But all I have is this goat....

My husband and I recently vacationed in the Caribbean with my brother-in-law and sister-in-crime....I mean, sister-in-law. Let's just say she has an adventurous spirit!

This was technically a 'working vacation' which is great as long as I am not the one actually working! And I was not. So one my SIL suggests that we venture out on our own and do some sight-seeing while the while the guys work. Sounds easy enough except for the fact that I have never driven on the opposite side of the road much less in a foreign country. Apparently, on the island, the yellow line down the middle of the road is simply for decoration!

Nevertheless...we were on our way....map in her hand, steering wheel in mine. Two girls with no sense of direction but the assurance of the concierge that all roads eventually lead you back to the beginning. Kiss, kiss to the boys and we were ready for adventure.

There are so many stories I could share....backing the car onto the ferry (another first), coming face to face with a herd of wild goats on a walking path, snorkeling with stingrays and sea turtles, going behind a wall that said "DO NOT ENTER" because curiosity just got the best of us (and it was well worth the peek I might add!). But I just want to share the story of a man and his goat named Madonna.

As we were on our way back home we rounded a corner on the two lane road and there, on the side of the road, stood a tall, thin, raggedly dressed man with the biggest toothless smile I'd ever seen waving us over, offering us a parking space beside the most breathtaking view of the ocean. And he was holding a tiny goat. Yes...a goat. There were other people already there taking in the scene so we figured it was safe. Besides...he had a goat!

As we got out of our car he handed me his goat and said, 'her name is Madonna...let me take your picture with her". Who could resist? He then began enthusiastically sharing with us the history of the island....where Sir Francis Drake had sailed, he pointed to a house across the way where President Bill Clinton had stayed, he shared his first hand knowledge and years of story of his island. And when he finished my SIL and I tipped him generously and thanked him for his time.

We drove away thinking....wow, this is how this man makes his living. The more I thought about that man and his goat the more I admired his sense of entrepreneurship. While people complain about their circumstances and think of all they DON'T have and how unfair life can be, this man said 'if all I have is a goat and a story I can make a living'. And honestly, at least in my mind, I think if you asked him would he like to trade what he does for a high paying job in a cement-city he would say...."Are you crazy? Madonna and I wouldn't trade our little piece of peace in paradise for anything. Life is good, mon."

Yes indeed....life IS good, mon.

DON'T!!

Wow...these guys really understand how to make a relationship...well, simply magical.

The Secret to a Great Marriage? Great SOCKS!

Socks. Yep....I love him because he wears socks.

You may be saying..."I'm not even going to read any further because everyone wears socks and that is a lame reason to say you love someone - socks....whatever. And besides....I thought you meant SEX." BUT...last night as we were getting into bed I simply said "my feet are so cold" and without hesitation my hubby said "ok, I'll wear my socks".

The thing is - even if I wear socks my feet don't get warm but if HE wears them then my feet get to snuggle up with his and for some reason they just get toasty warm. He knows that....he knows me!

As silly and insignificant as it may seem these are the things that love causes you to do. It's the wink he gives you across the room that says 'you look so good', it's the note left on the mirror, it's choosing his favorite steak restaurant when you really want Mexican......and it's definitely good socks!

Morning People....or Not!

I think I'm a pretty nice person. I get along with almost everyone and just love life in general. But it takes a little time in the morning before "I" actually come to life and this generally 'nice person' wakes up. I am NOT what people refer to as a 'Morning Person'. I'm not mean - at least I don't think I am. The real problem is I can't form complete sentences before I have my coffee. Yes...I'm one of those, thanks to my grandmother who started letting me have 'coffee milk' at her house when I was about three years old. It was about 2/3 cup of milk and 1/3 cup coffee and lots of sugar!!

