Life is full of crazy stuff.  Especially when it happens to you.  One of my daughter’s best friends and who I consider my own, is battling Crohn’s Disease.  As part of her treatment she must inject herself, in her thigh, with the Humaira pen .  She calls me half laughing and half in excruciating  pain as she accidentally injected the injector pen in her thumb, as she was holding it upside.  It was her first time to inject herself so she was experimenting with the first one to make sure she did it correctly.  She said her thumb was three times it’s normal size and it hurt like the devil.   Of course,  I had to imagine the things that one would do with an oversized thumb.  In the dictionary Mr. Webster defines thumb as …the short, thick finger of the human hand, next to the forefinger, which can be used in opposition to the other fingers; pollex.  (Pollex is first digit of the forelimb).  First of all… you would be seen a lot sooner when hitch-hiking.  If you were an Aggie, you could gig’em with the best of them.  Can you imagine the size of the thumb hole in your bowling ball?  Little Jack Horner who sat in the corner would have stuck in his thumb and pulled out a pumpkin.  The saying “thumb up your ass” just reached a new perspective.  Anyway, we still both laugh about it and by the way, the second try was spot on! Please don’t get me started about what to do with an swollen thigh! For those suffering with Chohn’s …I have nothing but praise for your courage.  Ride,Baby,Ride!

Cell phones are now allowed at almost ever job site.  As long as you are not rude about talking in front of fellow employees or customers and not working equipment…it seems to be excepted.  It always cracks me up in church when people forget to mute them.  The ring sounds are a hoot.  The minister’s wife sat by me one Sunday and hers went off.  We were both in stitches.  She said her husband was going to kill her.  I told her I would have to agree!!!  I’ve always been leery of putting mine in my pocket.  I feel like bad rays are going through my body.  My friend Pat forgot she had put hers in her back pocket and was looking all over work for it.  She got on a regular phone and rang her cell number.  Such a thrill to feel your butt singing and vibrating.  Glad I wasn’t standing behind her…I would have dropped to the pavement laughing. 

Reading a new Nora Roberts book.  It’s the first book of her Guardians Trilogy.  “Stars of Fortune” is the title.  It is so entertaining.  Can’t wait to read them all.  Now I have books to read at the doctor’s office and on trips for awhile.  Along with my wine…just leave me be! 

Going to get blood work tomorrow and see the “Bev” on Friday.  Was supposed to see him this Wednesday but Bill has a dermatology appointment that day and timing was off.  It has already been postponed from when Houston flooded.  So please pray for great results.  Just my routine, every three month ordeal.  Always nervous before and always relieved afterwards.  

Love and Hugs!!!!
Ride,Baby,Ride!
Leilani

Anyone that has seen the news in the last few days know that we have had our hands full here in Texas.  Please stay safe.  “Turn around, don’t drown”!… Seems to be the rule of thumb.  As for Bill and me…our road out has been destroyed.  The heavy rains washed out a road that we use to get into town.  I was supposed to have blood work done yesterday but knew better than to even try.  I am supposed to go to work today but the county is waiting to fix the road because they need a shipment of some special type of rock.  If we get more rain it will completely be impassable.  

But with all the bad weather and life threatening events going on all over the state…Bill has managed to keep me entertained.  In fact several men have kept me entertained.  I was cleaning the floors and I hear the TV (which, of course , is blasting because Bill can’t hear) going from someone singing to a wartime scream to a basketball game to a woman laughing her ass off…..and I’m like what the hell is going on.  I walk in the den and Bill is sitting up in his recliner, sound asleep, snoring, with his finger on the channel changer.  Need I say more?  The man was actually snoring through weather alerts and all.

Meanwhile in South Carolina, TJ, my future son in law, is driving Lani nuts.  TJ went to play golf then he and the boys went out to play pool.  He calls Lani at almost midnight and says he’s on his way home.  He gets home after stopping at Sonic for ice cream.  He doesn’t want to wake Lani up so he lies down in the guest bedroom to watch TV and eat his ice cream.  Lani of course hears it all.  As everything goes silent she gets up and goes in to see what TJ is doing.  He is sound asleep with spoon in one hand and ice cream container propped up on his belly.  The ice cream was oozing toward the bed spread.  All of Lani’s friends at work told her she should have let him wear it.  But I’m like she…who has to clean the spread and his clothes when all is said and done.  I think he bought her flowers the next day.  Good choice.  No doghouse!

