"Hell Ain't Half Full"

The Mattisons have sayings that stick... Many moons ago, James Frank Mattison (Pop) married Suejette Cooper Mattison (Jet) and they had James Frank Mattison, Jr. (James) married Margaret Franklin Mattison (Granny) and they had James Frank Mattison III (Butch). Daddy married Jane Guillebeau Mattison and they had James Frank Mattison IV... and Harvey Guillebeau Mattison, and me (Rachel Britt Mattison). On a side note... I could give an entire post dedicated to the "horrificness" of Guille's and my names!

Anyway... I am proud to say that my great-granddaddy was the "town crier" of McCormick, SC... now of course being born when he had to have been 135... I have no idea what that actually means. I just know that he married people and said here ye, here ye... whatever that means! Pop was not known to be the nicest of men. My mama has said hundreds of times that Daddy is just like him. I don't consider Daddy mean, but I guess if you are on the receiving end of his honesty...then you might think he isn't so nice. He doesn't put up with nonsense... tells it like it is... and loves to spread a little news if he has it. I only have my daddy to compare Pop to because he died when I was four. I have pictures of him to remember what he looked like, but as far as mannerisms...I have to assume he is just like Daddy...

When I began dating Mark, I hung out with Betty Carol on the weekends and bonded with her...asking her millions of questions about growing up so close to my daddy's side of the family. I love that Mark's mama would come to my grandparents house every weekend in high school and knew all kinds of secrets about my daddy! BC also taught me a lot about Pop too! One of my favorite stories is when they were riding down the road and a car would pass them... Pop would say..."Go ahead, Hell ain't half full!"...

Today, as KB and I were headed to Augusta, a car passed us...flying! I don't know why, but I said, "Go ahead, Hell ain't half full!". Of course she thought I might end up in hell for saying that... but then I thought about it... and realized... Hell isn't half full!

I can think of at least ten things that I would love to send people to Hell for... like passing me when I am already driving 65mph, taking a few words from someone and twisting them to make matters seem worse than they already are, for lying to my face, for not treating their children like children, for being selfish, for being two-faced, for being a "spoon" (you know...stirring up stink), for not listening to advice from others, etc... you get my picture...great day huh?

And then I thought about myself... why do I always try to clean up someone else's doorstep before I work on my own doorstep...it does need a little sweeping... I need to be a little nicer to those that I don't care for, I need to take time to let some people in my life know how special they are, and I need to spend a little more time with God in order to make sure my broom is fresh.

Besides...hell ain't half full... and I sure don't want to be down there cleaning up doorsteps...

FYI... Be nice, don't stir stink, and DON'T PASS ME!

January 26, 2012- Thursday Thirteen

Wow, Thursdays come around quickly!

1. 7.6 at WW... still not where I want to be... started walking this week though... I guess every little bit helps!

2. This week...I am jealous of Mark. It isn't fun receiving a text message telling me he is on the 44th floor looking at Times Square and my view is a yard that needs some pine straw and some fresh plants in pots!

3. This is the first week I have worked every day since before Thanksgiving... makes for a long week! The good thing? Tomorrow is jeans Friday... doesn't take much to make me happy!

4. This afternoon I walked around our neighborhood circle... in shorts and a t-shirt. I am sure people in their homes had to close the blinds from the glare of my legs, but seriously...January... shorts... I thought this was snow weather!

5. I am swamped at work... I used to have time to scan my phone during the day, listen to messages, answer emails... I have time for nothing... I think school has turned into Walmart... you know...work more for less!

6. Last month I was on the kick of Keurig Apple Cider... after I found out it was 2 points on Weight Watchers... I decided to find something else formy drink of choice: I found English Breakfast Tea... a little splenda... fat free half-half... Yummy!

7. I personally have issues with men who cheat on their wives.... but Blake Shelton... I have to look over your faults... I love listening to your music. I'm thinking Jesus would say forgive, forget... enjoy the music. (if it isn't talking about cheating!)

8. Mark and I are having a small disagreement about where we went on our honeymoon... This month's Southern Living has a getaway page to a resort in the keys... I swear it is where we stayed on our honeymoon... The lagoon... the little huts... the beautiful scenery... I guess he will just have to take me back since he says that isn't the place! I am only 99% sure that it is true because we did have the honeymoon from hell! After spending a few days at Hilton Head (and I got food poisoning), we headed to the KEYS...on a plane. S.C.A.R.E.D to death! We get to the resort room, turn on the television... and see that there has been an airplane crash. I stayed glued to the television watching every detail. After two nights of our supposedly four night stay... I talked him into driving all the way home. Wow... took forever. It didn't help that it was hotter than hot....I wanted to drive up A1Avenue to enjoy the scenery at 35 mph...and Mark was madder than a wet hen since he had to get on an airplane when we got back to go to work. So... he may be right... but at least that is what I remember from 15 years ago.

