppet was a wolf. We also had to paint a backdrop. Once we had completed all of this, we put on a play for the school. We had all worked hard on this and I remember how nice it felt for us to hear the other students applauding our work. Mr. D proved to us that when we work hard, we can accomplish anything. That one experience taught us about writing, team work, organization, performing for an audience and I'm sure many other things that I just can't think of at this moment.

Our class production of fables. You can not see me. I am in the middle covered by the puppet.

He also did not want any of his students to be "left behind". I used to have trouble remembering the product of 6X8. After missing several math problems for this reason, Mr. D had the entire class repeat over and over, "6 times 8 is 48." Then, he asked me what 6 times 8 was and I said, "48." To this day, I have remembered that, and whenever I see that multiplication problem I always think of that day.

Mr. D was also a great story teller and reader. He would make books come to life by giving each character his own voice and remembering that voice no matter how long the book was. I have never, ever heard a person read a book aloud as well as him.

Also, at recess, he got involved. He had fun with us. I remember one time we all were playing softball and he was up to bat. He hit that ball, and it came right to me and I caught it. However, I dropped it because it stung my hand so bad. But afterward, he came up to me and said, "WOW! If you had a glove, you would have caught that ball, and that would have been a first." He was so kind like that.

Years later through my mom, I found out that he paid for my sister and I to participate in something the school system did in the winter. I don't remember how often it occurred (I thought it was weekly, but I may be wrong) but in the winter, all the children who paid on Friday's got to participate in a skiing program. My sister and I never were never able to participate until I was in his class. He never wanted anyone to be left out and it was then that I was able to learn to love snow skiing.

I literally could spend all day and night typing about all the wonderful things that I learned in the fourth grade. I could tell you of other teaching techniques he used, all the learning activities, because there definitely were more. But I won't.

I'll just hold them close to my heart and hope that my children can be blessed with their own Mr. D and one day grow up and have their own Tales of the __ Grade Something.

My 4th grade class. I am in the first row 2nd person on the left.

This post is dedicated to all the wonderful male teachers out there who dedicate their life to teaching. And especially to some of my favorites: Mr. D, Mr. Raley, and Mr. Lowery.

First and Last...

Yesterday was a special day for our family. It was a day of many first for us,

and with those first, also came some lasts.

Here are some first:

• It was Cecily's first day of second grade and Ariel's first day of 5th grade.


• It is the first time we have had a male teacher for one of our children. Ariel has Mr. Baker for homeroom. He will teach math, science and social studies. She has Mrs. Pugh for Reading and Language Arts. They switch classes in the 5th grade, but this is not new for Ariel because they did this in the 4th grade as well. She LOVES having Mr. Baker as a teacher and will meet Mrs. Pugh today. It was so neat hearing her tell about her first day.


• It was also the first time that Cecily has a teacher who has not first taught Ariel. Cecily's teacher is Mrs. Burden and we are thrilled to have her. Cecily had a great first day too, she could not wait to tell us all about 2nd grade. It's a joy when both of your children love their classes so much that they can't wait to get to school. My girls were up by 5:30am, with no prompt, to get ready for day 2!


• It's my first time having a 5th grader. We love E.R. Dickson and feel blessed that our apartment was zoned for that school 6 whole years ago---WOW! It seems like yesterday, my "little" Ariel was starting kindergarten. It has been a blessing that Ariel has been able to start at E.R. Dickson, and finish there. I attended so many schools as a child (too many to count), and I hated it. It is nice seeing all the teachers, those who have taught our children and even those who have not, that have taken a special interest in the girls. Yesterday, in carpool we had so many teachers waving and saying hello, it was as if we were in a parade. I love the feeling of belonging.


• It was the first time that Ariel was actually concerned about what her hair looked like on the first day of school.


• And I think it may have been the first year that I can remember starting school with it pouring down rain.

Now for the last:

• Yesterday, it was the last time Ariel and Cecily will begin their first day of school at the same school until Ariel is a senior in high school.


• It began Ariel's last year at E.R. Dickson.


