I’ve learned at my age that some things constitute a great day and some things can make the day the “pits”.  I started jotting down the things that just tickle the crap out of me vs. the things that sent me into a tail spin.  I would have to say at the top of my list is not having to use half a roll of toilet paper when I poop.  Laugh if you want but most of my days since the colon surgery I go through lots at one sitting.  And I poop every time something goes in…something comes out.  I guess that’s a good thing but a pain in the ass at the same time.  Np pun intended.   If I wake up with no facial hair…it’s a good day.  Plucking wild hairs has become a priority when leaving the house.  Heaven forbid go to the grocery store and look like Yeti’s mate.  Where DO they come from?  Did they missed the top of the head the mark?  As I continue to age …certain parts of the body sag a bit.  A day when I find clothing that hides certain flabby places is a good day.  Bras that “lift and separate” are a must.  But they can’t be too tight under the arms and around the back or I discover skin I didn’t know I had.  Swimming muscles have stayed rather firm.  I still lift weights and try to keep half way in shape.  But certain tops do not flatter my arms.  The right top…a great day.  So after putting myself together I’m ready to roam the streets.  I just take a purse big enough to fit a roll of “ass wipe” in.  

Got to visit with cute Dr. Adam Czelusta.  Bill and I had our appointments at the same time as to save a trip into Katy.  Bill had his six month check up and I had my yearly body scan with Adam’s magnifying glass.  You might remember from one of my books that Adam is the only doctor that I ever had that looks at the who-who through a mag glass.  Not even “the Bev”..aka Dr. Bevers, heads “down under” with a mag glass.  But all checked out well and I will see him again on next years check up.  Bill, on the other hand, had to give to samples of skin.  One from his bald spot on top of his head and the other off his ear.  The biopsies results should be back in a few days.  If you are looking for a good dermatologist…check out Dr. Czelusta at Katy Dermatology.  

  Woke up to ice on the ramps this morning.  Not much but just enough to break your butt if you fell.  We were to take Chico to the vet this morning to get his yearly blood work to renew his Heart Guard.  Had to postpone until this afternoon.  I’m sure he hopes it stays iced all day.  It’s already almost 10 AM and ice still coats the ramp.  Bill had to go out the side stairs where there was no ice to feed the horses.  He started out the back door and I said “if you go that way and break something you’re driving yourself to the hospital”.  Starr slipped by him and slid down the ramp and I had to go out the side door and pick her up to get her back in. Nothing hurt …thank goodness.  She thinks she’s six instead of sixteen. 

Got my haircut by good friend Velma.  She cut my hair then we went to Pappadeaux’s for seafood and wine.  Had it cut a little shorter in back where it tends to get bushy.  But I’m really enjoying the straight hair that mother nature has decided to give me after all the years.  I guess chemical changes either to do with age or chemo.  Velma has cut my hair for 33 years now and I always get compliments with her styling talents. I need something to make this “mug” look better!

Painting is going well.  Experimenting still.  But I am pleased with the progress.  Not ready for the Louvre but not in the trashcan either.  Bill has learned not to ask what it is that I’m painting after his first debacle.  Wise choice on his part.  Dusty likes my horses and my crab.  A son with great taste.  

Hope everyone stays warm.  For those who have contacted me …I pray for great results on all your tests and chemo sessions.  God bless you all.

Hugs and Love,
Ride,Baby,Ride! and Keep Those Pistols Loaded!
Leilani  

As everyone knows I am a chocolate lover.  In fact it’s just about the best thing in the whole world.  And as most of my friends know I follow all the UFO and Ghost Adventure Shows on the tube.   Well, I received a special surprise the other night while letting Chico out for a late night potty break.  This unusual light was flitting around the sky as I was munching on my Oreo’s.  I watched in amazement and amusement as the bright light went one way stop and then go another direction.  This…believe it or not, was not while consuming a wine.  In fact I had not had an alcoholic beverage at all that day.  Maybe that’s why…I was hallucinating because I needed a wine.  It took off as I finished my last cookie.  I would have said a drone or something but it was up with the stars.  So I can now say that there is something going on up there.  Unless of course someone put something in my Oreo’s!

