Day 69~

Dear AT&T,

When we found out we would be moving, I called and set up a move order for our phone lines, fax line, and internet service. You said, "No problem. This will be a seamless move. Simply plug your equipment in when you get there." Sadly, we have had many problems. We went a week without our landlines. You lost my two business lines, as well as our fax line. You then told me that even though you were responsible for losing them, that once they were gone you could do NOTHING about it. You made me go through 3 supervisors before you were miraculously able to give me back ring master and the numbers we pay to advertise in your yellow pages. Now that you have resolved all those issues, I thought I would show you what my inbox looks like when I'm forced to go 10 days without internet access in my home. I am afraid that if this is what a 'seamless' move looks like, then I'll wait to move until you no longer have a monopoly on the landline services I've grown accustomed to.

You customer for now,

Dana D

P.S. It would be simply smashing if you could get my wireless internet up and running sometime in 2010.

Christmas Card Explanation

This is a copy of the Christmas card our family sent out this year. Isn't it cute! That was my initial thought! We sent out about 200 cards and have managed to create quite a bit of chatter. Unfortunately the chatter isn't positive and it isn't about how sweet my joys look. It's not about their sparkly, little eyes! It's also not about how festive the card is. It's not even about the fact that the picture was taken at the Clemson vs. USC game in which my beloved Tigers beat the Gamecocks 23-21. (Remember our "not good" seats!?!)

Somehow, my witty little "A House Divided" phrase under our names, has created buzz that Superman and I are getting divorced??? And announcing it on our Christmas cards??? OOPS!

So let me explain... I grew up a Tiger. My parent's house is about 4 miles from Death Valley. Even if the Tigers weren't the best team around, I'd still have loved them, because they pretty much played ball in my backyard. Superman, on the other hand, has been a semi-dedicated Gamecock. He only became a true fan about a decade ago. And that was only so that he could give me and my beloved Tigers a hard time.

Our oldest joy is a Tiger! I raised him well! However, somewhere along the way, Superman managed to brainwash my littlest joy into pulling for the Gamecocks! It's a travesty! And my heart breaks a little bit each day!

Where we live, your family is called "A House Divided" if members of your family pull for opposing teams. I thought it was cute to use that catch phrase on our Christmas cards, because of what the boys were wearing, and because the photo was taken at the Clemson/USC game. It was just a simple little Dana-ism! I had no clue my poor Nana Mae was going to start getting phone calls from family members thinking we were getting divorced!

One more time, let me set the record straight...I am married to the sweetest, hottest, strongest, bestest man in the world! He cooks better than me! He lets me stay home with our boys! He's gorgeous! He sends me shopping when he thinks I'm stressed out! He takes out the trash! He spoils me! Did I mention that he's gorgeous?!?! As I tell him on a daily basis, I'm keeping him forever! We are "A House Divided" in terms of FOOTBALL only!

And even if he wasn't such a gorgeous male specimen, I'd still keep him!

Because he's an awesome cook!

And he's strong!

And he's the best daddy in the world, next to my own daddy!

Oh, I got lucky!

And...where was I? Sorry for getting a bit sidetracked. That's what happens when I talk about Superman. Well, let me be honest, I get sidetracked just thinking about Superman!

Anyway, here were the two Christmas card possibilities I printed and narrowed it down to for this year:

(And the second option really looked like a complete rectangle. I just got a little happy with the post-it note trying to cover up our names!)

They were both cute cards! The boys were both actually looking at the camera in each photo! But, for some strange reason, I decided to think outside the box for this year's card. I always do a card with a picture of the boys and Santa. This year I wanted something a little different. I thought I'd do something a little less predictable. I'd shake things up a bit this year! Well, I guess I accomplished my goal! I shook things up!

Sorry Nana!

Merry Christmas!

DOG FIGHTS---military-style, not Michael Vick-style

So, I've been debating as to whether or not to even post this...I'm afraid of what STRANGErs might google dog fights and end up viewing my blog. But, I'm the type of gal that pulls for the underdog (no pun intended), hates injustice, and has her own unique opinions about the way the world should revolve. Yet I also believe the best way to lose a friend is to debate religion or politics. With all of that said, this is not a debate! It's my opinion, and my own little rant of the moment...

What does it say about the world we live in when I must clarify that my sweet C's latest obsession with military planes, tactical maneuvers, and all things related to the History Channel's Dog Fights show are in no way related to the heartless, selfish, greedy world of the recently publicized dog fights involving animals?!?! He's just a nine-year-old little boy who inherited his Paw Paw's love of the military!

For example, when we were at the museum and he spied the aircraft carrier and war planes on exhibit and loudly declared, "Look Mama, dog fights! I LOVE dogfights!" heads spun around faster than the propellers on a plane in flight! Seriously! So I did what any other self-respecting mother would do. I used one hand to point in the direction of the plane display, and I used my other hand to cover my face as I shook my head in disbelief!

I then stood there and listened patiently as he gave me the step-by-step, part-by-part, maneuver-by-maneuver explanation of what surely would have made any airplane historian or military tactical analyst proud! And to be honest, for once in my life, I was thankful that my little C was broadcasting all of his knowledge to the top of his excited little lungs!