This is MY Year!

It is about time.  It is long overdue.  It is past time for me to focus on me.  And that is exactly what I'm doing in 2014.  With age comes wisdom and most recently what I've learned is that you cannot put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket.  "Can't nobody make me happy; can't nobody make me sad."  So, with that being said, I decided to quit trying to look for happiness somewhere else. I need to make me happy and to be happy, I need to look better and feel better.

I have been overweight my whole life.  My sister would say that I was even an usually fat baby.  (I cannot believe I am going to type this).  I just reached the point where I was miserable.  I knew that I had to change.  So, starting January 1st,  I started eating better--no soft drinks, more whole grains, more veggies, and things I thought I'd never eat regularly like hummus, Greek yogurt, and turkey burgers/turkey sausage.  Aaaaannnnnnddddd...I bought an elliptical machine so I've been exercising.  The first day I got on I thought I might have a stroke. I honestly thought I could hop on and immediately start back where I left off years ago when I frequented the gym and did 5 miles in 45 minutes.  Wrong.  Very wrong.  The good news was, I had some amazing motivation.  First, there were some people in my own family who laughed at me when I told them of my plan for a healthier me.  I will prove them wrong.  Then, there was motivation of which we will not speak as it goes back to putting the key to my happiness in someone else's pocket.  Never again, but most mornings it does drive me to sweat it out. 

Now, I'm not saying I'm Jillian Michaels, but I do feel better and have lost a little weight to boot.  It's going to be a long, slow process, but I will do it.  I have to do it.  I have amazing friends who have been my cheerleaders--I can't thank them enough.  Who knows, by the time I blog again, you might not even recognize me. 

Total and Complete Randomness

In true Moochie Hart fashion...it's been a while.  The first 8 months of 2013 have passed all too quickly--I can hardly keep up! Here's a quick run-down:

January:  My New Years Resolution was to exercise more.  I exercised 3 days with my niece Maggie.  Epic FAIL! I also resolved to attend Wednesday night church services more frequently.  I actually have been doing pretty good at that one, so...score one for me. And finally, the highlight of January was when I hung my foot in my purse strap getting out of the car at church and, you guessed it, fell out into the parking lot.  It all happened so quickly that I might have said a word completely inappropriate for church.  Natalie was so upset about it that she requested prayer for me in her Sunday School class. I needed the prayers for sure.

February:  Kendall & Katie Carty (my college roommates twins) had their first birthday party.  I fell down in Kohl's after the party--my mom and Maggie witnessed the whole thing.  We laughed until we cried and Maggie insisted that they'd watch the security cameras later and replay my crash over and over and over.  She was probably right.  Just one more reason for me to never show my face there again. The highlight of the month had to be a last minute invitation to the UK vs. Missouri basketball game at Rupp with Gina Campbell Baker.  We cheered our Cats on to an overtime victory.  They couldn't have done it without us. 

March:  Nothing too exciting happened in March apparently.  As a UK fan, there certainly wasn't any March Madness going around, only devastation when Louisville won the national championship.  I have some very good friends who are Cards fans, so I'll just stop right there.

April:  Cass turned 10 and George Jones dies--all on the same day.  More devastation.  I cried like a baby watching his funeral!!

May: Operation Hoarders starts!  My mother insisted that we clean out the basement and remodel some of the upstairs in preparation for her knee replacement surgery.  Lord. Have. Mercy.  My dad was a hoarder before hoarding was cool.  Over 40 years of junk to go through and my dad I'm sure was laughing from the grave.  He saved everything! The original toilet that was in put in our house back in 1976 was sitting in the basement...broken...but taking up space because my dad wouldn't throw it away.  We filled up a dumpster and have partially filled another and there's more to go. 

June:  My mom has her knee surgery and did very well.  I ended up with a staph infection on my face and it was gross...but intriguing as well (if you love to pick at things and I do).

July:  eh..busy with work and with the bluegrass festival.  blah.

August:   A very successful RWAYH2 on August 10th and a very successful year 10 of the Lake Cumberland Bluegrass Festival.  Now, I can breathe easier and hopefully sleep a little better at night!!

Cass and Eli are showing cattle, Natalie is playing softball ALL the time, and Maggie is in the high school marching band.  They keep my hopping, but I realize that all too soon, they'll be "big" and won't want to hang out with their old Aunt Moochie so I'm trying to spend every single minute I can with them and I cherish every second I'm with them.  They are the very best part of me.

 Anyway, Life is busy. Life is full.  Life is good. I'm anxious to see where the next few months lead me...I'm just glad to be along for the ride.

It's Almost Christmas...

Hey Jack! It's almost Christmas, or the end of the world if you believe that crazy Mayan prediction.  Either way, I'm prepared.  My shopping is finished, my gifts are wrapped and I'm so excited to watch my nieces and nephews tear into their presents! In spite of the hurt the Hart family has felt over the past year, I realize how completely blessed I am; there's food on my table, a roof over my head, clothes on my back, love in my heart and peace in my soul.  What more could a girl ask for?

