Week 40... FREEDOM!!!

Greetings:

This week, I want to share with you a couple of things, both of them HUGE in their own right, and the first is in direct relation to my title that I chose for this post.  The second, you'll see below.

Mel, or "William Wallace" before things went South...

How many of you have seen the movie, Braveheart, with Mel Gibson???  There is a scene near the end of the movie, where Mel's character, William Wallace, has been captured, and is lying on a table, strapped down.  An evil looking man who intends to do great harm to "William Wallace" is standing over him with some very serious and evil looking tools at his side.  He asks him to say just one thing, "Mercy," so that he might die a quick death.  Instead, William Wallace yells in his loudest voice, "F R E E D O M!!!"  Well, from there, things went South and North and East & West for William Wallace.  And the rest, they say, is history.  Which brings me to my point...

At 57 years of age, I am "enjoying" my new found "Freedom" and I am NOT giving it back.  You see, as of about 3 to 4 weeks ago, I have my very own "Man-Cave."  Freedom you ask???  Well, in the 14 plus years that Donna and I have been together, probably 98% of that time, we have had one or more of the Kids living with us.  And several of those years included munchkin as well.  Almost 3 years ago, Donna and I chose to move out of our house that we own and rent it out.  We decided we wanted to downsize, move to a nice two bedroom apartment (room for munchkin when she would come over), and just chillax, now that it was just the two of us.  No "Empty-Nester" here!!!  The second bedroom was going to be my Office/Man-Cave since I spend a lot of time on the computer, watch sports, and listen to a lot of music.  But those plans went South (just like William Wallace) when, very quickly after we moved in, one of the Kids needed a place to stay.  Adios Man-Cave!!!  Until now...  Occupant GONE!!!  There was a bed in this room:  GONE!!! dumpster.  The space is mine again...  I have the "cave" set up now, and I am making plans to "spruce" it up even more.  As I type this, I have ordered a new wall-mount to hang my HD Flat Screen TV.  Donna & I have found the coolest Wall World Map for one of my walls from IKEA.  I am also researching Aquariums.  I am undecided on Fresh-Water or Salt-Water.  More than anything else, walking in to the "cave" and seeing an awesome looking aquarium and everything else has me so excited.  I told the little munchkin that she could name my fish for me.  I have moved my puzzle from Donna's dining table to a portable table in the "cave."  And now, I am not rushed to get it done in order to clear her table.  Can you see my smile???  Now, in the big scheme of things, sure, my "cave" is not such a big deal the heck you say, but from my "vantage point," and if you are reading between the lines consider me "William Wallace" and hear me scream, "F R E E D O M!!!"

Happy Birthday, Little Munchkin

Where does the time go???  Today, March 1st, Riley Renee Bates, or better known in our house as Munchkin, or Bug, is 7 years old.  I told the story of how I first found out Munchkin was on the way almost 8 years ago now in my Week 9... And Along Came "Bug" Blog Post.  I remember the day Donna told me Sami was pregnant.  I remember not being very happy about the "situation."  I remember thinking, "They will live with us forever now."  Grrrrrrrrrrrr...  Ha!!!  I remember Donna just beaming through the whole period.  But then, on this date in 2006, Little Munch was born and, again, the rest, they say, is history.  She has made quite the impression in 7 short years.  And looking back, we wouldn't have it any other way.  Below, a pictorial tribute:

Munchkin looking pretty "Spiffy" a couple of years ago...

When she was "tee-tiny" and got her feet all dirty at Gruene Hall...

A "wink" for Papa on Christmas morning, 2011...

A few years ago, with Nana & Papa at Moody Gardens in Galveston...  (Papa is #1)

Grand-Parents Day at School Lunch (Nana took Pic)

With her Mommy a few years ago...

All "SMILES" with Mommy...

Singing Happy Birthday to Papa for my "Double-Nickel"

A little "SPOOKY" this past Halloween, with Nana & a Friend...

Looking all kinds of "CUTE" in the past year or so...

Music:  This week, I have a selection with my "Little Bride" in mind.  As we sat and watched The Oscars last Sunday night, I think she must have said 20 times how much she liked this particular song...  So, I hope you'll join her in giving a listen to the Oscar Winning Song from the James Bond thriller, "Skyfall," sung by Adele and called Skyfall as well.

Market Watch:  Another fairly Ho-Hum week for Facebook as it stayed pretty much where it has been for a while, closing yesterday at 27.25...  Overall, the Market, as a whole, bounced back to over 14,000.

The End:  Another week in the books.  I appreciate each and everyone of you stopping by Slu's World.  I hope to see you again next week.  Til then, Thank You.

Be safe, be smart, and always smile...  It's "Happy Friday"

adios...  vaya con dios