No...I too sick...

Georgia and Rick have been sick this week, and I think I am going insane!! It is no fun when the two melancholies in the household are ill. It drives the Sanguine CRAZY!! Since they have both been sick, I took G to my parents on Tuesday and Wednesday. Well, little G was about to have lunch when Grammy asked her if she wanted to pray. G’s response, No…with much thought and a sad look…I too sick to pray! Oh my, have you ever felt that way? Out of the mouth of babes!!

Yeah Uno...You're My Hero!!

Uno, the beagle, won Best in Show at the Westminister Dog Show at Madison Square Gardens yesterday. The first time a Bealge has ever won the honor in the competition's history. Beagles are awesome, and I love my beagle! I told her she was a champion this morning, at least in my eyes. ;-) I can't being to tell you how sanguine Beagles are. They never meet a stranger and love everybody. You have to keep them entertained because they love to have a good time...all the time. They also love to bay (howl) and chew. The chewing, they do outgrow...mostly.

My beagle came to us under terrible circumstances. She had been badly abused. I wondered if Maddy was ever going to socialize into our family. She still doesn't understand "playing" because Maddy never learned as a puppy. Occasionally she gets playful, but most Beagles are all about the playing. However, she has turned out to be the best little dog. Maddy is a momma's girl, and has to know where I am at all times when we are in the house together. She is the perfect size for G or any child. I believe Maddy has finally accepted that G is here to stay. Maddy is very good at letting G know when she has had enough of her. Maddy never bites her, but she does "gum" her.

Anyway, here's a link to a story on Uno: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080213/ap_on_re_us/dog_show

The Beagle...

Maddy a.k.a "MayMay"

The Short Hair Domestics...

Allie


Bones a.k.a. "BoBo"

New Church...New Friends...Yeah!!

As you may have figured out, we did not go back to Grace after the "SS is closed" incident. I have to give the Grace pastor credit, he has called the house almost four times, but we have not been there when he has called. The Sunday this happened I left Grace and went to First Baptist Church in Laurel, MD, where we have also been visiting. I can't begin to tell you what a wonderful experience it was.

An usher met me at the door, walked me to G's class and told me about all the different classes I could go to. Even though I already knew where to go, I just let him share. I wanted to cry, I felt so warm and welcomed. Granted G and I were 30 minutes late for everything because we had gone to Grace first, but this didn't change anything. Plus, I was already emotional from having to tell my child she couldn't go to her SS class.

Anyway, I went to the couples SS class we had visited by myself, and it was so crowded. Yeah, I was excited to see so many young couples! This is the first time I have been around this many Christian couples at one time who are my age in Maryland. I was almost giddy!! This is what I have been looking for! We went to a couples Bible Study last Thursday that is formed from this SS class. Rick and I were one of three couples, but all the couples had a three year old. Wow, friends for G! It was so nice to be with other Christian couples on a week night and to share the Word and our lives. Wow, friends for Rick and Kimmie too!!!

This past Saturday, the SS class had a Wii bowling tournament as their party. There were four Wii's, which made four bowling lanes. I am not much of a video game person, but I have to admit the Wii was fun. However, I don't think there will be one in the Garner house any time soon. This church experience has made a big difference in my feelings about Maryland. My Southern friends, who I love and know me so well, I will always want to come South, but I don't think I want to come home any time soon. Who knows what the Lord is up to, but I want to explore this area a little longer...Lord Willing And The Creek Don't Rise!!

Today...Again...A Pee Pee Incident!!

G prepared her cot for nap time, put the sheet and pillow on nice and neat with lots of care. She moved the sheet out of the way, sat on the cot and peed in her pants!! ;-O. Of course she never got her sheet or pillow wet. Then she called Ms. Faye over to show her that she peed in her pants. What is up with this? Of course she had to change her clothes after this!! Once I got G to the car this evening, I promptly discussed this with her. I also told her if she ever peed in her pants on "purpose" when a bathroom was available, I was going to spank her. Oh, Lord, help me!!!

Georgia...Georgia...Georgia...

