Saturday, February 26, 2011

Henry goes visiting

Henry's first visit with my parents. Heart wrenchingly wonderful!











Henry and his sweet Mama

Location:Ninny and Dede's house

My favorite room

So, my favorite room in the house? My closet!



An old picture frame that I made into a bulletin board



This mirror has been in my bedroom, ALWAYS! Since I was a little girl...


The chair was my grandmothers, as was the mirror. Yes, that is a tv, Papa Joe gave it to me.



The painting to the right of the mirror was a gift from Joan Andras, a watercolor from Paris. The desk was salvaged from a farmhouse Papa Joe owned. I sanded and painted, new nobs, etc.. (Jake helped a lot!) So do you understand why I love it?

Location:Home

Friday, February 25, 2011

Snowy Friday

We woke to a snowy morning here...


This light is in our back yard and has a great story (well I think it does). In the early 1970's my parents were redoing the patio in our family home. Jimmy Fernandes, my Dad's best friend brought this old Jacksonville stop light to my parents as a gift. It was then installed as the cornerstone of the new patio. In the early 2000's, the new owners removed the light when they redid the patio. One of the workers was given the light and he stored it in his barn for about ten years. Last year, when Papa Joe and I redid part our kitchen, Dave Ryan, our friend, was working on it, and told Papa Joe that he had the perfect light for our backyard. He had this light in his barn and told Papa Joe the story. Funny thing is, I had just told Papa Joe about the light the week before, wondering what had happened to it.. So in a way, the light has come home, and is now in our backyard. I love the history of it and the memories it evokes. So thanks Dave, and again, thanks Jimmie! And, thanks Papa Joe for installing it in our yard! here it is this morning!



And below is Jared on our new piece of equipment at the Y. He no longer minds removing snow. This mini beast has POWER! And now the grounds crew likes me, I got them this great toy!



So happy Friday race fans! Fun story! I was sitting with some of the Y's After School kids yesterday (they had misbehaved, and I was making them all have a time out. Yep, I am mean). One young boy, aged 8, asked me to turn on the television, in a time out, COME ON! But, when he told me that he wanted to watch the SPEED channel, I almost gave in! I told him, trying to be cool, you know, that I had been to Daytona, and he said, "so? My Dad took me to drive go carts." ok, reality check. Is it my man Junior's week? One can only hope!

Location:Jacksonville, Il

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Another day, more Henry


Papa Joe visiting Henry



Update...Henry has, thus far, been a great baby!



So sweet!!


Papa Joe and his good friend Alfalfa (otherwise known as Ruly).

MY NEW FAVORITE THING!!
For those of you who have IPhones and/or an iPad... I have discovered a great app. (Thanks Micca! ) It's free too! My fitness Pal. I put in my personal information, and daily record what I eat, and my fitness for the day. This is a great app! It tracks my calories. So easy and such a great dietary support. Check it out!

And the peanuts from the peanut farm....sooooooo good, so fresh!

Expecting 3-6 inches of snow tonight... Sitting inside, looking out at the snow, with a sunburn and peeling neck. Really cute.

Location:Jacksonville, Illinois

What I have been doing today

Finley is home, so it is back to normal for us. Papa Joe is busy with his work, and I am back to my normal work schedule. Today has been busy at the Y... I taught Spinning at 6:00 am and again at 9:30.



The I took a class, Angie's Chi Ball.



Come on and join us!

Location:Sherwood Eddy Memorial YMCA

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Home again!

So, what have Papa Joe and I been doing since our mad dash home from Daytona?



Hanging out with Harry, Scout and Finley



Yes, we are babysitting until Finley's parents and baby Henry come home from the hospital!






And an update on Henry? Perfect!!!






Location:Jacksonville, Illinois

Monday, February 21, 2011

More of Henry


The whole family











Henry Frank York

He's here! Henry Frank York, 7 pounds 13 ounces, 22 inches long.
And I made it in time! Thanks to Papa Joe (my Daytona Champ!)


)












Breakfast


Well, we gave in...fast food for our fast trip! Thankfully they have oatmeal!



Location:Monteagle,United States

Morning on the road

So our leisurely drive to Daytona is not being repeated on the way home...we are moving! The baby is not yet here, and we are working our way home. Bless Papa Joe for hurrying. he gets it, this is my girl, and I want to be there.
We spent 3 hours besides the Tennessee River, Papa Joe slept and I was in a frantic text mode with my daughters and sister. Love the fact that my 27 year old still wants her Mama. She went in to labor and called me in a panic, "what do I do?" mind you, she has done this before!



The view out our window this morning. lovely, minus the Florida green! So we had a night by the river!



Papa Joe In his Daytona shirt, the great Smokey Mountains behind him.

