Graduating!

I know, I know! It has been a while. I have much more to fill in about from the last week or so. I just had to get this one posted.

I took pictures with Candace from Simple Sweet Photography. We took them downtown Huntsville in any little nook and cranny that we could find pretty. She did a great job! Go check out my pictures in the slide show. Give her a call for any of your picture needs. She will meet you on location.

It is always hard for me not to smile, because that is what comes natural to me. So, I feel like the not smiling ones make me look funny. ha ha! I need to learn like Tyra says, "Smile with your eyes!" Funny thing is I think i thought I was. Not so much like Tyra! I wish I was that good.

I took these pictures for my graduation invitation. Candace made me a collage of several of them for a post card type invitation. I think they will be so cute. I hope to get them tomorrow, so I will scan them in to show you. Tonight is my LAST CLASS! I am so excited! I have to present tonight on our business simulation game. I can't believe it is all over.

Anyway, I hope to update you more soon on the rest that I have done in the last week or so. I have been extremely busy with doing last minute homework. I'll try to get better when I get out of school.

Time to Retire the Fishing Poles!

Wow, my crazy husband. I’m beginning to think he should give up fishing. He has Thursday off, and since it was warm out yesterday, he and Derek decide to take the canoe out fishing on the creek. This is something they always do. Derek just recently bought the canoe, so before it was my parent’s flat bottom type boat.

Well, I am sure I won’t get the story all the way straight, because it was all over the place. I am telling the story as it was told to me, so please know there could be some slight exaggerations here. These are the things their day entailed:

• They were 300-400 yards away from where the truck was parked, when they ran into rapids. They went right towards a tree branch and ran a foot of the boat into the bank and mud.
• Kyle jumped up and wrapped around the branch like a monkey and hung there as the boat started to sink. (ha! I’m picturing this in my head.)
• He waits for Derek, who is standing in the creek, to tell him how deep it is. So, he lets go.
• The canoe is wedged against the tree branch and water is gushing down both sides of the canoe past them.
• As the canoe flipped, it dumped Kyle and Derek’s cell phones, Kyle’s jacket with wallet and car keys in it, and a fishing pole. Luckily, Derek stepped on Kyle’s jacket to get the truck keys and wallet back. Not so much for the phones.
• They went back to the truck to figure out what to do and Kyle wanted to change out of his cold wet clothes before trying to get the canoe out. My poor honey didn’t think he would have to get wet again…luckily, we only live down the road.
• Due to his key chain buttons being soaked with water – there was actually a bubble in it – his truck alarm went off when he unlocked it with the key. He had to ride all the way home with it going off down the road. Everyone was looking. Ha! He said never have all of our neighbors been outside until his alarm is going off.
• They head back to get the canoe. They thought they spotted a trail that went behind these people’s property that would have been right where the canoe was. They figured they might as well ask before just doing it. It was a truck trail by a cotton field. Derek talked to the husband who couldn’t understand what he wanted, so he sent his wife to the door. Derek explained again what he wanted to see if they minded if he drove back there to get it. The lady didn’t say no, she said Hell no! ha!
• While walking through the woods on the edge, they saw at least 3 snakes. Kyle killed one of them after almost stepping on it.
• They tried to decide at the fork in the creek which way they dumped at. Kyle remembered, but the only way across was on a tree that had fallen. Kyle, Mr. Football feet, jumped one foot at a time on two branches to jump across. Derek said he couldn’t do it, but tried anyway. Off he fell into the creek. Ha!
• They finally found the canoe. Kyle started axing away on this tree limb to free the boat, because the water pressure was so much that they couldn’t get it loose. It wasn’t an average axe. It was this medieval looking curved, not sharp axe. He chopped for a long time at the branch while Derek shivered on the bank. Ha ha! The axe cut his finger, for which he thinks he needs a tetanus shot. He said it also bounced off of something and hit him in the back of the leg. Finally, he cut it loose and here comes the rest of the tree towards his head, but thank goodness if caught on something else. Geeze.
• Finally at some point, the canoe was out of the water. During all this craziness, Kyle got stung by a wasp. It was in his shirt. Derek described it as the huge red wasp that had a string hanging out of it when it flew off with no stinger. Ha! Kyle took off running and hollering across the field when it stung him. He has a huge welt on his back with a red dot on it to prove the sting.
• If they couldn’t get the canoe out, they planned to tell us that they were robbed at gun point for the canoe, wallets, and phones. I think the old lady at that house could have been a good culprit!