My next topic is on volunteering.  I am all for helping out on causes and projects that I believe in.  Recently I volunteered to be in charge of something.  It turned out I was just in charge of signing people up for an Italian Valentine’s dinner.  I had so many ideas on decorating and music for a beautiful evening.  My bubble was burst as I watched a wonderful opportunity fade away.  I have decided that I will no longer “be in charge” of anything like that again.  I’m too much of a perfectionist and too easy going to stress out with some peoples attitudes.  It’s kinda like…put me in charge …and step aside.  OK now that’s off my chest.  I’m good.

I have some ideas about my new hobby.  Well, not new, but picking it up again.  Painting….or attempting to paint has always intrigued me.  Mom was so good at it and I will never have the talent she had with the paintbrush.  But I have been sketching and dabbling with other things and I think I’m ready to paint.  Bill is wondering what the hell is wrong with me…but I’m sure he’s been wondering that for years.  I once ask him what he thought of one of my drawings and the first thing out of his mouth was “what is it”?  It took him 3 weeks to recover.  I don’t think he can father children any more!  So, I’ll keep you posted on my progress.

There are three things that are on my sh_t list this week…besides cancer…and they are the weather, the county road service, and dumb-ass drivers.  The weather is driving us crazy.  And you know from a previous blog that the turning on and off of fans, AC, and heat is putting Bill in the psycho ward.  At least we aren’t in Boston.  I think I would probably move.  The county has been grating the roads to help with the pot holes.  Only they have made them worse.  Let me get on “that thing” and I’ll show ya how it’s done.  Out in the country we are stuck with dirt/sandy shell roads.  My Jeep, although maroon in color, stays a crappy brown.  Half the time I can’t see out the back window.  If it rains …it’s muddy.  If it’s dry…it’s dirty.  And last but not least asshole drivers.  I have learned to just get out of their way.  They pull out right in front of you when you are traveling at 50 mph.  The other day I was pulling into a parking spot …with my blinker on and some one pulls right in from BEHIND me on a motorcycle.  I’m not getting involved with anyone that looked like this guy so I went to another grocery store all together.  After what happened to that poor woman and her daughter in Las Vegas…I didn’t even feel like shopping anymore.  

I would like to send our condolences to a good friend of mine..Jeep Judy.  Judy, Bill and I are so sorry for the lost of your hubby Mike.  49 years of marriage is quite an accomplishment and I know you will miss him dearly.  Cancer is a horrible thing and we just have to find a cure soon.  You and the family are in our prayers and know that Mike is in the loving arms of our Lord.  What a great place to be.  We love you.

And another shout out to friend Robin on the loss of her brother.  Prayers sent your way as well.

Have a wonderful week.  I send blessings to you all.
Ride,Baby,Ride! and Keep Those Pistols Loaded!
Leilani

Veni vidi vici… Latin for I came, I saw, I conquered…or something like that.  Julius Caesar wrote that to the Roman Senate back in 46 BC.  A swift and conclusive victory.  Well, this week has been one of those moments.  Getting back into the swing of things after vacation, for filling obligations, community projects, church Valentine Italian Dinner, doctor appointments, housework and laundry after a vacation period of neglect.  But it’s done!  Veni, vidi, vici! 

Airing out the house to get ready for spring cleaning is about to drive Bill, Chico and Starr crazy.  When I get into that “get out of my way cleaning mode”, it’s wise to get ready to get your butt out of my path and scatter.  My Shark vacuum knows no mercy.  Oh, and neither does it’s driver.  If you are in it’s way …you are toast!  Starr stared in shock as one of her hidden dog treats was in a tornadic swirl inside the vacuum blender.  Not to mention Bill’s lottery ticket which had blown off his desk.  All was being battered in plain view it’s desperate victims.  Chico hides.  He gets that look on his face like here comes that crazy machine again.  And the eyes that say ..grandma …why are you putting me through this again?  It’s the one time a week that I feel in total power.  Me and my Shark!

