You Are Halloween

You are a dramatic, wild, and even weird person. The dark side of life fascinates you, and you enjoy being a little terrified. You enjoy the hidden sides of life. You are interested in what lurks deep in people's hearts. You are playful and creative. You enjoy pretending you're someone else. What makes you celebrate: Anything bizarre, unusual, or freaky. At holiday get togethers, you do best as: The entertainer. You really like to get into the mood of the holidays. On a holiday, you're the one most likely to: Insist on a theme party of some sort.

What Holiday Are You?

Sweet Baby Julianne

She's here! My girl Christie delivered this past Friday a healthy baby girl - the newest of the Tudor clan. She is already royalty in my eyes. (sniff...)

Goodbye Cruel World

I've always wanted to say that... I just got home (9:00pm) after a LONG crazy busy day and was seriously not thrilled to see flashing lights all around my homestead - I doubt anyone likes to see such. Apparently, there is a gas leak on the street. Nice. (And what is that, Tim? We still don't have renters insurance?) So, after persuading the cop to let me park in my driveway (Yes, Mr. Policeman, I live on the gassy street), I've come upstairs to write a farewell blog. If my house does happen to blow up tonight, just know that I am taking these last precious moments to write the world a farewell. And now I'm off to watch a cheesy movie, eat a chocolate cupcake, and cuddle with my kitties as my final acts.

So Thankful

Hey blogosphere. I guess I owe ya'll an explanation since I've been MIA for over a week. Last week was a vacation week for me - took a trip down to Tennessee and to Virginia to spend time with some friends and family. Hubby and I had a good time, time where we reevaluated what we are thankful for and what it is that means most to us. (And that is always a good thing, especially when you dread that Monday morning when you have to go back to work...) So, even though Thanksgiving is technically over, this is kind of a list of things I'm thankful for.

I'm thankful for good friends. When Tim and I traveled down to TN, we were most graciously hosted by my friend Ruth and her flock of critters (Ursula and the kitty gang). We crashed her place for a couple of nights and she fed us with cakes and conversations. Who could ask for more? She is going through a tough time right now and it was good to be able to be there. It just isn't the same over email and telephones.

We also got to spend some good time with my best good buddy Tennessee Celeste. This girl is a riot. The first night we got into town I totally dragged her to the Carter Family Fold. It's a down home country concert hall that was home to the Carters and is the actual birthplace of country music (not Nashville). Celeste came with me. Now that is what I call a true mark of friendship! (And by the way, this photo is not a good representative of just how cute we are...) Her hunny Bryon even chauffeured all of us in his jet-like vehicle. The night after that we had a slumber party at Bryon's place and we watched Tron on his crazy movie-theater-like projection TV. This boy has some toys! And the next morning, they trusted us enough to lock up. But not before we got some blackmail pics of Bryon's crazy comic book collection!!! Heh. Can anybody say Trekkie?!? (It's okay Bryon. We love you anyway.)

Speaking of good friends, we also had lovely lunches with our way cool former minister Aaron (who we correspond with on facebook - how cool is he?!?) and also with our old Sunday School class of high schoolers who are now college grads! It's wild how time flies by. And our visit wouldn't be complete without seeing my buddy Andrew and his new bride Kathy! And boy was my face red when I found out that he got married and I didn't even know! For a whole year now! (Oh the shame.) Well, cheers you guys! Congrats and all the best. And I'm thankful that Andrew is feeling better - he has just been through the wringer with medical issues.

I'm thankful for all the memories I have of our life in TN. We had a good 4 years there and I will always have a home away from home. It was a short visit and I didn't get to see everyone I wanted to see for as long as I wanted to see them, but it was what it was and it definitely whetted my appetite for another visit. While we were there, we got to visit my former library see lots of people that I miss dearly. We also went over to our alma maters - Milligan and Emmanuel. Tim finally picked up his (4 yr. old) diploma. I'm thankful he graduated. There was a time when I thought he might not!

And I'm thankful that my duck pond was still there. I really missed my ducks. I seriously missed those guys. I know that sounds silly, but I would picnic at this spot daily. I watched these ducks from egglings to ducklings to full on duck-hood. And I missed shopping at Kroger. I went to Kroger for this bread to feed my ducks. They were so happy to see me that they ate right out of my hand. It made me squeal with glee.

And I'm thankful for the mountains and the stars. I really missed seeing those.

