Day 559...

Can I just tell you how grateful I am right now?? There are no words. I have been through one helluva week, I can tell you that much, at least!

Ok...so it started out because I was an idiot, right? Turns out it would have been stressful regardless, so I'm not stressing over the idiot part any more. I got better things to do...

So, two weeks ago was Bill's birthday....July 30th. Other than sentimental reasons, you would think that wouldn't really be important. But in my world, it still is, even though he's been gone almost 5 years. Why? Cuz my truck's still in his name, and that means in the Great State of Georgia, the tag is due to be paid by then.

So...I forgot to pay it. That was the idiot part. What can I say? Life is nuts right now.

Anyway...on my way home on Monday, a nice young officer with the Conyers PD was nice enough to point it out to me. He was even helpful enough to give me a big yellow reminder...wasn't that sweet of him?

So....after sweating my way to work in fear of being stopped, hat in hand, I called the tag office on Tuesday morning to find out what the damage was going to be...even as I cringed. But monetarily, at least, it was not nearly as bad as I had feared...only monstrous instead of astronomical. Whew! Problem was, when I came in to renew, I had to bring Bill's driver's license. Now, that presented a problem, seeing as he's been gone almost 5 years. I don't actually have his driver's license any more. I've never needed it before...as I pointed out to the nice lady on the phone. Apparently, the laws in the Great State of Georgia changed this year...imagine that...so that you can't renew unless they see the driver's license of the owner...and as I mentioned earlier...the truck is still in Bill's name.

So...I explain the situation, and she tells me that you can't renew a tag for a deceased person any more...the state won't recognize it. And she tells me when I come in, NOT to tell them he's dead. And to bring in a bunch of other documents that will hopefully throw up a big enough smoke screen that they won't ask for his ID.

That afternoon, I sweat my way home, and gather all the documents I need to sweat my way over and assault the tag office on Wednesday, after I sweated my way back to work. At the tag office, they won't let me renew...because I don't have his ID....plain and simple. They didn't even LOOK at all the other documents I had brought, insisting on his ID. Can he not bring it in himself? noooo....he can't. Can he give it to me so I can bring it in for him? nope. Can he mail it in? not possible. What about fax? not. gonna. happen! It is not possible.

Finally, I gave up, and showed her the death certificate. oh, she says. Then she disappears, and comes back later to inform me that I have to get Chrysler to put my name on the loan. hyeah. right.

So, in complete and utter dejection, I sweat my way back to the office, trying not to panic, and call Chrysler. I get some chick with a heavy accent, probably overseas somewhere, who doesn't seem to understand the words that are coming out of my mouth. She wants to send me a form so I can qualify for a loan to assume the loan I've been paying for the past 5 years, so they can make damn sure they're gonna get the last 11 payments. I told her I wouldn't qualify for a loan, and she says that's the only way my name can go on the title. How stupid is that??? The truck is in the name of 'the estate of William Hoffman'. There is no estate, and there is no go-to guy for them. The loan is being held by a dead man. If I tell 'em to come get the truck, they're up the proverbial creek, sans paddle! Would it not be to their ADVANTAGE to put someone's name on the title, for SECURITY's sake?? I explain this to the accent girl, and she puts me on eternal hold, at the end of which she says she's gonna fax over the paperwork to assign me the loan, but it will be at least an hour before I get it. I ask again...will I have to qualify for this? Nope, she says...it will be automatic.

FINALLY...I'm getting somewhere!

I still had to sweat my way home on Wednesday, because of course, it was the end of the day. But Thursday morning, after I had sweated my way back to work, the fax was there, waiting on me. A standard retail contract loan application form. No freakin' way!

So, I had to wait until that afternoon, after the office cleared out, and while they were buffing the floor outside my office door, to call them back...so my coworkers wouldn't hear all the screaming and crying. This time, after MUCH hassle, I managed to get hold of a superviser that spoke much clearer English, thank God...but who was no more helpful than the other girl had been. Nope...they couldn't do ANYTHING to help me. AND he got snotty with me, accusing me of trying to pull something over on them, because obviously I hadn't had any problems renewing the car for the past 5 years, but now all of a sudden...

I think that's when I finally broke down and completely lost it. I was losing my truck...Bill's truck. The last thing he bought, even though he never made a payment on it, not one. The only thing I have left of his.

In desperation and tears, I finally called back my contact at the tag office, and told her what I'd been through, asking her if there was a way the tag office could fax Chrysler a form explaining what they needed, and why, even knowing it was a long shot. And after quite a few hold sessions, during which time she'd come back and ask me a zillion questions, she finally came back and told me to go online and pay it...but that I didn't hear it from them. She gave me the website.

I went online and paid the bill. Just like that.

