Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Fall is in the Air....

It's that time of year again. The leaves will start to change, the air will be a bit more crisp in the mornings and any signs of summer will slowly fade away.  Fall....to be honest, with the exception of Alabama football and Halloween, there isn't one thing I like about this season. It has always put me in a melancholy mood. I have never really known why other than everything starts to die and I know that the dreaded winter is just around the corner.  As the days get shorter and the nights get longer, hibernation becomes more and more appealing to me. Spring has always been and always will be my most favorite season. Spring brings with it the beginning of new life and a dusting away of the cold, dead winter.

Since I cannot skip Fall, I will embrace it and do what I have done for many years now. The first cold snap will bring with it my overwhelming desire to cook and nest. By the end of October, we will have a freezer full of homemade chili, various soups and sauces,  I will have begun planning Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's and will quietly reflect as another year slips into the past.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Boston

 WOW!! The last few days have been super busy but super fun!! Boston is a beautiful city. This was my second visit and I cannot wait to go back.  Chris and I stayed in the cutest boutique-style hotel right in the heart of the city. The ZBB had two shows at Gillette Stadium (both were incredible), we hung out with some sweet friends and made some new friends.

I knew when I decided to take this trip with Chris that he wanted to tour the Zildjian offices. I was down with that but did not anticipate how much fun it would turn out to be for me as well. We spent the entire day on Friday touring the facility and learning how the cymbals in which Chris plays are made. That was neat but I was more intrigued by the history of the company.  All of those little details aside, the best part of the entire experience was to see my sweet husband mark a wish from his "bucket list." I know it might be a difficult concept to process but I had more fun watching him have fun than anything else. I was thrilled to share this experience with him.

Saturday rolled in with clouds, rain and the anticipation of Hurricane Irene. The day was so dreary but we had fun anyway hanging out. In spite of the horrible weather, the stadium was packed. ALL of those fans stood in the rain for hours. I was completely blown away at the dedication of these people. The ZBB and Kenny Chesney have some of the best fans around!! I can honestly say I have never been a big enough fan of any band that I would stand in the rain to see them. (well I would stand in the rain to watch Chris but that is entirely different!)

Sunday was very, very, very windy. Chris and I stepped out on to the street to make our way to lunch and I thought we would get swept away. CRAZY!!

As Murphy's Law is always at work in my life, it would turn out that today was the most beautiful day we had while in Boston and we had to leave. Ahhh, such is life!



Thursday, August 25, 2011

The Art of Packing....

So I'm packing tonight. After working on a mountain of laundry prior to trying to make the final decision on what I want to take, I look over and my sweet husband is finished with his packing. Yep! 15 minutes and he was done. Really?! Seriously?! I'm a girlie girl but not to the extreme. It is not necessary for me to take every single accessory or pair of shoes that I own. However, "choices" are a must. If I can't decide what to wear to work on any given day....how in the world am I going to be able to limit myself to just a few things in a suitcase? UGH!! I can do it though and I can get it all into a carry-on (a trick I was taught a long time ago by an overly paranoid person who was always afraid of losing the luggage). No carry-on this time though. I'm going to live on the edge and hope that my luggage makes it to the same destination as I do! Believe me I will be blogging if my underwear doesn't make it.....just saying!


Monday, August 22, 2011

Meant to be...

So a few days ago Chris changed his Facebook profile picture to one of us from our senior year in high school. As most of you know he was on the drumline and I was a majorette (flute player during concert season).  I had marched right in front of him for 3 years or sat across the band room from him for 6 years. The band room was our hangout and solitude. We were part of a group of friends that, to this day, hold a special bond with each other. A bond which is very unique. All of us were part of a culture that has followed us through the course of adulthood. To this day, when I hear the high school drumline practicing in the distance my memories are flooded with the fun and silliness of days long since  passed.

I look at this picture and remember the care-free days of hanging out with my very best friend. A lot of life has happened since this photo. Whether a person calls it fate, karma or spiritual intervention, as time goes by I am more convinced that "this" was meant to be......

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Founder's Day and the Southern Boys Band

This is evening's weather was perfect for an outdoor concert. Most of the gang was out tonight. I always have the best time when my peeps are involved.  (I just had a vision of a scene like something from the movie Harper Valley PTA.....except different. We all had our lawn chairs strategically placed so that our group could sit together and easily see the show but still gossip...ummm, I mean....chat.) There is always a very diverse group of people at a small town USA festival and this one was no different. I saw tons of people that I have known forever but just don't get to see on a regular basis. There were kids everywhere running and playing. Fine dining at its best tonight included funnel cake, popcorn and bbq...yum. Although, I didn't have any. It seems that as I was watching the show and smelling all of this tasty goodness that my brother was actually sampling all of it and did not even bring me a crumb. Stinker!

The Southern Boys Band rocked it tonight. I am a bit biased because these boys are very dear friends. However, the show was great and they just keep getting better every time I hear them play.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Blogging in tandum....a romantic interlude!