After our trip to TN, we drove up to VA to see my fam. I'm very thankful for them. Each of them are very special to me in their own way.

I'm thankful for my mom and dad. Mom has a strong opinion of how she wants things. She's big on "firsts" so we celebrated her birthday, Thanksgiving, AND Christmas so she could be the first to celebrate it with baby Emma. We even took Emma to see Santa and have pictures taken. So, yeah I visited to spend Thanksgiving, but I've already gotten a taste of Christmas!

I'm really thankful to have gotten to hang out with my cutie pie niece. When she smiles, she smiles with her whole face. She's 10 months old now and I adore this kid. She blows raspberries, claps when she is excited, and gives me kisses. I just think she hung the moon. While we were all there together, I coped out of cooking the Thanksgiving dinner (read: peeling potatoes) by working on making Emma an Indian Princess outfit. (She makes a cute little Indian noise with her mouth that is so not PC but is incredibly adorable. That is what is happening in the picture.) Her outfit turned out cute, complete with braids and a feather. So not politically correct. Sorry.

I'm also thankful that I didn't get whatever Becky and Tim got sick with the night we took her to see A Winter's Tale at the way cool Shakespeare theater in Stauton. Oh boy. We went to the Waffle House there and they were both absolutely green. This picture may have had something to do with that... Mmm... What's that in your hash browns, Becky? Could that be a fly? Yummy! I'm not sure exactly why I was spared, but I'm thankful. Becky had to leave ten minutes into the first act. And when Tim turned to me and whispered he had to go to the bathroom about 20 minutes later, I knew the Waffle House had been a BAD idea. I was however struck down with the giggles at the awkwardness of being all by myself in the middle of the front row in the first act of A Winter's Tale, which is full of yelling and tragedy. Lots of yelling. And I was the visual target. And to think that this play is one of Shakespeare's comedies! Well, I found it pretty funny anyway. My, my.

And finally (sheesh this was a long post!), as thankful as I was to do all that visiting, I am thankful for my warm comfy home, my soft bed, my bathroom privacy, and my cute furrball kitties. They have been ever so cuddly since I've been back - I think they missed me.

Johnson City

Hey ya'll - we're here in Johnson City safe and sound. Having fun and visiting our best good friends! I'll upload pictures soon.

So far, here's what we've been up to. Yesterday we went to the Carter Family Fold (the REAL birthplace of country music) with Celeste, Bryon, and Ruthie. It was real interesting. A lady played a fiddle with a hair comb, a chopstick, and a then a toothpick. Wacky. And no, I didn't square dance nor was I tempted to do so. Today we went to our old church and had a yummy lunch at the Crazy Tomato with some cool gals from our old Sunday school class we taught, back in the day. Then, I got to see my ducks. (There is this stream near the place we used to live, where I would always picnic. There were always tons of ducks and mallards and other strange bird hybrids...) Well, no trip would be complete without a visit to my water spot to see my winged buddies. We even went down to Kroger (ahh Kroger...) and got some bread to feed them. They almost took off my hand they were so hungry. I wonder if they have been waiting for me to get back? Have they been hungry this whole time? We also drove by our old place which made me happy and sad at the same time - happy that it is still there and sad that the garden looks so shabby! Whatever. We completed the afternoon with a visit to our fave used bookstore - Mr. K's - and a trip to a cool consignment store called Plato's Closet (got some sweet jackets, even). And now we're spending the night at Bryon's and Celeste's, watching Tron and eating popcorn. And tomorrow will hold even more adventures!

So basically, coming back makes you wonder why you ever left.

WWF

This isn't something I should blog about, but I'm enraged. And it is a really good thing that I am going on vacation soon and won't have to see a certain person for a week. It will give me time to chill out and remember what is important in life. Because right now I am ready to beat the crap out of something... anything... so watch out.

I am angry at someone who has a low self-esteem and for this reason acts completely nasty to me. I know that this person tends to direct her foulness at me mainly because I am younger and I hold a position of authority over her. She is petty and rude. And most of all, she is totally passive-aggressive. I HATE people who are passive-aggressive. This person SO does not even deserve my time and energy, but I really don't know how much longer I am going to deal. I think one of the main reasons I am so upset about the situation is that I have bent over backwards to be nice to this person. Well, obviously that hasn't worked. I've had one-on-one confrontations with this person. That also has not solved the problem. I have spoken to the powers that be even. No dice. What is next? I'm envisioning cat fight. I can take her. I'm scrappy. Any suggestions?

