NURSING FOR FREE

Oh my HOBL….

He and ladders, together, should be banned.

Two days ago, while pressure washing the house,

he once again, fell off the ladder.

How far he fell is unknown as I was scrapping and

he was outside. We estimate any where between 8 and 12 feet.

How he dragged himself in the house I don't know.

When he called for me he was on the sofa,

in shock and screaming in pain. 

Had to call 911 and Iberville Parish,

well you guys did a phenomenal job as within minutes

they were here. 

He is banged up pretty bad, a broken rib and

many bruises, muscle spasm issues. He is

totally under my beck and call.

Only two years since he fell and broke his back,

thankfully, it seems that the back is still as stable 

as when it healed. The doc. had said if he let it

heal on its own it would be more solid than before.

It is hard to see HOBL like this as he is a man

who is rarely sick. He is in a lot of pain and like

all addicts, the pain medicine game is one that is tricky.

So, I am truly his nurse, "passing meds."

Rubbing him down, pouring Jacuzzi baths, etc.

Again, I say, it is hard to see a man down.

No Alaska for him tomorrow, poor HOBL.

Prayers would be appreciated as this is one lucky man.

Hard not to think what could have been…

paralysis, death, he is a lucky man.

I am glad to do for him, trying to keep my patience.
I know he is grateful as he has thanked me a few times.
Another test, another chapter in this story called
LIFE.

MONUMENTS MEN

Last Tuesday on my Movie day I saw

MONUMENTS MEN

It was full of an all-star cast,

Matt Damon

Bill Murray

John Goodman

George Clooney

the John Goodman is what got me choosing this movie.

I love him ever since the Rosanne days.

I was not sure what to expect but loved it.

Set during the second World War and based

on a true story, a group of common men,

all knowing much about the great works of art

that had been stolen by the Nazi's, IE Hitler,

said yes to the call of training and going into war

to recover the many famous paintings that had been

stolen. Bravery, right?

To go into war without really the knowledge of war

for artwork. Blood is shed, men die.

Later on Sirius XM talk radio I hear a

conversation with George Clooney and the

other actors about the movie, why they decided to do it.

Clooney brings up the bravery of these men all for the name

of art. He speaks of the fishermen who after not 

catching a thing in their nets that day go ashore

and God tells them, "Go back out" they know

nothing is out there and yet, they listen to the call.

They go out only to find their nets filled to the brim.

In some ways the MONUMENTS MEN reminds me

of that Bible parable. Some died all so that we could appreciate

the arts. When looking at it in that light, the movie

took a new life and I would rate it a 4 out of 5.

See it if you have the chance.

When a child stands on a limb..

Sometimes I am mesmerized by things those I love do.

Like, where do they get the courage?

I am very outgoing, very vocal, very honest and outspoken

but I have not always been this way.

Like most teens, I struggled with being teased, looking different.

I was not always like I am now.

It took me many years of growth, adulthood to get here.

So when a child I love does something that I know I

would have never had the courage to do I am 

so proud, so excited.

Where am I going with this?

MY dear sweet Abby Dupierre….

Conquered a beauty pageant and came home with the crown!

Hmmm, wonder if this was on her bucket list?

Shoot, wonder if young girls have bucket lists or is that 

saved for old folks like me?

 I love my ABS! 

 She is my oldest sisters Simone's grandchild,

my nephew and niece, Guy and Lisa's only child.

As a younger child, she and I had this special bond

of miniatures, the one Bean and I have now.

As a very young child, baby days, I could

have her with me, being gentle with some of my

prized possessions. She was one of the only ones

I would ever let even near my things. We also

shared a special "Language".

Because of all these things, our bond remains pretty close.

Okay now all that being said,

Abby decided she wanted to try a beauty pageant.

She had never done this before. Having watched TEdi-girl

in a pageant a few months ago, I knew

the skill it takes to be in a pageant.

Some of these little women had been in pageants since infants.

So, here is Abby, having been more of a "Play in the dirt"

type of child before, asking to be in a pageant.

Her Mom and Dad, always being her best fans,

allowed her to do it and supported her.

Followed her lead when asking not to tell anyone

as she thought having too many there would make her nervous.

They even gave her to the last minute to decide not to do it

if she changed her mind.

She, not only did not change her mind, but came home with the crown!!

How did she learn all that was needed to win her very first pageant????