Race fans rejoice...we are adding Michigan to our schedule...I will uncover the truth about the trams!

Location:Monteagle-South Pittsburg, Tennessee

600 miles up the road

Sweet Papa Joe is really pushing it. Why? My daughter is in labor! If only she could have waited one more day!! In the hospital, well underway. Bless her heart!!

Location:North of Chatanooga

Sunday, February 20, 2011








200 miles north

We just stopped for fuel. (why do men call it fuel? Women call it gas. Why do men say vehicles and women say car?)


This is what I am reading now...

Comfort Food, by Kate Jacobs
(for some reason I cannot upload photos tonight)

I have enjoyed her other books. Millie loaned me this one.

On the road


What could be more exciting than seeing Junior's hauler? Well,a Gucci outlet, for sure!!! But, it is Sunday night, closed, I am out of luck. Great planning Papa Joe! :)


Location:Florida

Leaving Daytoan

We are leaving Daytona. The Beast is in the tunnel for the last time. What a race! What a day, gorgeous weather! What a week! We are in the minority, most people are staying since tomorrow is a Holiday. Rather bittersweet for us. We have had a great week, filled with so many interesting things.
Never found her Mike, but will this do?



Someone is either celebrating their love, or someone is apologizing. We saw these on our walk this morning! With the behavior I have seen here, you just never know.



Ben and Liz working hard this morning...


We headed over to the Fanzone, one last time, and saw Junior's car heading in for inspection


He still had the Pole...and in my mind this was what the Pole would read at the end of the race.


Alas, no. Dirks Bentley was in concert in the Fanzone. That was a fun surprise!



The man in the straw hat, is The Cat in The Hat, team owner Jack Roush
The next one is for my friend Peggy....Mark Martin.



he is my age, and probably the most physically fit of all drivers. Built like a jockey.


Ok, who is this??? He is a football player for Green Bay..attended the Drivers meeting with a Wisconsin driver.Anyone know??? Brad??? Jody???




Another view...
Leaving the Fanzone and walking to the race, we saw Todd Bodine's motor home, truck and golf cart (with personalized plates: Onion, leaving. Todd is basically a Camping World Truck driver (a frequent winner) and at Daytona he also drove in the Nationwide race.



Well, the race is on Sunday...


Something I am going to investigate... The Trams. They say NASCAR, not Daytona...I wonder if they haul them to all the races... Anyone know?



And this was BEFORE the race started...



Amazing pre-race concert, fireworks and all... Brad Paisley



He was looking at me, right???
And the National Anthem? None other than the amazing Martina McBride...she was wonderful....!!!


The flyover at the end of the anthem..spectacular. But you have already seen flyover photos. The Driver introductions were cool, and they emerged from a tunnel and walked through the crowd in the infield.


And the driver of the pace car...the Grand Marshall...none other than Josh Duhemal!
And this is the end of my race photos...I hope you all were watching The Great American Race on television..I was waving to you! A very touching tribute to Dale Earnhart, during the 3rd lap, all in attendance held up 3 fingers, and the entire track was silent. (he drove the number 3 car and died in a wreck on the final lap at Daytona 10years ago. Junior ran a good race,in the top 15 most of the race.There were wrecks and cautions galore..it was exciting. I was certain that my man Junior was going to pull it out..every time he was in the lead, however briefly, the entire crowd was on their feet. He is truly NASCAR's favorite son. If only he hadn't wrecked..if only! Papa Joe wanted to head to Phoenix for next weeks race...I have this thing called a job! and a new grand baby about to arrive! One thing I know is,I want to be at a race when Junior wins...I want to be a part of the crowd! This is going to be his year, I feel it!!!

Well, we are on the highway now...heading north. And guess what??? Junior's hauler just passed us! Way too cool!!

More from the road as we work our way home. Papa Joe is driving the Beast like the pro he is. What a fun week!


Location:In the tunnel

Even us...

This is just too much fun! First of all, I missed a time honored tradition in the infield last night. Wheelbarrow races. Cute friend Ben entered 5 years ago. he and his friend were sure they would win, young athletic.. They got their clocks cleaned by middle aged drunks. Apparently, you cannot make sharp turns with you buddy in the wheelbarrow. I spoke to a cute young security guard this morning, he was non duty last night, saying "man, it was wild, unbelievable!" apparently there were over 100 participants. Liz and Ben told me that one man competed " in the suit his mother gave him." in other words naked. I missed all the fun!!

These photos are when we got the bowels of the beast pumped out.






In action, Papa Joe is watching



When I took this photo, the man on the left said, "man, she wants a photo of me, the shitter man." I could not even make that up. I commented to the man on the right that I did not think I would like that job and he said "I would, shit money all the way to the bank." um, ok

Location:Daytona