I used to hear people talk about heaven and how they longed to go and I always thought they were a little over anxious.  I mean, hellooooooo...I'd rather live, right? But, the older I get, and the more I miss my family that has passed, I totally get it.  Heaven really does sound and feels sweeter every single day.  It really does create a longing in which I really cannot describe.  Just last week I had two very vivid dreams about my MaMa Coffey.  Now, if you know me, you know that my MaMa Coffey was the berries; she was the icing on my childhood cake...the sweet little old lady who always made you feel loved and welcomed.  Oh how I miss her! She's been gone since 1998 and I just cannot wait to see her again!! Then I think about my PaPa Coffey who passed before my parents were even married--to think that he will know me and I'll know him too.  Talk about a first meeting!  And of course, what a great reunion too with my dad and his parents...and Sarah...and my MaMa Coffey...it's all so exciting to think about, so it seems that I too have turned into one of those people who long to go.  It's not at all scary, but like I said, a very real longing. 

Whew, that was random. 

So, who watches "Duck Dynasty" on A&E?  Best. Show. On. TV.  I'm hooked.  I'm in love with bearded men.  What's not to love?  They're southern (love it), they have dimples (makes me weak), they love God (that's the BEST part), they're funny (do you know me?), and they love their family.  I think I'm a long-lost cousin! I have to say, Uncle Si and Jase are my favorites.  If  you've never watched it...you should. 

Anyway--Merry Christmas! And, should the world end tomorrow, don't worry about me! I'll be hugging, singing, meeting new people and getting reacquainted with some people I've been missing; what a day of rejoicing that will be, Jack! Hey!

Random Thoughts

I guess here lately I've been thinking a lot about my dad; it's hard for me to believe that he's been gone almost 6 months. I still have a hard time referring to him in past tense and I suppose that will just take some getting used to. Not a day goes by that I don't think of him--sometimes with a tear but often with a smile.

I had the distinct pleasure of having my dad be my pastor for a number of years and it's odd what sticks with you. I guess I've heard my dad preach thousands of sermons through the years but there are parts of a few that have really stuck with me. If you knew my dad, you knew he was uber emotional. He was a big man with a big, tender heart. He was the man who, even after watching "Steel Magnolias" numerous times, cried every single time they unhooked Shelby from the machines. He bawled watching "Rudy." He cried at commercials, cried when he heard a moving song, cried when passed the graveyard and saw that they had dug his mothers grave. My dad...the big old softy. He cried every single time he preached and every single time he'd lead in prayer and to me, that means something. To me, it meant he loved deeply and cared much for his family, his friends, his flock. I just don't trust people who don't cry! That just isn't normal!

As the preachers child, we were at church every single time the doors opened. Missing just wasn't an option, so we never even asked to stay home. This may sound bizarre to some, but when that's all you've ever known, it's just the way it is. Some of my most wonderful, moving experiences have been at church and I'm glad that staying home never crossed my mind. Here's a couple of insightful things I distinctly remember my dad preaching about: once he preached about what he called "CEO's." You know--"Christmas and Easter Only" church members. We all know church members like that and it made me chuckle remembering that particular sermon. He also said once that ''we like to sow our wild oats and then pray for crop failure.'' There's a lot of truth in that statement.

Preachers kids have a hard time and this is a fact; if you think we're the wildest/meanest/worst kids ever--it's just because we hang around with the Deacon's kids!!

Don't Trust...

Here's a few things to be wary of on the path of life (you can still love 'em though...I do):

Men who wear toupees. This is a sign of vanity and is it really safe for a man to be more vain than a woman?! NOT to be trusted. This also goes for men who wear nail polish and eyeliner. Certainly raises eyebrows...speaking of which...

Women who draw on bad, eyebrows. I can spot a bad drawn-on job from 50 paces. You really have to watch those women who have bleached blond hair and draw on big, black brows. Oh yeah, we've all seen her, and chances are, we're afraid of her. One should be wary of THAT lady simply because it's obvious she doesn't care...to look good...to smack your face...or to steal your husband.

People who bite their nails. Don't trust them in pressure situations; they're nervous.

Use extreme caution when carrying on a conversation with someone who has a catch-phrase. I say this for THEIR safety. How many times can you hear, "ya know what I'm sayin' " before you want to choke that person? After you hear it a couple of times, just excuse yourself from the conversation.

Another person to be wary of is the man/woman who constantly calls you 'sugar,' 'honey,' 'baby,' or 'darlin.' While it's perfectly acceptable in the south to address someone as 'honey' if someone does it repeatedly, it's because they haven't taken the time to learn your name. We are ALL worth our names being remembered. True story.