(About the photo - this is sweet puppy Spot trying to be friends with mean cat Juno. Sound familiar? Well, guess who won this battle? Spot!)

Wordless Wednesday - Missing Johnson City

(I'm really excited about our trip this weekend... these are some images that make me "homesick" for Johnson City.)

Progress

Here is a picture of my quilt so far. It's a whole lot bigger than that, of course - I just couldn't do it much justice photographically (not that that is a real word, even...). The finished quilt will be more like a small twin size. Man, it was HARD work. And expensive - but most of the expense is just that fabric up here costs so much more per yard. Just the backing and batting for this quilt cost me $90 bucks. Insane. So, I am awfully near completion. I just have to bind the edges and I'm done. Whoo-hoo! I plan to have it done by the time we leave this weekend.

Tim and I have the whole week off for Thanksgiving. We are going to drive down this weekend to visit folks in both TN and then on to VA for the rest of the week for a family visit. It will be a busy trip, but I'm really looking forward to it. We haven't been back to Johnson City in about three years and I'm hoping to spend some quality time with some friends that I've really missed. (This means you, Celeste and Ruth and Andrew!) And then spend some girl time with my beautiful little niece, my big sister, and my momma. I can't wait for that.

So, here's to progress and revisiting your past.

My Hero

Yuck! That's what I said when I saw my guy come home looking like a tanned hairy goth dude. (He looked like he was wearing eyeliner...) Well, the truth is in this picture, he's just plain dirty. And I mean FILTHY! Even after he showered from this point, he maintained the eyeliner look for a day or two later.

Wondering what my guy is doing rolling around in the muck?

He just moved the Worldvision Storehouse! I can't even tell you how proud I am of him. (But I'll try!) He has been working seriously hard for the past three months getting everything in order for this big move, kind of like a scene from the TV show the Apprentice (without the million dollar job and fancy car waiting for him at the end). He basically had to arrange everything from real estate to phone lines, furniture to pallet racking, architects to office space, and even all the financial dealings. And then physically move 1300 pallets of product to the new building, just him and his small crew and some volunteers. They moved out of their 35,000 square foot former-ship-building-turned-warehouse into a shiny clean and freshly drywalled and painted 46,000 square foot building (with skylights!). The new place is beautiful. I'm seriously proud of the hard work Tim has put into this project and I'm glad that he has such an awesome crew of folks that have helped make this a reality. I guess I'll have to bake something for the grand reopening!

(So if you see my tired guy, give him a hug and tell him how cool he is. I tell him all the time, but he thinks I'm biased.)

Schmap

Hey, I just got contacted by this cool website for use of three photos from our Philly trip in their travel guides. Does this mean I'm famous?!? Sweet. Now if I could just find a way to profit from this somehow...

Here is a link and a widget. Check them out (and see if you can find my three pics)!

Wordless Wednesday - Here's Johnny!

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Unproductive

Ugg. Being sick is no fun. I'm not good for much of anything right now. I've just been hanging out watching season 1 of Veronica Mars. (It's pretty good - filling my Buffy void.) I've also been working on photos. I got WAY behind on that!

Anyway, if you are curious to see what the our Murder Mystery party looked like, go here. It was a great night. I was Scarlett Peacock, daughter to Lord Peacock who was recently murdered. Tim was my secret lover, Mr. Body the butler. There was a cook, Ms. White, and Mr. Green the gardener. Also present was recent widow Lady Peacock and her granddaughter the heiress Victoria Peacock. Garrett Plum, the grandson and multimillionaire and the local minister Rev. Colin Mustard were there as well. Who do YOU think killed Lord Peacock?!? (Warning - there are some scary Tim pictures in this collection...)

Frog in my Throat

It's official. It has been official all day long and yesterday too. I'm sick. "I've got chills - they're multiplying." Uh hmm, I know... Enough with the cheesy antidotes. It's just that my brain is addled by the 100 degree fever I've been running. The good side is that Tim is home and he thinks I look cute in my Star Wars t-shirt, fuzzy slippers, giant quilt wrap, and flannel Strawberry Shortcake pants. He also likes that I can only whisper because my voice is so totally gone. Oh yeah, I'm quite the hotty right now. (But only literally.)