My incredibly thoughtful (and wise) hubby gets the coffee ready before we even go to bed at night so all I have to do is push a button and coffee begins brewing. OR...if we know for sure what time we're getting up he will even set the timer and I awaken to the wonderful aroma of freshly brewed coffee. I know he does this because he loves (or maybe it's purely out of self-defense but I'm going to say it's the love thing,)

Here's my issue - I like French Vanilla creamer in my coffee. So, if the people who make this wonderful product know it is for people who will be putting it in their coffee AND that a lot of their customer base cosists of people who are NOT 'morning people' WHY OH WHY OH WHY would they change their container design WITHOUT attaching some kind of warning on the label? A simple statement that says "Hey friends...before you pour that first cup in the morning please take notice that we have redesigned this bottle and you will now have to open it in the complete OPPOSITE direction than you have been doing for years." I am a nice person....I am a nice person....I must remember....I am a nice person....please put the knife down....I am really a nice person!

He still makes my heart race!

I married a Yankee - I know.....what was I thinking? I guess I was thinking...."hey...this guy totally speaks my language (minus the Texan drawl)".

But then the differences became obvious. He like the Cleveland Browns, I was a die-hard Dallas Cowboy fan. He's 6'5" - I'm 5'2". He wore suits to work.....I lived in jeans and flip flops. Rest assured, they were always cute jeans and fancy flips ....you know, the kind with sparkly things and bright colors. But as newlyweds you don't necessarily notice those differences at first....well, I did notice the height difference but the other things we just so cute. **sigh**

I'm here to tell you what true love is all about. Adapting. Not so much compromising because that pretty much means meeting in the middle somewhere - but learning what the other one likes and making some changes. WHAT ( I hear you !) ?? Isn't that just a slap in the face of the 21st century woman? Haven't we worked our tightly toned tushes off to achieve equality? Why would we want to start giving in to what the man likes again?? Well.....maybe because HE LIKES IT!!

But it's a two way street. There were things I liked too. And then one day it happened. My suit wearing, northern boy came struttin' out of our bedroom wearing (oh...I can hardly think about it without my heart racing) blue jeans, a white button down shirt and cowboy boots!! And I was smitten all over again....not just because he looked SO DARN GOOD but because I knew he did it just for me. Now that's what true love is all about.

I say "Let the Sun Shine"!

Have I mentioned I'm from the South or...did I really even need to? :-)

I love the south but I must confess that the heat can be a bit of a challenge at times. Southern Belles don't say we 'sweat'...we say 'we're glistening'. And we like to have a mint julep in our hands if we are.

But I am considering reviving this trend from a by-gone era ~ the Parasol!

Beauty and functionality all in one! Now...where did I put that invitation to the Garden Party?

Is there such thing as "Too much of a Good Thing"?

I believe that life is all about balance and that 'too much of a good thing' is probably a valid statement - although I am not sure it applies to the weather but then again, I live in a state that actually has seasons. So maybe if I did live in a place where it was 78 degrees year round with no humidity to make my hair do the exact opposite of what I want it to do then maybe I would make a seemingly irrational statement like "ya know..you really can get too much of a good thing - I think I'd like to live in place where it's so hot in the summer that your shadow sweats."

So I was listening to a radio program (Ok..it was on NPR - yes, sometimes I listen to NPR and so do you and you know it!) where they were interviewing Paula Deen - I woman I admire because she loves real butter and uses it not sparingly which is why her Pound Cake will be served in heaven. BUT... I heard her describe something that I'm pretty sure even if I did my "Hip Hop Abs Cardio Burn" workout DVD four times a day for an entire month I would still not be able to work off the calorie packed, carb filled, deep-fried damage. It's called "The Lady's Brunch Burger". And here is the recipe just in case you're having the girls over soon:

Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
3 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley leaves
2 tablespoons grated onion
House Seasoning, recipe follows
2 tablespoons butter
3 eggs
6 slices bacon, cooked
3 KRISPY KREME DONUTS (YES...you read correctly)

Directions:
Mix the ground beef, chopped parsley and grated onion together in a large mixing bowl. Season liberally, with House Seasoning. Form 3 hamburger patties.

Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and spray with non-stick cooking spray.

Add the burgers and cook until desired temperature, 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium-rare.

Fry bacon in a hot pan until crisp. Remove and drain on paper towels. Set aside.

While burgers are cooking, heat a non-stick pan, over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons butter. Crack 3 eggs into the pan. Cook until the yolks are just set and still slightly runny and remove.
Place burger patties on glazed donuts, as the buns. Top each burger with 2 pieces of bacon and a fried egg.

Yes, friends.....that is what TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING looks like!