I know a little bit about the pageant world because one of

my TES students had been in pageants since a baby and

still holds a crown. I know that there are many negative things

people speak of about pageants but knowing Sheridan Duet, it has

taught her so much. Grace, kindness, working to help others

as she bears a crown. Sheridan is an all around wonderful child

because of the lessons she has learned from being a queen.

Now it is Abby's time to shine.

Her year of being the queen of this organization will have

her traveling, working, meeting many other girls like her

who hold crowns not just because of their beauty but also

because of what they possess inside.

What a weekend for the Abby D!

She came home from the above picture, where she had a crown

placed on her head, to come home and dress for a ball...

Another stunning dress with our beautiful Abby

so she could attend a military ball with a friend.

MY DEAREST ABBY

YOU AND I, WE HAVE SHARED A SPECIAL BOND

SINCE YOU WERE VERY YOUNG.

NOW, EVEN THOUGH, WE SPEND LESS TIME TOGETHER,

WE WILL ALWAYS BE CLOSE, ALWAYS

BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT ANYTHING BECAUSE

OF THAT CHILDHOOD BOND. 

I AM SO PROUD OF YOU, NOT BECAUSE YOU ARE

NOW A QUEEN, NOT BECAUSE YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL

BUT BECAUSE YOU FACE YOUR FEARS TO TRY AND

FIX THEM. YOU ARE NOT AFRAID TO GO ON A LIMB

AND TRY NEW THINGS LIKE A PAGEANT.

YOU KNOW WHEN YOU NEED HELP AND 

YOU ASK FOR THAT HELP.

YOU ARE JUST AS COMFORTABLE IN A TSHIRT 

AND COVERED IN DIRT, WORKING ON 4-H PROJECTS

AS YOU ARE IN A FORMAL.

I PRAY FOR MANY MORE MOMENTS SPENT WITH YOU.

WHEN I LEAVE THIS WORLD, I HOPE YOU ALWAYS

HAVE THE MEMORIES WE HAVE MADE AND THAT

THEY MAKE YOU SMILE.

I HOPE THAT MANY TIMES IN YOUR LIFE, YOU WILL

DO SOMETHING AND A MEMORY OF US WILL 

COME INTO YOUR HEART.

I LOVE YOU, MY DEAR ABS! 

PROUD OF THE QUEEN YOU ARE, 

THE QUEEN YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TO ME,

YOUR AUNTIE LIL

yeah… the camera broke...

A situation where the bad news is also the good news.

Although I was able to save my pics on the SD card 

from Disney, my camera came home broken.

Why is this bad news?

Well myself without a camera is like a

fish without water. My iPhone (although getting a new one)

takes okay pictures, but not the kind I want.

The Good news?

Well it's broken and I cannot fix it.

The only way I would buy a new one would be

for my old one to break. 

Now I am researching camera's.

It will be a bigger kind, one that I can

play around with photography.

Also hoping to take a photography class possible

at LSU.

SO if you have any suggestions on a camera

for a novice photographer….

You input appreciated.

Mindy, sweet, sweet Mindy

We all, when raising our children,

think they are special. We want the world to see what

we see and yet, to us they are special but to the

World, there are many like them.

Then there is that one child, that one who grows up

with your own and you just know something is

different about them. You love and would never

trade your babies but there is that one 

child in their circle of friends that you wish would

rub off on your own.

I speak this morning about one of those dear ones, Mindy Guidry.

She and Baby boy, being the same age, grew up together.

Wherever baby boy's life took him, 

there were small smidgens's of Mindy.

She was the child who was always happy,

always happy. Bubbly, in your face, happy.

Baby boy being a boy, I don't think understood where

a girl gets all this energy, so much emotions.

She had no enemies and if you didn't like her,

well, to Mindy it didn't matter because she was

going to make you her friend through "in your face"

kindness. To know her is to love her.

She was born like this, remains with the same qualities.

Yet, I was the kind of Mommy that watched lil Mindy.

Was she every unhappy? You would never know it.

I am sure to live the life Mindy did, she must have had

times when life was not so easy and yet, you would 

never know by her face. I watched this child grow up

and then in adulthood, kind of lost tract for a tad.

Then through a tragedy I was back in touch with her.

Robert died and she again came into my life.

She was a bestie to Ash who was Rob's girlfriend at the 

time of his death and Mindy was working in the mall.

One day she pulls me aside to explain just how

BB would call Ash every few weeks after Rob's death

to check to see how she was.