Since the blogging  bug bit me my brain has been flooded with random ideas and topics to write about but then "life" happens. I am finding that writing about the everyday things that seem to only happen to me are way more interesting and funnier than any topic I could choose. I'm about to hit you with an example.

Imagine, if you will, a quiet evening. Kids are doing their thing. Chris and I are enjoying some quiet time. One might think this would be the prime opportunity for meaningful conversation or light chatting. They would be right but not on this night. Oh no! I am on one couch. Chris is on the other. One might ask...And? We are blogging!!!! Yep, you read that right. We are blogging in tandum.  Ooooo, I think I may have just invented a potential Olympic event. (This one is way better. The last one Chris and I came up with was tandum pooping.....that was just a bit to gross to think about and really how would a judge properly score an event like tandum pooping? Yes, we are demented on so many levels.) We are blogging and Ashley comes in and now all three of us are on a computer. Family time!!!

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Dinner, Friends and Police Officers....

My life is a constant adventure. Chris and I went out to dinner tonight and we were on our way to pick up a friend who was going with us. [side note: if you have ever been in the car with me and Chris it is like two hens gossiping and talking about our day. We get completely wrapped up in the conversation and forget that there is traffic on the road or anyone else around.] So we were cruising down I-65 and entered a construction zone....still just a talking....when I heard sirens. As I am hearing the sirens I'm thinking to myself...someone is about to have a bad day. Well that someone was US. Chris pulled to the side of the road. We were patiently waiting for the officer to walk to the window and ask for license, insurance and registration. And the whole time I'm thinking "was Chris speeding?" I say this because Chris drives like a grandpa. Snails move faster sometimes. Actually, I do believe a turtle passed us just the other day. (I have no doubt in my mind that my sweet husband will NEVER have a blood pressure problem or a heart attack. He never gets into a hurry. This is another example of his "yin" to my "yang." I will have the blood pressure and heart problems for both of us.)

Apparently, Chris was speeding...to the tune of 50mph...but the posted speed limit was 45mph so I am now calling him "Speedy."  To make a long story short, Speedy was given a warning and no ticket. Thank you very nice police officer!! But I can say without hesitation that I do believe I could have walked to our destination faster than the truck was moving.....just saying!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Bunko Babes, Men and Country Music...

Bunko night!! The one night of the month that the girls get together to have some good, clean fun.  This game is primarily reserved for the ladies; however, it seems that my sweet husband has become an honorary member of the group. He isn't always available to attend. But more often than not he goes with me. Somehow he has managed to become "one of the girls." I seriously think that I overheard him giving hair care tips tonight (or was it lawn care...I forget).  The Bunko Babes seem to love him and I love that they do. The hostess for tonight had country music playing through the TV and I wondered how long it would take before we heard a ZBB tune (I do not listen to country music so this was even funnier to me).  About half way into the evening Chicken Fried came on and the entire room roared.  We ALL looked at Chris and said "do you want to play for us?" He is so good-natured about the teasing he gets. I might add that he is a mighty fine Bunko player too!!

 

Monday, August 15, 2011

New Adventures.......

Today was officially Allison's first day of her junior year of high school. Where does the time go? I remember her first day of kindergarten. Ashley begins her sophomore year of college on Thursday and again, I am in quiet reflection recalling the first day I pulled up in front of the elementary school and she climbed out of the car to walk to the door. I drove away with tears in my eyes on each of their first days of school. It was a tradition for many years for me to take a "first day of school" picture of each of them. I'm not sure when it stopped but, as I recall, it was somewhere around the time they each started to high school. To this day, they run when I pull out a camera. I am looking forward to wonderful school years for both of them.

Today also marks a new beginning for me. I started a new job. Still doing the law thing but somewhere new. As much as I dislike change it is good and necessary sometimes. We do not grow without change. I am super excited!!

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Best Birthday Ever.....

Whew!!! What a day!! Chris got home from New Jersey around 5am this morning. I was sleeping and didn't hear him come in. I was startled out of a deep sleep and almost punched my sweet husband in the nose as he was leaning down to kiss me as I slept. Sweet gesture but I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I was awakened a few hours later by a phone call from my precious nephew, Christian who called to wish me a happy birthday. The day started slow but Chris and I finally got out and headed to the grocery store. (yep, I grocery shopped on my birthday) Now, when we grocery shop it is usually a long ordeal because we shop every single isle of the store. But today it seemed to take even longer than usual. We bought our groceries and headed home and the drive seemed to take forever. Chris made a stop and a detour and all I could think about and finally said to him was "dear we have ice cream in the groceries that is going to melt if we don't get on home with it."  We finally made it home and started unloading everything. Ashley comes into the kitchen and says "mom I need you to come and look at something." I walk around the corner and my living room is full of people who yell "surprise!" I can honestly say without hesitation that I was totally and absolutely shocked to see everyone there. It took a few seconds for me to process that they had shown up for my birthday!! My sweet boy and sweet daughters had put together and pulled off a surprise 40th birthday party for me.

