An Observation on the Inauguration

As I have watched all the stuff about the inauguration of now President Barak O'Bama, there is a lingering question I have: Why do the news shows think we are impressed that their announcers stand out in the cold to make their reports?! I am always baffled by this procedure. Jim Cantori of the weather channel does the same thing when there is a hurricane. He stands in water knee deep with the wind whipping around and trees parallel to the ground. Chris Champion of Good Morning America will put on a pair of waders or don his overcoat and make his report from cities across America. I repeat, I am not impressed.

This morning on Fox and Friends Gretchen and Steve and Brian were sitting on the balcony of a building with the Capitol in the background, all three wrapped up like teddy bears (a simile my mother often uses) with vapor rising from their mouths with each word they spoke. Then each of the pundits sat out there with them, imparting their wisdom on various topics. I truly question their wisdom. I just wish one of them had refused because it was too cold. After all, it was 16 degrees when they went on air this morning at 4:00 CST. Yes, I was up watching the whole thing!!

I know the events of the day must go on, and I am glad the news outlets want to give us up-to-the-minute coverage, but please get these people inside.

2 + 1 = 3

I didn't think it got better than this, but this week end I found out that it could. We visited the kids in Tupelo and found out we are expecting grandchild #3. Needless to say, we are excited. Due date is around July 16th.

These two will soon be three!

To those who check in, we ask that you keep the Hensons and baby-to-be in your prayers.

Hotty Toddy from a Bulldog Fan

Okay, here is a shout out to our friends Shirley and Jay. Congrats on the Cotton Bowl win.

To those of you reading this post, this shout out probably seems like blasphemy since I am an avowed MSU fan. I am not as rabid as some I know (Laura and Chase) when it comes to pulling for or should I say against Ole Miss. I wish them the best when they play anyone but State.

A bit of history: During the early years of our marriages, Shirley and Jay and Lance and I use to attend the Ole Miss-State games together, going back to the time when the game was held in Jackson. At one time Shirley was a State fan, but over the years she has been worn down by all those Turners and even her own children, who both attended Ole Miss.

When we would attend the games, Shirley and I would sit on the State side and Lance and Jay would sit on the Ole Miss side. How about that for a house divided?!! But, Shirley just couldn't stand up to the barrage of Hotty Toddy ringing in her ears season after season.

Happy New Year to My Friends, My Other Friends, and More Friends

Hope everyone had a Happy New Year and you are are settled into your routine again. All is fairly quiet around the Baria house, as I am happy it is.

As you have read before about my precious friends and in my OCD way, I have arranged them into groups: my professional friends known as the Lalis; my know-all-about-me friends, the Sudduths and the Alexanders; my Church Girls; and my been-there-forever friends, the Turners and Dickersons. Plus, there are many others whom I count as friends even though they may not be a part of my daily or more private life. I consider all these people best friends in so many ways and know they would be at my side at the moment of any need. I have truly been blessed to have these all these wonderful people as friends.

What does this digression on friends have to do with New Years? Well, we continued our New Years tradition of spending the date with the Turners and the Dickersons. We went to the Dickerson's "boat house" at Lake Caroline and had a wonderful time catching up on news about our families and the goings on in our lives.

New Years Day 2009

Some of the best news is the Turners and Dickerson both are expecting grandchildren in the summer: second grandson for the Turners; first grandchild for the Dickersons (will know gender soon). I think it will be so much fun for us all to get together with all our grand kids for one of our New Years get togethers.

Anyway, Lance showed his old curmudgeon self (a bad-tempered, difficult, cantankerous person) by calling Shirley a particular name when she was having a hard time understanding what he was trying to explain. I can't repeat it on the blog for fear of someone taking it as a profanity. Being called this name floored Shirley and made the rest of us do a double take and then burst out in laughter. And, with our group we did not let Lance forget what he said. I think Shirley is gunning for him. If I was Lance, I wouldn't turn my back on ole Shirl.

I also learned a new name for all the "stuff" Cathy has to put up with at work; alas, it is another word I can not put on the blog. But, it is very descriptive of what she has to endure on a daily basis.

The girls relaxin' and rockin'

I guess you think all we do is use profanity, but that is not the case. This year was just a bit more rowdy than others. We did enjoy a great meal at the Strawberry Cafe in Madison New Years eve and managed to stuff ourselves to the max the rest of the time.

The six of us usually see each other four or five times a year, and when we get together, we pick up just where we left off. I realize we did not make a toast or drink any champagne this year, even though we did manage to stay up after midnight, quite a feat for us.

So, here's to friendship. May it be long, may it be wonderful, and may it be fulfilling.

Also, here's wishing you a Happy 2009! DK