You see, this is Mindy.

She is such a special young woman but no emphasis on

her as she explains to me something wonderful about

my own son that I would not have known if it were

not for Mindy sharing this with me.

She is that kind of person. The one who focuses

in on others instead of having the focus on her.

She is now a kindergarten teacher and I remain

mesmerized by this child, this woman.

She is truly one of a kind and I am so thankful that

I, with the help of social media, can see all happening in her life.

I followed as she fell in love with a most special man,

(who I wonder if he understands the gem he has found)

I followed as she loved and bragged about her sister's

children, being the godmother to all three.

I marveled at the home she and her love bought together

on the bayou side and all the wonders they have done

to the home. I wondered when this man would

ask this gal to marry him. Just a few weeks ago, he

pulled off one of the most beautiful engagements,

asking for her hand after a race they had prepared for.

Mr. Haney, you are one lucky man, for if this girl

continues to live her life on the path she has always

followed you will always be loved, always be told

just how special you are.

If you are lucky enough to have children and raise

a family with Mindy, you will have hit the jackpot, the lottery.

Now I find she also has a love for scrapping and scraps

with some of my own pals, Ash and Vera!

Now that girl plans a wedding, I am so darn happy for her

as well as being such a small part of her most awesome life.

Many, upon meeting Mindy may think that girl has to be fake.

There is no way a woman can be this happy, this silly,

this awesome all the time.

I am here to tell you, it is true. For her whole entire life,

she has exuded this happiness this "Never grow up"

Peter Pan life and I want to be just like her, 

when I grow up, that is!

Mindy you keep living, you keep dancing, you keep making 

the world a better place when most are just trying

to mess it up. I have followed you since you were

5 years old, and you have always had something special

in you. I am sure even your parents realize that

you are something special and watch you in awe, in 

honor, so proud that you call them yours.

Those godchildren of yours, the luckiest kiddo's in the world

just as each child you teach.

You plan the wedding of your dreams, I will be happy

for any small part I can help with,

even if it is to just look for old fashioned view masters…

Mr. Haney, smart, smart man when you put a ring

on that finger! Love you, Min….

following a wonderful weekend...

I had the best ever weekend DTB but boy I miss

my Bean!

 I mean look at this picture.. who would not

miss that sly smile, going get her at school today!

 Saturday, amongst all the people I visited over the weekend

the most rewarding was the party we gave our 95 year old

Uncle Luke. The Collins gals missed his party because

of a late season hurricane threat so we surprised him

with lunch and a long visit. 

Two of his kiddo's, Chris and Elizabeth also came for the day.

My Mommy's only brother, full of stories for us and

a few times, as he spoke he became choked up.

I think seeing us all, brought back many memories of his

baby sister and his best friend who was my daddy.

I would not trade this day for any amount of money in the world!

But today, this afternoon, I miss my Bean

so gunna be a Mumsie/Bean afternoon,

I mean like who can't miss this little sprite!

Always up for an adventure with the Mumsie...

FEBRUARY 9TH...

So proud of the long weekend I spent on the Bayou,

my home towns. Yet, I have to put that post on hold…

You see, February 9th will forever be one of the most

important days in the Riera lives.

Ten years ago, on this very February 9th, Baby boy

called his daddy and begged for help to end the hell he

had been living. He started his life of sobriety and since

then has made such a beautiful life.

I am at my bestie, Laurie's house when I check Facebook to

find two women who love Baby boy the most posting

how proud they are of him:

Katie Guilbeau Riera

February 9

Today marks a decade of my husbands sobriety! Words cannot express just how proud and thankful I am for your DAILY decision & commitment to be sober! You are simply amazing! Jillian, JoLee, & I love & adore you more than you'll ever be able to comprehend! Congratulations on such an amazingly challenging milestone/accomplishment! — with Roddie Riera.

To be loved like above by your wife, a truly amazing thing. I often say, I could not have picked a wife for him better than he did. KD was not there when he first sobered so she knows only the stories we tell of the BB he was then. Yet, she understands what a big accomplishment he made when he 

chose sobriety. I am touched by her writing, I love this child.

But it is gypsy baby's post that has me crying, so that I cannot read her post

aloud to my bestie:

Us parents, we raise our children in hopes that we do enough

to teach them how important family is. I tried my best to always

have BB and Gypsy be close, have each others back.

So when you read something like this, it takes your breath away.

