Well, tomorrow is the big day, eh people? This is all very exciting for so many people here in America and around the world that I think that even those who weren't too excited about Obama winning the election are still looking forward to this at least a little. I already have found that I don't agree with all of his policies but I'm still so terribly hopeful that he will do what he has promised; bring hope and change to a country that is suffering so much right now.
When I moved to America President Bush's approval rating was at an all time low...and then it got lower! And then lower still. And people here could sense that - sense that the country was miserable as a whole and that we needed help and sometimes it seemed/seems that Barack Obama was some sort of avenging angel ready to cure the sick and employ the jobless and feed the hungry and pull world peace out of his hat. And of course that isn't so and I truly hope that we won't all be devastated when he doesn't cure all of the country's ills in four years...because he won't.
Regardless of what your political views are I think that almost all of us (Elisabeth Hasselback excluded don'tgetmestarted) can agree that the past eight years haven't gone all that terribly well. Whether it is President Bush's fault or not the past few years have been rough on the country and now something different will begin. All we can hope for is that the different will be better.
Showing posts with label The South. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The South. Show all posts
19 January 2009
11 December 2008
In a hurry, or really dumb, you decide.
I got an email from a client today but I didn't really understand it so I emailed him back and apologized for my ignorance but that I had not understood what his request of me was. He emailed back and said: "That email was meant for another Jennifer. Sorry for you're incontinence."
Honest to God.
Honest to God.
15 November 2008
Blather
I'm at work and I'm blogging. Seriously, Saturdays here are SO boring. The business has never been open on Saturdays and my boss wants me to try opening on Saturdays for a few months to see if our customers have a need for that. Sadly, they do not, which means lots of busy work and, frankly, some blogging and crossword puzzle doing. At least by now I know pretty much what I'm doing so its not too stressful, although I do get stressed when I have to go to the bathroom cause that means I have to lock up and put a sign on the door saying I'll be back in five minutes but A) I can't go when I know I have a time limit and B) invariably my only customer of the day will start knocking on the door during the 5 minutes out of the entire day that I'm not at my desk.
Its not a bad job though, reasonable hours (although diametrically opposite from Paul's so we see very little of each other), reasonable pay and a reasonable co-worker. I miss my babies at the preschool a whole lot though.
Our new house is going to be pretty good I think. We had been smitten with a rental house on the other side of town but the woman who owned it never returned our calls or emails after she told us she would run our credit so eventually we gave up and I emailed her telling her we had found something else. THEN she emailed me back saying 'oh, shoot, sorry, I guess I should have called you to tell you that you were approved'. NO SHIT, Sherlock! Really, what is wrong with people?! In the meantime we found another townhouse 3 buildings down from our current townhouse. Its very much the same, almost exactly, except for that there is no basement (which we really didn't use anyway). Its also an end unit so we only have one 'touching' neighbor and its $75 cheaper per month than what we pay now so we're hopeful that it will be a good move for us.
I'm SHOCKED by how much it costs to transfer our utilities though. Normally, and I've done this a lot, its like a $25 transfer fee on your next bill or something, but Comcast (HATEHATEHATE) is charging us just under $100 and the utility company almost as much! On the plus side the new place has no natural gas so we can cancel that and get our stinkin' $200 deposit back ( in four weeks ).
Basically, we had been doing a bit better financially since my job is stable and steady now and I don't have to spend all the gas money that I did getting to the preschool (plus gas is down from an all time high of $4.99 per gallon to $1.99 per gallon. I don't get it but I sure like it). Plus our expenses should go down in the new place; lower rent, smaller heat and air bills due to less square footage. However right now is an awfully scary time financially - Christmas is around the corner, meaning gifts, a trip, boarding the dogs and all the other things that cost bucks around the holidays. Also moving is always a huge expense even when you plan ahead and try to do things right. Oh, and Paul's stupid health benefits - they are raising the weekly deduction on his paycheck, raising the co-pays and reducing the benefits. *sigh* There are a bunch of other unexpected expenses these days too that are making Paul and I tense and fight-y, but in general we should be better come January 1st - assuming we both still have jobs. I cannot believe how many people I know have lost their jobs in the past 3 months or so, its really frightening.
On another note, I'm so very happy that Barack Obama is going to be our next president and so frightened of what could happen because you would not BELIEVE the kind of things that my Southern neighbors here are saying. In the two days following the election Paul and I heard, honest to God, the following comments:
'he's a Muslim and he's going to force us all to become Muslim'
'he's going to sell America'
'he's going to make all the white people into slaves'
'he's the anti-Christ'
And these people were absolutely and totally serious. Very scary. I did learn something from all of this though. I found myself telling people that whether they like President Elect Obama or not they still have to give him respect. Oops, that's easy for me to say because I have such high hopes for Obama...but I have been guilty of NOT doing that for the current administration so I'm going to try to work on that.
And, lastly, I'm so, so sad that California has banned same-sex marriage and even sadder that Arkansas has enacted something that will make it impossible for same-sex couples to adopt children. So, I wonder what voters have against gay people? If you think being gay is wrong, or immoral that's fine, but why is it your business if homosexuals want to get married or adopt? I'm really curious here because it seems to me that the only reason people are opposed to homosexuality is based on their religious views and we have (cough) a separation of church and state here in America so what basis is there for taking away their rights? I'm really curious if any of you can explain this to me or have opinions on this because perhaps I'm not seeing all sides of the story.
Whew, I guess I should get some work done!
Its not a bad job though, reasonable hours (although diametrically opposite from Paul's so we see very little of each other), reasonable pay and a reasonable co-worker. I miss my babies at the preschool a whole lot though.
Our new house is going to be pretty good I think. We had been smitten with a rental house on the other side of town but the woman who owned it never returned our calls or emails after she told us she would run our credit so eventually we gave up and I emailed her telling her we had found something else. THEN she emailed me back saying 'oh, shoot, sorry, I guess I should have called you to tell you that you were approved'. NO SHIT, Sherlock! Really, what is wrong with people?! In the meantime we found another townhouse 3 buildings down from our current townhouse. Its very much the same, almost exactly, except for that there is no basement (which we really didn't use anyway). Its also an end unit so we only have one 'touching' neighbor and its $75 cheaper per month than what we pay now so we're hopeful that it will be a good move for us.
I'm SHOCKED by how much it costs to transfer our utilities though. Normally, and I've done this a lot, its like a $25 transfer fee on your next bill or something, but Comcast (HATEHATEHATE) is charging us just under $100 and the utility company almost as much! On the plus side the new place has no natural gas so we can cancel that and get our stinkin' $200 deposit back ( in four weeks ).
Basically, we had been doing a bit better financially since my job is stable and steady now and I don't have to spend all the gas money that I did getting to the preschool (plus gas is down from an all time high of $4.99 per gallon to $1.99 per gallon. I don't get it but I sure like it). Plus our expenses should go down in the new place; lower rent, smaller heat and air bills due to less square footage. However right now is an awfully scary time financially - Christmas is around the corner, meaning gifts, a trip, boarding the dogs and all the other things that cost bucks around the holidays. Also moving is always a huge expense even when you plan ahead and try to do things right. Oh, and Paul's stupid health benefits - they are raising the weekly deduction on his paycheck, raising the co-pays and reducing the benefits. *sigh* There are a bunch of other unexpected expenses these days too that are making Paul and I tense and fight-y, but in general we should be better come January 1st - assuming we both still have jobs. I cannot believe how many people I know have lost their jobs in the past 3 months or so, its really frightening.
On another note, I'm so very happy that Barack Obama is going to be our next president and so frightened of what could happen because you would not BELIEVE the kind of things that my Southern neighbors here are saying. In the two days following the election Paul and I heard, honest to God, the following comments:
'he's a Muslim and he's going to force us all to become Muslim'
'he's going to sell America'
'he's going to make all the white people into slaves'
'he's the anti-Christ'
And these people were absolutely and totally serious. Very scary. I did learn something from all of this though. I found myself telling people that whether they like President Elect Obama or not they still have to give him respect. Oops, that's easy for me to say because I have such high hopes for Obama...but I have been guilty of NOT doing that for the current administration so I'm going to try to work on that.
And, lastly, I'm so, so sad that California has banned same-sex marriage and even sadder that Arkansas has enacted something that will make it impossible for same-sex couples to adopt children. So, I wonder what voters have against gay people? If you think being gay is wrong, or immoral that's fine, but why is it your business if homosexuals want to get married or adopt? I'm really curious here because it seems to me that the only reason people are opposed to homosexuality is based on their religious views and we have (cough) a separation of church and state here in America so what basis is there for taking away their rights? I'm really curious if any of you can explain this to me or have opinions on this because perhaps I'm not seeing all sides of the story.
Whew, I guess I should get some work done!
17 October 2008
A Little Politics
So, Canada had an election last week. Who knew?! Okay, well, I did, but not because of the news. Here in the Southern US they are, as far as I can tell, unaware that Canada exists. Well, they know it exists but sort of as a wee little country far, far away with funny money. Jon Stewart (am I the only one who gets all of their news from the Daily Show?) talked about the Canadian election the other day and he pointed out that the Conservative Party won again but seeing as how we Canadians are sooo liberal compared to the Americans that voting for the Conservatives in Canada is akin to voting for "Gay Nader Fans for Peace" here in the US. Awesome.
The election down here is seriously tearing people apart and I sort of understand that because I'm finding it hard to separate people's political leanings from their personality. When an acquaintance of mine found out that I was an Obama fan she literally gasped and whispered 'but he's a Muslim!' I really like this this woman but I've found that since she said this my feelings for her are somewhat diminished. I don't like that I can't separate my feelings about her and about her politics, but I am having trouble.
I've noticed that so many of the feelings people have, either good or bad about either party, are based on lies or propaganda or rumor and that's not right. I heard something the other day that I thought was really spot-on; 'vote your hopes, not your fears'. I guess that's my wish for every voter in this country and in Canada and everywhere else too; vote for what you envision your country can be and for the leader who can make that happen.
The election down here is seriously tearing people apart and I sort of understand that because I'm finding it hard to separate people's political leanings from their personality. When an acquaintance of mine found out that I was an Obama fan she literally gasped and whispered 'but he's a Muslim!' I really like this this woman but I've found that since she said this my feelings for her are somewhat diminished. I don't like that I can't separate my feelings about her and about her politics, but I am having trouble.
