10/3 x 48

Last year, I sacrificed myself of the altar of ritual humiliation by sharing several charming photos from my growing up years. I have no intention of repeating that today. Instead, I choose to do it by sharing some pics from this past year. Some have been posted..others are new--I hope you enjoy them!

But before that, here's a prayer attributed to St. Theresa of Avila. I'm going to try to remember this every day this year......

To everyone who reads about my life at Maison Cou Rouge...thank you for being part of my life.

Oh, and thanks again, Mama...I love you!!!

Lord, keep me from the habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.

Release me from the craving to straighten out everybody's affairs.

Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details- give me wings to get to the point.

I ask for Grace enough to listen to the tales of others' pains. Help me to endure them with patience. But seal my lips on my own aches and pains- they are increasing and my love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by.

Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally it is possible that I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably sweet; I do not want to be a saint-some of them are so hard to live with- but a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil.

Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places and talents in unexpected people and give me, oh Lord, the Grace to tell them so.

Make me thoughtful, but not moody; helpful, but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all-

But thou knowest, oh Lord, that I want a few friends at the end.

Boy and me after he placed 3rd in 200m at the state track meet in May

Debo, CruiseGran and Jula with me in New York in November

At the Grand Mosque in Kuala Lampur in April

Bratislav and Borislav--aka "Big Bro" and "Little Bro" -they've been with us on Symphony then Serenity so long, they are family

Last Formal night on Serenity in April..yes, BIG, that's you.

Mama and me in NYC

Sister Mary Martini and the Goth at her Halloween party last October

Georgia Running Back Coach Tony Ball with me at Football 101 Fundraiser in June- I played fullback (like Boy) and I had just caught a pass in the scrimmage!

Grumpy Guy should know by now not to mess with my dessert on Symphony..especially if it's chocolate!


Our whole family on Symphony this summer- we disbursed Aunty Mame's ashes.

At the Pagoda in Burma in April

And finally early this morning.....October 3, 2008...

Boy not looking too awake...wearing his "away" jersey for the game tonight

Doesn't Girl look silly with a bow on her head at HER age??

I got bling!! An X's and O's tennis bracelet with diamonds!

Just Curious

I just looked up from my desk and saw

There are 16 men in neon yellow vests, a bobcat, a backhoe and a hydraulic dump truck scraping up the grass near the sidewalk directly across the street from me.

Wonder what's up.

Ah, my tax dollars at work again!

Oh, and for my knitting buddies, here's a pic of the finally finished baby blanket for Kate, my friend's newborn daughter. Yes, FINALLY FINISHED!

My adaptation of a Danish pattern for the Crown Prince's baby blanket. Lisa Souza Merino Sock yarn in "mother-of-pearl" colorway.

Alabama Head Coach Arrested

BREAKING NEWS... AP-Tuscaloosa Authorities arrested Alabama head coach Nick Saban in the predawn hours Monday at his home in Tuscaloosa on animal cruelty charges. Saban, 56, was charged with 85 counts of animal cruelty in an alleged attack which occurred Saturday night in Athens, Georgia. Police said that as many as 92,138 witnesses saw Saban and a large group of violent young men under his control hit, kick, crush and destroy a large pack of mostly-docile bulldogs. One officer was quoted as saying, 'I haven't seen bulldogs treated this badly since the Michael Vick case.' Developing............

It’s better to laugh than cry

Thanks, Charles, for the heads up....

HEY LARRY!!

Boy's stats for Friday were 15 carries for 144 yards.

(Ok, ok, I know I could have called, but I'm trying to make up for not posting alot recently. Sue me...wait, don't take me literally!)

Oh and he just got word he's a National Merit Commended Student. Two appearances in the Sandersville Progress in one week. Scary. With our local weekly paper, the only people whose names appear twice in one week are little old ladies whose cats needed rescuing......

Applications Now Being Accepted

When days are crazy and/or difficult, it is imporant to have friends who will lift you up. I am blessed to have a few. I hope I tell them often how much they mean to me.

Here's a gift from one of them, Layne. Made me laugh. Made me start speculating on who could fill the positions available.

Five tips for a woman.....
1. It is important that a man helps you around the house and has a job.
2. It is important that a man makes you laugh.
3. It is important to find a man you can count on and doesn't lie to you.
4. It is important that a man loves you and spoils you.
5. It is important that these four men don't know each other.

Interested parties, please apply to the following, stating in which position(s) you are interested.
Please address all emails to :
Elizabeth
Goddess
Maison Cou Rouge
elizabeth@maisoncourouge.com