That is all I can remember for now, but as you can see why it is hard to remember. Sooooooo much stuff happened. I laughed the whole time he was telling me the story. I felt so bad for them. Heather and I were on the phone with one another wondering where our husbands were. Both of Kyle’s vehicles were home with a trail of soaking wet clothes in the house. Derek wasn’t home, the canoe wasn’t either, but he left her a note he would be home soon. It was 2 hours later. We were worried as we always are, because neither of their phones worked. The panic set in right as they were at the door coming home.

Then, we went to eat. That was an event in itself I think. Kyle knocked his drink and spilt it all over the table and our seat. Derek raked half of his salad into his lap while trying to eat. Ha ha ha!! I think they just should have stayed at home yesterday. And they wonder why we worry!!?!?

Apothecary Jars

I follow this blog: Living with Lindsay. You should check out the post today about apothecary jars. She always has really cool ideas for things. When I read her blog this morning, I thought the first jar looked familiar. I thought to myself...I have one of those. It was right here by me at work filled with Reece Pieces easter eggs. I located my jar in a tub that was in the attic a few months ago. I had mine filled with one of those old Nokia cell phones that you could change the face plate on. I threw those out and washed it. I was thinking it would be a pretty good candy jar. I first dumped some peanut M&M's in it, because my Mexican kitchen is so colorful. They kept getting eaten, and I wouldn't refill it. I brought it to work, where I try to keep some candy. Everyone at work loves Easter time for these eggs! I keep a spoon in there so that no one has to reach their little hands in there. Check out what all Lindsay has found would look cool in a jar like this. Have any other ideas?

Sorry these pictures aren't great. I'm at work with only a camera phone.

Rotten Eye

Ha! Well, this is what my eye decides to do today. It started running yesterday, so I took my contacts out. I wore my glasses all day yesterday and today. It is worse today. This stinks!! Surely that margarita I had last night didn't make it this much worse! ha ha! Now, I will probably have to put off my pictures with Candace again. I can't be looking like red eye willy in my graduation pictures. *Frown* Before anyone starts getting on to me, I plan to go to the doc this afternoon AFTER I go to the dentist to get the chipped tooth fixed. What a fun evening. I can't wait!

Understanding Alabamer

LOL! I couldn't help it. I got this email today and just laughed to myself. For those of you who may read my blog from other states, if you have never been to Alabama...this can sum it up for you. I laughed because I understood most of them! ha ha! Enjoy YALL!

First you must learn how to pronounce the major cities...Burminham; Huntsvul; Mobeeeel

Driving Information:

Alabama has its own version of traffic rules. The truck with the loudest exhaust goes next at a four-way stop. The truck with the biggest tires goes after that. Note: Blue-haired ladies driving anything have the right-of-way anytime.

To find anything in Burminham, it is required that you know where Malfunction Junction is, which is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. It may be one of only two 'cloverleaf formation' interchanges in the world. We invented it and only one other city was stupid enough to implement it again Atlanta -- making them only a wee bit dumber than we are.

The morning rush hour is from 6:00 to 10:00. The evening rush hour is from 3:00 to 7:00. Friday's rush hour starts Thursday morning. If the term 'merging delays' is ever used by the person reporting the traffic, even in passing, call in to work and tell them that you will be at least 30 minutes late regardless of where you are in your commute.

If you actually stop at a yellow light, you will be (at the very least)rear-ended, cussed out, and possibly shot. This applies to male and female drivers alike.

You must know that 'I-459,' 'I-59,' 'I-20,' and 'I-65' are the same road.They just loop around, cutting in and out of each other's path. We think this was a ploy utilized to confuse outsiders and discourage visitors after the War of Northern Aggression.

Always, always, always, find out if it is a race or football weekend before you get on any of these highways to travel somewhere. If it is a race or football weekend, stay home. You won't be pleasantly going anywhere else.

Construction is a permanent fixture in Alabama. The barrels are moved around in the middle of the night to make the next day's driving a little more interesting.

If someone has their turn signal on, wave them over to the shoulder
immediately to let them know -- you can be sure it was 'accidentally activated'. (Saw this happen this morning)

The minimum acceptable speed on 'I-65' (see above) is 85 mph.Anything less is considered downright sissy. This is also Alabama's state-highway-sponsored version of NASCAR --especially during rush hour (see above) and everyone in the city is driving at once, bumper-to-bumper. If you are in the left lane and only going 70 in a 55-65 zone, you are considered a road hazard, and will be 'flipped a bird' accordingly. (So true!)