I've noticed that so many of the feelings people have, either good or bad about either party, are based on lies or propaganda or rumor and that's not right. I heard something the other day that I thought was really spot-on; 'vote your hopes, not your fears'. I guess that's my wish for every voter in this country and in Canada and everywhere else too; vote for what you envision your country can be and for the leader who can make that happen.
05 June 2008
So much pride in my new country
Three and a half years ago I began visiting the southern US. I spent most of my time in Atlanta and was, honestly, amazed at how much of the population was black. (The city where I spent most of my adult life is around 2 or 3 % black.) I didn't mind, understand, but it was new and different for me. I would walk the dog through Paul's apartment complex and say hi to the other dog walkers (and one cat walker) and some days they were all black, except me. At first I couldn't understand every southern person, especially the young black men and women, they seemed to have a language all their own and I didn't always understand the accent or the words, much to my chagrin. I met a 60 year old black man at the body shop that Paul managed and when I said hello he ducked his head, called me 'ma'am' and backed away. I asked Paul why and he smiled sadly and said, 'he's old and he's black, he remembers what it was like to be called names that you can't imagine. He remembers segregated buses and bathrooms and, well, segregated lives.' Just a few days ago an acquaintance of Paul's referred to a black man as a 'spearchucker'. I love the South; the beauty of the terrain and the openness of the people but this racism is also part of the South that I have come to know.
Now, three years later, I pretty much understand every southerner. The other day I said 'dang' and 'y'all' in the same sentence. My only friends here in Tennessee are black. And now, so soon after I saw for the first time the racism that still exists here, a black man may well be the next president. I haven't stopped weeping tears of joy for two days. I am so proud, so very proud that finally there are enough people in this country who don't select their friends and employees and government officials by the color of the skin but by the content of their character - to quote another great black man.
I'm not an American citizen, only a resident here but Paul and I celebrated Senator Obama's presumptive nomination by printing out a voter registration for him and sending it in. Paul hasn't voted in ...well, a while, but I can assure you that I will be bawling all over again when he casts the vote for the change we so desperately need in this country.
One day I will be able to write that the next president of the United States is a woman, but for now 'may the best man win!'
Now, three years later, I pretty much understand every southerner. The other day I said 'dang' and 'y'all' in the same sentence. My only friends here in Tennessee are black. And now, so soon after I saw for the first time the racism that still exists here, a black man may well be the next president. I haven't stopped weeping tears of joy for two days. I am so proud, so very proud that finally there are enough people in this country who don't select their friends and employees and government officials by the color of the skin but by the content of their character - to quote another great black man.
I'm not an American citizen, only a resident here but Paul and I celebrated Senator Obama's presumptive nomination by printing out a voter registration for him and sending it in. Paul hasn't voted in ...well, a while, but I can assure you that I will be bawling all over again when he casts the vote for the change we so desperately need in this country.
One day I will be able to write that the next president of the United States is a woman, but for now 'may the best man win!'
08 April 2008
Here's A Post!
Whoosh, I am tuckered out! Job hunting is hard work, and kind of demoralizing when nobody calls :p
The interview with the woman from Paulie's work went really well and I was pretty convinced that I had the job. Everybody at Paul's office told me I was a shoe-in. Stupidly, I kind of stopped looking for like a week and a half I was so sure. And then, I didn't get the job. The lovely woman who interviewed me felt SO BADLY! But, unfortunately, the company really doesn't like to hire from outside. They hire from outside generally only on the lowest level and then promote from within - this is why it was so difficult for Paul to get a job there. The interviewer was sure that she could convince her boss to let her hire me as I was qualified and she was desperate but in the end the company pretty much put a complete moratorium on hiring from outside the company. I was disappointed.
But, I've applied for many other things and eventually something has to work out, right? RIGHT?! I'm getting a bit panicky about it...no one is even calling! Today I applied for one job but spent much of the rest of the day revamping my resume. I try to do that every couple of weeks or so, just changing little things here and there since you never know what will catch a potential employer's eye.
We've been c-r-a-z-y busy lately for some reason. Looking for work for me and doctor's appointments and medicating Smeagol's latest health problem and spring cleaning...it seems I never sit down. Which is fine, I'm not complaining! Lord knows must people have a lot more to do than I do. I had my treadmill test last week and it went quite well. It wasn't too hard and didn't take too long and the RN who was with me was really nice. The doctor will send the results to my doctor ( I go in a week from today for that ) but in the meantime he said he saw no scary heart issues. My blood pressure was stupid high though so I'll probably have to get that checked out even though it was near perfect at my last doctor's appointment.
Did I mention that I got the results of my my blood tests? I was sure that I did, but I can't find it on here now so maybe I didn't. *PROUD* My total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, kidney function, thyroid level etc. was all good. I wonder how it would have been a year ago before I started, well, changing my health entirely. I wish I knew. I'm really shocked that after 3 and a half decades of eating crap and 1 and a half decades of being fat all of these levels are okay. Amazing, I think. The only problem that the initial blood tests turned up is an abnormal liver profile. I go back next week to discuss this and the results of the treadmill test and continue trying to figure out what the hell is wrong with me. I'm a bit scared of what the abnormal liver numbers could mean but I guess we will see.
It is officially summer here in East Tennessee. There was no spring. We have three wasp nests on our back porch (tomorrow we go at them), tick heaven in the front lawn (the owner of the property apparently does not believe in mowing!) and dogwoods blooming everywhere. Its all quite lovely, and my allergies aren't even too too bad yet. Some sinus headaches and LOTS OF ITCHING, but it could be way worse. Its really pretty out here, when are you all going to come and visit?
The interview with the woman from Paulie's work went really well and I was pretty convinced that I had the job. Everybody at Paul's office told me I was a shoe-in. Stupidly, I kind of stopped looking for like a week and a half I was so sure. And then, I didn't get the job. The lovely woman who interviewed me felt SO BADLY! But, unfortunately, the company really doesn't like to hire from outside. They hire from outside generally only on the lowest level and then promote from within - this is why it was so difficult for Paul to get a job there. The interviewer was sure that she could convince her boss to let her hire me as I was qualified and she was desperate but in the end the company pretty much put a complete moratorium on hiring from outside the company. I was disappointed.
But, I've applied for many other things and eventually something has to work out, right? RIGHT?! I'm getting a bit panicky about it...no one is even calling! Today I applied for one job but spent much of the rest of the day revamping my resume. I try to do that every couple of weeks or so, just changing little things here and there since you never know what will catch a potential employer's eye.
We've been c-r-a-z-y busy lately for some reason. Looking for work for me and doctor's appointments and medicating Smeagol's latest health problem and spring cleaning...it seems I never sit down. Which is fine, I'm not complaining! Lord knows must people have a lot more to do than I do. I had my treadmill test last week and it went quite well. It wasn't too hard and didn't take too long and the RN who was with me was really nice. The doctor will send the results to my doctor ( I go in a week from today for that ) but in the meantime he said he saw no scary heart issues. My blood pressure was stupid high though so I'll probably have to get that checked out even though it was near perfect at my last doctor's appointment.
Did I mention that I got the results of my my blood tests? I was sure that I did, but I can't find it on here now so maybe I didn't. *PROUD* My total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, kidney function, thyroid level etc. was all good. I wonder how it would have been a year ago before I started, well, changing my health entirely. I wish I knew. I'm really shocked that after 3 and a half decades of eating crap and 1 and a half decades of being fat all of these levels are okay. Amazing, I think. The only problem that the initial blood tests turned up is an abnormal liver profile. I go back next week to discuss this and the results of the treadmill test and continue trying to figure out what the hell is wrong with me. I'm a bit scared of what the abnormal liver numbers could mean but I guess we will see.
It is officially summer here in East Tennessee. There was no spring. We have three wasp nests on our back porch (tomorrow we go at them), tick heaven in the front lawn (the owner of the property apparently does not believe in mowing!) and dogwoods blooming everywhere. Its all quite lovely, and my allergies aren't even too too bad yet. Some sinus headaches and LOTS OF ITCHING, but it could be way worse. Its really pretty out here, when are you all going to come and visit?
16 March 2008
Love/Hate
Something I Love:
One of my sisters teaches Grade One and always has cute stories to tell about 'her' kids. Recently one of the six year olds came up to her and said 'Mrs. D., remember how I was going to bring in my bird for show and tell? Well, my dog ate my bird so I'll bring my dog in instead." And then she happily walked away, end of story.
Something I Hate:
I always thought that when you were upset you would say that you felt it in the 'pit of your stomach' as in deeply, to the bottom. Lately though I'm always hearing people say 'I was so upset I had a PIT in my stomach!' Like...a peach pit or what? I used to be convinced that my way was right but a lot of people say it the other way. A lot of people are painfully dumb though. What do you-uns think?
Oh, and as an addendum to the lovely southerners I now know: 1) Its 'Ill-i-noy' okay? Not 'Ill-i-noise'. Also, a bed, dresser and two nightstands is a bedroom suite - that's 'sweet' not 'suit'. And finally, my new favorite that is so awesome I won't even stand on my soapbox and correct you: sure, your dresser can be called a 'chesterdrawers' if you want it to.
One of my sisters teaches Grade One and always has cute stories to tell about 'her' kids. Recently one of the six year olds came up to her and said 'Mrs. D., remember how I was going to bring in my bird for show and tell? Well, my dog ate my bird so I'll bring my dog in instead." And then she happily walked away, end of story.
Something I Hate:
I always thought that when you were upset you would say that you felt it in the 'pit of your stomach' as in deeply, to the bottom. Lately though I'm always hearing people say 'I was so upset I had a PIT in my stomach!' Like...a peach pit or what? I used to be convinced that my way was right but a lot of people say it the other way. A lot of people are painfully dumb though. What do you-uns think?
Oh, and as an addendum to the lovely southerners I now know: 1) Its 'Ill-i-noy' okay? Not 'Ill-i-noise'. Also, a bed, dresser and two nightstands is a bedroom suite - that's 'sweet' not 'suit'. And finally, my new favorite that is so awesome I won't even stand on my soapbox and correct you: sure, your dresser can be called a 'chesterdrawers' if you want it to.
