It was a week ago today that my husband officially ended his water skiing career. I'm happy to report that the Man of My Dreams, currently a lovely blueish purple from his waist down, is healing nicely from his fall into Lake Guntersville. He even managed to mow the lawn yesterday---this when I wasn't watching, of course.
In other news, Skyler Day, the star of "The Adventures of Ociee Nash" has a new and exciting role. Skyler, who, just last week, was a quite a hit in an episode of "The Closer" has landed a recurring part on another terrific TV show, "Parenthood." According to her very proud mother, Kelly Day, Skyler will make her debut on the show September 27.
Jamey and I will be watching, that is, if we have no more accidents and aren't back at St. Joseph's emergency room. I say this because, I wasn't home yesterday, AND, had our daughter not been here to stop him, my husband would have climbed up on the roof to clean out the gutters!
Nurse Milam, retired
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Monday, September 5, 2011
Never Too Old to Ski?
The cool weather has inspired me. Having not written a blog for weeks now, a pleasant evening walk with our dog Bella has given me renewed energy. Perhaps a new book is in the mix???
There's something else, too. I have a dreadful story to share.
It began as a perfect day for my beloved husband, Jamey Propst on Lake Guntersville in Alabama. Perfect for HIM, no sun, dark clouds, misting rain.
We should have known.
"I'm ready," said the Man of My Dreams as he jumped into the water and signaled our nephew to bring his boat around to the front of the dock.
I tensed up as the crowd of family and friends gathered in anticipation of Jamey's magnificent return to his former glory as an ace water skier.
(Only later did I discover he'd been lifting weights for weeks in preparation.)
Jamey gave us a thumbs up and curled his fingers around the rope.
"GO!" he commanded.
Less than five seconds later, he shouted, "I'm done."
Indeed, he was.
Our niece's husband is trained as a physical therapist. Thank goodness. His news: "It's not serious, Uncle Jamey, BUT you'll be in a great deal of pain."
That was Sunday. Jamey moaned and groaned, packed his body with ice, and limped about like Chester on the old TV western "Gunsmoke."
**For readers decades younger than are we, my poor husband's gait looked as though he had flaming rods up both legs. It only gets worse.
As much as Jamey hates pain, he hates even more being bored. So on Monday, while I was occupied in our room, my extremely uncompliant patient escaped my jail-keeper's watch and got on his computer. Well, that is, he attempted to do so. Actually he missed the desk chair all together and crashed down onto the floor injuring his shoulder The man howled like a wounded moose.
I ran to the scene. It's a full blown miracle I didn't plunge down the basement steps and kill myself.
The headline would have read: "Two elderly people were found dead in the basement of their Sandy Springs home. Police are investigating the mysterious circumstances. The husband was so badly hurt, the late wife is considered the primary suspect."
In a scene like this, sometimes it helps to laugh. Once I saw Jamey was breathing, I did. He didn't.
Long story short, we ended up at St. Joseph's Hospital where a very kind and patient staff diagnosed the Man of My Dreams with a severely pulled groin muscle along with a badly sprained shoulder. We came home with pain pills, a walker (which he plans to sell on Ebay), and a gallon of mint chocolate chip ice cream.
The lesson to be learned here is people can be too old to ski, especially, if they've not practiced the sport within the last twenty years.
I may have to chronicle our disaster in a sequel to "Creola's Moonbeam." However, fans of the Newberrys would never believe Beau tried to water ski (he's much too wise) or that Honey laughed at her beloved's tumble. Honey Newberry is much more compassionate than am I.
Then again, Honey isn't married to Wile E. Coyote.
There's something else, too. I have a dreadful story to share.
It began as a perfect day for my beloved husband, Jamey Propst on Lake Guntersville in Alabama. Perfect for HIM, no sun, dark clouds, misting rain.
We should have known.
"I'm ready," said the Man of My Dreams as he jumped into the water and signaled our nephew to bring his boat around to the front of the dock.
I tensed up as the crowd of family and friends gathered in anticipation of Jamey's magnificent return to his former glory as an ace water skier.
(Only later did I discover he'd been lifting weights for weeks in preparation.)
Jamey gave us a thumbs up and curled his fingers around the rope.
"GO!" he commanded.
Less than five seconds later, he shouted, "I'm done."
Indeed, he was.
Our niece's husband is trained as a physical therapist. Thank goodness. His news: "It's not serious, Uncle Jamey, BUT you'll be in a great deal of pain."
That was Sunday. Jamey moaned and groaned, packed his body with ice, and limped about like Chester on the old TV western "Gunsmoke."
**For readers decades younger than are we, my poor husband's gait looked as though he had flaming rods up both legs. It only gets worse.
As much as Jamey hates pain, he hates even more being bored. So on Monday, while I was occupied in our room, my extremely uncompliant patient escaped my jail-keeper's watch and got on his computer. Well, that is, he attempted to do so. Actually he missed the desk chair all together and crashed down onto the floor injuring his shoulder The man howled like a wounded moose.