Do not gawk at the woman in the car beside you in traffic who is applying make-up, drinking a Diet Coke, smoking a Marlboro, and maintaining a steady speed of 85 mph on I-65 in rush hour traffic. If she is coming from north of Burminham, she might be packing. If she is coming from south of Burminham, she IS packing and is not afraid to use it.

Weather Information:

If it's 110 degrees, Thanksgiving could be next weekend. If it's 10-20 degrees and sleeting or snowing, then watch out. Burminham residents consider this 'demolition derby' day and will be all over the roads(front ways, sideways, etc). Please proceed with caution, as you could be the next target.

Seasonal Information:

If you stick to the seats in your vehicle, it is Spring. (True! But I still love my leather)

If you need to let the car 'get some air' while standing next to it with the doors open for a minute before you can stick your upper body inside to crank it and get the air going, it is Summer. (Do this all the time or crack the windows to let it escape all day.)

If you are sweating even with the windows down, driving 55 mph, it is Fall.

If you finally turn the AC off and roll your windows up, it is Winter.

General Information:

Do not ever speak during the song 'Sweet Home Alabama' unless it is to sing along with the lyrics. This is a form of heresy and will erupt in a brawl if everyone doesn't show 'proper respect' to the band who gave us Free Bird (My senior class song). This is especially true if alcohol is present (notice I didn't say 'sold at this event,' but 'present').

Yes, we know that Vulcan is mooning the entire city of Burminham. It's not that funny to us anymore, and by now we're used to it.



If you ask someone for a 'coke,' they will often ask you, 'What kind?' This is not a trick question. Tell them what you want: Sprite, Dr. Pepper, Root Beer, etc.,
it is all 'coke'. (Yep - do it every day)

All tea is sweet. If it's not sweet, you are in a Chinese restaurant or have crossed the Mason-Dixon Line . (My coffee is just as sweet - 5 spoons of sugar for one cup)

Possums sleep in the middle of the road with their feet in the air. (Here is even more of an example.)

There are 5,000 types of snakes on earth and 4,998 of them live in Alabama.

There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 live in Alabama, plus a couple no one's seen before.

If it grows, it sticks; if it crawls, it bites.

Onced and Twiced are words.

It is not a shopping cart; it is a buggy.

People actually grow and eat okra. (My parents do!)

'Fixinto' is one word. (Say this all the time!)

There is no such thing as 'lunch.' There is only dinner and then supper.

Iced tea is appropriate for all meals and you start drinking it when you're two.

We do like a little tea with our sugar! (And coffee)

Backwards and forwards means 'I know everything about you.

DGeet is actually a phrase meaning 'Did you eat?' (Also, Kyle's granddaddy's saying: If yur late, ya dun ate! ha!)

You don't have to wear a watch because it doesn't matter what time it is. You work until you're done or it's too dark to see. (Daily at work.)

You don't PUSH buttons, you MASH them.

You measure distance in minutes. (Guilty! I cannot judge distance for anything.)

You'll probably have to switch from 'heat' to 'A/C' in the same day. (Going through this at home right now. No wonder my utility bill is so high.)

All the festivals across the state are named after a fruit, vegetable, grain, insect or animal.

You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.

You carry jumper cables in your car . . . for your OWN car. (Guilty - have some in the trunk now, but I am hoping for someone else's car one day.)

There are only own four spices: salt, pepper, Tabasco and ketchup. (Check)

The local papers cover national and international news on one page, but require 6 pages for local gossip and sports.

The first day of deer season is a national holiday. (I am pretty sure daddy takes off for this.)

100 degrees Fahrenheit is 'a little warm'.

We have four seasons: Almost Summer, Summer, still Summer and Christmas.

Going to Wal-mart is a favorite past time. (I hate Wal-Mart, but I go weekly just about.)

Fried catfish is the other white meat. (According to D)

We don't need no stinking driver's ed ... if our mama says we can drive, we can drive. (Used to drive big black bessy in the pasture before I was old enough to drive or would sit in mom or dad's lap to "drive" down the road - Lord they would get arrested for that these days.)