12 January 2008
Tick, THROB, Tick, THROB
We've had some good and some bad things happen here in this very eventful week. But for now let me tell you about the last 24 hours. On the negative side, my chest has been hurting a lot, LOT, more again and we're unsure again if we are going to be able to wait the 48 days until health insurance. On the plus side, yesterday was one of our anniversaries (3 years since we started 'going steady') and we gorged ourselves in a very unhealthy way at Perkins. There is no Perkins in Atlanta, so when I saw that there was one in Knoxville I was pretty determined. We celebrated at Perkins after spending an hour at the hospital holding baby Lili who was born on the 10th to our good friends here in our little town. Lili was 5 pounds 12 ounces and 17 1/2 inches long. She was born two weeks early but the doctors, upon seeing her, suspect that they may have been wrong about the due date as she seems to show signs of being younger than 38 weeks. Mom and baby are doing fine. Honorary Aunt Jenn is having a hard time concentrating due to the biological clock GONGING inside her head. Here are some pictures from our day of babying/eating/driving.
Darling Baby Lili (The smallest child I've ever held. Dad and Big Sister had to head out to buy premie clothes because the newborn ones were too big)
Paul and Lili (he was a little scared to hold her but she slept the entire time that either of us held her so it wasn't too scary after all)
Big Sister Mara (singularly unimpressed with all the attention showered on Lili, so here she is with tears in her eyes after being punished)
Driving Home (after a full day of baby holding and celebratory eating. I couldn't resist these beautiful clouds in the sunset, I wish you could see the mountains in the background though, that made it even nicer)
Darling Baby Lili (The smallest child I've ever held. Dad and Big Sister had to head out to buy premie clothes because the newborn ones were too big)
Paul and Lili (he was a little scared to hold her but she slept the entire time that either of us held her so it wasn't too scary after all)
Big Sister Mara (singularly unimpressed with all the attention showered on Lili, so here she is with tears in her eyes after being punished)
Driving Home (after a full day of baby holding and celebratory eating. I couldn't resist these beautiful clouds in the sunset, I wish you could see the mountains in the background though, that made it even nicer)
10 December 2007
In response to comments and emails -
I didn't mean to make it sound like Paul's job is top secret, its not at all! He's working in the IT department for a big company. Basically he sits at a desk with a cell phone and a computer and when anyone in the company has a computer issue, they call or email him and he goes over there and does some sort of Engineering degree voodoo and then the problem is fixed. Ta-Da! He can never tell me stories about work because I don't understand what he does even a little bit. The pay is decent, the benefits, sick days, vacation etc. are outstanding (starting in 3 months) and he likes it, so yay!
I didn't take pictures coming up here because the trip was WAY TOO HARROWING to do so (24 foot truck, tow dolly with car attached, two dogs in cab with us...). People us here do not live in shacks, quite, but it is remarkably ... rural here. Which suits me just fine. I grew up on a farm that was 3/4 of a mile from our nearest neighbour and then moved to a town of about 1700 people, so this is still plenty urban for me. I truly cannot understand anybody though, like at all. For example, there is a town somewhere around here called 'Maryville'. The folks here though call is 'Murvul'. Another eg: Versailles = 'Vursales'.
The dogs are settling in poorly. They bark and whine and pee and poo and then repeat that. But the past few months have been extremely stressful for them so I'm hoping that in another week or two they will be back to normal.
We did have movers! Well, for part of the time. I've never used movers in all of my 20 or so lifetime moves, but in this case we had to. We had no friends willing to help and we were sick and exhausted and incapable of carrying, say, a washer and dryer up 11 stairs by ourselves. I packed everything myself and then hired a company that sent 4 guys for two hours to load the rental truck. Holy crap were they fast. Unbelievable. They got all of our crap loaded in an hour and a half. Then on this end we did it all ourselves (how? I don't know) except for the 5 biggest pieces of furniture. Fortunately we had a friend recommend someone up here who would help Paul move that stuff for like $40. Oh, and I called the moving truck people today and got a 15% refund on the truck for all the trouble we had...not much, but it helps.
We are settling in okay...the move in progress is slow since my arthritic knees aren't too happy about ALL THE FREAKIN STAIRS and Paul has been working non stop. But things are fairly close to unpacked. Now that we have phone and internet again I'm frantically trying to change all of our addresses etc. Its a lot more difficult when you have moved to a different state since, for example, our old bank has no branches here and our tenant insurance has to be with a different company etc. Once the unpacking and address changing is done, then I can start hanging pictures and measuring for curtains (stupid blankets on the windows) and stuff and then this place will start to feel like a home, I hope. For now, I do what I can each day and that's all I can do.
As far as our health, Paul is doing quite well. He hasn't had serious pain in about 3 days. I still have discomfort most of the time, but its not as bad. There is some mold in our bathroom that we will have to take action on. I just found it yesterday and I'm hoping to God that it is not going to affect us. Our energy level is slowly improving too, again, Paul's at a faster rate than mine. I've lost between 23 and 24 pounds now. My clothes are quite literally falling off me!
I think I answered all of your questions...thanks for all your questions and comments and support and prayers as we have gone through still more trying times. Hopefully things will get better from now on.
I didn't take pictures coming up here because the trip was WAY TOO HARROWING to do so (24 foot truck, tow dolly with car attached, two dogs in cab with us...). People us here do not live in shacks, quite, but it is remarkably ... rural here. Which suits me just fine. I grew up on a farm that was 3/4 of a mile from our nearest neighbour and then moved to a town of about 1700 people, so this is still plenty urban for me. I truly cannot understand anybody though, like at all. For example, there is a town somewhere around here called 'Maryville'. The folks here though call is 'Murvul'. Another eg: Versailles = 'Vursales'.
The dogs are settling in poorly. They bark and whine and pee and poo and then repeat that. But the past few months have been extremely stressful for them so I'm hoping that in another week or two they will be back to normal.
We did have movers! Well, for part of the time. I've never used movers in all of my 20 or so lifetime moves, but in this case we had to. We had no friends willing to help and we were sick and exhausted and incapable of carrying, say, a washer and dryer up 11 stairs by ourselves. I packed everything myself and then hired a company that sent 4 guys for two hours to load the rental truck. Holy crap were they fast. Unbelievable. They got all of our crap loaded in an hour and a half. Then on this end we did it all ourselves (how? I don't know) except for the 5 biggest pieces of furniture. Fortunately we had a friend recommend someone up here who would help Paul move that stuff for like $40. Oh, and I called the moving truck people today and got a 15% refund on the truck for all the trouble we had...not much, but it helps.
We are settling in okay...the move in progress is slow since my arthritic knees aren't too happy about ALL THE FREAKIN STAIRS and Paul has been working non stop. But things are fairly close to unpacked. Now that we have phone and internet again I'm frantically trying to change all of our addresses etc. Its a lot more difficult when you have moved to a different state since, for example, our old bank has no branches here and our tenant insurance has to be with a different company etc. Once the unpacking and address changing is done, then I can start hanging pictures and measuring for curtains (stupid blankets on the windows) and stuff and then this place will start to feel like a home, I hope. For now, I do what I can each day and that's all I can do.
As far as our health, Paul is doing quite well. He hasn't had serious pain in about 3 days. I still have discomfort most of the time, but its not as bad. There is some mold in our bathroom that we will have to take action on. I just found it yesterday and I'm hoping to God that it is not going to affect us. Our energy level is slowly improving too, again, Paul's at a faster rate than mine. I've lost between 23 and 24 pounds now. My clothes are quite literally falling off me!
I think I answered all of your questions...thanks for all your questions and comments and support and prayers as we have gone through still more trying times. Hopefully things will get better from now on.
15 June 2007
I got my next paperwork for immigration. In a couple of weeks I go for a biometrics appointment, which, as I understand it, is just fingerprints and photographs (because the complete set of fingerprints and FOUR sets of passport photos I've sent in so far are apparently not good enough!) The appointment place is less than a mile from Paul's work so that should be quite convenient. Naturally I have anticipated about 25 problems that could occur but I'm still excited.
**********
Paul enjoyed his restaurant shift last week because he got to see a lot of old friends. He made decent tips until his last table of the night. It was a largish party and Paul was waiting for them to leave when they beckoned him over. They told him how great he and the food both were and called him by name and then handed him the check folder thing. Anticipating a good tip he opened it and saw that on the bill for $138.03 they had left him $138.00. Indeed, the service was so good that they felt they could short him 3 cents instead of leaving a tip. Jerkfaces.
**********
You're not even going to BELIEVE this one (and don't tell me anymore that Paul should quit, I tell him that every day). There are still a couple of guys at Paul's shop who are 'loyal' to former #2 and treat Paul pretty crappy since, I assume, they feel that Paul was responsible for #2 quitting. Earlier this week, Paul was tired of being treated shitty and when one of the guys asked him for something (after harrassing him about it a million times) he said 'here it is, princess'. Apparently, that was a sore spot because the guy launched himself across the shop and pinned Paul to the wall by his neck and proceeded to choke him. Paul couldn't speak or really move and before he could try to struggle away or get really injured, Keef (yay Keef) pulled the maniac off him. The police were called, the guy was taken away in cuffs and we had to go to court yesterday. Paul is doing his best to try and get the charges dropped because the guy spent a few hours in jail and will almost certainly get fired and that's plenty, but it may be too late to do so. We encountered the guy in the hallway and Paul stopped him and told him that he was going to try and get the charges dropped and the guy apologized and shook Paul's hand so hopefully this will be the end of it. Oh, the DRAMA of our lives!
The courthouse was interesting. We waited with a long line of people to get in and then went in one at a time through the metal detector etc. I forgot to take off my pendant and so they had to wand me down and of course I get SO nervous around authority (especially like this because it reminds me of customs *shiver*) that I forgot to go back and get my purse. Paul saw it though and asked if he could grab it for me. The security guy said 'well, its not really your color, but go ahead' and generally joked with us and treated us with respect.
On the way home I remarked that we were pretty much the only white people in the line to get into the courtrooms. I've said this kind of thing before but its so interesting to me. It doesn't
-matter- that we were the only caucasians, but you do -notice- it, especially when you grew up in a town with NO blacks or asians or any other race. Paul said 'yes, and you'll notice how the guards joked with us and no one else?' He pointed out some other things that the guards (both black and white) did differently for us than the other people waiting and I was once again amazed. I always heard about this kind of thing but suddenly living down here, I see it. Its not the kind of racism I expected. I thought that in the south some people hated black people. And some do, but most don't. Most simply treat them...differently. Sometimes, not even worse, just different. The south is a very strange place.