The continuous turning of the AC on and the next day off…  then the heat on and off…then nothing on but ceiling fans, is driving us all nuts.  Having to reverse the fans to rotate the opposite direction every other day is high on Bill’s “I’m going to shoot a fan” day.  I have to mention that Bill’s duties consist of ceiling fan duty, scooping horse poop out of the barn when necessary, and retrieving the mail with Chico.  He and Chico are also in charge of critter control and burning tree limbs.  A man, his dog and his shotgun. And they still don’t mess with me and my Shark!  But this is all part of south/central Texas weather that we deal with in all seasons.

My new project while airing out the house is using up the food in the freezer.  Every six months it’s freezer spring and fall cleaning as well.  I love my crock pots.  So twice a year Bill gets a smorgasbord of dishes that had been ignored.  Sunday, it was boneless pork ribs with cabbage.  Yesterday it was beef stew and tomorrow will be chicken casserole of some kind.  We are big on salads so our veggies don’t last long.  And every time I cook big….my sons seem to show up out of the blue.  Radar, ESP, or whatever you want to call it….here they come.  It especially happens with spaghetti and lasagna.  The other is my chicken and noodle soup which they whine for when they don’t feel good.  But, I really enjoy cooking for all of them.

Sold several books while in Las Vegas.  Looking forward to hearing from my new friends to see what they thought about them.  And for all of you asking, I am taking notes and writing down ideas for book # 3.  Poor Dr. Bevers is probably scared to see what shows up in this one.  I am really pushing the aspect of a better understanding of ovarian cancer.  More emphasis on symptoms and risk factors.  Every cancer is different and so is the individual.  Hereditary input and so on. And the male factor.  Males carry the gene as well.  So, I think this book it will be a great tool in understanding the “silent killer”.

Have a wonderful “hump day” and live life to it’s fullest.  Embrace your family and friends…and give a shout out to God.  He’s there for you!

Ride,Baby,Ride! and Keep Those Pistols Loaded!
Leilani

Las Vegas should be named “loss wages”.  But this time we were a little lucky.  Bill even found $200. on the ground.  We had a great time and ran into old friends that we only see on our visits to “sin city”.  Hated leaving our Sports Book friends Don and Kevin and the Keno gang at Harrah’s …and of course the bartenders.  But we will see them again on the next trip. And of course seeing and visiting with a good friend Pete Vallee..better known as “Big Elvis”.  You are a sweetheart my friend…hugs.  If you ever get a chance to see him…do it.  He has Elvis’s voice.  Pete is amazing.

And what Vegas trip is complete without Leilani almost falling out of her seat when she hit a straight flush in three card poker.  I went backwards and almost got disqualified from the winning hand cause my cards left the table in all the excitement.  Nice pay back and saw a mall visit in my near future.  The last night there I hit another good hand and the guy sitting next to me got excited for me and knocked over my wine…on me…on my new outfit from Banana Republic…from my winnings….which I couldn’t get completely out…..BUT that’s life.  After I got it home and worked on it a little bit it doesn’t look bad at all.  One would have to really squint and stare to see it.  

While visiting Caesar’s Mall I ran into Earl Cambell and had a couple of pictures taken with him.  We reminisced about the “Love you Blue” days and of course his Longhorn days.  What an incredibly nice guy.  And what Caesar’s visit is not complete without a shopping spree and a pizza at Spago’s.  One of Wolfgang Puck’s places.  Got to visit our friend Bridget who works there and talk over all the updates in our lives.  Bill ordered me the best salad I’ve ever had.  I couldn’t even begin to tell you what was all in it but it was delicious.  Perfect compliment to the pizza.  

The Super Bowl Party at the Flamingo was awesome.  The buffet and alcohol were all free and they had everything you could want for the gathering of a rowdy bunch for football.  We are invited every year and love meeting new people each year.  Not only at the party but in the restaurants and casino’s as well.  We sat next to two ladies from California at the party.  So a shout out to Sandra and Nina. Only thing missing is the George Strait concert that we would go to every year at MGM the night before the Super Bowl.  George has retired from touring and I sure miss him. 