How freaking rediculous that I just spent a week of sheer hell, pushing me to the brink of madness...literally...for no reason? Is there any sanity in this state? Is there any doubt why we want OUT of it???

OMG! At least I'm legal again. And I'll have to do the same thing next year, even though by then, I will have paid the last payment. But I have no idea how in the hell I'm going to get them to issue the title in my name. That will be a whole new can of worms for me to deal with. But at least, it's a year away, and I have time to work on it. Thank God.

And thank God for Angels in the tag office of this otherwise God-forsaken state!

OA Update a/k/a Day 575...

No, O A does NOT stand for Overeater's Anonymous (although maybe it should), it stands for Outlanders Anonymous! And if you are a 'member', no explanation is necessary.

I met with my friend Julia and two new members, Michelle and Micki on Saturday the 19th for dinner at Houston's in Marietta. We had a ball, as usual, talking about the GM games, and Jamie and Claire (of course), and making plans for future get-togethers. The two M's were very excited, and I think it has spurred them to post more on the online board, which made ME excited. Anything to get lurkers to come out of hiding...

Our next big adventure will be on September 6th, in Cartersville. We're meeting up there this time, so more people can come...we have 3 members who live in or near Rome, and have a hard time getting so far south. So those of us who live farther south are going to carpool...which will be fun for us, too!

This is shaping up to be a pretty big event...the biggest to date, as we will have 7 people attending, maybe more. I can't wait...I know we will have a ball, and probably get kicked out of the restaurant because they are trying to close for the night. That's ok, though...I've been informed that there's a Waffle House just down the street, where we can move the party after closing, if need be!

Plans are also in the works for a bigger event that we're working on putting together for later in the fall, which will involve both Atlanta and Birmingham, and possibly our girls over in SC, too! That would be AWESOME, as I'm very anxious to meet them. More on that later...

IN OTHER NEWS...

Alan and I just found out last week that we're going to be grandparents again. Shanna and Kyle are once again expecting, and we're excited for them. We'll know more about that soon, and I will post the details then.

Speaking of grandchildren, our beautiful granddaughter, Harmony finally learned how to coordinate her movements to roll over yesterday. Yay, Harmony! She's been working on trying to figure it out for a while now, but couldn't get it down. Yesterday, it all came together for her, and she spent the day practicing her new skill in earnest. Mom Krystal spent the day trying to capture it all on video for posterity's sake, but unfortunately, Harmony IS a Kid, and Kids rarely perform on cue...something in the fine print of their contracts, no doubt. If we do manage to get it on film, be sure I will post it on my page so you all can view it and be properly awed and overcome with the emotion of it all...

And speaking of my gorgeous hubby, we spent a fabulous day together this past Sunday, which was entirely too short, as always, but after 3 weeks, beggars can't be choosers. The important thing is...we're down to a little over 18 months now, and counting. I actually picked up a little freebie keyring at the Grandfather Mountain games a couple of weeks ago when I was up there, and I reset it to count down to the day Alan's contract expires with the Not-So-Great State of Georgia. To date, we have 575 days left, which in one way sounds like so much worse than 18 months, but in another way sounds far less. So I think from now on, I will do the same thing as I did last year when I was counting down Shanna Malii's birthday, and use the subject line in my posts as a counter. Maybe it will make the time go by faster, eh?

Anything to make the time go by faster...

Wow, I'm really behind...

So much has happened in the past six weeks, I hardly know where to begin! On the weekend of July 4th, Krystal, Ian and I took Harmony down to spend the weekend with her Poppy in S. GA. We all had a great time, and Harmony got to see fireworks for the first time. She loved them, big booms and all! There's a pic posted under my photos of her, taken in the glow of the fireworks overhead, if you're interested.

Then...

Ever since last fall, when my friend Tracy and I went to the Stone Mountain Highland Games, we've been planning a trip to go to Grandfather Mountain in NC for their games, widely touted as being one of the best games in the country. As we were packing for the trip to TN to stay with my in-laws, we got word that our favorite author, Diana Gabaldon was going to be there. That put our whole weblist into a frenzy, and brought down one of our fellow members from Ohio with her daughter, to spend the weekend with us.

We had the best weekend, ever! Leaving on Thursday morning, we traveled to Elizabethton, TN, met with April and her daughter, Sarah, who were staying there, and drove to Grandfather Mtn, just across the state line. Although it was a rainy night, we were able to be there for the opening ceremonies, and the calling of the clans.

Friday morning dawned bright and clear, and we were back early to enjoy the day, watching the festivities, browsing the vendor tents, researching at the clan tents, and trying Scottish food...including haggis. (Not bad...a little heavy on the cloves, though) Friday evening, Diana would be at a book signing in Boone, about an hour away, so we left the games about 3pm, intending to find the bookstore, and then go explore the town. Once we got to the store, though, we found that there would be no entry to the book signing unless we bought a book at the store for her to sign, and it was first come, first serve. It being 4 pm at that time, and noone waiting ahead of us, we bought coffee, and parked in their cafe for the duration.

