Weekend Highlights

Olympics
This is us pre-Olympics on Thursday night, having a little wine after gorging at Santa Fe! We watched Willow – classic.

Yay! Ringing in the 2012 Olympics with Alana on Friday night. No shepherd’s pie or “bangers and mash”, I’m afraid, but we did concoct (and drink) these with Olympic spirit!

I couldn’t bring myself to go for the chamomile tea and gin showcased as the “official” drink of the 2012 London games – I get it, the Brits are obsessed with tea and gin was the staple of many a Londoner during the Industrial Age and beyond – I get it, but I will not partake. Gin – yuck.

So, no British fare, only some good grilling! We were almost rained out, but I think we finally ate around 11:30pm. Always thankful for the rain, but I sure built up an appetite waiting for the storms to pass so we could light the charcoal and cook up the kabobs! They were delicious and I’m still eating leftovers.

We enjoyed the Opening Ceremonies, although I think we missed the most spectacular parts at the end because Matt changed the channel when he got home and we forgot to change it back after he left the room. Oh, well, thank goodness for highlights and re-runs! Been enjoying Olympic events all weekend, although I missed most of them on Saturday night since Perrin stayed with us and we watched a Scooby-Doo movie, instead...and also I fell asleep during the gymnastics Sunday night.

Go USA!

Perrin Spends the Night
Our 4-year-old nephew, Perrin, spent the night with us on Saturday night! It was the first time he stayed overnight with us – actually, the first of any of the nieces and nephews to do so! It was great and he was wonderful.

Highlights:
• He said “I think you got a new house!” when he first walked in (I rearranged my living room last weekend). So observant!!
• I gave him a “spend the night present”, a new flashlight that came with a little keychain flashlight – we all know how much he loves flashlights, so if him saying “this is the best flashlight” and carrying it around with him all night and even sleeping with it was any indication, I’d say he loved it.
• He asked me why my bathtub was so dirty – “Did someone throw dirt in your bathtub? That wasn’t very nice, was it?” Ha! Time to clean the bathtub... Again, so observant!
• We watched Wall-E in bed, falling asleep to it, which is rare, because he usually stays awake for movies! I’m sure it had something to do with the time being 11:30pm... Poor Uncle Matt slept on the couch...
• He woke me twice talking in his sleep! Just like Eliza...
• He helped me scramble the eggs on Sunday morning; actually, he did most of it by himself...those were some good eggs! He ate his share, although he didn’t want anything to do with the bacon or the toast with honey...no thanks, he said, I’m eating my eggs.

I love my P!

Sunday Worship and Blair’s Dedication
We attended New Covenant on Sunday morning for Blair’s Dedication service. What a pretty baby she is! I wish I had a picture of her in her dress...beautiful! This dedication service in no way “saved” these children, only they can make the decision to follow Christ when the time comes, but it served as a reminder to the parents and to the friends and family of these children of how important it is to bring them up in Christian homes and to teach them the ways of God.

The sermon was on the power of words. Our sermon last Sunday at Mountville Baptist was on the same thing – the tongue and the words we say. Christians need constant reminders about this very active part of us! The tongue has the power to do good or bad and what we say has lasting impact. Think before you speak, because once spoken, words cannot be taken back. Having said that, God wants us to use our words for His glory – remember, we are ambassadors for Christ and everything we do or say represents Him!

More Grillin’ and Laziness
Having successfully charcoal-grilled on Friday night, I was in the mood to try again on Sunday for supper, this time craving a big, juicy burger! Success again and, boy, were they good! Almost too good...I should have left that 2nd one for lunch today, but managed to pick at it as the evening wore on until I felt sickly full. At any rate, I was very proud of myself for having lit the charcoal for the 2nd time in a few days...hey, this is a big thing for me! Usually I have the pre-soaked charcoal that will light if you breathe hot on it, but this time I had to use the chimney and start from “scratch”! Matt sliced his big toe open on Saturday night, so he was more than willing to let me handle it all...

And speaking of his toe, hopefully it won’t fall off, because that would be expensive...