I cried, I cried because I know when my life here is over,

when my children make arrangements to bury my body,

they will hopefully have each other.

For that I am so, so, so very proud.

HOBL and I, we have done lots wrong but in the case

of the babies and their relationship with each other,

we have done something very, very right.

Gypsy baby, she rarely talks openly in social media about her

life so for her to post this to her brother, well it's a big feat.

In so many ways, so many ways, she is the real hero, the

silent hero in the story of Baby Boy's sobriety.

I am so proud of both of these Riera kids

but Gypsy, well she is my baby girl and I am so very proud of 

what she is, what she stands for, what she still has in her

future to become. I know she would say I am her "Rock" but

really, it is she who is mine,

Congrats Baby boy, for 10 years sobriety, forever, forever

I will be grateful for the life you chose, the one that is clean, the one

that is drug free,

and you Gypsy… well, no words, none can explain what I feel for you.

My life would suck without you in it

Love, Momma

A PARAGRAPH THAT EXPLAINS...

If you follow my Instagram account, 

there I speak of books I am reading and/or love.

If you don't have an Instagram account (IG)

look into it, it's another great resource for sharing.

 So much in love with this book.

Love it so much that I went to Barnes and Noble and

bought the second book the day it came out, in hard cover,

at full price! Something I rarely do.

Having a B&N card saved me some, that made me happy.

Okay, onward!

I was surprised to realize these books are considered young teen

reading. Wish they had books like this when I was a teen.

This book is for all as it is fantastic!

I think one of the reasons I love this authors work is because

of the paragraph below.

The author (Ransom Riggs), like me had a hobby of searching

garage sales, thrift stores, antique places

for old photographs, He, also like me were infatuated with

the photos of children. Each time I find one, my mind

right away goes to a story the picture tells me.

I thought my mind was unique.

Turns out there are others like me out there.

He took his love one big step further, he wrote a book

surrounding those treasures.

Needless to say, there would be many things written

in this wonderful book that I can relate to, such as:

I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN.

IT WAS PART OF THIS PATHETIC CYCLE MY DAD

WAS CAUGHT IN. HE'D GET REALLY PASSIONATE

ABOUT SOME PROJECT, TALK ABOUT IT NONSTOP

FOR MONTHS. THEN, INEVITABLY, SOME

TINY PROBLEM WOULD CROP UP AND THROW

SAND IN THE GEARS, AND INSTEAD OF DEALING

WITH IT HE'D LET COMPLETELY OVERWHELM HIM.

THE NEXT THING YOU KNEW, THE PROJECT

WOULD BE OFF AND HE'D BE ON TO THE NEXT ONE, 

AND THE CYCLE WOULD START AGAIN…

IT WAS THE REASON HE HAD A DOZEN UNFINISHED

MANUSCRIPTS…

This is me!

If you love to read, if you just like to read or 

if you don't like to read at all, this is a series I bet would

have you reading regardless on where you stand on the

reading wheel. It is the "Harry Potter" of the year,

it has been picked up by Twentieth Century Fox

so a movie will be coming soon.

THROUGH THE MOUTH OF BABES

Oh our dear, Ellie-Pie.

There is none sweeter than our Ellie-Pie.

She is the baby of the 4 Plaisance kiddo's,

loved by all her older siblings.

We share the fact that we are both the "Baby"

so we can relate in that way.

See that little smirk above? Well that about says it all.

We love her, unconditionally.

No  pressure applied to this one as we all

try to keep her little for however long we can!

 She and gypsy baby have a very special bond.

No matter how much time goes by that they don't see

each other, they remain close, if they are together you can

bet Ellie will be in gypsy's arms.

She is a witty little wee one.

Last week, when being home-bound for snow days,

something we rarely get here in South Louisiana.

The tyke decided it was a fine time to make

a list of all the things she can and would do during

her few snow days.

Well, it was just too precious for her Mommy not to

share with us, all who love her.

Okay, notice the boxes and the check-offs…

Seems she achieved all her goals.

Let me relay her messages just in case:

1) MY LITTLE PONY

guess that means play with them, whatever, it has a check.

2) TV

3) PLAY WITH MY TOYS

check

4) READ

check, Auntie Lil achieved this one too, El!

5) CISS MOM

that would be kiss….

6) HANG OUT WITH HUGH

haha has three siblings but hugh, being the oldest

is the one she would prefer hang out with.