As you know, I’m working again.  The grocery store is the place to be amused anyway.   Men were not meant to go to the grocery store and travel the aisles with a weapon like a grocery cart.  I was up on a lift putting items on the top shelf and this dude comes blazing around the corner, runs into my lift and almost sends me flying through the air that even the best acrobat would be in awe.   His wife apologized for ten minutes and then lets him have it.  As he goes off she says “that’s the last time I bring him to the grocery store”.  A statement I hear all the time.  Men should have carts with extra equipment …you know cart accessories.  Rubber bumpers, horn, turn indicators, and of course there has to be some traffic signs to keep them on the correct side of the aisle. Wait forget horn..that would be a big mistake.  Three ladies waited one day for this guy to move his cart.  It was sitting right in the middle of the aisle while he was several yards ahead of it getting something off the shelf.  The man never looked up.  We were all laughing.  I told them that I get paid by the hour so I’ve got all day but y’all are on a schedule.  One lady says “men shouldn’t be allowed in the grocery store”, one of the other said “if that were my husband I’d give him a swift kick in the ass”.  I’d say if it were up to the women shoppers there would be many sore butts, bruised booties, and inflamed Hershey’s highways!!!!  Pastor Max said in his sermon Sunday …Colossians 3:19  “Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly”.  Well, after a trip to the grocery store with her …I hope he remembers that verse, because women can be persuasive in different ways.

Stay safe everyone and try to help others that are in need in this rough time in our neighborhoods.   I’ll keep y’all informed on blood work and Dr. Bevers visit tomorrow.  That is if I can get to the hospital for my appointment. 

Love and hugs,
Ride,Baby,Ride!
Leilani

Well, you can tell Spring is here.  The creepy crawlers are emerging from their winter hiding places and looking for food.  Several days ago Bill and I killed a 5 foot rat snake that crossed right in front of me as I drove in the front gate.  I called Bill on the cell phone and said get out here with a weapon of choice.  With a machete and shovel in hand we attack the snake.  Then…Dusty came out to work on a car and he and Bill were out by one of the sheds and I hear them having a fit.  I mean like a major ordeal.   A 4 1/2 ft. coral snake crawled right in front of them.  Dusty grabbed an axe and cropped it’s head off.  The head of the snake continued to crawl towards Bill.  It was so creepy.  But it was “red/yellow” together and not “red and black”.  In scouts we learned “red and yellow kill a fellow…red and black venom lack”.  I really don’t care as long as the asshole is no longer with us.  But when part of the snake is still attacking…that’s disgusting.   I really didn’t think a coral snake got that long.  But after researching it on the web, I see they can.  This must have been the granddaddy.  Ugh!

I made a decision….without the male influence.  I am so tired of excuses from certain gentlemen around here about how they can’t get the weed eater started.  Pulling the string a million times and throwing your back out.  Running out of gas and having to stop to go to the gas station.  And …the famous last words…I’ll do it in a little while.  I got on line and ordered an electric weed eater.  Free shipping and on sale.  Black and Decker, light weight and no parts to put together.  Lowe’s shipped it within four days and I was set.  I have been a weed eating little fool.  I’m having a blast with this thing.  Now, it’s oh let us do that.  You can work in the flower beds.  You can get on the riding mower.  Have a seat on the patio and drink a glass of wine and relax…that’s man’s work!  Wow…something so simple gets a man attention.  The yard is looking amazing and I’d like to thank Amy for helping with raking the leaves last winter.  I mulched over all the piles with the lawn tractor and we are all manicured.  Added several hibiscus and rose bushes and we are looking sharp.

The wild turkeys are hanging around.  They sun with the horses and travel around the property during the day hours and sleep up in the front yard tall pines at night.  They also are not embarrassed about putting their feathers in “full bloom” and mate every time we turn around.  So, it looks like another summer of “turkey porn”.   And, they like the wild bird feeders.  The poor birds and squirrels wait patiently for them to retreat back to the horse field so they can grab a bite to eat.  If the wild ones weren’t eating us out of house and home…now we feed the big, fat, turkeys!