I ran to the scene. It's a full blown miracle I didn't plunge down the basement steps and kill myself.
The headline would have read: "Two elderly people were found dead in the basement of their Sandy Springs home. Police are investigating the mysterious circumstances. The husband was so badly hurt, the late wife is considered the primary suspect."
In a scene like this, sometimes it helps to laugh. Once I saw Jamey was breathing, I did. He didn't.
Long story short, we ended up at St. Joseph's Hospital where a very kind and patient staff diagnosed the Man of My Dreams with a severely pulled groin muscle along with a badly sprained shoulder. We came home with pain pills, a walker (which he plans to sell on Ebay), and a gallon of mint chocolate chip ice cream.
The lesson to be learned here is people can be too old to ski, especially, if they've not practiced the sport within the last twenty years.
I may have to chronicle our disaster in a sequel to "Creola's Moonbeam." However, fans of the Newberrys would never believe Beau tried to water ski (he's much too wise) or that Honey laughed at her beloved's tumble. Honey Newberry is much more compassionate than am I.
Then again, Honey isn't married to Wile E. Coyote.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Home from the Beach
You may ask what the beach could have to do with books and writing. If so, please read on:
One vacation morning, while we were finishing breakfast, our daughter-in-law Abigail casually mentioned to me that she thought her husband William might just write his own book one of these days.
I, of course, lit up like a torch, as in passing mine on to our son!
William and Abigail's son Emmett, a dreamy blond little man of six, who has enormous blue eyes and lama-like eyelashes, immediately put down his bacon and joined in on our conversation.
"I'm going to write a book, too," he proudly proclaimed. "About my family, and I'll put love on every page."
Abigail and I looked at one another, sighed, and both welled up in tears. Such a sweet, precious moment was this.
Surely wish I were back at that breakfast table with both our grandsons . . . MMP
One vacation morning, while we were finishing breakfast, our daughter-in-law Abigail casually mentioned to me that she thought her husband William might just write his own book one of these days.
I, of course, lit up like a torch, as in passing mine on to our son!
William and Abigail's son Emmett, a dreamy blond little man of six, who has enormous blue eyes and lama-like eyelashes, immediately put down his bacon and joined in on our conversation.
"I'm going to write a book, too," he proudly proclaimed. "About my family, and I'll put love on every page."
Abigail and I looked at one another, sighed, and both welled up in tears. Such a sweet, precious moment was this.
Surely wish I were back at that breakfast table with both our grandsons . . . MMP
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Nice Trip
Jamey and I just returned from a delightful book event in Highlands, N.C. Having turned into a couple of plump-ish chickens roasting on a spit for the past few weeks in Atlanta's heat, the mountains provided quite a cool respite for my husband and for me.
*One marvelous perk of becoming an author is being invited to speak to charming groups of readers and this was no exception.
The gathering came about through Boo Jackson, a darling friend whom my Jamey has known for a long, long time-----well almost since the day he was born!
*Admittedly, Jamey was quite a spirited young man; and Boo made note of the fact the bad little boy from Clanton, Alabama, still has a certain, shall we say,"zest for fun"? We'll not discuss the cherry bombs at the county courthouse or Mrs. Popwell's garage fire.
My audience was made up of some kindly enthusiastic ladies from the Center for Life Enrichment. We did have a pleasant afternoon of conversation and viewing the Ociee movie. ALSO they fed us a wonderful lunch. Prior to the program, my special guests, Mary Brantley and Betty George, the audience, and I feasted on yummy tomato pie, cookies and salads, AND pimento cheese sandwiches----with the crusts trimmed away! That's work as any woman knows.
*Could it be that people are more inspired to cook while in the comfortably cooler mountains miles away from summer's heat? Just a theory.
At any rate, everyone seemed to enjoy the luncheon as well as my talk. As for me, the amount of food I consumed certainly adds credence to the phrase "I work for food."
Thank you, Boo, and thank you, too, Evelyn Miller and Jack, for your tremendous help, especially with the Ociee DVD. Milam
*One marvelous perk of becoming an author is being invited to speak to charming groups of readers and this was no exception.
The gathering came about through Boo Jackson, a darling friend whom my Jamey has known for a long, long time-----well almost since the day he was born!
*Admittedly, Jamey was quite a spirited young man; and Boo made note of the fact the bad little boy from Clanton, Alabama, still has a certain, shall we say,"zest for fun"? We'll not discuss the cherry bombs at the county courthouse or Mrs. Popwell's garage fire.
My audience was made up of some kindly enthusiastic ladies from the Center for Life Enrichment. We did have a pleasant afternoon of conversation and viewing the Ociee movie. ALSO they fed us a wonderful lunch. Prior to the program, my special guests, Mary Brantley and Betty George, the audience, and I feasted on yummy tomato pie, cookies and salads, AND pimento cheese sandwiches----with the crusts trimmed away! That's work as any woman knows.