In the Facebook world--there are tons of people to watch out for and I'll caution you not to become one of the following people:
*The person who posts a picture of every item of food they eat (no. one. cares.)
*The person who has 9400 self portraits (vain? yes. you don't see the hot people doing that by the way)
*The person who feels the need to use completely inappropriate language in every status update (simply a cry out for attention for a person with low self-esteem)
*The person who will cut you down one minute and quote a bible verse the next (by your fruits we shall know you...and your fruit is, well...rotten)
*The person who can't spell worth a darn and they're a TEACHER?!?! or the person who can't differentiate between "you're, your, their, there, too, to, and two." Don't ask this person to help you with your homework.
*The hopeless teenager who has falls in and out of love every week. Would that child's parent PLEASE pay some attention to their child?
*The grown adult who is SO in love that they want the world to know. Here's a newsflash: the world doesn't care. Get a room and tell your mate in private.
*The person who re-posts a picture of a mutilated child in hopes that Facebook will donate money to help them get a new face/leg/eyeball...guess what? Facebook isn't The Peace Corps or The Red Cross.

Now, having said all that, let me say this: I love people. I am fascinated by people and the little idiosyncrasies that make us each unique. So, I don't want people to change--I want us all to just be who we are and be proud of who we are. In essence, embrace your toupee, and your big, bad eyebrows if that makes you happy...I certainly don't care--heck, I'm entertained by you and I love you, sugar...honey...baby...darlin' !!!!

Wild As An Outhouse Rat

I've been thinking...and I've been listening and here is a burning question. Just HOW wild is an outhouse rat?

My mom said to me last week, "he's always been wilder than an outhouse rat" in reference to someone living hard. That got me to thinking about rats...and outhouses. The first I want NO run-ins with and the second, I'm actually pretty familiar with. When I was 3, my dad was called to pastor a little country church with no indoor plumbing, so between Sunday School and preaching, the women would make the trek to the 'outhouse.' It was a two-seater which in itself is odd to me--the women would just go just two by two in the outhouse, do their business, carry on a conversation, pull up their drawers and think nothing of it. I get the nervous bladder now when I think there's someone in the stall next to me, so how on earth I could use the outhouse then with someone on the 'hole' next to me baffles me still. One of the older ladies would always say to me, "Don't forget to flush." Nothing like a little church outhouse humor.

That got me to thinking about outhouses...did you know that in Australia they're called "Thunderboxes?" I'd say! In New Zealand "Long Drops"...and if you were rich your outhouse was made of brick thus the saying, "she's built like a brick #@$%house." (who says my blog isn't educational)??!!!

So back to my original question...just how wild IS an outhouse rat? Some would say that the saying refers to a crazy person and not an actual rat in the outhouse, but I'm not convinced. I think if I were a rat and my home was an outhouse, I'd probably be pretty wild--wild about escaping!

This is my random thought of the day...be careful out there so as not to be accused of being "wild as an outhouse rat."

A Few Things I Miss

What a world we live in! We just keep evolving and growing and trying new, bold things and I'm not always sure that progress is indeed progress. From the way we dress, to the way we work, to the way live...we think we've got it made, but do we really?

I was off work last Monday in observance of Martin Luther King day, I turned to the History Channel and was intrigued by the MLK coverage. I wanted my nieces and nephews to sit down and watch with me in hope that they would learn something about him and understand why they were on a one day vacation. What struck me as interesting was that they were talking about these poor--I mean the poorest of poor--black southern people and these people were dressed to the nines. Men in suits and hats, women in hats and heels and pearls clutching a 'pocketbook.' I miss the time when people took pride in their appearance. What would they say about what we wear and call progress today? Half naked women with a slit up to there, boys in loose jeans with their butts hanging out--is THAT progress? Hardly. Even the people once considered the lowest class wouldn't be caught dead in the garbs we find acceptable today. And I'll say this too, unless you've been in the hen house--there is no need for anyone to have a feather in their hair. Seriously?

I miss the time when daddies worked and mommas stayed home and raised the babies.

I miss the time where children were raised to say, ''Yes ma'am" and "No ma'am." That's always a sign of a good raisin'.

I miss the time of wooden dentures (just kidding about that). Lighten up.

I do not miss jelly shoes. Or pantyhose in plastic eggs which consequently I would put under my shirt and pretend they were boobs...the eggs, not the pantyhose; one was always bigger than the other.

I miss the time when kids were happy playing with eggs that pantyhose came in.

I miss parents who, when their daughter wanted fake fingernails as a child told her, 'just pretend' and that child wore scotch tape on her nails. No fake nails for kids, please.

I miss the time where people visited. How long has it been since you dropped by a friends house? How long has it been since you've seen your cousins? Trust me when I say this--a true friend or loving family member can visit anytime unannounced. Get out and visit...time is swiftly passing. You'll never regret it.

I miss the time when tonka trucks, little play tractors, baby dolls, board games and crayons were THE things to play with. Sadly they've been replaced with DS games, Wii, Playstations and our imaginations are dull. Kids are smarter, but in a different way.

I miss the time when men, were men. No holes in their ears, no eyeliner, no fingernail polish.

Progress is neither swift nor easy, but is inevitable. I just want everyone to slow down, embrace the moment and not worry so much about tomorrow for it may never come.