Yesterday while keeping my grandchildren, with the TV playing in the background, the scheduled programming was interrupted by an announcer with breaking news.

Breaking news is important and hardly ever is it good. The last time I heard breaking news it was to tell of the devastation in Enterprise,Alabama where lives were lost as a tornado hit the high school there.

Angel was in her swing as I played in the floor with Trooper Junior. I couldn't believe what I was hearing and seeing.

My heart broke for parents,grandparents, sisters,brothers, friends of the victims.

I had the sudden urge to take Angel out of the swing and to hold her close to me while keeping Trooper Junior in arms reach.

I tried to imagine a world where this type of thing doesn't happen.

Later Ya'll...^Belle^

"Call me. Anytime. Day or night." -We all know people who say those words, but how many really mean them? How many are on your list of people you not only COULD call "anytime", but WOULD...?

My list is very,very small. One reason is that I have call anxiety. Even with people that I have known for years. Always afraid that I will call at the wrong time, and especially afraid that I will make a "STUPID" call (as I did a couple of weeks ago). Even though he was cool about it...I still felt like a FOOL! At least this time there was no mention of squirrels that water ski, or playing Row, Row, Row Your Boat on the phone pad, but, a STUPID CALL just the same.

There is 1 "Anytime" friend that has been at the top of my list for going on 14 years. Through ups and downs, in's and out's, in good times and bad. In all the many stages of our friendship, he has been my ROCK.

I have called him in the wee hours of the morning, when all I could do was cry. He held the phone, sometimes saying nothing more than, "I am here for you".

There are other friends that toss around the "Anytime" card. HA! Just try calling them at 3:36 in the frigging morning!

It wasn't always that way with us, but over the years as I have cashed in the "Anytime" card, I became more comfortable with doing so, and he has never, ever made me feel bad about it.

Don't you just hate being on the phone with someone, needing to talk and they are distracted, busy, etc. A female friend comes to mind. Sooner or later you reach the point where you say to yourself, "What's the point? I might as well be talking to this skillet."

I found myself in the later part of 2002, in a deep,dark place, that I honestly didn't know if I would make it back to enjoying life, and more to the point, actually wanting to live and participate in it again.Right away he picked up on it and sprung into action. For that, I am so very thankful.

For the last year, we haven't exactly been speaking on a regular basis. Both of us were going through changes and we did have a slight falling out. I can't tell you how very much I missed knowing he was only a phone call away.

He surprised me Sunday by joining Blogstream. It feels really nice having him here. His blog is:FIRE IN THE DARK by BigH920. Drop by and say hello. Scratch has already been pumping him for some inside info.

This was just very much on my mind. I wanted to welcome him to Blogstream and say thanks for being such a good friend!

Later Ya'll...^Belle^

Once again couldn't make up my mind, so I put together a playlist that tickled my fancy. Threw some Allman Brothers in there for BC and some Big Maybelle for me and T!

Was SO excited to find, Lolita by Prince and Candy by Big Maybelle! Don't miss those 2 songs!

Rainy Saturday night....all alone with my thoughts and good music to keep me company.

Let me have it or

Later Ya'll...^Belle^

(Getting an early start on the Friday Five. Off to baby sit the grandchildren and do the Me-Ma thing)

It's Friday and you know what that means. Time for the Friday Five. This week with a Sherry's Cherries Twist. As always, answer any 5 or go bull in a china shop crazy and answer them all. Ready...Here we go...

1-Have you mailed off your 2006 tax returns yet?

As of this morning,Yes.

2-Favorite Easter Candy?

Cadbury Chocolate Eggs.

3-Name of first boy/girl friend?

Gregg

4-What is on your feet?

Buffy.

5-What is on the wall in front of you?

A pink "R",5 pictures of Elvis, charcoal San Francisco cable car scene with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge (thrift store find).

6-Do you have any oil painting?

Yes. 1 of a lovely rustic cabin (I did a post last year about the uncanny set of circumstances that lead up to me finding this in a thrift store),a beautiful painting of lilacs in a basket, and another of a little country church.

7-Last thing you put in the microwave?

Homemade Manicotti, warmed some up for lunch.

8-Funniest thing you read on Blogstream this week?

PolarB and Lovie's trip to purchase a Cornhole set.

9-Favorite thing to sleep in?

The Yankee's arms.

10-Last time you cried?

Sunday

11-How do you like your eggs?

Different ways. My current fav is scrambled with cheese and crumbled sausage with a few green chili peppers and a splash of Frank's Red Hot Sauce on the top.

12-Describe the area you live in-Rural-Urban-Suburban?

Rural

13-The state line closest to you?

Georgia (4 miles)

14-How many pots of coffee do you make each day?

2. Half a pot in the morning and a quarter of a pot in the evening.

15-Cell phone service provider?

Virgin Mobile.

SHERRY TWIST

16-I like Sherry because.....

Can't pick just one reason....Sherry is "good people".

17-Sherry makes me..

Laugh, smile and think.

18-Sherry has

A wonderful blog.

19-Sherry is

A warm and loving person.

20-My personal message to Sherry is..

You make Blogstream a wonderful place. Thanks for your support and friendship.

Later Ya'll...^Belle^

GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:

1) No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.
2) When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.
3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.
4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food.
6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.
7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
10) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa's lap.

GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:

1) Raising teenagers is like nailing jelly to a tree.
2) Wrinkles don't hurt.
3) Families are like fudge...mostly sweet, with a few nuts.
4) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.
5) Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.
6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fibre, not the toy.

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD

1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.
3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down there.
4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.
5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.
6) Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician.
7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.

THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE:

1) You believe in Santa Claus.
2) You don't believe in Santa Claus.
3) You are Santa Claus.
4) You look like Santa Claus.

SUCCESS:

At age 4 success is . . . not peeing in your pants.
At age 12 success is .. . . having friends.
At age 17 success is . . . having a drivers license.
At age 35 success is . . . having money.
At age 50 success is . . . having money.
At age 70 success is . . . having a drivers license.
At age 75 success is . . . having friends.
At age 80 success is . . . not peeing in your pants.

Always remember to forget the troubles that pass your way; BUT NEVER forget the blessings that come each day.

Have a wonderful day with many *smiles*

Later Ya'll...^Belle^