Well, the day I have been waiting for finally arrived Sunday afternoon. Princess broke the news to me over the phone that my "grandparent" name had finally arrived, courtesy of Trooper Junior.

Papa has a brand new bag and ^Belle^ has a brand new name. Wasn't the "grandparent" name I wanted, but hey...what ya gonna do when it comes from one so sweet,cute and kissable.

Princess: Are you sitting down?

Belle: Why...is it time?

Princess: No. I just wanted to tell you what your grandson has been saying.

Belle: Humm....Interesting that you called him my grandson.

Princess: Last night we were looking at the Christmas pictures. I would point to each person and he would say their name. When I got to your photo....

Belle: Oh no.

(It's hard for a little one to say grandmother, or any word for that matter that begins with "g". I started when he was born by telling him that I was "Gran". He has never really called me anything until the last month or so, when he began saying, "Boo-Boo", each time I held him, followed by trying to open my shirt. For crying out loud...I am a grandmother and too old to be Boo-Boo)

Belle:Not....Boo-Boo....?

Princess: No. Not Boo-Boo. He called you, "Nana".

Belle: You told him to say that. I don't want to be Nana.

Princess: I didn't tell him to say anything.

Belle: He didn't just out of the blue say, "Nana".

Princess: He did. I promise he did.

Belle:Geez.....

Princess: What...?

Belle: Bev is Nana. I want to be something else.

Princess: I had nothing to do with it. He picked the name.

Belle: Well, tell him to pick something else.

Princess: It was so cute. Each time he would see your picture, he says, "Nana". And this morning, I heard him in his crib saying, "Mama...DaDa....Abby (the dog)...Bubba (his half brother)...Poppa....(his grandfather)....Nana...."

Belle: I want to be "Gran". Anything but, "Nana". Makes me sound like a banana.

Fast forward a few hours later. My lovely son in law, Super Trooper has invited his favorite Mother in Law over for an early dinner. Prepared all by him I might add. In addition to being a Trooper, this Bear can cook!

He grilled some rib eyes steaks and shrimp, HUGE baked potatoes, baked beans,salad with all the fixings, and garlic bread. And if that wasn't enough, Strawberry Shortcake for desert.

Princess had been pointing to me since I arrived and asking Trooper Junior, "Who is this....?" Naturally he wouldn't say it and I was glad.

During the meal he became restless in his high chair, so I went over and pulled him out. He smiled, threw his arms around my neck, pressing his cheek against mine and said, "Nana". My eyes started to puddle up.

Princess: Oh Lord, better go get her some tissues, here come the water works.

Trooper Junior: Nana....Nana....Nana....Nana....

Belle:Did you hear what he just said?

Princess: Told you so. Now, you tell him that you're not, "Nana".

Trooper Junior: Nana....(hugging again).

Belle: Oh, hush up and go get Nana some tissue.

*********

Wanted to share this photo. Each Christmas I try making something new. Knowing that Super Trooper is fond of sweets, I tried my hand at making this Christmas Wreath Fudge (Red and green cherries are the holly)

It turned out so good, and was so beautiful, I had to take a photo. Good thing I did, because all I went home with was an empty plate.



Later Ya'll....*Nana*

I sure do miss Ray Charles. Lucky for all who love music, he left us with hundreds of awesome songs that speak to the heart,mind, body and soul. It was difficult selecting just one,but, this song is one of my favorite Ray Charles tunes.It features the mind blowing vocals of Margie Hendrix. Thumbs or Thumbs Later Ya'll...^Belle^

It's Friday and you know what that means, time for the Friday Five With A Twist. As always, answer any 5 or go goony bird goofy and answer them all. Ready...here we go:

1-What beverages are in your fridge?

Buttermilk,sweet milk, Diet Coke With Lime, tomato juice,sweet tea.

2-Name 3 of your favorite presidents?

Lincoln, Roosevelt and Reagan.

3-Favorite (if any) morning radio show?

Rick and Bubba (The Two Sexiest Fat Men Alive)CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VISIT THEIR WEB SITE.

RICK AND BUBBA

4-What do you think Queen Elizabeth carries in her purse?

An extra crown,"The Butterfly" and Prince Phillip's "boys".

