Weekend Happenings, Blog Linkage, Thanksgiving Prayer Circle

Good Friday morning!

RANDOMNESS #1 - You may or may not have noticed Bev, Katie, Roxie and I didn't go on a photo shoot Monday. While the rain did indeed stop, hair, humidity and living in Alabama were huge considerations.

We did, however, take a little road trip to the BEST STRIP MALL IN AMERICA. We ate soup and salad at Hart & Soul, walked down the sidewalk until we reached Homewood Antiques and then drove to Steel City Pops for a dessert... because we had been so good just eating lettuce and broth for lunch, you see.

Steel City Pops was closed Monday.

We were not pleased.

Katie and Roxie at Hart & Soul. (It is such a groovy little place.)

I found "JOY" in the Homewood Antique Mall.

I love it when I find "JOY!"

I kept going back to this traffic light.

I asked myself the three important questions:

"Do I need it?"

"What purpose would it serve?"

"Where would I put it?"

The answers were as follows:

"NO!"

"NONE!"

"I have no idea."

And yet... I think I need it.

I was surprised when Roxie tried on this little hat. And then I was surprised how cute it was on her. And then I was surprised when she said she wanted it for Christmas.

Can you keep a secret?

I went back Wednesday and it will be under the tree waiting for her Christmas morning. She wants to wear it in the Mountains this year.

RANDOMNESS #2 - Since The Boy didn't come home this past weekend because of intern work, I felt the need to go to him. Mikie, Roxie, Melia and I drove to Gadsden Tuesday night for a Top of the River meal with Austin, and while it FELT like it was 11:04 p.m. riding home on the pitch black highway, we arrived home a little before 9:00... which wasn't bad, at all.

I didn't tell Roxie, Austin and Melia to hold hands while walking through the parking lot.

However, Roxie did turn around at one point to say, "Are you getting a picture of this?"

I'm pretty sure that makes it a "planned" picture and not a "candid" picture.

I still like it.

Mike and Roxie are supposed to go to Jacksonville next Monday night to watch the JSU Women's Basketball Team play Samford. (I may stay home and watch Duck Dynasty re-runs with Joshua Monday night.)

RANDOMNESS #3 - I went to my rheumatologist yesterday for my six-month check-up.

And, no. I did not develop arthritis upon turning 50.

I developed arthritis at the ripe ol' age of 39.

I'm special that way.

Anyway, the receptionist always gives you a picture of a skeleton and you are instructed to shade in the areas which are giving you the most trouble.

Sometimes I shade in the brain area, and my Doctor patiently explains to me I can't have "arthritis of the brain," and I just laugh and laugh because I think I am hysterical.

But this week, I took extra-special care to heavily SHADE IN my big toe on my right foot.

For the past six months, it has been dealing me fits. It feels like it is broken, but unless my "arthritis of the brain" has kicked in, I cannot recall doing anything to break it.

When I sat down with my Doctor, he looked at my "skeleton" and said, "I take it your big toe is bothering you?"

"Uh, yeah!" My Doctor is a genius!

And then he looked at the big toe on my right foot and the big toe on my left foot and there was no noticeable difference.

Then he held the big toe on my right foot in between his hands.

"Your toe is hot. There is fever in that toe."

I thought perhaps my toe had the flu.

And then my Doctor said something that made me feel 100 years old. "You may have the gout."

"Well, that's just peachy," I thought to myself.

But then I immediately thought, "I'm not going to say I have gout. I'm going to say I have 'toe flu.'"

And I felt immediately better.

One X-ray and 15 minutes later, my Doctor informed me I did not have "the gout." Nope. I no longer had toe cartilage in that particular joint.

"Well, where did it go?" I asked.

"It's degenerative. It happens. I can give you a shot which will help with the pain for awhile, OR you can try a topical solution and see if that gives you any relief."

One guess which option I chose.

That's right.

I'm going TOPICAL, Baby.

The idea of giving my poor big toe a shot where it hurts most makes me shudder... just a little.

All of the above to tell you, I DO NOT have the dreaded toe flu... or gout... or brain arthritis.

But my cartilage is mysteriously disappearing.

Bizarre, huh?

The good news... He said I was good to go as far as walking two miles a day and/or Body Pumping.

(Just between you and me, I was hoping to get a Doctor's Excuse for Body Pump.)

Heavy, heavy sigh.

This is the base of my big toe.

It doesn't look feverish... or swollen... or EXTREMELY painful, does it?

My big toe is a trooper, I tell you.

RANDOMNESS #4 - In other news, Roxie played in her FIRST EVER HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY BASKETBALL GAME last night (for a little while)... and they won! Yes, they did.

We are undefeated, Baby!

Roxie's sweet friend, Taylor, started last night. Roxie was SO proud when they called Taylor's name to run on the court. She could hardly contain herself. (And Taylor was awesome.)

This is NOT Roxie's best look... but it made me smile.

GIVE...

ME...

THE BALL!

When your brothers are 6'4" and 6'5", you learn to R-E-A-C-H at an early age.

Blog Linkage - Go to www.thewiegands.com and read yesterday's post entitled "Coffee Date With Me."

She made me feel right at home.

Thanksgiving Prayer Circle

Of course, I found this on Pinterest.

Of course, I tweaked it a little.

Of course, we're doing this Thanksgiving Day.

Put a picture of a family member on a popsicle stick and put the sticks in a jar. Have each person pick a stick, sit in a circle and take turns going around the room praying for the person they picked. Be sure to say why you are thankful for him/her.

(I'll post a picture of this tradition in action next week!)

Weekend Happenings

Mike is taking Josh to the Original Pancake House Saturday morning... without me... once again. (I'm happy for them. Really. I am.)

The Boy is coming home Sunday morning.

I'm cooking Sunday dinner.

Sunday afternoon, Bev, Katie and I are going to try the photo shoot thing one more time (without wind, rain and humidity).

If you're wondering what happened to my Weekend Happenings List of FUN, it's been thrown by the wayside this particular November weekend as everyone does "their own thing."

Which is fine, because Thanksgiving weekend is MINE! ALL MINE!

Have a stupendous weekend. I'll be back Monday with pics, last-minute Thanksgiving ideas for you and yours and Randomness. Always, always Randomness.

Take care, and I'll talk to you next week.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda

P.S. I have a treat for you. Grandmother wanted a professional portrait taken of my nephew, Zac. However, she said if I got a "good one," he wouldn't have to go to the portrait "place."

Let's just say Zac picked the lesser of two evils... Aunt Belinda.

How cute is this guy?