I spent most of Sunday enjoying my crossword puzzles and just being lazy, then falling asleep to swimming and gymnastics. Maybe I’ll go the gym and wash those clothes today (Monday)...

What a Deal!
I’ve been debating the purchase of a cover for my Kindle. Amazon has several, of course, ranging from ~$10.00-$50.00. I was willing to spend a little extra for the built-in light, but the reviews said Kindles were shorting out with the lighted model – urm... Enter Big Lots, where I found this for only $5.00! It will definitely do, for now!

Spring!

Oh my goodness, time has flown! The last time I posted it was still Fall, and now Winter has come and gone and Spring is here! Easter was yesterday - such a glorious day, celebrating our Risen Saviour with a Sunrise Service at 7:00 am, breakfast with the church, regular service at 11:00, and our family lunch after. It was a long, but blessed day!

I have a new niece - Dolly Elizabeth Wham, 7 lb. 6oz. 21 in., born April 19 - 3 weeks early, but healthy and oh so precious! She is so teeny - I always forget how small newborns are!

I am super excited about the MLA conference I am attending May 14-18 in Minneapolis, MN. It will be my first ever and I am looking forward to socializing, connecting, and learning! I will be on my own - slightly nervous about the flight (not the flying part, just getting through the airports and such), plus being in a strange city. But, I welcome the experience! I have my hotel booked, I just need my flight...

Mountain time and moving

We are headed to the mountains this weekend! Matt is finally off on a Saturday, so we are taking Jon and going to Saluda tonight to Sunday. Tubing and fishing are probably on the menu for tomorrow and I just discovered a jazz band will be playing at The Purple Onion tomorrow night, so I can imagine we will take advantage of that! Not that we need an excuse to eat at the The Purple Onion! I want to take a looksie around the shops, as well - gotta do that! I promised Matt I wouldn't buy another china cabinet, though...definitely cannot afford one at this moment! But, I am looking forward to some mountain time, even if all I do is sit on the front porch - after I dust it off, I'm sure. Uncle Monty, Sheldon, and Rachel have been there for 3 weeks, so we will see how the house is holding up... Mom and the aunts took Grandma up for a day this week and I know she thoroughly enjoyed that - she does love going "home"! And it was probably extra-special, considering her stay in NHC and recent health problems - anything to get out and get away to one of her favorite places (Montana being first, I'd imagine...)! On Sunday I want to visit Asheville and have lunch at Barley's - mmmm, such good pizza!

Camille has moved into Clemson! So hard to believe that my baby sister is a freshman in college! I think Mom has held up fairly well - she has grandbabies, now, of course! Camille rushed for a sororiety and got into Zeta - I think she is thrilled! Such fun she will have...

Our roommates are finally moving out within the next weeks. Jon is headed to Florida, to be near his daughter, and Daniel will be just up the road, moving in with a friend. I am so ready to have my house back! Not that having two extra guys and all their stuff isn't fun and all... It will just be nice to have the space to spread out - I'm tired of being crammed into one or two rooms! Matt is all excited about his "man cave" we are turning the back bedroom into - basically, this is where the big couch and entertainment center with all his video game things and whatnot will go...good way to get it all out of the way! The second extra bedroom will stay a bedroom, but I plan to move the majority of my clothes and other things into it - yay, more space! It is all very exciting...

Larryn and Isaac are moving back! YAY!!! They both got jobs with John Deere in Augusta and last weekend they bought a house in Thomson, GA, right outside of Augusta near the plant. It is an old farmhouse with barns and a pond and acreage, and I think they are just really, really happy with how things have turned out - I know we are! Larryn and Mary Ellis will come down toward the end of Sept. and Isaac arrives the following weekend! The movers are to arrive on Sept. 21 to drop everything off, and since Larryn starts work the very next day, Eliza and I and possibly others are going to help her unpack - how fun! I cannot wait to see the house and land and hang with my sweet Mary Ellis, Perrin, and Sawyer - and my sisters, of course : ) Mom will arrive that next day to stay and keep Mary Ellis while Larryn is at work the rest of the week.