5-Is everything better with Blue Bonnet on it?

I don't know. It's pretty hard to beat whipped cream.

6-If you could play a character in any movie past or present, who would it be?

I would play the Sally Field role in Smokey and The Bandit.

7-Thing you most like to see on your significant other?

Me.

8-How much wood, would a woodchuck,chuck, if a woodchuck,could chuck wood?

Enough to make him poop splinters.

9-Who should be the first female president?

PolarBear.

10-Is it better to give than to receive?

Depends on what you are giving and who you are giving it to.

11- List 2 of your New Year's resolutions.

I will not throw rocks and flip off the nice man flying the airplane over my house.( I'll use my shoulder mounted rocket launcher instead. Once I get it back from Governor Ice that is)

I will try to forgive Randy for not sending me my gerbil nipple earrings.

12- Name 2 things you collect?

Carte de visite photographs
Antique or vintage jewelry

13-Name 2 things you used to collect?

Teddy bears (stuffed or figurines)
Beanie Babies


14-Color or design of your dinner plates?

Hunter green with apples.

15-Do you sleep on your: right side,left side,stomach or back?

Right side.

16- Do you sleep with a light on or music/television playing?

No and No. Dark and silent.

17-Color of your house phone?

1 black/1 white

18-Do you dip your fries in ketchup or smother them in it?

Neither. My preferred way to eat fries is to dip them in tarter sauce with a splash of hot sauce. Or mustard. And sometimes ranch dressing.

19-What is the average wait where you live to renew your drivers license or tag?

Usually there is no wait at all. The longest I have ever waited for either was around 5 minutes.

20- Name 3 things on your computer desk having nothing to do with the computer?

A Beanie Baby that has The Yankee's nickname, Elvis lamp,photo of Bo.

***************

ANSWERS TO SOUTHERN QUIZ

1-How many Vienna Sausages are in a can? 7

2-What was the number and color of Richard Petty's cars? 43-RED AND BLUE

3-Bill Dance is good at what? FISHIN'

4-After boiling peanuts for an hour you have what? HARD PEANUTS (They have to boil SEVERAL hours)

5-A Cajun is likely to speak what furrin' language? FRENCH

6-Where is "The Redneck Riviera"? It runs from Panama City Beach,Florida to New Orleans,Louisana

7-What's that fuzzy stuff hanging off the oak trees? SPANISH MOSS

8-If you mated a heifer and a steer, what would you get? NOTHING.A STEER HAS BEEN CASTRATED.

9-Who sang "Your Cheatin' Heart"? HANK WILLIAMS

10-What are grits made out of? CORN

11-Who was nicknamed "The Bear" PAUL WILLIAM BRYANT

12-What did The Baldwin Sisters make? "THE RECIPE",OTHERWISE KNOWN AS MOONSHINE.

13-Who was Andy Taylor's love interest? HELEN CRUMP

14-What are the radio station call letters that carries "The Grand Ol' Opry"? WSM

15-Where would you find Vidalia County? GEORGIA

16-When you argue with a fool, what is he doing? THE SAME THING

17-What is a scuppernong? A WILD GRAPE

18-What color is a John Deere? GREEN

19-What do you call the offspring of a mule? NOTHING,MULES ARE GENERALLY STERILE.

20-What Southern "cousin", came to New York City to visit Lucy and Ricky Ricardo? BLESS YOUR PEA PICKIN' HEART......"COUSIN TENNESSE ERNIE FORD".

HOW DID YOU DO:

20-15 CORRECT: You are a true Southerner.

14-9 CORRECT: So-So.While you may have heard of "Rocky Mountain Oysters", you haven't heard enough NOT to eat them.

8-1 CORRECT: More than likely you are from the Mid-West or California.

0 CORRECT: One word: YANKEE.

Later Ya'll...^Belle^

How Southern are you? Take this quiz to find out.

1-How many Vienna Sausages are in a can?

2-What was the number and color of Richard Petty's cars?

3-Bill Dance is good at what?

4-After boiling peanuts for an hour you have what?

5-A Cajun is likely to speak what furrin' language?

6-Where is "The Redneck Riviera"?

7-What's that fuzzy stuff hanging off the oak trees?