Before we left for Vegas, I had an appointment with my dentist Dr. Kaestner.  I had chipped my front tooth…again.  This time on a buffalo wing.  How… I don’t know but it must take real talent.  I sat calmly while I watched the needle from hell approach my mouth.  I don’t know what drug is used but even my nostrils were numb.  I thought they had removed my nose.  But I was good as new after the repair.  Amazing how they match the tooth coloring and can get it looking like your ole self.

To all of my Facebook friends that had birthdays while we were gone…Happy Birthday.  Love and hugs to you all.  Blessings!

Ride,Baby,Ride and keep Those pistols Loaded!
Leilani

Mark Twain said “The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why”.  In my travels and speeches I have met many amazing people.  Some who are not with us now but in the spiritual world.  I have learned why I am here.  God gave me a gift I didn’t know I had.  Life has been fun.  Challenging but fun.  Yesterday, Bill and I went out to lunch with good friends Linda and David.  I received a nice bottle of wine and some really cute wine coasters to go with it.  And the reason…I’m having another birthday this week.  After celebrating with them we left and drove by a seafood place that opened up about two months ago.  It has an oyster bar/restaurant.  We walked in and sat across the bar from another couple.  We hit it off right away.  After about 30 minutes four kids …I’d say in their thirties….sat down at the end of the bar.  The party started.  We all had so much fun.  Then another two couples joined.  They said they heard all the laughing and decided to sit in that area.  Occupations ranged from first grade school teacher to electrical  guy who traveled worldwide.  And of course Bill and I …retirees!  I gave out my business card and then everyone started opening up.  Found out someones mom was battling cancer and so on and so on. I literally had to give one of my speeches.  When we left we had a hug from everyone and hopefully I’ll hear from each of them.  God pushed it yesterday.  I found out that people everywhere need laughter.  Thank you God for letting me give hope to others.  I didn’t ask for the job but I take it with joy.  So sending a group hug to all of you reading this.  May God bless you always.

My next challenge was keeping the fireplace fire going.  I was a Girl Scout after all.  I should be able to keep a damn fire lit!  Put all the skills of fire starting that I remembered as a kid but maybe I’m leaving a step out.  I answer the phone and talk for a few minutes…come back and it’s out.  Go poop…return and it’s out.  I put in a fake log and enjoy four hours but it’s not the same.  And believe me it’s not for lack of wood.  I would never make it as an arsonist. 

Dusty and I tackled putting a gun rack together.  We were actually still talking to one another when we finished.  Bill would stick his head in the room and immediately turn around and go the other way.  There wasn’t enough wine in the house to ease the frustration of directions at it’s worse.  I can’t believe the idiots that write the instruction manuals.  Casey put in a doggy door in the laundry room for Chico.  Starr already had one.  He thinks he is Wonder Dog!  All he needs is a cape.  Chico is so excited about his new escape device.  Except he heard something at two in the morning, kept going in and out so I had to put the cover on it.  Need to set the rules…  all hunting and carousing goes on during the day.

Have a wonderful week my friends.  This ole gal is turning 64.  And loving every minute of of it.  This month marks the 5 year anniversary of my cancer detection and surgery.  It also marks the 40% chance of making it 5 years.  So we will see what God has for me in the future.  Blood work and physical next week.  My usual nervous period always starts about 2 weeks before the test and exam.  Keep me in your prayers for good results.  I’m not through doing standup comedy in the bars yet.  At least God doesn’t care where I pass on His encouragement. 

Special hug and blessings to my friend Olivia.  Please keep her in your prayers.

Ride,Baby,Ride! and Keep Those Pistols Loaded!
Love and hugs,
Leilani

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and are ready for 2015.  So hard to believe that 2014 has come and gone.  Is it just me or did 2014 absolutely just fly by?  Thinking back it seems like we just moved in here in Navasota and it has actually been a year.  Funny …we are still throwing out stuff that we dig out of boxes.  Yes, we still have crap we haven’t unpacked.  And who knows what it is.  I haven’t missed a thing.