**********
Paul enjoyed his restaurant shift last week because he got to see a lot of old friends. He made decent tips until his last table of the night. It was a largish party and Paul was waiting for them to leave when they beckoned him over. They told him how great he and the food both were and called him by name and then handed him the check folder thing. Anticipating a good tip he opened it and saw that on the bill for $138.03 they had left him $138.00. Indeed, the service was so good that they felt they could short him 3 cents instead of leaving a tip. Jerkfaces.
**********
You're not even going to BELIEVE this one (and don't tell me anymore that Paul should quit, I tell him that every day). There are still a couple of guys at Paul's shop who are 'loyal' to former #2 and treat Paul pretty crappy since, I assume, they feel that Paul was responsible for #2 quitting. Earlier this week, Paul was tired of being treated shitty and when one of the guys asked him for something (after harrassing him about it a million times) he said 'here it is, princess'. Apparently, that was a sore spot because the guy launched himself across the shop and pinned Paul to the wall by his neck and proceeded to choke him. Paul couldn't speak or really move and before he could try to struggle away or get really injured, Keef (yay Keef) pulled the maniac off him. The police were called, the guy was taken away in cuffs and we had to go to court yesterday. Paul is doing his best to try and get the charges dropped because the guy spent a few hours in jail and will almost certainly get fired and that's plenty, but it may be too late to do so. We encountered the guy in the hallway and Paul stopped him and told him that he was going to try and get the charges dropped and the guy apologized and shook Paul's hand so hopefully this will be the end of it. Oh, the DRAMA of our lives!
The courthouse was interesting. We waited with a long line of people to get in and then went in one at a time through the metal detector etc. I forgot to take off my pendant and so they had to wand me down and of course I get SO nervous around authority (especially like this because it reminds me of customs *shiver*) that I forgot to go back and get my purse. Paul saw it though and asked if he could grab it for me. The security guy said 'well, its not really your color, but go ahead' and generally joked with us and treated us with respect.
On the way home I remarked that we were pretty much the only white people in the line to get into the courtrooms. I've said this kind of thing before but its so interesting to me. It doesn't
-matter- that we were the only caucasians, but you do -notice- it, especially when you grew up in a town with NO blacks or asians or any other race. Paul said 'yes, and you'll notice how the guards joked with us and no one else?' He pointed out some other things that the guards (both black and white) did differently for us than the other people waiting and I was once again amazed. I always heard about this kind of thing but suddenly living down here, I see it. Its not the kind of racism I expected. I thought that in the south some people hated black people. And some do, but most don't. Most simply treat them...differently. Sometimes, not even worse, just different. The south is a very strange place.
09 April 2007
The Honeymoon
Bluch, we had kind of a mediocre weekend. I think that we are suffering a bit from the blues of having a regular person life instead of a people-who-are-planning-a-wedding-and-honeymoon life. Paul asked me to marry him on March 29, 2005 and so for the next two years exactly we planned and schemed and filled out immigration forms and then in one fell swoop it was all over. Of course, there is still a lot to do, immigration wise (more on that later) and that one fell swoop got us what we wanted, ultimately, but we still have a bit of sadness.
So, before all of our trip drifts away on wisps of memory let me tell you about it. On Wednesday (the 28th) after Paul got home from work we packed up the puppies and brought them over to Josh and Gibby's then came home and packed up our massive quantites of stuff and headed out for the 3 1/2 hour drive to Pigeon Forge. We were sleepy but enjoyed the drive and made it in quick time. We had booked the Holiday Inn that is on the same lot as our little chapel so we got our first glimpse of it and it was CUTE! The Holiday Inn was very nice and they knew it was our wedding day the next day so they had put a bunch of helium balloons in our room along with a bottle of sparkling cider and a shot glass that says 'we spent our honeymoon in the Smoky Mountains'. Two side notes though - one, I can't find that damn shot glass which ticks me off cause I remember packing it. And two, if you ever go to sleep in a room with helium balloons you should make sure that they are anchored somewhere because air currents move them around. I woke up to go the bathroom and opened my eyes to see this big dark shadow hovering over me, bouncing and moving around. I nearly pooped myself. The next morning the balloons were over on the other side of the room held in place by Paul's shoe...they had scared him too. Also, re the ballons - one of them had words on it and the message was 'Good Luck'. Don't you find that a bit of an odd sentiment for a couple about to embark on marriage?
Anyway, the next day we went out for breakfast with my mom and sisters and then Paul and I headed over to pick up our marriage licence. At the county clerk's office they barely glanced at our ID and then handed over the licence and said we were done. Paul couldn't believe it and said 'don't we pay you or anything?' I laughed and explained to Paul, again, that I had pre-ordered and prepaid the licence online. I asked him if he understood YET how much time and effort I had put into making sure this was all perfect and ran smoothly. After that we headed to the salon where we were each scheduled for a manicure and I was supposed to get my hair and makeup done. I shan't go into details except to say that all four SUCKED. The woman was terrible; my nails were bubbly, my hair was in poodle tight curls and my makeup was crooked and weird. I didn't quite realize til afterward though just how terrible it was and besides I didn't want to get too upset just before the wedding, so we paid anyway. I did email her when I got home though and indicated exactly how displeased I was. She did all four of our services in an hour and five minutes though so I had time to run back to the hotel and fix everything up so that in the end only my nails were bad and that probably won't show in the pictures.
So I fixed everything to my liking and we both got dressed and walked over to the chapel just a few steps away. The chapel was perfect and the minister and photographer were very nice and accomodating. The flowers we had asked for were just right...it was all just right. We walked down the short aisle together to the song I told you about - Sheep May Safely Graze played on the mandolin and then the minister gave a short talk. He then asked us to repeat our vows, which I managed to do despite my hiccuping sobs, and then exchange rings. Paul was...so handsome standing across from me looking at me with such love and tears in his eyes. It was wonderful.
After that we did an endless stream of pictures (which they post online so we can select, what a great idea). We went back to the hotel then and relaxed for an hour or so before heading to the restaurant. I had asked my parents-in-law to head there before us and put down the little favors we had purchased (notebooks with our names and the date on them and little heart shaped tins with red heart chocolates in them) and they had done that and ensured that we got a lovely table right beside the fireplace. Around the table were my sisters and mom and Paul's parents and aunt and uncle and a family friend. We had great food and great service and got some lovely gifts and cards too. I had purchased a large guest book frame for the guests to sign (since we only had ten people or so there was no point in getting a book for them to sign so I ordered a picture frame with room for a picture of us and then a huge mat around it for people to sign) and we put that on a nearby table so people could get up and write down their wishes for us.
When dinner was over Paul and I nearly fell into bed, exhausted, and slept like the dead til late the next morning. (Thankfully we slept better than the last night when we had the balloon scare as well as a lack of air conditioning. The hotel fixed our a/c while we were out getting married - they rock). For lunch we met my family and then drove the short way out to Gatlinburg (Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville are all very, very close together) and rode the SkyLift! (Dammit, we have a picture of us taken on the SkyLift and Blogger won't let me post it cause its in a tif format. Anyone know how to fix that? But, it was cool, basically a T-Bar style ski lift that carries you up the mountain where you can see stunning views like the one in the pictures that were supposed to post here but didn't because Blogger sucks. I guess I'll have to post the pictures separately. *irritated*)
After that we wandered around Gatlinburg and bought some homemade candy and beef jerky (guess which one of those was for me). We went back to the hotel and packed up our stuff then relaxed for a bit before going out for barbecue with Paul's family and mine. We said goodbye to my family then as they were leaving early the next morning. We had stayed two nights in the expensive Holiday Inn but Paul's parents had booked us for the next two nights in a little motel that was a lot cheaper. So we went to check into that motel and I fell in love with it immediately. When we walked in the door there was another door straight across from us with a deadbolt on it. I asked Paul what that was and he told me to go open it up. I opened the door and discovered...a river! A beautiful little meandering river complete with ducks and muskrats. And then on the other side of the river a vast expanse of lawn with horses grazing on it and a big white farmhouse perched in the middle. There was a little back porch outside the door with lawnchairs on it and Paul and I had one of the highlights of our trip sitting on those chairs that night watching the ducks and fish and listening to the quiet.
The next morning we did a bit of shopping (two pairs of Skechers, black cargo pants and a t-shirt) and then headed towards Gatlinburg again. (Oh and for breakfast we went to IHOP where we were treated to a young girl puking RIGHT outside the front door. Her mom: 'Ah TOLD y'all not to eat those slim jims and then stand out in the haht sun!') We drove slowly up the mountains and then stopped at, ta-da! a British pub in the Smokies! Although my stomach was feeling a bit oocky that day, this was another hightlight of the trip. This big, cool, quiet pub in the middle of the mountains. We sat there for a long time in the silence, just listening and thinking. Then we drove around and visited some of the little arts and crafts shops in the area. Paul bought pickled eggs and pickled garlic and I bought some spices (at a shop where there was a barefoot child ON the counter where they were packing up the food). It was all just adorable. Then we drove to a more urban area and checked out a few shops there. My mom in law treated me to one of those water massages where you remain fully dressed and get in this tanning bed-like machine and the water pummels you until you are just a sack of goo. You should go do that! Then dinner again and home to relax.
The next day we headed off to Tunica, Mississippi. The drive was over seven hours long but absolutely gorgeous. We drove basically straight across Tennessee from east to west and saw, conservatively, maybe 10 billion trees. I took endless pictures out the car window and some of them are quite nice. Near the end of the trip we entered into Mississippi which was...unattractive. I'm sure that there are beautiful parts of Mississippi but not where we were. It was depressingly poor looking and just made me sad. But then suddenly we were in Tunica which, so far as I can tell is just casinos and not actually a town. Our hotel was lovely and our room was done up in dark reds which is always a favorite of mine. As we stood in the lobby waiting to check in I asked Paul what that noise was. He laughed and said 'Jenn, that's casino'. Huh! I had no idea. Casinos are LOUD! We got settled in and then headed down to gamble. Mom showed me how to play the penny slots and on my third press of a button I won $50.50. I sort of forgot momentarily that I need to tone down the insane while around my new parents in law and looked over at her and said 'I LIKE GAMBA-LING!' After a while we went and got the buffet (Paul's parents had enough credits to get it for $1 for each of us which turned out to be too expensive) which was delicious, but please take my advice and beware of buffet alfredo sauce. After a little more gambling we went to the room and had a lovely night.