• It is the last time I will have a child start the 2nd grade.
• Ariel and Cecily were both almost the LAST ones in their classrooms on their first day. We sat in traffic on Bit & Spur for 30 minutes. The only time we moved, was when the drivers of the cars got mad and turned around. Ariel was upset that she was one of the last kids because she WANTED to be on the news. The Ham! Here is the news report link of Ariel's teacher and class from yesterday. We did manage to make it in a small clip from another news station. We are the in the very beginning under the umbrella coming up on the sidewalk. Don't blink or you'll miss us. The Emmertson girls are at the very end of the clip.
• It will also be the last time that Ariel threatens a traffic lady (even if it were from within our car). She asked me to get really close to the traffic cop when we drove by and put the window down so she could toss the apple she had for Mr. Baker at her. She was so upset with the traffic cop almost making her late for her first day. Although I know Ariel would NEVER really do this, I told her it was not nice to even think it!

So that about sums up the first and lasts.

As, I mentioned both girls had a great first day of school. I feel so blessed to be able to be alive to see my children reaching these milestones in their life, and that the Lord has blessed me to help these sweet spirits reach their fullest potential. It's such an awesome responsibility.

I also feel blessed to have FABULOUS teachers helping us with this. Throughout the year, I like to write a note to them letting them know how much it means to me, as a mom, to know that my children are under the care of these wonderful women (and now man) for 7 hours, 5 days a week. It's one of the things that helps me to let them go. These teachers are a great part of the reason that my children WANT to come to school.

With each day that passes, Ariel and Cecily will have many more first and last. Each day they become a little more independent, a little wiser, a little stronger, a little more of who they were meant to be.

As their mom, I want to hold on to them tight forever in hopes that somehow, someway, they can stay my little girls forever.

But it was never meant to be that way was it?

Thank goodness for pictures and memories. I think I'll go bake some cookies, so when we get home today we can sit down and do something that is definitely not a FIRST--- have a cookie and share our love--- and it definitely will not be the LAST.

Do You Need A Pooper Scooper People?

Okay, I'm taking a few minutes (or more) to post a rant.

Yesterday, I decided to help out my poor husband by mowing our yard (because our weekend is full but the yard HAS to be mowed every week)--I figured the word helpmate in the proclamation goes both ways. If Mike can help me with my wifely duties, it doesn't kill me to return the favor OCCASIONALLY (see Mike, I don't always make things go in my favor).

Sorry about that. Let me get back to the point of the story.

While mowing the front yard, I mowed over and eventually stepped in dog poop!

YUCK! Remember my weak stomach.

First imagine me trying to get the stuff off my Croc, then the the lawn mower while gagging at the same time!

The bad thing is that I could not get it completely off of the lawn mower tire, so I had to put up with the smell.

Okay, let me clarify the smell thing. There is nothing like poop that is sitting out in 90 something degree sun! JUST GROSS!

Again imagine me mowing and gagging!

NOT a pretty site.

Here is my rant. I don't have animals, so I should not have to watch for animal feces while I'm walking in MY YARD.

Let me just say, I don't have a problem with animals, I don't. In fact, if Mike would agree, we would probably have a dog. However, he is a cat lover, and I'm not so much a fan. So we remain animal-less.

So please don't send me hate comments about how wonderful dogs or cats are, I know. Trust me, I know.

I don't have a problem with animals, just their owners who let them poop wherever and leave it for someone else to find.

And don't tell me, "hey they're just giving you extra fertilizer." We don't need it. Mike has a big bag of fertilizer that we use, and it smells A LOT better and we don't have the mess.

It's just a matter of common courtesy. If you let your dog/cat poop in your neighbors yard, PLEASE pick it up. It should not be my job, remember I'm not the one with a dog/cat.

If you own a pet, take care of it fully. Just like if you have a child, be it's parent. Not just in the good times, but all the time.

Would you want me to send my child to your yard to poop?

Didn't think so!

The other day, we were swimming in the pool and we smelled cat poop.

Again me gagging and forcing Mike to pick it up. I know it's harder to control cats, but come on people!

I think you get my point. So whatever your reason, stop it, just please pick it up.

To help you out, perhaps I'll tie some free Wal-Mart bags to my mailbox with a sign:

If it POOPS, You Better SCOOP!

Paint, Boomerang, Stove...Is That Right?