Big things happening!

Prayers

For my grandma, still in the hospital with Congestive Heart Failure. I stayed with her last night. It is hard seeing her like this. It is hard on her being like this.

For my cousin, Make. His descent has hit rock-bottom and I am afraid for his life. I hope he will do what he must to stay alive. I hope Aunt Brenda can be strong.

I have been weepy today, and rightly so. I am ready for 5 o'clock and my husband.

Just a few things...

I ate myself sick off of Chili's chips and salsa Sunday night.

I found my lipgloss I lost like 3 months ago!

I am very excited about starting my new book, The House at Riverton.

Things I'm Not Ashamed to Admit

I like mayonnaise. I listen to Christmas music all year round. Sometimes I don't take a shower every day. I read the Harry Potter books all the time. I watch the Harry Potter movies all the time. Sometimes I put on my make-up while I'm driving. There are times when I jam out to Bryan Adams - like this morning on the way to work.

Reviews: Wonderland Tales...

I finally saw Alice in Wonderland the other night - the new one, not the Disney cartoon because I've seen that a bazillion times. I liked it! It is different, but hello, it's Tim Burton. Of course it will be different! Wonderland is still wacky, but a bit more run-down than we last saw it. The characters are colorful and bizarre, but with noticeably less pep in their step - must be that overbearing Red Queen dragging them down. Alice is sad and cynical, not at all the bright-eyed and inquisitive child she was on her last visit. Heck, she doesn't even remember her last visit! It is a relief to note that her cynicism is not angry - on the contrary, it seems rather passive. She is not at all fazed by her sudden descent down the hole, nor by Wonderland and its oddities...in fact, one begins to question her unremarkable attitude until you remember she thinks it all a dream - unworthy of a reaction, you see, since in her dream she will come to no harm, she will wake up, none of this is real. Until, of course, she realizes she can, she won't, and it is... In the end, all is right (wrong?) and Alice just tells it like it is. I especially like her advice for Aunt Imogene - "There is no prince. You need to talk to someone about your delusions"...well said. Definitely worthy of a purchase at a later date and time...

Next, The Thirteenth Tale, a book I have now read twice and can see doing so again. Really excellent. Several words come to mind - gothic, strange, twisted, sad, madness, seclusion, incest...yes, I said it. I think what makes this such a good book is that it really is just a good story... A famous, yet highly reclusive author is finally telling the story of her much-sought-after and much-lied-about childhood. Her biographer is a young antiquarian bookkeeper with a haunted past of her own. And speaking of haunted... The Angelfields live in their beautiful but crumbing estate, practically locking themselves inside its decaying walls for generations while ignoring the world around them. They are a strange family. And pretty twisted - at least, Charlie and Isabelle are. The twins are just victims of inbred mental illness and a severe lack of care. Read this book.

Summahtime...

...is moving right along! Officialy it does not start for another few weeks, of course, but what does that mean? It's 90 degrees outside and school is out - it's summertime.

Super excited about the beach in 5 weeks - whoop-whoop! Matt and I are both ready to kick up our feet and do nothing! Everyone will be there for this year, including Larryn and Isaac and Ellie - full house, to say the least! I think 17 of us? And that's not including Sallie or Sam, who will probably show up...

Matt and are great. Work is going well for both of us. He is having to work some nights now, which neither of us are thrilled about, but he loves his job and is willing to work when he is needed. Plus, the nights aren't that late, he is usually home by 10:00 - no rolling in at 2:00 or 3:00am, that's for sure! The Mill House is still kicking - the pizza is delish and everyone who eats there seems to agree! Work is going great for me. We just finished tallying up budget for next year, which was a totally new experience for me, so that was interesting. Still getting things in order, but I think that will be an on-going project for some time... Loving being done with school! Now I'm just waiting on that diploma...

Camille graduated from high school last week...I cannot believe the baby is a graduate! Mom did fine, she didn't totally lose it like I thought. Perhaps when Camille actually leaves for Clemson, then she will have the breakdown?? She will be fine, with 4 grandkids not even a mile away... Still, that's hard, having the baby graduated and gone...