Where I left off last… was….that Bill and I had left his brother’s in Rogersville, TN.  Went through the mountains and stopped several times to take some incredible pictures.  It still snowed on us off and on.  All good but we were very careful as we are not used to that type of driving.  Arrived in Gatlinburg and was amazed to see how that town has grown since I was a kid.  I guess it shouldn’t be that surprising as it has been 50 some odd years since that family vacation.  Dollywood says it all as far as expanding the town.  Bill and I picked a brewery to have lunch in.  Called Calhoun’s.  Family owned.  The ribs were awesome and the brewery was set up to give tastings of the beers they produce.  We were told that we needed to leave Gatlinburg before 4 PM to avoid being stuck on the Tennessee side of the mountain.  When there is ice and snow there is a window of time you must hit in order to go back and forth.  Something the forest dept. sets up for safety and it’s usually opened only 11 AM – 4PM.  So off we go towards Cherokee.  At the top of the mountain the trees were frozen solid.  All white and ice.  Waterfalls were frozen.  It was so beautiful.  You see it on postcards but this has to be seen to believe.  You almost expect Jack Frost to jump out at the car.  At the bottom of the mountain is Cherokee.  All kinds of shops.  Then you come up on Harrah’s Casino.  Completely surrounded by the river.  Mini rapids and guys actually fly fishing as you valet park.  

Lani and TJ met us there.  And I think I created a monster.  Lani is now addicted to three card poker.  We had a blast.  Left a little money in North Carolina but what fun.  Lani and TJ drove back to South Carolina because they both had to work but not until TJ and Bill “turned the Crown upside down”.  And you know what I mean!  Those two were “Crown princes” the entire 4 days.  But… fun was had and some stuff not remembered and that’s what makes it all alright.

Bill and I drove to Highlands, NC to see my old friends Bob and Ginny Wright.  We stayed Sunday evening at their beautiful home nested 4,000 feet up in the mountains.  A forest reserve backs up to them and their casa is literally built into the mountain.  The day we got there, Ginny said while walking their dog,  momma bear and her two new cubs were right outside.  Kinda glad I missed that.  Not what I’d want to see while walking the dog.  But momma shooed her little ones up a tree and just stared.  I would have to change underwear.  I found out that you do not run but make loud noises or scream.  They get away from the noise but if you run you are fair game.  UGH!

We left for Greenville/Spartenburg the next day but not before having lunch at a wonderful market place in Highlands with Ginny.  Poor Bob was recovering from knee surgery and couldn’t be with us.   Grocery, deli, pizza, bar all wrapped up into one.  Our type of hangout. 

The last night was bittersweet.  We were getting homesick but didn’t want the fun to end.  Spent the night at a hotel close to the airport so we could turn the rent car in early and catch the 8 AM flight to Houston.  We left about 6 beers, a tiny bit of wine, and a few Coke Zero’s behind.  Don’t know who the lucky hotel maid was that cleaned the room.  I left a note saying it was all hers.  Not to mention missing  Lani and TJ.  We had to call them from the airport to let them know we were boarding.  (Columbia was just a little too far to drive that early in the morning). 

All in all…a great time.  We can’t wait to go back.  We didn’t get to see and visit with TJ’s parents, so hopefully we can make up for that.  It worked out well as far as timing because there were so many shops to pick up Christmas gifts.  Bill kept an eye on his credit cards!!!!

I hope everyone has a very Happy New Year.  As for me, January is a big month.  My 3 month doctor visit with Dr. Bevers and blood work, port cleaning, and my 64TH birthday on the 21ST.  Talk about time flying!  Please pray for great test results as all of my prayer warriors usually do.  I depend on your love and prayers to get through the nervousness of waiting for results. 