I hope every one here in Texas is enjoying this wonderful weather.  It has been so fun for Bill and me to walk around the property and soak up the beauty.  For my friends up north..so sorry about the late snow.  Prayers out to you all.  Take care and stay blessed.

Love and hugs!
Ride,Baby,Ride!
Leilani

Good Morning!  I am happy to report that my undertaking a new job is actually working out rather well.  I am enjoying getting out of the house for a few days each week and fell great about earning a little side money to boot.  My new bosses have made it easy for me to adjust back into the Kroger family.  Thank you Stephanie for all your help with scheduling.  You have made it easy for me to request off for my doctor appointments and other related appointments.  And thank you Janie for your continued support.  I did work Easter Sunday and to my surprise we were hammered.  The store looked like an ant bed.  One reason was competitor HEB was closed for Easter.  And college kids, Texas Aggies,  coming back to school from Easter break.  It was a zoo!!!!!

In the meantime, Bill is coping with life without Leilani a few days each week.  He doesn’t hear the phone most of the time and I’m not here to answer it for him, so he spends his day watching movies or working out in the barn with the horses.  Still forbidden to use a ladder or a chain saw, his property activities are limited until I get home.  But like a good boy…he has my wine ready when I return.  When I work late he has critter duty.  The first night of feeding the foxes the skulk or leash (what they call a group of foxes)  were like who is that?  I hope they don’t try to communicate with him….Bill will never hear them.  When they talk to me it’s like in a low growl or purr.  And they circle the area where I throw their food.  They get so excited when it hits the ground.

Watching the wild turkeys this morning.  Out of the bunch there is always one dumb-ass!  He always gets lost from the others and makes all kinds of noises until he is reunited.  It drives Cleopatra crazy.  She looks at me like what the hell is wrong with that crazy looking bird?  When she was just a kitten she used to walk around the yard with them.  I wasn’t sure if she would remember from last summer but it seems like she is still is still part of their rafter.  (Rafter is what a group of turkeys is called).  Anyway this morning I went out to my Jeep for a few items and the rafter was in my flower bed right beside the drivers door.  I opened the door and one of them comes over to see what I was doing.  After explaining that my Jeep was off limits to him, in any way or form, he politely turned around and pooped right by my foot.  Thank you Lord for little favors.  

Lani and TJ are planning their 2017 wedding.  They will come back to Texas to get married.  I got on line and got them the information they will need to get a marriage license here in Texas.  They are planning a honeymoon in Hawaii.  I am so happy for them and know that they are perfect for each other.  So get ready Texas for a BIG Texas size party next March.

Bill and I hope everyone had a blessed Easter and we hope everyone has a great week.  Hope y’all didn’t mind the zoology lesson on the names of certain species groups names.  I always find that stuff fascinating.  A final thought….actress Katherine Hepburn once said “if you obey all the rules…you miss all the fun”. So my friends….break some rules and live! Ciao!!!! 

Love and Hugs,
Ride,Baby,Ride!
Leilani

Gee, where has time gone?  Sorry for the lull in blogs but many obstacles have been arising.  I did start back working at Kroger part-time to get back in the swing of things.  Taking it slow but very much enjoying the time working in the Natural Foods Department.  I guess I’m not used to being around things that are so healthy for you.  I get my exercise of body and mind in a few short hours several days a week. Bill has been driving me crazy with all sorts of activities. He starts a project then abandons it saying that the mower quit on him or the chain came loose or you won’t let me on the ladder…and on it goes.   I finally mulched all the leaves myself and rewarded myself with a nice Merlot.  