7) LOOK AT SELFY'S

that would be selfless and every time I read that

one i LOL

8) LOOK AT COOKBOOKS

okay???? that is the martha stewart part of her like her mom.

9) SMELL THE FLOWERS

ohhhh the sweetest, yes, it is snowing and ice

and yet she checks the box, she will find flowers

everywhere.

10) TAC A NAP

take a nap, i agree!

What an honor to be her Auntie Lil as

to know her is to love her!

Thanks Ellie-Pie for reminding us all

to smell the flowers, even when they are covered with ice,

………….

oh and to look at selfies!

Memories abound me..

 Treated myself to the movies yesterday after house cleaning

for three days…. yep, three days…

As much as I love this house, takes a long time to clean..

Anyhoo, back to topic.

I have been wanting to see AUGUST:OSAGE COUNTY

It's full of famous faces,

Meryl Streep, Julia Robertson, Abigail Breslin.

I am the only one there until an older lady and 

her much older mother walks in.

I hear the daughter speaking to her mom,

"Hold on to the rail Mom, until your eyes get used

to the light"

'Take your time"

 Instinctively  I put my popcorn down to help.

They are appreciative as I guide her to her seat.

So much I want to say…

"Enjoy this day"

"Appreciate your mom"

"Take her to the movies, casino, Bingo,

whatever she likes"

"Tell her you love her…"

I say none of these things.

I only watch and for a bit, envy,

I go back in my memory to a time when my Mommy

lived with me and the babies were still under my care.

Many Sundays, we would go to church, get lunches

from Randolph's, fried chicken with gumbo included

and after eating, head to the Palace in Houma for a 

movie. The kiddo's loved these Sunday's so did Mom.

For me, some of my favorite times.

It was a great movie, and I wasn't even bothered

by the elderly woman's questions to her daughter.

It made the movie better.

Our Mommy loved the movies, glad we did it often.

CONSUMER REPORTS:

Lately I have had some sort of 

"BLOGGERS BLOCK" 

Nothing seems worthy to the blog.

I have written them and then when rereading,

just didn't feel they were good enough.

Today, i decide regardless of what I think,

I am going to post whatever I write.

I download my pictures from my phone in hopes

of finding something to spark a writing.

I then realize my life is sometimes like one

big Consumer report.

I swear I should be a salesperson,

Like my dad used to say about my Brod-in-law, CJ:

"That man could sell a pair of shoes to a man with no feet"

For instance, I look at my instagram posts and

realize maybe none of this is blog worthy but it is

what I seem to be posting so here it is…

 If you are someone who journals, then you probably have

heard of SMASH books by C and company.

Their prices usually begin around 15 dollars,

right now, at TJ maxx you can pick some up for 5.99!

all kinds and all sizes… a super deal, so that I picked a few,

they make great gifts!

I receive this catalog in the mail and although I have never

ordered from it, it has much that I love.

I send it to KD because she is beginning to think about deco.

for the new house…

These recliners…drool….

wish I needed new recliners because these would be marked.

MINE!

 When I clean house I have so many ideas through my head,

yesterday, I begin to drink my weight loss chocolate shake

and have to post this,

Equate weight loss shakes, in my favorite A&W mug

I bought at a thrift store…

It is the best tasting shake I have tried,

in an iced mug, with my Mommy's favorite root beer logo

on it… everything to love.

So if you are looking for one of those protein shakes

this brand is not only cheap but very good tasting.

EQUATE is the BRand,

I buy it at Wally World.

 My last consumer report is the best…

CEDAR EASY WRING….

Trying to download my video so I don't have to explain the

whole thing… but because it does not want to download…

My great neighbor, Linda, called me over a few months

ago to check out her QVC mop…

I swooned at the spinners the bucket had and the short 

stands on the mop heads. Of course, I wanted  needed

that but I am not in to "delayed gratification"

so at my next visit to WAllyWorld, had to take a look

and there it was, one very similar to LInda's but 30 dollars cheaper.

IT lacked on spinner in the water but the top spinner was the one 

I needed.

OMG! you will never have to touch dirty mop water

again. You place the mop head in the top spinner

press a foot pedal and it wrings your mop.

Unlike all other mops, to change the mop head is simple

pop it in and out, get an extra one so that you can

always have one in the washer and one on your mop.

It has been the most advanced thing about mopping since

I don't know….

Yes, I think I could get a job for consumer reports…

Lilly Riera, signing out.