Who would have thought? Snow in Myrtle Beach!

There was an odd lack of hype about impending snow in the Grand Strand yesterday, but that may have been because today was a scheduled student holiday from school. Regardless, by 9:00 AM, the snow was coming down and accumulating on grass and cars. It was the most snow I've seen here since we relocated more than five years ago!

As you can expect, my children were so excited. They still are, actually, despite the fact that it hasn't been snowing for hours now. My little one has this very firm connection between white precip and hot chocolate, so as soon as my 3:00 meeting concludes I will happily whip her up a batch. Williams Sonoma's chocolate shaving variety is to die for!

What humors me most about all of this, is the northerner's attitude on this major weather event. "I can drive just fine in it, but won't dare get on the roads because no one here knows how. It's dangerous how stupid people are." News flash, folks. Practically nobody living here is from here. We ALL grew up driving in winter weather. It's idiots who get a little too confident in their ability that put the rest of us at risk. So word to the wise...if you have to venture out, use caution no matter how experienced you are in driving on snow. And by all means, if the media asks you how you feel about traveling during inclimate weather, resist the urge to let the world know you're from PA, have seen thousands of feet of snow in your lifetime and can handle the conditions even if all of those living around you can not. You don't look so smart.

Moms say the darnedest things

I was talking to my 19 year-old niece on the phone last night. It seems she and my mom were out shopping at Old Navy when into the dressing room walks a couple, who end up sharing a room. I'll assume no hanky panky went on, but before they left, evidently my mom whispered a tad too loudly, "I didn't know they had bisexual dressing rooms here!" Umm, that would be unisex, mom. Bisexual is a whooooooooole 'nother thing. ;-)

Thoughts on the inauguration...

What a historic day. I didn't vote for him, but the passion folks feel for Barrack Obama and the potential he holds to make real change for American citizens and those around the world is real. They hope they rest on his shoulders is huge. And while I hold my breath in anticipation of seeing what the next four years bring, I too can't help but to be swept up in the emotion of it all.

President Obama is a likeable man. He's an excellent speaker with powerful words. From his mouth to God's ears, I pray they go. May he really be able to make meaningful changes.

God Bless America!

Now while it's obvious I'm of no African American decent, I'm proud of being one today. LOL I couldn't be happier or more proud of a nation that has been able to see beyond color, which when determining ability, goodness, integrity or character is the most insignificant detail. I pray his leadership convinces those who hang on their biases how useless that emotion and energy spent are.

MM for 1/13/09 - Absent tonsils and adenoids

On this day, 25 years ago I had my tonsils and adenoids removed and tubes put in my ears. It was a decision that wasn't taken lightly by my parents. My pediatrician at the time didn't believe in this surgery. He felt it had been done needlessly in years prior and wasn't that useful of a surgery. I'll estimate, by the age of 9, I had at least ten cases of strep throat and minimally 25 ear infections. My health was bad and my parent decided, on their own, that it was time to see a specialist. Within a few weeks, I was scheduled for surgery.

On the day of it, I was so nervous I developed a fever and the date had to be rescheduled. Then, on January 13, 1984, Dr. SomethingWithAnF helped me out quite a bit. It hurt like hell and I wasn't terribly thrilled at the time, but I haven't had strep throat since!

So thank you, Doc. And ironically, on this day this year, my older daughter is home with school with...drumroll...double ear infections. :-(

MM for 1/12/09 - My mom

My heart aches for friends who don't have a close relationship with their mom as mine is priceless to me. We were on the phone talking about my daughter's upcoming birthday party. Admittedly, I was grumpy because things just weren't working out perfectly. Her response, "Don't worry honey, God will bless you." She's not normally so outwardly religious, but she made me think. I'm already blessed. A good birthday party is just icing on my cake of blessings.