The Unexpected Gift

On Christmas Day after we had eaten breakfast at my parents' house and done the gift thing, I was getting Christmas dinner ready at my house. When my parents got there they both walked into the kitchen where I was trying to make some organization out of the meal and my dad handed me this blue plastic case and said "I didn't want to give this to you in front of your boys" I honestly looked at the box and thought it was a Dremmel Set. Then I read the front of the box and it said "Springfield Armory". I set the box down and what was in it was my father's .45 stainless steel automatic pistol.

(Springfield Armory 1911-A1 Champion)

Right there, like right now, my eyes filled up with tears and I just looked at him and he nodded.

I just said "Daddy, I can't take your gun."

"The other .45 I have is your brother's and it's time for you to have this one."

I gave him a huge hug and told him he wasn't supposed to make me cry on Christmas. And for the first time in a long time, he actually hugged me back.

Why is this so heart felt for me???? Let me tell you....

I was raised in a home with lots of guns. I shot silhouettes competitively starting at the age of 8 with a .22 rifle. My brother also competed and actually went to the Olympic training center twice. I was raised with a great respect for guns and was taught to be responsible with them at a very young age. Guns and shooting was very much a family activity for the first 12 years of my life.

Any trip we ever went on, my father always...I mean always carried a stainless .45 with him. Not this stainless mind you, but it was always a stainless .45 automatic. When we would go to the practice range, he always let me shoot it before we went home. He always made fun that I could empty a clip faster than anyone he knew....but I always hit the target several times too. At anytime I looked at the top shelf of his closet, there was a stainless .45 right in front with the magazine beside it. Over the years my dad has had hundreds of guns, but that one was always in the front. When methhead pulled the gun on me in Smith's parking lot, I called my dad and told him what happened and that I was waiting for the police, when I got home he had the .45 out just in case methhead decided to visit.

This gun symbolizes to me the respect I have for my father, as a parent, protector and teacher, and for him to pass it on to me I hope means that I have finally earned his respect as well.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

BE SAFE!!

The Unexpected Gift

http://peebugg.blogspot.com/2006/12/unexpected-gift.html

Christmas 2006

Christmas 2006

http://peebugg.blogspot.com/2006/12/christmas-2006.html

Trip To Purgatory--HELLA SNOW!!!

Well okay, I've seen more...but not in a while..

Special Note to Blog Buddies: My computer is flippin broken some kind of memory thing and I am stealing the teens to do this. I will get to everyone's blogs as soon as he leaves and I can get to his computer in his overly messy room.

Had to return the boot to the ski resort and my mother insisted on going. I don't know why....but she went with.... We of course had to stop by Starbucks on the way out of town and get two Venti White Chocolate Mocha's with vanilla and some carb snacks (butter criossant and a scone)

Note: Try to remember that mom isn't open to me taking pictures while driving down the highway at 65mph. She has no sense of adventure.

I didn't have to go see the sheriff. I went to find the head of security at Purgatory. There was massive amounts of skiers up there and I am sure he was swamped to the guy at the info kiosk radio'd him and told him I was there he said "Thank you very much" and he said he would tell the deputy that I returned it. No Foul, No Harm...I guess....

We stopped at Honeyville on the way home and I got my dad some true Honey Mustard for the meat fest tomorrow. Snagged mom some strawberry rhubarb jelly and Amaretto whipped honey.

We also had to stop at JCPenny's in Durango (mom has 500.00 in gift cards for that place she gets for selling eyeglass frames at her work) We got a few things and then headed home via A&W for a gallon of root beer for the boys.

DramaMama came by to brave the clutter filled house and had some egg nogg minus the nogg. We visited for a while then she had to return to her family festivities. It was cool. Later I had some more egg nogg with the nogg and ended up crashing out early.

I'm a cheap date, what can I say......

Note: Don't try to fix the blogger beta slide show thing while boiling eggs for deviled eggs tomorrow. when they run out of water they make a horrible smell and a very loud POP when they finally explode...