The next morning we headed to another casino down the road. We had a great lunch and then began wasting money in earnest again. After a few hours though it became clear that I was going to have to go back to our hotel. We walked back and I told Paul to just go have fun for an hour or so and I would nap and then feel better but that was not the case. When Paul came back it was clear that I was going nowhere. He went and had dinner with his family and then came back to check on me. He brought me a magnet (I always get magnets when we travel cause they're a cheap memento) and a KitKat bar from the gift shop and I think when I almost puked at the sight of the KitKat was the first moment when he realized how sick I was. That night was rough but the next morning I was still alive and we headed for home.
The trip home was interesting. We cut across the corner of Mississippi, then through Alabama on to home. We needed gas and directions at one point in Mississippi so we stopped at a gas station. Paul couldn't figure out why the gas wasn't pumping so he went in and told them that it didn't seem to be working. Their response - 'we were waiting for you to come in and pay cause we don't know your face'. Wow. We also tried to ask for directions but had a bit of a tough time since you have not heard a southern accent until you have heard rural Mississippians talk. Even Paul couldn't understand them. We were then happy to leave Mississippi for gorgeous Alabama. We made it home in just over seven hours and then had to unpack the VAST quantities of our stuff. Okay, Paul had to unload it because I could barely move. Then we went and picked up some very happy dogs.
Okay, that was very long. I had intended to write it all and then split it up into two or three sections but Blogger won't let me copy and paste. I don't normally have this much trouble with Blogger so perhaps it is my fault. I'm not fully 100% well yet so let's say that's the trouble. So, sorry about the lengthiness and shortly I shall post the appropriate pictures.
So, before all of our trip drifts away on wisps of memory let me tell you about it. On Wednesday (the 28th) after Paul got home from work we packed up the puppies and brought them over to Josh and Gibby's then came home and packed up our massive quantites of stuff and headed out for the 3 1/2 hour drive to Pigeon Forge. We were sleepy but enjoyed the drive and made it in quick time. We had booked the Holiday Inn that is on the same lot as our little chapel so we got our first glimpse of it and it was CUTE! The Holiday Inn was very nice and they knew it was our wedding day the next day so they had put a bunch of helium balloons in our room along with a bottle of sparkling cider and a shot glass that says 'we spent our honeymoon in the Smoky Mountains'. Two side notes though - one, I can't find that damn shot glass which ticks me off cause I remember packing it. And two, if you ever go to sleep in a room with helium balloons you should make sure that they are anchored somewhere because air currents move them around. I woke up to go the bathroom and opened my eyes to see this big dark shadow hovering over me, bouncing and moving around. I nearly pooped myself. The next morning the balloons were over on the other side of the room held in place by Paul's shoe...they had scared him too. Also, re the ballons - one of them had words on it and the message was 'Good Luck'. Don't you find that a bit of an odd sentiment for a couple about to embark on marriage?
Anyway, the next day we went out for breakfast with my mom and sisters and then Paul and I headed over to pick up our marriage licence. At the county clerk's office they barely glanced at our ID and then handed over the licence and said we were done. Paul couldn't believe it and said 'don't we pay you or anything?' I laughed and explained to Paul, again, that I had pre-ordered and prepaid the licence online. I asked him if he understood YET how much time and effort I had put into making sure this was all perfect and ran smoothly. After that we headed to the salon where we were each scheduled for a manicure and I was supposed to get my hair and makeup done. I shan't go into details except to say that all four SUCKED. The woman was terrible; my nails were bubbly, my hair was in poodle tight curls and my makeup was crooked and weird. I didn't quite realize til afterward though just how terrible it was and besides I didn't want to get too upset just before the wedding, so we paid anyway. I did email her when I got home though and indicated exactly how displeased I was. She did all four of our services in an hour and five minutes though so I had time to run back to the hotel and fix everything up so that in the end only my nails were bad and that probably won't show in the pictures.
So I fixed everything to my liking and we both got dressed and walked over to the chapel just a few steps away. The chapel was perfect and the minister and photographer were very nice and accomodating. The flowers we had asked for were just right...it was all just right. We walked down the short aisle together to the song I told you about - Sheep May Safely Graze played on the mandolin and then the minister gave a short talk. He then asked us to repeat our vows, which I managed to do despite my hiccuping sobs, and then exchange rings. Paul was...so handsome standing across from me looking at me with such love and tears in his eyes. It was wonderful.
After that we did an endless stream of pictures (which they post online so we can select, what a great idea). We went back to the hotel then and relaxed for an hour or so before heading to the restaurant. I had asked my parents-in-law to head there before us and put down the little favors we had purchased (notebooks with our names and the date on them and little heart shaped tins with red heart chocolates in them) and they had done that and ensured that we got a lovely table right beside the fireplace. Around the table were my sisters and mom and Paul's parents and aunt and uncle and a family friend. We had great food and great service and got some lovely gifts and cards too. I had purchased a large guest book frame for the guests to sign (since we only had ten people or so there was no point in getting a book for them to sign so I ordered a picture frame with room for a picture of us and then a huge mat around it for people to sign) and we put that on a nearby table so people could get up and write down their wishes for us.
When dinner was over Paul and I nearly fell into bed, exhausted, and slept like the dead til late the next morning. (Thankfully we slept better than the last night when we had the balloon scare as well as a lack of air conditioning. The hotel fixed our a/c while we were out getting married - they rock). For lunch we met my family and then drove the short way out to Gatlinburg (Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville are all very, very close together) and rode the SkyLift! (Dammit, we have a picture of us taken on the SkyLift and Blogger won't let me post it cause its in a tif format. Anyone know how to fix that? But, it was cool, basically a T-Bar style ski lift that carries you up the mountain where you can see stunning views like the one in the pictures that were supposed to post here but didn't because Blogger sucks. I guess I'll have to post the pictures separately. *irritated*)
After that we wandered around Gatlinburg and bought some homemade candy and beef jerky (guess which one of those was for me). We went back to the hotel and packed up our stuff then relaxed for a bit before going out for barbecue with Paul's family and mine. We said goodbye to my family then as they were leaving early the next morning. We had stayed two nights in the expensive Holiday Inn but Paul's parents had booked us for the next two nights in a little motel that was a lot cheaper. So we went to check into that motel and I fell in love with it immediately. When we walked in the door there was another door straight across from us with a deadbolt on it. I asked Paul what that was and he told me to go open it up. I opened the door and discovered...a river! A beautiful little meandering river complete with ducks and muskrats. And then on the other side of the river a vast expanse of lawn with horses grazing on it and a big white farmhouse perched in the middle. There was a little back porch outside the door with lawnchairs on it and Paul and I had one of the highlights of our trip sitting on those chairs that night watching the ducks and fish and listening to the quiet.
The next morning we did a bit of shopping (two pairs of Skechers, black cargo pants and a t-shirt) and then headed towards Gatlinburg again. (Oh and for breakfast we went to IHOP where we were treated to a young girl puking RIGHT outside the front door. Her mom: 'Ah TOLD y'all not to eat those slim jims and then stand out in the haht sun!') We drove slowly up the mountains and then stopped at, ta-da! a British pub in the Smokies! Although my stomach was feeling a bit oocky that day, this was another hightlight of the trip. This big, cool, quiet pub in the middle of the mountains. We sat there for a long time in the silence, just listening and thinking. Then we drove around and visited some of the little arts and crafts shops in the area. Paul bought pickled eggs and pickled garlic and I bought some spices (at a shop where there was a barefoot child ON the counter where they were packing up the food). It was all just adorable. Then we drove to a more urban area and checked out a few shops there. My mom in law treated me to one of those water massages where you remain fully dressed and get in this tanning bed-like machine and the water pummels you until you are just a sack of goo. You should go do that! Then dinner again and home to relax.
The next day we headed off to Tunica, Mississippi. The drive was over seven hours long but absolutely gorgeous. We drove basically straight across Tennessee from east to west and saw, conservatively, maybe 10 billion trees. I took endless pictures out the car window and some of them are quite nice. Near the end of the trip we entered into Mississippi which was...unattractive. I'm sure that there are beautiful parts of Mississippi but not where we were. It was depressingly poor looking and just made me sad. But then suddenly we were in Tunica which, so far as I can tell is just casinos and not actually a town. Our hotel was lovely and our room was done up in dark reds which is always a favorite of mine. As we stood in the lobby waiting to check in I asked Paul what that noise was. He laughed and said 'Jenn, that's casino'. Huh! I had no idea. Casinos are LOUD! We got settled in and then headed down to gamble. Mom showed me how to play the penny slots and on my third press of a button I won $50.50. I sort of forgot momentarily that I need to tone down the insane while around my new parents in law and looked over at her and said 'I LIKE GAMBA-LING!' After a while we went and got the buffet (Paul's parents had enough credits to get it for $1 for each of us which turned out to be too expensive) which was delicious, but please take my advice and beware of buffet alfredo sauce. After a little more gambling we went to the room and had a lovely night.
The next morning we headed to another casino down the road. We had a great lunch and then began wasting money in earnest again. After a few hours though it became clear that I was going to have to go back to our hotel. We walked back and I told Paul to just go have fun for an hour or so and I would nap and then feel better but that was not the case. When Paul came back it was clear that I was going nowhere. He went and had dinner with his family and then came back to check on me. He brought me a magnet (I always get magnets when we travel cause they're a cheap memento) and a KitKat bar from the gift shop and I think when I almost puked at the sight of the KitKat was the first moment when he realized how sick I was. That night was rough but the next morning I was still alive and we headed for home.
The trip home was interesting. We cut across the corner of Mississippi, then through Alabama on to home. We needed gas and directions at one point in Mississippi so we stopped at a gas station. Paul couldn't figure out why the gas wasn't pumping so he went in and told them that it didn't seem to be working. Their response - 'we were waiting for you to come in and pay cause we don't know your face'. Wow. We also tried to ask for directions but had a bit of a tough time since you have not heard a southern accent until you have heard rural Mississippians talk. Even Paul couldn't understand them. We were then happy to leave Mississippi for gorgeous Alabama. We made it home in just over seven hours and then had to unpack the VAST quantities of our stuff. Okay, Paul had to unload it because I could barely move. Then we went and picked up some very happy dogs.
