A Tradition is Born

I can't begin to describe how in love with Mardi Gras I am. The first day we were here we went to the inaugural parade of Ocean City, Mississippi. My camera was nearly dead but I managed to grab this shot of a door wreath...

We got some fantastic beads which started our quest to double our bead count at every parade. I will tell you, after Mobile yesterday we are going to have to get BUSY at the next parade.

Yesterday we went to Bellingrath Gardens and had a fantastic time before heading into Mobile, AL for oysters and parade fun. Here are a couple of highlight photos with descriptions to follow.

If Michael Jackson can dub himself the 'King of Pop'...

Then I'm perfectly content dubbing myself "Queen of the Idiots." I have to say I'm really quite content with my life. I enjoy my apartment. I love my family being near me and I'm fearing that addictive force may keep me in Montana far past my planned stay here--we'll see. But when all is going so well I just have to throw in a little spice to keep myself off kilter. This particular spice always comes in a 'man' flavor. It's really quite amusing how predictable I am.

My favorite saying, or one of them, is "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."

And yet...

See? Go get ready for my coronation.

Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart.

Darling Apartment,

I can't believe it's been a year! I love that our anniversary gives me an additional reason to celebrate February 14th. Today I carefully swept and mopped your floors after repainting the cabinets. I could feel that you were happy with the facelift. At your request, I'll wait until you're fully healed to post pictures. I know it's gushy to write to you publicly like this and you'll probably be upset at me but I don't care! I must shout my love for you from the rooftops! I couldn't be happier to have a partner like you in my life. You're amazingly comforting, you're warm and you look dang good in red!

Just know, my love, that my heart is yours. I don't even *look* at others since I met you. I know we're not promised forever but I hope we can take every beautiful day at a time, appreciating the time we've been given.

With all my heart and most of my income,

Stephanie

Sing a happy song! January is O.V.E.R!

I'm sorry for the absence. I was busy you see. I was channeling my inner-Tina-Fey and telling January to "Suck it!" Turns out yesterday, it finally gave in!

The trial didn't go the way of Alycia's family. And, in case he has Google Alerts on his name, Dr. Brent Lee of Fair Oaks Anesthesia Associates was found 'not guilty' in the wrongful death of my friend. Dr. Lee, you know what? I will always think that you were the axle in the wheel of incompetence that killed my friend. I would wish bad things on you, I would. And often do, actually. But I won't put them in writing. I just want you to know that it's obvious to any thinking person that you were just trying to avoid getting your ass sued for any rash action. The nurses there that night told me so. Your body language told me so. There's fault all around, yes. We both know it. A guy who says his passion is 'war surgery' should be far more daring. You screwed up. You were afraid. And because of that, you killed my friend. I hope you always remember. And, if nothing else, I hope it changed you in some small way.

And that's all I have to say about that.

February is going to be spent finishing up my semester and adjusting to a few changes. But my taxes are done! And my semester soon will be! So, overall, not a bad start to the year. And by 'start' I mean February 1. Because January really should be abolished.