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

Trip To Purgatory--HELLA SNOW!!!

http://peebugg.blogspot.com/2006/12/trip-to-purgatory-hella-snow.html

CHRISTMAS GIFT

Ashton informed me that he is much too old to sit on Santa's lap....the Scrooge!!!

We braved the mall today to confront Zumie's about the teens ski jacket. We paid almost $300.00 for it and he has worn it twice and yesterday the zipper broke. She was way cool and gave me 25% off of the ski pants we bought and gave me the info for a seamstress the store uses for her to fix the jacket.

Because the teen will be going snowboarding for a week, he got another suit for Christmas among other items.

Then as we were snacking in the food court....ring ring goes the cell phone.

It's my mom...hysterical and in tears saying my dad's truck has been confiscated. I said..."What, it can't be I have the truck out at the mall." Quickly I have the teen go check the parking lot and it's still there.

Whilst snowboarding with friends in papa's truck yesterday....there was drama

They parked in front of a friends condo because the kid said they could. Then as they were leaving the mountain they saw a paper on the windshield that had something written on it....that the teen claims he could not read. There was a boot laying against the tire that they just picked up. It wasn't locked on or anything so they threw the boot in the back. A purgatory worker walking by told them they might as well since he knew they didn't have the money to pay the $200.00 fine. So the teens blazed a trail home.

Well of course Purgatory security got grandpa's license plate and then reported them to the sheriff's department when the same worker went and told that they removed the boot. Hence the call to grammie.

I've talked to the Sheriff's deputy and he was really cool (wonder if he is single...I have a thing for guys in uniform) I told him I didn't think they were being malicious, they were just teenage boys that thought they were in the right. He said he would talk to security. Then I told him I would be more than happy to pay the $200.00 fine and I would return the boot.

Hopefully AJ won't get banned from Purgatory.

How's your day???

After post note: The deputy just called. I only have to return the boot tomorrow morning and all is good. No fine, no banishment....YEAH ME!!! and THANK YOU MR. DEPUTY.

One of these days I will have to stop standing between the world and my teen, but I'm just not there yet.

CHRISTMAS GIFT

http://peebugg.blogspot.com/2006/12/christmas-gift.html

Trip Well Done!!

We survived the trip to Albuquerque and so did they!!

We left here about 600 am and made the traditional stop at Dunkin' Donuts for munchkins and chocolate milk. We were on time and all of us in a good mood. The gamecube and dvd player were hooked up and the boys had their headphones on and were actually getting along.

It is a 189 mile trip one way and about 100 miles into it my cruise control kicked out, check engine light came on, and a green flashing light came on. I pulled over and got out the trusty owners manual. The weird looking green light meant my full time 4 wheel drive had failed or broke or was just emotional....I don't know. But the book said to take it to a dealership when as soon as possible and I could keep driving....so I did.

We we stopped for a candy and bathroom run and when we got back in and I turned the car back on, the check engine light was gone. COOL!!! I drove the rest of the way without the cruise control just in case. You never realize how much you use the cruise control until you can't...

We got there and methhead's wife had been called into work so it was just him and his mom. The boys don't really remember her. Especially Alec, he was only 1 or so last time he saw her. Anyway, they opened presents. Then they gave their dad and MeeMaw their presents and they opened theirs. Then we went to eat where methhead's wife works as a a waitress. They claimed the food was great. Mexican food made by Greeks????? Needless to say it wasn't great but it was eatable. Methwife got off of work while we were there so they wanted to take the boys to a toy store to get them each one more toy of the boy's choice. So we braved Coronado Mall. This mall was the biggest in the state when I was younger and it was PACKED with people. We were gonna stand in line for Santa Clause, but the line was about 2 miles long and we had to leave ABQ by 300pm....so we just went to the toy store. The boys each picked out a toy and then a plastic weapon. Alec got a battle axe and Ashton picked out a sword.

Alec asked me to "untangle" his axe after they were purchased it. Then in the middle of the mall methhead whipped out his rather large knife (didn't think he could have one on parole and it wasn't a pocket knife) to cut the ties on Ashton's sword. I just looked at him. He quickly got the Marines' attention at the toy store for toys for tots. I told him to put that away unless he wants to get arrested in front of his kids again. He just looked at me. Idiot.