I also am saddened that a friend of ours had a massive stroke (in her forties) and the family finally had to take her off life support.  Jenny was a hard worker and great friend to many.  Bill and I met her when she was waiting tables at one of the local restaurants in Houston.  We started discussing my books and she informed me that her husband had committed suicide a year before and she was lost.  Blamed some of it on herself.  I gave her Ride,Baby,Ride! and told her to call me when she was finished.  I got a call the next day.  She said that she was so relieved of so many burdens after reading the book.  I was so touched at her honesty and commitment to kick her depression.  Over the years we communicated several times.  Usually when she thought she was slipping a bit.  And we always wound up laughing.  God bless you Jenny.  You are a beautiful angel now and are reunited with your love Chris.  Soar around Heaven with no worries and remember we love you.

Each person lives in their own time zone.  Your very own time zone.  Don’t let anyone try to remove you from your time zone.  That is your comfort zone…your space…the zone where you do things on your time.  Where you make your decisions, pick your friends, and live your life as you please.  It’s like when your conscience says “don'”t but that little asshole sitting on your shoulder says “go for it”.  Stay with what you are comfortable with.  I remember as a kid watching Walt Disney Presents and there would be a cartoon about Jiminy Cricket saying that “a conscience is that still small voice that people won’t listen to.  Go ahead make a fool of yourself.  Then maybe you’ll listen to your conscience.  Always let your conscience be your guide.  And if your heart is in your dream no request is too extreme”.  What awesome advise from a damn cricket!!!!!!!!!  Your conscience…your guide. I used to discuss this with Jenny often. 

But then again we need each other.  In church on Sunday my Pastor Max preached the beatitudes. One other point he made was 2Corinthians 1:4  He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.  We learn …then we can teach.  We need each other, we need familiar sounds, we need Mother Nature and we need to learn to give of ourselves.  In a John Updike quote he says, “Being human cannot be borne alone.  We need other presences. We need soft night noises.  We need a mother speaking downstairs; we need the little clicks and sighs of a sustaining otherness”.   

Coming home from work I was listening to a show on the radio.  There were some cancer doctors talking about diet.  Some things that you should add to your diet to help detour cancer.  Vitamin C, almonds, shellfish, avocados, chili peppers, strawberries, and broccoli just to name a few.  They also said to walk as much as possible.  (Bill was asking if the diet included Crown Royal.  I told him it would include red wine before that).  Wish is definitely in my cancer diet!!!!  These foods that are supposed to help the chemo work better and also during your cancer free time help the body keep the cancer cells at bay.  There are many other fruits and veggies, so keep up the faith and help the body to heal and stay healthy.

Love and hugs to you all.
Ride,Baby,Ride! 
Leilani

This must be a time in my life cycle that God has given me extra strength and knowledge.  I think there is a special word for it in Yoga or when studying the Dalai Lama.  I actually have evened out my basic thoughts and have done things I’ve been wanting to do for a long time.  Since God has chosen to give me time in which I thought I wouldn’t have …I’ve decided to jump into some long time goals.  Will continue to draw and paint, begin working on book three, and get a part time job to keep me busy and extra spending money.  I just want to hold on till it’s time to go and always keep that child in me. 

Cleopatra and I were out on the back porch just goofing off.  All of a sudden this 40 pound bug swooped down and actually tried to dive bomb us.  Thank goodness someone in their right mind invented something called a screen.  After it hit the screen it bounced off and hit the ground about six feet down.  After further analysis, I came to conclusion that it was a stink bug.  And when you got close enough to it you knew why.  OMG, it’s disgusting.  As a kid at girl scout camp I remember catching them and throwing them in other kids tents.  Remember…keep the child in you!

Bill and I just got back from a small jaunt to Bossier City.  Our house sitter took care of things here.  Was great seeing our old friends again.  Had a comp for three nights and a free lobster buffet.  Well worth the trip.  And we actually broke about even….so all in all, a great trip.  Got back before the big storms hit.  Bill has gone into blackjack withdrawal.  I just make sure he has plenty to do.  Plenty to do that is that doesn’t involve a ladder or chain saw!  Made a beef stew in the slow cooker last night.  So we have been chowing down on that all day.  Since Bill is a meat and potato guy, he was very happy.  All kinds of little side tracks to keep his mind off the casino!

Making my way to my notebook to start on chapter ideas for book three.  I’ll keep y’all up to date on the progress.  This one will not be blog thoughts although in my mind a thought is a thought no matter what form you write it in.  There are so many amazing things that I have encountered but telling them in a way that someone would feel that they could be standing in my shoes is the challenge. 