It all makes sense to me now. For a week, it seemed that everyone was avoiding me like the plague. I had mentioned to a couple of people that my 40th was coming up and these same people who are normally very talkative (i.e. the Bailey boys) clammed up and were quiet as church mice. I thought it odd but didn't think much of it. Jennifer had an excuse. She just got married and has been on her honeymoon.   Sabrina normally emails, calls or texts but I had not heard from her. We have all been busy getting ready for school to start so I wasn't concerned. BUT, Chris had not said really anything about taking me to dinner or any plans for my birthday (for those of you who know me well, my birthday is the one day of the year that I am very, very sensitive about and want it to be a good and special day). I was seriously beginning to wonder what was going on. I had asked Ashley and Allison, "do we have any plans for my birthday?" They both answered "I don't know."  Well all of those stinkers were either in on it or knew about it!!!! Even Stephanie was in on the whole thing. That sweet girl drove from New Orleans where she had been with friends to be here to ring in my Fabulous Forties. (this is huge because she lives in Nashville...not exactly a trip down the street) Rhonda and Lesley, my sisters from another mother were here too!! The evening was perfect!! Thank you to the rest of the gang ~ Lori, Doug, Lec, Hunter, the Baileys, Kristi, Austyn, Gooch, Brandi, Heath, Mike, Isabella, Christy, Jim, Brad, Robbie, Jason, Raegan, Blake, Kel, Lani, Sydney S., Nicholas, Sidney W., Mason, Gage, Alexa and Javan!!!! (if I left anyone out I apologize. I'm 40 now and they say the memory is the first thing to go)

A very special thank you to Chris and our girls for planning my special day and for the beautiful gift you gave to me. I have been looking at a peridot (which is my birth stone) ring for almost a year now and it is finally mine!! I love the three of you with all of my heart!!! This has been the best birthday ever!!! Words will never be enough to express what the three of you mean to me! To many more birthdays and Fabulous Forties!!!


Happy Birthday to ME!!!!

Well MY day (AUGUST 14th) has finally arrived!! The one day of the year that I claim as my own and as being all about ME!! Yep, I am turning the big 40! I'm not sure how I'm supposed to feel about this milestone event but I can say that I have never been happier.  I am welcoming what I am calling my "Fabulous Forties." The adventure has just begun. I'm ready to take on this decade with my sweet husband and to see what wonderful things our forties hold for us.  It's too early to reflect and make profound comments on my day, but I will check back later!!

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Say what you mean....mean what you say....

Many would probably argue this point with me but our society has become far to "politically correct."  Now before I get into what I mean I will digress to my previous blog regarding the Golden Rule. Be careful not to be hurtful. Sometimes speaking the truth is not what society wants to hear but what it needs to hear. I am not a politically minded person so I'm not even going to go near that topic (especially in a blog) but I do have very pointed religious views and ideas of how human interaction and co-existence could be better. As a society we worry to much about what people think of us. Should we throw good manners to the wind? Of course not, but there is a time and a place for everything.  I say all of the time if you don't want my opinion do not ask for it. Chris and I laugh because when he says to me "I need your opinion" I always answer back with "well you know that I have one are you sure that you want it?" We also laugh because he knows that I don't hold any punches when it comes to the way I feel about any given topic or circumstance. My world is very "black and white" with very little "gray." Although, over the last handful of years I have learned that to have balance there must be a little more "gray." (that part is still a work in progress) I attribute this mostly to Chris and the fact that he is the "yin" to my "yang." We are polar opposites in so many ways but then alike in so many ways. I suppose this is why we have been the very best of friends for so many years and why our marriage is so wonderful.....but that is a topic for another blog.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Perception is reality....

No truer words have ever been said to me. At the time they were spoken, I did not realize how profound the statement would become in my own life.  Think about it.  It is human nature to form opinions based on perception. It doesn't matter if that perception is about people, politics, religion or sports. What we perceive becomes our reality. Whether our reality is indeed the truth is another topic all together. Something to think about...too deep to process? Try it.

Do Unto Others....

It's a simple little saying but do we really pay attention to the Golden Rule....Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You.....Have you ever thought if everyone lived by this rule how much different our world would be? "Please" and "Thank You" have become obsolete and when they are used it is (many times) not sincere. Just imagine if more people stopped thinking about what everyone can do for them and started thinking about what they could do for other people what life could be....

Happiness is...

I am very new to this "blogging" thing but I'm going to give it a try. I haven't quite figured out the fascination with writing a blog but apparently there must be a therapeutic property to it so here goes....

I used to think that happiness was something reserved for everyone around me but not specifically for me. I spent many years just accepting that life had offered all it had to me and that (at the time) "this" was it, nothing more and nothing less.  Mediocrity was the norm.  Without boring any reader of this blog with unnecessary details of my life's events, suffice it to say that I have been through some trials and tribulations.  Those experiences have taught me that Happiness is.....a choice. Happiness is waking up everyday and knowing that God has a plan for me. Happiness is not tied up in another person, place or thing but is found within myself and who I am. I am blessed to have a wonderful husband and wonderful children who add to my happiness and complete me in ways I cannot express in words. Is my life perfect? Of course not. However, it is very, very close.