Anyway we got back to their apartment and they played and talked to their MeeMaw while I hooked back up all the electronics in the back seat so they would be entertained on the 3 hour trip back.

We actually left on time and was home by 6:03 pm....

How was your weekend???

Trip Well Done!!

http://peebugg.blogspot.com/2006/12/trip-well-done.html

The Fog Is Clearing!!!

Feeling better now that I am not taking dayquil. What is the deal with that???? I have felt horrible for about a week now and started taking dayquil 2 days into it and I wasn't getting any better. I finally got sick of trying to swallow PILLS (thank you O'Gherkin for that snicker) and stopped taking all medicine and I was instantly over night better. Maybe my dayquils were laced with a cold virus....hhhmmmmmmmm

Anyway, I took a vacation day today and got all of my Christmas Shopping DONE!!! Well except the eyebrow powder for my mom and it's at Dillard's and I didn't want to brave the mall just yet.

I am totally insane...and got Ashton these....

But, it has a volume control.....so it's not as bad as a traditional drum set.

Alec got a keyboard and.....

And the teens main Christmas is...he is going to Park City, Utah to snow board for 5 days with his friend and his parents.....so the cash for that is his main gift.

I have ordered the smoked ham for dinner and my parents are bringing ribs from Outback Steakhouse and I am sure my father will sneak in some giant shrimp for him and the boys to munch on while dinner is getting ready. We usually have multi meat for Christmas and a few sides....my dad is a meat guy.

How is your shopping and Christmas festivities planning going???

The Fog Is Clearing!!!

http://peebugg.blogspot.com/2006/12/fog-is-clearing.html

EEErrry glow

I thought there was something seriously wrong with my camera or that my house was haunted....When viewing the picture on my camera I just saw a glow...I had to down load to the computer to figure out that "Buddy" aka Damn It Cat, had managed to get on that high shelf and hide behind the pictures....

I've been in a dayquil coma the last 4 days and I have tomorrow off!!!!YEAH!!

Ashton's birthday party is Saturday. We are going for ice cream sundaes and french fries and then he and 8 of his friends are going to see "Happy Feet". I hope people show up!!!

Sunday we are venturing to see methhead for Christmas visit. Despite last weekends b.s.. His mother will there...so Joy for me... Methhead, his wife and his psycho Cajun mother....

Wish me luck.......

How's your week??

EEErrry glow

http://peebugg.blogspot.com/2006/12/eeerrry-glow.html

Ever Feel Like This????

I am right now.

The Teen just brought me his "senior" stuff. $287.00 for cap, gown, tassel, announcements, thank you's and the cool name cards. $57.00 for senior pictures, $60.00 for a year book. I'm not even going to bring up the season pass to Purgatory , new snowboard boots and bindings and new snowboarding suit... or the $872.78 I just spent fixing his truck...for a new power steering pump and hoses, replaced a broken fender and some kind of bearing joint shock thingie on the front driver's side.......

I have pretty much spent my whole weekend at my parents' house helping them. Took my mom to smith's yesterday and then to wal-mart today. Somehow she hurt her arm so not only am I the watch dog...but also the heavy thing lifter and reacher for stuff on the high shelves. I redid her kitchen cabinet shelves and put all the canned food on the bottom shelf. She had a lot of food on the higher shelves but neither she or my dad could reach it and they wouldn't ask for help....I just did it and didn't say anything. Then I moved back all the stuff on the outside of the house that the painters moved. My dad started to yell at me and I just snapped back "Well, you can't do it and it needs to be done!!" he then said okay and told me where he wanted things moved too.

For Christmas, I am doing a 2006 scrapbook for her of (hopefully) everyone...even my butthead brother....well maybe him, I will include my nephew though. I am also going to sneak her falling apart wedding album out of her house and hopefully get it scrapbooked without her noticing it's gone.

Have you started your Christmas Gift Adventures yet????

Ever Feel Like This????

http://peebugg.blogspot.com/2006/10/ever-feel-like-this.html