Hugs and love,
Happy New Year
Ride, Baby, Ride and Keep those Pistols Loaded!!!!
Leilani

Wanted to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.  I know how berserk it can get around the holidays so…God Bless You All.  It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is already over.  Man, where is time going?  We had family and friends in shifts which was wonderful so that we could spend quality time with many.  Turkey Day was spent with daughter Debbie, husband Jason, and granddaughter Erika.  along with son’s Dusty and Casey.  Then good friends Linda and David came over on Saturday to watch football and eat leftovers.  Sunday was spent at the Texan game with all our season ticket buddies…watching JJ Watt kick ass.  Monday, Dusty was back chopping wood and finishing up the Honey Baked Ham with the best ham sandwiches ever. 

Lani fly’s in tomorrow.  She will spend the first day and night with her dad and then I pick her up and she is all mine for two days.  Can’t wait.  Bill has already hidden the credit cards!  He forgets we have security cameras everywhere.  NICE TRY!!!! 

While at the Texan game one of our friends has a 17 yr. old son who comes to the game with him.  We have known them for years.  Well, it seems that Sam, the 17 yr. old, had an unauthorized party for about 50 kiddos. I asked him “did the police come”?  No….was the reply.  So I told his dad Tim that that’s not so bad.  If nothing was stolen or damage done.  So how long is he grounded?  Reply…until he is 23!  We all laughed our asses off.  I told Sam that he is lucky.  I think I was grounded for LIFE once.  So technically …I’m still grounded.  Somehow everyone believed that.  Maybe I should have had a pack with my dad that I’ll be grounded for life until one of us is no longer here.  Now I’m stuck with the curse!

Started reading a new book…Catherine Coulter’s “The Lost Key” about two weeks ago.  With all the hoopla going on…I’m only 3/4 way through it.  Can’t wait to finish it.  Very good book.  I had not read her in a while.  Just finished a couple of James Patterson before that and a couple of Nora Roberts.  But now I always get involved with the Hallmark Christmas movies and the Lifetime Christmas movies so the books will probably be shelved for a spell.  Fireplace going, a glass of wine, snuggled in my favorite chair, with my favorite blanket and I’m in for the duration. 

Blessings my friends…have a wonderful Christmas season.  God Bless!

Hugs,
Ride,Baby.Ride! and make sure those Pistols Are Loaded!
Leilani

Last week, for a do nothing kinda schedule, turned out to be jam packed with the unexpected.  We had Dusty out almost every day to help with outdoor chores.  He went back to Katy on Thursday and got pulled over for speeding.  I had my “Life Scan Screening” on Monday but do not have results at this time.  Got my MRI results back on Wednesday and thankfully it was normal.  On Friday, Bill and I went to the funeral of one of my Kroger bosses son.  He had a seizure and passed at the age of 34.  Leaving a 2 yr, old son.  After that we swung by our attorney for a quick meeting and lunch.  I want to apologize to my Kroger buddies that wanted us to go to lunch with them.  Time just wasn’t on our side that day.

Went to the Texan game Sunday.  Had fun with our friends but have know idea what to do with our Texans.  Seems like just a few defensive players are trying to carry the team by themselves.  It was so disappointing! But it was a beautiful day, with the roof open, the eagle Challenger swooping in with amazing grace and beauty and military members dropping from the ceiling on ropes (including our mascot Toro).  That was a WOW moment!

Getting ready for Thanksgiving now.  Took the Butterball out to thaw today.  Bill will pick up the Honey Baked Ham on Wed. while I make cornbread dressing.  And doing the regular chores in between.  Wouldn’t be nice if the floors would just do themselves.  You know…where the mops and brooms, buckets and dust rags, and Windex bottles come to life and clean away while you sit with a wine and put on George Strait music.  Doesn’t get much better than that.

Please keep the Habada family in your prayers this holiday season.  They will be spending it without their youngest son.  I know that they are thankful to have had him for 34 years.  Kurt is with our Father now and will be spending Jesus’ birthday with Him.  What a beautiful sight Heaven must be on the Blessed Day!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone.  From the Hurles family to yours….be safe.  Sending our love and hugs,

Ride,Baby,Ride! and Keep Those Pistols Loaded!
Leilani