Happy birthday, Chenel

We were happy to note on the news this morning that the world's oldest dog, Chenel, celebrated her 21st birthday today. Mz. Virginia's one dog of hers, Nell-dog, a Boston Bull Terrier, who lived in her late teens. But she doesn't believe she had one live quite as long as Chenel.

Amazingly, the dog who held the title previously was a lab named Bella, who lived to be 29~you heard us, 29!!~but who passed away, leaving the title to Chenel.

Happy birthday, Chenel!

Countdown to Lawrence

Yesterday marked the two week countdown for Mz. Virginia's trip to Lawrence. She wants everyone to know how much she is looking forward to seeing them. Of course, she is as always, a bit apprehensive about the journey, as trips take her out of her routine and are a bit tough physically. Also she will miss her cat. But all in all, she is happily looking forward to the visit and to seeing that new great-great grandson.

She has been troubled by the news about Bob and Kristy, but she also displays the same deep spiritual calm I have always seen in her. Her prayers are definitely rising to heaven for her family.

Rebecca and I took Mz. Virginia to the cardioligist on Thursday, and as usual, we had quite a jolly visit. The doctor has warmed up to us all considerably since Mz. Virginia told him a few visits ago, "I think you could find another medicine that could kill me" when he took one medicine away (that had proved harmful to her) and wanted to replace it with another. For some reason, this seemed to greatly improve his bedside manner. This time, he even talked to us about his recent 50th birthday, told us how he was prom king in high school and showed us his big 70's hair picture. I could almost see him with one of those big combs boys used to carry around in their back pockets.

It is always entertaining to take Mz. Virginia into the public realm.

Birthday Whirlwind

The last two weeks have been a birthday whirlwind on Country Road in Skiatook. First Rebecca had her birthday week, which ended with a birthday bash and the aforementioned surprise visit from Jenn. Then Rick's birthday came along, and there are some nice new plants around the front of his house to commemorate it. Mz. Virginia had wanted to buy him a cake, but we found out that he likes pie just as much as she does, so there were birthday pies for both him and her. Rebecca bought a lemon and a chocolate pie, and Barb and Denny bought an apple crumb pie when they visited on her birthday. Barb also bought a nice outfit for Mz. V and a pretty flower plant for Rick's front porch.

The weather is stormy here, but there hasn't actually been a lot of rain. The sky just teased us all weekend, huffing and puffing and blowing around til finally on Sunday night it quit taunting us and dropped some rain. It is back to teasing mode this morning. We wonder how long it will make us wait this time...

A Wonderful Surprise

Saturday evening, Mz. Virginia was treated with a wonderful surprise...a visit from Jenn! It was perfect in every way except for one thing. "It was just too short," Mz. Virginia says with a wistful smile.

Not much other news to report except that Mz. Virginia is anticipating Rick's birthday on Wednesday, which is the day before hers. I (LWJ) will be dispatched with the task of buying two big pots of plants/flowers for his front porch area...a job which I will find very pleasurable, since I love to garden. I'm sure a cake might find its way back to the Petty house as well...

Mz. Virginia is tired today, but when she perks up, she looks forward to sharing some more family stories with you. She is also looking forward to her trip to visit everyone in May.

Mz. Virginia's Price is Rightism's

Funny things Mz. Virginia says during The Price Is Right.

1. "Well, there's another fatty."

2. "Quit your flopping around on the floor."

3. Well, look at her...she'd better not gain one more pound."

4. An obese woman wins a culinary trip through the South, Mz. Virginia said, "Well, that's the last thing she needs."

5. After several episodes of women hugging and squeezing Drew Carey, "I worry about his back."

6. "I just love to see a man win a car. It just means so much more to them than if a woman wins a car."

7. "God, look at the tits on her. She's about to flop out of that shirt."

8. "I hate that hairy beard. I would never kiss him."

9. "The men on this show are about as fat as the women."

10. "Oh gawd, she makes Drew look thin."

Just a Nice Morning

The last week has been relaxed and quiet and we are ending up the week with a nice Friday. Rebecca came over this morning and had coffee with us and we talked about everything from my (LWJ) daughter's speeding ticket to Mz. Virginia's big car wreck in the eighties to Rebecca's upcoming birthday. Just a nice morning with girl talk.

Mz. Virginia weathered the weekend snowstorm quite well, though it seemed to make her a little tired. This is normal when any kind of weather front comes into play. Saturday felt like Christmas with four to six inches of snow on the ground...March came in like a lamb and went out like a lion this time.

Mz. V says to tell everyone she is alive and thriving.

A Nice Weekend Visit

Mz. Virginia was happy to receive two special visitors this weekend, Carol Lee and Alan. She was especially appreciative because it is a four hour trip each way, "A lot to make in one day." As always, she was so glad to see them and visit with them and reports that the cat stayed right at her side the whole time, eyeing the visitors warily. She looks forward to seeing them again in May when she travels to Kansas to see the baby.

Physically she is feeling as well as can be expected. She managed to dodge a bladder infection that tried to take hold last week and is glad to see spring is coming. "One more week and spring ought to be here," she says. Of course, spring in Oklahoma likes to make a grand entrance, with tornadoes often threatening. But Rick had a storm cellar installed a couple of years ago and has a survival kit~complete with flashlight, radio, first aid kit, etc.~ always ready to go should threatening weather approach. Sometimes when I come in the morning after a stormy night, I will find Rick's survival kit sitting by the back door at the ready.

Grandma tries to stay ready during stormy weather as well, keeping her clothes on at bedtime rather than dressing in her gown, and keeping her medicine and purse ready to go. "I won't take the cat down if we have to go though," she reports. "Becky's dogs would be down there." She knows the cat would be more likely to survive on her own, as it would take an act of Congress to get the creature to go down into that hole in the ground.