9. I finally learned what some symbols mean... yes, I just assumed what they meant... but I finally got it.... :) is a sideways smiley face =) and this is too! of course that means that :( is a sad face and so is =( Now that I see it... I feel like such a blond... I 'm gonna have to make sure Tara isn't putting chemicals on my scalp! I always thought when people sent those symbols to me it was their phone not acting right because no face showed up! I'm stupid... I know!

10. I was thinking that since I have worked with middle schoolers and high schoolers I would be able to handle when my children get that age~ you know dealing with the drama... I am not looking forward to it... A t A L L .... However I did enjoy my company today on my front porch!

11. There are five days left in January. According to my schedule... I should have all my rooms reorganized and cleaned... I have not done O N E! So much for my OCD lists! I will shred it along with the other lists that I haven't done!


12. I found out this week that my two years at private school count toward no retirement for me in Georgia.... it was a school in South Carolina...Retirement age for me just went up two years!

13. I am so excited to be at #13. I am going to take a long, hot bath... listen to this pouring rain... and wrap up with two best sleeping pals a girl can get! Hopefully, she won't talk in her sleep all night like last night...and he won't drool all over me! But listening to their breathing makes my heart smile!

Ben to Katie Britt 2

Just so I can remember these things that my children say to each other...

Preface to the story:
One of my family's favorite things to say to each other when we meet is "How yerrr doin?" from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YVQ0jfZqsE I will be honest and say I don't think my children have ever watched this video, but family has watched it...so we say it!

Tonight- KB and I picked up Ben from Mama's...

Katie Britt: "Ben, when we left Hardees there was a sugar girl there!"
Ben: "How fat was she and did she ask you how yerr doin?"

I almost wrecked the car pulling in the garage.

Moral of this story: Be careful what you say... it will come back to haunt ya!

January 19, 2012- Thursday Thirteen

1. I didn't work today because I had to go do what women have to do when they turn 40. I heard this story the first time years ago....like when I was 18 or 19.... and it was so funny! I laughed and laughed... well...let me tell you...it is true! I am sure Boo-Ma will turn over in her grave since I am discussing this...and Mama will call me crass...but also consider that I had another grandmother who had to have both tatas removed! "The Story"... If you want to practice for a mammogram...simply go outside and place your tata on the cold cement floor of the garage... run over it with a tire... repeat with the other side. Oh the things to look forward to with age!

2. Now to more serious things... food... I cooked a delicious meat this week! Thanks to KCR... I took 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts~ (wow this post is all about those), a package of dry ranch dressing, and a bottle of hot wing sauce (Hooters is my favorite)... cook in the crockpot all day.... When I got home...I took the chicken out and pulled it apart with a fork (looks a lot like BBQ)... I toasted a hamburger bun and put a piece of Swiss cheese on top... melted... Yummy, easy, and one pot clean up...can't beat that!

3. I didn't do so great this week at Weight Watchers... -.2 So that makes my grand total 6.8... talk about heartbreaking! Anyway... I ate out due to work ~ being out of town~ and obviously didn't count portions correctly... Hopefully, this week will be better!

4. I love Ben... I really do.... but for some reason tonight I am overwhelmed with love for him... he makes me laugh. This morning I was in charge of getting the children to school...Mark left early for Atlanta, and I didn't have to leave for my appointment until mid-morning...so I had the duty of breakfast, dressing, and dropping off... let me just say...Praise Jesus that isn't my job every morning. My children are not angels in the morning! I can remember at least three yelling matches and running out the door with four minutes to get to school on time...(school takes five minutes to get to)...I yelled at him and told him he would be sleeping in his bed tonight and not camping out in the den because he was so ugly. He talked all big and said, "I will." Well... as I am typing this we are on about round four of the good nights, I love you, see you in the morning... I can't break my promise to him that if he is ugly he has to sleep upstairs... but I sure would love that little stinky crack down here with me!

5. Sis got to "walk to town" for the first time this afternoon! I warned her, threatened her, and warned her some more. I told her she had to prove herself, that she could be responsible, be where she was supposed to be, and not act silly... As far as I know she succeeded... I am so proud of her... What I didn't tell her was that I was walking the streets when I was in the 3rd grade and would run home right before Mama and Daddy would get in from work! I feel sorry for my children... I am not sure they are going to be able to outsmart me... if they do... it won't be that I didn't try!

6. One of my best girlfriends who has done my hair since high school ( not legally, but getting ready for ballgames) has a prayer request for her daddy... they think he has had a stroke. I love this man! He was one of the "older" daddies in our grade! We could always go by his gas station and he would be so nice... he would take care of us... let us do what we wanted... and entertain us with his stories of "Shot"! I pray Mr. Alex is okay... I love you Tara!

7. I just looked at the calendar...would never count down the days to the next holiday, but... we have a break in February, a break in March, and a break in April... I am not working a full month for the rest of the school year... hmph... hate it!