Okay, that was very long. I had intended to write it all and then split it up into two or three sections but Blogger won't let me copy and paste. I don't normally have this much trouble with Blogger so perhaps it is my fault. I'm not fully 100% well yet so let's say that's the trouble. So, sorry about the lengthiness and shortly I shall post the appropriate pictures.
28 March 2007
11 ish
Wow. So, we're going to leave today for Tennessee. Paul still has to work today and I will spend the day packing and cleaning and getting the puppies ready for their stay at Josh's (Waffles should love it because his brother, Stewie, lives there). In 33 hours we'll be married. Paul is totally calm and just looking forward to a vacation without work and the dogs etc. I'm starting to freak out somewhat, but I'm excited too. My mom and sisters should be clearing customs in Winnipeg right now and Paul's parents and brother should be driving somewhere between Illinois (by the way, down here in the South most people say 'Ill-i-noise'. They also say I got a new bedroom 'sweet') and Tennessee. Everything will have fallen into place by the end of today or else it won't happen, and I'll deal with either one.
Nothing else to say, really. If I think of something interesting (unlikely!) throughout the day, I'll post it and otherwise I'll update a week from today or so. Thanks to all of you for your well wishes, it means so much to us. And Andrea, Matt, Chris, Angie and Kevin, my friends, the only dark spot on this time is that I can't be with you guys. You have been and continue to be the friends of a lifetime. Some of us don't talk much anymore but your friendship has changed my life, quite literally, for the better. I miss you and love you all.
See you in a week! Eeeeeeeeeee!
Nothing else to say, really. If I think of something interesting (unlikely!) throughout the day, I'll post it and otherwise I'll update a week from today or so. Thanks to all of you for your well wishes, it means so much to us. And Andrea, Matt, Chris, Angie and Kevin, my friends, the only dark spot on this time is that I can't be with you guys. You have been and continue to be the friends of a lifetime. Some of us don't talk much anymore but your friendship has changed my life, quite literally, for the better. I miss you and love you all.
See you in a week! Eeeeeeeeeee!
14 March 2007
Ew
Continuing, the 'its summer' thread; rats. I don't know if it is too cold or too hot for the rats at Paul's work but HOLY CRAP I'm glad I didn't have to see what he saw. In the break room there was a strange and worsening smell which Paul suggested to his coworkers was 'something dead'. So he looked around and decided that the only place it could be was under the snack machine. And he was right. There were TWO dead rats under there, which thank God he was not responsible for cleaning up. So, Paul describes to me how big each rat is and holds his hands, I swear again, like 14 inches apart. 'With the tail' I say. And he says 'no' with the tail they were like 2'+. TWO FOOT RATS!
However, things could be worse because we have all these cute chipmunks and squirrels in our yard and if we lived further south we could have crabs in our yard. YARD CRABS for God's sake!
I'm very capital-y today, but seriously. Whole new world.
However, things could be worse because we have all these cute chipmunks and squirrels in our yard and if we lived further south we could have crabs in our yard. YARD CRABS for God's sake!
I'm very capital-y today, but seriously. Whole new world.
13 March 2007
So, its pretty much summer here in Atlanta. Its hot (well, warm, but to me its hot), the high pollen count and low humidity are news stories every day, the dogwoods are blooming, I'm itchy from head to foot and Smeagol, Waffles and I all have eye infections. Smeagol gets three pills a day and drops in her eye creases twice a day. Waffles gets drops in his eyes twice a day. And I get three different drops in each eye four times a day. My optometrist made it clear that humans and dogs could pass these infections back and forth so I wash my hands, at a conservative estimate, 20 times per day. So, because of the low humidity which caused, or at least exacerbated, the infections combined with the necessary hand washing, I also now have really, really scaly hands.
Spring does bring a photographer's and crafter's paradise with it though. Everything is just popping with brand new blossoms and the pine cones. I used to have to BUY pine cones for Christmas crafts, but if I can get up the drive to go and collect some one of these days I'll never have to do that again. The ground is covered in large, perfectly formed pine cones. Some of them are so big that my fat little Smeagol has to walk around them.
Speaking of the dogs, Waffles is doing well. He is growing like a weed! We cannot believe how tall he is. He is all spindly, shaky little legs and goofy little snout. He is getting better at sleeping and leaving us alone. Even if he is not sleeping he is generally pretty quiet at night and only makes me get up early with him about 1/3 of the time now. He is also better at being a good boy when we put him into the large bathroom when we leave the house. He is, however, completely un-potty trained thus far. He has NO CLUE what I'm trying to make him do when I'm attempting to train him. He also hates his collar and leash so much that walks are very difficult. When the leash goes on he stops and whimpers and I have to physically carry him outside because he hates it so much. Nonetheless he is growing on me. He's a sweet and very cute boy. Oh! I forgot though...so...I don't have much experience with puppies and especially not with boy puppies. Did you know that 13 week old puppies already start humping things. Yeah. Ew.
Spring does bring a photographer's and crafter's paradise with it though. Everything is just popping with brand new blossoms and the pine cones. I used to have to BUY pine cones for Christmas crafts, but if I can get up the drive to go and collect some one of these days I'll never have to do that again. The ground is covered in large, perfectly formed pine cones. Some of them are so big that my fat little Smeagol has to walk around them.
Speaking of the dogs, Waffles is doing well. He is growing like a weed! We cannot believe how tall he is. He is all spindly, shaky little legs and goofy little snout. He is getting better at sleeping and leaving us alone. Even if he is not sleeping he is generally pretty quiet at night and only makes me get up early with him about 1/3 of the time now. He is also better at being a good boy when we put him into the large bathroom when we leave the house. He is, however, completely un-potty trained thus far. He has NO CLUE what I'm trying to make him do when I'm attempting to train him. He also hates his collar and leash so much that walks are very difficult. When the leash goes on he stops and whimpers and I have to physically carry him outside because he hates it so much. Nonetheless he is growing on me. He's a sweet and very cute boy. Oh! I forgot though...so...I don't have much experience with puppies and especially not with boy puppies. Did you know that 13 week old puppies already start humping things. Yeah. Ew.
21 February 2007
Tidbits
Okay, I have no idea why people can't see the Waffles picture and I can't troubleshoot since -I- can see it. So...sorry! Hopefully the next one will show up.
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Yesterday Paul was sitting on the couch making little faces and I looked over at him and asked him what he was doing. He replied lispingly 'I'm bringin thexy back?' It was awesome.
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Also awesome was our welcome home/celebration of visa approval dinner yesterday. We went for barbecue and I'm still full. As we waited to pay I saw a great sign that I thought was so very Southern: 'Bring in your church bulletin any Sunday and receive a 10% discount'. Isn't that GREAT?!
**********
Yesterday Paul was sitting on the couch making little faces and I looked over at him and asked him what he was doing. He replied lispingly 'I'm bringin thexy back?' It was awesome.
**********
Also awesome was our welcome home/celebration of visa approval dinner yesterday. We went for barbecue and I'm still full. As we waited to pay I saw a great sign that I thought was so very Southern: 'Bring in your church bulletin any Sunday and receive a 10% discount'. Isn't that GREAT?!
04 January 2007
Parkade is another one
I had a conversation with an American friend yesterday that seemed to leave us both slightly confused. Then, last night Paul's friend Keef came over and I repeated the story which involved 'boosting' a car. He was confused because, as it turns out, 'boosting a car' here in the US of A means stealing it. In Canada, you boost a car when it won't start, with booster cables, you know? But here, they are called jumper cables and you give a car a jump and not a boost.
So, that means that yesterday I told my friend that her boyfriend tried to steal her car...I guess that's why she laughed so hard.
So, that means that yesterday I told my friend that her boyfriend tried to steal her car...I guess that's why she laughed so hard.
10 October 2006
Finally
Let me begin to tell you about our mini vacation three weeks ago. I have been postponing writing about it because...well, for several reasons, but mostly because I want to give it the significance that it had. But, I probably can't put that into words, so lemme just tell you about it the best way that I can.
We woke up early (for us) and packed bags. One for me, one for Paul and one for Smeagol - I felt like a mom ;) We stopped at the grocery store and got snacks for the road and new batteries for my digital camera.
The drive to Tennessee was stunningly beautiful. I am not normally one of those people who finds astounding beauty in nature, but down here in the South, it is really hard not to. There were parts of the road where there were millions of wildflowers in between the northbound and southbound lanes. Every color that you can imagine, like a patchwork quilt dividing the highway. I had to ask Paul if they had been planted to look that way! But, of course, they weren't, they were just a little gift from Mother Nature.
After a couple of hours we were in Tennessee. We pulled off the interstate and stopped at a gas station for potty breaks. We developed a system where Paul would go while I walked Smeag, and then I would go while he continued to walk her. She is very well behaved and would never poop or peep in the car, so usually by the time we stopped, she was desperate. We would also always pull out her water dish and try to convince her to drink, but she seems to hate to eat or drink when she is not at home, so she got quite dehydrated and was a bit of a brat for the next few days.
As I walked back from the bathroom in the gas station, I happened to glance to my right because I saw something that caught my eye. It was...COFFEE CRISP BARS!!! As I linked to earlier, they are available in the US now, but not very many places and this was the first place that we had seen them. I ran back out to the car with my arms in the air, screaming 'GIMME YOUR WALLET!' Paul laughed and went in to get some, as he walked there, I yelled out 'BUY TWO!' He actually came back with six. Lucky me.
Back on the road and within a short time later we began to see mountains. Okay, they're not the Rockies, but damn are they pretty. As we got closer to our destination it was like being home, a very hilly version of home. Beautiful green fields with white picket fences and cows and horses grazing. Red barns, tall silos. I was gasping and moaning and finally I said 'Okay, so when are we gonna be moving here again?' Paul grinned and I said 'I'm not kidding, you know.' He sighed and told me that he knew. I like Atlanta a lot, but after seeing the Pigeon Forge/Sevierville area of Tennessee...I can't even express. I felt more at home there in 10 minutes than I do here after almost a year.
Soon we were in Sevierville, where Paul lived for several years. We drove through the University of Tennessee campus (that he attended). It's like a freakin city! It is a city really. Unbelievably huge. I told Paul how the University I attended was one building (plus the gym and one small building for offices), a big building! But just one. He couldn't believe it.