MLIS

Today is Graduation Day! I'm not walking and I'll be at work around 3:00 pm when my college graduates, but it still counts! I'm kind of bummed because I won't get my actual diploma for a few more months - dang. I was ready to frame that baby! And my Lander diploma...where is that thing anyway? I am pretty excited about finishing up, though. I had a job opportunity here at work and so I decided to go ahead and graduate with just my Master's degree, dropping the school media certification for now. I plan to enroll in the Specialist Program and I will have 6 years to complete that degree, if I wish. But...no more school for now! Awesome.

Sam and Sallie graduate from PC this weekend - Silas graduates from Anderson! Congrats to everyone! And Camille graduates from Clinton High in a few weeks - oh my, that's just crazy! The baby...

School

I almost had a panic attack on Tuesday, when I realized that the assignment I was getting ready to email in was actually supposed to be snail-mailed, postmarked 4/27. I realized this (well, I remembered this, since I've actually known since January) on 4/27 around 4:00 pm. Oops. Both of our post offices, kudos to them, are closed by 4:30 - nice. So, I busted it to the UPS Store where I couldn't get a 4/27 postmark, but I did get a 4/27 meter mark? Whatever that means...

Frankly, I don't really care, because I am DONE WITH SCHOOL!! Whoop-whoop! Graduate career over (for now, until I decide to go back, if I do) - give me that diploma! I am super-excited about having my Master's degree - I will be getting that diploma framed! And my undergraduate, since I never got that done 8 years ago when I graduated. Graduation is one week from today; my official graduation time is 5/7 at 3:00 pm, but I'm not walking (I wasn't paying for a cap and gown!) so I won't be there. I'll be at work at 3:00 pm : ( Still excited, though!

Anyway...celebration!!

Enya makes me happy

Yes, she does. I still play her Christmas CD.

"March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb." It is the last day of March - has this come to pass? I'm not seeing any lambs - but, I suppose the weather hasn't been too liony lately. So, does this mean that "April showers will bring May flowers"? Probably - more like "March showers."

My obsession is beginning to haunt my dreams. What obsession? Oh, just NCIS, the best show ever. I do love it. But, I've been having some dreams that border on bad lately, and my lightbulb moment was in figuring out it's probably because of my 3-hour-5-day-a-week NCIS marathons. Like, last night I was in some sort of war game dream, and the other day NCIS was playing war games - creepy. Perhaps I should lay off? Nah... That's like saying lay off Harry Potter or something - not gonna happen.

Well, married life is great. The roommates are not. Yes, I am a newlywed with roommates. Yes, I am not happy about it. Are they leaving soon? Fingers crossed. I get my first big paycheck this Friday and Matt's finally getting paid, so we'll see what our financial future holds. But - they will be leaving as soon as possible. Nothing against them, I want my house back and I want my house for just my husband and me - plus, I need those rooms they're in!

I graduate in May and I am sooooo excited! Looking forward to a degree and no school for a while; not looking forward to paying those loans off. Bummer. I'll be paying up and out and everything in between for the next 50 years.

Another year has come and gone

Well, almost. Christmas has come and gone : ( It was fun, of course - always - but it is over and now I must wait a whole year for it to come around again (I understand this is how that whole once-a-year type of thing works). : ) But the new year approaches and I can't believe it! 2010. We keep right on moving along. Time really does march on. Isn't it crazy?

Being a newlywed is still great : ) I've been a little sick the past week or so, which kind of sucks but I'm getting better. Matt is wonderful and I feel content.

Larryn and Isaac are here until this weekend. All of the siblings and in-laws went out to TW Boons last night for food and drinks - lots of fun! It was a good time.

My birthday is Saturday. The big three-"oh". One of those milestone birthdays, I suppose...I'm ready - there's nothing I can do about it anyway, might as well enjoy it!

Christmas, Christmas time is here...