3 hours later, precisely on time, Diana showed up, looking like the goddess whose name she bears. She spoke for about 30 minutes and answered questions, then signed our books. What a gracious and delightful lady! Everything we had heard was true, and then some. She rushed no one, taking her time with each of us, and posing for as many pics as she was asked to, even though the store was like an oven from all the people who attended. We got lots of pics, and even managed to get a few autographs for others. Then we left the store, and enjoyed a final dinner with April and Sarah in Boone, knowing that it might be the last time we would see each other for a while.

It's a wonderful feeling, knowing you have friends all over the world. And totally exhilarating to meet them...but it comes with a price. The parting is so hard.

Saturday, as April and Sarah made their way back to Ohio, Tracy and I spent the day with my in-laws, and my brother-in-law Andy, and his wife, Sherry, who had driven up the previous night from Atlanta for the weekend. After a lazy morning of visiting and catching up, we all drove over to Lake Watauga for a seafood lunch overlooking the lake. Later that evening, we drove into the town of Elizabethton for an old car show held on the main street of the town, and then headed to Ft. Watauga for a historical reenactment.

Tracy and I took our time heading back to Atlanta on Sunday, enjoying each others' company and reliving our wonderful weekend. Of course, I've posted pics if you're interested, and I can't wait to tell Alan all about it when I see him this weekend! (All the old car pics were taken for him, incedentally. No, I'm not obsessed...it's research.)

Anyway, that's all the news in a nutshell. That, and my baby is growing like a weed! She'll be 6 months old before we know it!

For My Father ~ Birl Randolph Brown, Sr.

I wrote this last year at the request of my pastor, who wanted a little background info on my dad in preparation for the funeral, and just came across it today. So, since in June, we mark the anniversary of my father's death, and his birth, celebrate Father's Day, and also remember his wedding anniversary to my mom, I thought it might be appropriate to reprint it here...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I don't know how to begin to put down in words….especially short words…all that my father was. A brief history would take days to speak, much less to read, but I will do my best.

Daddy was born on June 14, 1920 in rural South Georgia, the oldest of 6 children. He finished the 8^th grade before being forced to leave school to help support the growing family. He enlisted in the Army in 1942 at the beginning of World War II, and was in the 2^nd armored division, serving as General Patton's personal radio operator. Before the war was over, he had served in 7 major theatres of operation across North Africa and Europe, including the invasion at Normandy, met the Russians at the Elba River at the end of the war, and had earned a Bronze Star for his excellence in keeping 2 crews of electricians leap-frogging in front of the advancing army, setting up communications tents for the commanding officers, sometimes twice a day .

Upon returning from the war, he worked for GA Power for ten years, during which time he met my mother, Maudie. They had a wonderful marriage, which gave them 3 children over the course of 27 years…their oldest daughter, Ann, an only son, Randy (who later died in 1987), and me. Right after I was born in 1963, my mother was diagnosed with M.S., and daddy took care of her for 10 years, often working 2 or 3 jobs to support the family, while also putting himself through law school. By the time of my mother's death in 1972, I was the only one living at home, and daddy went to work for Southern Bell, accepting a job in the central office in Forest Park, where he met my mom.

Kitty, who had one daughter, Sheryl, from a previous marriage, was in the middle of going through a very painful divorce, and that pain of separation was no stranger to my recently widowed dad. They bonded immediately, marrying on June 21, 1974. During their 33 year marriage, they were soul mates like no others have ever been. Where one ended, the other began. One's weaknesses were the other's strengths. They fought…and loved… fiercely, for they were nothing if not passionate. And that passion encompassed their entire lives, spreading out into everything they touched, and into everyone they loved.

As their children grew, and married, and had grandchildren, and then great-grandchildren, my father's legacy continued to grow. He valued knowledge above all things, and reveled in sharing that knowledge with his grandchildren. Everything in his life was used as an instrument to teach lessons, using his personal history, as well as his knowledge of the world at large. This is the main reason his granddaughter, Alaina, became a school teacher. He was a 32^nd degree Freemason, having received that legacy from his maternal grandfather, which ultimately inspired his grandson, Brandon, to also join the Fraternal Order. And his love of poetry and use of words inspired his granddaughter, Jessica, to also become a poet.

The older he got, the more his world narrowed down to a single window…his computer, and the internet…in which he never tired. His love of reading and writing prose and poetry grew and expanded into a world of geneology, which he shared by email with distant and not-so-distant relatives all across the country, becoming active in the geneological web community, helping others to find links to their past, and sharing the masses of information he had accumulated to anyone who might be interested , as well as many who were not.