Then, we were in Pigeon Forge - a major tourist attraction. Dollywood is there, dozens of country shows and magic shows and little kitschy shops and restaurants and everything country you can imagine. We saw a brochure for Dollywood and that week was 'bluegrass and barbecue' week. It may has well have been called 'heaven for Jenn' week. We checked into our cute log cabin style motel and settled Smeagol in. The hotel wasn't great, primarily because the curtains didn't reach the bottom of the window so it was quite bright. And also, it was right on a major highway, so quite loud. But it was cozy and clean and fine for animals, so we were happy. We put down Smeag's food and water dishes and gave her a peanut butter dog lollipop and scattered some of her toys around. Then we got dressed and headed out to dinner.
Before we left, Paul pulled back the covers on the bed and, using the pillows, made a little cave for Smeagol. She was confused and semi devastated when we left, but those are fairly standard emotions for her so we weren't too concerned. Paul drove around for a while, he knows the area very well, and showed me the places that he used to live and other highlights. We were driving past a nice house and Paul mentioned that his aunt and uncle lived there and that he hadn't seen them in years. I told him we could stop if he wanted to, so we did the pop-in thing. They were so totally nice to us! We sat down for probably close to an hour and chatted and updated them on our lives and vice versa. I am really blessed with in-laws, I like em all. His auntie even gave me a hug when we left!
Then we got slightly lost cause of the incredible swiftness with which the area is being developed, but that was neat too, cause we drove right by Dollywood. We headed out to one of Paul's restaurant locations. It was really cute and we had a great dinner. Then, Paul had decided that we would go see a country show. I wasn't really clear on what that was, but Paul was sure that I would like it. We drove on over to "Country Tonite" and got tickets for that evening's show. The lady who gave us our tickets leaned over the counter and said to me 'don't you look sexy tonight'. This is the way everyone is there - you could start up a conversation with anyone and everyone and they would probably be thrilled to talk to you for as long as you could spare. The entire atmosphere is of slowness and leisure and a calm and hospitable attitude.
We hit the gift shop while we waited for the show. I bought a magnet (I buy one most interesting places that we go, generally with the name of the town or attraction on it. It's the cheapest, easiest memento that you can find) and Paul bought an official Country Tonite Backscratcher. Now, I have to fend off his advances every night - 'tickle me with the scratcher!!' As we entered the show they took our picture in front of a special backdrop and at the intermission they were all layed out in a cardboard frame with two magnets of us and stuff. Of course, we bought them :p I actually looked pretty nice. We sat down and I expressed my concern that I wouldn't like this and that I still didn't even really know what this place was. Paul told me that he was absolutely sure that I would like it and boy oh baby was he right.
The show started. There were probably 25 performers; a band, several featured singers, a half dozen dancers and a 'comedian'. The singers were tremendous. So often when I watch tv or listen to the radio I get annoyed because I think "I can sing better than that" or with all my years of music training I think that they are ignoring the 'rules' of good vocalization. But these singers, whoa, they were all fantastic. I canNOT sing that well! There was one guy who they introduced as having the 'high, clear tenor of the likes of Vince Gill' and I nearly died. And he did too. I cried over and over again. At one point he sang 'Broken Road' which is one of Paul's and my 'songs' and I bawled so hard that I was just shaking against Paul's arm.
There were some wonderful spiritual songs too; The Old Rugged Cross, The Unclouded Day, The Church in the Wildwood...my goodness. Of course they sang Tennessee Waltz and Rocky Top and some other songs with Tennessee in the lyrics (I had no idea there were so many!). I had already cried pretty much throughout the entire show and then at the end they did a tribute to the American soldiers. I had tears streaming down my face and then they asked all the veterans to stand up and it was probably a sixth of the very large audience. Young women with babies, old men with canes, and old couple in front of us who held hands very tightly as they stood up. I'm crying now just remembering. I don't think I ever understood before.
The whole production was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. After that we headed back to our hotel and were charmed to see that Smeagol had to dig herself out of the little cave that Paul had built for her before we left. She was so grateful to see us. We got into our pajamas and played with her a bit, then Paul decided that we had to go to Denny's. So, we changed again and went down the street. I had pecan pie.
Back at our hotel, Paul who never, ever wants to go for a walk with me when I ask him, asked me - voluntarily - if I wanted to go for a walk with him by the river. We had a lovely little walk by the totally dark little river. Then we got some cokes from the machine and settled in for the night officially this time.
We slept kind of yucky, it was a bit too light and a bit too loud and Smeagol walked around us over and over again, shifting the mattress and trying to convince us to wake up. I finally slept a bit but then woke up to go to the bathroom and promptly stepped on some cold poo. But, oh well. The next morning we gathered up our stuff and went to go do the errands that we were there for. Then we headed back home. We stopped to get chicken fingers and ate them in the car with Smee. We stopped at gas stations to walk her. And all of it was grand :)
I can't explain why this trip was so wonderful. But it truly was, I felt like a teenager in love. Paul held my hand a lot and kept his arm around me at the Country Tonite show. It was a dream 24 hours. On your next mini break, I wish you that kind of happiness.
We woke up early (for us) and packed bags. One for me, one for Paul and one for Smeagol - I felt like a mom ;) We stopped at the grocery store and got snacks for the road and new batteries for my digital camera.
The drive to Tennessee was stunningly beautiful. I am not normally one of those people who finds astounding beauty in nature, but down here in the South, it is really hard not to. There were parts of the road where there were millions of wildflowers in between the northbound and southbound lanes. Every color that you can imagine, like a patchwork quilt dividing the highway. I had to ask Paul if they had been planted to look that way! But, of course, they weren't, they were just a little gift from Mother Nature.
After a couple of hours we were in Tennessee. We pulled off the interstate and stopped at a gas station for potty breaks. We developed a system where Paul would go while I walked Smeag, and then I would go while he continued to walk her. She is very well behaved and would never poop or peep in the car, so usually by the time we stopped, she was desperate. We would also always pull out her water dish and try to convince her to drink, but she seems to hate to eat or drink when she is not at home, so she got quite dehydrated and was a bit of a brat for the next few days.
As I walked back from the bathroom in the gas station, I happened to glance to my right because I saw something that caught my eye. It was...COFFEE CRISP BARS!!! As I linked to earlier, they are available in the US now, but not very many places and this was the first place that we had seen them. I ran back out to the car with my arms in the air, screaming 'GIMME YOUR WALLET!' Paul laughed and went in to get some, as he walked there, I yelled out 'BUY TWO!' He actually came back with six. Lucky me.
Back on the road and within a short time later we began to see mountains. Okay, they're not the Rockies, but damn are they pretty. As we got closer to our destination it was like being home, a very hilly version of home. Beautiful green fields with white picket fences and cows and horses grazing. Red barns, tall silos. I was gasping and moaning and finally I said 'Okay, so when are we gonna be moving here again?' Paul grinned and I said 'I'm not kidding, you know.' He sighed and told me that he knew. I like Atlanta a lot, but after seeing the Pigeon Forge/Sevierville area of Tennessee...I can't even express. I felt more at home there in 10 minutes than I do here after almost a year.
Soon we were in Sevierville, where Paul lived for several years. We drove through the University of Tennessee campus (that he attended). It's like a freakin city! It is a city really. Unbelievably huge. I told Paul how the University I attended was one building (plus the gym and one small building for offices), a big building! But just one. He couldn't believe it.
Then, we were in Pigeon Forge - a major tourist attraction. Dollywood is there, dozens of country shows and magic shows and little kitschy shops and restaurants and everything country you can imagine. We saw a brochure for Dollywood and that week was 'bluegrass and barbecue' week. It may has well have been called 'heaven for Jenn' week. We checked into our cute log cabin style motel and settled Smeagol in. The hotel wasn't great, primarily because the curtains didn't reach the bottom of the window so it was quite bright. And also, it was right on a major highway, so quite loud. But it was cozy and clean and fine for animals, so we were happy. We put down Smeag's food and water dishes and gave her a peanut butter dog lollipop and scattered some of her toys around. Then we got dressed and headed out to dinner.
Before we left, Paul pulled back the covers on the bed and, using the pillows, made a little cave for Smeagol. She was confused and semi devastated when we left, but those are fairly standard emotions for her so we weren't too concerned. Paul drove around for a while, he knows the area very well, and showed me the places that he used to live and other highlights. We were driving past a nice house and Paul mentioned that his aunt and uncle lived there and that he hadn't seen them in years. I told him we could stop if he wanted to, so we did the pop-in thing. They were so totally nice to us! We sat down for probably close to an hour and chatted and updated them on our lives and vice versa. I am really blessed with in-laws, I like em all. His auntie even gave me a hug when we left!
Then we got slightly lost cause of the incredible swiftness with which the area is being developed, but that was neat too, cause we drove right by Dollywood. We headed out to one of Paul's restaurant locations. It was really cute and we had a great dinner. Then, Paul had decided that we would go see a country show. I wasn't really clear on what that was, but Paul was sure that I would like it. We drove on over to "Country Tonite" and got tickets for that evening's show. The lady who gave us our tickets leaned over the counter and said to me 'don't you look sexy tonight'. This is the way everyone is there - you could start up a conversation with anyone and everyone and they would probably be thrilled to talk to you for as long as you could spare. The entire atmosphere is of slowness and leisure and a calm and hospitable attitude.
We hit the gift shop while we waited for the show. I bought a magnet (I buy one most interesting places that we go, generally with the name of the town or attraction on it. It's the cheapest, easiest memento that you can find) and Paul bought an official Country Tonite Backscratcher. Now, I have to fend off his advances every night - 'tickle me with the scratcher!!' As we entered the show they took our picture in front of a special backdrop and at the intermission they were all layed out in a cardboard frame with two magnets of us and stuff. Of course, we bought them :p I actually looked pretty nice. We sat down and I expressed my concern that I wouldn't like this and that I still didn't even really know what this place was. Paul told me that he was absolutely sure that I would like it and boy oh baby was he right.