As you know, last week the girls and I went to Crestview to visit my family. While there, my sister, Anna, asked me if I had noticed that my mom seemed a little more "forgetful" than usual.

I had noticed it, but kind of overlooked it because I can be in mid sentence and forget where I'm going with it too. Anna lives in the same town so she has the opportunity to see it more, and was really worried. She told me that she feared that my mom may be getting Alzheimer's.

So we talked to my mom about it and asked her to talk to her doctor. She dismissed us and told us that she was fine.

Well, the next day, Anna, who also works at a nursing home, gave my mom this little test. She told my mom three unrelated words and told her not to focus on them, but to carry on with our conversation.

So,carry on we did for ten minutes. Then Anna, out of the blue, asked my mom, "What were the three words?" My mom had a hard time coming up with the three words.

Not to turn this around and make it as my friend Lisanka says, "All About Me", but I had a hard time remembering too. I still can't remember them, but Ariel can.

Okay, so I am going to make this blog about ME. Unlike my mom, I was SO WORRIED that I could not remember the words.

I'm too young for this. 34 is too young to be losing your memory . But then I heard about early-onset Alzheimer's.

I was concerned. So, for the 2 hours drive home the girls tested me over and over. They took turns quizzing me.

My first test: "Paint, Boomerang, Stove". I think that's it.

Wait, let me check with Ariel and Cecily.

I'm back. Yup. That's right.

Sad thing, I think the only reason why I remembered the words was because I was so fearful of failing that I focused on the words and said them over, and, over in my head. I was trying to pretend I was focused on what the girls were telling me, which was a challenge in itself because for ten minutes they were trying to keep me focused on other things.

But all I could think of was, "Paint, Boomerang, Stove. Paint, Boomerang, Stove. Paint, Boomerang, Stove."

When the 10 minutes were up, they were so happy when I got it. I guess they did not want to think their mom was loosing her mind, literally.

I hate the thought of not remembering my husband or sweet children, or even how to do simple everyday task. It makes me sad, but I had to be honest and have them test me again. This time I did not cheat, and for the life of me, I could not remember any of the words. Although I do remember telling the girls that it was an easy list. I guess it wasn't that easy, afterall.

I think it had something with the Easter Bunny. But I'm not sure, and I don't think the girls want me to keep bugging them with, "Hey, what were those three words again?"

Well, the story does not end there (sorry for those of you who wished it did).

Saturday night the girls tested Mike. What were his 3 words?

"Barn, drawer, salutation". I only remembered because of this:

Yesterday, when church ended, Mike came up to me while I was talking to someone and whispered real fast, "Barn drawer salutation".

I stopped and looked at him strangely and said, "What?"

He repeated, "Barn, Drawer, Salutation".

I was still confused. My one and only thought was this:

"Oh my! My zipper must be down and he was trying to warn me." How thoughtful. So seriously, I looked down, only to realize that I was wearing a skirt.

Nope not my zipper.

Finally, I said to him, "What in the world are you talking about?"

He smiled and said, "At least my memory is good. I know my three words."

Well, hooray for him. LOL. I'm so glad that one of us has the capacity to hold on to senseless words.

I'm sure my mind is okay (at least I hope and pray it is) , but you know the saying, "Use it or loose it." I think I better start using mine more.

Any thoughts? Please write them down because I probably won't remember it if you tell me.

Having Problems With Your Blog?

For those of you who can't open your blog (maybe it is just me), I found out that sitemeter is down and when it is down you can't open your blog.

So, if you are having this problem, just go and remove it, and viola.

Problem solved.

I've Been Thinking....

Dangerous, I know.

But, have you ever noticed that Wal-Mart is a lot like people?

Okay, maybe you haven't.

Well, I have (maybe I'm the only one who has time to think about such ridiculous things).

But it's true.

Just like people, every Wal-Mart is different or perhaps we should say unique.

In Mobile there are 5 Super Wal-Marts (I'm including the Semmes & Tillman's Corner in this count) and 2 Wal-Mart Neighborhood Markets (these are just grocery stores). I live in a 10-15 minute radius to about 5 these seven stores.

You would think they would be similar right?