It's Christmas Eve! This year has flown, to say the least - I guess it always does : ) This is my favorite time of the year and I feel as though I haven't enjoyed it quite as much as usual. I guess we had a crammed Holiday Season - even more so than usual! I do always manage to enjoy the Season, though, and remember the reason we celebrate, but next year I will definitely be more organized and there will be no wedding to worry about, so maybe I won't feel so hurried! I can't believe Christmas is here and that a New Year will soon begin! Plus, my birthday : ) The big 3-0. Crazy...

The day started out okay

And then I dropped my phone in my coffee, realized my ID badge was in another vehicle, and now I'm having really bad stomach pains...

But at least we have our china cabinet with dishes in it, now!

Over and done with

My day is over! I am so sad : ( Everything was wonderful and great and perfect and even though it was cold enough to freeze the end of my nose (and a few other places) I think everyone had a good time! My wedding was so beautiful - short and sweet, but I remember every bit of it and I loved it. The groom and his men looked so handsome, my bridesmaids so beautiful. The reception wasn't a blur, either - I think I talked to almost everyone, but didn't get to say goodbye to hardly anybody. The band and the wine were a hit, as were the soups and sandwiches...Anna fixed me a plate and rather loudly and somewhat forcibly ordered me to sit down and eat (thanks, Anna), so I got to taste the crab bisque...mmmm...and the philly cheesesteak sandwiches...mmmm. Oh, and the ham on sweet potato biscuits - right on. I froze to death in my halter dress, but it was pretty so who cares? Mom gave me a wrap to wear over my shoulders, so that helped some - if I went outside I made a beeline straight for the fire pits....ah, warmth. But finally we changed and I had to take the dress off : ( We got pelted - PELTED, I say! - with birdseed, and I think I know who smacked me in the face with a bucketful of it and they better be glad they're in Iowa : ) So, I'm still finding birdseed all in my car and several other places... We did manage to go out after leaving the reception. I thought I would be able to sneak in unnoticed - no such thing, we got an announcement and some very loud applause, and I know the people in there who didn't know us were like "Who the h*ll are these people?" But, most of my friends came out and we stayed at Sports Break for a while and then we all ended up going to Stokie's to see the Medallions, so it was a fun night. Matt and I got a room at the Fairfield Marriott - very, very nice, even if it was a bit pricey...well, I guess it was Thanksgiving weekend. We did manage to make it to brunch at his parents' house the next morning, so we were able to talk more with his family - most of them I had never met, so it was nice to finally meet all these people I hear about! And then of course we had to stay and watch the Clemson/Carolina game, so we went to Barry and Cecilia's for that - it was great hanging out with them, but that's all I'll say about that game. Then, it was to the mountains and an amazing four days! We bought an antique china cabinet, ate lots and lots of good food and drank lots and lots of good wine, built fires and watched The Office (which we bought on DVD, then had to go buy a DVD player when we realized the one at the cabin was broken), bought some jams and jellies and cheeses, went fishing in the rain (yes, he had me traipsing around that mountain, up and down slippery slopes and through brush and water...it was fun), drove to Asheville and Hendersonville, even got some Christmas shopping done. All in all, it was hard coming back to the real world and our disaster-relief-declared home...but we were ready, ready to get going on our life together - and getting organized.

Wish us luck!

Madness

I guess it will hit me eventually that I am getting married in 2 days? Hit me like a ton of bricks, right to the side of the face...a firm nudge would do : )

But...major excitement over the next couple of days! Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I am always so thankful for the blessings God has bestowed upon me - family galore, too many friends to count, good food, more possessions than I need, a roof over my head - the list goes on and on! I love this time of year, and even with my chaotic life, I have still managed to enjoy it all. I am so looking forward to tomorrow, because Thanksgiving is one of my favorite Holidays, and not only will I be surrounded by familiar family and friends, but there will be new faces, as well! I am ready to meet all of my new family and for them to meet my family - it's just gonna be one big crazy mess and I love it!

Still a lot to do today and tomorrow. Tanning bed, Walmart (yuck!) for prescriptions (which I almost forgot about!) and groceries, nails perhaps, I need to pack, go home and try on the dress and whatnot, make deviled eggs and the corn, finish packing and cleaning my bathroom...and what I really need is SLEEP!