Today while my child was at school, she got caught turning the faucet on high, leaning over into the sink and splashing herself with water. Then, she told the teacher who caught her that she peed on herself. HELP…My Child is a LIAR!!! Ms. Clara and Ms. Cherrelle had been wondering why G was all of a sudden having pee pee accidents. Now they know!! Little G spent too much time in the bathroom today, and Ms. Carla busted her! Now the question is…WHY? The only thing I can come up with is she wants to change her pants, and it is the only way she knows she will be allowed to do so. This morning she picked out her panties, and then told me she wanted another pair. Of course G said this after she had her pants, socks, and shoes on. I told her no, it’s too late, and besides you picked out the ones you have on. The joys of three year old life with a very choleric little girl!! ;-) Speaking of the joys, I have Wednesday off because I take G to basketball. It is really fun to watch the other kids! YES, I said the other kids, because mine doesn’t want to participate with the class. She wants to do the class her way. No...really...not strong-willed at all! ;-O I will have to remember to take my camera and post some pics. Later!!

Do You Know All The Versus?

1
O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave?
2
On the shore, dimly seen thro’ the mist of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
’Tis the star-spangled banner! O long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
3
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner, in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
4
O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation!
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the Heav’n-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our Trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Fort McHenry Pics

Do you know anything about Fort McHenry? It was the fort Francis Scott Key watched from a ship in the harbour as the British bombed it in hopes of taking Baltimore. The British at this point had already burned the Capitol and the White House in DC. As this young lawyer watched for almost two days without knowing what was going on because of the rain and smoke, the bombing finally stopped, morning broke, and our precious flag still flew. By the way, the British went home after failing to take Baltimore. On this September morning in 1816, he wrote the first verse of a poem we now sing as our national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner. The flag is now in the Smithsonian's American History Museum, and it is awesome to behold. The flag is so huge!! It has 15 stripes and 15 stars. We bought G a book at the fort yesterday about the lady and her little girl who sewed the flag for the soldiers at Fort McHenry. It is a true story and published in Maryland. There is so much history in this area. We try to see all we can because you never know when we will return South, and we do not want to have any regrets or missed opportunities.

More Fort McHenry Pics

The Two Story Shoebox

This is our townhouse, which I fondly call The Two Story Shoebox! Are you jealous of my snow? This picture was taken last year when we had a Nor'easter. According to Wikpedia, "a Nor'easter is named for the winds that blow in from the northeast and drive the storm up the east coast along the Gulf Stream, a band of warm water that lies off the Atlantic coast. A Nor'easter combines strong northeasterly winds with cold, arctic air." We have not had much snow this winter, and I am really disappointed. I love the snow. The snow puts a blanket on the world, tucks it in, and makes it be quiet. The constant noise is gone. Is that what it means to be in Christ? He puts His protective blanket on us and gives us His peace and quiet?

This is still not what I intended to blog about this morning. I'll get to it eventually! ;-)

The Office of Technology Transfer

As most of you know I work for the Department of Agriculture, also known as the USDA. I work in the Office of Technology Transfer in the Agriculural Research Services Division. My office is responsible for getting technology into the hands of companies, in an effort to better our world. Sounds like a good party line, aye?

For example...I am sure you are grateful for your Huggies, Pampers, or Luvs that keep your child's you know what in their diapers? Well, the Office of Technology Transfer would be responsible for getting this technology into the hands of those companies to keep your babies leak free. My office was also responsible for sharing the technology that keeps the apples in a bag at McDonald's from turning brown before your little one gets them in their Happy Meal. In a nut shell, my office handles the legal side of passing this science along to the world.

I have yet to take a tour of the USDA campus located in Beltsville, MD. The campus includes several labs, farms, and crops....Otherwise TONS of research on agriculutral things. One of the things on the tour is a cow with a glass stomach.

Sometimes we burn documents in the incinerator because it's faster than shredding. Let's just say there is no telling what you will see. We always ask one of the guys in the back to go, and then quiz him. I won't tell you what has been in there unless you ask me. There are actually USDA labs all over the country. Some are only USDA facilities and others are partnered with universities. I know USDA partners with Mississippi State and Ole Miss. There is also a research facility in Stoneville, MS.

HOWEVER...this is not what I intended to blog about, so I will have to get to my original intent in my next entry!