Have a great week and be careful.  Praying for you all. 

Blessings,
Ride,Baby,Ride!
Leilani

Life really does travel in circles.  Modern technology plays a huge role in this but never the less it does happen.  We can look up old friends and chat on Facebook, Twitter etc.  We can call anyone anywhere in the world on a cell phone.  Lately, I have run into old friends from my 13 years at Kroger (1995-2008).  I had to step down because dad needed me at home.  Then within two years I was battling ovarian cancer and could not return to any work.  After dad passed and I was stuck with nothing to do except fight for my life…I wrote two books.  After lots of thought, I have decided to return to work.  Nothing great, just extra time on my hands and something part-time.  As it goes…I am going back to the Kroger Co. but in a whole different capacity.  I will be in Nature’s Market.  No kids to keep under control and no closing manager duties.  Just make Nature’s Market  the best it can be.  This still gives me time to write and raise money for ovarian cancer research. 

 Bill is hanging in there.  Had blood work done last week and discovered his Triglycerides was high so he is in a full blown tail spin as I had to remove Milk Duds from his diet.  Cutting back on carbs, especially potatoes, is not something that Bill will enjoy for very long.  The final blow was his Honey Nut Cheerios.  Didn’t eliminate them entirely but no longer in the daily routine.  Acting just like a little kid asking me before something goes in his mouth  if it’s allowed. 

My port cleaning is tomorrow.  So, we will do that and probably go to lunch afterwards.  Tuesday is double punch day at Willie’s .  Always a fun place to dine.  And great food.  Then we will run the usual errands and head home.  Bill will be able to get a nice grilled chicken salad.  It’s only funny cause he loves their hamburger and fries.  Not any more!

A tree fell in the back acreage but is not blocking anything and did not fall on a fence so no damage done.  I’m hiding the chain saws from Bill until Dusty or Casey gets here to chop it up.  As you know, the ladders are already off limits.  The list just keeps getting longer.  He stepped on Chico’s tail a few days ago and poor Chico was just sitting there looking up at him like …you do know you are perched on my appendage!   Chico didn’t make a sound.  He just slowly pulled it out from under Bill’s foot.  Events around this place never cease to amaze me. 

Prayers out to Peggy, Olivia, Sonia, and Gwen.  Wishing God’s love to all of you.  You are in my prayer jar and please know I pray for you.  Congratulations to my son Dusty and Amy who is expecting a little boy in July.  Ultra sound looks like we have a healthy one.  If he’s anything like his daddy they are in for a real treat.  They were thinking about the name Dustin Junior…..I said “please don’t do that to that poor kid”!  LOL

Love and Hugs,
Ride,Baby,Ride!
Leilani

Everything happens for a reason.  I’ve always said that.  Mom used to say everything happens in threes.  I believe that too.  Some crazy stuff has gone on this month and in more than threes.   Amy, who I consider a daughter, lost her grandfather, a grandmother and a neighbor within three days.  Two of my childhood swimming buddies from Dad’s Club passed on the same day.  I get a text from one of my doctors asking me to contact one of his patients who is need of TLC.  I’ve had six friends that either had surgery or became ill within the last week.  February is the month I lost, in 2013, my father and my daughter in law Michele and unborn infant.  So, it seems to me February is getting kinda creepy.   Chin up, grin and bear it, cheers and all that good stuff only goes so far.  The thing that gets us through it all is our faith.  So God’s little challenges, that seem to be huge nightmares to us, will only make us stronger.  Keep the faith!

The days here have been beautiful.  Bill and I have spent afternoons out on the back porch.  I read a lot but I have read more in the past few weeks than usually normal.  We opened the office window and Cleopatra can go in and out of her room and get fresh air on the back porch whenever she wants.  The QUEEN is really the queen now.  Chico goes in and out his doggy door and usually suns most of the day unless one of the nine hundred squirrels gets his attention.  It’s only when they tempt him within 6 feet that he is amused.  We have about 25 cardinals at the back feeder and about that many at the front one.  Bill fell asleep in his porch rocker and Cleo jumped in his lap almost sending them both through the screen.  If Bill was going to have a heart attack…it would have been then.  I, however, laughed my ass off.  I would have been ticked off if they had knocked over my wine.  However, Bill did not spill one drop of his beer.