4 more days 'til Friday!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! JK. I am SUPER EXCITED about it all!!! Not counting today, I have 4 days to go until the BIG day! Yowza...that is just plain crazy! Frankly, I'm surprised I even remember what day it is, much less what I have done/have to do. This weekend was spent packing and moving. My honey is the BEST because he moved all my heavy stuff while I packed my life away into boxes. Of course, now his dining room looks like a tornado threw up in it... At least my clothes are unpacked, so I have something to wear this week. His closet is all neat and clean, now, his stuff on one side, mine on the other...and what a job that was! I still don't know where my jewelry is, nor many other things...kind of disconcerting. This week I have to: meet with my wedding planner; try on my dress again with all the fixins (perhaps I should say stuff myself into all the fixins); tan; get the rest of my stuff out of the apt.; clean the apt.; keep unpacking and putting away, cleaning, etc.; make deviled eggs and creamed corn for Thanksgiving; mail in my stuff for my teacher certification; pick up our wedding bands; keep going to work (blah); and I would say "school" but I gave up on that 2 weeks ago - who cares right now? I'll pick it back up next week, when the honeymoon's over : )

Soooo...is it Saturday, the day after the wedding, yet? ; )

Moving right along

According to my Belk registry, I have 30 days to go, I think? Wedding dress - check. Wedding shoes - check. Bridal portraits - check. Undergarments to stuff myself into - check, check, check. Gifts galore - too many checks to count. Guys' suits - check (well, except for the slight pleated and cuffs vs. flat and straight mishap - at least only 2 need to be exchanged!). Invitations sent - check. Cake - check. Groom's cake - in the works (it's a surprise!). Programs - in the works. Food - in the works. My stress level - in the works...

Anyway...much has been done, much yet to do. What else.......my laptop is ruined - oops. Good thing Meg is letting me use hers, even if it is the size of a portable DVD player. Matt's parents are back from Pittsburgh, very very happy about that : ) His sister had her baby last week, a little girl, Genevieve. Very French - and of course Matt says "She stole my first choice for a girl." What, what??!! I have never heard any mention of a Genevieve before now! Men. I'm about to pay my last month's rent in the apt - well, except for those stupid 4 days we have to pay for in December, since apparently our apartments take a 40 day instead of a 30 day notice? What is that? But still - last month's rent, whoop-whoop!

It's all coming together...and I must thank Mom for that - and all the aunts and hosts and whomever else has helped, b/c where would I be w/out them? Getting married at the court house, that's where.

Much ado about...

Everything... Wedding, school, work - you know, the usual! Had to get my car's heating/cooling unit fixed last week, and now something else seems to be wrong with it...of course there is...so, must get that taken care of before the old warranty runs out! The man I love left my laptop out in the rain on Sunday - ALL NIGHT LONG, I might add - you know, during all that torrential rain we had that day and night...my discovery of it Monday morning almost gave me a heart attack. Still letting it dry out, we can only hope it's not fried because what the heck am I supposed to do if it is? Buying a new one costs $$$ - and, yes, I realize computers have come down from $1000 to $600, but $600 is still too much for this poor gal! Trying to remember to keep up with my schoolwork, which has suddenly become much harder without a computer of my own...typing up a paper at 7 o'clock at night at the hospital just isn't high on my list of things I enjoy doing. Still wedding planning...leaving it up to Mom, mostly, but I have my duties : ) Right now I'm on the hunt for dark brown suits for my groomsmen and my hubby-to-be...preferrably cheap. Trying to gather the courage to vigorously clean out Matt's house...and begin packing and moving my own things. This past weekend in NC was a respite...I got to see my Ellie girl!!! And Larryn and Isaac and the rest of my fam, too, of course. Mary Ellis is just so beautiful and all she does is smile and laugh! She was completely man-handled the entire weekend and I never heard her cry once...such a good girl! All my nieces and nephews are brilliant...FYI.

Is it December, yet?? : )