My daddy loved to talk and communicate above all things, and no one was immune to being "captured" by him. If he had a story to tell, a bit of information to share, or an opinion about something, anyone in the immediate vicinity was going to hear it…whether it was invited, relevant or appropriate at the time may have been up to anyone's guess, but no matter, it was always, without fail, interesting!

Throughout his life, my dad had always been of a spiritual bent, although not in the traditional sense, but in his last year, he found himself turning more toward the inward parts, and considered his pastor a spiritual soul-mate.

My father was truly a unique individual. There will never, ever be another one like him, and the legacy that he has left to his 10 grandchildren, and 5 (soon to be 7) great-grandchildren, will not only be never forgotten, but continue to be passed on for generations to come.

In summary, my daddy was a WWII veteran, poet, scholar, theologian, Freemason, amateur radio operator, pilot, historian, tri-lingual world-traveller (he was fluent in both French and German), storyteller par excellence, avid reader and web surfer, electrician, scientist, patriarch, and most importantly, he was a most humble servant of the Lord.

In Memoriam...

Today marks the first anniversary of the death of my father. He was a great man, one of a dwindling breed of great men who grew up near the turn of the 20th century. During his lifetime, he went from living on a farm in rural south GA when few had cars and none had paved roads to being on the forefront of the computer age. Few men I know had more hardware savvy than my Dad, and the know-how to use it. His computer was the window to his world, and he relished it.

A brilliant man, he embraced life whole-heartedly, even as he aged and battled the weaknesses in his body, his mind always reached for more. His one great fear was losing the ability to think and reason...and expand his knowledge of the universe around him. A forward thinker like no other, he constantly urged those around him to uncork genii and think outside the box. And he would not rest until we did.

So much of who I have evolved into as I have grown and aged has been a direct result of his teaching...my love of the arts...great composers, opera, art, and literature...always literature. For my Dad was a writer...and had the soul of a poet...above all else. And I will miss him terribly...always.

I love you, Daddy. Thank you.

Check-in Time!

Well, I guess every two weeks ain't too bad, huh? Things have slowed down a lot lately, so there's not as much to report right now. All the kids are stable and maintaining, so that's good. And my grandbabies are growing like weeds...which I absolutely hate, and can do nothing about!

Yes, I want them to grow big and strong...but do they have to do it so FAST?? That's my gripe...I just want them to stay little for a while longer. This time in their lives goes by so quickly, and it never comes again.

*sigh*

Anyway, I'm getting ready to have another GNO with my sisters-in law this week, which I can't wait for...it's been far too long as it is. And I'm finalizing plans for the next Outlanders Anonymous Atlanta Meeting on Saturday. Don't know how big a turnout it's going to be, but I'm hoping there will be some new faces, at least! Unfortunately, I don't think Tracy will be able to come this time, because she was just over here twice in May. Guess she's due for a break...but just for a month or two!

The one new face I'd give anything to see at our meeting would be Grace's..my friend in San Jose, who I can't wait to meet...even though I know I've known her for ages past. But that day is coming....

In the meantime, thank God for cell phones and emails!

Update Time...

OK, so who here DOESN'T know that I have serious geek potential? I mean, come on...it's written all over me...sometimes literally.

Anyway...for some time now I've been involved with this Yahoo! online discussion group for my alltime favorite author, Diana Gabaldon, and I finally got my friend Tracy in AL to read the books...after years of begging, literally...and she got hooked enough to want to join this group too. Now, this group is made up of people all over the world, which makes it kinda neat...and I've made a couple of really awesome buddies on this list, a couple of whom are in my friends list here. *waves*

I finally started talking to one girl who lives fairly close, and we decided to try to get together a couple of weeks ago, for coffee, and so we could actually meet in person. One thing led to another, and we wound up putting out an all-points bulletin on the board for anyone who lived in Atlanta and wanted to join us. We wound up, even on short notice, with 5 people coming (one being Tracy) and more who said they would have if they could have planned ahead of time.

We met at a restaurant in Snellville, and had a BLAST...a real girl's night. Wound up closing down the joint and still weren't through, so we said good night to a couple of the girls, and three of us took the party to the Waffle House to continue our conversation over coffee. I can't remember when I've had such a great time just gabbing! It was a much enjoyed...and much needed...diversion. We hope to do it again, soon.

In the meantime, I've managed to get Tex semi-hooked on the books, too, and I've been posting his comments on the board, too, as A Man's Opinion. The ladies are eating it up!

So, he's a verra popular lad right about now, and I've got a major feather in my cap for landing such a 'caring and sensitive' guy...

Who'da thunk it?