The show started. There were probably 25 performers; a band, several featured singers, a half dozen dancers and a 'comedian'. The singers were tremendous. So often when I watch tv or listen to the radio I get annoyed because I think "I can sing better than that" or with all my years of music training I think that they are ignoring the 'rules' of good vocalization. But these singers, whoa, they were all fantastic. I canNOT sing that well! There was one guy who they introduced as having the 'high, clear tenor of the likes of Vince Gill' and I nearly died. And he did too. I cried over and over again. At one point he sang 'Broken Road' which is one of Paul's and my 'songs' and I bawled so hard that I was just shaking against Paul's arm.
There were some wonderful spiritual songs too; The Old Rugged Cross, The Unclouded Day, The Church in the Wildwood...my goodness. Of course they sang Tennessee Waltz and Rocky Top and some other songs with Tennessee in the lyrics (I had no idea there were so many!). I had already cried pretty much throughout the entire show and then at the end they did a tribute to the American soldiers. I had tears streaming down my face and then they asked all the veterans to stand up and it was probably a sixth of the very large audience. Young women with babies, old men with canes, and old couple in front of us who held hands very tightly as they stood up. I'm crying now just remembering. I don't think I ever understood before.
The whole production was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. After that we headed back to our hotel and were charmed to see that Smeagol had to dig herself out of the little cave that Paul had built for her before we left. She was so grateful to see us. We got into our pajamas and played with her a bit, then Paul decided that we had to go to Denny's. So, we changed again and went down the street. I had pecan pie.
Back at our hotel, Paul who never, ever wants to go for a walk with me when I ask him, asked me - voluntarily - if I wanted to go for a walk with him by the river. We had a lovely little walk by the totally dark little river. Then we got some cokes from the machine and settled in for the night officially this time.
We slept kind of yucky, it was a bit too light and a bit too loud and Smeagol walked around us over and over again, shifting the mattress and trying to convince us to wake up. I finally slept a bit but then woke up to go to the bathroom and promptly stepped on some cold poo. But, oh well. The next morning we gathered up our stuff and went to go do the errands that we were there for. Then we headed back home. We stopped to get chicken fingers and ate them in the car with Smee. We stopped at gas stations to walk her. And all of it was grand :)
I can't explain why this trip was so wonderful. But it truly was, I felt like a teenager in love. Paul held my hand a lot and kept his arm around me at the Country Tonite show. It was a dream 24 hours. On your next mini break, I wish you that kind of happiness.
19 September 2006
Tuesday Tidbits
Movie Mad
Did I already write about 'V for Vendetta'? I can't remember, but I was coerced into seeing it and it is the best movie I've seen since 'Moulin Rouge'. See it NOW!
The Captain
Paul has taken to calling himself 'The Captain'
For example: at the grocery store
Me - Do you think that all these groceries are gonna fit into the back seat?
Him - If two fat chicks fit, these groceries will fit.
Me - Hey!! I'm a fat chick!
Him - I know. I love fat chicks, that's why I've had two of em back there. Because, who am I? (looks at me pointedly)
Me - (dejectedly) You're The Captain.
Sometimes I'm Glad My Name is So Boring
There is a show on down here that I see in the listings all the time but have never actually watched. Every time I see the name of it though, I giggle because it sounds of so very Southern. "Changing Your World with Creflo Dollar" Creflo!!
They Say That Mentally Ill People Often Imagine That They Are Being Watched
Me - I've noticed that when you are doing silly dances and stuff you are not so much doing them for me as looking at yourself in the mirror. You think you are the funniest man in the world, don't you?
Him - ...yes?
Me - I also notice that sometimes your eyes dart off to one side. Who are you looking at when you are doing that?
Him - (sighing and speaking very quietly) ...the audience.
I Rock...Or Else The Recipe Was Really Easy
I made Ryan's Foccacia last week. It was so good that I made it again the next day. It was my first attempt at bread of any kind and it turned out really well. 4 teaspoons of herbs of your choice are called for and what worked for me was one each of garlic, onion, parsley and red pepper flakes. Try it :)
Did I already write about 'V for Vendetta'? I can't remember, but I was coerced into seeing it and it is the best movie I've seen since 'Moulin Rouge'. See it NOW!
The Captain
Paul has taken to calling himself 'The Captain'
For example: at the grocery store
Me - Do you think that all these groceries are gonna fit into the back seat?
Him - If two fat chicks fit, these groceries will fit.
Me - Hey!! I'm a fat chick!
Him - I know. I love fat chicks, that's why I've had two of em back there. Because, who am I? (looks at me pointedly)
Me - (dejectedly) You're The Captain.
Sometimes I'm Glad My Name is So Boring
There is a show on down here that I see in the listings all the time but have never actually watched. Every time I see the name of it though, I giggle because it sounds of so very Southern. "Changing Your World with Creflo Dollar" Creflo!!
They Say That Mentally Ill People Often Imagine That They Are Being Watched
Me - I've noticed that when you are doing silly dances and stuff you are not so much doing them for me as looking at yourself in the mirror. You think you are the funniest man in the world, don't you?
Him - ...yes?
Me - I also notice that sometimes your eyes dart off to one side. Who are you looking at when you are doing that?
Him - (sighing and speaking very quietly) ...the audience.
I Rock...Or Else The Recipe Was Really Easy
I made Ryan's Foccacia last week. It was so good that I made it again the next day. It was my first attempt at bread of any kind and it turned out really well. 4 teaspoons of herbs of your choice are called for and what worked for me was one each of garlic, onion, parsley and red pepper flakes. Try it :)
08 September 2006
Still more 'things that I wouldn't have understood a year ago'
We were at the gas station the other day and were watching this very cute little girl with her dad. The girl was maybe 5 and was wearing short skirt. A really short skirt. I am generally amazed at the teensy tinsy little skirts that girls from 2 - 20 wear these days but this girl's skirt didn't even cover her panties. When we saw this, I gasped and Paul said 'she gon' end up on the pole'. A few short months ago I wouldn't have understood this. Now, I do! Translation: she is going to wind up a stripper one day. Sad. But I was quite excited that I'm learning southern talk.
05 August 2006
A Quick Trip Diary
Again, as much for my own recollections as for your edification, a list of what we did while my family were here.
The second day we did some shopping (sister #2 bought me some pj's for an early birthday gift) and then went to a place called the Archibald Smith Plantation. It was gorgeous inside and out and we were the last tour of the day so we wound up being alone with the tour guide who was terrific. After that we went to 'Folks' for dinner (semi authentic Southern food) and then to Cold Stone Creamery afterwards.
The next day we drove out to the Chattanooga area and did the Incline Train thing which was very neat. We went up a very steep hill, backwards and then got to look at the beautiful scenery. After that we went to Ruby Falls which I highly recommend. It's a little under an hour walk through a beautiful cave system and then culminates at Ruby Falls which is a huge underground waterfall. It was very lovely, the downer was that they let tours down every 10 minutes or so and because it is a cave the passages are so tight that when a tour goes by the other way you have to squish up against the wall, and that happened at least 8 times. I would have also liked to sit by the waterfall and stare at it a bit longer but they herded us through pretty quickly. Really lovely though. On our way back we stopped at a tiny store that sold handmade quilts and other homemade goods. It was an adorable little store and I got Paul some taffy (he was THRILLED) and sister #1 bought me a birthday gift of a quilted pillow sham which I hung on the wall here at home (makes the apartment look very homey).
Day Four we didn't do any sightseeing, but did some more shopping, had Mexican for lunch and I insisted on authentic Kansas City style barbecue for dinner. It was SOOOOO good and they loved it too. During that afternoon they all hung around our place for a bit and my mom made me the birthday cake that she makes me every year, once a year. We finished it off the next day.
Then on the last day we went to the Georgia Aquarium which was super tremendous terrific.
Everything went really well and we all enjoyed ourselves. I took a lot more pictures, but the ones below are the ones that either turned out the best or are the best representations of what we saw.
My mom bought me some great clothes (2 pairs of pants, 3 shirts), and I got shoes and a handbag with the birthday money from her.
I'm all rambly here so I'll shut up now. Everything went well, I miss them, I got a lot of great stuff and a lot of great memories. Bernice, thanks for the Canadian chocolate bars! Sorry I forgot to pay you back...whoops :( Nothing more to say at the moment. Next time I wear my new magic minus 15 pounds jeans, I'll take a picture. Bye!
The second day we did some shopping (sister #2 bought me some pj's for an early birthday gift) and then went to a place called the Archibald Smith Plantation. It was gorgeous inside and out and we were the last tour of the day so we wound up being alone with the tour guide who was terrific. After that we went to 'Folks' for dinner (semi authentic Southern food) and then to Cold Stone Creamery afterwards.
The next day we drove out to the Chattanooga area and did the Incline Train thing which was very neat. We went up a very steep hill, backwards and then got to look at the beautiful scenery. After that we went to Ruby Falls which I highly recommend. It's a little under an hour walk through a beautiful cave system and then culminates at Ruby Falls which is a huge underground waterfall. It was very lovely, the downer was that they let tours down every 10 minutes or so and because it is a cave the passages are so tight that when a tour goes by the other way you have to squish up against the wall, and that happened at least 8 times. I would have also liked to sit by the waterfall and stare at it a bit longer but they herded us through pretty quickly. Really lovely though. On our way back we stopped at a tiny store that sold handmade quilts and other homemade goods. It was an adorable little store and I got Paul some taffy (he was THRILLED) and sister #1 bought me a birthday gift of a quilted pillow sham which I hung on the wall here at home (makes the apartment look very homey).
Day Four we didn't do any sightseeing, but did some more shopping, had Mexican for lunch and I insisted on authentic Kansas City style barbecue for dinner. It was SOOOOO good and they loved it too. During that afternoon they all hung around our place for a bit and my mom made me the birthday cake that she makes me every year, once a year. We finished it off the next day.
Then on the last day we went to the Georgia Aquarium which was super tremendous terrific.
Everything went really well and we all enjoyed ourselves. I took a lot more pictures, but the ones below are the ones that either turned out the best or are the best representations of what we saw.
My mom bought me some great clothes (2 pairs of pants, 3 shirts), and I got shoes and a handbag with the birthday money from her.
I'm all rambly here so I'll shut up now. Everything went well, I miss them, I got a lot of great stuff and a lot of great memories. Bernice, thanks for the Canadian chocolate bars! Sorry I forgot to pay you back...whoops :( Nothing more to say at the moment. Next time I wear my new magic minus 15 pounds jeans, I'll take a picture. Bye!
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