Smile When You Say That, Pardner!

Have y'all missed me bunches? I sure have missed y'all! I just have to tell you how overwhelmed I was by the comments left by all of you. Y'all are just the best and I sure hope y'all know what I'm doing...'cause I don't have a clue! I have wrote a working outline and several pages, but the research is whupping this chubby lady. It's a little more involved than I could have ever dreamed, but I'm loving it...just like I love all of you for believing I can do it!

Speaking of love...I got this award from Trish at The Domestic Fringe several days ago and I wanted to post about it before time got away from me. For those of you who are familiar with my posts, you know I just love to read her blog. It's one of my musts for laughing and crying. She's my Erma Bombeck and her take on life and family just knocks me out. According to her, I'm supposed to list ten things that make me smile and then list ten other bloggers who I think deserve this award as well. So let's get started...what do you say?

First off, we can just go ahead and check off number one as being Tricia. Like I said...one of my favorite reads and I owe her one for saying I'm sweet. My family got a big kick out of that and Cat Daddy remarked how much he liked reading her fiction!

Second, my trashettes can always get a smile outta me quicker than a cat can lick his whiskers! 'Course y'all knew that, right? Graycie informed me over the holidays I have style! (High praise from a seven year old, I gotta tell you!) After much thought she added she must have got her sense of style from me! Oh law...I didn't know Hannah Montana and I had the same personal stylist!

Third...Cat Daddy! Need I say more? It's either laugh or go crazy in this house, so I choose laughter.

Fourth...clean sheets are a must. Not to go all Oprah on y'all, but I could change our sheets everyday (if I had enough)! I love the crisp feel of fresh sheets...sans wrinkles!

(~Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been.~Mark Twain)

Fifth...a fifth...just kidding! Although y'all know I love a good dirty martini and if it's made with Belvedere with ice crystals floating on top AND a couple of almond stuffed olives...you're gonna see a big ol' smile on this face!

Sixth...early morning quiet. I love getting up when it's still dark outside and sitting in the silence. It's the only time my mind is my own. Once the sun is up...thoughts crowd in and then it's a race to stay focused, but for just a few brief hours each morning I am clear as a bell. (Note to self...try writing in the wee hours of the morning.)

Seventh...performances by children. There is nothing as entertaining as watching kids sing, dance, and act with no inhibitions. Seriously, if your kids are ever in a talent show and you have an extra ticket...I'll take it! They are fearless with their talents and don't care who is listening or watching. It's a shame adults can't be the same way (except for those poor delusional fools on American Idol!). Think how much we could accomplish if we weren't so worried about what others might think.

Eighth...Yellow Boxes! I am the walking poster child for these flip flops and if there is one thing I hate most about winter...it's that I can't wear my YB's. Psst!...Actually I can and do...but I sure get a lot of funny looks!

Ninth...matching underwear! I don't have any, but if I did, it sure would make me smile! There was a time long ago and far away, when all my lingerie matched...but time and gravity have separated me from my Victoria's Secret catalog. I shouldn't say I don't have any...it's just white cotton Hanes are not what dreams are made of...although they sure are comfy! Besides undies have changed over the last twenty years! I've spent a lifetime trying to keep my underwear outta there...now I'm expected to pay good money to put it there on purpose...you gotta be kidding me!

Tenth and last, but certainly not least...birthday/wedding cake. I love the taste and will go and buy one just because I can. Why should I have to wait for a special occasion? I'll even tell 'em to write a name on it...just for fun...anybody's name...I don't care...just as long as there is white cake and butter cream frosting under that name!

Now I am to list ten bloggers who make me smile. Heck, I can do better than that! I'm picking the 55 who made me smile and cry just by leaving a comment on my previous post. Right now...at this moment...y'all have made me happier than the law allows. Can you see my big ol' toothy grin? Thank you so much!

Well, as Cat Daddy likes to say...time to go to work! I'll be checking in again real soon! In the meantime, see if y'all can stay out of trouble 'til I get back!