8. We are headed to Clemson this weekend... going to the basketball game against Georgia Tech... go Tigers!

9. Random thought... I miss Christmas music season... not necessarily the Christmas music, but I wish every season had a genre of music... Like right now I wish I was listening to music about winter, snow, hot chocolate, sweaters....all that... instead I am listening to Mark watch Phil Mickelson talk about Augusta BEFORE he won the Masters... rerun!

10. I saved almost 8.00 this week with coupons! I think that is great! I won't ever make it on Extreme Couponing, but that is 8.00 to add to my fun money!

11. When we were little, Boo-Ma would come get us to "paint the town"... I used to think we were really going to paint it... I wonder how she would feel now...we don't have to paint the town at all... we can read facebook and find out who is where, who ate what for supper, and who is in trouble... saves on gas, but still makes me wonder!

12. FYI~ there is a little stinky butt on my couch! I caved... he is precious, he will only be little once, and (Mark will be here in the morning to deal with him)!

13. I tried Cherry Diet 7-up this week... yummy! Try it!

KB's Interview from 2009-2012

KB's answer in bold are tonight's answers... the original interview was done in 2009


1. What is something your mom always says to you? go empty your basket (go find the cat)
2. What makes your mom happy? when the kitties don't "hisk" at her (being with the cat)
3. What makes your mom sad? when she can't find a kitty (when she can't find the cat)
4. How does your mom make you laugh? tickle me (dancing and singing)
5. What was your mom like as a child? pretty (like me)
6. How old is your mom? 38 (40)
7. How tall is your mom? 5 foot 6 (5 foot 6)
8. What is your mom's favorite thing to do? go in the office and get on facebook (tell us to clean up)
9. What does your mom do when you're not around? get on facebook (I don't know)
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? getting on facebook (being a cat lady)
11. What is your mom really good at? getting on facebook (cooking)
12. What is your mom not very good at? sports (singing and dancing)
13. What does your mom do for her job? teach (teach special education kids)
14. What is your mom's favorite food? chicken (oyster stew)
15. What makes you proud of your mom? cause you are my mommy (when I get good grades)
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? Hannah Montana Cartoon
(Peggy Hill)
17. What do you and your mom do together? go shopping (shop)
18. How are you and your mom the same? we like to shop and get on the computer (we are girls and we like to spend money)
19. How are you and your mom different? i don't have a facebook (She likes to clean and I don't)
20. How do you know your mom loves you? she takes care of me (she tells me)
21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? the office and get on facebook! (New York)

Ben's Interview- From 2009 to 2012

Interview with Ben - original March 5, 2009 new answers are in bold... 1/16/2012
Robert Benjamin McKinney
1. What is something your mama always says to you? Be sweet I love you!
2. What makes your mom happy? Bein Sweet When I clean up my room!
3. What makes your mom sad? ugly When I am disrespectful (wow...smart boy)
4. How does your mom make you laugh? she tickle me (talking about the cat)
5. What was your mom like as a child? what does that mean? (I don't know)
6. How old is your mom? I don't know (40!)
7. How tall is your mom? 6 pounds (where is a tape measure? 38 feet and 2 in)
8. What is your mom's favorite thing to do? for me to be sweet and for you to clean up (playing with the cat)
9. What does your mom do when you're not around? wash and clean (clean up)
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? casue if somebody was mean to you (what?) (riding a 4-wheeler)
11. What is your mom really good at? typing (playing scrabble)
12. What is your mom not very good at? riding four-wheelers (nothing)...he loves me!
13. What does your mom do for her job? clean up (teach special ed)
14. What is your mom's favorite food? salad (tuna salad)
15. What makes you proud of your mom? what did you say? (cause you play with me and ride four wheelers)
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? firefighter? (Peggy Hill)
17. What do you and your mom do together? clean up my room (blow off the driveway and work, rake leaves, cut grass)
18. How are you and your mom the same? cause we are happy (We both have blonde hair and we are both fat)....okay- that hurt!
19. How are you and your mom different? cause my face is different and your eyes are green and mine are blue and i got a tail and you got a monkey We don't have the same color eyes, you are a girl, and you are married
20. How do you know your mom loves you? cause im sweet (cause she says it)
21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? the fair (what?) Okay I have raised a crazy child!

Monday~ January 16, 2012 Dinner

May I suggest a WONDERFUL dinner:

Browsing the grocery store today, I found this AND had a coupon! I tried it on pork chops and it was DELICIOUS! I had 8 pork chops in hopes of having extra for my lunch tomorrow... nada is what I have in my kitchen right now! I think there are three different flavors~ anything can be mixed with them... chicken, beef, pork, or fish! This was the most conservative~ I will be picking these up again. The best part about it is the bag has the cheese and herbs all ready to mix and there is no messy clean-up!