Well, Bill is home with a load of hay.  That’s my cue to go to work.  Before I go I want to mention this:  I appreciate all the book sales.  Ride,Baby,Ride! and They’re Pistols and They’re Loaded!,  I pray they are helping many cope with life’s little crazies.  If you know of anyone who needs a lift please buy them one of the books.  The Leilani Essary Hurles Ovarian Cancer Research Fund is there to help find cures for cancer.  Book sales, after printing cost, go to the fund.  So, you are helping not only a person in need of TLC but a donation to help fight cancer.  If you would like the book signed please purchase through this website.  Or contact me if you’d like to mail a check .  The books are also available at Amazon, Barnes and Nobel, and on E-books.  OK, enough of this but I’ve had several inquires about this and want to make sure the word gets out.  Don’t forget you may mail a donation to MD Anderson directly but make sure you write on it that it is for the Leilani Essary Hurles Ovarian Cancer research Fund or it will go to anything from building maintenance to new linens.  More info on this website under “A Giving Thought”.

Love and Hugs!
Ride,Baby,Ride!
Leilani

Sorry for the short delay for the Monday update.  Bill and I have been out having fun.  We went to Bossier City for the Super Bowl Party and had a blast.  Bill did his thing at blackjack and I tackled the three card poker.  And for a change we brought more back than what we took.  Needless to say, like most people we are usually donating to the cause.  The Super Bowl Party the hotel put on was really nice.  Leave it to the Caesar’s Entertainment group to pull a humdinger.  We got comps on the hotel stay and on our meals.  So, besides the tipping, which everyone deserved, we spent nothing.  They even gave us a $20. gift to play on a table game.  I stuck it on red at roulette and won.  So instead of a voucher …I had $20 bill.  As always, met many nice people.  The Super Bowl squares we bought at various bars around town…did not pay off.  The quarter where the panther’s field goal was missed cost us $625.00.  We had five $20.squares and 10 $5.00 squares, and two with the lucky numbers on them.  Oh well,  it was fun trying.   Thanks to Amy, our wonderful house sitter who loves our babies as much as we do and always comes up with a little surprise for us when we arrive home.  Also, a thanks to my boys for being there to help out when we travel.

Of course we can’t travel without a Bill story…or two.  It was amusing to watch him standing in the bathroom buck naked trying to figure out the foreign plumbing equipment.  If he had not been undressed I would have videoed it.  I was “on the floor”.  Finally after messing with it for a few minutes the shower was activated and so was Bill.  The next step was figuring out how to get the water warm.  So with ice hanging from various parts of the body, he finally figured out the warm direction. There was no hot /cold arrow directions due to the fact it was some kind of exotic handle.  You can’t make this stuff up!

Bill continues to have hearing issues and it becomes very comical for the dealers.  If I’m at the table I usually am the interpreter.  That is until one of the dealers has the same problem.  The entire table was in stitches.  Now this one you really had to be there.  There is no describing this experience.  But trust me…two grown men using “poker” sign language is really something to see.  I’m sure all the security camera guys were very amused.

Prayers out to a new fighter of cancer…Sonia…a patient of Dr. Cook’s.  So to my prayer warriors please send TLC prayers to Sonia.  Also, Gwen, made it through reversal surgery with flying colors.  Got the intestines hooked back up and ready now to poop like a normal person.  I remember how excited I was to get rid of my bag…Izzie.  (For those who have the books…you know who Izzie is).  Thanks Dr. Bevers…you are the best.  Dear God, bless those who are in need of Your love….wrap Your strong arms around them.

Put three fajita seasoned breasts in the slow cooker overnight.  Going to have pulled chicken sandwiches today for lunch or a nice salad topped with pulled chicken.  Decisions, decisions!  The smell has been driving us crazy all morning.  So, may the rest of your week be safe and blessed.  Hugs and love!

Ride,Baby,Ride! 
Leilani