8-If you mated a heifer and a steer, what would you get?

9-Who sang "Your Cheatin' Heart"?

10-What are grits made out of?

11-Who was nicknamed "The Bear"

12-What did The Baldwin Sisters make?

13-Who was Andy Taylor's love interest?

14-What are the radio station call letters that carries "The Grand Ol' Opry"?

15-Where would you find Vidalia County?

16-When you argue with a fool, what is he doing?

17-What is a scuppernong?

18-What color is a John Deere?

19-What do you call the offspring of a mule?

20-What Southern "cousin", came to New York City to visit Lucy and Ricky Ricardo?

***Answers will be posted on Friday.

************

Things are looking up in Alabama. FORMER Miami Dolphins Head Coach, Nick Saban arrived in T-Town (Tuscaloosa) this afternoon. He was greeted at the airport by a crowd of about 600 rabid Alabama fans who began chanting, "Roll Tide" as the University Of Alabama plane landed with Saban and his family aboard. One overly excited female grabbed Saban and kissed him on the cheek to give him a taste of Southern hospitality.

The hiring will be made official tomorrow morning with a press conference. In the mean time, Coach Saban is cooling his heels in T-Town. Wonder if Mal will take him to dinner at Shula's Steakhouse?

Mal Moore should get down on his hands and knees and kiss Saban's feet! It is quite possible that had Saban held firm with his denials that he was not interested in leaving Miami,Mal himself would be looking for a job. All the coaches on the A and B list had declined offers to roll with the Tide. We were down to the C and D list, and, that just won't fly!

As further proof that Mal had lost his ever loving mind, the name, Steve Spurrier was bounced about in the days that followed the firing of Mike Shula.Alabama fans will stand for a lot, but no way in HELL, would we EVER, for one cotton picking second, embrace Spurrier walking the sidelines in our beloved Bryant-Denney Stadium!

So, the Saban Era at the University of Alabama is underway. Tide fans everywhere are dreaming of Iron Bowl victories and National Championships! Write down Nick Saban's name at the very TOP of the highest paid college coaches list.

ROLL TIDE ROLL!

Later Ya'll...^Belle^

Happy New Year everyone. In case you missed it, the winners,runners up and honorable mentions for the 2006 BLOGSTREAM AWARDS were announced last night and are posted over at Lucy's blog. The acceptance speeches are on the comment page. A party followed hosted by Governor Ice and First Lady Puppy. By the way....has anyone seen my date, Major Pain? Look for a Marine driving a tank.***Award photos used with permission from Lucy.


2) What blogger would you miss the most if they just stopped writing abruptly?






8) What blogger would you most like to see on a TV Reality Show?







28) Who is your favorite quoted blogger on Overheard?






41) Which blogger is the most proudest grandparent ?




ACCEPTANCE SPEECH:

(fanning eyes with hands,clutches heart,shakes head,starts walking toward the stage, passes Biggie T on the way to the mic, plants one on him)

Oh, dear me...(starts to weep), I don't know what to say. This is all so unexpected.(Dabs eyes,reaches into dress and pulls out acceptance speech).

First of all,I want to thank everyone who voted for me. This is such an honor. I never imagined when I floated into Blogstream over a year ago, how many wonderful people I would meet. I am glad to call each and everyone of you, friends.

I have to thank Pioneer for this wonderful blog site and for making all of this possible. Thanks to Governor Ice for getting the charges against me dropped after the Christmas party. Thanks to Lucy for putting all of this together. You are an inspiration.

I promise to do my best not to let any of you down, and will use the 1 million in prize money wisely. I also...What....? What do you mean there's not any prize money....? None....? At all...? Zero...? How 'bout a goody bag like they receive at the Oscar's..? NO...? A trophy...? Well, what do I get....? Are you kidding me...? (Music begins to play). No, I will not step down! (security guards rush the stage) Get your damn hands off me you swine! Don't you touch me! Where is my rocket launcher....? HELP....HELP....HELP....!

PLEASE STAND BY.................................................


A SPECIAL THANKS GOES TO LUCY. She adds so much fun to Blogstream, and brings a lot of heart and love. We Love Lucy!



Later Ya'll...^Belle^