Uncle Buster

I got word today that one of my great uncles passed away today, Buster Davis, pictured left with the brace on his arm with his son Jerry. I have many fond memories of Uncle Buster. I spent a few summers in Vian, Oklahoma with my step dad Bill. I met Uncle Buster and Aunt Freeda in California, they live in Bellflower just about an hour from where we used to live.

One summer in Oklahoma and on Lake Tinkiller I met Uncle Buster's Grandkids Tammy and David, I think I was 15 or so, what a summer that was. We had a blast, the whole time driving around in Uncle Buster's Toyota truck, spending hours and hours on the lake and nights at the Fin and Feather Resort. Uncle Buster was very active in the Black Gum Volunteer Fire Department until a few years ago when he had a stroke and was unable to do much for them anymore. Every two years the Davis family holds their family reunion and before the reunion there is always an ice cream social that was always held at Uncle Buster's house, that's what the picture is above.

Uncle Buster is the brother of my Grandpa Benson and they are 2 of 14 in their family but unfortunately ther are only a small few left as they are getting older. I always try to make the reunion held the last Sunday in June every year because you never know when will be the last time you will see one of the brothers or sisters. Sadly about 4 or 5 days before Buster passed one of his sisters, Midge also passed away. Pictured to the right is the remaining siblings, picture taken in 2007 and Uncle Buster is in the front row first person and Midge is in the front row, third from the left (fron right is my grandpa Benson). Below is the clip from the service I have listed beside the names who the people are that are listed at least the ones I know.

Uncle Buster you will be missed!

In Loving Memory of
Mr. Buster T. Davis

Service Details
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 at 2pmBlackgum Baptist ChurchBox Cemetery -

North of Vian, Ok.
Viewing
Tuesday 1 - 9pm Wednesday 9 - 11amAgent Funeral Home - Sallisaw, Ok.
Officiating
Rev. Dale Ritter (distant cousin)
Pallbearers
Jim Giles, Troy Pack, Charlie Jones, Bud Reed, Red Davis(Buster's brother), and Jim Davis (my uncle)
Honorary Pallbearers
Benson Davis(My Grandpa and Buster's brother), Jack Davis (Baby Brother), Dewayne Davis(nephew),Charles Davis(nephew), Mike Davis(nephew), and Rudy Collins
Obituary
Mr. Buster T. Davis was born January 1, 1921 in Blackgum community, Oklahoma, the son of Charley A. Davis and Lula Ann McFarland Davis. He married Freeda M. Baker Davis on January 1, 1940 in Sallisaw, Oklahoma. Mr. Davis was a longtime member of the Blackgum Fire Department where he served as a former Board Member. He was a former Union Organizer and served as a Military Policeman while in the Military. Mr. Davis passed this life on December 26, 2008 in Vian, Oklahoma after having attained the age of 87 years, 11 months and 25 days.Survivors are:wife: Freeda of the home1 son: Jerry Davis of Cypress, Ca.1 daughter: Sandra Hughes of El Cajon, Ca.8 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, 3 great great grandchildren2 sisters: Mary Clairday of Blackgum, Ok.Melvin Burkhart of Seminole, Okl5 brothers: Robert Benson Davis of Blackgum, Ok.Wylie Davis of Olivehurst, Ca.Albert "Doc" Davis of Fortuna, Ca.Raymond "Red" Davis of Gore, Ok.Jack Davis of Blackgum, Ok.several nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friendsHe was preceded in death by a daughter: Donna Fury in 2006, his parents, and 10 brothers and sisters

The Day that wouldn't end...

Was today. I started my new job full time today for the cleaning service and Jenna was starting her new day care. I took the truck today to get the check engine light checked at the local Auto Zone because it was easier for me to get stuck if the truck breaks since I am local then him stuck in the middle of nowhere.

We were actually leaving on time today, we pulled out of the driveway and slid a little at the end of our street, well we slid into the snow and we were now stuck. Oh Man now what, I put it in 4WD and it wouldn't move, backed it up, put it in forward, did that several times until finally we were out (thanks to Stosh for teaching me that trick). We are on our way, whoo hooo. We get to Auto Zone and they don't open until 8 and it's 7:30, oh well I'll stop later. So on our way again.

I have only been to Jenna's new daycare a couple of times and I didn't have the address with me so I was going off memory. I turned left on Gages Lake Road instead of right, darn I'm at 21 so I stop to turn around but I pull in the snow, Oh no, I'm not moving, put it in high 4WD again and I'm sinking more and more the harder I try to get out. NOW WHAT do I do! Ok don't panic, I call 911 for help. I've got Jenna with me so I can't get out within about 5 minutes Gurnee PD show up and they call for a tow for me, man $75 for a tow but I have to get out. Tow gets there and starts to pull me out but I'm watching his truck slide more and more the more the tries to pull me out. I'm thinking to myself, OMG now he's going in the ditch too. He decides to go at a different angle and with me pushing on the gas we get it out. The whole time I'm thinking, where is Stosh when I need him. I'm out of the ditch and on my way to drop off Jenna. By this time I'm an hour late for work.

I get to the house to clean just as my trainer gets there and it's a mess, wow we had our work cut out for us. We get it done and on to the next house that's HUGE, anyway, I'm cleaning my heart away and get to the last bathroom with a big shower with glass doors. I'm cleaning and move my hand towards the handle and slice my finger open on the shower door handle, my left hand even (I'm left handed), so it makes it hard to finish as my finger is bleeding all over.