Wrong. Here are some differences:

1. Every store has different prices for their products. At one store you may pay $1.78 for shredded cheese, but go a few miles down the road and pay $2.98. Same product and size mind you. This is with many items. Trust me, I'm a bargain shopper. I notice. It's not just grocery items either. You can find this with DVD's, garbage bags, TP, and other house hold items etc. Wal-mart price matches, and I've often thought of calling the District manager and asking if I can price match another Wal-Mart down the street. LOL! (oh, you don't have to tell me that it is all part of a marketing strategy. I have a degree in Marketing--I know it's all in the "research", but I still find it interesting for "The Low Price Leader".
2. One store will have the Grocery side on the Right side of the store with the household/auto on the left and another will be totally reversed. I hate this. I am a creature of habit. I can't help but wonder what marketing tool they are using to decide which store gets the groceries on the left and which get them on the right?
3. The less busy Wal-Marts have a million check out clerks and self-checkout lanes. The more busier stores (like the one by the mall), well let's just say, "I hope you don't have ice-cream in that cart!"
4. Some stores are nice and fancy (the light automatically comes on in the frozen food isle as you walk down it and quickly shuts off when you go past) and some are falling apart.

These are just a few of my observations I have made.

I guess when you are in a "small" town for a few days, it gives one time to ponder about the "little" things in life.

Yes. I pondered about Wal-Mart.

Why? Well, everytime I go to Crestview that is always the one store we visit. Although C-view is growing, Wal-Mart is still the only "BiG" store. No Target. BOO,HOO---I LOVE Target.

Anyway, during my traditional visit to the Crestview Wal-Mart, something came back to my mind. Something I think everytime I visit. This final observation, probably has more to do with the dynamics of the town, and not Wal-Mart itself, but I have still noticed it.

What was it? Simply this: Each Wal-Mart has a different dress code. No, I'm not talking about, No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service (but I do think that if someone came in without shoes or a shirt at the C-view Wal-Mart they still might get served).

When I go into the "Big C" Wal-Mart, I cannot help but think this: "Boy, I'm so OVER dressed. " I feel like I'm at a football game wearing heels. I feet a bit out of place. Maybe it's country vs/ city living. I don't know. I just know that I notice it.

Let me explain:
In Crestview, people just go with whatever they have on at the time (including the children--I can't recall seeing a little girl in a smocked dress with a bow in her hair at Wal-Mart in C'view. Not saying it doesn't happen ever, I just can't recall seeing it) . People may wear their dirty work pants, their army fatigue (it's a military town), an old t-shirt and shorts. For the most part, nothing fancy or even semi-casual, but VERY casual.

To those who live in the "BIG C" please don't take offense to this, because I love this town and I like the thought that it doesn't matter if I have my hair and make-up perfectly done for a quick stop at the grocery store. I really do love it and miss it.

It's actually something that was hard for me to get used to when I moved away, especially when I moved to Mobile.

I know this may sound crazy to most of you, but in Mobile, I feel like I have to "dress-up" to go to Wal-Mart. Even in work-out clothes, people look "dressed-up" for the most part. When I go "dressed-down" I feel totally out of place like someone in jeans at a 5 star formal restaurant.

Hey, I did notice one thing that every Wal-Mart does have in common. They love to stock the shelves during the busiest part of the day. Well, let me rephrase that: "it seems like it doesn't matter when I go, they are always stocking."

Oh, and I think in the employee training video, they have a section titled: "Annoying ways to act when a customer gets in YOUR way when you are stocking. " Yes, indeed, we are in their way. I'm warning you, don't ask for something to be moved unless you want to help them practice one of the skills they learned in the said training video.

And, it is the one place you can go to have your eyes checked, nails and hair done and get your picture taken while the oil/tires are being changed in your car. And if it the car maintenance takes too long, you can finish your grocery shopping and have McDonald's or Little Ceasar's for lunch.

Am I really the only one who has noticed this? Okay, I'll go and look up that therapist number again.

We Are Back!

What you didn't know I was gone?

Oh well...

I didn't mention it this time to appease my dear husband.

Remember this post: Thank You!

The girls and I went to visit my mom for a few days. It's nice to see family, but it is ALWAYS nice to be back home.