Driving and Moving

Ahhhhh...what a tiring weekend. I got to leave work early Friday to go judge a dance team tryout in McMinnville, TN. Kristen was already a member of this company, but she needed some dance team help. Since I danced in high school and professionally in Huntsville, she asked me could I help. I asked one of my old friends Jennifer to help out too. It was a 2 hour drive from the arsenal. Jennifer met us on the way and rode with us. The tryouts started at 4:30. We had no idea what to expect, but they actually had some pretty good girls. There were 24 of them trying out. They got to do something I had never done before was to do their own dance as part of the tryout. The school paid a choreographer to come teach them individual dances. They were all dressed differently, did different styles of dance, and different kinds of music. It made it tough to judge them against one another, because it was pom, lyrical, and hip hop. We were all so nervous to judge. You don't realize how hard it is to judge someone 1 out of 10. You feel horrible to judge them lower than a certain amount. We got to take a break and go eat at chicken salad sandwich in the back while they changed into matching outfits. They did a clinical dance that was the same for everyone. As soon as they finished that, they had to do their technical stuff. They had a lot of technique on the team. There were probably only 3 that didn't make the team. It was so much fun though. It was a fun girl trip ride up there and a fun to judge.

I then stayed the night with Kristen Friday night. So, that was a 3 hour ride home because Arab is 45 minutes from the arsenal. Whew! That's a lot of driving. We stayed awake for a while and finally crawled in bed at midnight. We had a big day coming up with moving. Josh was sweet enough to let me sleep with Kristen so that we could watch TV. I was knocked out. Kristen was over there with her happy eye pillows. We got up around 7:15 Saturday and began the move. I got to meet Teri's husband Thomas for the first time. I felt like I knew him already from all the pictures I've seen. Kristen, Teri, and I had a good time despite all the moving. We went and recruited boxes from grocery stores. We found that it didn't pay for us to ask girls. They were not as willing to give us boxes as the guys. ha! We loaded the SUV with all the boxes and tried to find a way to sit. We packed and moved until about 5:30 when I headed home. It was an interesting experience to say the least. I will let Kristen tell that story if she wants to. The house did smell like a massive moth ball. It was awful! We finally located them under the house. There were hundreds in the crawl space. Gross! Why would someone ever do that?? I would rather have a snake than that smell. I think we took care of it the best with could with lots of Air Wicks and Febreeze. Even though we were working, I still had a good time. It was the first stn party I had with Kristen and probably the longest I've gotten to spend with her. I tell her all the time we are strangers in our personal lives. It was so much fun getting to sit back and see how she operates on a daily basis.

When I got home Saturday, we had a few people over. I was fighting to stay awake while the company was here. The boys were watching the game and playing cards. The girls went to my room to watch TV and hang out. I lasted till about 1 something...barely. I still feel asleep on Kyle's shoulder while company was still over. I think they are used to it though. They knew I had a long day and understood.

I slept in a little today. Isn't it funny how we think we "catch up" on our sleep. It sure felt good though. I was supposed to go take pictures with Candace today, but it ended up getting rainy. I will have to take them sometime this week. I'm taking them for my graduation invitations. I am so excited. She does such a good job already. I can't wait to take them and see the results. I'll make sure to show everyone. I hate we didn't get to take pictures today, but I was able to do my case study that was due today that I hadn't started on. Now, its back to work already tomorrow. I feel like I didn't get a weekend! I was glad though that it was pretty while we were moving Saturday. I do like to feel like I'm doing something and be outside when its like that. If i hadn't helped Kristen move, I would have just sat on the couch and not gotten to enjoy the weather.

Hope everyone has a good week!!

Bad Weather

I haven't had a whole lot going on besides trying to finish up my last couple of weeks in school. I am so excited. I graduate May 8th in Accounting! I have a few more tests and papers to finish though. We finished our last round in our simulation company Tuesday night. My group finished 4/5. Dang! Why can't I ever be #1 or at least 2! If you aren't first, you're last! haha Ricky Bobby. It was one of our better rounds though, so that was good. It was a lot of fun doing it and learning, but I am competitive so I hate to lose.

I am leaving work early today, but not for anything fun! I have a dentist appointment to go to. I'm sure I will get lectured on not flossing like usual. I am hoping that we don't get completely blown away this afternoon. I am hoping it will only be bad thunderstorms with no tornados. I am terrified of them. They've come pretty close several times. I don't like them at all! Here is a glimpse of what is coming our way today. Fun stuff!! There's no place like home!