Finally we are done and I get to leave, Man I thought today would never end.

One good note, Jenna had a good day at her new daycare. We got there and she heard kids, she said "Kids" and took off and that was that. I was worried that she would have trouble since she has been home with me for a few months.

I really hope tomorrow is a better day......

Pay it forward this holiday season

I always thought the saying "pay if forward" sounded a little strange until SEVERAL people helped my mom and I yesterday. You see I had to take mom to union station in the city to catch a train to go back home. It was -4 with an awful windchill that made it about -35, we were a little worried about the cold and getting inside the station. All was going well until I pulled up to Union Station only to find out there are 2 stations. OMG now what, which one do we go to, there was no place in front to drop mom and Jenna off so after driving around the block once we decided to park and walk across the street.

We got across the street ok but couldn't get up the curb, 1 nice man got out of his warm car to help us get the stroller up the curb and over the snow. We got the bags and stroller up about 5 small steps with the help of 1 more nice man and his two sons, we get inside only to discover that we are upstairs to the station with no elevator or escalator to get downstairs, again that 1 nice man and his two sons help us get the bags and stroller down not 1 but 2 flights of stairs all the while the father is pulling my moms bags all over the station for her. The nice man and his sons left us to find our way.

Then the nightmare begins, we get mom checked in and we are early but we sit in the lounge to wait for her train and the lounge starts filling up and filling up, it appears that there are several trains delayed due to the cold weather. We wait and wait and wait some more finally after about 4 hours they call moms train so she gets a red cap to assist her on the train so Jenna and I are off to find the McDonalds in the station to get some fries before we go home because she was so good with all the waiting.

We get upstairs where they say the McDonalds is and I can't find it and I couldn't find a restroom either and it's a long rid home. I knew there was a restroom in the lounge where we just spent the last few hours so back we go and the same poor people are still waiting for their delayed trains. I start talking to the bathroom attendant about how cold it is and how I have to walk back outside to the car, she asks where I parked and she asked if I took the sky walk. I told her I didn't know about it so 1 nice bathroom attendant offers to walk me all the way to the sky walk and to the parking structure to show me the way so I don't have to walk back out in the cold. Oh and yah, mom's train didn't even leave when she got on, she didn't get to leave the stations until about 9:30 pm after getting there at 12pm to catch her train.

I just couldn't believe our luck yesterday, so many nice people helping us. So I just kept thinking, PAY IT FORWARD, I will have to do a good deed the next time one arises.

So I wanted to share with everybody to PAY IT FORWARD this holiday season, do a good deed for someone. Help an elderly person with their bags in the cold, hold a door for a mom with children, buy coffee for the person behind you in line, tip the snowplow driver that plows your street (oh yah, I already did that one, gave him chocolate chip cookies for putting the snow in front of our house for the kids to play on), anyway hopefully you get my drift.

PAY IT FORWARD......

New Job and other stuff

Well, it is official today. David received a job offer from a major company. David will be managing a group of 6-8 fraud investigators. He will be working with the FBI, DEA, CIA, and local law enforcement on medical fraud investigations. David is very excited about this new job. After all, he is a paranoid freak that thinks everyone is cheating the system anyway.....just kidding.....mostly......He should be starting this new position on January 5th, 2009. He is so very thankful to be leaving Sears. They were pretty abusive to him and his crew....you know....its never enough for them. Not to mention that we will now see him on Saturdays, yippee.

On another note, I also have a job, I am working for a house cleaning service that is local. Jenna will be in daycare less and will have flexible hours that will allow me to be off by 4 pm most days. The areas that I will be working in are Gurnee, Wadsworth and Libertyville and after I am done with the job I can go home, nobody looking over my shoulder, making me tell them when I have to pee or listening to everything I do like the last place I worked.

We both have something to look forward to for the new year.

A few more hours.....

And my mom will be here for 2 weeks. We are very excited except she is coming alone, my stepdad Bill will be staying home to take care of the dogs, my grandma's husband and he has a few dental appointments that he couldn't miss. We will miss having him this trip.

We haven't seen them since Jenna was 6 months old so I can't wait for Jenna to see "Gama", she talks to her on the phone but I don't think she realizes who she is talking to. I'll post pictures of her visit but I have included a picture of our last visit, 4 generations, mom (Rosemary), my Grandma (Rozelle) and grandma is of course holding Jenna and me.

The potty

Jenna's training potty has finally arrived and she was so excited to see it. It's actually cute for a taining potty, it looks like a normal toilet except it plays music and sings when the flushing handle is is pushed. She sits on it with her clothes on and

we have tried to get her to go the "normal" way but still no

sucess. I'll keep you posted when we have a real flush, hehe.

Christmas Parade

We definatelly had better luck then last year for the Christmas

parade. Last year it was about 5 degrees and this year it was about 35 I would say. We were smart this time and parked right next to the street so we waited in the car until just before the parade started and stayed warm. the Parade was the same as usual with the few small business floats, Ronald Mc Donald and Hamburgler, and candy thrown to the kids. A new turn this year had The mascots for the Bulls, Blackhawks and White Sox all being followed up by Santa.

First Snow of the year

Well we did finally get our first snow, I'm no expert but I would say about 3-4 inches or so. I love looking outside when it snows and listening to the quiet of the snow falling.

Jenna was very excited when she saw the "snowman" as she calls the snow. I decided to take her outside to check out the snow for the first time and she wasn't to thrilled once she fell over in it. Maybe next time she will like it more, she sure looked cute though.