*Could it be that people are more inspired to cook while in the comfortably cooler mountains miles away from summer's heat? Just a theory.
At any rate, everyone seemed to enjoy the luncheon as well as my talk. As for me, the amount of food I consumed certainly adds credence to the phrase "I work for food."
Thank you, Boo, and thank you, too, Evelyn Miller and Jack, for your tremendous help, especially with the Ociee DVD. Milam
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Nook Book . . . DUH!
I was having lunch with some friends yesterday when one of the ladies mentioned "NOOK BOOK" . . . here's where the "Duh" comes to light. I pulled up my website and realized, thanks to Belle Books, I currently have FOUR, make that FOUR BOOKS available through Nook Book (Barnes & Noble ebook).
Here's the list: "A Flower Blooms on Charlotte Street", "Ociee on Her Own", "The Further Adventures of Ociee Nash", AND, for those of you who might be interested in reading about someone besides my grandmother(!), Nook Book offers "Creola's Moonbeam." The novel is based very roughly on this author and, according to my high school English teacher, is my best story.
Happy Fourth of July to one and all! Milam
Here's the list: "A Flower Blooms on Charlotte Street", "Ociee on Her Own", "The Further Adventures of Ociee Nash", AND, for those of you who might be interested in reading about someone besides my grandmother(!), Nook Book offers "Creola's Moonbeam." The novel is based very roughly on this author and, according to my high school English teacher, is my best story.
Happy Fourth of July to one and all! Milam
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Amazing PARTTTTTEEEEEEE
Last night was our 44th wedding anniversary, and what a grand time we had-------at a BOOKSIGNING! The gathering was so much fun, the food delicious (CRABCAKES!!), and the guests so delightful that my bridegroom and I couldn't drag ourselves away for a "just us" anniversary dinner.
I joined three other authors poolside in an Eden of a Garden until the sky cracked open; thunder, lightening, heavy rain, hail even. All of us ran, books in hand, for the safety of the host's home.
Oh my, what a home it was! Beautiful, welcoming, and around every corner was something or someone interesting to enjoy. For those of you who have read "Creola's Moonbeam", think of Beatrice's art-filled abode. If you haven't, try to imagine a magical house with marvelous surprises in every direction you turn.
John Cuevas, the author of "Cat Island", headlined the list of booksellers. His fascinating story is set on a Mississippi Gulf Coast barrier island. Painstakingly researched and beautifully written, John's historic book about his own family's island makes for quite a read.
We were also in the company of Casi McLean, whose book, "Wingless Butterfly: Confessions of a Recovering Jerk Magnet" was released only days ago. I recently met this courageous gal and plan to check out her website: www.WinglessButterfly.com.
You've often read about Frank Cox in my blogs. Our longtime friend was also there last night and hopefully had as much fun as did Jamey and I. His "Lullabies for Lieutenants" is still going gangbusters! More congratulations to our Marine.
Indeed, congratulations to all the authors ... an event like this is what keeps us writing!
Many, many thanks to our host and hostess and to their terrific helpers/cooks/money handlers. The party couldn't have been any better.
How about those Cat Island descendants who graced the gathering . . . quite a family you've introduced us to, Beverly. Thank YOU!
On a personal note, thank you each and everyone, friends, neighbors, fans, Pius alums, Marist buddies, bridge players, and the Artist Way dear one, for our super anniversary celebration----did I mention the crabcakes?
What a night! Milam
I joined three other authors poolside in an Eden of a Garden until the sky cracked open; thunder, lightening, heavy rain, hail even. All of us ran, books in hand, for the safety of the host's home.
Oh my, what a home it was! Beautiful, welcoming, and around every corner was something or someone interesting to enjoy. For those of you who have read "Creola's Moonbeam", think of Beatrice's art-filled abode. If you haven't, try to imagine a magical house with marvelous surprises in every direction you turn.
John Cuevas, the author of "Cat Island", headlined the list of booksellers. His fascinating story is set on a Mississippi Gulf Coast barrier island. Painstakingly researched and beautifully written, John's historic book about his own family's island makes for quite a read.
We were also in the company of Casi McLean, whose book, "Wingless Butterfly: Confessions of a Recovering Jerk Magnet" was released only days ago. I recently met this courageous gal and plan to check out her website: www.WinglessButterfly.com.
You've often read about Frank Cox in my blogs. Our longtime friend was also there last night and hopefully had as much fun as did Jamey and I. His "Lullabies for Lieutenants" is still going gangbusters! More congratulations to our Marine.
Indeed, congratulations to all the authors ... an event like this is what keeps us writing!
Many, many thanks to our host and hostess and to their terrific helpers/cooks/money handlers. The party couldn't have been any better.
How about those Cat Island descendants who graced the gathering . . . quite a family you've introduced us to, Beverly. Thank YOU!
On a personal note, thank you each and everyone, friends, neighbors, fans, Pius alums, Marist buddies, bridge players, and the Artist Way dear one, for our super anniversary celebration----did I mention the crabcakes?
What a night! Milam
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